Working with Patina and Coins

Today I decided to try the patina on copper blanks with oven heat and my husband's plumbing torch.
The oven idea started out good enough.  The copper before it went in -

and then when they came out-

They came out a nice red color. Problem was, when I went to put the protective wax on it, it rubbed off a bit. but it still wasn't the original copper color, so I am okay with that.
I used up those blanks with making necklaces with coins -

Next I had my husband help by using his blowtorch and we got some really interesting colors on the copper.
Stay tuned for some pics of those and also I'm going to be trying the Ammonia patina this week.
I think Jon even had some fun helping me!

New Ideas

I woke up early this morning with a new idea about how to use my old foreign coins in a jewelry setting. After learning about home made patinas last week, I thought I knew what I wanted to do, but I must have had a dream revelation or something.  I searched my material websites and found what I needed. Now I must wait for the package in the mail.
I did more organizing of my coins -boy do I have a lot! I remember my dad giving me these old coins when I was little and have held on to them ever since. I have coins from all over the world and many are pre-1950.  I won't be changing the patina of the coin itself, but have an idea of how to showcase the coin without changing it. Except for drilling a hole in it, of course. ;)

Beginnings

Starting my first blog is a little intimidating here....Not sure what I am doing but hoping to figure it out. This page is started primarily for my jewelry business but will talk about other stuff too.