Help, Any Ideas on Project?

[Former_Member]

I have these really nice old pictures from France, 1600s mostly.
I want to create pendants from them without destroying them so maybe they can be removed or at least safe from natural things like mold and of course the ultasonic cleaner. i would prefer to work in silver. some are not so expensive or rare so i can experiment. any ideas on designing something like this? is there a better grade of glass you can get that doesn't break?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121614461/1600-original-art-france-snake-or

https://www.etsy.com/listing/121615957/early-1700-original-art-angels-1600s

I guess if i have to i could go with glass and copper foil and tin solder on the less expensive ones?

[NellaLlama]

Can you somehow transfer the designs to a template for etching or engraving or repousse? Not use the original items at all in the final product?

[Former_Member]

Thats a pretty fantastic Idea. I am going to look into that. that way i could keep the original or even include it with the purchase. the designs are so 2 dimensional, i could transfer the design and etch in nitric on silver. Thanks Nella.. i'm going to put some thought in that.

[sallysbeadsnc]

Is it too lame to suggest scanning the gorgeous images to your computer, then you could use them again and again.

[RenegadeHeartStudios]

I don't know how big they are but what about clear quartz caps?

[Former_Member]

NellaLlama says

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Can you somehow transfer the designs to a template for etching or engraving or repousse? Not use the original items at all in the final product?


* * *

That's what I would suggest. Maybe do a lightbox tracing of the main designs and then make an etching plate from that.

[Former_Member]

Great ideas all, I think i will try it. I appreciate the help.

[Former_Member]

If you do go with glass, you might be able to use some borosilicate (lab glass, very tough & clear). I'd suggest that you could troll for a broken smart phone and use the glass from the screen, which tends to be really tough, but I'm not sure how you'd cut/grind it - out of my area of expertise, unfortunately . . . .

Bullseye glass, which is still soda-lime glass, is tougher than a lot of other soda-lime, and in theory could be used to make a cabochon, but you're going to end up with some waves/texture on the back from the kiln shelf, pretty much no matter how smooth you put the kiln wash on - not anything too serious, but you can pick it up in a couple items I've got in my shop here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/110340268/fused-glass-pendant-clear-pink-lavender
https://www.etsy.com/listing/110340268/fused-glass-pendant-clear-pink-lavender
You'll have to pardon the horrid pictures, I haven't had a chance to re-take them, and now that I see what's wrong with them, they're driving me nuts ;)

[Former_Member]

very interesting, i do have all the equiptment needed to cut it with. A larger diamond cabbing unit (genie) Thanks for the feedback on this and thanks for being a member of the team here. :-)

My daughter does boro beads but i think her glass comes in sticks? i wonder if you could get it in sheets?

Very nice work!

[Former_Member]

I too think you should scan the image and save to a pdf or jpeg. Then you can change the size of the images and sell them her on etsy as a jpeg file. Making better use of the use vintage stamps.

If you sell the stamp image alone and have no intent on using it again then charge accordingly for one stamped image.

Yep, those glass cab's would work nicely. FMG has those in bulk.

[Former_Member]

Looks like Glasscraft Inc's got boro in sheet form - again, not unbreakable, but very, very tough - it was the first hit that I got googling "borosilicate glass sheets" if that helps any. I think they sell it in less than full sheets, as well, but have never gotten it there (Now I'm getting the itch to see if it's fusable in the kiln . . . . . . .)

[Former_Member]

Hi Cathleen,
Thanks.. thats kind of exciting for me too. i had no idea. :-)

One the great things about a team like we have here is it gets us all excited about new things!

[Former_Member]

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