I’ve been a little scattered these past months last through months jumping from beading to quilting to casting glass to polymer clay and crocheting without much focus. I’ve also been practicing my soldering and playing “let’s put that through the rolling mill and see what happens.” Or arranged components in different combinations to see how they look. The picture below shows a copper spiral I put through the rolling mill, some bent wire, and an enameled metal scrap. I don’t think the pieces go together, but you don’t know until you try.
Here are some ceramic shards from my pottery days.
I used high fire white porcelain with mason stains to color the clay. I had previously tumbled the the with cheap cleanser until the surfaces were a buttery matte. A couple of years ago I took the same shards and tumbled then with the polish meant to be used in the last stage of rock tumbling. Boy was I surprised-they got glossy shiny.
Some shards were finely crazed on the surface and I rubbed ink and shoe dye into a lot of these. I have made pendants out of some of them; you can drill holes in them the same way you drill glass.
Here’s my box of of metal scraps. I should call it my magic box because whenever a need a certain piece of metal, I can find it in there. The brass pieces in the left compartment of the middle shelf are these cool fixtures of a chest of drawers. I am going to use them upside down as focal pieces in necklaces. I am still thinking about the design
Here are some bezels. The one in the foreground holds a bullseye glass cab I fused awhile ago. The curl of copper in the back (left) is what remained when I cut a thin sheet of copper with metal shears. The metal curls up and looks so interesting. I still have to think of a way to use these.
Fold forming and patina experiments. I think the verdigris needs to be toned down or eliminated. This might make for an interesting pendant.
Here I am trying to hold a piece steady for in order to solder one little thing to it. When you solder, anything you use to clip or bind pieces together draws the heat from your torch and makes the process more difficult.
Bead caps are easy to make. Just take a disc (bought or cut with a disc cutter) make a hole in the center with a hole punch, and shape with a dapping die and punch.
More components looking for a home. The white bead is polymer clay.
You enamel the bead caps after you make them. You don’t have to use them as bead caps. The above dangle could be an earring or an embellishment.
More enameled scraps
A few years ago, Theresa Mowery of Patina Studio suggested Miracle Gro plant food after reading one of my posts on patina experiments. It works great! But I live in an urban area where my own garden is a weed growing out of a crack in my front steps. So I got liquid plant food that has similar ingredients to Miracle Gro ( just compare the labels) so I would not have to buy a large box of plant food and mix it up. The liquid plant food even comes with an eye dropper.
Here are some finished copper pendants tucked into my patina jar that’s filled with Kosher salt. I screwed the lid on and will check it after a few days to see how the patina is developing.
Here’s some other pieces. I put on the patina and am leaving them in the open air to see what happens.
The pictures below show the front and back of a pendant in progress. I etched a piece of brass and patinated it with the ammonia and salt method. Then I cut out the shape, made a hole and shaped it in a swage block.
I filed the edges smooth and added a ring, washer and dangle with enameled ends. I think this pendant will undergo some more changes before I’m happy with it.
Once it’s the way I want it, I will finish the pendant with a coat of Renaissance Wax to protect the patina.
If you’re in Philadelphia this weekend, don’t miss the Spring Art Star Craft Bazaar Saturday, May 12th & Sunday, May 13th, 11-6pm at the Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing, which is along Columbus Blvd, between Walnut & Chestnut Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Ornamento 