Jen June 30th, 2008
I can’t believe it’s the last day of June. Where did this month fly to?!? I’m not quite through with Stephanie’s book and plan to finish but here are the latest pieces from my challenge.
Ever since seeing Jane Wynn’s awesome work, I’ve wanted to learn how to create a bezel. Here’s my first, and not so shabby, attempt. I used a piece of brass for the base and copper pipe for the actual bezel, filled with an animal molar and resin. I aged the metal with the Uzzhhh (Michael’s name for the combination of Quinacridone Gold/Black). My daughter the metalsmith said it was good. Woot!
Again, pretty proud of this one. All the chain is handmade as are most of the elements. I learned SO much from this one. I can’t tell you how stoked I am at all the techniques I’ve picked up from doing each project in this book.
This is a work in progress, as I need to fill the bezel with resin. As I was painting the plaster bird piece, it cracked. Not enough to actually break apart but it got me thinking. So I pulled it apart, painting the raw edges then glued it into the bezel. I love the crack! I have a couple more pieces still drying - a resin ring and a plaster bezel - that I’ll post when done.
It’s been a long and wonderful journey and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed visiting everyone’s progress as they’ve worked through their books. Kudos to y’all for taking the challenge. As tomorrow is Canada Day here in, well, Canada, I will post July’s challenge on Wednesday. I’m also thinking of doing some sort of give away for all these pieces I’ve made so stay tuned for that.
Jen June 24th, 2008
As promised here’s the leather cuff with the plaster cast included. The imprint was from a goofy little doll I have kicking around though I did end up chopping off his forehead so he’d fit more easily on the band. I also used brass etchings for the ends and practised my hook closure rather than add ribbon. Again, apologies for the photo quality. This little stuff is making my camera ..erm.. barf.
Another project that didn’t get photographed right away. This one was for earrings - which I didn’t make - and a ring using wire to create the nest and beads for eggs. I really like this idea and have seen other jewelry artists use it. It reminded me a lot of knitting with wire.
Continuing on with the cuff theme, here’s one made using etched brass as the main element. As I don’t have easy access to a copier/laser printer, I simply stamped the brass and then etched. I added some eraser dots (use a clean, new pencil eraser end as a stamp) on the side and wrapped the duct tape to create a border. I’m pretty pleased with this one. And it’s actually quite comfortable to wear too!
My silversmith daughter thought this ring was pretty funny. She was taught by Master Goldsmith Orland Larson so the very idea of using solder as the basis of a ring is anathema to her. I say, "Expand your horizons, Girl!" 
I would use a different stone next time, as even though it was quite pretty as a stand alone, it really doesn’t show up once surrounded by the solder and wire casing. Still. I’m ever so impressed with myself.
And the final photo for this update … and maybe my favourite to date … is my take on the spoon cuff. I didn’t have a sterling spoon, so decided to substitute a fork. I cut off the handle, flattened the tines, curling the outside ones and then stamped my work "Consistent" along the remaining handle. I used the word "Intent" for the metal charm as an homage to my New Year’s resolution to live in "tents" this year. Because I hacked off the handle, I needed a few more rings to be able to close the bracelet. With each subsequent project, my soldering skills are getting better and better. Oh! And lest you think I completely suck at the pounding metal thang, just so you know, I’m using a piece of some old tractor part as my anvil - it’s rusted and pitted so all my rings’n'things get that aged look right away. I WILL be buying myself a proper anvil - or smooth steel substitute - but until then? Rustic jewelry BayBee!
Jen June 19th, 2008
Part of working through tutorials is realizing that not everything will work out as was the author’s intention. So was yesterday’s project. I almost skipped this one because it really WAS jewelry based which is NOT my thing. But after reading through the instructions I saw that there were a few techniques that might come in useful so I motored on.
The first thing that became obvious was that my mini blow torch just wasn’t up to making really BIG beads on the end of the wire. And not having 18 gauge wire was going to bite me in the butt. I swallowed and grabbed my propane cannister and finally just lit the thing. Fear: 0; Jen: 1. I was beading my 20 gauge wire with gay abandon. I managed to set more stacks of buttons on fire than my nose cares to remember - buttons of questionable heritage smell BIG time - but I eventually got the hang of the angle and was ready to proceed. Then I got to the part where I needed to drill holes in the now flattened balls. Okay. Here’s where the gauge became a BIG factor. My measly 20 gauge would just shatter under the pressure of the drill. Likewise my handy dandy screw hole punch I purchased for Linda & Opie’s book last year. My awl worked sometimes but the wire would yield to the wood block and on more than one occasion remained embedded. ARGH!
It was a lesson in frustration. Finally I managed to get 4 stacks made and moved on to the remainder of the tutorial. I didn’t have beading wire. I didn’t have crimping tools or the crimping thingees. I didn’t have any suitable resin danglies. I didn’t have a suitable chain. So. I improvised. And the end result looks like caraaap. But! Here’s what I learned:
- I can now make a hook closure - oh! the possiblities for shrines and boxes!
- I can draw a bead on wire!
- I know the difference between wire gauges and why you might need something heavier and not just because it might be stiffer.
- I can light/work with a propane torch.
- When faced with a project that really isn’t up your alley, decipher what the TRUE elements are and concentrate on those, leaving the rest behind.
And last but certainly NOT least…
- Always ALWAYS use quality materials no matter what!
I’m currently working on the leather bracelet with the plaster cast and am absolutely SMITTEN with that process. Photos will be forthcoming. Stay tuned!
Jen June 15th, 2008
Project 5 - Mini Book
This is Project 5 in Stephanie’s book Semiprecious Salvage. I used some of the text pages from a German religious book and a piece of metal from one of my etching forays. I only had a larger nut and bolt so once attached, filed the nut down and soldered the metal "cap" over top. I apologize for the fuzzy photo. I think I need a camera with a macro lens if I continue making itty bitty things! This was a very quick project so onto #6 and 7.
Project 6 - Bangle
I found this one to be very interesting to play around with. Initially, I was going to use a metal band and do something quite different but then decided to follow more closely to Stephanie’s instructions. I used copper - which I realize is a no-no for wearable art but figured this would end up being a head adornment for a doll at some point and as far as *I* know, dolls don’t turn green. 
I started pulling out some fabric to add but frankly? it started to tick me off, not laying properly, really requiring me to pull out needle and thread and I just wasn’t in the mood today. So instead I grabbed some bones and teeth (of course!) and rusty bits of metal and pounded and wrapped and wired and I really like how this turned out!
Project 7 - Toggle Necklace
This project, again, went together pretty quickly. I dumped all the associated metal dangly bits into a dish of patina while I FINALLY figured out how to draw a bead on wire (HINT: for lesser torches hold the wire horizontally until it gets good and hot. Then it will bead much better.) I also took quite a long time to get the stone wrapped the way I wanted. But the remaining pieces went together lickety split.
I’m thoroughly enjoying myself and am amassing quite a collection of metally dangly bits. Whatever will I do with them all?!?
Jen June 12th, 2008
So I did another etched piece today for Project 4 in Semiprecious Salvage. The original project calls for a doll’s hand as the dangly from the bottom of the etched metal and dutifully I grabbed one from my stash - actually NOT bisque but some composite plastic stuff from ’40s/’50s dollies. It had shattered …erm… disintegrated more like and I really loved the jagged edges. I sloshed on some quin gold/black (ACTUALLY it wasn’t black but dirty pthalo’y turquoise’y black water from my dirty brushes container!) drying with a heat gun to adhere to the hand. LOVE how this turned out! Though I chose not to use it for this project.
Apologies for such a lousy photo. I can’t seem to take my picture out of a paper bag these days! The wee heart charm has "xox" engraved into it and wrapped with rusty wire.
I ended up using a little ballerina from my Hannah Grey stash. I cut off the base and painted her within an inch of her life, drilled a hole in the top of her head (causing her head to fall off I might add. Doh!) glued in a loop of silver wire.
I tried using duct tape as a resist and absolutely adore how it turned out. Truth be told, I’m still pretty smitten with the whole etching process. You can see the unetched sections on the top - uneven because of two widths of duct tape - and left hand side which sorta looks like a reflection in this photo but is actually the metal. I did the text etching but don’t have ready access to a copier and simply used some sheets of print grabbed from the recycle bin. Again, it looks nubbier, not very text like but there are a number of spots that in reality show up well. Because I didn’t create my own text, this is backwards and NOT white text on black background. Hey! Improvisation is key in these sort of book work-throughs.
I added a star stamp over top and really love the juxtaposition of the two. The beads were things I had kicking around and cut them shorter to create more of a dangly than necklace. I’m pretty pleased with the results.
Oh! Jewelry people! Question! Why oh why am I having such a hard time creating wraps with the silver wire I have? Not the right gauge? Not the right type of silver wire? I’m okay with the rusty wire I have which IS harder. But this silver stuff? Oy vei! It keeps snapping as I wrap. Help!
