My plans revolve around learning a new technique: metalsmithing. I have taken one class already, and created these super fun "spiculum earrings." Spiculum refers to something sharp and pointed, like a shard such as crystal or ice.
In this class I cut out the pattern from a sheet of 24 gauge copper metal, filed the edges smooth and hammered them around forms to get them to curl like you see them. Then heat via a jeweler's butane torch is applied to anneal the metal to make it pliable again. This process of hammering and heating is repeated until they are the shape I wanted. Then the last step was to apply heat again one last time to get the metal to display the beautiful colors you see. Copper starts out that bright shiny coppery color all over. I much prefer these beautiful colors! At least for this project. Then the hole is punched out at the tops, I hand-fabricated the earwires and the spirals, attached them, and voila! A cool new pair of earrings.
Next up, pretty enamel flower earrings with some more metalsmithing involved, and then a fold formed cuff bracelet! I am very excited about learning these techniques. This opens a whole new world in jewelry for me and I can't wait to learn more!
Thanks for stopping by. Please check out these posts by other JAC members:
Islandgirl's Insights Bead Sophisticate Cat's Wire Jewelry Art by Dawn
Bead up a Storm
9 comments:
Another one lost to Hephaistos! ;-) Have fun, Jeanne, I can't wait to see where this will be taking you.
I had to go look that up, but had a feeling. You librarians know everything. :) Thanks I am excited about it too... gotta get some new tools, though. My new sheet metal cutting shears arrived today! Whew those things are sharp!
I am all for it, Jeanne. I took a metal-smithing class at our local community college and it opened up a whole new world. Also helped me get over my fear of fire, I might add.
Love the colours you got in that copper... Guess I better go look up Hepahaistos too! (Pretty bad when the germans speak better english than those of us who are suppose to speak it do!
Wonderful! Those earrings are absolutely stunning! You'll have so much fun playing with fire.
Add me to the list of those excited to follow your progress on your metal-smithing advenures!
Thanks Ladies! Carole, I soooo wish our local colleges offered these classes/courses/degrees because I would take out whatever kind of load I had to and sign up in a heart beat! Those places are too far for me, in fact I haven't been able to find any college degrees offered in metalsmithing (or whatever the proper term is) in Florida, so I'll be making due with the community center offerings that are close to me for now. I'm glad to say that my instructor's guidance in that little class had me going home and finally opening up my little butane torch I purchases months and months ago. It's filled and ready to go... now I need some copper to play with. :)
ha ha my fingers are walking off on me today.... that would "take out whatever kind of loan..." and "butane torch I purchased..." lol
Wow, those are gorgeous!
Thank you Miss Maggi! :)
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