METALSMITHING PROJECTS ON MY OWN!

It's been a good while since I  posted on my  blog!!  I have been keeping busy and trying some new things based on the classes I took at the Appalachian Rock Shop.  Sooner or later, when we learn something new, we have to go it alone!!  I am posting pictures of some things I created after finishing up my summer classes.  One of the items, a beautiful labrodorite cabochon that I put into a sterling silver pendant, sold within days of posting it on Facebook.  I was so excited that I managed to create it without any major issues and more excited that someone loved it as much as I did.

 

Most recently, I have been working on Lotus Pendants.  A client requested a jewelry item that was meditation related and I did some searches, coming up the lotus flower and of course, crystals.  So I went to work, sawing, sanding, polishing, wire wrapping, soldering, and breaking lots of saw blades along the way.  I used copper and sterling - plain, hammered, layered - and these are the pendants I ended up with.  Hope you like them.  I have a show this weekend, but hope to get them listed on Artfire next week.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

A WEEK IN METALSMITHING

I loved my daughter's layered metal cross pendant (previous post) so much that I decided to make more for my Artfire store.  In my search for patterns that I thought would look good cut into metal, I found a "fire/flame" pattern that I loved.  I like the way the flames bend and curve and come out looking somewhat like a hand.  I tried different textures on the crosses and went with something simple on the flames to give them added interest.  I also played with different types of bales to see what worked for me and was visibly pleasing.  I think they all work and would appeal to your personal style.  I used copper and sterling silver filled sheet to complete the projects.  Argentium silver is used for one of the bails.  I plan to add chain or leather cord to complete them.  

Everything didn't go smoothly and I had some re-dos, but overall, I was pretty happy with what I accomplished on my own.  Next - I am thinking of a wire heart I'd like to try.  Maybe today! 

Have a great week.  Blessings, Anita

A MOTHER DAUGHTER METALSMITH CLASS

Well,  my classes in metalsmithing are long over and I had to  take the push to do some things on my own,  without the guidance of my teacher, Jolan.  My first step in that direction was the ring for my friend, Jeanne.   Then my daughter got me started again because she wanted a layered metal pendant... and she wanted me to teach her!   I was very intimidated, because I don't feel I am ready to teach anyone something I only just learned myself.  But I pushed onward and it was a great bonding time for mother and daughter.  She is already creative by nature and a quick learner.  So I had her come up with a design and showed her how to use a saw.  What a trooper she was - she cut out her design, breaking only one blade.  My first time sawing was awful, sawing lots of "wood" on the block and I know I went through more than one blade.  So now I am feeling a bit more intimidated, but VERY proud of my daughter.  Here is her finished pendant.

We then went to work on her cross pendant, cleaning, filing, sweat soldering, more cleaning and filing, and voila!  A beautiful pendant.  Being the perfectionist that she is, she was not happy that the cross was not perfectly square on the backing, but I told her that is often the nature of handmade - it does not have to be perfect!  The only thing she did not have a hand in was the soldering, but that will change with the next project - her own layered ring.  She has already cut out her pieces to go on top of the band.  She created her own pattern using texturing scissors, cutting out pattern on heavy paper.  She traced it onto onion skin paper which was glued onto the metal for sawing.  She did a great job sawing out the pattern.  We are awaiting more metal sheet so we can finish up the ring.  I will post a picture when it's completed.  In the meantime, is a picture of the copper elements we are using.  More later!  Anita

A New Ring for an Old Friend

And that is not to say that she is old, but that we have been friends now for about 30 years!  My friend, Jeanne, got me on my way to creating jewelry about eight years ago!   I have gone from beading to chainmaille, wire wrapping, and now metalsmithing.  As you read in my previous posts, I learned to sweat solder a band ring and Jeanne liked it so much, she asked me to create one for her.  It is made with nickle silver and a copper overlay.  I made a soft curve in the copper and added texture with the diamond head of my interchangeable head texturing hammer (a great little tool!).  The metals were sweat soldered together with cleaning, filing and sanding as needed between steps.  The only problem I ran into was in the sizing...I need to get that process down!  But it was easily remedied by leaving the back of the band open.  I am very proud of the end result!  My next project is a pendant I am working on using copper and sterling silver filled materials.  More later.  In the meantime, here is a picture of Jeanne's ring!

Artfire Metalsmith's Guild

It's a new year and I am starting the year with some new challenges.  One of those is belonging to the Artfire Metalsmith's Guild.  I will be linking some of my blog posts with the guild, including featuring other member artists.  There is such great talent out there!   I will start out giving you a link to our guild master, Canadian Rockies Art, featuring her Peruvian Blue Opal ring! 
Canadian Rockies Art

Nathalie's workmanship is beautiful and I especially love that she uses a lot of copper in her creations.  

While you're at it, take some time and to check out the guild site and see the works of all its talented members.    Artfire Metalsmiths Guild

Blessings!  Anita

METALSMITHING - WEEK 8 WITH JO AT THE APPALACHIAN ROCK SHOP

We are getting down to the wire now with one project left and two weeks to complete it!   I was excited to have completed the layered metal ring this week!  We hammered it into a C-shape on the ring mandrel, using a leather mallet.  Then, using the pliers, we then the ends together and held the ring up to the light looking for gaps.  For a good solder, we needed the ends to be flush.  Some additional filing was completed and  the piece was made ready for soldering.  The ring was fluxed and pinned to the fire brick seam side up.  The solder was a success, the piece cleaned, sanded and polished!  And this is the final result.  For my first ring, I think it came out pretty well!   I actually had someone ask me to make them one just like it!  What a great compliment!  I know I still have so much to learn to refine the skills I am learning, but it's going to be a wonderful adventure!  Here is a picture of the ring!

Our next and last project - a bezel set ring - I picked out my stone, an oval agate (cut and polished by one of the other students here).  I am in love with this beautiful stone and the lovely earthtones creating a beautiful piece of art!  Our instructor, Jo, went over the fundamentals of choosing bezel wire, sizing it around the stone, marking and cutting.  Following her lead, this was accomplished and the  bezel was readied for soldering.  There was a small amount of overlap, so some filing was done to make sure the bezel would sit flush to the back plate for the next soldering step.  This was all we had time for today - but we accomplished a lot in our three hours!  Here are photos of the stone and bezel and the back plate we will be using in the next step!  We are working with sterling silver and I decided to keep it pretty simple for my first project!  More next week.  Thanks for looking.   Feel free to leave a comment! 

Week Six/Seven - Metalsmithing

I lost a week of class due to illness, but was back yesterday to continue working on my layered copper and silver ring.  I was able to make up some of the lost time yesterday and got quite a bit accomplished.  Previously, I had cut out the design in the copper layer of my band ring and had done some of the filing and smoothing at home.  Yesterday I continued that process.   The ring was wider than I wanted, so I sawed both pieces to the desired width and continued filing and sanding the edges.  The pieces were placed in the pickle and scrubbed with soap and water with a brush.  After a coating of flux, the solder was placed on the back of the copper  piece and the first step of the sweat soldering was completed.  Back to the pickle and cleaning.  The pieces were fluxed and fit together on the fire brick.  We put some antiflux on the T-pins so the piece could be pinned/secured to the firebrick.  The antiflux was to prevent the pins from being soldered to the ring during the firing  process.  The solder flowed and the piece was quenched in water and put  back into the pickle for cleaning.  After cleaning, we were back to the filing and sanding process.  Each end of the ring needed to be filed straight for a flush fit in the next step.  I sanded the piece with various grits to clean off the scratches and excess solder.  Flux was added to the piece and it was fired to anneal the band for the next step!  Week seven will hopefully complete the ring!  I can't wait.  Hope it fits!  Our last project will be a bezel set ring!

Hammering and Forming Instructional Videos

I recently got a notification in my mailbox regarding two new metalsmithing videos. Since I am taking a metalsmithing class, it peaked my interest and I indulged myself and purchased Metalsmith Essentials: Basic Jewelry Hammering and Forming with Bill Fretz. Bill Fretz is well known for his complete lines of jewelers stakes and hammers. I also purchased Metalsmith Essentials: Hammering and Forming Jewelry, Vol. 2 with Bill Fretz. Since I am new to this area of jewelry design, I can only offer my best opinion of these videos without something to compare them to. I thought the videos were well coordinated, starting with the simplest of designs and working up to four or five others, all cuff bracelets, but each a little different. Of course, it showed the uses of all of the Fretz tools, but he took his time and went through all the relevant information required to complete one of his projects. He showed his use of filing and soldering techniques. I found both videos very interesting and a valuable resource for future reference. I highly recommend them! He's a great teacher and shows you up close what each tool is capable of helping you create. I will add a link where you can purchase them!
http://www.interweavestore.com/Jewelry-Making/DVDs-Videos/Metalsmith-Essentials-Basic-Jewelry-Hammering-and-Forming-Download-in-HD.html