Most everything in my shop has deliberate design decisions that are driven by not only how something looks but how it feels. I use an additional tool in my design tool kit, texture.

A few ways to add texture are by using a texturizing hammer, letter stamps, design stamps, etching, using a rolling mill, twisting wire or metal, adding elements on top of other elements either by way of cold connections or soldering, adding stones, semiprecious stones, or found objects.

When I first decide on a general idea for a design it is typically one dimensional. This is the base for the rest of what is to come. For the texturized heart with pearl in my shop, I sketched out the heart shape then decided on how to hang it with the bail. I knew this was not going to be it...I have to put a little lipstick on this puppy.

I had just finished a weekend retreat class that had a rolling mill component to it. We designed our own brass etched pattern and used it with the rolling mill. I thought that since the design of this heart was so simple, I wanted to add some design by way of the rolling mill. I pulled out other etched patterns I had since made and used a cut out pattern of the heart to decide which one would look best. Some had an overall pattern that was too large, some to industrial looking, and then I found the one. I cut a square of sterling sheet out that would more than be enough to cut out the heart. I then used the pattern and rolled it thru my new rolling mill. Perfect... I then glued the pattern to the silver and cut out the heart. After forging the bail I soldered it on. Oh dear, still a little plain Jane. Luckily for me, I don't clean up my bench. Right in front of me I found a pearl left over from some other beautiful piece of jewelry and placed it on the heart. Oh....too small. The scale was off but the color was right. Off to the stash to find a more appropriate sized pearl. Yippee! All my trips to the bead stores paid off...I had the perfect pearl. I soldered on the bezel and set the pearl (adding a little glue first inside the bezel). Now, almost done...I just had to oxidize this to show off the beautiful pattern. Cool Tools now has a liver of sulfur product that is a gel...so much better than anything else I have used. Warmed up the water...put in the gel, added the piece and what I had was magic. I love this piece.  Metal_Artistry.ArtFire.com