You Spin Me Round Round......

I have to admit - this song blasted in my head the entire time I made these spinner bangles.

Not my first (second or third, for that matter) choice of music - I am more of a Hard Rock and Country kinda gal.  But, I was 25 years old when that song came out and I hate to admit it, but I remember it quite well! :)  

Okay - enough of that!  I am feeling accomplished these past few days, as I completed several spinner style bangles!  It finally clicked, and I found "the sweet spot" on the steel stakes, and I just could not stop!  

Here are the first two spinners - naked copper and all!

I much prefer the patina versions...

Two are very wide - two are slightly smaller.  Big difference when creating and hammering the metal.  I myself prefer the textured over the smooth bangles.

You will notice in the Group picture above that one of the bangles does not fit the category of Spinner Bangles.  I mentioned in my last post the jewelry artist Soham Harrison.  He has many You-Tube videos on specific techniques (simply Google his name - he will show up)!  I took one of those techniques and altered it ever so slightly.

This technique look a lot easier on his video, but I used 10 gauge copper.  Though forged and annealed, it was an intense few moments wrapping it!  I love the focal it creates.

Sadly, I have not touched a single bead in ages...AGES.  I have been enveloped in metal....I miss my beads and must get back to incorporating them....sooner rather than later!

I cannot believe it is Thursday already.  I am not sure where this week has gone!

Thank you so much for stopping by - have a wonderful rest of the week!

xo

Patti

Sunday

So, I have faithfully changed every clock in the house...except the one in my studio, which is where I am sitting at this very moment.  I am still trying to figure out who to blame for Daylight Saving Time.  I should not be tired...I had the same amount of sleep last night as every night. But, my head has been in a fog all day long.    I read somewhere that the affects of Daylight Saving Time are similar to jet lag - and I agree! I will never understand the logic behind this changing of the time...never.

A couple of weeks ago, I finally took the plunge and purchased some forming stakes.  It has been my goal for some time to learn how to create anticlastic shapes.  I have made my share of spinner rings  - which have the beginnings of this shape - this one below is MY FAVORITE - oozing with texture!  I achieved that luscious texture with a hammer.

But I want to make Spinner Bangles.  The techniques and tools involved in making the rings is totally different for bangles.  

I always begin slowly when learning a new technique.  First I have master creating a bangle - solo - no spinner!  Part of my purchases included two similar Fretz hammers - one to aide in achieving the curves WITHOUT texture (nylon tip) and one with texture (metal).

These are the some of the steel stakes that I used.  As you can see, each stake is made with specific curves to achieve a concave or convex curve to the metal.

I should have started with a cuff.  But...I actually made bangles, which involved soldering (more on that further down in this post).  This was the first proto-type bangle I made, using the nylon hammer with no texture.  I used 18 gauge copper sheet metal, and it's about 5/8" wide.

I was ready to add texture, and made this bangle.  It measures a little over 1" wide.

While I do love the smoothness of the first bangle, I am a texture girl!  I attempted to make a second and yes, a third bangle - spinner style.  BUT, I am having issues with hammering along the solder seam.  Each of the subsequent bangles split right at the seam.  I need to continue to practice - perhaps anneal more in the process.  I will get there!

I have also wanted to bezel set a cab on a cuff - not an easy task (for me)!  There is an obvious curve on the cuff, and well, the cab is flat!  I did manage to complete this bracelet - and it was gifted to one of my nieces.  No anticlastic curves on the cuff - but - for me - it was challenging!

Gorgeous flash in that Labradorite!  

I have spent quite a bit of time researching these techniques.  If you have some time on your hands (and if you have not already), just Google the name Soham Harrison.  He is a master metalsmith with amazing You-Videos (free) for just about every technique I want to learn!

As usual, I am ending this blog post with comments related to the weather.  Last week was AWFUL.  It began with an ice storm last weekend, and in my neck of the woods, progressed to an 8" snowfall last Thursday.  It hit 55 degrees today, and there is actual grass to be seen where we shoveled snow trails in the backyard for Sarge.  My gutters have not stopped singing that wonderful song of melting ice.  I have never in my life longed for Spring.  I am Chicago-born and truly do enjoy the snow.  But this winter has resulted in way-too-many consecutive days below freezing.  There is definitely light at the end of this long-winter tunnel!  Hooray!!!

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a lovely week!

xo

Patti

Winner!

I chose the winner of this copper cuff:

Using the Random.Org Number Generator...

The winner is Shaiha!  Shaiha, please send me your address (pattivan@verizon.net) and these will be in tomorrow's postal run (assuming the snow ends here...ugh)

Thanks for stopping by today!

xo
Patti

Look what I discovered...Oh....and a Giveaway, too!

If you have EVER visited my blog, you know I love my wire - the thicker the better.  Well, I got my hands on some 6 gauge copper wire and I wanted to show you this stuff - up close and personal!

The picture below shows two gauges of wire - 18 gauge on the top, and 6 gauge on the bottom. 

(Click on the pictures to zoom in and you can really appreciate the thickness of the 6 gauge wire).

I do not personally own wire cutters that can cut through this stuff, and I really do need all of my fingers to work.  So, this is how I cut it to size.

I took the handle off of my tube cutter and inserted the tube cutter into my vice and used the jewelers saw.  I use my vice often for twisting wire, so I coat the vice with a couple of layers of painters tape - it aides in not marking the wire while working with it (well, not marking it as much as without the tape!)

I have never made cuff bracelets before - bangles - yes - but cuffs, no.  So I cut the wire into 6" lengths.  Each bang of my hammer hardened the wire, so annealing is required OFTEN in the construction of these bracelets.

Last weekend, I made a set of 3 cuffs, shown below. Two have hammered textures, and one features a twist in the center.

The best thing about these cuffs is they are adjustable.  Though very thick, squeeze lightly once on the wrist, and it's on there all day long!

I absolutely loved making these - so I made my favorite of the bunch (the twisted cuff) to giveaway.

I added a liver of sulfur patina, buffed, and threw it in my tumbler for an hour.  

HOW TO ENTER

If you'd like to be entered to win this cuff bracelet, here's how! For each entry below, you must make a separate comment on this blog post for it to count! ALSO - if you leave a comment, please make sure I can get a hold of you via email- thanks!

1)  Enter a comment on this blog (counts as one entry).

2) Post a link to this blog post on Face Book (counts as one entry - you must come back and leave a separate comment on this blog post for this entry to count)!

3) Pin an item from my Etsy shop to your Pinterest Board (counts as one entry - you must come back and leave a separate comment on this blog post for this entry to count).

Even if you have entered and won a Giveaway from me in the past - don't let that stop you from entering again!  Please! :)

I will choose a winner in a few days!

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Lastly, I am fundraising for Miracle Horse Rescue - they recently relocated from Nevada to Idaho.  So, I am having a 20% OFF FLASH SALE in my shop.

Thanks for stopping by today!!!

xo

Patti

Love My Art Jewelry

I am extremely honored and humbled to join the artists at Love My Art Jewelry.  Today is my very first blog post - an introduction and pictorial evolution of my work to date...what an eye opener!

Simply click on the image below.

For those of you on the East Coast - please stay safe!  The sleet/freezing rain from yesterday has continued to place my entire property on "Best Ice Skating Rinks in Northern Virginia"...not a good place to be!

xo
Patti