"Purple Cabbage" Etched Copper Earrings

by Raina Erwin
(Morrisville, NC)

This is the first metal etching I have ever done. I chemical etched copper sheet with the cross-section image of... wait for it... purple cabbage!! I was looking for an organic pattern that wasn't used everyday and it seemed like the perfect one.

I converted the photographic image to black and white and significantly increased the contrast to help make a good etch. Then I used a laser-printed transparency ironed onto the metal as an etchant mask.

I oxidized the sheet after polishing it, and then cut the square charms out. Using my round nose pliers curled the corners under to give them depth.

Then I drilled holes in each of them, and using 21 gauge sterling silver wire I added Czech glass beads in copper tones and sterling silver beads as an accent, tumbling the earrings to finish them.

The earring loops are safety wires, which work better for me with these larger earrings. They really aren't heavy though, and I love the tinkling sound they make when you walk!

I am meditating now on what to do with the rest of this etched sheet (that was only about 1/3 of the total piece I etched).

Raina Erwin
Kiliari Designs
Kiliari Designs on etsy