Thank you, Dianne! And also thanks for the details about the niobium.

Thank you so much, Debra! 🙂

Carla, thank you for your kind message. And I will be very interested in the results of your experiment!

For those who are sensitive to copper ear wires, niobium is a great substitute. I have one customer who can’t wear any metal, (not even silver or gold!) at all so I did some research and we tried the niobium… Success! It’s pretty much become my go to on any pieces where high-shine silver or gold isn’t appropriate. You can get them premade or get the wire to make them yourself.

Michelle, thank you! 🙂

Ann L., thank you for your lovely comment – you made my day!

Amanda, thank you! I loved making these earrings, and my favorite part was watching the colors develop with the egg patina.

Hi Gloria, thanks for your lovely message, and for asking about the patina procedure! First I have to say that even when I do everything the same way for the egg patina, the colors rarely come out the same.

When I used this patina on the hammered metal earrings, I first scrubbed the metal pieces with baking soda and dish soap to remove all traces of oils or other elements that may resist the patina. I dried the metal pieces thoroughly and put them in a sandwich baggie. I used 1 boiled egg that stayed in boiling water for about 10 minutes, then took the hot boiled egg out of the water and put the egg immediately into a sandwich-size ziplock bag, and zipped the bag tightly shut. Keeping the baggie sealed, I crushed the egg (shell and all), and surrounded the metal pieces with the crushed egg bits, keeping the eggs NOT touching the metal, so the fumes could start affecting the metal. I never leave the baggie while the colors are developing, because I want to pull the metal out as soon as I see some colors I really like. And I leave the baggie sealed until I decide I like the colors and open the baggie to to get the colored metal out. I watched the metal pieces for probably 5 to 10 minutes as they turned all sorts of colors until I saw these particular colors.

Now, this procedure is not an exact science, so unfortunately it’s not always possible to replicate a color that you or anyone else has had with a previous project. In my experience, homemade patina procedures are difficult to control or predict the colors (which is part of the creative fun). There are so many factors that affect the color outcome – temperature, type of metal, how old the eggs are, how many eggs you use, how long you leave the metal in the egg baggie, how the metal was cleaned, etc. The blueish results in the egg patina video tutorial were on sterling silver. I used copper for these hammered earrings, and the egg created more of a rainbow of colors with lots of brick red, orange and pink.

I hope this helps, Gloria, and I hope you enjoy experimenting with this patina process! 🙂

My pleasure, Daphne. To me the best part of homemade patina procedures is that the colors are always a surprise!

Janet, thank you so much for your lovely message, and for reflecting what you saw in this post! I so appreciate your comment. Wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful year! 🙂

Thanks, Erinn! 🙂

Yeelen Spirit, thank you! When you do any patina procedure, it’s super-important to make sure the metal is completely clean and dry, with no fingerprints or anything else that may resist the patina.

Chris, you’re very welcome! I think you’ll find metalwork very addictive. 🙂

Thanks so much, Val! I agree – hammering metal can be very satisfying. 🙂

Virginia, thank you so much for your kind comment. And thanks also for your info and tips regarding earwire allergies and the Niobium alternative. I learned years ago that the only earwires my skin likes are sterling silver and 14k gold filled – although I haven’t tried niobium in my own ear piercings.

Linda, thank you for sharing your sharp edge trimming technique – very helpful! 🙂

I dearly love your newsletter and look forward to every issue!

One suggestion for this earring design is to offer alternative ear wires other than copper. Many folks have severe skin allergies to metal ear wires that are not pure precious metals, like myself. I didn’t realize my pierced ears would break out into a miserable rash until I wore anything BUT pure Sterling Silver, or at least gold plated earring wires. However, I have found a solution to those who have skin allergies and want to wear economical earring wires that “look” like copper, which is Niobium wire. This lovely wire comes in a wide variety of colors and is Hypo-allergenic. Niobium is a rare precious metal, highly desirable for earring wires because it is physiologically inert, thus Hypo-allergenic. It is a low cost alternative to Sterling Silver or Gold. I use “copper” colored Niobium wire that goes very well with my copper earrings. I can assure my customers that they will not suffer from a skin rash in most cases. (There are a very small percent of folks who are even allergic to GOLD! But, for the vast majority, Niobium wire is a good Hypo-allergenic substitute for copper.)

I love your hammered triangle design, it is very classy and you have provided easy to follow step-by step instructions!

Thank you, Jean – that’s lovely to hear!

Thanks, Lynda!

You’re very welcome, Edyta! I’d love to see how your patina project turns out! Remember to get your metal completely clean and dry before starting the patina procedure.

Thank you, Marie! Yes, when the patina is finished and dry, I seal the patina using a clear spray lacquer. Apply at least three light coats of lacquer on every patina surface of the metal, drying each coat thoroughly before applying the next coat. I use a clear, matte-finish, spray-on sealant called “Tree House Studio” Clear Acrylic Matte Coating, from Hobby Lobby. Krylon also has a product that’s pretty much the same thing, and about the same price.

Hi Edyta! Thanks for asking about the colors in egg patina – a fun and fascinating process. In my experience, homemade patina procedures are difficult to control or predict the colors (which is part of the creative fun). There are so many factors that affect the color outcome – temperature, type of metal, how old the eggs are, how many eggs you use, how long you leave the metal in the egg baggie, etc. The blueish results in the egg patina video tutorial were on sterling silver. I used copper for these hammered earrings, and the egg created more of a rainbow of colors with lots of brick red, orange and pink.

Thank you so much, Moogie! You just made my day. 🙂