It all started with a design that I thought they might like…

That I refined and checked to see if Atan thought it was okay, not telling them what I was thinking about trying to learn, to make or when.

1 Inch square is still a challenge to my beginners’ fine detail metal-working skill.

Time to do file work and clean up the shapes. Next, I thought about what would show off the sterling silver design the best.

I tried a nice piece of Mother of Pearl, like I use to inlay instruments. I seemed just “right” to my wife and me when we looked at it together. Now, how should I proceed to fasten and protect the thin 1in X 1in piece of shell?

I made a thin-walled pocket on the back just deep enough for the MOP shell and a silver backing plate that I burnished to lock the layers together.

It worked, and following a tip from a friend, Danny Barnes, I wicked some thin super glue into the edges. Then came the task of filing, sanding and polishing the piece. I think it came out well. Remember, it’s only an inch square, but full of LOVE!