Cape Cod Style

So another Cape artist, Jeanmarie of Bass River Pottery, recommended I do something quintessentially Cape Cod.

So I commissioned a company, Soap Impressions, to make me a CC stamp that I could use for jewelry.

This is CIM glass in "Ogre", which has some color variations develop as it is worked. The earring backs I purchased as a lot from another jewelry. Opaque colors, particularly Dark Ivory give the best definition.

I'll be selling there at my HyArts shanty in Hyannis from 8/8 - 8/14 and again from 9/5 - 9/11.

See you at the beach.

More Double Helix

More earring beads for the summer craft fair season - amazing sparkle

Glass is Thallos on  left and Triton on right, both under super clear

Double Helix

I continue my slooooow exploration of some of the DH silver glass library. Below are some diamond shaped beads of heavily encased Thallos. Had no idea what to expect and actually expected something completely different. The DH actually looked reddish during the reduction phase so I was pleasantly surprised to find these coming out as a blue/green opal. Gorgeous!

Helios

Frantz Art Glass had a sale a couple of weeks ago and I picked up some Double Helix Helios. WOW. What a great color. When flashed it turns a lovely golden shade. It's quickly replacing Aurae as my favorite DH accent glass. Here are some sample pieces:

Heart in my Hand

I am having a lot of fun with my Zooiis XL heart press. I just LOVE the way these turnout. And I get a compliment every time I wear one.

Spring Weather = Bees

Well it's FINALLY getting to be Spring like here in the metro NYC area and I'm sure I heard a collective sigh of relief. Although we may still have a last gasp of cold, it looks like winter is over. Yah!

I've been making some bee beads to celebrate and have been trying designs for a honeycomb bead to make a set. Here's a first attempt.

Bavarian Bead Presses

I finally received my new presses from Bavarian Beads (and yes they are in Bavaria!). An angel wing press and an ammonite press. I've been lusting after an ammonite form for years and finally get to play around with these.

Presses take a while to get familiar with but the ammonite press I have having more success with so far. I think these will make adorable earrings!

Formfolding Class Part 1

Formfolding is a method of creating three dimensional forms in sheet metal without the use of cutting or soldering. The plastic qualities of the metal itself are utilized and a variety of organic shapes can be created. You can see some of the incrediable shapes on this page. The book Foldforming by Charles Lewton-Brain is a comprehesive manual for the art.

Sunday, November 2, I took a class in Formfolding, at the Center for Metal Arts in Florida, NY, taught by Chip Schwartz. A great local place, they also have classes in blacksmithing and other metal work. Check out their schedule here

We started out with a simple line fold. Here Chip is begining the process on an anvil, creating the bend for the first fold in a piece of copper sheet.

After the first fold, the piece is hammered flat with a deadblow hammer. A rubber or rawhide mallet could also be used.

Then he anneals each piece.

Since hammering hardens the metal, heating the copper softens the metal so the plasticity is returned. By repeatedly hammering, bending and annealing a shape can be created.

Here are a couple of my pieces that have been repeatedly hammered, annealed and unfolded.

You can see how the lines appear to flow under or over each other.

If I wanted to use these pieces for a pendant, I'd have to file the edges, drill holes to hang on a chain, pickle the piece to remove the black and the finish it with butcher's wax or Renaissance wax for a protective finish. Of course, I'd also have to stick a glass bead on it somewhere! ☺

Personally I like the variety of colors flamed copper can take on so prior waxing the piece I'd slightly heat it on a torch to bring out some reds, oranges or even blues then coat the metal with a protective wax.

New Work - Hollows

Here's a sample of some of the new work I've been exploring - hand built hollows. I learned this with Stephanie Maddalena when I first learned how to create lampwork beads. For a while I used the "hollow mandrel' approach to making big, hollow beads but there are problems with that.

First, the mandrels are expensive. Unless you make your own (somehow using car brake tubes) they can get very pricey when you want to make more than a couple. I find that 5 beads make a nice necklace. You'd need at least a half dozen mandrels to start. Secondly, the mandrels crush easily. If the bead release decides not to release easily it's easy to smash the mandrel with pliers as you try and remove the bead. And it usually happens anyway when you use the mandrel a lot. It's easier and cheaper to master than hand built technique.

Here's a speckled set I did recently. The clear glass really sparkles and the chain really can't be seen due to the surface decoration.

New Work

In more mixed media work I am trying to combine purchase beads, chain and handmade beads in a new way (for me)! I've done several of these and continue to explore this way of presenting shape/color combinations.

I'll be at the Fall Festival at Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge, NY, this Saturday, October 11 from 10 - 6. You can get information here.

Working with copper lately.