So today I learned a few valuable things about Verdigris Patina. I've always loved the look of that aged green on garden rooftops and thought it would meld quite nicely with my Summer jewelry pieces, including copper flowers, leaves, and different types of Fauna. So I googled "Verdigris Patina Solution". Behold! A fellow Etsian's shop popped up, so I ordered a small, cutely designed bottle of teal filled patinaing glory. http://missficklemedia.etsy.com
I'll state now that the seller did clearly state to either purchase how to color using patina's from the shop or look it up yourself. Easy! I thought; it's probably the same process as using liver of sulphur to color metals, Step 1: Heat water
Step 2: Mix Sulphur
Step 3: Add Metals
Step 4: Wait
So after about 5 minutes of completing this process I returned to check on my copper flower. It was not green, it was nowhere near green, it is in fact covered in a reddish rust that appears to be flaking off of my flower and into the bottom of the coloring bowl.
Maybe I should have invested in the coloring instructions after all. After a good hour of searching for information on google, I've discovered Verdigris is POISONOUS. Great, so now I have to purchase some type of shelack to cover the "verdigris" finish on all of my pieces. This already is a longer road than I wanted to go down. If I knew it was going to be this much of a bother I would have just faux painted it on or tried to figure out another technique. Well, now I'll try to paint it on directly to the copper findings, I just have to remember not to touch anything and wash my hands really well.
I'll state now that the seller did clearly state to either purchase how to color using patina's from the shop or look it up yourself. Easy! I thought; it's probably the same process as using liver of sulphur to color metals, Step 1: Heat water
Step 2: Mix Sulphur
Step 3: Add Metals
Step 4: Wait
So after about 5 minutes of completing this process I returned to check on my copper flower. It was not green, it was nowhere near green, it is in fact covered in a reddish rust that appears to be flaking off of my flower and into the bottom of the coloring bowl.
Maybe I should have invested in the coloring instructions after all. After a good hour of searching for information on google, I've discovered Verdigris is POISONOUS. Great, so now I have to purchase some type of shelack to cover the "verdigris" finish on all of my pieces. This already is a longer road than I wanted to go down. If I knew it was going to be this much of a bother I would have just faux painted it on or tried to figure out another technique. Well, now I'll try to paint it on directly to the copper findings, I just have to remember not to touch anything and wash my hands really well.
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