I've been taking it easy and feeling pretty good lately. I haven't felt as tired as before abd I've been to the studio again. Yay! I'm still working on my earrings and I haven't given up even though it got difficult at one point. So that's something, right? I did post a picture of the earrings in progress over on my @gozermom Instagram page (Gozer has her own @gozerdog page. I know, I'm worse than some parents).
It's good that I'm feelingbetter because spring is coming and there's lots to do in the yard!
I was supposed to see my radiation oncologist last week but she was away so my appointment will now be next Tuesday, April 4.
Anyways, theres not much going on but I thought you'd want to know that things are pretty well back to normal.
Showing posts with label metalsmithing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metalsmithing. Show all posts
Monday, March 27, 2017
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Not quite as better issue I thought
You know how it is when you've been sick and you think you're better so you overdo it and relapse? That's me today. I loved being in the studio yesterday but however many hours I was there - four? five? - was way, way too many. I slept hard last night but was exhausted when I got up. I ended up sleeping all afternoon and would still be asleep if Ian hadn't woken me for dinner. Looking back, I've been asleep for about 15 or 16 of the last 24 hours.
I had planned to go to the studio again today to see my friend and to work on my project but I was just too tired. I was also supposed to go grocery shopping but didn't get up from my nap to do it.
I expect I'll be better soon but I think my next visit to the studio will be only two or three hours.
I had planned to go to the studio again today to see my friend and to work on my project but I was just too tired. I was also supposed to go grocery shopping but didn't get up from my nap to do it.
I expect I'll be better soon but I think my next visit to the studio will be only two or three hours.
Saturday, March 18, 2017
At the studio today!
I went to the metalsmithing studio today! I haven't been there in over a month because I'd been so tired. Well, and also because when I'm not feeling creative I have a hard time figuring out what to work on when I'm there. Because my creativity hasd only recently returned, I figured I'd be better off figuring out a project and working on that while I was there.
I looked through my stone collection (I have lots, all sorted by colour) and picked out two pairs of rhodochrosite stones to combine into earrings. One pair is a 6mm diameter round cabochons in a transparent medium and the other is a pair of 20mm x 8mm ovals in the more usual pink and white banded pattern. I didn't take any pictures do you'll have to wait to see what they look like.
Anyways, I spent the bulk of my time making bezels for these four stones. A bezel is a strip of metal that wraps around the stone; to set the stone, the top edge of the metal is compressed against the stone. This is a very secure setting.
I could tell it had been a long time since I'd been at the studio because it took me a long, long time - 2 hours! - to calculate how long you make each bezel. It should have taken 30 minutes... 45 minutes tops. For round stones, all I do is calculate how long the strip should be by calculating the circumference of the stone and bezel. The way to figure it out for non-round stones is to cut a narrow strip of masking tape, wrap it carefully around the bottom of the stone, and use that as the base length. I needed to add enough metal to account for the thickness of the bezel strip and this is where I ran into problems.
Typically I pretend the circumference comes from a round stone, then figure out the diameter for this pretend round stone, and then recalculate the circumference by adding the bezel thickness to theatdiameter. It's not an exact method but it works pretty well. For whatever reason, instead of working with circumference I was working with area... Which did not give me the results I expected. Worse, it took me a while to figure out what was going on. Oops!
In the end I got my bezels cut and soldered closed. I'd hoped to do more in the hours I was there but at least I got something done.
Now I'm very tired. All this thinking has left me sleepy.
Monday, May 16, 2016
Metal forming classes
I spent the last week in Albuquerque at Rio Grande, my favourite jewellery supplier, taking classes forming metal using miniature stakes. The classes used the super-awesome Fretz hammers and stakes and were taught by Bill Fretz himself! That probably doesn't mean anything to you but he's one of the "rock stars" of the business, and the hammers and stakes he's designed are the best. The opportunity to spend a week learning from him how to use the hammers and stakes he designed to form metal was just too good to pass up.
Albuquerque is located in a high-altitude desert and it was very hot and windy. The plants were quite different from what we have in Southern Ontario - I had no idea that yuccas grew so tall! - but they were beautiful in their own way. I spent my last morning there at the local botanical garden in the Southwest US section but those are pictures for another post.
Today I want to show off what I made during the week. We practiced on circular tubes of varying widths and diameters; most often, we sawed the finished forms open to make cuffs. We used brass for almost everything. Almost all of my pieces still need polishing - but these were metal forming classes, not metal polishing classes, and I wanted to make the best possible use of my time. I can polish things at the studio if I want to.
In the first class, Forming metal with miniature stakes, we learned how to control the hammers - not only to hit what you're aiming for, but how to hit with the right amount of force - then how to make concave forms, how to make convex forms, and how to add fluting (ridges).
Whew! We did a lot in those two days!
In the second class, Continuing metal forming, we focused mainly on fluting: adding it in different directions, to different shapes, and we used fine silver for a couple of pieces.
We didn't do as many pieces over these three days because the fluting takes quite a bit more time to do than it does to make a convex (synclastic) or concave (anticlastic) cuff.
I loved these classes, although I found the week exhausting. Hammering and learning are both very tiring! I really, really, really love the process of forming these pieces and I will be purchasing the equipment to continue learning. I may end up practicing in copper instead of brass, just as I've been doing with the foldforming. I don't know exactly where these techniques will take me but I am bursting with ideas and I'm excited to get to work on realizing them.
(updated to include starting blank measurements and background repeat, as well as formatting).
Albuquerque is located in a high-altitude desert and it was very hot and windy. The plants were quite different from what we have in Southern Ontario - I had no idea that yuccas grew so tall! - but they were beautiful in their own way. I spent my last morning there at the local botanical garden in the Southwest US section but those are pictures for another post.
Today I want to show off what I made during the week. We practiced on circular tubes of varying widths and diameters; most often, we sawed the finished forms open to make cuffs. We used brass for almost everything. Almost all of my pieces still need polishing - but these were metal forming classes, not metal polishing classes, and I wanted to make the best possible use of my time. I can polish things at the studio if I want to.
In the first class, Forming metal with miniature stakes, we learned how to control the hammers - not only to hit what you're aiming for, but how to hit with the right amount of force - then how to make concave forms, how to make convex forms, and how to add fluting (ridges).
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Back row, L-R:
- learning hammer control by planinshing (hammering lightly using overlapping blows to smooth out the metal and harden it) on a cuff made from a 7/8" wide by 2" diameter blank - a concave (also known as anticlastic) cuff made from the same blank - a wider oncave cuff made from a 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/4" blank
Front row, L-R:
- a large convex (domed, also known as synclastic) unopened cuff made from a 7/8" wide by 2 1/4" diameter blank - a small convex ring made from a 1/2" wide by 1" diameter blank - a convex fluted (ridged) unopened cuff made from the 7/8" wide by 2" diameter blank - a small concave ring thing whose sides have been completely folded over made from a 1/2" wide by 1 1/4" diameter blank
Not shown:
- a wiggly convex fluted form (I forgot to bring it home) For reference, the background plaid has a repeat of about 5 1/8" in each direction. |
Whew! We did a lot in those two days!
In the second class, Continuing metal forming, we focused mainly on fluting: adding it in different directions, to different shapes, and we used fine silver for a couple of pieces.
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| Back row, L-R: - a concave fluted unopened cuff made from a 7/8" wide by 2 1/4" diameter blank - a 2 1/2" diameter bracelet made by closing this wiggly 1 1/4" wide by 8 1/2" long blank into a ring, making it concave, and then folding the sides over to meet - a wide flat unopened cuff with fluting running around the cuff whose sides were flared upwards, made from 1 1/2" wide by 2 1/4" diameter blank Front row, L-R: - a 2" diameter disk that is domed and then fluted - a slightly convex fine silver cuff made from a 7/8" wide by 6 1/2" long blank that is closed, formed, and then cut open - a wide convex fine silver form with fluting running around the piece and the sides flared upwards made from a 1 1/4" wide by 6 1/2" long blank that is closed, formed, and then cut open For reference, the background plaid has a repeat of about 5 1/8" in each direction |
We didn't do as many pieces over these three days because the fluting takes quite a bit more time to do than it does to make a convex (synclastic) or concave (anticlastic) cuff.
I loved these classes, although I found the week exhausting. Hammering and learning are both very tiring! I really, really, really love the process of forming these pieces and I will be purchasing the equipment to continue learning. I may end up practicing in copper instead of brass, just as I've been doing with the foldforming. I don't know exactly where these techniques will take me but I am bursting with ideas and I'm excited to get to work on realizing them.
(updated to include starting blank measurements and background repeat, as well as formatting).
Monday, April 11, 2016
More foldforming fun
I was in the studio the other day playing around with a different type of foldforming: line folds. Line folds are ways to make raised lines on sheet; on the one side, it looks like square wire has been soldered to the sheet, and there's a groove or channel (depending on the depth of the fold) on the other side. They can also be made narrower at one end and wider at the other. They're a lot like pintucks, really.
Line folds can be made the full length or width of the sheet or can take up only part of the sheet, and they can overlap.
So here are some practice line fold pictures:
Because line folds have a fold (pintuck) on one side and a groove on the other and can be made variable width, they remind me of the veins on leaves. So I started playing around to see whether or not I could make some things that sort of look like leaves. Here are my attempts.
Line folds can be made the full length or width of the sheet or can take up only part of the sheet, and they can overlap.
So here are some practice line fold pictures:
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| Simple line folds that overlap, from the top. |
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The same simple line folds, from the other side. You can see the grooves that these lines make. You might notice different colours showing up on this side; some artists make these colours happen deliberately. It's a pretty effect.
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| Two short full-length line folds and one that's centred on the sheet. It isn't terribly good; when I made the fold I hammered too much and ended up pinching some of it out, making it uneven and a little wonky. |
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| My centred line fold, which looks a little wonky from this side. But look how lovely that fold on the left is! |
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| The center fold is a basic line fold and the two on the right and left are variable width folds. The one on the right worked out really well; see how the line looks so sharp at the top and more like a bump at the bottom? The one on the left is ok but it's too sharp at the bottom. |
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| So... I don't know why this picture is rotated but I'm leaving it as-is. The variable fold that was on the right above is now on the bottom. I could probably flatten these out even more. |
Because line folds have a fold (pintuck) on one side and a groove on the other and can be made variable width, they remind me of the veins on leaves. So I started playing around to see whether or not I could make some things that sort of look like leaves. Here are my attempts.
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| So it's possible to make folds that stop at other folds, and that's what I've done here. I know it's a bit hard to see, but what I did here was make the line folds, texture the piece, and cut it out. The effect is ok but not great because the texturing with the hammer made the folds wonky. |
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| The back side of the folds (which, if this was a real leaf, would be the front side, and the folds would all stop short of the edge and would be slightly wider towards the bottom or intersection point). |
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| Here I tried making the line fold first and then texturing it. The texture looks fine but while texturing, the piece distorted and made the line fold wonky at the bottom. If it hadn't folded over and I could have centred it when I hammered it open, it might have made a nice-looking fold. |
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| As you can see, the groove part looks just fine - it's the other side that doesn't look so good. I actually love the colours that I got on this side when I annealed this piece. |
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| So then I tried texturing first and then making my fold. Here's the textured piece; the texturing affected the shape of this piece (it was originally much squarer) |
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| Here's the finial product, from the top, with a variable line fold. I think it worked out pretty well, although the line should stop short of the end. I like the texture. |
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| Here's the leaf from the bottom, after pickling. It worked out pretty well, I think. |
Saturday, April 02, 2016
Foldforming project
(updated with a couple of links and some more words at the end)
I've recently become interested in forging silver and copper, which is basically the process of using a hammer to move the metal into the form you want. At some point I'll be wanting to do things like make bowls from a single sheet of silver but I need to perfect my hammering technique before I get on with something like that.
You'd think hammering metal would be easy but there's all sorts of things to consider like ergonomics including how to sit and how to hold the hammer (especially important for me because of the tendonitis in both my wrists and the lymphedema), how to control the amount of force in each hammer strike, and how to strike the metal in the right place.
In the meantime, I'm taking a Craftsy class on Foldforming, hosted by the inventor of this method of manipulating metal. It involves folding metal in different ways, hammering part of it, and then opening up the fold to make a unique, nature-inspired piece. Because there's so much hammering involved, I'm getting to practice hammering.
Recently, I made what they call a Rueger fold (here's an example from this online tutorial), and I took some pictures of the process that I thought I'd share with you. These photos came from my phone and are uncropped because I'm super-lazy. See the pictures after the jump.
I've recently become interested in forging silver and copper, which is basically the process of using a hammer to move the metal into the form you want. At some point I'll be wanting to do things like make bowls from a single sheet of silver but I need to perfect my hammering technique before I get on with something like that.
You'd think hammering metal would be easy but there's all sorts of things to consider like ergonomics including how to sit and how to hold the hammer (especially important for me because of the tendonitis in both my wrists and the lymphedema), how to control the amount of force in each hammer strike, and how to strike the metal in the right place.
In the meantime, I'm taking a Craftsy class on Foldforming, hosted by the inventor of this method of manipulating metal. It involves folding metal in different ways, hammering part of it, and then opening up the fold to make a unique, nature-inspired piece. Because there's so much hammering involved, I'm getting to practice hammering.
Recently, I made what they call a Rueger fold (here's an example from this online tutorial), and I took some pictures of the process that I thought I'd share with you. These photos came from my phone and are uncropped because I'm super-lazy. See the pictures after the jump.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Metalsmithing projects I have finished
One of the biggest changes for me in the last few months is that I've actually finished some metalsmithing projects. You read that right - I finished a couple of projects. I have many projects that are partly-done but very few finished objects. To prove that I finished something, I took some (rather bad) cellphone pictures.
I guess it would have been useful to include pictures of me wearing the rings, huh? Well, you'll just have to imagine them on my finger (my middle finger, as it happens). I'm quite pleased with these rings, especially considering that they're my first real attempt at carving and casting anything. They aren't perfect but I love them.
We'd learned carving before but I was having trouble carving something that looked good. I was having a hard time keeping my carvings balanced; often when I tried to file away the wax I didn't want I'd end up filing too much off of one side and my design would end up torqued. I did some research and found a fabulous, step-by-step pdf file that helped me tremendously. The best tip from that guide was scribing center and other guide lines on the wax. That tip alone helped me keep my designs from torquing.
Now that carving is easier for me, I'm finding it a very relaxing thing to do. I'd like to do a few more rings around the pyramid theme and maybe some others involving more complex carving. We'll see; I have some other projects I need to finish, too. And still others that I need to start :)
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| Two sterling silver rings that I made. Each was carved out of carving wax, cast by my instructor, and then polished and finished by moi. |
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| A side view of the rings. One of them, as you can see, has a peak all the way around while the other has just the one pointy bit. |
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| Another view of the rings. You can see that the pointy but on the one ring is kind of a pyramid shape. |
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| A top view of the pyramid ring so that you can see the point. You can also see the side view of the other ring. |
I guess it would have been useful to include pictures of me wearing the rings, huh? Well, you'll just have to imagine them on my finger (my middle finger, as it happens). I'm quite pleased with these rings, especially considering that they're my first real attempt at carving and casting anything. They aren't perfect but I love them.
We'd learned carving before but I was having trouble carving something that looked good. I was having a hard time keeping my carvings balanced; often when I tried to file away the wax I didn't want I'd end up filing too much off of one side and my design would end up torqued. I did some research and found a fabulous, step-by-step pdf file that helped me tremendously. The best tip from that guide was scribing center and other guide lines on the wax. That tip alone helped me keep my designs from torquing.
Now that carving is easier for me, I'm finding it a very relaxing thing to do. I'd like to do a few more rings around the pyramid theme and maybe some others involving more complex carving. We'll see; I have some other projects I need to finish, too. And still others that I need to start :)
Thursday, January 24, 2013
A bit of this and that
Today was my first metalsmithing class in ages. I'd planned to go to the session last fall but I wasn't up to going to any of the classes. I feel like I'm doing a lot better and I've been looking forward to getting back into metalsmithing. Because I've done literally nothing at all with metal since last summer (except for one open studio session in December) I figure I'll start by just working on the class demos instead of working on any actual project.
A friend and I are also going to take an online class on making a felted cloche hat. We're going to dye our own wool and everything! My friend is also going to teach me some quilting stuff in exchange for me teaching her some sewing stuff. This year appears to be shaping up to be my most creative yet and I'm excited to see what comes out of it.
In less positive news, our dryer doesn't seem to be working. I went to put a load of laundry in the dryer and thought the light was burned out because it wasn't on. Unfortunately, the dryer wouldn't start so I ended up having to hang all of my laundry. I checked the breaker and it hadn't popped so we think electricity is going to the outlet but we don't have a multimeter to test it. Our contractor neighbour will have one so I'll ask him to check whether there's power at that outlet; if there is, then we're buying a new dryer. We wouldn't want to spend money on a dryer only to find out that the problem is with the outlet!
UPDATE: The outlet is working, so the problem is with the dryer. Sigh.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Long week
I've been crazy busy lately what with finishing up the aprons for my metalsmithing class and working on my metalsmithing projects. I think that I've got up early every weekday for the last two weeks and I'll be doing it again this week, at least until Friday when I have absolutely no plans. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to not having a single thing to do that day. It'll be so wonderful, especially since I've had commitments every other day.
I know that this doesn't sound like I'm working all that hard, having to get up around 8am instead of 10am and do one thing per day, but it's more than I normally do. Fortunately, I've managed to keep myself from feeling too overwhelmed this whole time, which I think of as a big accomplishment.
Speaking of accomplishments, I've finished the aprons - finally! If I get orders for more I'll make more but for now I'm happy that they're done. Ian's also got the drywall done in my sewing room, has primed the walls, and is ready to lay the subfloor. I'd love to be sewing in my sewing room because everything will have a place and there will be space. Right now there isn't enough room for both my sewing machine and my serger and I have a hard time finding needles and other useful things. I bought a new pair of snips because while I know I have a pair, they're hiding somewhere.
I've also made progress on the gifts that I'm making for my niece and nephew as graduation presents. I hope to finish both gifts before I leave for Edmonton on June 24 - really, if I'm stressed about anything, it's finishing those gifts. It isn't the end of the world if they're not finished but I really want to have them done when I head out there. We'll see what happens.
Tomorrow I'm seeing my surgeon to get the biopsy stitch taken out and to hopefully get the pathology results. I'm not anticipating bad results or anything and I expect that the results will come back as sarcoidosis or maybe as insufficient sample. If I can get a confirmation that the skin changes are sarcoidosis then maybe I can get it treated. The skin is still changing and I'd like that skin to go back to normal.
So there's a summary of what's been going on over this last week or so. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.
I know that this doesn't sound like I'm working all that hard, having to get up around 8am instead of 10am and do one thing per day, but it's more than I normally do. Fortunately, I've managed to keep myself from feeling too overwhelmed this whole time, which I think of as a big accomplishment.
Speaking of accomplishments, I've finished the aprons - finally! If I get orders for more I'll make more but for now I'm happy that they're done. Ian's also got the drywall done in my sewing room, has primed the walls, and is ready to lay the subfloor. I'd love to be sewing in my sewing room because everything will have a place and there will be space. Right now there isn't enough room for both my sewing machine and my serger and I have a hard time finding needles and other useful things. I bought a new pair of snips because while I know I have a pair, they're hiding somewhere.
I've also made progress on the gifts that I'm making for my niece and nephew as graduation presents. I hope to finish both gifts before I leave for Edmonton on June 24 - really, if I'm stressed about anything, it's finishing those gifts. It isn't the end of the world if they're not finished but I really want to have them done when I head out there. We'll see what happens.
Tomorrow I'm seeing my surgeon to get the biopsy stitch taken out and to hopefully get the pathology results. I'm not anticipating bad results or anything and I expect that the results will come back as sarcoidosis or maybe as insufficient sample. If I can get a confirmation that the skin changes are sarcoidosis then maybe I can get it treated. The skin is still changing and I'd like that skin to go back to normal.
So there's a summary of what's been going on over this last week or so. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Creating and organizing
A little while ago I went on a spending spree, buying cabochons and faceted gems in lots of different colours. I'm not very good at planning out what I want to make and then finding the stones I want to use in those designs; I like to be inspired by different stones. Of course I can design something and then find stones to fit but it can be hard to find a stone of a particular size and colour. I buy on eBay and etsy; I don't buy the volume of good stones to be able to place an order at one of the big gem supply places. I also don't want to pay those prices!
Anyways, I bought all those stones and have been carrying them around in their original packaging. This has made it difficult to look at the stones and be inspired by them. I bought some watchcases a couple of weeks ago and this weekend I finally put all the stones in the watchcases. I haven't yet finished putting all of the information on the cases about the stone (in particular, not every case has the price I paid for the stone), and I haven't organized the stones aside from separating faceted stones from cabochons, but now I can open up the cases and see all my beautiful stones.
Hopefully I'll start being inspired soon. My niece and one of my nephews are graduating from high school this year and I'm making each of them something to celebrate. I actually have ideas about what I want to make for each of them and now that I can see my stones, I can look at them and make these ideas into drawings into actual things.
Each one already knows they're getting something so I don't mind saying that but I'm not going to tell you about my ideas. After all, I might change them and even if I don't, I want the final products to be a surprise. :) I'm very excited about making these gifts.
Speaking of making things, my instructor loved the sample apron I made. I need to adjust the neck strap slightly but she loves it otherwise... as do two of the other students. They're buying aprons, too, which is kind of cool. I won't make money on these but I'm happy that I can make something useful for the studio and my classmates.
Anyways, I bought all those stones and have been carrying them around in their original packaging. This has made it difficult to look at the stones and be inspired by them. I bought some watchcases a couple of weeks ago and this weekend I finally put all the stones in the watchcases. I haven't yet finished putting all of the information on the cases about the stone (in particular, not every case has the price I paid for the stone), and I haven't organized the stones aside from separating faceted stones from cabochons, but now I can open up the cases and see all my beautiful stones.
Hopefully I'll start being inspired soon. My niece and one of my nephews are graduating from high school this year and I'm making each of them something to celebrate. I actually have ideas about what I want to make for each of them and now that I can see my stones, I can look at them and make these ideas into drawings into actual things.
Each one already knows they're getting something so I don't mind saying that but I'm not going to tell you about my ideas. After all, I might change them and even if I don't, I want the final products to be a surprise. :) I'm very excited about making these gifts.
Speaking of making things, my instructor loved the sample apron I made. I need to adjust the neck strap slightly but she loves it otherwise... as do two of the other students. They're buying aprons, too, which is kind of cool. I won't make money on these but I'm happy that I can make something useful for the studio and my classmates.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Denosumab and metalsmithing
Here I thought that metalsmithing started today but it actually started last week. I don't know how I got that wrong because I thought I put the start date in the calendar right after I decided to take the class. I must have got confused. Of course it turned out ok. I was able to pick up last week's and this week's the projects fairly easily and I've started working on something new.
It turns out that we'll be learning a new stone setting technique. It isn't the one I was interested in learning but I like it anyways and can see how it could be used. This session we're also going to be doing a lot with casting which is something new for me. We're going to start with doing some lost-wax casting of natural objects like flowers, seeds, and leaves. I have to find one and then figure out what to do with it - it's no good just making the mold and using up the silver to cast them. Silver isn't free so I don't want to waste it.
I asked my instructor about synclastic and anticlastic raising and making spiculums and she said, "those techniques require a lot of hammering." There are ten or so students in the class and if everyone were hammering metal the noise would be unbearable. Some people are good at hammering and others are very, very, very loud normally - imagine if they had to hammer this much! While I'd love to learn these techniques, that studio isn't soundproofed enough to make learning them pleasurable so I'll explore them on my own.
I also spoke to my instructor about my compulsion to make little boxes, even though I know very little about how to actually make them. She's fine with me using some of the techniques we're learning to make little boxes, if I want. I ordered a book on how to make boxes today and I'm looking forward to working through it.
In addition to being metalsmithing day, it was also denosumab day. They were running late at the cancer center so I was late to metalsmithing today. My nurse was running a half-hour late and then my bloodwork came back with elevated phosphorus. Fortunately, my calcium levels were normal. The nurse contacted the pharmacist who contacted my oncologist who said that she'd investigate this and to go ahead with the denosumab.
Calcium and phosphorus work together and there could be all kinds of things causing the elevated phosphorus (also known as hyperphosphatemia). My instincts say that it's related to last month's low calcium levels even though this month's calcium levels were normal. High phosphorus can also be caused by kidney problems, which I don't think I have, or bone mets, which I do have but which are supposed to be stable.
This denosumab was supposed to be my last one at the cancer center and the last bloodwork for the denosumab. However, it would make sense for my oncologist to want me to do the bloodwork again next month and maybe some other tests. For example, if we're concerned about bone met activity then it might be a good idea to see what my tumour markers are doing. There may be other blood tests that she wants to do as well. I spoke with the nurse about this and she was going to contact my oncologist about whether I should come in for more bloodwork next month.
It was definitely a big day. I'm enjoying lazing around and relaxing with Ian and Gozer
It turns out that we'll be learning a new stone setting technique. It isn't the one I was interested in learning but I like it anyways and can see how it could be used. This session we're also going to be doing a lot with casting which is something new for me. We're going to start with doing some lost-wax casting of natural objects like flowers, seeds, and leaves. I have to find one and then figure out what to do with it - it's no good just making the mold and using up the silver to cast them. Silver isn't free so I don't want to waste it.
I asked my instructor about synclastic and anticlastic raising and making spiculums and she said, "those techniques require a lot of hammering." There are ten or so students in the class and if everyone were hammering metal the noise would be unbearable. Some people are good at hammering and others are very, very, very loud normally - imagine if they had to hammer this much! While I'd love to learn these techniques, that studio isn't soundproofed enough to make learning them pleasurable so I'll explore them on my own.
I also spoke to my instructor about my compulsion to make little boxes, even though I know very little about how to actually make them. She's fine with me using some of the techniques we're learning to make little boxes, if I want. I ordered a book on how to make boxes today and I'm looking forward to working through it.
In addition to being metalsmithing day, it was also denosumab day. They were running late at the cancer center so I was late to metalsmithing today. My nurse was running a half-hour late and then my bloodwork came back with elevated phosphorus. Fortunately, my calcium levels were normal. The nurse contacted the pharmacist who contacted my oncologist who said that she'd investigate this and to go ahead with the denosumab.
Calcium and phosphorus work together and there could be all kinds of things causing the elevated phosphorus (also known as hyperphosphatemia). My instincts say that it's related to last month's low calcium levels even though this month's calcium levels were normal. High phosphorus can also be caused by kidney problems, which I don't think I have, or bone mets, which I do have but which are supposed to be stable.
This denosumab was supposed to be my last one at the cancer center and the last bloodwork for the denosumab. However, it would make sense for my oncologist to want me to do the bloodwork again next month and maybe some other tests. For example, if we're concerned about bone met activity then it might be a good idea to see what my tumour markers are doing. There may be other blood tests that she wants to do as well. I spoke with the nurse about this and she was going to contact my oncologist about whether I should come in for more bloodwork next month.
It was definitely a big day. I'm enjoying lazing around and relaxing with Ian and Gozer
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Metalsmithing tomorrow!
Metalsmithing classes start tomorrow! It's been too long since I've been in the studio. I have no idea what we'll be learning this time around although I have some ideas about what I want to see.
I have an urge to make little boxes out of metal but I don't know how to make hinges (even though I think I have a good idea of how it's done) or how to make the lid fit properly on the bottom. I could probably figure it out, I know, but it's easier to be taught how to do things.
I'm also interested in using forging stakes to make synclastic and anticlastic forms and to make things like a spiculum (hollow sinuous curves, or tube-like things that are smaller at one or both ends) as I find the shapes interesting and beautiful. I mean, look at this bracelet:
Gorgeous, yes? Oh, yes. Smaller spiculums (spiculae?) can be used in earrings or as accents. They're amazing when done properly.
There are also some other stone-setting techniques I'd like to learn as well. I can work with what I already know but there are a couple of techniques that I've seen used that I think I could do.
We'll see what we end up doing in class. I've barely even scratched the surface on metalsmithing techniques and I'm sure that there are things that I'd love to learn that I've never heard of and know nothing about.
I have an urge to make little boxes out of metal but I don't know how to make hinges (even though I think I have a good idea of how it's done) or how to make the lid fit properly on the bottom. I could probably figure it out, I know, but it's easier to be taught how to do things.
I'm also interested in using forging stakes to make synclastic and anticlastic forms and to make things like a spiculum (hollow sinuous curves, or tube-like things that are smaller at one or both ends) as I find the shapes interesting and beautiful. I mean, look at this bracelet:
 |
| Spiculum Bracelet by Genevieve Flynn |
Gorgeous, yes? Oh, yes. Smaller spiculums (spiculae?) can be used in earrings or as accents. They're amazing when done properly.
There are also some other stone-setting techniques I'd like to learn as well. I can work with what I already know but there are a couple of techniques that I've seen used that I think I could do.
We'll see what we end up doing in class. I've barely even scratched the surface on metalsmithing techniques and I'm sure that there are things that I'd love to learn that I've never heard of and know nothing about.
Tuesday, November 08, 2011
Metalsmithing fun
This week is the last for my regularly-scheduled metalsmithing classes this session. I've missed so many classes for one or another reason and I haven't made up all (or even most) of the classes I've missed. Of the three projects I started, I've given up on one, made progress on the second, and am struggling with the third. I had no idea that it would be so hard to make a bezel (aka a strip of metal) conform to an smallish irregular shape. I was able to get square, 2mm thick wire to conform to a larger irregular shape with no problem but the smaller not-quite-oval is giving me trouble.
Lucky for me, my instructor is offering open studio nights before Christmas so I'll be able to finish all these projects. I could also, in theory, work on things at home and then solder or finish them as needed in the open studio. It could happen, although I'd have to work at to achieve that goal. My psychologist suggested that I use a calendar to structure my days more effectively so that I can get things done each day instead of sitting around watching tv and surfing the interwebs. If I do that I can be sure that I make time for this hobby and for walking (which she has recommended I do twice a day for 20 or 30 minutes each time).
I'm also going to sign up for a one-weekend workshop on enameling metal. I've been interested in doing this for awhile because it's a way to introduce colour to a piece without using stones. I think she's going to give us instructions on making Christmas ornaments using enameling techniques which I think would be an awesome thing to make. I can imagine a pendant and earring or ring set also.
I plan to continue taking metalsmithing classes in the new year. I'm hoping that I'll be able to spend more time working on projects since that's when the weather starts to really get cold and I don't like to go outside then. By then I should be a pro at this scheduling thing.
Lucky for me, my instructor is offering open studio nights before Christmas so I'll be able to finish all these projects. I could also, in theory, work on things at home and then solder or finish them as needed in the open studio. It could happen, although I'd have to work at to achieve that goal. My psychologist suggested that I use a calendar to structure my days more effectively so that I can get things done each day instead of sitting around watching tv and surfing the interwebs. If I do that I can be sure that I make time for this hobby and for walking (which she has recommended I do twice a day for 20 or 30 minutes each time).
I'm also going to sign up for a one-weekend workshop on enameling metal. I've been interested in doing this for awhile because it's a way to introduce colour to a piece without using stones. I think she's going to give us instructions on making Christmas ornaments using enameling techniques which I think would be an awesome thing to make. I can imagine a pendant and earring or ring set also.
I plan to continue taking metalsmithing classes in the new year. I'm hoping that I'll be able to spend more time working on projects since that's when the weather starts to really get cold and I don't like to go outside then. By then I should be a pro at this scheduling thing.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Back to metalsmithing
Because I'm feeling so much better, I was able to go to my metalsmithing class today. I've missed the last two classes so I'm way, way behind. Fortunately my instructor is running classes on Tuesday nights that are quite empty so i can make up my lost time then.
She's introduced two new concepts: reverse bezel construction and mold-making. To make a mold, we just take the object we want to copy and basically pour a liquid rubber around it. The rubber cures and the mold can later be used to cast new objects. My instructor either making multiple copies of a small object for use in a bracelet or necklace or making an object to be cast in a more precious metal (like gold). I haven't decided which approach I want to take but I'll keep thinking about it.
I've started working on the reverse bezel. In a bezel setting, the bezel band (the one that encircles the stone) is soldered to the metal and the the stone and bezel band are both visible. In a reverse bezel setting, the bezel setting sits below the metal so that the stone pushes through the bottom instead of sitting on top. I'm going to put other circles around the reverse bezel setting to either create a flower- or grape- shaped pendant. I might add some other, smaller, gems to give extra sparkle to the finished piece.
I looked through her selection of stones and picked one that had some flash in the middle. It turns out that I picked a star ruby. It's very low quality for a ruby but it's a gorgeous stone nonetheless. The star shows through in the right light so it's hard to see but the flash is lovely on its own.
I do love this metalsmithing class. I can hardly wait to finish designing and finishing this piece.
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Chainmaille, here I come!
One of the items I bought recently was a setup I can use to make jump rings. Buying pre-made jump rings can be expensive and they only come in certain ring and wire sizes. Making and using my own jump rings means that I can make just about any size between 2.5 and 11mm inside diameter out of any wire I happen to have.
Obviously this means that I'll have a lot more flexibility and choice when it comes to incorporating them into my work. Using custom sizes will also make my work look different from everyone else's. More importantly, being able to make my own jump rings means that I can make my own chainmaille.
I've loved chainmaille for a very long time because it reminds me of lace-making and has a similar appearance. I've been doing some research on chainmaille and I've discovered that there are a ton of different types of weaves. Apparently there are four main ways of weaving, or linking rings, together: European, Japanese, Persian, and Miscellaneous weaves.
I'm particularly interested in Japanese and Persian weaves, in part because I'd never seen them before, and in part because I think they're pretty. I've made a list of the weaves that I want to try and I started today by making myself a short chain of Half-Persian 3-in-1. It took a few hours to figure out how to do it; thankfully, I found this video of a guy demonstrating the weave with shower curtain rings and I finally understood what to do.
I'm very excited about the prospect of making more jump rings and learning more chainmaille weaves. I hope to eventually use the knowledge to create my own pieces. Or maybe I'll just create samples and samples and samples and samples like my mom did with her knitting samples. We'll see what happens, right?
Obviously this means that I'll have a lot more flexibility and choice when it comes to incorporating them into my work. Using custom sizes will also make my work look different from everyone else's. More importantly, being able to make my own jump rings means that I can make my own chainmaille.
I've loved chainmaille for a very long time because it reminds me of lace-making and has a similar appearance. I've been doing some research on chainmaille and I've discovered that there are a ton of different types of weaves. Apparently there are four main ways of weaving, or linking rings, together: European, Japanese, Persian, and Miscellaneous weaves.
I'm particularly interested in Japanese and Persian weaves, in part because I'd never seen them before, and in part because I think they're pretty. I've made a list of the weaves that I want to try and I started today by making myself a short chain of Half-Persian 3-in-1. It took a few hours to figure out how to do it; thankfully, I found this video of a guy demonstrating the weave with shower curtain rings and I finally understood what to do.
I'm very excited about the prospect of making more jump rings and learning more chainmaille weaves. I hope to eventually use the knowledge to create my own pieces. Or maybe I'll just create samples and samples and samples and samples like my mom did with her knitting samples. We'll see what happens, right?
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Metalsmithing over for now
Metalsmithing is over for another few weeks. Of the four projects we were supposed to do, I completely finished one of them, I almost finished (except for polishing, which I can do at home) one of them, I half-finished one of them, and another didn't get off the ground. I'm pleased with what I finished and I plan to finish up the two projects before the next class. I also hope to try the project I didn't really start as part of another project in an upcoming class.
I'm not the only person who didn't finish the four projects so I don't feel like I'm that slow compared to everyone in the class. I know that there's no point rushing too much to finish things because the more I rush, the more mistakes I make. It takes longer to recover from mistakes than it does to do it right in the right place. And if that means that I don't get all the projects done, I'm ok with that. I will try to do the project that
Tonight while looking through the studio's books I found a book on how to do wax carving, complete with lots of projects and detailed instructions for executing those designs. I wish I'd seen that book before I tried to do my wax carvings because it would have been very helpful. Heck, just skimming through it was helpful: for example, I learned to rub baby powder or chalk into scribe lines so that they're more visible. The next time we do wax carving I going to borrow that book and read it before starting my project.
The nice thing about having some of my own equipment is that I can work on these pieces (and maybe create some new ones?) on my own time at my own speed. Working around other people is weird - people always go and see what everyone else is working on and I'm not used to having people see my works-in-progress. I'm a little self-conscious about my work because I'm well aware that others have more experience than I do. People are always very supportive about what I'm doing and it's ok that my pieces aren't as complex or big or whatever as theirs.
I have no idea where I'm going with this metalsmithing hobby. I don't wear a lot of jewelry... although I could if I wanted, I guess. It's a different type of creation process than sewing and I like doing it. Maybe I like it because I'm making shiny things?
I'm not the only person who didn't finish the four projects so I don't feel like I'm that slow compared to everyone in the class. I know that there's no point rushing too much to finish things because the more I rush, the more mistakes I make. It takes longer to recover from mistakes than it does to do it right in the right place. And if that means that I don't get all the projects done, I'm ok with that. I will try to do the project that
Tonight while looking through the studio's books I found a book on how to do wax carving, complete with lots of projects and detailed instructions for executing those designs. I wish I'd seen that book before I tried to do my wax carvings because it would have been very helpful. Heck, just skimming through it was helpful: for example, I learned to rub baby powder or chalk into scribe lines so that they're more visible. The next time we do wax carving I going to borrow that book and read it before starting my project.
The nice thing about having some of my own equipment is that I can work on these pieces (and maybe create some new ones?) on my own time at my own speed. Working around other people is weird - people always go and see what everyone else is working on and I'm not used to having people see my works-in-progress. I'm a little self-conscious about my work because I'm well aware that others have more experience than I do. People are always very supportive about what I'm doing and it's ok that my pieces aren't as complex or big or whatever as theirs.
I have no idea where I'm going with this metalsmithing hobby. I don't wear a lot of jewelry... although I could if I wanted, I guess. It's a different type of creation process than sewing and I like doing it. Maybe I like it because I'm making shiny things?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Wax carving is not my forte
My wax carving didn't work out at all. Instead of ending up with a finished channel-set wax carving, I had a bunch of small wax lumps and wax shavings everywhere. Clearly wax carving isn't one of my stronger skills.
I've had a hard time with this project because I just haven't been able to decide on a design. Channel settings usually contain several small stones but because of time constraints our instructor suggested we do a design with one large stone. My jewelry tends to be delicate and I couldn't figure out my own delicate design for a solitaire channel setting. Every time I started carving, it ended up looking wrong and nothing worked.
I think I have a design in my head that can be made out of metal so I'm going to try to make that this week.
I've also been looking at different chainmaille weaves because I'm interested in playing around with that. If I can find a good design I could work on that while watching tv. After all, I have a jump ring maker now and I can use that to make rings. Lots and lots of rings. And the best part about these rings is that I don't have to carve them out of wax.
I've had a hard time with this project because I just haven't been able to decide on a design. Channel settings usually contain several small stones but because of time constraints our instructor suggested we do a design with one large stone. My jewelry tends to be delicate and I couldn't figure out my own delicate design for a solitaire channel setting. Every time I started carving, it ended up looking wrong and nothing worked.
I think I have a design in my head that can be made out of metal so I'm going to try to make that this week.
I've also been looking at different chainmaille weaves because I'm interested in playing around with that. If I can find a good design I could work on that while watching tv. After all, I have a jump ring maker now and I can use that to make rings. Lots and lots of rings. And the best part about these rings is that I don't have to carve them out of wax.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
My pieces are getting done
I finally finished my wax ring and submitted it for casting. It's very delicate with only a 3mm wide band that gently curves into the stone setting. I hope it looks good and that I don't have too much finishing left to do.
At metalsmithing open house tonight I also managed to finish constructing my tube-set ring and I drilled through my gypsy-set earrings. The ring is a simple 3mm square wire ring and it'll have a 3.5mm peridot stone and the earrings are little 3/8"x3/8" pillows that will have a 2mm amethyst set off-center, flush with the silver. At the top is three-quarters of a ring from which the squares will dangle, making them look a little bit like tiny padlocks.
Everyone asked whether I'd cast these earring pieces and no, I didn't: I cut, filed, sanded, and soldered each one myself. My instructor thinks that if I take the class where we do casting that I should make a mold for them, cast a whole bunch, and use them on a necklace and bracelet. That would look interesting, especially if I used different stones on these little pieces.
One of these earrings was a little messy where I was drilling because I actually had two holes side by side and so I ended up filling in a bit with solder. It's not really an accepted technique but there was no way I was going to re-make that piece. Once it's all sanded and polished, no one will know that solder fills up a bit.
At one point, while I was drilling my earring pieces, one went flying. I looked and looked and looked and wasn't seeing it although I did find a bunch of other things. Eventually everyone there stopped and helped me look for my missing piece and one person finally found it. Thank goodness!
To make the actual tube- and gypsy-settings we drill a hole through where the setting will be so that we can get the stone out during the preparation phase and then we drill out the shape of the round stone using a special bur. I tried to bur out the gypsy settings but I think the bur was dull because all that was happening was that the piece was getting hot and my fingers were getting singed. Silver conducts heat very well. Tomorrow night I'll bur out the settings and work on finishing the pieces. Next week I think (hope) that I'll be able to set all three of my stones.
I finally feel like I'm catching up in the class. I may be doing things over and over and over again, but I'm finishing then.
At metalsmithing open house tonight I also managed to finish constructing my tube-set ring and I drilled through my gypsy-set earrings. The ring is a simple 3mm square wire ring and it'll have a 3.5mm peridot stone and the earrings are little 3/8"x3/8" pillows that will have a 2mm amethyst set off-center, flush with the silver. At the top is three-quarters of a ring from which the squares will dangle, making them look a little bit like tiny padlocks.
Everyone asked whether I'd cast these earring pieces and no, I didn't: I cut, filed, sanded, and soldered each one myself. My instructor thinks that if I take the class where we do casting that I should make a mold for them, cast a whole bunch, and use them on a necklace and bracelet. That would look interesting, especially if I used different stones on these little pieces.
One of these earrings was a little messy where I was drilling because I actually had two holes side by side and so I ended up filling in a bit with solder. It's not really an accepted technique but there was no way I was going to re-make that piece. Once it's all sanded and polished, no one will know that solder fills up a bit.
At one point, while I was drilling my earring pieces, one went flying. I looked and looked and looked and wasn't seeing it although I did find a bunch of other things. Eventually everyone there stopped and helped me look for my missing piece and one person finally found it. Thank goodness!
To make the actual tube- and gypsy-settings we drill a hole through where the setting will be so that we can get the stone out during the preparation phase and then we drill out the shape of the round stone using a special bur. I tried to bur out the gypsy settings but I think the bur was dull because all that was happening was that the piece was getting hot and my fingers were getting singed. Silver conducts heat very well. Tomorrow night I'll bur out the settings and work on finishing the pieces. Next week I think (hope) that I'll be able to set all three of my stones.
I finally feel like I'm catching up in the class. I may be doing things over and over and over again, but I'm finishing then.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
Learning... slowly. Very slowly
I didn't finish my wax-carved ring today because while I was able to melt the wax with a candle, I also melted my setting. So I melted that ring onto the other ring to make sure that I had room for the stone. Then when I went to class I found out that pieces shrink a bit when they're cast and I was worried that my ring would be too small and delicate. I actually cut out a new ring blank before my instructor said that the ring I had would be fine. I brought the tools home again so that I can carve it this week.
One thing about doing something multiple times is that I get better and faster at it. For example, when I first started trying to make rings, it took hours, even if I was using wire. Now I can do it in about 15 minutes if I'm making it out of wire. The same is true of carving rings: at first it took forever to cut the ring shape (and I did a bad job), and now it takes almost no time to cut the shape out and my cuts are straighter.
Sometimes, though, I wish that I was able to get things right the first time. I know I learn so much more when I have to re-do it over and over but it just takes so long to go through that process. Plus it's wasteful of materials. I know that some materials are covered by my course fee but I think I might be going above and beyond what's covered.
At least I'm learning and making things... even if none of them are quite finished.
One thing about doing something multiple times is that I get better and faster at it. For example, when I first started trying to make rings, it took hours, even if I was using wire. Now I can do it in about 15 minutes if I'm making it out of wire. The same is true of carving rings: at first it took forever to cut the ring shape (and I did a bad job), and now it takes almost no time to cut the shape out and my cuts are straighter.
Sometimes, though, I wish that I was able to get things right the first time. I know I learn so much more when I have to re-do it over and over but it just takes so long to go through that process. Plus it's wasteful of materials. I know that some materials are covered by my course fee but I think I might be going above and beyond what's covered.
At least I'm learning and making things... even if none of them are quite finished.
Tuesday, August 02, 2011
Metalsmithing projects
Silly me, I thought I had metalsmithing class tonight. I went there and by the start time no one had showed up - not even the instructor - so I came home. I checked the email she'd sent way back when and it turns out that there was no class tonight. Ooops.
I'd hoped to go there because I wanted to fix the wax ring that I'm carving out. Because the ring is quite thin and delicate, I managed to break off the stone setting from the band. I can just "glue" the pieces back together with melted wax but I don't really have any. We use an alcohol lamp to melt a scrap piece of wax and drop that wherever it's needed.
I do have another wax ring that I'm carving (why do one when you can do two?) and I think I can take enough off the top to use as "glue". It might be possible to use a regular candle to heat up such a small piece and if not, that's ok. I definitely have metalsmithing tomorrow night so I can fix it then if necessary. I'm so far behind in my projects that I want to try and do as much as I can at home. I won't get ahead that way... but at least I won't fall further behind.
I'd hoped to go there because I wanted to fix the wax ring that I'm carving out. Because the ring is quite thin and delicate, I managed to break off the stone setting from the band. I can just "glue" the pieces back together with melted wax but I don't really have any. We use an alcohol lamp to melt a scrap piece of wax and drop that wherever it's needed.
I do have another wax ring that I'm carving (why do one when you can do two?) and I think I can take enough off the top to use as "glue". It might be possible to use a regular candle to heat up such a small piece and if not, that's ok. I definitely have metalsmithing tomorrow night so I can fix it then if necessary. I'm so far behind in my projects that I want to try and do as much as I can at home. I won't get ahead that way... but at least I won't fall further behind.
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