A fallen woman

I have to admit that I've been on vacation (for a long time.)  Had a great time in the sun.  Got in lots of swimming (I'm tanner than I've ever been), golfing and lots and lots of shopping.  (If you've ever been to Florida, you know how addicting Beall's is.)

Our house here has a loft which wasn't being used this year, so I set up a metal clay studio up there.  It's a great space, I set the table in a position to view the television while I worked.  I've been so busy with other things that I only got up there a couple of times.

What I did do was beading (to try to use up some beads.)  My friend and I sat for quite a few nights working on beaded bracelets, anklets and earrings.  None of these pieces involve metal clay.  Now there is nothing wrong with beading, but I just never felt that's what I wanted to do.  (Basically I was being a beading snob.)  The reason I felt that way was the amount of beaded jewelry out there is massive.  Basically when I use beads, they are an integral part of the metal clay design.

These past few weeks my art has become a "hobby."  (I'm so ashamed!)

My vacation is over.  It's time to get back to work.  Time to get back to ART.

Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves

Bangle bracelets remind me of gypsy jewelry.

Barbara Becker Simon was wearing a set of bronze and copper bangles when she came to Pittsburgh last year. They were textured not only on the surface but on the edges too. I really liked them and wanted to try making some.

Debra Weld had patterns already worked out for bangles to allow for the shrinkage factor of the clay. Using the size of Debra's pattern, I made a quick bangle. Again, I didn't spend a lot of time on the design. I wanted to work out the firing dilemma associated so often with these base metal clays. Now that I know it works, I'm ready to make some nice ones similar to Barbara's (Man they were nice.)

This bangle was made with CopprClay and was in the six hour firing I did the day before. It does take a lot of clay to make one of these, so it's best to start with a fresh full package of clay. I want to make some bronze bangles too, but don't look forward to the extended firing time. I really need a different kiln if I want to do much base metal (at least the CopprClay and bronze kind.)

Coconuts... the difference between age and youth

This blog is not about coconuts..... it's about acorns. (My four year old grandson calls them coconuts.)

The grandsons stayed overnight yesterday. This morning they wanted me to come to the playground and see their stash of acorns under the play set. They were so excited about those acorns. They wanted to collect more, so I gave them a bucket and tried to talk them into cleaning off my deck. There are thousands of acorns on the back deck. (Actually, hundreds of thousands of them.!) The little girl up the street got into the excitement of it all and the three of them were out back squealing with delight at every acorn they found. (I was wondering what the neighbors were thinking.) The porch acorns didn't excite them enough though (darn!) So, they went in search of acorns in their natural state...... under the tree.

To me the acorns are nothing more than a big mess that has to be swept off the deck. I can hear them bouncing, banging and pinging as they hit my deck, table and chairs. When we are trying to sleep, it sounds like WW II out there. That big oak tree by the deck literally throws them. (The little neighbor girl started to throw them back.) We take our life in our hands when we venture onto the deck. Haven't been hit by one yet, but I don't imagine it would feel very good. There is nothing to get excited about when it comes to acorns.

I remember when acorns did excite me. One of my first pieces of jewelry when I was a kid was a bracelet I made by stringing acorns and pearls. I used a long needle and threaded a string through the acorn like it was a bead, alternating it with pearls. (Don't know how I did that. Don't think I would have the strength now to push it through an acorn.) I would wear that bracelet for a long time until it fell apart. I loved that bracelet. Sometimes I think I should make silver acorns and make that bracelet again with the pearls. Not sure though that the contrast of brown and white, raw nature and shiny pearly nature could be captured in silver.

I'll have to give that one some thought.

The grandsons wanted to know if they could go around the neighborhood. The three of them wanted to try to sell their precious acorns. Maybe I'm a millionaire and don't know it!

Wide cuff bracelet

   Originally I was scheduled to take a polymer clay class on my last day at Arrowmont, but due to a family illness the class was canceled.  So, I had to make another choice for Friday and chose the Big Cuff Bracelet by Sharon Gillespie.  Since I already knew some basics about polymer, I was glad I was able to take the bracelet class instead.

    This is the bracelet that we made in class.  We cut out our rectangles and formed them on a metal bracelet mandrel.  The center piece was laid across the top of the mandrel and the side pieces were laid across the side of the mandrel (it was laying on it's side.)  I chose the orange CZ's to go with my ring.  

   We used the embeddable bezels from Metal Clay Findings.  I had used them once before and they curved the piece I used them in, but that didn't happen here.  (Maybe it was because the piece was already curved.)  My judgment on the use of the embeddable bezels is still out.  I was not able to curve the bezel over my largest stone and had to glue it in instead which is against my better judgement but so far so good.

No eyeballin!

   A few weeks ago I taught a two day class in making a Kumihimo woven bracelet.  The first day we made our own bell caps (which are really hard to find otherwise) and our own toggle/bar clasp (which is really easy to find.)  Making the toggle and bell caps from metal clay is rather expensive but worth trying as they add a personal touch to the bracelet.  The second day was devoted to learning the kumihimo technique using beads and finishing the bracelet by adding the metal clay bell caps and toggle.

   Every class is a learning experience for me too (usually not to assume anything!)  After my last class I made myself a "Last minute check list" to make sure I didn't forget to mention something. (Like.... don't forget to clean your stone with alcohol.  A fine layer of silver dust over the stone gives it a glow.  Which is kind of pretty if it covers the entire stone and not just part of it.)

   During this class I did mention that the bar needs to be more than two times the width of the hole in the toggle.  All well and good, but I forgot to mention that the hole in the bar needs to be centered exactly.  It wasn't that I forgot, it was that I didn't think of it.  So, one of the students eyeballed the center point and made her hole.  Usually, I would have done the same thing, but I've discovered that my eyeballs aren't as good as they use to be.  (Maybe they never were good at that kind of thing.  I can't remember.)   If it isn't centered, it will slip out of the toggle.  And it's amazing how fast that happens too!  Another learning experience for her and for me.  (You know, I have too many of those "Learning Experiences".  When will they end?)

    Anyway, I had to go back to my handout and make some additions.  Moral of the story..... No eyeballin.   Measure it!