New contributor, tutorial and GIVEAWAY!

Hello there! My name is Carol Dekle-Foss. Some of you may remember an interview MaryAnn Carroll did with me in 2011. You can read the post here. Back then I had just transitioned from working full time as an interior designer to selling jewelry online. I look back and remember how overwhelmed I was. I first taught myself how to sandblast with our custom built equipment and then with no jewelry experience, I had to turn my pendants into some semblance of a necklace. Here is one of my first crude attempts.

                                      

Selling online and blogging presented it's own challenges as well. Lucky for me, I had time. With my son full grown and in the military I was able to research and study. I became like a sponge absorbing tons of information. I realized jewelry design was perfect for me because there are so many materials and techniques to explore and play with. So far sandblasting is my favorite, but I also love metalwork and have now incorporated both techniques in my designs.

Also, I realize I have been supported by so many designers and bloggers, including MaryAnn Carroll and Erin Prais-Hintz. I appreciate their support and encouragement to continue on my creative journey. It is now time for me to pay it forward.  As a contributor, you can count on me for tips on booth design and display, jewelry techniques, marketing tips, and laughable hair brain concoctions. Red-neck air conditioner anyone?? I also plan on showcasing some of my favorite handmade bead artists.

If you haven't already seen my tutorial on how I made these jewelry stands you can check it out here.

For my very first post I am going to share with you a new technique I discovered to surface texture metal. There are so many ways to do it, including but not limited to, etching, roll printing, stamping, and hammering. Etching is a wonderful because you can get very fine detail. The thing I hate about it though is the chemical ferric chloride. It can be expensive, it takes forever, and you have to dispose of it at a hazardous waste facility. I've tried other ways to etch like using a car battery with film, but was unhappy with the results.

I recently took a metalworking class where we learned how to roll print. I liked it so much I bought a rolling mill. I loved the idea of simply stamping out card stock with a pretty stamp and then roll printing. I then did some research and ran into this beast. It's a cutting machine called the Silhouette Cameo and is more for scrap booking.  The amazing thing about this machine is it cuts custom designs in FINE detail. Like crazy thin lines. I am in no way affiliated with the Silhouette America and am not getting any rewards for this post. I just simply LOVE it. Ok, so for the technique.

First, draw your design, or use a royalty-free graphic. Silhouette America has many images, and some you can buy a commercial licence, which is pretty cool. The below pic is a scanned image of a leaf I drew. 

Now upload the pic to the Silhouette Cameo program and trace the pattern. Here is a screenshot of the software after tracing the leaf. I love how the background has a graph for measurements.

Now send the traced image to the cutter and let the magic happen! Here are some pics of the cut out leaves in cardstock and me rolling the design. As you can see, the copper has been annealed to get a deep impression.

Voila! Finished pieces with the leaf design.
 

So this is one of my crazy ideas that actually worked! I love this technique for many reasons and plan on using it more in the future with different applications. If you decide to give it a go, and if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.


Now for the GIVEAWAY!!!!

To win these earrings simply leave a comment and a random winner will be chosen! If you follow me on one or more of my social media sights, let me know in the comments for more chances of winning. All the links are here. I will announce the winner my next blog post which is scheduled for June 18th. If you are a designer feel free to take the ear wires off and use the discs in your designs. The discs were created with the above technique and my Tree of Life pattern.

Thank you for reading my very first post! 

Taking a look back on Boot Camps

by Staci L. Smith

We had so many great boot camps last year! 

We already took a look back at Balled Head Pins. 

After that we covered Textured Metal.  We used letter stamps as texture, found object textures, textured earwires- as well as projects to try and information on metals! 

Maryann Carroll

Gaia Copia

 

 

Carefree Jewelry

video by Barb B.
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/art-jewelry-boot-camp-textured-metal.html

alphabet stamps as texture by Staci S.
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/boot-camp-alpha-texture.html

hammering to distress metal by Kelli P
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/hammering-to-destress.html

textured earring tutorial by maryann C.
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/textured-earrings-tutorial.html

textured wire spiral donut connector by staci s
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/textured-wire-sprial-donut-connector.html

textured metal slide bail by Barb B
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/texturing-metalnow-what.html

textured metal frame
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/04/textured-metal-wire-frame-pendant-form.html

found texture by Kelli P
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/04/finding-texture.html

more found texture by mary jane d
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/04/texture-boot-camp.html

textured ear wires by Stacie F.
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/boot-camp-how-to-texturize-earring-wires.html

metals you can texture by Staci S
 http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-kind-of-metal-can-i-texture.html

Then we took on wire in Wire Work Out. We leanred to twist wire, to wire wrap objects, makng rings, and tips on wire! 

 Fresh Baked Designs

Super 67 (Erika)

 

wire bead and ring by Kelli P
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/05/bootcamp-3-wire-work-out.html

wire wrap for beginners
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/05/wire-wrap-for-beginners-video.html

tips on using wire
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/06/basic-tips-on-using-wire.html

twisted wire
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/from-road.html

free form wire work staci s
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/05/free-your-mind-for-free-form-wire-work.html

wrapping briolettes by staci s
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/05/boot-camp-3-wire-work-out.html

After that we had a fun boot camp: Securing the Perimeter

all about claps

There were some great tutorials and tips of everyone's favorite clasps

Fresh Baked Designs

silver nick nats

 

wire clasp tutorial
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/boot-camp-securing-perimeter-aka-clasps.html

button claps by Mary Jane D
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/boot-camp-button-fiber-closures.html

twisted crusty toggle by Kelli P
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/twisted-crusty-toggle.html

snap closure for beadwork by Carol Dean S
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/its-snap.html

copper tube clasp by maryann c
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/copper-tube-clasp-boot-camp-tutorial.html

adventurous clasp design by Stacie F.
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/adventures-in-making-new-clasp-design.html

wire toggle by Staci S
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/boot-camp-tackling-toggle.html

clasps- secure or pretty or both by staci s
http://www.lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/07/clasps-practical-pretty-or-both.html

 

So I hope you will have fun and browse back through some of these great tutorials and informative posts from last year!

 

I also have a question- did you have a favorite boot camp last year?  if so, which one was it, and why?



Textured Metal Wire Frame Pendant Form

My friend Nikki Thornburg of Thornburg Bead Studio travels up and down the east coast US for bead shows. Whenever she is doing a show in close proximity to my house (Delaware) she stops up a day or two early and we have time to collaborate and work on some projects together.

 She is making these really cool layered pendants for necklaces with her glass flower beads, and is layering my spiral textured discs with them.

And as you can see in the image above, the silver wire is textured.

Not only because it looks cool, but also to work harden the metal so it creates a supportive background for all of the pieces wire wrapped on there.

She first lays out a collection of beads and fiddles with the overall layout, knowing that as she works the metal, it will change slightly, and she goes with the flow...

She has this great hammer with texture on the head (seems like we all have some great textured hammers that carry our story with them, and that gets transferred into each piece).

And she works the metal in her lap, turning the wire as she goes.

Always thinking about overall form.

She then uses a combination of her handmade headpins, wire loops and the like to attach the flower beads to her frame structure. She does it in ways that holds the textured metal wire together and gives the frame a really great sturdy feel.

I really love have time to watch her work.

She has these and similar pieces on display (and for sale) at her shows, and is extremely happy and willing to chat about the way she puts these together to make sure that your efforts are successful.

And I'm very excited to be going out to the Bead and Button Show this June with her to sell my work in her booth. It's been years since I've been out there to sell...

So make sure to stop by if you are going - we'll be in booth #610, which is a new location for her booth in 2013.

Which I jokingly said - you know - if your booth is now closer to the front of the show, right behind the Kalmbach book and magazine booth, nearest to the show exit, we are so in a prime spot for people to quick run over and shop.

I know I would always cruise those booths and tables by the exit while waiting for friends to meet up.

And of course, I'm always inspired by watching Nikki work when she is here and it makes me want to break out of "bead making" mode and work on finished jewelry ideas.

Don't you think these pieces would look awesome on Brenda Schweder's necklace?

I cannot wait to get back and work more on those ideas...

I love to be inspired by learning how to work materials.

My goal is to make work that I picture in my head with materials I learn to use in the highest level of craftsmanship possible from my hands (which means getting through lots of failures, or rather, lots of learning steps...).

Where do you find your inspiration?

Metal Texture Reprise....

Thank you all so much for taking part in our Metal Texture Challenge for Art Jewelry Boot Camp!!! If you missed any of our posts and ideas, I thought today I'd share the posts all in one easy link for you to go back and see any you might have missed!

Also, the fun's not over yet! Over the next few weeks, we'll take a look at some of your designs and give you some more tips to keep the magic flowing in your studio! Don't forget, you can always add any new work or progress you've made to our Flickr group!

Metal Texture Challenge links


Barbara gives an overview of the challenge and some beginning tips: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/art-jewelry-boot-camp-textured-metal.html
Marsha gives texture insight from a ceramic perspective: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/texturing-ceramic-clay.html
Staci gives a tutorial on stamping with alphabet stamps to make texture: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/boot-camp-alpha-texture.html
Libby shares her sources for making textured beads and great tools: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/busy-busy.html
Kelli showing her ideas to destress using those hammers!: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/hammering-to-destress.html
Staci talks about metal gauges to hammer and texture: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/what-kind-of-metal-can-i-texture.html
Stacie Florer gives us a beautiful tutorial on texturing wire!: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/boot-camp-how-to-texturize-earring-wires.html
Barbara shows us how to make a bail from our hammered pieces: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/texturing-metalnow-what.html
Staci textures wire: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/textured-wire-sprial-donut-connector.html
Mary Ann gives us a wonderful more advanced technique: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/03/textured-earrings-tutorial.html
Mary Jane reminds us about our surface: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/04/texture-boot-camp.html
Kelli shows off her texturing finds: http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/04/finding-texture.html

Textured Wire Sprial Donut Connector

by Staci L. Smith

Here is just a little something you can make with your new textures- using the alphabet stamps again, combined with Stacie F's texturing wire post.

 

Take 6-8" of 12 gauge copper wire.  Spiral it into a coil, but leave a big open middle to create a sort of donut.

 

With a chasing hammer, hammer it to flatten the surface.

 

 

Then use the ball end of your chasing hammer to flatten the ends a little more.

 

 

Then I took my letter x, the period, and the letter I to make patterns on the wire.  I stamped them just like I would on sheet metal, it was just a little trickier to line them up.  Then I used my chasing hammer to flatten the wire again.

 

 

Add some liver of sulfur and polish off the high spots, and voila!  A wire textured spiral donut.

 

 

It is fun, and very sturdy, and it can be used as a pendant or a connector.

 

Hope to see what you have been playing with at our blog hop April 8th.

Texturing Metal......NOW WHAT???

Sooooooo, is everyone getting out those hammers and metal and pounding away?!

Since our Art Jewelry Boot Camp is currently focused on texturing metal by hand, perhaps you've been hammering away and have a nice little sampler of metal pieces that you're not quite sure what to do with......

So today, I wanted to share a little tidbit for a simple way to turn that textured metal into a simple slide bail for another pendant. Slide bails/pendants!

Slide bails/pendants are a popular trend in higher end jewelry and you could add some of these to a table at your show as they can easily slide onto a heavy omega style necklace (so ladies can buy a pendant and simply swap them on their own omega for a new look) or be added to ready made leather necklaces. OR....you can incorporate them by adding punches of color by adding them to beautiful silks and fibers or a more involved pieces.

I started with a copper stamping that was very large (about 3+" across)  and probably wouldn't serve well as a pendant. But you could use squares, circles, ovals or any other symmetrical pieces you've been texturing to make a slightly different shape.  The original shape is above.

I snipped off the side rounded bits with a pair of french shears and filed the sides nice and straight and then annealed the piece to make it nice and soft so it would be ready to receive that nice texture we've been talking about..... Next, I textured the piece by using my grungy pitted hammer followed by a piece of bent steel wire that I mentioned at the intro to our challenge.

My piece was quite work hardened by this point so I annealed it again with my torch, cleaned it very well, then folded it around a 1/4" dowel rod to form the bail portion....(this was the point where I wish I owned a pair of bail pliers or wrap and tap pliers).....but a wooden dowel worked fine too! I then used a pair of chain nose pliers to bend the bottom rounded bits out a bit so it met in a friendlier manner.

At this point, I drilled my hole by using a center punch and drilling through both pieces at the same time so the holes would meet. I did all my finish work with my emery papers, cleaned, oxidized, distressed, and waxed and you have this:

A fun bail to add on a bit of silk or a slide pendant! Add your favorite Art Bead or pendant and you are set to go!


One word of caution: Don't forget to seal the INSIDE of the bail (I do this by  passing a Qtip coated in wax or a cuticle stick wrapped with some muslin or cotton ball and wax through the opening so it is finished inside and out) You don't want any oxidation to rub off on leathers or fibers....