I am officially in love...

....with Precious Metal Clay!  Still waiting on my kiln to arrive, but I am continuing to practice!  I missed working with my copper, so I made this to compensate...

Thank goodness I have made bangles like these before, sans the silver.  Although I have seen bracelets similar to these before, I turned to a book that I have had for a couple of months now.  

Book Source

Nothing like step by step directions!  As a matter of fact, the Art Jewelry Elements blog had a recent review of the book as well.  I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves their copper!

I used copper rivets - 16 gauge wire, instead of fine silver wire.  I first made up a sample design using polymer clay.  I did this so that I could gauge how much of the silver clay I would need to use.  

I am not regretting the fact that my kiln is not here....yet!  This is going to look great on my arm!

Thanks for stopping by today!!

xo

Patti

My Adventures in Precious Metal Clay

I researched for MONTHS before I bit the bullet to buy a kiln.  Type of kiln, size of kiln, manufacturer, and, my research also included due diligence of the website from where the kiln would be purchased.  Specifically - warranty, ease of communication with problems, etc.

Well, somewhere along the line, I did not read the teeny tiny print under "shipping".  All I saw was "we strive to ship all orders within 48 hours".  The teeny tiny print I missed (and it was truly a smaller font!) stated "small and medium size kilns are drop shipped from the manufacturer, thus extending the shipping time".

Hmpf.  The box I received last week was the kiln shelf, kiln furniture, and a few other accessories, along with a packing slip stating that the kiln will be here in another "12 - 15 days".

So, what is a middle aged woman ANTSY to get started in PMC to do when her kiln has not yet arrived??  Use a torch.

I started slow and tiny.  Granted, this silver clay is expensive.  But, I started with two itty bitty little charms.

I was so pleased with the texture on these charms!  So, I decided to go just a tad bigger.

The charms above have a bark-like texture - deep grooves that capture the colors of the patina. I added a squirt of ammonia to my liver of sulfur solution and used the hottest water that would come out of my tap.  I was excited by the deep pink to purple rainbow patina I was able to achieve - I kept it in the crevices of the bark.  Believe me - achieving a rainbow affect with liver of sulfur/ammonia is a hit or miss event.  For me, it's more miss! 

I have some more charms drying, prior to firing later this week.  I am being very careful to ensure they are not too thick as from what I have gleaned, the thinner the piece (when torch firing) the better - or sintering will not happen.  The entire process that a clay can be formed, dried, and fired to turn into silver just fascinates me beyond belief.

I will keep you updated on my successes and failures - there will be failures...GUARANTEED! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

xo

Patti

In honor of Dorothy Zbornak

The earring style that I ALWAYS gravitate towards is the hoop.  In fact, my jewelry box is overflowing with hoops: from teeny tiny to oh-my-gosh-my-ears-hurt-large.  I particularly like the look of mixed metal earrings (mixed metal anything, as a matter of fact).  

Instead of soldering on a tiny little ball dead center at the bottom, which I have done in the past, I created a bead from sterling silver tubing.  I just cut the tubing (with my saw, so as to not squish the tubing), sanded the edges, and slipped them on the wire prior to soldering.

While I do love the look of these hoops, I already have a very similar pair - in my ears as I type this, as a matter of fact.  

When I am in my studio, I HAVE to have either music playing or the TV running - I must have white noise  (that's how I made it through high school homework, as well).  My all time favorite show - to this day - is The Golden Girls. I have all seven seasons on DVD and I can quote any line from any episode!  (I am sure this factoid makes my mother so proud of me!)

I would give anything to be like Blanch Devereax - not necessarily her sex appeal, but her self confidence.  Sophia Petrillo's gift of story-telling is another trait that I very much admire.  No one has a heart as big as Rose Nyland - though naive as all get-out, she loves animals as if they are people - the real life Betty White, too.  But Dorothy Zbornak...quick witted, common sense, her height for goodness sake! (I am 5'1").  

Have you ever noticed the attire of these ladies?  So well dress and accessorized. I actually glanced up from my bench the other day, and the first thing I noticed was Dorothy's very large hoops.  But, they were post earrings - allowing the hoop to dangle as she moved.  

I remember this episode!

See those hoops?  In fact, the majority of her earrings are posts that dangle.  So, I set out to make a pair for myself.  

I knew that I had to have a wide opening from which I could hang the hoop.  So, I curled some 14 gauge wire into a coil of 3 hoops and soldered the hoops together on the back side. After filing the back smooth, I  soldered a tiny little sterling silver disc onto the flattened spot I created on the coils. Finally, I soldered the post to the disc.  Lastly, I added the hoop itself - 12 gauge wire as I wanted the look to be substantial...but not heavy.  A little bit of texture, a bath in liver of sulfur, buffing, tumbling..and ta da!

Post earrings are so difficult to photograph!  

These are my "Ode to Dorothy Zbornak" earrings - and they are so comfortable!  I know I will reach for them often!

Now I have an excuse for all the TV I watch - inspiration!

What inspires you these days???  Do tell!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xo

Patti

A few new things to share....

So, Christine commented on one of my last posts that she likes to do "routine" beading when her muse is asleep.  I thought that was a brilliant idea. My muse was gone - so - I was hoping that doing something familiar would help to wake her up.  First, I made this necklace.

I am so in love with these hand cast pewter crosses from Inviciti!  When purchasing, one has the choice of finish on the pewter - I asked for this one to be kept completely aged - no buffing.  I love it! This is the third pearl and pewter cross necklace that I have made - each one a bit different.  The pearls have large holes to accommodate wire, fiber, even leather. 

I always think of Michelle when I pick up a pearl, as she is an expert and her designs are exquisite! These have such a lovely peacock sheen!  I added a bit of sterling riveted chain to this necklace, and I soldered up the clasp for added security as well.

I also made yet another Spinner Ring - this time with 3 spinners.  This is the second attempt for this ring. For the first attempt, I had the most beautiful texture on my silver.  On my very last "bang of the hammer" to form the anticlastic curve that holds those satellite rings in place, my base ring split - right smack dab down the middle.  Who knew that I had that much strength???  That mistake put me back another day, as I dropped everything right then and there and stormed out of my studio in disgust.  But, I am still pleased with this second attempt.  The center satellite ring is the only copper in the ring, but I soldered on a tiny bezel set turquoise cabochon.

Lastly, I made a little pendant with a Malachite Cabochon.  The banding of the green in this cab is so pretty - blue and green will always remain my favorite colors.

During my "break" I also revisited an online jewelry making class in Precious Metal Clay.  I have now viewed this class - over the past 12 months - 3 times.  In addition, I have read (and re-read) several books on PMC. Let's face it - I am not getting any younger here.  So, I finally bit the bullet and ordered a kiln last Friday.  In fact, I just got the email that it the kiln is en route and should be here within the next 3 days or so.  I don't think I have ever been more nervous, but, I am fully stocked in fire extinguishers (two in my studio, as a matter of fact).  Although my studio does have a built-in exhaust system, I may actually fire it outside the first few times....just in case!

Lastly, Cynthia posted a picture on her blog (prompted by Christine) of some gnomes that live at her office (her office beer garden to be exact)!  I thought I would share a picture of my gnomes.  These ceramic gnomes were made by my mother many, many years ago.  When she moved up here from Florida, my sister and I went down there to sort through her belongings and I snagged these up knowing I would find the perfect spot in my yard. These little guys (not so little!) sit under a tree right outside my walk-up basement - I smile every time I see them!

It is a beautiful - and I mean BEAUTIFUL - day here in Northern Virginia - 62 degrees as I type this. Could it be...has Spring finally sprung??  Let's hope so!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

xo

Patti

Some things are just more important....

It's official - my desire to create anything worthy of, well, anything, has simply left the building.  The few times that I have even entered my studio have not been productive..to say the least.  I have to have the desire to do anything well - and it is gone.  For now.  Oh well.  The title to this blog post is Some Things are Just More Important...and they are!

Tomorrow - March 26th - marks Sarge's two-year adopt-a-versary into our home!

Sarge - March 26, 2013

We adopted Sarge from the local Animal Shelter.  He was found - roaming - with a choke chain around his neck.  A pitiful little 35 pounds.  Our vet believes he is half Pointer and half Beagle - and he certainly has a beagle-bark and loooves to hunt pretty much anything in the yard (deer, bunnies, fox, etc.).  At the time, she estimated his age to be somewhere between 1 - 2 years old.  He had been in the shelter for 27 days and was "Red Tagged"... 3 more days and it was curtains.  Luckily, he found us!

To be honest...I was NOT READY to have another dog.  In 2001, we researched breeders in search of a pure breed Yellow Lab. We actually visited the breeder twice.  But...young and stupid/old and wise.  Never Again.  When we finally decided to bring Sam into our home, the breeder brought out Abby.  She was the runt and very sickly - the breeder said she was probably going to "let her go".  She was so sweet, that we could not let that happen - so we came home with not one, but two pups.  OMG - never again!  I was 40 years old - YOUNG! - and had a lot more energy.  But I swear, I thought I was going to die  from lack of sleep and constant "baby sitting" the first year!

Both labs had serious health issues their entire lives.  Abby sustained 7 surgeries in her short 9 years - and Sam had 4 surgeries.  Our vet believed that Sam and Abby were simply the product of overbreeding, and we agree.  So, we learned a valuable lesson about overbreeding - but, we also believe that we "saved" Sam and Abby as much as they "saved" us.  And....look at these faces....

Sam and Abby - 2004

These two pups - especially Sammy - were truly the "loves of my life".  When I lost Sam in June 2012, I said "no more"!  I even put my foot down!  After much soul searching, and yes lots of tears, we visited the shelter.  We looked online and actually went to see another dog.  But, I saw Sarge and there was just something about him that said "pick me....pick me!"   So, we did. 

And, just look at the joy on Sarge's face and tell me that we did not do the right thing...

So...Happy Adopt-a-Versary Sarge!  We love you sooooo much!

Thanks for stopping by today!

xo

Patti