Creating From the Heart

by Staci L. Smith

When we decided to do a cold connections Boot Camp, I had something very specific in mind. I thought it was a great time of year to apply this to gifts and ornaments. 

 

Karen's art is chocked full of photo's.  Even if they are not her own personal ones, they make the piece personal, they add a human, historical piece to the puzzle.

 

She inspired me to make these pins as gifts last year. 

 

Using cold connections allows you to use fragile materials, like photos, without ruining them.  It allows you to create from the heart, with photos or memento's that have meaning to you.

 

 I just wanted to share with you a little tutorial on how to make them.  It is not detailed, I wanted to just give you guidelines so you can make it in your own style.  I am going to explain it as a pin, but you can make a pendant, or even a tree ornament or magnet.

 

Making keepsake pins with rivets:

You will need:

Two pieces of metal, one with a hole in the center- already textured and patina’d and sealed

 

Pin back with large round glue backing

(I got these at rings and things)

 

 

Laminate or mica and acrylic sealer

 

Rivets (see link for instructions on riveting and toolsand supplies for that)

or

Micro-screws (see link for instructions on using them)

 

To assemble the piece:

 

Take two layers of metal- punch or saw a hole in one of them.

Print a picture the right size to fill the middle

Laminate the picture or seal with an acrylic sealer

If not laminated, use mica sheet and cut it to the right size- same as the top layer of metal or close

Sandwich everything together and mark where your holes will go

Drill hole in your backing and your pin back, and attach them by rivet

Now sandwich all your layers and mark and drill your top layer holes and one through all the layers

Drill and Rivet carefully if you are using mica sheet, as it cracks easily

 

Rivet the layers together.  Voila!!!

 

You can also add dangles from the bottom, or rivet other accents onto your piece for decoration

 

Here are some of Karen mcGovern's wonderful riveted pieces with pictures in them!

screaming silence- read between the lines

 

I truly hope this boot camp will help to make some personalized creations for your holiday gift giving- after all, a handmade heartfelt gift is better then anything that can be purchased!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Show it Off

by Staci L. Smith
Have you been following the latest Boot Camp:  Hold your Fire- Cold Connections?  It's a good one, a tool for your tool box with limitless possibilities!  You can check for new posts each Monday on cold connections, and throughout the week as well!!

Whether you are already an expert at cold connections, or you are trying them for the first time, you can join with us, and show off your what you are making with them in our flickr group. 

If you have been doing them for years, show it off!  It's a great way to inspire those new to them. 

 

If you are trying them out for the first time, show it off- your hard work and creative ideas are what we want to see !

 

Lynnea of Designs by Lynnea gave rivets a shot, and she nailed it! 

 

You can visit Lynnea's facebook page here.

 

I must admit, her cuff, is exactly the sort of thing I hoped you guys would try out with rivets.  Layering metal and mixed media has endless possibilities!  And using photo's make it so much more personal. 

 

Stay tuned for tomorrow, on how you can make a project with a picture and rivets (or micro-screws or tube rivets).

 

 



Rivet-ing Shopping....

by Barbara Bechtel

If you're looking to get started using cold connections and rivets, then you'll need a few essentials to get started! The most wonderful thing about using cold connections in your work is that the tools are very basic and most serve multiple purposes! If you're looking to expand your metal working tool box, then taking up our Cold Connection Boot Camp is a great way to acquire a few new tools that will help you on your metal working journey!

Hammers: Both a riveting hammer and a chasing/ ball peen hammer are great tools for your tool box. While a riveting hammer is just what the name implies, a chasing/ball peen can also be used for riveting with a little practice. Both hammers have many uses outside of rivets however so these should be the first two hammers you splurge on!

Fretz Riveting Hammer from Fusion Beads

Fretz Chasing Hammer from Fusion Beads

Metal tubing/ wire. or manufactured rivets/ tube rivets/ crimps:

You can make both tube rivets and nail head rivets by hand but if you're nervous, you might like to start out with manufactured bits made exclusively for this purpose. Personally, I always cut my own tubing and make balled pins for my rivets, but many use manufactured or precut items for ease of use/speed. Experiment with both for different effects and to see which works for you! Hobby type screws/nut combos as previously mentioned by Karen are also a super fun option with a great finish!

Metal tubing and accessories from Rio Grande

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

eyelet started set from Rio Grande

Center punch/eyelet setter/rivet pliers:

pierce and rivet set from Artbeads.com

A center punch might already be in your tool box if you drill holes, but if not, these can be found very inexpensively at your local hardware (or maybe in your garage already!) A center punch along with a universal eyelet setter will aid if you would like to try your hand tube riveting.

There are also a number of tube riveting pliers on the market (that are used with purchased pre-cut tube rivets) that make connecting a breeze!

Do you have any favorite tools to share for cold connections! We'd love to hear your favorites!

Hold Your Fire: Rivets

by Staci L. Smith

 

What is a rivet?  Using wire to connect two pieces of metal (or two items) together.  It is probably the most commonly used cold connection of all!

Learning to make rivets will prove to be life changing.  It will open up doors to new and wonderful creations that were just not viable before.  It is another valuable problem solving tool in your tool box as well.

Here are some references, links and printable  that should help to you learn and practice this new technique.

 

The first thing I like to have handy is the drill bit and wire gauge chart.  This allows you to know what size drill bit to use, for the gauge wire you will be using to rivet.

 

There is a nice printable version from
Art Jewelry magazines website here. (then you can keep it right in your studio)

 

http://art.jewelrymakingmagazines.com/~/media/import/files/pdf/8/a/d/art-jewelry-drill-bit-sizes.pdf

I also refer to this one at Rio Grande because they give you the measurement in the fraction form, which is how some drill bits list them.

http://www.riogrande.com/Content/Drill-Bit-to-Wire-Gauge-Conversion-Chart-CG-html?Pos=1

 

I was not able to make my own photo tutorial for you, but I did type up a printable PDF on making rivets.  I know I still like to have a paper in front of me while learning something new.  It has your material and tool list, as well as step by step instructions.
 

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2x2Hxljc64UMnluTjZDeVdFVkU/edit?usp=sharing

If you are like me though, you will need to see this in action.  So print the tutorial, and watch the awesome video I found by Charles Hamm.
 

 It is very thorough.  I love his diagrams, and step by step demonstrations.  It is worth the 8 minutes of viewing time! 

 

 



 

 

Rivets have really opened a whole new world to me!  If you don't have a good vice to make your own, you can use these from Rio Grande.  They are also time saving, but not near as nice and finished looking on the back as making your own.

 

 

http://www.riogrande.com/Product/Copper-1-4-Rivet/628112?Pos=2


I have used them a lot.  However, I now have a nice little vice in my studio, and can't wait to make my own rivets!


As soon as I do, I will post pics to the flickr group- and I hope you will too.  Its a fun way to show off what you are creating with cold connections during this Boot Camp.

cold connections - alexander calder

mary jane dodd

alexander calder - stabile

yesterday and today are about inspiration - 

susan lenart kazmer's book not only inspires, but teaches. 

today i wanted to share a side of one of the great masters of art that some of you may not have known about. many of you may recognize alexander calder for his sculpture - huge mobiles and stabiles that are perfectly balanced... often massive metal works that float seemingly effortlessly in the air, set in motion by only a slight breeze. 

this amazing man also made jewelry - and with his very large tools i might add.

i took some pictures from another of my favorite books, calder jewelry, to show you how he used cold connections in his work. 

alexander calder 

rivets

alexander calder

wire loops

alexander calder

tabs

alexander calder

paddle ended wire

cold connections aren't what you use because you don't know how to solder. this method isn't 'less' to soldering, it's just different. 

it's a choice. 

a choice that adds much to the overall design, a choice that will challenge you to be certain that your technical and aesthetic considerations have been thought out well. 

do you want these connections to take center stage? because they certainly can

or do you want them to be what they are? a way of connecting, providing structure, movement and a subtle design influence.

i am really excited about this challenge. 

like most of you, i have to allow things to percolate for a bit before sitting down to make. whenever i would submit to art bead scene's monthly challenge i inevitably would get my entry in on the last day. simply because ideas had to move around in my brain, get filtered and distilled.

mjd - 2010 calder challenge

enjoy your weekend - here in the midatlantic, foliage is peaking. 

life is good, yes?

Hold Your Fire: Cold Connections Boot Camp

by Staci L. Smith

The next Love my Art Jewelry Boot Camp is all about cold connections- no fire needed!

 

I know as a group we have touched on them here and there, but this month we will be showing you how to use micro-screws, rivets and tube rivets among other ways to connect your metals and create personalized projects for the upcoming holidays- bring on the mixed media!!! 

 

So check back next Monday for Karen's blog on micro-screws. 

 

Here is some of her mixed media work (she's pretty amazing!)

 

 

You can see more of her awesome creations here.

http://www.beadkeepers.com/

 

If you would like to plan ahead, the blog hop for Hold the Fire: Cold Connections will be December 16th.

 

Share you cold connection art works in our flickr group all through boot camp- with a description so we know what you did or learned.  We'd love to see what you make!

 

 

Mixed Metals and Sensitive Skin - Challanges and Solutions by Karen McGovern

I love to mix metals in my designs, and use mostly a combination of copper, brass, nickel silver and aluminum.  Sterling silver and gold are not on the list simply due to the fact that these materials are so CRAZY EXPENSIVE these days.  My goal has always been to create unique AFFORDABLE jewelry.  So, I stick to what I can afford, and can afford to share with my clients at a reasonable price. 

 

There are challenges when working with "non-precious" materials.  Soldering different metals together is a challenge, some heat quicker than others, some simply don't like each other and will BURN INTO ASH before soldering.  Cold connecting with rivets and micro screws is my go-to method of marrying metals most of the time.  It's easy, and I really love the look of rivets as accents. 

 

One challenge I am constantly aware of (and working to overcome) is the skin reaction many people have when copper, nickel and brass touches them.  Many folk's skin reacts badly with these materials, and nothing is worse than having your client's fingers and wrists turn green from wearing your work!  I hate hearing from a potential client that they love a piece of my jewelry, but won't consider buying it because of skin/metal related problems.  So, I work to devise solutions that are both successful and interesting.

 

For many, the go-to solution is layering acrylic sprays and polishes on the finished piece, which works very well, but doesn't last forever.  Rings and bracelets worn consistently over a long period of time will wear away any finish that is applied.  It's inevitable.  Yes, you can tell people to go ahead and spray the piece with Krylon from Michael's, but that is a lot to expect your clients to do.  So, I have a couple tips for those who enjoy working with mixed metals as much as I do:

 

For rings and cuffs made of copper, nickel or brass, I love to line the interiors with transparency film or resin paper.  ArtChix Studios is a wonderful source for beautiful transparency sheets and collage sheets in just about any pattern or theme you can imagine.  Butterflies, birds, text, vintage ladies and more can adorn the inside of your rings and cuffs.  Simply cut to the appropriate size and either rivet in place or use a coating of jewelry resin (like Ice Resin) to adhere the transparency in place. For papers, coat paper with resin first, allow to dry, cut and rivet or resin in place as well.  This will provide an impervious barrier between the metal and the wearer's skin, and add tons of interest to the piece.  Unfortunately, this does not work for fine or thin wire ring bands...haven't solved that puzzle quite yet, but I'm working on it.
 

Assorted papers from the Industrial Chic line. 
The bottom sheet has been coated with resin.

A brass cuff with resin paper set on the interior.

Next is the glory that is aluminum.  Aluminum is quickly becoming a popular metal for jewelry designers for so many reasons.  It's inexpensive, easy to work with, looks like silver, doesn't tarnish and best of all IT'S HYPOALLERGENIC!  I adore aluminum and use it constantly in my work.  I use it as a base for most of my cuff designs, layering copper and brass on top.  Same for pendants.  I try to make sure that whatever part of the design that will touch skin is backed with or made of aluminum.  You cannot solder aluminum to anything, so you'll get very creative with riveting!
 

A variety of aluminum cuffs.  I LOVE ALUMINUM!

This brings me to another point--making the back of your pendants/designs as interesting as the front.  If you have a design that you just don't want framed in aluminum, you can still add an interesting shape or cut-out of aluminum to the back that can't bee seen from the front to act as a buffer between the pendant and skin.  Resin papers and transparency sheet can be used here just like with cuffs and rings.  Again, you are adding dimension and interest to a part of your design that is often left blank and providing a barrier between metal and skin.  What artist can resist a blank surface??  Aluminum can really save the day for you and I urge you to give it a try.  It's available in sheet, wire, and pre-cut shapes all over the Internet.  Textures beautifully too!
 

A added a strip of textured aluminum to the back of this Wolf Totem pendant. 
Simple and effective!

I hope you'll give these ideas a try, and I know your sensitive skin clients (and your pocketbook) will be happy you did!

Playing With Plastic - By Karen McGovern

I love to play with unusual materials in my jewelry designs.  I was recently asked to show some images of works created with weird stuff and remembered some bangles I made using PVC pipe.  These were inspired by Robert Dancik, the inventor of Faux Bone, which is really a version of PVC in sheet form.  FANTASTIC MATERIAL and I love using it.  In fact, I need to dig some out and make something...

 

 

Anyway, when I was first experimenting with Faux Bone, I came across some large PVC pipe leftovers on my husband's work bench.  "Hmm", I thought. "These bits of pipe ALMOST fit over my wrist JUST LIKE A BANGLE!"  Ding-Ding-Ding!  We have a winner!  Turns out that you can get short lengths of schedule 40 PVC pipe that with a bit of work can be turned into a standard 8 inch bangle.  WHO KNEW? 

 

So, I pounced on the pipe and got to work.  First, find the largest PVC pipe sold at Home Depot, Lowes, whatever.  Should be almost big enough for a bangle.  I simply marked around the pipe with a Sharpie the width I wanted the bangle to be (about an inch), then sawed it with a jewelers saw.  I filed and aged the PVC to look like old bone by burning the edges with my micro torch (well ventilated area, people, PVC gives off fumes when you burn it).  Then I cut the pipe open, heated it with a heat gun to soften, and slid it on my bracelet mandrel to stretch it to the 8-inch size.  Then I drilled the ends and filled the gap with a riveted band of copper, silver, brass, aluminum, whatever, embelished with beads, discs, etc.  I also used an Xacto knife to slice and score the PVC, then used SHOE POLISH (you heard me) rubbed into the marks to accent it further and make it look like old, beat up bone.  Buff if you want and VIOLA!  You have a super-cool, unusual bangle created from an unexpected material!

 

  

What weird stuff do you play with in jewelry designs?  PLEASE SHARE!!!