Sunday Explorations in Metalsmithing

My fellow metalsmiths, Tracey & Margarita along with myself have taken on exploring new or revisited metalsmithing techniques twice a month. One of the first things we decided to tackle was etching. We had all etched before but had not done it in awhile. We started with copper etching. We tried different methods of "resist"on the copper. The resists varyied from Sharpie markers, finger nail polish, & laser toner based transfers. We all came out with some interesting effects that we found were mostly successful.

Tracey & I decided to take it a step further & explore etching on sterling silver. Stronger acid & more dangerous. Eeek! This time around I used asphaltum as the resist on my silver. It held up pretty good after a very short etch time. The longer the etching the more it under cut into the edges of my designs. I find that using asphaltum is is much easier to carve out the area you want etched than to carve out around the area. Meaning carving the positive versus the negative space. It just how my brain works.

I have always admired the decorative patterns of Gustav Klimt. In particular, I have been drawn to his "Tree of Life" painting.



One of my silver etchings is a simplified homage to his tree. I finally got around to making it into a piece of jewelry. I wanted a gemstone to give the piece some color & some interesting visual dimension. I chose a natural Australian boulder opal. This one had an earthy, root feel to it. I thought it worked perfectly. Here's the finished result:

I recently completed a custom wedding set based on one of my bands but with modifications. The client wanted to add diamonds to a 2mm wide band. I nodded politely & said "no problem." I remember being taught how to flush set stones but MUCH larger ones. I didn't even have all the proper tools yet. I ordered three extra stones just in case I lost, broke or chipped one (or two.) The mans version was easy. 6mm by 2mm hand hammered, brushed & oxidized, done. Her band was simple but I decided to make three. One for practice, one for potential mistakes, one for real. Of course, I used all three.

It is always a wonder that if you plan for it, you almost make your own destiny. The first one was fine just one diamond got set a little lower than I wanted. I salvaged the first one for my shop with some minor adjustments. The second one I broke a drill bit in it. Not much fun to get out but not impossible to do (usually.) I decided to go ahead with the third one to save time. It came out great! I didn't even loose one of those tiny teeny diamonds. I think I might incorporate them into my regular line. The diamond band is just so darn cute!

The hammer that brought me zen...

I have a drawer full of hammers I've collected over my almost 20 years of metalsmithing. Not one of them have brought me to the groove I get into when using my newest beauty. It's a Fretz. Beautiful to look at, well crafted, feels like "butta" in your hand. I have had several riveting/goldsmithing hammers over the years I tried to shape like this, but I never quite got the right length or edge to it. Now the problem is I want to put it on everything. (Check out panicmama.etsy.com if you want to see the results.)

I just love how it brings me to such a calm & peaceful place when I get a hammerin'. I named the texture zen. Now, now, I know I haven't found the all encompassing meaning of life through tapping a piece of metal with my favorite hammer, but, man, it feels good to use it. It appeals to me on so many sensory levels: the little "tink" it makes when I hit the metal, the chiseled line it makes with each tap, the feel of it in my hand, mmmmmm. See, what'd I tell ya. Zen. It my answer to a little bit of happiness in my teeny tiny world.

Turtle is a Panicmama!

In the many hours I spend wandering the halls of Etsy, I ran across a forum topic on researching your "googleness." I decided to Goggle Panicmama to discover where I land in the rank & what is actually attached to Panicmama as a name. Low & behold in the image version of the search, a fluffy little black dog I've grown to love shows her face! How'd Turtle get to the first page of images for Panicmama? I never actually did get a picture of myself... or my jewelry for that matter, which was the purpose of the whole research. It just goes to show you that you never know what is attached to you in the internet world. In other words, Kevin Bacon would probably show up as well.

I've waited 17 years for you...

17 years wishing for a rolling mill. Much too long to wait for something you now can't live without! The stand came in a unbelievable beat up box & the rolling mill in a lightly battered box with "heavy" labels all over it. The UPS guy waited until I opened it to see if all was okay & to take a gander at what it was a was so giddy about!

Well, in a word, BEAUTIFUL! Just steel & some gears, but man, what a gorgeous sight! I am very excited to get it bolted to the floor & stand. I sent my dear hubby to the hardware store for a cement drill bit & bolts within 15 minutes of receiving the mill. It's his project for the next two days. (I hope that it will only take him a day to get me set up. I want to start rolling Fri!)





Here's the beauty herself...aren't you jealous? :) I know you are! I wonder what to name her...

THE FRONT PAGE!

I actually screamed when it happened. Needless to say, I was very excited that I made Etsy's front page! I was up a whopping 52 min! However, in that time the piece on the front page, my hand formed figurative cups, views almost quadrupled! I went from about 200+ to almost 750 in a matter of minutes!

I was just thinking about what goals to accomplish this morning with my Etsy shop & was going to try to promote some more & get my hearts (favorites) up to 200 by the end of the week. Thanks to the front page, I accomplished that & more today! Now to reach 25 sales in my shop by the end of the month...

I took a screen shot of the front page, but failed to get all of the page in my inept attempt.

Back to the beginning

I recently was presented with the challenge of creating a belt buckle for a client. I thought to myself, "I've never made a belt buckle..." But in fact, I had!

My very first "finished " piece of undergrad art jewelry was a metal belt with belt buckle! It was a tribute to the Berlin wall coming down. Boy, that dates me a little. I have no idea where that may have ended up. I am not sure I even have a picture of it. Very sad...I didn't realize at the time that the belt would start a life long career & love for all things metal.

As for the current project on hand, it came out pretty cool.

The client had purchased the Biggs Jasper cab at a gemstone event at my store & wanted a family piece for her husband. She let me "go at it with doing my thing" with two parameters:

1. The family symbol & the kids name had to be included.

2. Something copper as an accent.

A couple of roadblocks came up with drill bits breaking & logistics of setting a stone on a curved surface. Both were solved & the end result pleased the client & myself.

It took two acetylene torches from both sides & lots of patience in hammering to get to the finished result.

All in all, I really enjoyed making the piece. I may even make another belt buckle without a 17 year gap in between!