Fire Poppy

Forest fires wreak destruction and havoc on heavily wooded landscapes. However, they also allow plants like fire poppies to sprout. Fire poppies and other "fire followers" rely on the fire to tell them that it's time to sprout, bringing beauty to a landscape scarred by flames.
 
I start by hand-linking stainless steel rings together to form the base for the flower, then subject the pendant and base to temperatures ranging from 400-630F. The fire brings out different colors in the steel, as if it has been through a forest fire.
 
The result is a necklace with colors ranging from pale yellows to deep blues and purples - colors as variegated as fire.