Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Monday, September 5, 2011
When you want to play with fire!
Torches!
They seem to be the subject of conversation among silversmiths, goldsmiths and metalworkers...
Some torches are great for small jobs, and others do a fine job on larger projects.
When first starting out it is hard to know what you need...
Here is a short video on torches
to help any of you who are getting ready to dive into the world of soldering jewelry!
Play safe!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Work in progress...
This is just the beginning...
I am designing an entire collection of these colorful flowers!
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
The perfect mountain getaway!
A few pictures from one of my very favorite places... The North Carolina mountains! A magical place that wraps you in a blanket of misty mornings and clear night skies, where every turn brings a new vision of peace and tranquility... Soon to be my new home!
Sunday, March 27, 2011
What I do when I'm not working with metal...
I like to play with food...
I prepare food for photography and film...
I prepare food for photography and film...
I wandered my way into an incredible
and fulfilling job.
~*~
And I am thankful
to everyone
who has helped me along the way.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Chatty Metalsmith's Blog Jamboree... cha cha cha Change...
Bye Bye, Etsy forums...
How do we handle the inner turmoil of dealing with changes in our life... on and off line?
In real life...
I create a wall of calm on the exterior
I create a wall of calm on the exterior
that foils the inner tornado that is swirling beneath...
Like the time...
I was asked on a job to make a very complicated recipe,
I was asked on a job to make a very complicated recipe,
that had multiple parts and incorporated techniques
that were completely unfamiliar to me...
I proceeded with a tornado in my head
and a calm, one foot in front of the next approach...
A few hours later
All was well with the world!
In my cyber life...
I'm more vocal about the impulses that push and pull me.
But, I have the ability to think about things before I press the enter button.
Some days I edit more...
some days I just put it out there...
some days I just put it out there...
Change, good or bad
will most certainly bring responses that have not been envisioned...
I am a firm believer that good can come out of
almost any situation.
Not all, but most.
Etsy has forced change on its members,
taking away our forums and forcing us to create "teams"
in order to continue our discussions.
On the bad side...
It has created a rift in our group and we have splintered apart.
~
People seem to be more guarded and less sure of Etsy and its management.
Is this good for Etsy?
On the good side...
Those of us who have moved over to the
chatty metalsmiths team
chatty metalsmiths team
have more tools to work with.
~
We have organized discussion topics that can be used for reference.
~
The ability to keep some discussions private.
~
In the end, we may become an even closer group...
a "team" of people who support each other
and help to build each others businesses,
in an organized way.
~*~
I do miss the larger group...
I will wait this one out and see what it brings...
If you would like to read up on some of our
"chatty metalsmiths" blogs...
here are the links!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Favorite objects on my bench...
A simple little magnet...
When it comes time to clean up my dust
and clean the silver filings away from the steel wool
this simple magnet is the bomb!
A couple of sweeps from above and the steel
jumps up and attaches itself to the magnet.
Be careful...
these magnets are very powerful
and fragile...
Clear away all files, blocks and other steel tools...
or you will find that it takes a bit of persuasion
to pull them apart!
RAW52. 4,5,6... Ring A Week!
When life brings lots of work...
compress 3 RAW posts into one!
These fun little gears gave me the idea to incorporate them into a series of rings.
And offered me the opportunity to work on some setting skills.
Each one has its own personality
but all share the collective steam-punk look.
If you would like to visit the RAW Flicker site to view other fun designs just...
Sunday, January 16, 2011
RAW52.2 ... Week two!
Ring a Week part 2!
Part of my interest in joining the RAW group is to use the challenge to explore new ideas.
This week is dedicated to the adjustable
ring.
I love making rings, but I do not like sizing them...
I love making rings, but I do not like sizing them...
As a solution to this I have been sketching up ideas for rings that are slightly adjustable.
I have sketched several different styles, but most designs focus on a band that splits and wraps around itself.
This first try features a hand cut and formed flower with tendrils.
If you would like to see all of the other fun rings...
click here...
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
RAW... Ring A Week!
Last year a Ring A Day challenge began on the first of January.
I was interested, but knew that I could never keep up...
I did check in on all of the fun creations that came out of it.
This year a new challenge has begun,
a little more suitable for someone like myself,
who is not a full time jewelry artist.
The new challenge is to create one ring a week!
The group is open to all and is very supportive.
If you would like to check in and see what
artist are creating...
just click!
Here is my first ring...
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