Silver

by Staci Louise Smith

I began my jewelry making journey using silver.

It's my first love in jewelry.

Back when I made pieces like this, silver was around $8-$12 an oz.  You know I go big with my pieces, so I used A LOT of silver in them.  A few years ago it started climb, reaching $50 at times.  It's come down again, but in order to maintain a certain price point, $28-30 an oz. is still a bit high for me.  (and things like chain and metal clay are much higher then just the current rate per oz)

Then I heard about silver filled wire, sheet and chain.

Silver filled is sterling silver over brass, and it is 100x thicker then silver plated.  It patina's and antiques the same as sterling, and it says that it can be soldered. 

Jewelry Supply has some great information on it here.
And Rio Grande has even more here.

I purchased some silver filled wire, and chain, and clasps, because I want to make ankle bracelets for my sea glass festival. I got this great rolo chain in silver filled.

for less then $5 per foot.

The same chain in sterling silver is $33.75 per foot.  HUGE savings.   So an ankle bracelet with sterling would retail for about $80.  I think its a win win.  The one I made below will retail for only $45.

(This is the one I made for myself to test it out.) 

So far I have worn it for almost a week, in the ocean, walking the boardwalk, at night, everywhere and all the time.  I plan to keep it on until my sea glass festival.  The chain is tough (good for anklets), and I made it adjustable in length. 

I can't find where I read it, but one of the suppliers claimed the silver will never wear off. 

I haven't tried to solder the wire, but I did try to ball it in a torch and it was a disaster.  The silver and brass ball at different temps and its a melty mess. 

I think its important to offer the best prices AND quality to my customers.  I agonize over pricing, and make it as fair to everyone as possible.  So I am really happy to find silver filled and hope it does last a lifetime.

So what have you guys found?  Did you try this out yet?  Any advice or thoughts on silver filled?

oops

These past few months I have been swimming in garden and yard related activities and all that is copper has been put on the back burner.  I think the last time I actually made something was the end of February.  My how time does fly.  In the interim, my studio workbench has been overrun by a myriad of gardening tools, gloves, organic pesticides and fertilizers, tools, tool belts, tool boxes and all things not related to jewelry making.  So much so that I can no longer see what lies beneath.  


The other day I was in a desperate search for my favorite gardening gloves when I found a plastic storage container that I use for my ammonia based patina.  I noticed that there was something inside.  Oh my.  It was two pieces of copper that had been sitting in the ammonia and salt patina for months.  I was scared to open it.  Fearful that it was some type of science project gone horribly awry.  But I braved up and opened the container.  Whew, did it smell.  But the pieces inside were just beautiful.  They looked like some type of dinosaur egg.  Okay, so I don't really know what a dinosaur egg looks like, but that's what first popped into my head.

It has made me remember why I love the old fashioned type of patina's best.  I did recently purchase patina's that can be painted on and there is no waiting involved, but a real patina is embraced with the love of time.  So in thinking about future projects I thought it would be nice to go ahead, cut out my copper, put it in several different solutions and wait.  Just wait.  There's always something else to work on while they sit and I always have the ole reliable liver of sulpur, so why not wait.


"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

guest post - lori plyler

As a child, these words were constantly drilled instilled into my growing mind.

My parents saw in me a desire to be creative when I was very young. While other girls were content to use Barbie's pretty wardrobe, and much to my poor mother's frustration, I used aluminum foil by the roll to create sparkling evening gowns for my beloved dolls. I distinctly remember other times using scrap fabric and glue – not one of Barbie’s better moments.

“Use your gift.”

As a child, I spent hours copying comics, "writing" calligraphy (because I was left handed and couldn't be taught properly), learning to sew, learning to paint through art lessons every Saturday morning… because I wanted to.

“Use your gift.”

After majoring in fine art, I learned the true meaning of "starving artist", working in graphics (when cut and paste was, literally, cut and paste), as a portrait artist, and even stressing over architectural renderings when some poor soul was desperate enough to pay me. Even though these jobs helped to pay the bills, I found no joy or creativity in the work.

“Use your gift.”

I've created in some way, shape or form throughout my entire life, experiencing art as both a job and a passion. Only as an adult did I learn to appreciate the gift of those early words from my parents as well as their gift of allowing and encouraging the burgeoning need for a child to create.

jewelry

handbags and accessories

photography

and most recently

art for art's sake.

…because I want to.

Thanks Mom and Dad.

(And thanks to Love My Art Jewelry for allowing me to share a little of my life!)

.........................................................................................

Lori can be found:

website

blog

shop

Look who's strutting their stuff!

by our very own Staci Louise Smith! Staci says about this piece: Glass bead was a gift from Genea of Genea beads. I wanted to wear it right away- it was so sweet of her to think of me and choose this awesome bead for me. I thought the bronze donut complimented it nicely, adding more of that ancient feel to it. I pulled out the purples in the bead using sari silk and garnet. I love it and everytime I wear it I think of what a sweet gesture it was to recieve this bead and our friendship.

Our next piece comes from David Curoe and David says about this piece: This piece was made using a computer program that takes an image, applies relief based on contrast, then produces a set of instructions for a different program to use that controls a CNC milling machine to cut the shape out of wax. This wax is then cast with the lost wax method to produce a rough silver piece. This pendant took about 90 minutes for the machine to carve the wax form. The wax was cast to sterling silver and I cleaned and polished it up. My intention was to create a wood texture but I have been told that this piece looks like a scene from space (galaxies) or watermarks.
Are you ready to strut your stuff?? Check out the sidebar for directions, and the EXCELLENT prizes for this month. **Remember, to give a description of your thought process, while creating your jewelry or beads/components. We really want everyone to share their creative thinking. And a description is necessary to be in the prize running.** Thanks, as always, for creating and supporting "handmade".

Special Work....

Custom work is not my favorite thing to do. Especially for relatives and acquaintances. I'm not sure what it is about it that makes me extremely anxious. It has been my experience, in doing commissioned pieces be they art or jewelry, that many folks think because you paint or make jewelry, you are comfortable working in whatever style they wish the piece to be. What starts out as someone expressing interest in a custom piece, can quickly turn into someone asking for materials, styles, or techniques that you don't even use.

Recently, I was asked by a family friend and member of the church that I went to growing up, if I would consider making a bracelet for his wife, to celebrate their 40th anniversary. He was also the leader of our youth group and my Sunday School teacher for many years. Part of me cringed inside, because I knew I didn't have the heart to say,  "No."

I had little direction and what direction I did have, was followed by, "I know she'll love whatever you make."

No pressure, right?

I wanted something to infer the relevance of the gift, since it was their 40th anniversary but I didn't want to put both dates or "40th anniversary" That seemed too overt.

So, after much thought, I decided to put the date in Roman Numerals on the front and he provided a special quote for the back, from their favorite song.

Time was of the essence as part of the time that I would have to work on it, I expected to be out of town, so it was a very quick turnaround. Even now, as I write this, I haven't heard whether he is fond of what I made.

I included a line from a song that was important to them.

I cut and pieced the handle of a sterling souvenir spoon from the state where they live. I'd been saving this spoon for something very special and it worked out perfectly! It also enables the wearer to wear it this side out since it functions much as a cuff.

How do you feel about doing custom work?


Is it something that brings you much anxiety or do you handle it with ease?

books

mary jane dodd

i have benefited greatly from posts like these - discovered books that have been really meaningful for me... 

i pulled some treasures recently from kathy van kleeck... 

so now i share with you... 

what's piled on your bed? (ahem, i mean on your bedside table)

The Art Show Shuffle

                                                                                                        by Kelli Pope
.......... and I'm dancing (shuffling) as fast as I can!!    AND, loving every minute of it!!!  My first show was 2 weeks ago. It's a 2 day outdoor show on Mother's Day weekend every year.  The first day was a blow out!  I was SO pleased!!  I almost doubled my 2-day total from last year.   The 2nd day it rained. Well, no..  it POURED!!  The field became a mud pit.   The coordinators told us we could leave early, but I and a lot of other artists  decided to stick it out for awhile.  After all, I had sent cards and e-mails to customers.  If they decided to venture out in the rain, then I was certainly going to be there. AND be there with a smile on my face.  I spent most of the day driving my help, Jan, crazy singing one of those silly songs that get stuck in your head.  (Have you seen the movie trailer for Madagascar 3?  The zebra singing "Circus Afro"? If not, you must google it!  It's quite funny, and will make you smile as well as everyone around you.... unless of course you sing it over and over and over and over on a rainy day... :o)     I did have some loyal customers come out in the rain with their umbrellas, jackets and galoshes to shop. 
           So, yes, all that was shuffling.  But the REAL shuffling goes on prior to the shows.  It's the jewelry making binges that really make me dance.  Again, I headed to my sister's house, with all of my prepared findings, beads, pendants, etc, and had several days of "creative therapy".    She's such a big help.  She pulls out all of the jewelry I have, and makes inventory lists, and organizes me (well.. as best she can).  She tells me where the "holes" are in the inventory...  "need more green earrings"... "you have 3 pairs of black earrings, and no necklace"... etc.     Below is the aftermath of the weekend.  Her piano was covered, as well as the piano bench behind it, and the window sills!    It was a GREAT session!  I think I left with 144 pieces.

  Here was one of my favorites.

And her beautiful flower gardens around the house inspired me, and put good use to some of my polka-dot beads.

         

Now to fill in the holes and get ready for next weekend's show.  Hopefully, rain or no rain, it will be another success. Either way, I'll have a great time, and meet some more wonderful people.   

Listening...........

By Staci L. Smith

With it being show season, I remember why I work so hard, and put in the long days and full weekends to do these shows.  It's the people. 

I LOVE people.  I love their uniqueness.   I love their quirks.  I love that we are all different.  I think to do shows or work in sales in anyway, you need to love people.  And most people love to talk (like me) so I often chat it up with customers.  Whether I make a sale or not doesn't matter, because we both leave smiling, and in a small way, I feel I made a new friend.

When you open the door to coverstation though, you are sure to get feedback, and other input, good and bad.  At first this can be upsetting, or even overwhelming.  Some people will tell you what is wrong with a design, or you should leather cords, or you shouldn't have leather cords, or you should have more 20" necklaces, or no one wears 20" necklaces anymore. 

I think we need to listen, to it all. 

When I first started doing shows I was frantic, trying to make what everyone thought I should make.  It didn't work for me, and often, it wouldn't sell.  In the end, it wasn't MY art coming through, because I was trying to make what I thought THEY wanted.

However, I still listen, but you learn to filter it.  You learn to discern what may or may not benefit your style.  It's always good to have the opinion of others.

So if you are new to shows, listen.  Take notes, and really think about the feedback you get.  I know it has helped me to evolve as an artist. 

Another way to "listen" is to observe what customers touch, try on and gravitate to.  What is the most handled item?  What item draws more people in, and where was it placed? 

For example, I made daintier pendants for my last show.

This was the new display- the box is made from a .25 cent find at a thrift store

(Close up of some of the pendants and the new diplay.  I added leather to the display to make it fit my style, and darkend the stain so my pendants would show up against it better)

another close up

  Since I went all wild with my earrings, (lots of large bold ones)

I thought I should offer some smaller necklaces so the overall look of earrings and necklaces wouldn't be too overwhelming.  I think I only sold 2-3 of them.  I thought for sure my customer base would widen if I made some daintier stuff.  Yet, they still went for my collage style chokers.  Go figure.  I will still offer the pendants, but it's a direction I won't pursue feverishly!  So I will continue to do what comes naturally to me- big chunky jewlery! 

Good luck to all of you doing shows right now!  If you have any questions, let me know.  I have been doing outdoor juried shows for 7-8 years now, so there a good chance one of my mistakes could help you out (cause I made a ton of them!  Nothin' like learning the hard way.)

Listen, Observe, Enjoy!

Fun with separation enamel

by Julie Holmes

Separation enamel is a fun  enameling technique that yields interesting, sometimes unpredictable and sometimes wonderful results.  I have not done much of it, but I think it's worth exploring.  You can read an article about it here:  http://www.glass-on-metal.com/pastart/separation.htm .

Here is an example of a bowl I made using separation enamel. Two colors of transparent enamel were sifted over the flux, followed by a layer of two colors of opaque, and then a layer of two colors of transparent again.  The separation enamel was painted on in stripes at the edge of the bowl. It was allowed to dry thoroughly while the kiln temperature was increased to 1600 degrees F and then fired for about 3 minutes.  You can see that the separation enamel "ate" through all the layers down to the flux

I tried a smaller piece in my kiln this week using separation enamel that came with some 30 year old enamels and supplies I found on eBay.  The results weren't great...but I had no idea what to expect and that's what makes it fun!  Over an initial layer of flux I sifted 1.  transparent blue 2.  opaque pink  3.  transparent green  The separation enamel only made it down to the flux in a couple spots, and it may have been because this was old lead-bearing stuff that doesn't work well laid flat, or it may have been that at 1500 my kiln wasn't hot enough.  Two of my holes got filled in by the effects of the glass flowing around in the kiln....but still...I kind of like the weird color and pattern that resulted.

These last two photos are work done by enameling pro Tom Ellis and show just how gorgeous this technique can be.  You can buy separation enamel from Thompson Enamel here:

http://thompsonenamel.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=separation&x=0&y=0

It's inexpensive, it's fun, it adds something new to your enameling arsenal.  Enjoy!

is there a word for a visual earworm?

mary jane dodd

ragglebloom by the amazingly talented ren at fairysteps

because these have been for me... i even got them for my mom and daughter in different colors...

but i hadn't realized how much it had infiltrated the different parts of my mind

until these started happening - 

i really do love when this happens - and i am working on making them even more layered... while i do not often use color in my finished work, i am very fond of using patinas to create components like these... 

have you had something sneak its way into your work lately?

Look who's Strutting Their Stuff!

Some very beautiful and unique work in our Flickr Pool this week! Here are just a few of the exceptional pieces that you've created!




by Amanda (torchandhammer) About this piece: This necklace represents the knowledge that your heart is YOURS, not a plaything for someone else. Sometimes we have to learn that the hard way. :-( I used copper metal clay to form the winged, padlocked heart, and attached it to a necklace made of copper, hand-spun yarn, labradorite, pearl, and Picasso-finish Czech glass.




by Kalaya Steede

About this piece: Riesgo This piece was inspired by the little acorn that hangs from the pendant. The etched brass is copper riveted to a piece of oak. It took several weeks before inspiration hit me.




also by Kalaya Steede

About this piece:
 Flores
The Flower. The inspiration came when a friend commissioned me to make a ring. In her words, "I want the most obnoxious ring ever!". So...I designed this ring using some of my newly handmade tools. If you look in close you will see where I textured the edges with my newly handmade tool. So fun! If you look in close you will see where I textured the edges with my newly handmade tool. So fun!

Are you ready to strut your stuff?? Check out the sidebar for directions, and the EXCELLENT prizes for this month. **Remember, to give a description of your thought process, while creating your jewelry or beads/components. We really want everyone to share their creative thinking. And a description is necessary to be in the prize running.** Thanks, as always, for creating and supporting "handmade".

VERY Special One-of-a-Kind Birds

MaryAnn Carroll

Hi, Today I was going to write about how I get some great materials for very little. I will save that for another time. I can, however, offer a quick tip regarding sheet copper. Call around to roofing companies and find out if they have scraps. You, obviously, will only be able to get smooth sheets (mine are about 5 inches x 10 feet), but it might end up working out for those who would like to save some money and still create copper jewelry.

Okay, so I did manage to get some TERRIFIC deals on all kinds of chain while stopping by garage sales along the way to Canandaigua, NY yesterday.  Once we got to our destination, Bill, my husband noticed a small yard sale sign. We stopped by. It looked like mostly clothes so we were not going to get out, but Bill saw something that he wanted to look at further. So we got out. The house was an very large, old house under renovation and the couple (with teenage girls) were very pleasant while I picked through their games that I might want to use in my classroom. The woman's name was Lisa. She was sitting and chatting and it was hard not to notice the bird she was holding. I then looked around and noticed two other birds outside in a a very large cage enjoying the nice day. I inquired about them and she told me that she had a bird sanctuary. Me, being an animal lover, and the "inquisitive type" asked more about it.

So, what does this have to do with jewelry? Well not a whole lot except when I went to take out one group of chain to clean up last night for today's post, here is what was in the bag...... If you look closely, that is an earring that accidentally got caught on the chain that I had been digging through hours earlier at one of our first stops while still in Homer. Now, call me crazy.... I've been called worse ;o) but when I saw that bird, I definitely felt compelled to change the direction I was going to take with today's post.

While there, Lisa asked if I was interested in seeing more. She led me inside and met the birds in her very clean, very playful, very organized, very healthy sanctuary. These birds, some abused, some just in need of a new home, have found their last stop. They will be with her for life and if some outlive her, she has a plan for that as well. It takes a very special person to do something like this. We often hear about animals that are living in extreme conditions, but not about people like Lisa who have made a commitment to making a difference.

Here is one that I met. His name is Romeo. I got this from Lisa's website and this must have been when Romeo was new to her. When I met him, he was proudly perched in an outdoor screened in area taking in all of the surroundings, which included a perfect temperature, other birds, toys, food and more. Romeo is missing an eye due to the previous owners abuse. You can read more about him by checking out the website.

I also met Peyton. Peyton had (and still is experiencing some) a history of feather plucking which led to mutilation. She had been with Lisa since November 2011 and looks like a very healthy bird. I could see the signs of her past behaviors, but, more importantly, could see the signs of present behaviors which indicated to me that this bird is in the right place.

And lastly, this is Lisa and Samson.  I took this outside of their home. And to think, I wasn't going to get out because I only wanted chain.

So.... jewelry? Not so much so today. But I will leave you with this. It is a picture of the earring that I plucked from the tangled nest of chain that I was going to write about. I think when I return at the end of next month for their monthly sale, I will have to find the other one and pay for the pair...... or.... at least pay for just the one :o) .... whoops!

Coincidence? I don't believe in them.....

Isn't he cute? He even ate (unplanned, of course) a walnut for me. Perfect! Check out Lisa's website to learn more about her sanctuary and if you can donate, it is easy to do through Paypal. Never think small donations cannot add up to bigger things.

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As always,

Thank-you for supporting those who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn