Took the plunge

Debra helping Cathy with her piece

We dried our pieces in a dehydrator, but also used this very formal method of drying our pieces. It was a good thing it didn't rain.

Some of Debra's unfired examples.

Well, I finally took the plunge and tried copper clay. (Bronze may be next.)

I had been putting off trying one of the other clays because there seemed to be so many variables and all the kinks weren't worked out yet. Besides, I really hadn't explored all there is to know about the silver clay. But thanks to Jan Durkin, one of the founding members of the Western Pennsylvania Metal Clay Guild, we had the opportunity to take a class on copper clay on Sunday from Debra Weld. So I went for it.

Debra is well known for her addition of color to metal. She offered just such a class on Saturday and I would have taken that class too, except for that important factor of money. But on Sunday, when I saw people wearing what they had made on Saturday, I was sorry that I didn't take it.

Oh well, I got to take the copper clay class on Sunday and that was great. We learned lots, made lots of copper pieces and just plain had a good time. It was a fun group to work with and Debra fit right in.

Debra and Jan both took work home to fire. I brought mine with me as I've had the necessary equipment for a year and decided it was time to try it.

Another thing that kept me from using the bronze was the amount of time needed to fire the clay. Copper takes more time than silver but not as long as the bronze. There is no need to ramp the kiln up slowly when firing the copper and once it hits the temperature (sorry, too lazy to go down stairs and look at my notes) the firing time is only 3 1/2 hours. That I can do.

Copper clay only comes in the clay form. But, compared to silver clay it is soooo much cheaper. 100 grams costs around $20. When was the last time we could buy 100 grams of silver clay for $20? Since there is no syringe clay in copper, we had to roll tiny little snakes for our linear elements. Paste had to be made from the lump clay and only lasts a couple of days before it begins to oxidize. It is important to make sure the seams and joins in copper clay are thoroughly joined. Otherwise they might pop apart during the firing. (Hope mine are stable.)

Like silver clay, moisture and pressure are key elements when combining pieces.

I'll probably fire my pieces later this week. First I have to fire my coconut charcoal (which is the best kind for copper clay) before I can fire the copper pieces in it. I made sure I had a special set of tools dedicated to copper only. I don't want to cross contaminate the clay with my silver and ruin anything. I'll be sure to share photos, once the pieces are fired.

The class was wonderful, the instructor was first rate and the people were so much fun. I'm glad I took the plunge.

Lemon wedge

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was combining my lemon wedge bead made during Barbara Becker Simon's class, with one of her handmade beads. It has been sitting on my bench ever since I got home. I'm not sure this is the final version, but it will do for now. It is much bigger than what I usually make or wear. Maybe it will be the beginning of a new me. (Nah!)

No more self-diagnosing

Finally broke down and went to the doctor today. I don't have the swine flu. But, I do have pneumonia. Thank goodness it is not contagious. At least now I will be taking something for it

Only made it into the studio once this week. Thought about it today but didn't make it. This pneumonia stuff saps the energy right out of you.

There is work to do and it's not getting done. Trying to get back to unfinished projects before I open any more clay. Got lots of fired pieces that have been sitting in a dark box just waiting to talk to me and lots of beads that need to be married to the metal.

The new fall schedule of classes needs to be made up, more Foxburg jewelry needs to be made, a flyer for the monthly Chamber newsletter needs to be written up and my friend's earrings need to be enameled. I need to take more photos, update my Etsy site (it is so neglected) and update my photo album. I am so behind.

CURSE YOU PNEUMONIA ...... life is too busy to be sick!

Yes they did!

Got my answer today from the Paragon Guru and the code for the newest software is E-1.

Maybe I'm being anal about these kinds of things (but I've lived long enough that I'm allowed to be.) But why make a software code that begins with E when there is a whole list of Error Codes that begin with E? Are there not enough numbers and letters out there in the universe that another set couldn't be used? Wouldn't it make life a little less stressful if a different code had been used? Am I the only one bothered by this? (Probably!)

Sorry for my ranting. I've had what I think is the swine flu since last Saturday and the lack of sleep is affecting my brain.

But at least you now know that E-1 is not an error. Thank goodness since that controller wasn't cheap!

Screw loose

My controller came the other day and it was amazingly easy to install. (In case you ever need to do that. Okay, let's be realistic.... when you need to do it.) But when I turned it on another E code came up and of course it wasn't in the book. The old controller always came up with a 27-1 before the idle message appeared. I now know that was a software code. (It's amazing what you can find out from reading the manual..... most of the time.) But this was an E-1 (for Error.) Surely they didn't make a software code that began with E (but who knows!) But, the E-1 went away (just like the 27-1 did) and up popped the Idle. Did three firings and they all turned out great. Whew!!! I was sweating that one.

I did snitch a Phillips screwdriver from my husband's toolbox (hope he doesn't miss it) that made the job so much easier than the first time. And, I whipped off an email to Paragon to ask about that error code. I'll be sure to let you know what I find out.

The picture? That's my by-pass ring with the screw heads on it. (They're not a phillips head) There is a matching pair of earrings too.

Barbara Becker Simon class

Barbara demonstrating making a glass bead on a metal core

Examples of Barbara's lemon wedge bead.

Sunday's class.

Donna Bash working on her lemon wedge bead.

I spent the weekend in Pittsburgh at the Pittsburgh Glass Center. What a cool place. I've taken a couple of glass classes at the Glass Blowing Center in Hilliard, Pa, but I am not good at it. (But I really haven't practiced it either. I just remember the instructor saying how I was determined to burn myself..... which I came close to doing several times; but didn't.)

Anyway, Barbara Becker Simon was there all week giving a class on bead making and she agreed to stay a couple extra days to do a demo and workshop for both the glass and the metal clay people. Her first book came out in the spring and on Sunday she taught us how to make her lemon wedge bead, which was in the book. (Darn I forgot to take my copy to have her sign. I always do that!)

Saturday, we had a pot-luck luncheon at the Center and a demo by Barbara on combining glass and metal clay. She talked about all kinds of glass like ceramic tile, fused glass, beach glass, stained glass, etc. and using broken glass beads. The demo was so informative and I took so many notes. Although I probably didn't have to as Barbara often said ..... "it's in the book." (Did I take my book? Nooooo. So I had to check out other people's books. One of these days I'll get it right and take my books with me.)

Not only did we get lots of good information on combining glass with metal clay, but just watching someone else work is enlightening. Something as simple as wetting your cutting tools so they don't stick to your clay. Barbara had a container with a wet sponge in it that she used to add water to her brushes, her fingers and her cutting tools, just by dabbing it. I always added oil or Badger Balm to my cutting tools so they wouldn't stick. To do that I would put a dab on my fingers and wipe it on the edge, being very careful when I was oiling the tissue blade. (I messed up once and sliced my finger doing that method. Now I keep a box of band-aids in the studio. I'm a quick learner.) So, the wet-the-cutter method was one of those Aha, why didn't I think of that moments. (Thankfully, I wasn't the only one who hadn't thought of it.)

On Sunday we learned how to make her lemon-wedge bead. It was a little tricky. First of all we worked with 2 card thick clay, which made us nervous but it really is pretty sturdy. We had to bezel the edges of our pieces to make a clean fit. That was a little scary too. The flat side was bezeled with a file, but the curved piece was bezeled with an exacto knife. We were working to get a knife edge. To finish the pieces, Barbara showed us how to make the edges appear to flow into each other through carving and brushing with a damp stiff brush.

Everyone was successful. I bought one of Barbara's glass beads and plan on combining it with my Barbara Becker Simon bead. (Will post a picture when I have the design worked out.)

I'll also post some pictures of pieces combined with glass when I get them made. The demo has me all excited to get working again.

For now, I'm sharing pictures of the class on Saturday and Sunday. (I love taking classes. I could be a perpetual student. My husband thinks I'm crazy!)

The paper clip test

Well, I took the paper clip test today. It was easy, but not fun.

The studio has been a distant memory for me lately. I had my daughter and grandchildren up from NC the past two weeks and we spent five days with them when we took them back. Needless to say, they came first (most of the time) so I didn't do much jewelry making. But, today I finally made it to the studio. I stopped by in the morning to take some things up for my class and do a firing for one of my students. All went well.

Then I went golfing with my girlfriend. Again, all went well. I had a 48 which was only the second time I've ever been below 50. (Wish I could say that was for 18 holes, but it was for 9.) We had lunch, it was good.

After lunch I went back to the studio, to sand some pin pieces for Foxburg. They sanded up well. Not one broken piece. I loaded the kiln and proceeded to turn it on. Here's where it gets ugly. An unusual message came up.... ERRP. Do you think I could find that message in the list of error codes? (You probably already know the answer to that one.) For a while I couldn't do anything. Then finally, it allowed me to set a program. It went through PRO-1, PRO-2, PRO-3, PRO-4, PRO-5 and then started at PRO-1 again. Now I usually use a single speed firing which should have appeared after the PRO-5. It did not. I kept turning the darn thing on and off. (It worked once before, several months ago. That should have sent up a red flag!) Anyway, the darn thing wouldn't cooperate no matter what I did. No matter how many times I turned it off and on it wasn't going to make it to the single speed mode.

I hate talking on the phone, but there wasn't any other choice. I called the Paragon company (who must have thought I was an idiot for the way I was describing my problem. But, they were very nice.) She told me to unscrew the plate on the front of the kiln. First problem, I needed a Phillips screwdriver, mine was not a Phillips. (And I was battling the time element as this all happened close to closing time.) It took a little longer to get it unscrewed with the regular screwdriver but I did it. (Good thing I wore my screw earrings and ring today.) Then she told me to get a paperclip (second problem.... and then I remembered I had paper clipped the bills I mailed this morning. Lo and behold, it was still in my pocket! Good thing too as I didn't know where I was going to find a paper clip by closing time. I was starting to panic!!) I had to hang up the phone when I began all this. Luckily the Paper Clip test is explained in the kiln's manual. Imagine that!

Basically, you cut the clip in half creating a U-shaped piece of wire. Pull out some wires from the controller that lead to the element inside the kiln and insert the clip where the wires use to be. (Obviously the kiln should be unplugged when doing this. I learned the hard way that you don't lick an electric cord that has fallen into frosting. Don't ask!) Plug the kiln back in, turn it on, push the start button, and if it reads "Fail" you have a defective controller. Guess what......

my kiln "Failed" the paper clip test. A new controller costs $225. Guess I'd better get busy. Got a new bill to pay.