This is a short description of how the origami are made--they aren't charms, but real folded origami made from a special kind of silver 'paper'.

Here the origami cranes are before they're fired. There are also some flat cut outs I experimented with and the ladybug; I had added a finding on the ladybug using some of the 'paper' and other silver clay and needed to fire it to attach it permanently.

The cranes are nestled in vermiculite contained in a terra-cotta dish so that the wings won't droop as they're fired.

This is the kiln I use to fire the silver clay. It takes the silver 'paper' about 30 minutes at 1650 degrees Fahrenheit to burn away the material holding the microscopic sized bits of fine silver and let the silver sinter into a solid piece. Though it takes a short time to fire, the kiln takes several hours to cool enough for the silver to be removed safely.

Once fired, the cranes come out of the kiln with a white, almost crystaline finish that needs to be burnished to a fine silver sheen. Currently I burnish all the cranes by hand to a sheen; however, the silver can be burnished to have a mirror finish.

A finished pair of earrings, with the cranes burnished to a high sheen.

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