But it's fine silver.

As I mentioned in an earlier post, working on crosses in metal clay is delicate work.  I can't tell you how many pieces I have broken during the sanding process.  It's not so much sanding the edges but trying to sand the surface that I seem to have the most trouble.

This past week I was making a cross for a friend when I broke it three separate times.  Repairing metal clay in the dry state is fairly easy (as long as the edges line up.)  And, it's usually just as sturdy as if it hadn't broken.  The repairs went well...... until I dropped it.  It broke in two "different" places.  Once again, back to repairing it.  This time though I pasted it to a bigger cross to give it strength (and made my friend a new one.)

After firing the piece I added a patina.  Darn..... wouldn't you know it the patina came out a beautiful shade of blue. I decided to leave it (although it will continue to darken.)  The reason I say darn, is because fine silver is expensive and now it doesn't look like silver.  It looks like copper.  

Oh well, I like it and hopefully someone else will too.