This is really a bit of begging for advice from member Goldsmith

[Truffle & Podge]

Hi James & anyone else who can help :D
Ok probably getting way ahead of myself here but i want to ATTEMPT (eek) to make a silver lily, with each petal being about 4.5 cm in length. I want to attach this to a band towards the side (yup circlets again).
What kind of thickness do you suggest for the silver sheet? It's sort of in my head to kind of fold form the petals separately, i want wobbly edges around the tip of the petal.
Am i mad? Has anyone got any advice about any part of this, even if it is to talk me out of trying :rofl:
Thanks guys
Tasha
X

[Goldsmith]

Well Tash you are a lucky girl, as I have made a few lilies in my time. The ones I made were full size, 18ct gold and enamelled and the last pair I made I took a range of photos of my process, so here goes. I used 0.3mm. thick sheet. I hope the photos make sense, if not please feel free to ask any questions.

James

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[Goldsmith]

This was the finished lily bloom, they were for the tops of a pair of plique a-jour enamelled lampshades.

James

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[Truffle & Podge]

James you are incredible!
Do you have any tips for shaping the petals without having to buy doming etc materials? Doing it in two stages and pre drilling a hole in each is such a fab idea!
:X
Tasha
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[Goldsmith]

James you are incredible!
Do you have any tips for shaping the petals without having to buy doming etc materials? Doing it in two stages and pre drilling a hole in each is such a fab idea!
:X
Tasha
X

In my first photo you can see a block of hard wood with a grooves filed in it, this is gripped in a vise and then I use the middle shaped hammer to start the shaping. Then I use a doming punch to shape one end of each petal. After annealing I then use the steel rod with filed grooves, again gripped in the vise while I hammer each petal into the curved shapes. Then I use the wooden block again, look closely and you will see a small groove filed on the narrow width. This is used to add the crinkles along each petal. Then I solder the petals together in threes. The hammers are only cheap ball peign and panel pin hammers, ground and filed to suit my shaping purposes.

James

[Truffle & Podge]

having a look at .3 sheet and thinking dare I? On such a tight budget i'm so scared of messing up
X

[ShinyLauren]

having a look at .3 sheet and thinking dare I? On such a tight budget i'm so scared of messing up
X

Could you have a practice with gilding metal or copper first? Cheaper way to try out a new technique.

[Goldsmith]

I always practice with copper when making flowers, a useful process which leaves me with patterns for further reminders on how I made it.

James