Not a Success Only Journey

When we are reaching, stretching, pushing our limits, we make mistakes, have problems, and stuff happens.  I don’t like this anymore than anyone else, but I know that if I never experience problems and mistakes then I am playing it way too safe, relying far too much on what I already know.  And so, I push ahead.

This necklace is an example.  The small black glass cab with a bit of red was the smallest thing I had bezel set at the time.  And I wanted to do it.  I saw the complete pendant in my mind - the wire-wrapped porcelain drop, the black and red cab set properly, and I wanted to do it.

So, I set out to make the bezel setting for the small black and red piece and ran into trouble.  I made rings out of bezel wire, tried to solder them closed, and either solder would run up one side or I toasted the bezel with too much heat and part of it melted.  After destroying a few of them, I stepped back to analyze the situation.  Solder running to one side was a symptom of uneven heating.  This bezel was small so there wasn’t much mass.  I was using the pick to hold the solder beside the seam.  Maybe the pick was drawing too much heat for this small bezel??  I tried it without the pick, and success.  The photo below – the toasted and melted pieces created while learning.  And isn’t learning what it is all about?

 

 

Soldering Stations

These are the soldering stations at Penland in the Lower Metals studio.  They are empty at the moment, but generally throughout the day people are coming and going, using the torches to anneal metal or to solder, and it’s a busy area.  Penland uses acetylene and oxygen and it is mixed prior to reaching the torch so there is only one knob on the torch.  They have what I consider to be the “big” torches, you can see the racks with the various tips for different size soldering jobs.  In the right hand side are an assortment of soldering bricks, lazy Susan type pans with pumice pieces, and other items one might need while soldering.  They also have an extensive exhaust system overhead to remove soldering fumes from the area.  There is an equally impressive exhaust system over the pickle and liver of sulphur pots.

Here is my soldering station.  I use a charcoal block and one or both of the two clips when needed.  When soldering, I keep my catch tray open so anything hot that might fall will fall into the metal-lined tray.  I use a Smith mini-torch with propane and oxygen.  Mine is mixed at the torch so I have two knobs.   My torch and its flame are way smaller than the type used at Penland.  Amazingly enough, I have found it easy to switch from one type set-up to the other and find that both work well for me.

 

Jennifer Necklace

I’m still loving setting found bits of glass, pottery, and other items in metal and then making them into jewelry.  I have a small boxfull, collected at a time when I knew the pieces had possibilities and saving them for a time when I had the skill level to use them.  Now is that time and I am just loving it.

I don’t know what this little bit of pottery used to be – maybe a saucer or dinner plate?  It doesn’t have the curvature a cup or bowl would have.  How many times have I picked it up and felt its smoothness created by sea and sand?  I’m proud to have used it and hope I honored it by setting it in sterling silver and arranging beads in colors and shapes that echo its quiet beauty.

 

Just Enough

One of Bob’s favorite answers to some of our questions in class was the phrase – just enough.  Someone would ask “How much solder should I use?”  And Bob would answer “Well, you need just enough.”  Or the question would be raised “How long should the tab be?”  The answer – “Well, it needs to be just long enough.”

And we would all laugh/groan.  We knew what it meant.  It meant no one can give you a number, a formula.  It meant you need to try, gain experience, work with the materials, understand them, and you will come to learn how much is just enough.

 

Operculum Shell Bracelet

This bracelet features little shells called operculum shells.  I got the shell beads at a local bead store, liking the colors, they way they felt, and the fact that they were fairly flat on one side – something different from most shells I have worked with.  I think many of us that make things are always on the lookout for something unusual – whether its beads, fabric, paper, yarn, or other materials.

I’ve used them in a few pieces like the bracelet shown here.  While I was working on it, I picked up one of the shells and wondered how whatever creature formerly resided in the shell got parts of themselves in and out since there was no apparent opening.  I searched on the Internet and found out that operculum shells are little lids or covers at the opening of larger shell structures. They are quite lovely and their unique shape leads to some interesting designs.

 

My First Tab Setting

Yesterday in class we were shown gorgeous examples of tab settings.   I had not tried them before and was excited about exploring them.  Bob (our instructor) showed many variations of tab settings, all so beautifully done both in design and workmanship.  I know I won’t have time to explore all of the variations presented while here at Penland.  I will be able to carry it into my work when I return home.

This is the first tab setting I did.  It is rather primitive, but it got the job done.  The bail at the top is simply a longer tab curved over with pliers.  This first tab setting helped me see the outcome of decisions I made on tab length, width, shape, and placement.  I’ve already started cutting out two more, exploring some of the options, beginning the journey down the path of learning and refining this technique.

 

Aqua Flowers and Yellow Pearls

For some reason this year, these little glass flower beads caught my eye and I began thinking of ways to use them grouped together in some manner with a base underneath them.  This is the third piece I have made using them – I did a pair of earrings with a different shape in cornflower blue and a necklace in a golden yellow color.

These earrings, as well as the other pieces, were made by creating a double layer of square stitch creating a stable base and then sewing the flowers on, passing through each flower twice for strength.  I’ve also been enamored with this shade of aqua and yellow this year and find it cropping up here and there in other pieces.  I like the technique I’ve used here.  The resulting pieces are strong and very stable.  It is one that takes patience, a quality most of us that work with beads tend to have.

 

The Hammers in Lower Metals

One thing I really like about Penland’s metal studios are the abundance and availability of tools and equipment that many of us may not have access to in our own studios or workshops.  This is the rack of hammers in Lower Metals.  I think you can see that there are front and back rows on both the top and bottom.  Impressive by my standards.

At this time, I have eight hammers in my personal hammer collection so I am no where near being able to touch this collection.  I ordered a planishing hammer when I got back.  I am also looking for a tiny ball peen and a tiny cross peen.  If anyone knows a source for these, please let me know.  My smallest ball peen is a two ounce hammer and I am looking for one even smaller if I can find it.

What is even better than the availability of the tools and equipment is the fact that the instructors and metals staff know how to properly  use and care for them.  They are also knowledgeable about safety and precautions one should take when using tools and equipment.  The various catalogs and websites of those selling tools try really hard to explain these things, but it is no where near as helpful as having someone stand beside you how to use something, and then stand beside you while you try.

 

Assignment (or Challenge) One

The first day of class, I was excited, not sure what the class would bring or how it would be, but definitely looking forward to it.  After introductions, we gathered together to discuss jewelry, art, design, and creativity.  Then we were given our first assignment.  Each of us was given a little packet and told we had to use two different items in the packet to make whatever we wanted.  We could use the two items together or separately.  The only additional material we could use was wire.  And we were allowed to use tools.  This is what the packet contained:

 

OK, I can do this, I thought.  I decided to use the playing cards first, envisioning a design where I cut them into strips. drilled holes in the stacks of strips, and held the strips together with wire.  Did I mention that it was around 11:00 am and we had a deadline of 4pm?  It took a bit of fiddling and fussing, but I managed to get a decent bracelet concept done.  It is no where near a finished piece, but I like the idea and the instructor really liked the subtle play of the designs printed on the cards that was slightly visible on the strips.

 

So, I start to work on the second piece and decided to really challenge myself and use the plastic cutlery.  What was I thinking?  I began cutting it up into little pieces thinking I could make a mosaic using a bottle top and some white craft glue.  Then I remembered that we could only use wire.  At this point the fork and knife were cut up into little pieces.  I guess I could have shoved them under the napkin and selected something else, but I kept going.

I decided to encase them in a wire structure and started with a spider web type form.  That did not work because the spoke-type wires are further and further apart as you work from the center out and would not hold the little pieces.  So, I began creating this structure that looked like a tangled birds nest.  It held the pieces but was not tall enough to completely encase them. 

So, I started adding more wire.  Do I need to say that this was not going well and all I could think about was the clock ticking?  You know how it is when a train wreck starts unfolding and you keep doing more and adding more stuff to stop it and all it does is accelerate the inevitable?  That’s what happened with this piece.  I got it done but knew it was a mess. 

The instructor and I discussed it, looking at elements that worked and those that did not.  There was still a bit of time left in the day (we got an extension to 5:30pm) so he suggested I try something else.  I decided to do so and chose the poker chips.  I drilled them off center and began creating a wire-wrapped choker style necklace.  I did not complete all of the wire-wrapping but felt proud I could even see a direction to go with the poker chips.

 

Overall, it was a good day because it loosened us all up, got us thinking totally out of the box, and got everyone ready to work with both traditional and non-traditional jewelry-making supplies.  This post would not be complete without mention of the jewelry and small sculptural pieces my classmates made, some of which were truly amazing.

 

The Door to Lower Metals

This is the sign leading to what is called Lower Metals.  Penland School of Craft has two metal studios – one is upstairs and called Upper Metals, the other is downstairs and called Lower Metals.  Both times I have been at Penland, I have been in Lower Metals.  In fact, I’ve been at the exact same desk.  It’s a desk that works for be because its location keeps my left-handedness from affecting others.

I’m excited about the class I am taking – Jewelry as Personal Adornment.  The instructor is Robert Ebendorf, who is well known in the art jewelry world.  I am lucky to be in the class.  There were more applicants than spots, so all of us that are here got in on lottery.  I hope it is a good two weeks and I get a lot out of it.

Dear Reader, Please note I have returned from Penland.  I wrote a series of posts long hand while there and will be posting them over the next few weeks.