A couple of you suggested that the Tree of Life design would be cool as a seasons series. The first day of the challenge would have been summer, and the 11th day, fall. In honor of spring, today I have a spring Tree of Life. In keeping with the rule that each March design will be new or (attempted to be) improved, I've continued to tweak the details. The knot hole is gone, the branches and trunk are more defined, and the roots & trunk are both a bit more twisted. This one uses aventurine leaves and two types of pink freshwater pearl flowers. Ignoring color, which one so far do like best for style / design? If you haven't already entered the April 1 drawing, answering that question below will get you entered :)
GIVEAWAY: If you'd like to enter the One-a-day Giveaway, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here.
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Today seemed right for a bright, springy little piece. I made tiny fold form leaves and then a charm bracelet to spice them up. Play the slideshow to see details. The smaller green gemstone beads are apatite and hang from torch-balled sterling silver wire. The larger wire-wrapped beads are magnesite. The sterling silver chain is commercial; the clasp, hand crafted. This piece is here in the shop.
If I can tear myself away from fold forming in the next couple days, I'll try another version of the Tree of Life pendant. Don't forget about the April 1 drawing for one of those! To enter, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here. I'd really love to hear your feedback, ideas, suggestions, or questions. I'm learning as I go, and your opinions are helpful. Hope to see you tomorrow:) Today's earrings are a simple hanging leaf made with the fold form technique. The photos below show front and back. The hand cut and forged copper leaves hang on a sterling silver earring wire and chain. The black-to-red color range is a patina resulting from the heat of the torch used in-process. This "fold formed" technique takes advantage of the natural properties of copper when hammered and heated, to take on the natural, organic appearance of a leaf. See them here in the shop. Finished at 1:30 on such a lovely day! Time to get out of the house and enjoy it.
Note: If you'd like to enter the One-a-day Giveaway, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here. What a beautiful day outside! I got out for a little while, then of course had to focus on nature themes in the studio. I've taken a big crazy left turn with my jewelry style these past couple days while I experiment with fold forming. I think it's just plain fascinating. This bean pod pendant is made from copper sheet metal and freshwater pearls, with a sterling silver bale. The incredible red patina comes from heat. Believe it or not, the photo below is a before and after shot. The small piece of copper sheet metal on the left is identical to the piece I used to make the pod. Isn't that wild? I can see how this pendant might not be for everyone ;-) You'll probably see a few other crazy pieces while I experiment with the technique. I hope you'll stop back anyway!
Note: If you'd like to enter the One-a-day Giveaway, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here. Today I began learning a new technique called fold-forming. It is a method that helps produce the appearance of organic sculpture. The piece below is my very first attempt at this method so be gentle ;-) I have to say, it was pure fun and it's likely I'll try another one tomorrow. This pendant is hammered and sculpted from pure copper sheet metal. The natural properties of copper are used to best advantage to create an organic piece. I think the magnesite gemstone is a striking match for the rich patina of the copper. Visit the online shop for more details here. Everyone please have a happy and lucky St. Patrick's Day! See you tomorrow.
I'm looking forward to the Hit & Run Happy Hour tonight at CS Gallery. More so because it's not a "show" with pressure to man my table, etc. There will be a central register in the gallery, so we can just relax and socialize. I'm planning on getting one of those $5 massages, you can bet on that. To my Columbus friends, I hope to see you there! Details are in my Mar 14th blog post. Here we are at the halfway point of the One-a-day challenge. It's been a busy but fun month for me so far. The structure of this daily deadline has helped me streamline some of my process, and I'm especially happy to be making new friends :) For today's earrings, I had fun again with my new tip (from yesterday) about applying heat near gemstones. The copper took forever and a day to ball up on the end, but it finally worked like a charm. Onyx gemstone beads hang on copper wire with torch-balled ends, hammered ring, and darker patina for contrast. The sterling silver oval is shaped, hammered, and polished. You can see them here in my Etsy store.
Thanks for stopping by! Note: If you'd like to enter the One-a-day Giveaway, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here. On a recent shopping trip I found some gemstone beads in a shape that really caught my attention. I only got one string, the zebra jasper -- but now I wish I'd have snagged more. They are fun to work with. Today's project was a pair of earrings using the zebra jasper. When those were finished, I made a second pair of a different style, with matching pendant. Process-wise, the first pair seem like magic to me. I found a simple jeweler's tip about how to blast the wire with a torch (1763 degrees F) to melt the end and create a ball tip after adding the bead to the earring. Normally, heat cracks or shatters gemstones. I made these earrings to test the tip -- and it worked. Cool! The main wire is fine silver, hammered at the top. The decorative coiling above the bead and the handmade earring wire are both sterling silver. To see these in the store, click here. Next, I made more earrings and a matching pendant using the same beads and basic design, but different style. These are sleek and small; very good for business or every day wear. I don't make enough of that sort of thing. To view them in the shop click here; below are pics of the set and detail from the back. If you like these, I'd love to know which style you like better. Let me know!
Notes: > If you'd like to enter the One-a-day Giveaway, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here. > Come out and see me at CS Studios in Columbus 7-9 pm tomorrow, March 16. It's a Columbus Alive a-list event. Read about it here. Looking for something fun to do? Come out and party at the CS Gallery Hit & Run Happy Hour this Wed 3/16, 7-9 p.m. Enjoy refreshments and socialize with me and other local Columbus artists in a fun, casual setting. The art is available to purchase or to simply enjoy while you visit. I hope to see you there.
This event made the Columbus Alive's a-list staff pick. View the writeup here. Click through the 3-photo slide show; the 3rd one is my necklace! Hit and Run Happy Hour 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 CS Gallery 66 Parsons Ave., Olde Town East cobenickstudios.com This was a rough day. The piece does not get passing grades. Some days you just take your work and stick it in a drawer for later. I will take it apart completely and re-assemble it, but not until it sounds like fun again. It definitely fell outside my fun zone late this afternoon. I promised to post a piece every day, so here you go... today's nemesis. Note: If you'd like to enter the One-a-day Giveaway, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here. Here we are on day 13 of 31, closing in on the halfway point of the One-a-day challenge. Thanks for sticking with me so far! These cross-linked earrings are handcrafted from fine silver to match the Day #8 bracelet, with the addition of a 13.75mm black onyx bead to make the earring really pop. You can see more details here. I think they will dress up or down nicely, as needed. Components in the main earring are crafted from 18 gauge fine silver wire and measure about 2" long. Fine silver is .999 pure silver, and virtually tarnish proof. The earring wires are handmade from sterling silver. I didn't get any comments, good or bad, on day 8 for the matching bracelet. I'm curious what you think of it -- and if you think I should add some (smaller) black onyx beads to pop up the bracelet a little bit.
Anyone who offers sincere advice about the bracelet will get an entry in the One-a-day drawing. If you've already commented on a different page, you'll get a second entry (this day only.) Note: If you'd like to enter the One-a-day Giveaway, just post a comment on any One-a-day blog post (current or previous day) during March, and tell me what you think of a piece and why. Read all about it here. |
Sue Lacy WiredThis began as a hobbyist's blog. Over time it became a quest to support & connect metalsmiths around the globe who use foldforming techniques in their work. See how it all turned out: www.foldforming.org Archives
July 2016
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