From a distance

The piece I made in Wanaree's class on making bezels with the Silhouette cutting machine and metal clay sheet is finally done.  From a distance it looks pretty good.  Just don't look too closely.  (I have to remember that it is a learning experience and with time and practice I will get better.)

The class was fun and for the most part didn't really stress me out too much.  (Except when the polymer stand-in, wrapped in contact paper kept popping out!)  When I wrapped my sheet metal bezel around my stone I thought it was a smidgen too long so I trimmed it.  (Bad idea........... now it was too short.)  So, I had a gap that messed up the rhythm of the design.  That had to be dealt with and I tried to fill it in with paste which wasn't the prettiest spot on the piece. But that could be dealt with after firing.

The pieces were laid on some kiln shelves with the bail laying on the lower level and cocked to one side.  This would keep the bail from binding with the loop on the piece and would help keep that same loop from curving. (There's a reason why I mention the position of the bail.)  My piece and several others were near the door of the kiln (which can be cooler) so they did not shrink enough to fit our stones.)

My friend Carol, offered to re-fire my piece so it would shrink more.  We fired at 1650 degrees for one hour.  (I forgot to mention how to position the bail during firing.)  It did indeed shrink quite a bit.  The bail also bound a bit with the loop but that came apart easily.  And..... the loop curved.  (Which didn't really hurt anything.)  But, during the second firing one of the little triangles on the bezel completely disappeared.  (It had a slight tear in it to begin with .)  Now, not only did I have to deal with smoothing the pasted gap area but I had to do something about the newly created gap.  (This was just getting to be more and more work........ but what else is new?)

I used my silhouette machine to cut out some small pieces that I had planned on using between some of the designs (particularly the two bad spots.)  I created my design, set up the machine and cut the design out.  But when I went to peel the contact paper off the design, I realized that I hadn't reduced the tackiness of the contact paper.  Wanaree did that by laying the contact paper on her arm then peeling it off.  That is just enough to reduce the stickiness.  So, back to doing it again.

With my extra designs cut out, I went about the task of adding them applique fashion to my existing bezel.  Wanaree adds them by picking the piece up with her brush.  (That just wasn't working for me...... something else I have to work on.)  I had to use tweezers, but I got it done.  Luckily for me, the extra smidgen that I cut off in the beginning seemed like it would fit into the newly created gap.  Used a little paste, held my mouth just right and it fit right in.  I got all the newly cut applique pieces pasted onto the already fired bezel and fired it for the third time.  (Of course holding my breath the entire two hours.)

Looked in the kiln and it looked perfect..... until I took it out.  Either I missed a spot or once again one of my pieces decided to take a vacation.  So..... I removed a few of the applique pieces in strategic places to make them look like it was planned.

I decided it was time to put in the stone and hammer the bezel around it.  After that was done, I did not like the way the applique pieces looked at all.  Plus, I had forgotten to add a little epoxy to the inside of the bezel because of the tiny pieces that could catch.   I couldn't take it anymore so I decided to "Step away from the clay" until today.

Today when I went to the studio, I got out my wire cutters and cut (or pried) off the applique pieces.  It finally looked better to me.  It's not as smooth as it could be because of the paste from the applique pieces but those tend to look like a design.

The last hurdle came when it was time to polish the piece.  Because of the tiny pieces on the bezel, I was trying to be very, very careful (which wasn't getting me anywhere fast.)  But the bezel piece is surprisingly sturdy and I really gave it a work over.   I used both hand sanding and my flex shaft to get the piece to shine.  There were sharp edges where I removed the applique, but the sanding process eliminated all of that and the piece is now smooth on the edges.

Despite all my mistakes (excuse me..... learning experiences) the piece did turn out okay.  As my learning piece it will be something I keep for myself.

Tomorrow, I'll post the back of this piece.  (The back is important too you know!)

More than Metal Clay

I love taking classes and expanding my metal clay knowledge and skills.

But more than learning about this amazing medium, the world of metal clay has opened a world of new friends.  When I first started making jewelry, I was working out of my daughter's old bedroom (turned home studio.)  Using a few books I taught myself metal clay.  Growth doesn't happen in a vacuum so I sought out classes (which were non-existent in my area.)

My first class was in NC.  My daughter and I went to a bead store and learned how to make an S-hook out of silver clay.  (I call that my $65 S-Hook, which really cost more than that since I had to take my own clay.)  It's a wonder I didn't quit after that one!

But, I persisted and headed to Tennessee to take a  PMC Connection Certification I Course with Leslie Tieke.  It was at that class that I made my first group of friends.  There were five of us and we hailed from PA, TN and SC.  We got along so well that we got together to take the Certification II class and some of us went back to Gatlinburg two more times for PMC Connection's Metal Clay Retreat.

I've made friends (both through being a student and having students) while in Florida.  Sarah Triton (AKA Sarasota Sarah) taught a class in Photo Polymer Plate making which creates molds from drawings.  My Florida students/friends hail from Canada and Maine.

Speaking of students, several of my students from my Transit Studio classes have become good friends that I get together with often........ Ginny and Deb!  (Also it's nice to have a studio in a building that has 23 artists studios....... more friends.)

Joining a guild (I really needed to seek out others who were doing what I was doing) has really added to my growing list of metal clay friends.   Through guild meetings and classes taught by leading artists in the metal clay field, it has been easy and fun to interact with others and make new friends.

And of course, I have my online metal clay friends like Zoe Nelson.  (Who I was able to meet in person at the last PMC Conference.)

As mentioned in my previous post, I attended a couple of classes in Pittsburgh this weekend.  One with Wanaree Tanner and one with Carol Scheftic.  It was because of these classes that I added several new friends including Peyton Barrett.  "Pete" came all the way from Canada to take these classes.  She and her family are involved in metal clay, silkscreening, guided tours, jewelry making, teaching, and pewter casting among other things.  We all really enjoyed having Pete in class as she was just as crazy as the rest of us.

Pete does cultural jewelry from Newfoundland and Labrador.  She was so sweet and gave us all an Ulu  (woman's knife ) pewter cast necklace that she made.

So............ to all my old and new metal clay friends...... looking forward to more good times!

Time to be creative

 As I mentioned in my last post, I was heading to Pittsburgh to take a class in using the Silhouette Cameo to create bezels in metal clay.  That wasn't the only class I was taking this weekend though.  I also took a copper and bronze class from my friend Carol Scheftic.  (More about that in a later post.)

Wanaree's class was so much fun (and of course informative.)  We learned her technique for creating intricate bezels with metal clay sheet.  (We also learned how much patience she has when it comes to embellishing her bezels.)  I got a chance to spend time with some of my guild members and meet new people.  It was a great group and we all got along.  (That doesn't always happen in a class.)

 Wanaree helping Pete Barrett (with my Silhouette machine in the foreground.)  Pete came all the way from Canada to take Wanaree and Carol's classes.  She and I both stayed at Carol's house.  Pete is such a fun person that she fit right in.  Everyone hated to see her go back to Canada.  

Everyone got their pieces fired and some were able to insert their stones.  A few of us had to take our pieces with us and re-fire them as they did not shrink enough.  We think the reason for the small amount of shrinkage was because our pieces were close to the door in the kiln.  That area of the kiln sometimes is not as hot.   Carol was nice enough to re-fire my piece for me and the shrinkage was  considerably different.  Except......... for some unknown reason one of the bezel loops disappeared.  

So......... it's time to be creative (and patient.) 

Here's the piece out of the kiln (the first firing.)  I'll try to work on it soon so I can share the finished piece.  

Sorry the pictures aren't better.  They were taken with my phone (but at least it gives you the idea.)

Off to see the Wizard

Well actually, she's not a wizard but her work looks like it was created by magic.

What I'm really doing is heading to Pittsburgh to take a class from Wanaree Tanner on using the Silhouette Cameo cutting machine with metal clay.  I've had my machine since before Christmas (my  husband bought a pontoon boat and I thought the least he could do was buy me a Cameo machine........ he got off cheap. )  I've used it for paper a few times, but what I really want to use it for is metal clay.

Can't wait to learn (I love being a student) and can't wait to share what I make.  Keep posted!

Tim McCreight Color Workshop

Got home today from the color workshop at the Society for Contemporary Crafts in the Strip District in Pittsburgh. What a wonderful class. I can't say I accomplished a lot, but I certainly did learn a lot.

The class was taught by Tim McCreight. Tim is pretty much the first person in the United States to get the chance to work with metal clay. He is a consultant for the Mitsubishi company who makes the clay. It was his first time in Pittsburgh, but it won't be his last. He is coming back the first week in June to teach a class on mold making and another Rio Certification class.

Tim's teaching style (at least for this kind of class) was laid back and non-stressful. It was a class of experimentation and very enjoyable. I would recommend one of Tim's classes to anyone.

On Friday night, about fifty people attended a reception the Western Pennsylvania Guild held for Tim. After socializing over food and wine, we were treated to hearing a little bit about Tim's life and career. He is an interesting speaker who is very personable and humorous.

Over the next few days, I'll share some of the things we learned in class and show my examples. The teacher in me took the educational approach and made my pieces with the intention of making a chart. (With all that silver, it's going to be an expensive chart!)