Bending the night away.

When it comes to wire wrapping, I'm all thumbs.  I decided to take the time to practice.  (And I had some friends who were interested in some basic wrapping that got me moving.)  Nothing fancy, as I really don't have any desire to do the intricate stuff.

So...... I pulled out all my books (and bought a new one ), gathered my spools of copper wire, (and bought some more) and grabbed my tool kit.

On Friday I was gallery sitting by myself in the Graffiti Gallery with very few visitors, so it was a good time to begin practicing.

I made some basic pieces that I'm going to turn into earrings.  One of the things I had to practice was making two pieces that were pretty much alike.  Every time I try to hold two pieces of wire together and bend them it never works.  But, I think I've pretty well figured out how to remake the second piece (with the help of a magic marker.)

I'm going to add beads to these eventually.

It just keeps coming

I'm still trying to figure out the perks of being old..... besides retirement and grandchildren.

This past week I have been very productive.   In fact I think I've gotten more done this week than I did all summer.   I've been trying to get as many pieces done for my Transit Series as I can.  The four designs turned into eighteen pieces of jewelry.

I've been working my fingers to the bone every day.  Well, actually I've been working my fingers until they cramp (and I mean cramp!)  Yesterday I was doing some wire wrapping to finish off rubber cording.  That means holding on tightly and making small tight motions.  Last night I could hardly sleep as my right hand hurt so much and this morning I wasn't able to make a fist or hold a pencil.   It wasn't bad enough that my hand hurt but my inner thigh cramped up too last night at 4 AM.  (If you've never experienced that one..... you don't want too.  It's a killer pain like nothing I've ever experienced.)   Even though my hand hurt like hell today , I knew I had to keep trying to use it.  (Thank goodness for Aleve.)

Today I went to the studio again to finish up twelve silver pieces.   I wasn't sure how things were going to go (it even hurt to push the gear shift in the car) but eventually my hand loosened up and I was able to get all twelve pieces finished.

As I was polishing the liver of sulfur off the pieces I realized that I was using small tight  motions again.  (If I don't sleep again tonight....... I'll cry.  Oh wait.... I cried last night when my thigh cramped; so I'll cry again.)  Damn this never happened when I was young.  I'm afraid to find out what is going to cramp up next.  It just keeps coming.


Anyway,  here is a not so good picture of one of the finished silver pieces.  (For some reason photographing this one is giving me fits.)  It's a dainty necklace based on the architecture of the National Transit Building.  (Not going to tell you where the design inspiration is located until next week.)  At least my mind is still sharp enough (for the moment) to not slip up and give out the location.   The piece hangs from an  eighteen inch curb chain and sports a Swarovski crystal.  I made six of these pieces (each with different colors of crystals) as I think they will be well received.

Tomorrow night I'll post more pictures of some of the other jewelry.  (If I'm able to type after polishing today.)  

Fourth time is a charm

Most of my post-graduate credits are in fibers. So, basically I have a masters equivalence in weaving.  Metal clay can be woven, both in the paper and the clay form.

There is another weaving technique that is used in the jewelry making process called wrapping.   It's done to bundle loose yarn ends and is done with yarn.  It consists of looping a single piece of yarn, using the long loose end to wrap around itself and the yarn to be bundled.  Wrapping is done from the loose end up to the looped end, where the loose piece of yarn is pulled through the loop.  The other end of the piece is pulled, which causes the loop (with the other loose end) down inside the wrapping to secure it.  

The wrapping technique is easy and fun to do until it has to be done with wire which is what this post is all about.  I truly admire people who can do wire wrapping.   I tend to be all thumbs when it comes to working with wire.  

I was making a necklace with a copper and bronze focal point, which needed a copper clasp.  The copper crimps have to be glued onto the cord and I don't trust them so I decided to do the wrapping technique.  (Which is just my favorite thing to do..... yeah, right!)  

I probably went through five or six tries before I got something I considered acceptable.   Then, when it was time to trim the cord I accidentally cut through the good side.  Augh!  More practice ensued before I finally got it right.  Time to trim the cord and guess what.  I cut the good cord, AGAIN!  Back to the practice board and finally after several tries it was done.  I very carefully trimmed the ends and this time I didn't cut the good cord.   But......... I accidentally put the wrong focal point onto the cord.  So......... for the fourth time I started again.  The fourth time was a charm.   Thank God.  I don't think I could have done it one more time.  

Got Rocks in my head

    I stopped in the Appalachian Rock Shop on Route 19, north of Pittsburgh yesterday.  Haven't been there for a while.  Not sure why, as it is such a neat place for geology and art lovers.  They carry lots of Geodes, fossils and gems; along with finished pieces of jewelry.  And, they offer classes in silversmithing, beading and wire wrapping.  (And, if you are a dog lover, have two adorable dogs!)

    My daughter and I have taken a couple of beading classes there, (probably nine years ago.)  The class was fun and I learned some things I use with my metal clay pieces.  One thing I remember when taking the class was how little I knew about rocks and stones.  (I did take a geology class in college and did very well.  But, like my silver fabrication class, that was so, so long ago that I don't remember much. Except that if you bite sandstone it will be gritty and don't build your house downhill from the neighbor's outhouse.)  Anyway, during those classes the other ladies were all talking stones and they could tell just by looking at it what kind of stone it was.  I felt very stupid and tried to crack some kind of joke about the stones in my driveway, but they didn't see the humor in it.  

     Now that I'm into jewelry it is probably a good idea to get to know what certain stones and gems look like and what their properties are.  (There is just so much darn stuff to know!)  So, I bought myself "The Crystal Bible" which will be my new bathroom read.  (Sorry to share that with you, but that is my favorite reading spot.)   Did you see the Seinfeld show where they wouldn't take back George's library book because it had been read in the bathroom?  Funny show.  Guess I'll have to keep my new book.  

   Hopefully this book will make me more knowledgeable.  For now, any stone I don't know I usually classify as a jasper.  I can't even remember which stones my CZs are representing.  Now that is sad.