Powerful. Win.

I like a certain mint and it comes in a little tin.  Once the mints are gone, the tins just don’t look like something that should be thrown away – they look useful, they look open to the idea of being reinvented.  So, I’ve been saving the empty tins, not sure how I would use them or what I would do with them, until now.

In the back of my mind, I see the tops of the little tins evolving into bracelets somehow.  That idea is still germinating.  But, while at Penland, I did get this pair of earrings made using the mint tins.  Penland had a circle punch and I used it to punch out both the tin curcles and the larger silver circles underneath.  I punched out a few circles while I was there since I don’t have a circle punch.  I still cut circles by hand and find they have their own charm too.  I then drilled the holes in both circles, used chasing tools to texture the silver circles, darkened them, made the earwires, and assembled the earrings.

I have a few of these tins and only used a small bit on these earrings.  Expect to see more later.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

It finally came!!

I have been waiting for the 2009 Penland catalog to arrive and it came yesterday.  I got email from one of my classmates (Lower Metals 2008 ) that hers arrived last week.  I hoped that it would come on Friday.  Then, for sure, on Saturday.  Well, it finally came yesterday and I am so excited.  I really believe in life-long learning and work hard to improve my skills and grow as an artist.  Penland is such a wonderful environment to learn in.  I would encourage any artist, artisan, or craftsperson who can to take a class there.

It would be fantastic to take the summer off and attend 2-3 sessions, but alas, I must work at my day job to support my bead and metal habit.  I am off to get started on my application.  If I get accepted, I will try to blog everyday about the experience.

 

A Torch is a Girl’s Best Friend

My Torch

It was not always that way.  For years, I wanted to learn how to solder.  I could not find a class in my area and the classes I could find were one night a week over 6-8 weeks in cities other than mine – not practical.  I tried doing so many things as substitutes for soldering and metal work, but none really satisfied me.  I tried to get into Penland a few years ago and the class was full; I did not get in.

A couple of years later, I found another class elsewhere that was not really what I was looking for, but at least it included soldering.  I was so excited to take the class and by the end of the first day felt like a remedial, soldering-impaired person with issues.  I did not find the class to be friendly and I struggled.  It did not help to be told how easy it was coming to others.  It did not help to be told that people with poor eyesight maybe should not take the class.  I finished the class as best I could and left with huge soldering angst.

For the two years that followed, I avoided working on metal and had to force myself to try it.  I approached it with fear and anxiety – not a place where creativity flourishes.  Not a place where shaky skills in need of nurturing and practice could take root and blossom.  And so I let it go and made the same kind of jewelry I always did.  And I knew there was artistic restlessness stirring around within me.

This year I applied for Penland again and was accepted.  This class provided not just the technical instruction I so desperately needed, but also a fun and supportive environment for learning, mistakes, exploration, and growth.  I can proudly say I am no longer soldering-impaired.  I love using my torch and miss it if too many days go by without using it.

I have been fortunate in that I have been able to learn many things somewhat easily.  Soldering definitely was not one of them.  Yet I persevered.  So what is the lesson in this?  To overcome fear and persevere?  To know how it feels so I can lend a hand to someone else who is having trouble learning something?  Or is the lesson to accept with gratitude the hands that were offered to me?