How to make a real leaf pendant in silver clay. This beautiful botanical pendant uses a real leaf from my wildlife garden, which is then preserved in solid silver. A stunning and unique piece of silver nature jewellery.
I start by choosing leaves from the wildlife garden. Leaves with strong shapes and deep veins are best. The leaves must be quite thick – not too flimsy or too shiny. Holly leaves won’t work.
I then paint the back of each leaf with a thin paste made from adding water to silver clay paste. This helps to preserve the detail on the leaf. This layer is then left to dry. A further 8 layers of clay paste are then painted on, allowing each layer to dry in between.
When the layers are complete and the leaf is dry, it can be fired in a kiln or on a hob.
The leaf burns away to reveal a real leaf cast in solid silver.
The silver leaf is then brushed, sanded, polished and burnished before solid silver findings are added to create the finished leaf pendant.
All my silver nature jewellery is handmade by me and is inspired by the plants and flowers in my York wildlife garden. Each of these pieces is absolutely unique – a real piece of nature preserved forever in silver.
I run a hedgehog rescue in York, England. I am also a keen wildlife gardener. You can find this pendant in my shop here.
You can also take a look at my other wildlife jewellery designs at www.littlesilverhedgehog.etsy.com
Little Silver Hedgehog 