Dear friend,
Today is such a happy day for me, because I am sharing something really special with you. This is my very first piece of jewelry professionally made using the lost-wax technique.
I dreamed about this piece so much before it became a reality! This cameo setting went trough a whole process that started with the wax carving. I basically carved a piece of special wax used for this purpose, and little by little the different elements started coming to life.
As you can see, this is a sweet natural scene with tiny little birds, branches, fruits and a flower. The bud on top is the bail and it has a hole for the chain. The metal used was brass and the surface was treated to look antique.
Once the wax was carved I shipped it to the casting company. It was a pleasure to deal with the person who was in touch with me. They are experienced professionals and they took good care of my little treasure. I almost couldn't sleep for weeks because I was just too excited about my new adventure!
And then they arrived!!! I could not believe it! My little fragile wax carving had become a solid, strong and beautiful piece of jewelry that can now last for over one million years!!! OMG! This is sooooo wonderful!!!!
And the rest of what I am going to do with these cameo settings is even more exciting! I designed this cameo to be the home for a tiny, original and one of a kind papercut (I will use resin to encase the papercut into the oval shape). I am in love with the very idea! And I can't wait to start working on it. Unfortunately it won't be immediately because there is so much related to my work right now that I have to finish! But I am already cooking different miniature papercut designs in my brain. I ordered 50 of these pieces so I will create 50 miniature different papercuts for them. (Right now while I write this I am wondering if I should do a small show with them, that would be a nice way to present all the pieces as a group...I will keep thinking...they are small, about 2" tall so people will need to have good eyes :)
I just had to share this little thing with you today my friend, I could not wait one more second!!
Now let's have a great Friday! And a wonderful weekend!
Lots of love!
Elsita :)
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And today, THE HIDDEN SEED has also a botanical theme :)
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This is such a wonderful idea :) I'd love to wear one ! Will you sell them on etsy ?
Posted by: Gaelle | July 03, 2009 at 01:42 AM
Can't wait to see them! They will make a fantastic exhibition... Can I borrow your creative mind for a few hours? :)
You're work is so inspiring to me, thanks so much!
Posted by: Irene | July 03, 2009 at 03:28 AM
Exciting! Gorgeous! Is there any medium you can't create things of loveliness and wonder in?!
Anna x
Posted by: Anna | July 03, 2009 at 04:45 AM
They're really beautiful, Elsita. I can't wait to see the finished product! Very exciting. :)
Posted by: Natasha | July 03, 2009 at 05:37 AM
This is SO gorgeous. I'm so excited for you. Acutally, I want to be you when I grow up... although I think I'm only a year or so younger than you... maybe I'm a year older. I don't know.
I've always wanted to design jewelry myself, so I love seeing that you went ahead and created your own cast. You have just made me make a personal commitment to someday taking some silver smithing classes.
Posted by: rowena | July 03, 2009 at 05:58 AM
That is outstanding! So unique and special! I am always amazed and inspired by you! I will anxiously await the final pieces. Have a great 4th weekend!
Posted by: Donna | July 03, 2009 at 07:35 AM
Wow! Tiny papercuts in such a beautiful setting. What a wonderful idea. I can't wait to see the combo! And I hope to see some for sale in your shop!
Posted by: Jessica Herman Goodson | July 03, 2009 at 07:43 AM
There are absolutely no limits to your genius and creativity. You wow me everyday. I love the idea of a show of tiny papercuts in cameos. I would pull out my very best magnifying glasses for that show. Sort of like the one I saw in Lyon at the miniatures museum that made me think so much of you. Hats off to you !!!. Are you taking pre orders?????
Posted by: Margaret Oomen | July 03, 2009 at 07:52 AM
The piece turned out beautiful! I look forward to seeing them with the papercuts. I vote for the exhibition before you split them up for sale.
Posted by: dutchbaby | July 03, 2009 at 08:20 AM
Oh, this is a lovely beautiful
piece of jewelry! Looking forward
to seeing it with the paper-cuts!
An exhibition is a great idea!
God Bless You and Yours!!!
Posted by: Flassie | July 03, 2009 at 08:44 AM
Ahhh, it's beautiful!
Posted by: Kat | July 03, 2009 at 09:11 AM
Fantastic idea, Elsa. I think you've really hit upon something great for you.
Safety note: If you cast the paper in resin by yourself, please be sure to use a duel cartridge air mask respirator that can protect your sweet self from the toxic fumes of it. (And please be especially certain that Diego gets not a whiff of it either. He doesn't need any exposure to unhealthy chemicals for his nervous system.)
Posted by: Shelley Noble | July 03, 2009 at 09:29 AM
It is absolutely breathtaking!
Posted by: Molly D. | July 03, 2009 at 09:34 AM
Hi Elsita,
These are so beautiful! I love the idea of pairing them with tiny papercuts - I can't wait to see how this project develops! Your work is such an inspiration and reading your blog is always the highlight of my morning. Thank you. :)
Posted by: Jayme McGowan | July 03, 2009 at 10:03 AM
i can't wait to see what you come up with! the mold is really really beautiful - so detailed! loooove the bird! xxx
Posted by: susan | July 03, 2009 at 02:26 PM
Can't wait to see what gets in there....I know that feeling when you have an idea that has to jump thru so many hoops before you can SEE IT FINISHED....
Where do you send your wax form...?
I would love to try doing that....is there a site?
Posted by: Johnny | July 03, 2009 at 02:49 PM
Yay!!
I am so happy that you like the little cameo setting! I can't wait to see the first one finished with the miniature papercut.
Hi Johnny! Here is the link to the casting company http://www.acecastings.com/
It was kind of expensive but that's because each cameo is solid and it took a lot of metal to make them, plus I payed also for the labor of finishing the piece which is a lot of work. But you can start with something super tiny and simple :)
Posted by: Elsita :) | July 03, 2009 at 03:48 PM
It's beautiful! You did an amazing job.
Posted by: pen and paper | July 03, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Oh my goodness, my little heart is singing with happiness at the beauty of that and the idea of the mini papercut inside.
I think I might burst.
And what a great idea for an exhibition- just save some for us poor people from New Zealand who can't attend! :)
Posted by: Nina | July 03, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Good eyes or you could hand out magnifying glasses for people to view them with! I'm looking forward to seeing them finished.
Posted by: dette | July 04, 2009 at 05:08 AM