Small Sacred Heart (wall hanging): Hammered copper, nickel and brass.
In my study of mixing metals and exploring new metals. I looked at the Hopi and Navajo jewelry in the area and talked with some of the folks around the craft. At this stage of my career, I don't have the patience for, or see myself in the market of, creating small works. I would rather work bigger and buzz the shapes out with a plasma cutter, then sawing with a fine saw (one of my limits). I have never worked with silver, other than a few small pieces of silver soldier. I prefer my copper phosphorous alloy rods and I am very sloppy by jewelry standards.

I have adopted thier popular silver flux (for brass braising), layering principals, and use of poor man's silver (nickel). The idea of "Stick the clean edges together, let the rest run wild, and grind and polish them all together" was profound to me. Discussions with Bob at The Raven's Nest in Sedona (a 30 year silversmith and restorer of fine antique (old pawn) silver work) have improved my processes dramatically.

Bob knows his history and I could sit for hours listening to him talk about the symbolism in Native American work.