An Old Doorknob

Several years ago I went to an estate sale wanting to find something to buy to remind me of family friends who lived in that house.  They were such interesting people who were creative, talented and so much fun. 

I looked through everything upstairs and eventually found my way to the basement.  There it was! An old ornate brass doorknob.  It went in my box of treasures.  Recently I rearranged my art studio and found it. 

 

My 2 part mold mix came from Cool Tools and just for fun I made a mold of the top of the doorknob.  Then I made a silver medallion using the mold and drilled a tiny hole in it because I wanted to incorporate polymer clay some way.  I know I’m supposed to figure out the entire piece of jewelry before I start anything so it comes out the way I want.  But this time the piece just grew!  I also made a bail that I thought might look good with it…or not.  I fired the pieces and tumbled them and patina’d them.  They sat on my desk for two weeks – until tonight. 

Back of Pendant with doorknob imprint

My black polymer was out for another project and I had extra.  I added translucent polymer to the black because I read some place that it polished better.  Then I used the real doorknob and impressed the design on the black polymer that would be the back of my pendant.  The silver medallion was filled and pressed on the black disc and cured.  I drilled through the cured clay using the hole in the silver as a guide, sanded and buffed and added a jump ring that connected the necklace to the bail.  The jump ring will insure that the silver and polymer stay together.

 

I found the perfect chain and now I have a great way to remember my friends.  I’m happy.