Ginkgo Earrings with Malachite Stone

I love Ginkgo leaves. The Ginkgo is a very resilient tree. After Hiroshima and Nagasaki were bombed Ginkgo trees survived in spite of severe damage.

When I was working, there were several Ginkgo trees outside my office, so I would pick the leaves to use them as templates for my jewelry. When pressed into silver clay they leave a clear impression of the details of the leaf pattern.

I cut out the shape, position the bezel onto the dried clay, add a clay ring for the ear wire and then kiln fire it for 2 hours at 1650 degrees F. What comes out is pure silver, onto which I burnish 24K Gold Foil, an ancient Korean technique called Keum boo. I paint on patina for color accents. I finally tap in the stone into the bezel and close it. I love the variegated deep green of Malachite. It reminds me of the deep green of leaves.

I have several designs of Ginkgo leaf earrings and pendants because the shapes and sizes are so many. They are very popular, so I make them over and over with different leaves which I pick, based on what is pleasing to my eye.

Dimensions : 1" X 3/4". Sterling Silver Ear wires. Instead comfortable Sterling silver Clip ons can be substituted for an additional charge.