jewelery-blog

Health Warning

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 15:59:30 +0100

Well, I am convinced that the wonderful website of the Masters Registry is missing at least one important item. It should contain a health warning for people wanting to get started on this project .... it becomes extremely addictive! Extremely isn't even the correct word; what do you call it when you can't stop thinking about projects, designs, even DREAM about making jewelery - yes seriously, I am dreaming about it. I look at things and how I could use them in the projects, I scribble never ending little notes and designs into my note book, I can't wait to get home to do a little more ... it is becoming quite all consuming.

In the meantime in "real time", I have managed to get my threads to work :-) - Yeah!!! I have broken the one piece again by mistake - it is very fragile at this point, but it doesn't worry me too much, I know I can just duplicate it. in fact it is drying as we speak ;-). I am very happy with how it looks so far - even in the "raw" state. I think the threads look really pretty. I will try to get the lid done tonight, although I have "real" work as well for tonight and I don't want to work on my piece when I am too tired. It is quite fragile and being tired just invites accidents to happen.

With all the planning and thinking I have decided on my next piece - the one with a "found" item, that is not originally made for jewelery. I bought one already, but I think I will continue hunting for a nicer coloured one and just "practise" on this one.
I need to make a "perfect" 3D mould from one of its parts and in the piece I want to combine the original part with the silver one to create a "new" jewelery piece. My biggest problem is the chain ... I need to sort out what I can do there. I am thinking of making a chain maille chain if that is allowed, but need to confirm that.

I have made a bit of a mess of my "friction lid" piece that I am working on as well. The lid part is made on a cork clay. The metal clay application wasn't as smooth as I wanted it, so I thought I could rehydrate it a bit to make it easier to work on .... well of course the cork also rehydrated and quicker than the silver, which led to some cracks in the silver ... sigh ... I should have thought that one through. So now the silver is looking better, I still want to sand it a bit more and then need to decide how I am going to make the sides for the lid and how I am going to make the bottom ... and finally how we are fitting everything together :-).
At this point I think I will fire the top alone. Then make the rim to fit the top approximately and with the rim make the bottom to get a good fit. Then fire that and at the end shape the top to fit properly onto the rim, use some iol clay to put it together and fire it again.
I could also try to shape the top perfectly round now and make the sides and the bottom for it now. I am just not sure how one shapes a piece of cork clay perfectly when the silver is already applied ....

Anyway, that piece is sitting on my work bench and I play with it in between other things. At least now I know what I want it to look like ... well, more or less :-) - it is still a work in progress.

Oh, and I am collecting little twigs for my paper clay piece as well. I think now is a good time to collect those as the leaves haven't come out yet and the texture is easier to see. I want an interesting texture without it being too "knobby", else I worry that the stone won't sit well.

I have 2 more days at home, then the dogs and I are going for a big competitiion weekend away - 5 days without silver ... wonder how bad the withdrawel symptoms are going to be? I am taking my note book of course, I am bound to have some bright ideas while travelling ....

Project one: threaded closure

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:03:19 +0100

I am so excited about the idea I had for this one, I started immediately.

I drew it and made notes and then was basically ready to go, when I realised that perhaps the *symetry* of a thread is very important! - good gues huh?
And then I started agonising how one would actually "make" a thread. I also want the lid to be fairly secure and want a little more then a full revolution.
And so I sat until 1 am on the internet learning about screws! It dawned on me that this has a lot to do with physics and physics was the one subject I really battled with at school .... and here I am looking and researching this stuff out of my own free will until 1 am? Sometimes life takes funny turns. Anyway, I learned how to make a screw ;-)
Of course it did not help that my friend tells me the next day that not only did she know how to make a screw, but she literally wrote school textbooks on the matter!! grrrrrrrr ;-)

I tried to make a few models out of polymer clay, but they weren't really helpful.
I then made some paper models just to get the right size, and find "something" to use as a "mandrell" type thing that I can make the base around (turned out to be a highlighter ;-))
I decided to make the base wall part first. Then mark that and make the thread (it took me several hours and a trip to the supermarket for my brain to send me this "flash news" message that carbon copy paper will do the trick!). At this point I have decided against the gems in the thread and will just go with gold. Once I have made the thread I will "inlay" the lid part of the thread - I am still a little worried how this is going to work ... won't know until I try ;-).
Once this is dry I will make a lid. I think because of the contents of the box I will make a little domed lid.
Then I am going to look at the bottom and inside of the "base" part. I may decide to fill most of it with silver and only decorate the top part, or else I need some type of internal support to decorate the top. It is not an important issue for the piece at this stage, so I can decide when i get there. Of course I am still thinking of turning it into a ring, which i would do right at the end only. Need to get the technical stuff out of the way first :-).

At this point an important decision is the lid texture, if any at all ... still agonising over that one. the inside of the box (base) is smooth except for the thread part of course. Maybe a nice brushed finish would work?

Now that I have started and am getting my ideas sorted out I am really excited that I did decide to enroll :-)

Of course while I am busy working on this piece, my design for the sleeve pendant is basically complete and I had this idea for the steel combo project (again in the supermarket - maybe I must spend more time there, it seems to get my creative juices flowing ;-)). As i am writing this, the project may also be suitable for the "found object" item ... time to think about this ...

Choosing Projects

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 19:38:37 +0100

As I said in my first post, I had a rude awakening when reading through the requirements for each project. My reaction was panik and the first thought was "oh @#$%, I don't think I can do any of this!"
A few hours of "simmering", looking at the amazing gallery at the Masters Registry and realizing that it was too late now to pull out, I decided to apply some old "exam tactics".
Read through the projects and evaluate each one.
Focus on those projects that I feel I can do with my present abilities and leave the others for later. This may sound like I am evading the "challenges", but I feel right now it is best to get working on the first items, get into the swing so to speak, and get feedback from the assessors. At this point I have no idea how "good" (or bad!), my workmanship really is.

So, here is my reaction to the projects:

Construction

A1Cube, Cone, & Sphere * - no idea how one would do that! - already a good start!

A2 Textured Bi-cone Bead - Ok, I have an idea for that one, but need to clarify on the forum if what I have in mind is allowed

A3 Syringe Project - I thought this would be fun, but after reading Julia's website, I actually am not sure what they really want ... so perhaps not such a good one either

A4 Constructed Box - I think i would like to do this. I have never made a box, but done some other construction work and I enjoyed it.

A5 Sleeve Container Pendant - I looked at the pics in the Gallery and really liked this project. And I have a really cute idea for it ... so one that looks like a good one to start with.

A6 Box with Friction Lid - Again, this is something i have never done, but would like to try. I may use a piece that I am busy with at the moment as "the lid".

A7 Necklace of Graduated Beads - I am not really into beads ...

A8 Nesting Rings with Gem - I love this one and have already started making some rough sketches over coffee.

A9 Necklace with Handmade Chain - handmade chain ... as I said, the only metal work i have done is sing wire to tie my garden plants up ...

A10 Candidate’s Choice - no idea what I would do here ... maybe the item I have just made for the internet competition?? ... hmmm ... maybe ... although I want to use that one as my Senior Instructor's piece

Color

B1 Bezel set After Firing - Oh, this is more like my cup of tea :-). Will check for exact things that are allowed, but maybe make a piece to go with the ring I am currently making. need to check exactly what they expect as a "bezel" though. definitely enough ideas and possibilities on this one.

B2 Set Multiple Faceted Stones - Another one that I really like. No idea what item I would make, but this has lots of options and is a project "for me" :-)

B3 Torch Fired Enamel Earrings - I know I said I would stick with stuff I know to start with, but having read the posts on the forum (open only to participants on the Maters Registry), I am really intigued and interested. maybe I play around with this a little ...

B4 Basse-taille Enamel Panel - this is another interesting project. I have an idea for a 3D type piece - wonder if it would work ... need to get some transparent enamel though. All mine are opaque

B5 Plique-a-jour Earrings - this sounds very tricky and without proper guidance may just have to wait

B6 Resin Inlay in a Wearable Piece - Hmmm ... here agian I had thought this would be a piece I would tackle until I read Julia's website and now i am a little confused as to waht they are looking for ... maybe give this a miss until I find more clarification. I so liked Julia's bracelet that was "dismissed' by the assessors ...

B7 Resin Handle on Tool or Utensil - I don't understand this at the moment ...

B8 Dry Media (Prismacolor, etc.) - no idae what prismacolor even is :-(

B9 Patina Sampler * - ya well no fine, as we say here in South Africa ... I am just not a great patina fan. I always maintain i was a magpie in my previous life ... i like the shiny stuff ;-)

B10 Candidate’s Choice - again, no idae what I would do here.

Materials

this whole category is going to be really bad ...:-(

C1 Brooch with Stilt Rivets - No idea what they are or how to make them :-(

C2 Box with Metal Clay Lid - Oh, I can probably tackle this one. I have this lovely bark that Igot from one of my florist clients and it would be lovely to make a box out of it ... at this point not sure what type of lid to make though

C3 Five Glass Panels * - well, glass is not exactly a strong suit. However, i ahve found this nice coloured glass in an old parking lot recently and I may just have an idea to try something with it

C4 Bracelet with Frames - Again, this is one item I thought I could handle, but then I read the description and now I am really confused as to waht they want ...

C5 Fibula - Another shocker ... Thought I could make this one but now it turns out this item needs to be forged! - Forged? I haven't got the first idea how to do that

C6 Combine Metal Clay with Rigid Plastic - This is interesting and although I have no idea how to tackle it, it is a project that intigues me ..

C7 Use Metal Clay with a Natural Material - again, I clearly misunderstood this one and after having read the description I haven't got a clue ...

C8 Passive Collaboration - OK, I think I can come up with something here. Maybe something from one of our crafts markets, some aftrican beads or something ...

C9 Active Collaboration - This can be done ... maybe as a beader to collaborate on the trophy I am making right now... although how to ship a trophy to the assessors in the USA is another question ...

C10 Candidate’s Choice ... no idea

Metal Clay & Other Metals

Another bad category ... thank goodness for the gold options!

D1 Combine Silver and Gold - need to get some gold clay if i want to attempt this, although I am not sure how legal the gold clay is here in South africa and if it is even available; also quite pricey.

D2 Gold Paste as Detail - I have never worked with gold paste, but this does look like a really good project. lots of possibilities here. Maybe re-do the little sapphire ring I have made ... maybe rather design something new

D3 Gold Paste as Full Cover - Another project I can handle. Possibly even use the pods I have brought back from the farm on the last trip .. or maybe they wouldn't be a full cover the way i wanted to do them? ... need to check waht full cover is.

D4 Keum-boo on a Spoon - I love Keum-boo ... not sure about a spoon though ..wished it could hav been something else ...

D5 Combine Metal Clay with Steel - OK, so I am cheating. I had written this post yesterday and the computer crashed. Yesterday I dismissed this project as "unsuitable" for me at this point. Today I browsed through the gallery again and saw something that just triggered my imagination. So now I have a really fun idea for this project ... :-). And no, seeing something does not mean I am copying or even making it "similar". It is all about "inspiration", not copying!

D6 Metal Clay with a Copper Alloy - this is where I originally thought I could have some fun with copper clay ... in the meantime we are required to "metal smith" copper ... definitely not (yet) in my abilities.

D7 Metal Clay with a White Metal - as above

D8 Metal Clay with a Found Metal Object - Again, i am not sure what they really want. Also my "found" and their "found" are 2 different things :-). I take these things obviously too literally :-). I thought we were required to keep our eyes open on our walks through the park, the stroll down the street, etc. But "found" can even be in a shop! ...

D9 Using a Manufactured Component - This is quite do-able, but I have no idea what i would want to do. but certainly do-able

D10 Candidate’s Choice - I really think for this initial stage I should concentrate on the given projects rather than look at these.I think, much to my amazement, I actually do have 2 or even more projects in each category :-)

Miscellaneous

E1 Votive Figure - This is a cool project. I wanted to do some pre-columbian stuff, but found next to nothing on the internet on a quick initial search. Will have to go and search the family library if there are any usefull books there from our time in Columbia. The other option is to do something African. My friend Jane collect African artefacts and has masses of books on the topic - probably a good starting point if I would go that route ... of course I could also try to find a little Votive dog somewhere and start the project that way ... definitely lots of fun

E2 Hallmark and Stamp - this looks like a project I would love to tackle ... already sketched my design over some coffee (yes, I do drink lots of coffee ;-) and I usually use my coffee breaks to make notes or sketch stuff). Not sure at all about the handle at this stage though

E3 Metal Clay Paper - This is another fun one. I think I will try to finally set that stone I have lying on my desk for the last X months. i really want to see if that will work. If it does, I think it will be really pretty and show off the stone really well.

E4 Box with Hinge & Catch - I had a cool idea on this one. I have never made a hinge and/or catch but have always wanted to. So this is definitely a project I will try.

E5 Multiples Challenge - I don't think I quite understand the purpose of this one.

E6 Stencil Process - don't even start to understand this one :-(

E7 Miniatures - OK, if/when I tackle this one, I know what I am going to do :-). But it does sound like a lot of PT - not sure if my fingers are that "delicate".

E8 Mechanics - again, I am not quite sure what exactly they want. I have been thinking about the little sapphire pendant I made (see my website). But that has only got 2 moving bits, so I would have to add more ... but then i am not even sure if that would be acceptable in teh first place.

E9 Threaded Closure - Right ... this one is "it". I have never made anything like this, but the remark on Julia's website that someone made to her about looking at lots and lots of threads just kept moving around in my head and then - voila - tehre it was. I knew exactly what I want to make.

E10 Candidate’s Choice -see above

So actually, after a detailed analysis, it doesn't look as bad as I had initially thought.
in "A', I actually have to narrow down, but definitely want to do the sleeve pendant.
in "B" I have the 2 stone projects and possibly even the tourch fired enamel or even the basse-taille ... again, need to narrow down - who would have thought :-)
"C" is a bit trickier, but I have the collaboration options as well as the box with a lid ... keeping my mind open for other stuff as well.
"D", from being a "problem" has become one category with several options that I need to narrow down ;-)
and "E" also has several projects I am dying to do. First though will be the threaded lid and the hinged box :-). Can't wait to get going on those ...

So, while always keeping my mind open it seems I have more than nough on my plate to get STARTED ......

The Fist Step on the Masters Registry

Wed, 28 Jul 2010 06:40:47 +0100

After much consideration and thought (at least I thought I had given it much consideration and thought ;-)), I have enrolled on the Metal Clay Masters Registry. It was a bit of a rude awakening when I finally read the descriptions of the projects we have to make and how much it differed from what I had envisioned them to be after reading the titles on the website.Things like combining silver with copper ... no problem I thought, I will have fun playing with some copper clay ...! Oh no, not copper clay, we are expected to work with copper meatal ... the only "metal work" I have ever done is use wire to tie up my garden plants and that is the stuff that is plastic coated! So, while I enrolled in the program to stretch my abilities, learn more, get professional feedback and have a goal to work towards, I had no idea how MUCH this is going to challenge me.

This blog is inspired by Julia Rai's webpage of her Master's Registry journey, which I find so very helpful. This will be a different journey to the same destintion and perhaps others starting out will be able to benefit. While I will try not to spend too much time writing and rather working on the projects ;-), I will try to illustrate my path in a step by step fasion, culminating (hopefully :-)), by the feedback from the assessors and ultimately my certificate.

Looking forward to having you along
Gaby