Foldforming Workshop Pays Off in this Copper and Amethyst Pendant

At the beginning of June I attended two Masters Classes in Milwaukee at the Bead and Button show.  These are generally 3 day jewelry technique classes given by world-renown teachers.  A certain level of experience is usually required to attend them.  One of the ones I took was an introduction to foldforming by Charles Lewton Brain.

Charles actually invented the foldforming technique so this was quite an honor and a treat to have been a member of his class.  He crammed a lot of material into our three days together, but we managed to get some hands-on time as well.  We were all star struck and yet Charles was as humble and approachable as one could be.  I am so grateful for his generosity in sharing his knowledge.

All these photos of heat flamed copper are samples I created when we were set loose.  The simplest of folds, the line fold, was one I really connected with and wanted to explore right away when I got back to my studio.  There was something about it being so simple and yet transformative of a flat piece of copper.  I liked the texture of the line and brighter color against the flame patina'd copper.

 I played a bit in my studio after I got back so that I could become familiar enough with the process to start thinking about how I could incorporate the technique into my jewelry and esthetic.

Copper I textured heavily with a hammer, Amethyst slice, and the perfect Lampwork bead by Lori Lochner

So while looking through my stones I thought the technique seemed to be a perfect fit for an amethyst slice that displayed amethyst crystals in their natural state.  After hammering a sweet texture into the copper, I created a line fold that would sit on top of the slice for more texture and then wrapped the copper over the side to capture the slice in a sort of bezel.

Here's the finished piece!

Sidewalk Flowers

Copper, Amethyst

Lampwork by Lori Lochner

Vintage chain

Towards the end I realized that it reminded me of sidewalk weeds or even better sidewalk flowers!  You know when a pansy or Johnny Jump-up manages to find enough soil in between pavers to grow and blossom?  So the piece was named!  

"Bloom where you are planted."  ~Mary Engelbreit