Mexican Hat Transformation into Jewelry

by Cora Baillie.
(Christchurch, New Zealand)

Mum’s Mexican hat

One of Mum’s favourite souvenirs, the Mexican hat had sat on her coffee table for a long time, but no one wanted it, so I took it for the silver.

It was a shame to melt it down as I appreciated the quality of the raised work and the time that took to do, so it sat on my bench for a while.

Then I thought – 4 flowers and 4 grand daughters.

I cut out the flowers with my jeweller’s saw.

The pieces were too flexible to be on their own so I backed them up with a piece of brass that my father had given me when I set up my bench (also thinking of my father’s strength and support).

The pieces cut out and backed.

I found some short pieces of chain in my stash (where did they come from?), a couple of rivets each, a couple of jumprings each and they’re done.

So I have four bracelets or decanter labels – or the granddaughters can change the short chain for a longer one to make a pendant.

Finished!

And I have some pieces left over – a ‘road cone’ which is destined to be a thimble, and some scraps.

Cora Baillie
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