From This to That… December 4, 2015

Yesterday morning was spent making a very nice stash of new copper etched components. I’ve had several people request a tutorial for this process. However, I do not feel nearly competent to a) explain it thoroughly enough or b) do an equal or better job that many already out there on the internet.  I searched many jewelry sites, like Rio Grande, for tutorials on the method I wanted to try. And did a search with “etching with ferric chloride tutorial”. You’ll get some for computer uses, but keep digging. And watch as many as you can before trying this…it does use a hazardous waste material…and one needs to be savvy about precautions. That said, it is addictive…No, not to the chemical, silly…the gorgeous things it does to copper.

 

I thought today I would give you a quick run down of the steps in the process. So you’ll know why my hands and nails are trashed, mostly from all the sanding and filing. Plus, I’ll admit I don’t usually use gloves for the LOS.  I’m too embarrassed to even go get a manicure.  Anyone else know what I’m talking about?? I’m not even going to show you a picture of my hands.

So how do I get from this…

Copper sheet metal I buy by the pound at an industrial metal supply. This is about half of what I purchased. It’s maybe 12×12 inches.

 

Then…

Punch out circles or hand cut shapes.

File, file, file, sand.

Punch and file holes for ear wires or attaching dangles.

Apply stamped design with StazOn ink.

Etch…this is where you might view/read tutorials.

After neutralizing in baking soda solution, clean off ink.

Sand lightly with 0000 steel wool.

Oxidize.

Clean and buff with wet/dry sand paper and steel wool.

Use dapping block to create nice curves.

Tumble for two hours.

Apply two coats of Renaissance Wax.

Last buffing.

Then, here is what you get…

 

 

 

 

I also threw in a couple of pairs of hammered pendants.

 

Here’s a peek at a few earrings I made with some components

last week for the new shop in Hillcrest.

 

 

 

 

So, that’s how I get from this to that.

If you haven’t already given etching metal a try,

I hope you are encouraged to at least add it to your jewelry bucket list!

 

Last minute additions November 19, 2015

This weekend is one of my favorite holiday markets. Even better that it is at our church and helps support several non profits. Friendly, festive, fabulous “church lady made” baked goods, and fantastic artisan wares…including my dessert pedestals and jewelry.

Yesterday, I decided I needed a few more etched pieces…

hand cut from copper sheet metal. 

 

Some plain.

 

 

Some with recycled glass.

 

 

And one hit with a texture hammer.

(oops…my camera caught some dents in these…

I need to put these back on the dapping block

and give them a few whacks with the rubber mallet again.

Gotta love that ‘third eye’.)

And just because I’m in love with these glass drops…

I’m in awe that there are 330 subscribers to this blog…and very grateful.

Not sure where you all live, but if anyone is near downtown San Diego

on Friday or Saturday, it would be a real pleasure to meet you.

Details and directions are here.

And wherever you may be…

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving !

Another One Done ! March 14, 2015

Not doing much in the way of jewelry making these days, but definitely need to pick it up again…another crafty affair on March 28th. Since I live in a very large urban-suburban area, I am trying out a couple of different locations to see who’s buying.  This one is about 20 miles away on the coast and will benefit a high school’s athletic program.

We shall see…

The one project I did follow through on was finally finished up today. I knew it would involve some leather. Pretty happy that I didn’t scrap the project, even though I came close a couple of times. It’s all about the learning. And sometimes things just don’t end up how you thought they would, but they are still fine and dandy.

Here’s a look…

I like the fact that the beading and leather slide strap compliment a rather large (for me) bezel setting. Enough details to keep it interesting, but not a distraction.

And that it is adjustable! Full length is 32 inches, but can be almost any length you wish.

So on to the next one… here’s a peek. It may involve copper or sterling leaves.

Just beginning to play around with those.

Quick Post of New Work January 23, 2015

Happy Friday, everyone!

I’m still getting components and finished jewelry ready for the February 7th event…

With over 60 crafters, really feeling like I really need to bring my A game.

Just finished up this butterfly necklace with some lovely pearls.

Next are just a few earrings…

 I hope that what sets my jewelry apart is that most all the components,

ear wires and headpins are hand made with lots of love and care.

And finally, a little progress report on my bezel setting work with this lapis agate.  I used a the sweat soldering technique to attach the ball details and bail. Which means melting tiny pieces of solder on the back of each piece first. Then hitting the setting from underneath with the flame to ‘remelt’ the solder to attach these pieces to the backing. Last steps were to set the stone and then a good polish and tumble.  My plan is to make a wire wrapped beaded chain with these beautiful little lapis lazuli stones I purchased at Lost Cities.

Hope your weekend is a great one !

Lynda

My Hands Hurt October 25, 2014

Spent this morning hammering away on some sterling silver and copper textured pendants. The copper was recycled thick wire, probably 12 gauge, from the garage. Makes great earring pendants to hang pretty beads and stones from. Really tried to keep my thumb out of the way, but it’s still sore from the reverberation of the pounding on the bench block. Because the pieces start out as only one inch in length, I need to hold them pretty close to the edge of the block. And, get this…the copper seemed to heat up as I worked the metal!  Anyone else ever notice this? Not super hot, where I wanted to let go…but a definite heat sensation. Probably something to do with creating energy from the hammering that travels down the wire?

Anyway the end of my thumb and hands need a rest after the pounding, filing, hole punching, more filing, oxidizing, and polishing. Everything is in the tumbler for several hours. Cannot wait to open up the tumbler tonight…one of my favorite things about metal work is seeing the final, super shiny pieces that result.

Here’s a peek at some other things I’ve made this week…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vibrant green faceted glass rounds on thick knotted Irish waxed linen cord, with a suede leather strap closure.

 

 

And a remake of a necklace I made for the Pearls challenge.

Not fully happy with my pearl stringing, perhaps too much space between each pearl?

I think the visual impact of the close spacing

of these gorgeous freshwater coin pearls is much better.

The necklace also sits up much higher on the neck which I like for this one.

 

 

 

Lastly, there’s still time if you wanted to throw your name into the hat

for the etched copper earrings. Entries close on this Tuesday night.

Just comment on this post.

 

Hope your weekend is shaping up to be a great one !

Lynda

 

 

A Good Day… October 20, 2014

I know I’ve got my creative making juices flowing again when I wake up

in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep

because I’ve got all these ideas for jewelry in my brain.

Gave up on the sleep and got up in the dark.

Confused the dog who thought it was time for breakfast at 4:00.

Made stuff until I ran out of ear wires.

Need to work on that tomorrow.

Here are just a few things I finished today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

         Using Czech glass leaves, fresh water pearls,     howlite, agate, turquoise. lamp work glass,                        ‘sea glass’, chalcedony, Swarovski crystal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           Textured sterling pendant necklaces

     with turquoise and

          chalcedony briolettes.

 

 

 

And here’s the little giveaway I promised to you, dear readers…for your wonderful support these last four years and the over 101,000 visits to this blog.

Just add your comment to this blog post to have your name entered. Be sure to leave an email contact. Closes Monday, October 27th.

Oh, and here’s what you will win…a pair of hand shaped, etched copper pendant earrings in a feather design.

With gorgeous Boro glass beads and sterling silver ear wires.

 

 

 

Best of luck !

Lynda

Back in the saddle… October 17, 2014

There’s a couple of big craft events looming on the horizon and I’ve been in a bit of a funk about getting things done. Perhaps it was the long hiatus getting ready for our travel and blaming jet lag (two weeks, really??). Went into my workroom a few times, looked around a few minutes, shrugged, walked out and shut the door. Pretty sure you all know what I’m talking about.

I decided one way to get going was to just make components. Spent one day just on punching out, etching, oxidizing, scrubbing, tumbling, and waxing copper pieces. Luckily, I had a good stash of head pins and ear wires already made.

Finally just started putting somethings together. It also helped that a cousin contacted me with an order for several pieces of jewelry that I needed to work on, too. Thank you for that!

Here’s a peek at what’s going on, focusing on copper for now. Need to add more sterling, leather, and        brass to my inventory later.

These gorgeous jasper stones were purchased from one of my favorite local shops…Lost Cities. Their staff is so knowledgeable and helpful. And while I cannot afford their collection of ethnic beads and ancient stones, I can and do love to look!

 

Also, trying out something new, since I put my Etsy shop on hold. I’m setting up a website through Square Up…I’ve been thrilled to be able to use the Square for face to face credit card sales at events. They also offer a free market place and the ability to set up a simple to run website. It’s certainly not finished, just added four items, but take a peek…

https://squareup.com/market/freshbakeddesigns

 

And just noticed yesterday that this blog has had over 101,000 visits by you guys!

Thanks so much for your encouragement and support these last four years.

I think that calls for a little celebratory give away! Stay tuned…hope to get something fun for this weekend.

Gifts for the Grads May 30, 2014

June is almost here and that means time for graduations and gifts.

Here are a few necklaces I’ve been working on this week.

The first one is a triple charmer in sterling silver, faux beach glass, a freshwater pearl, and grape vine

charm. A friend is giving this one to a young family member graduating with a degree in oenology…

the study of wine and winemaking.  Sounds good to me!

 

 

I did an internet search for this sweet charm and was delighted with the quality, price,

and speedy delivery from Silver Messages.

The next two are for two young ladies in my church who were part of our summer team to Ghana.

Amazing people who have such great heart and grace.

 

 

 

 

                       Can you tell I’m in love with the bright sterling silver with the etched copper ?

Productive Day! May 11, 2014

Love those days when I get into the groove with jewelry making.

Friday was just that kind of day for me.

Etching metal is a long process with the time spent in the etchant solution

and later on, the two hours in the jewelry tumbler.

This ‘down time’ allowed me to replenish the handmade sterling ear wires

and jump rings and fine silver head pins…

 and solder and texture a couple of pairs of sterling hoops.

Very, very satisfying work to be able to know

that every part of these earrings has my hand in it…

except of course, the lovely Czech glass beads.

 

 

 

 

See the peachy cast on the side of the left earring here?

Could not figure out what this was in all the photos of this pair.

Finally figured out it must be my reflection in the fabulous shine of the metal.

Love what two hours in a tumbler does to sterling silver.

Now that’s a ‘mirror finish’ !

 

Til next time!

And a very Happy Mother’s Day to all you moms, grand moms, aunties,

and motherly, nurturing ladies out there!

Lynda

 

Time for an Etching Update May 7, 2014

Looking back at my posts of the last couple of months,

I see that there’s not much jewelry shown.

Time to correct this, I think!

Since returning from Africa, I have renewed my mania for etching copper…If I’m honest, obsession is probably the more accurate term. If anyone is thinking about starting to learn this method using ferric chloride, I’d highly recommend seeking tutorials, both text/photo and video on-line.

Beaducation has a free detailed video series here. This supplier also has a huge variety of inexpensive pre-cut shapes in base metals that would work very well with this etching method. I have only working with copper sheet metal…cutting my own copper discs with a die cut tool and shapes by hand with heavy kitchen sheers (actually very easy).

I do have one difference in method than shown in their series. They recommend covering the edges of the pieces in a heavy coat of permanent black marker ink, so that the etchant does not eat this part of the metal. I do not do this and there is a good reason. They are working with smooth, pre-finished blanks. I’m using hand cut pieces that are still a bit rough around the edges. Happily, I discovered that by leaving the edges exposed to the acid, these were naturally smoothed and finished by the treatment.  Much less work filing and sanding for me!  And you’ll notice in these earring components the very cool rounded ridge and striation marks all along the edge…love this!

 

           Still learning to “read” the process…this pair needed to stay in the acid a little longer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    These last three photos were taken a sunset on my porch.

Love the touch of gold added to the gorgeous patina!

 

 

 

 

Just listed a few of these pieces in my Etsy shop !

And I promise to share more jewelry very soon!

Lynda