Dogwood blossoms and Employee of the Month

This week among other things, I was able to cast another pewter hair comb featuring dogwood blossoms (one of my favourites!) with their unusually curled petals. I'm pairing it with a single dogwood bud on a light chain. I think the buds look like tiny presents! Dogwood, magnolia and pine trees always remind me of the brief time I lived in Georgia.

It's important to note that none of my waxes would ever find themselves in durable metal form without the help of my hardworking equipment! As such, I'm launching a segment called Employee of the Month, in which one of my non-human shop mates gets his day in the limelight. March goes to my lovely burnout kiln, without whom nothing would have been made this month. Congratulations Val!







Tea Rose Hair Comb

Anyone with a summer wedding coming up? This is what I've been working on this week with summer on the brain. Tea roses are fresh and fragrant and tousled, the complete opposite of the long stemmed, tightly curled Valentine's Day variety. And sculpting them, though time consuming, is very rewarding. I'm hoping to replicate this comb in a pinky bronze which I think would be lovely and romantic for a vintage inspired wedding.

Like all the combs I've been working on lately, this one could be quite easily fitted with a veil. The pendant in the picture is my Trillium Necklace in recycled pewter on a silver-filled chain. I like understated jewelry...no rhinestones please :)

Eco-friendly Cherry Blossom Bridal Set

Cherry Blossoms have been a bit overdone I'll admit. But there is something so appealing about the little curled petals and twiggy stamens that people in every craft medium have at some point felt the need to feature them, despite the overwhelming availability of mass produced blossom charms, fabric and prints. I submit to you yet another attempt!

I'm interested in creating adaptable bridalwear, suitable for use after the wedding for special occasions or anniversaries.

What makes this set eco-friendly? The blossoms are cast in pewter upcycled from old beer steins! So if you're ecologically minded, or just plain like beer, any of these pieces would make a great addition to your collection. 

Lastly, I wanted to give this set some character with a beautiful antiqued finish. The stamens are dusted with gold leaf to resemble pollen!

Hand-painted pewter butterfly clip

This is a follow up to the last post in which I mentioned painting the pewter butterflies. This is a lovely peacock butterfly which I plan on pairing with a cabbage white and a holly blue as a set in my etsy shop.

I love the look of painted metal myself, but am more than happy to offer any of my designs unpainted for more traditional girls.

Happy spring to all!

A new line in the works...

Working out the kinks in my new casting studio has taken a considerable amount of patience and effort, but here is a glimpse at what's "flying" out of the flask these days :)

No real butterflies were incinerated in the making of these future hair ornaments! I sculpted each and every one of them in wax down to the last fiddly antenna and cast them in nice durable pewter.

I plan on keeping some plain and painting some realistically to create headpieces for all the spring and summer weddings coming up. Maybe wearing them will help counteract the wedding day "butterflies in your stomach"!

Custom Recycled Gold Ring

 When Wendy and John were married back in 1986, they were self-proclaimed "poor church mice". The dainty wedding set Wendy wore until their 25th wedding anniversary was melted down with another family ring to create this one-of-a-kind design incorporating the stones in a new configuration. While Wendy is enjoying her new modern wedding set, her daughter will be receiving this sentimental heirloom as an 18th birthday gift!

Orchard Bridal Set

Utah bride-to-be Katelyn ordered this delicate silver tiara for her May wedding. I enjoyed the challenge of incorporating my sculpted flowers into a classic form. I also took some license with the design, turning the ends of the tiara into a pair of barettes for ease of use. The result: a no-hassle, timeless set that is traditional without being conventional.

Custom Work

I love to work on commission creating one-of-a-kind pieces for brides to be! If you have a wedding flower or favourite flower you would like to see incorporated into an existing design I would be more than happy to talk to you about a custom order. Texas bride Kirsten ordered this bluebonnet comb made from reclaimed bronze and recycled flatware! The hand-painting makes it her "something blue". I can include a veil attachment in a design like this, making it a versatile piece for both ceremony and reception.

Snowdrop Bridesmaid Necklace

Coming soon to my Etsy shop, this is a prototype piece that would make great bridesmaids' necklaces for late winter/early spring weddings. Chilly sterling silver snowdrops have a relaxed elegance that will make this necklace a favorite long after the wedding. And there's no rule that says the bride can't wear one too! Make a tasteful statement alongside a pair of pearl-drop earrings.

Reclaimed goodies for the eco-bride

Since this post will serve as a formal introduction to Faulds Forge, I wanted to start with the product line I believe sums up my goals as a designer-craftsperson. I am interested in employing reclaimed metal because it not only keeps costs down but is also an efficient use of resources.

The following pieces (available for further perusal on my etsy shop
http://www.etsy.com/shop/fauldsforge contain reclaimed bronze scrap and stainless steel flatware! I sculpt all plant forms by hand in wax, cast them, and paint them on request (for more traditional brides, unpainted versions are available). These are perfect for anyone seeking an alternative to the feathered fascinators and rhinestone encrusted hair jewelry available. And they're affordable too!
                                                                                                                   

Floral Hairpicks: $38 a piece or in sets of 3 for $89

                     

Trillium Haircomb: $50