'3D Solder Mushroom Pendant'

I have a lot of gemstones, like... A LOT. I've dabbled in wrapping them with wire before but that got boring after a while. My adventurous ADHD mind was buzzing to figure out a new and different way I could use these rocks to make jewelry. My first experiments found me combining the stones with my stained glass pieces like a real world alchemist. After discovering that I can solder to the stones (as long as my foil was wide enough) a whole new magical world of possibilities opened up. From there the enchanting idea of mushrooms popped into my head and I set to making it happen.

After a lot of trial and error, I share with you my founding technique to cast wire mushrooms using nothing but solder, wire, and gravity. Let us embark together and add some fantastical, fungal whimsy into the world!

A few things that are needed to get started-

-Stones, or something similar: scrap glass, bottles caps, broken dishware... pretty much anything goes that wont melt

-18 gauge copper wire

-Needle nose pliers

-Round nose pliers

-Flush cut wire cutters

-Adhesive backed copper foil (width dependent on the thickness of your stone- the thicker the stones the wider the foil)

-Scissors to cut the foil

-Burnishing tool for smoothing the copper foil

-Solder (I'm using lead-free, fluxcore solder because it's lighter and, well, lead free)

-Soldering iron

-Fume extractor and safety glasses (safety first!)

-I use pushpins to scrape flux of my finished pieces (pins get into all the little corners!) but this is optional

-Bravery

This part of the pendant is done in the Tiffany-Style stained glass technique. The important bit here is that the copper foil used needs to be wider than the thickness of the stone- the copper has to be able to wrap completely around the edges (and overlap .25" or so) and extend evenly a little ways onto both the front and back of it. If the rock is not fully framed there's a risk of it falling out after soldering.

A burnishing tool helps to smoosh the foil nice and flat on all sides!

What good is a pendant if it can't be worn, eh? So, we'll need bail loops to put a chain or cord through. This is where our pliers and flush cutters come in handy to bend that copper wire into shape.

I prefer to have my wire go all the way around the stones to help support the weight of the piece.

Now things are taking shape!

It all starts with a simple loop of wire. I like to pull the end of the wire around and through the middle of my loop and then use my needle nose pliers to to pull the "stem" down as close to the center as I can.

A dry fit up lets you adjust stem lengths and I try to keep in mind that the loops are the bottoms of my mushroom "caps" and that, once soldered, they'll fill up more space on the finished piece.

Something I've learned after making a bunch of these is that the loop size matters. If it is too big there's a risk that the solder wont bridge the gap to make the mushroom shape. If the loop is too small the solder forms a sphere instead of half a sphere.

Getting the right size loop can be tricky so I suggest practicing a bit before worrying about a final product.

Now we get to play with molten metal! I always suggest safety glasses and a fume extractor. No need to get anything gross in your eyes or lungs! Remember that solder is very hot so use pliers to move things around.

First, our copper wire bail gets soldered to the copper foil and the entire thing gets tinned ( A thin, even layer of solder over all the copper foil).

Now that our base is done it's time to solder our mushrooms! Tin the copper wire fully and then, holding them upside-down from the stems, flood the loop with solder. Let gravity cast the shape of the mushroom cap for you. This bit is tricky- too little solder and you get a flat non-mushroom shape but too much solder causes the metal to fall out and roll across the table (and into your lap if you're not careful!). No quick movement until it's solidified or that could also make the solder fall right off.

It's tricky to explain in words so the video will help if you're trying this yourself!

Once you have the 'shroomy shapes you want, use pliers to help you solder them into their final resting place.

The fluxcore solder that I use leaves a hard crust in places so I use my fingernail or a pushpin to scrape it off. A scrub with a toothbrush and Dawn dish soap works pretty well, but if there's any sticky residue left behind I'll use a few drops of Goo Gone (and a different toothbrush) before doing a second Dawn treatment.

Be gentle around the very edges of the copper foil- it is possible to move or tear it a little if the cleaning process is too aggressive.

TaaaaDaaaaaa!

Wear one of these and you'll be the envy of every forest fairy while wandering the woods!

My supervisor, Ramekin, kindly helped me put chains on for pictures.