Roll Reversal

In a previous post (June 26, 2009) I shared a picture of a ring that was way too large and way too feminine to be a man's ring.  So, I cut it in half, filed it, soldered on some earring posts and turned it into a pair of earrings.  Yesterday I did just the opposite.

In 2009, PMC Connection had their first retreat at the Arrowmont School in Gatlinburg, TN.  (Oh what a great time that was.)  Anyway, I took a class from Linda Kline in which we learned many, many techniques to make a large variety of earrings.  

One of the things we learned was the making of photo polymer plates (without the use of a UV light...... we went outside and did a happy dance with our plates extended toward the sun.  Can't do that in PA!) The earrings were made in a flat strip with a little tab at the end.  After firing the pieces, we bent them around a ring mandrel to create a hoop and used a pair of pliers to bend the tab up.  Then we learned how to solder posts onto the tab.  Just this one pair of earrings incorporated multiple techniques.  We made a lot of earrings those two days ..... sort of a mini-course in working with metal clay.

I never wore those earrings.  They were beautiful but I don't wear hoops very often and this pair was exceptionally heavy.  

Lately I've been trying to go through pieces and re purpose them or save them to send into Rio Grande to be recycled (for some money...... the price of metal clay took a big jump! )

My first thought was to recycle them but I loved the look of them too much to take that route.  Since I love rings, that seemed like the most sensible approach.  It was actually very easy too.  Took the cutters and cut off the tab, filed the little ridge that was left (how can anyone find filing relaxing) and hammered the ring to size on the ring mandrel.  Since it is a split band, it can be adjusted to fit .

Fine silver is soft and rings need to be made thicker for longer wear ability.  I usually make my rings six cards thick and the bands are usually at least a quarter inch in width.  This ring has width but since it started it's life as an earring it is not as thick as normal.  (Although it was made thicker since a PPP plate was used to create it's design.)

I'll have to wear it for awhile to test it's strength and how well the split in the band works.  

As I've often said..... my jewelry talks to me.  This one told me it didn't want to be an earring anymore. 

   

Hard to Resist

A conference cannot be complete with out the Vendor Hall.  I knew it was coming and I tried to prepare (as much as a shopaholic can.)  But of course it is never enough.  (At least this year I brought cash and my check book..... what a mistake.)

There were actually two places to spend my money.  The merchants area and the participant's "Show and Sell"

Earl Roberts making a sale at the PMC Connection booth.  They were offering a good deal on Sterling Silver so I caved and bought a pack (plus a few other things as I stood there.)  I've known Earl for several years now and enjoyed meeting up with him again.

I have quite a few stones that I need to bezel set (as mentioned in my post on soldering.)  So, I was determined to stay away from the vendors selling stones.  I stuck to my resolution for about an hour and then I caved.  I didn't buy any big stones, but I did purchase some 3mm, 4mm and 5mm spinels and CZ's for my students to use from Gemstone Resources.  

All Craft was only there for part of the show but I did manage to get some of their brass brushes.  (They have the softest brass brushes!)

From Metal Clay supply I purchased Gilder's Paste.  I've never used the paste, but one of the charms I exchanged for had it on.  Pretty cool looking stuff.

Rio Grande wasn't selling at the show but had lots on display and was offering free shipping with the code from the show.  From them I ordered some new texture sheets and a sterling silver stamp (now that I'm finally going to try it.)

There were other vendors too and I don't want to slight them but I mentioned only the ones I purchased from.

The artist "Show and Sell" also made a dent in my pocket book.  I bought several pair of earrings, a book and a new tool .  Will share those purchases in another post.

Suffice it to say that I won't be buying anything in the near future (except for metal clay and groceries.)

The Party's Over

My original plan was to post the conference in the order of my participation but instead I'm starting at the end and working backwards.

After fifteen years the National PMC Guild is no more.  Last night was the last official guild event and they went out with a bang.  Rio Grande (a major jewelry making supplier) hosted a gala last night for the guild and it's members, complete with drinks, finger foods, a palm reader, a caricaturist, a photo option, prize give aways, and a goodie bag for all the members.   It sure looked like everyone was having a great time.  I know I did.

Our very own Pittsburgh metal clay guild's Donna Penoyer and one of her many alter egos provided entertainment.

Just one of the many balloon hats created by Donna

Our fearless leader, Tim McCreight was treated to a "Here's your life" slide show.

(That's Tim in front wearing one of Donna's hats.)

Even the Mitsubishi scientists cut loose once in awhile.  Dr. M. Morikawa who lead a team of scientists in the creation of metal clay entertains on the dance floor. 

Many of the members signed a large card in a silver pen to present to the Mitsubishi Corporation. 

Thank you Mitsubishi, Rio Grande and the National Guild for getting us hooked on this amazing medium.