Foxy Foxy (and a little giveaway)

Some very unusual behaviour took place in my studio yesterday - I put all my tools away (unusual in itself!) and got my pencils and sketchbook out and planned out a new design. On the rare occasion I do sketch it's usual doodles that may or may not turn into designs, but this time I sat down with a definite aim - a new Fox pendant to add to my growing Woodland Collection. A little research on Pinterest for illustrations of foxes, a few notes on what I wanted to acheive, a set of pencils that I'd been given for my birthday years ago but hardly used - and I was off! Well, ok, I sat and looked at the blank page for a while, but then I was off!

It was actually fun, to work in a different way than usual, to sketch rather than go straight to sawing and hammering.

The next stage was to cut some copper - simple geometric shapes, textured, layered and soldered together. Experimentation with different textures and different faces. I always get a much better idea of how a piece of jewellery is going to work once it's made in metal, and metal pieces are never exactly the same as any sketches I do. Once the heads were cut out and the eyes added I realised that they also needed noses, and turning the sitting fox's head slightly to one side rather than straight on made him look friendlier.

I used my favourite hammer to texture the Fox's tail - of course!

I've just realised that taking the photos at a slight angle has made the faces look a little longer than they really are!

This was where working at the Sorting Office really helped! Working at home, I really only had the cats to ask for opinions and they weren't exactly much help. At the Sorting Office there is always someone about to ask, and feedback from Denise, Eve and Jason led me to change the eyes on the sleeping fox, and I then added some texture on the body to tie the design in more with the other pendants.......but I still can't decide.......

Which Fox gets a place in the Woodland Collection?

Sleeping Fox or Sitting Fox?

Or both?

A silver version of the Sitting Fox will have a textured body too.

I need some more help please! Can you help me decide? Which do you prefer?

As a little incentive, if you'd like to head over to my Facebook page and leave a comment on the Fox photos over there, when I get back into the studio on Tuesday I'll put all the names of the commenters in a hat. The winner gets a sterling silver Fox pendant of their choice, either sleeping or sitting. And a chain to put it on of course!

Thank you, and have a great weekend!