Turkish metalsmith and wire worker, Berna, says she is self taught. However, her gorgeous designs and tutorials for BernaDerin is an amazing testament to the amount of hard work and passion she has poured into her craft.
She uses mostly copper, a versatile metal which has interesting properties and uses besides for jewelry making (see below for more information). She is superb at making wire work cuffs especially with the braiding technique, sometimes with gemstones included. She considers many of her designs as male jewelry but really, I can see many women loving them too. So unisex is a better description.
Many of her tutorials also include how to make various weaves.
Amazing Properties and Uses of Copper
People have appreciated the beauty of copper and used it for at least 10,000 years. There is more to copper than just its lovely color and its decorative use.
Ancient Egyptians used copper for their water pipes. Explorers like Christopher Columbus relied on copper sheathing on his ships' hulls to protect them from barnacles and other infestations. Modern ships still use copper based paints to do the job.
Later on in the 18th and 19th centuries, scientists like Ampere, Faraday and Ohm revolutionised our use of copper because they discovered copper's amazing electrical conductivity and heat transfer properties. It is now a very important industrial metal. We also use copper in coinage, in cookware, roofing, statues and in jewelry. Sterling silver contains 7.5% copper. Brass and bronze are copper alloys or mixtures.
Copper also has biomedical applications. It is biostatic which means bacteria won't grow on it which is why some hospitals have copper door knobs. Copper piping is vital for air-conditioning systems to reduce the possibility of Legionnaire's disease. Some companies like Cupron have found ways of incorporating copper into textiles making antimicrobial bed linen for hospitals possible. These textiles will still work despite numerous washings.
But copper supplies are finite. According to USGS data, since 1950 there has always been, on average, 40 years of copper reserves and over 200 years of resources left. Fortunately for us, copper is one of the few materials which can be recycled repeatedly without any loss of its performance - that is, there is no difference between using recycled or mined copper.
Later on in the 18th and 19th centuries, scientists like Ampere, Faraday and Ohm revolutionised our use of copper because they discovered copper's amazing electrical conductivity and heat transfer properties. It is now a very important industrial metal. We also use copper in coinage, in cookware, roofing, statues and in jewelry. Sterling silver contains 7.5% copper. Brass and bronze are copper alloys or mixtures.
Copper also has biomedical applications. It is biostatic which means bacteria won't grow on it which is why some hospitals have copper door knobs. Copper piping is vital for air-conditioning systems to reduce the possibility of Legionnaire's disease. Some companies like Cupron have found ways of incorporating copper into textiles making antimicrobial bed linen for hospitals possible. These textiles will still work despite numerous washings.
But copper supplies are finite. According to USGS data, since 1950 there has always been, on average, 40 years of copper reserves and over 200 years of resources left. Fortunately for us, copper is one of the few materials which can be recycled repeatedly without any loss of its performance - that is, there is no difference between using recycled or mined copper.
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Original Post by THE BEADING GEM
I was surprised that Berna thinks her jewelry is for men. I didn't see that at all when I looked through the pics. Each piece is a little bit of perfection. I know I would be happy to wear anything she's made. Off to take a wander through her shop and drool.
ReplyDeleteHere is Berna's answer : I read the comments 🙂 haha , yes she's right all designs are actually unisex , I'm not thinking that they are just " for men " AT ALL but being advertised for men turns both men and women into buyers , ladies choose to buy for men more than for themselves and mens buying more just for themselves 🙂
DeleteIn my personal experience just %10 of men are buying gifts for ladies , about %50 for themselves and %40 are the ladies buying gifts for men in their life ( colleagues , relatives , boyfriends , husbands etc )
Gorgeous jewelry, indeed! But also a plethora of braiding patterns! And I love the bracelet clasps that are just like wire buttons for clothing :)
ReplyDeleteThe first pendant is breathtaking! all of these are gorgeous, and not just for men. I have to ask, will it turn the skin green?
ReplyDeleteHi Cally - Here is Berna's answer : For the second question , yes copper may turn the skin greenish , blueish , brownish depends on the heavy body toxins , heavy condiments consumed daily , oversweating , over body sebum etc .
DeleteI'm wearing copper bracelets , anklets and since I have been in a ketogenic diet for 3 years with zero sugar , very low carbs , zero processed foods , no seed oils etc , I don't get any greenish skin anymore , copper it's a good health indicator actually 🙂🙂