This has been a very challenging summer for me. Lots of changes with loved ones coming and going from my life. There’s the 5th year anniversary of my Mother’s death, my impending retirement, more and more silver appearing in my hair (which I refuse to dye-been there done that) and the feeling that things are moving slowly, but that I can’t keep up with them.
It is at times like these that I find myself going into the workshop to make components without any idea of how I will use them, if I end up using them at all. I am past the point in my life where everything has to have an immediate goal and purpose. Sometimes just “being” is the best thing for me.
So here are some pictures of the meanderings I have taken with my materials this summer.
Some etched copper.
I am trying various kinds of chain making, soldered and unsoldered.
etched copper pipes
Mixing chain components with polymer beads
These pieces will become toggle clasps,
Spirals for dangles
Clasp experiments based on vintage belt buckle design. Front
And back,
And here is a bracelet where I try to pull it all together with glass and polymer beads.
This picture shows a spiral dangle and one of the finished toggle clasps in use. (after a bath in liver of sulfur) The wrinkled bead between the red (one glass and one polymer) beads is a copper bead made from crushed pipe.
Ornamento 