Texturing and Shaping the Calyx and Leaves

The calyx is the green part that holds the bud, and splits when the flower blooms. It curls up under the petals, and generally isn't noticed, but it belongs there. So, I cut a five-limbed star, drill the center hole, and then texture it by peining completely with a ball-pein hammer, which also thins the metal towards the edges making it easier to shape later in the process.

Once this is done, each limb must be shaped into a "V" to indicate the curled-nature of the mature calyx. I do this by hammering a blunted chisel into the metal, which is sitting over a matching groove I made in the end grain of the stump that holds the anvil.

A rose has leaves composed of odd-numbers of leaflets. Generally, I add a three-leaflet leaf to a large rose. In a similar manner to the calyx, the leaves are textured with a hammer, and then veins are indicated by shaping with the blunted chisel over the same groove.

After texturing, I braze the calyx about one inch from the end of the stem. The leaflets are brazed to steel wire, and the three-leaflet leaves are assembled by brazing the wires together. When this has cooled, the end of the leaf is brazed into a hole drilled in the stem.