Copperheart Designs

Upcoming Class: Metal Jewelry Design Basics

2012-01-24T11:25:00.000-08:00

If you are in the Madison, WI area and you're interested in learning basic metal fabrication skills this is the class for you! We will cover sawing, drilling and piecing sheet, riveting, finishing, texturing and basic soldering. This class is perfect for absolute beginners and jewelry makers looking to expand their skills into metalwork. This class is open to UW-Madison students and staff and Wisconsin Union members. If you're not a union member consider joining!
Here is all the information on the class:

Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses: Metal Jewelry Design Basics
Three Class Meetings:
Wednesdays 2/8, 2/15, 2/22, 6:30pm-9:30pm
UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop
Madison, WI
Register Online

New Filigree Jewelry and Photo Improvements

2012-01-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

I'm finally getting back to work after a nice holiday break. Now that one craft fair season is over it's time to start thinking about the next one. With applications coming due next month, I decided I needed to improve my product photos. I got a nice professional looking brushed silver-tone background, and improved my "lightbox" to get better diffused light. A long time ago I made myself a makeshift lightbox by assembling a small box of white foam board. The foam board did a good job of reflecting the light but I still had problems with hard reflections on my jewelry from the light shining into the box from the open front. To solve the problem I cut a window in the top of my box and covered it with a piece of parchment paper. I shine a daylight bulb through the window and the paper nicely diffuses the light. No more hard reflections and phantom lightbulbs.
I've been working on my filigree jewelry and I have some new items up in my etsy shop. Also, I promise that more copper beads are coming soon. They're in the tumbler right now as I type.

Holiday Shopping with Free Shipping

2011-12-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

The craft fair season is officially over, but the online shopping season is still going strong! I'm having a free shipping sale in my Etsy shop from now until Christmas. Enter code SHIPFREE at checkout. Orders placed up to December 20th will arrive by Christmas so there's lots of time left to shop! I'll be listing new items throughout next week and etched copper beads will be back in stock soon.

Art vs Craft This Saturday!

2011-11-23T20:51:00.000-08:00

Come and see me this Saturday at Art vs Craft in Milwaukee. The show runs from 10:00 to 6:00 at MSOE. It's going to be a great event with lots of talented artists and crafters selling their wares. Buy handmade this holiday season!

Handmade for the Holidays This Weekend!

2011-11-17T12:02:00.000-08:00

Come down and see me at Handmade for the Holidays this Saturday 11/19 at Beckett's in Oshkosh. The event runs from 10:00 to 4:00 and there will be lots of great vendors and other fun stuff going on, including great food, live music, and pictures with Santa! Hope to see you there!

More Classes Starting Soon!

2011-10-04T10:48:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Madison, WI area and you're interested in learning some new jewelry making skills, check out the courses I'm teaching this fall through the Wisconsin Union Mini-Course program. These classes are open to faculty and staff of UW-Madison and union members. If you're interested in taking a class and you're not a union member, consider joining!

Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses: Metal Jewelry Design Basics
Learn to fabricate metal jewelry using basic techniques including sawing, piercing, texturing and riveting.
Three Class Meetings:
Mondays: October 10, 17, 24, 6:30-9:30pm
UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop
Madison, WI
Register Online

Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses: Etched Copper Pendants
Learn to make unique copper pendants using the chemical etching process. Also includes a demonstration of the electrolytic etching process.
One Class Meeting:
Tuesday, October 25, 6:30-9:30pm
UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop
Madison, WI
Register Online

Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses: Bezel Setting
Learn to fabricate your own silver bezel settings
Three Class Meetings:
Wednesdays: November 9, 16, 30, 6:30-9:30pm
UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop
Madison, WI
Register Online

Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses: Stenciled Enamel Pendants
Learn the fundamentals of enameling and use them to create a colorful stenciled pendant
One Class Meeting:
Tuesday, November 15, 6:30-9:30pm
UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop
Madison, WI
Register Online

Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival This Weekend

2011-09-16T12:04:00.000-07:00

Come and see me at the Cedarburg Wine and Harvest Festival this weekend, September 17th and 18th. The art fair runs from 10am-6pm on Saturday and 10am-5pm on Sunday. I'll be set up at the Cedarburg Cultural Center, W62 N546 Washington Ave, Cedarburg, WI. There will be food and entertainment as well, and maybe even some wine. More information here.

Upcoming Jewelry Classes

2011-09-14T11:01:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited to be teaching a lot of great jewelry making courses through the Wisconsin Union Mini-Course program this fall. I have two classes starting next week that still have plenty of spaces open! We have a great craftshop facility with all the tools you need and materials kits will be available to purchase on the first day of class. Here is the information on these classes:

Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses: Five Silver Rings
Learn basic metalsmithing techniques including texturing, forming, soldering and bezel setting to create five different metal ring designs
Five Class Meetings:
Tuesdays: September 20, 27, October 4, 11, 18, 6:30 - 9:30pm
UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop
Madison, WI
Register Online

Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses: Metal Jewelry Design Basics
Learn to fabricate metal jewelry using basic techniques including sawing, piercing, texturing and riveting.
Three Class Meetings:
Wednesdays: September 21, 28, October 5, 6:30-9:30pm
UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop
Madison, WI
Register Online

And check out my Classes page for more classes coming up this fall and winter. These classes are open to UW Madison faculty, students, and Wisconsin Union Members. If you're not a member, consider joining!

Wilhelm Tell Festival This Sunday

2011-08-30T19:56:00.000-07:00

Come on out and see me at the Wilhelm Tell Festival in New Glarus, WI this Sunday, September 4th. The art fair will be held from 9:00am to 4:00pm at Village Park. Other events at this festival include a yodeling contest, a book sale, and performances of the Wilhelm Tell drama. More information here.

New Filigree Work

2011-08-25T17:56:00.001-07:00

Here's the second filigree piece I have finished- only about two years from the first filigree piece I made. I had just started experimenting with filigree when I had to stop soldering for a while to re-worked my process to make it healthier and safer. Now I've got it all figured out and I'm finally back to working on filigree again. It's lots of fun and a great way to make a light, economical design with a lot of impact.

New Work at Copperheart Designs

2011-08-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

After a brief foray into the world of metal clay (with mixed success) I'm finally back to making my signature silver and enamel jewelry. I've finally worked out my process to be as safe and non-toxic as possible, and as it turns out my baby is not as bothered by evening hammering and soldering as one might think. It's good to be back!

Waunafest this Saturday!

2011-07-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Come out and see me at Waunafest this upcoming Saturday 7/30 at Centennial park in Waunakee, WI. The craft show runs from 9-5 on Saturday, and there are lots of other events and activities going on the whole weekend. Check out the Waunafest website for all the information.

Upcoming Class: Charming Bracelets

2011-06-21T13:46:00.000-07:00

Are you interested in learning the wrapped loop technique for making jewelry with beads and wire? I will be teaching a class through the Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses program that will cover this fundamental jewelry making technique as well as techniques for making findings from silver wire. We'll be making bracelets in the class but the skills you learn can be applied to any kind of wire and bead jewelry. The class will be held on Tuesday July 19th and Tuesday, July 26th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm at the UW-Madison Memorial Union Craftshop. Check out the Mini-Courses online catalog and look for the "Charming Bracelets" class to sign up. Wisconsin Union Mini-Courses are open to union members, students, faculty and staff of the university, and their guests. If you live in the Madison area and you're not a union member, consider joining!

New Artwork

2011-06-21T09:59:00.000-07:00

New Artwork in acrylic ink on canvas, 12" by 12"

Craft Fair Booth

2011-06-13T20:23:00.000-07:00

I finally got my craft fair booth together and looking decent just in time for my third fair! Here are some photos from the Sun Prairie Taste of the Arts Fair last Saturday.

I made cork displays by framing pieces of cork tile in some old frames I had. The hanging earring display is made with strips of dollhouse wood trim stapled to the back of a frame with chains added for hanging. I also made some stacking shelving with boards and terra cotta pots.

I got some inexpensive trellises from the hardware store to hang paintings from. I cut them down a bit to fit and then screwed eye hooks into the top. I used metal shower curtain rings to attach all my hanging displays to the trusses of the tent.

I think it looks pretty good but I'll probably keep tweaking it a little bit and maybe add a few more displays.

Etsy Craft Party

2011-06-09T10:24:00.000-07:00

Are you going to the Madison Area Etsy Craft Party? I am! It's tomorrow (Friday June 10) at 7:00, at Project Lodge (817 E Johnson St, Madison, WI) Everybody can bring a snack and a craft activity to share, along with any supplies you would like to swap. Bring your own beverages. Please also bring a donation for Project Lodge, like cleaning supplies, paper towels or toilet paper.
See you tomorrow!

Fair This Saturday

2011-06-06T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody! I've got another arts and crafts fair coming up this Saturday, June 11th. It's the Sun Prairie Taste of the Arts festival at Sheehan Park in Sun Prairie, WI. The festival runs from 9 am to 4 pm, and features wine and cheese tasting, entertainment, children's activities, food and of course arts and crafts!
On a related note, I'm working hard on improving my craft fair display, so I'll be posting about that soon.

Upcoming Craft Fair

2011-05-02T06:10:00.001-07:00

Come and see me at the Syttende Mai Arts and Crafts Fair in Stoughton, WI! It's on Saturday May 14th from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Click the link for details.

Come and see me this Saturday!

2011-04-27T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hi everybody! Short notice but I will be at the What Women Want Shopping Expo at Sunnyview Expo Center in Oshkosh, WI this Saturday, April 30th from 10-4. I'll be there along with fellow etsy sellers Silver Daisy Designs, Homemadewisconsin, Twisted Planet, and CMCCreations. So if you're going to be in the Oshkosh area come and visit us!

Enameling Tip: Glass Etching Cream

2011-04-20T18:33:00.000-07:00

Glass etching cream is a great thing to have around if you are working with enamel. You can use it to get a nice matte finish over the surface of your enamel, or you can use it just like you would on any glass object to make an etched design by painting it on or applying it through a stencil. But where it really comes in handy is if you get a little stray enamel on the metal where you don't want it. As you may have discovered, getting even one grain of enamel where you don't want it can make a nasty black spot on your nice shiny silver. To get rid of it, just apply a layer of etching cream over the spot and let it sit for a while, then rinse off the cream and scrub, and reapply as needed. It will usually take a few applications to get rid of the spot. Keep in mind the glass etching cream is nasty stuff. Wearing gloves is strongly advised and avoid breathing the fumes. I would recommend using cotton swabs to apply the cream so you don't have to worry about cleaning a brush. Make sure you scrub your piece really well with soap when you're done with the etching cream.

An Electrolytic Etching Tip

2011-02-23T12:37:00.000-08:00

Anybody who has done any kind of etching always eventually encounters the problem of what to do with all the spent solution. In electrolytic etching this is somewhat less of a problem because the solution isn't toxic or corrosive, but you still can't just pour it down the drain. I've recently discovered a simple trick that allows me to indefinitely re-use my saltwater solution. When I'm done with my etching, I simply filter the solution through a coffee filter. The filter catches most of the sludgy copper compound from the water and I'm left with nearly clear salt water, ready to use again and again. I've found that I just need to add more salt to the water now and then to freshen it up, because some of the salt bonds with the copper and comes out in the filtering process. Happy etching everyone!
***EDIT*** Since writing this post I have discovered that while you can re-use your solution for a long long time, it will eventually wear out. Once you start noticing your etching isn't as crisp as before, it's taking a lot longer or you're getting funky textures, replace the solution. Adding more salt will help extend the life but it will eventually be saturated with copper and won't take any more salt. What can I say, I'm learning as I go!

Madison, WI Crafters!

2011-02-20T09:56:00.000-08:00

Want to learn how to enamel? I'll be teaching a WI Union Mini Course on Enameling running March 30th through April 27th, at the UW-Madison Memorial Union. I'll be teaching torch and kiln firing, stenciling, sift and dump, sgraffito, plus how to use metal foil and enamel marking pens. Mini Courses are open to UW students, faculty and staff, and WI Union members. Union Membership is open to anyone. If you live in the Madison area and you're not already a union member, consider joining! Check out the Mini Courses website for more information!

Metal Clay Hoops

2011-01-20T19:44:00.001-08:00

Here's a prototype of something new I'm working on- hoop earrings in metal clay. I fired these flat and then bent them and added sterling ear wires. I still have a few bugs to work out but I think they're pretty promising. It's hard to tell from the photo what they look like on so I will have to get a photo of that soon.

New Copper Beads

2011-01-18T11:44:00.000-08:00

Here's my newest design for etched copper beads. I love the way this one turned out with the sandy texture. The electrolytic etching process is still a little unpredictable but I'm working hard to standardize my beads a little more. 16mm and 22mm versions of this beads will be available in my etsy shop.

Snow!

2010-12-13T10:38:00.000-08:00

Not really business related, but I had to share this crazy snow we got over the weekend. Here's the view from my patio door on Sunday morning. Apparently this was the stickiest snow ever because it stuck to every tree branch and made the trees all droopy. Nothing like the crazy blizzards they've been getting elsewhere but still some pretty serious snow!

Clasps, Too!

2010-12-11T20:50:00.000-08:00

I've been working super hard on making new items and building up inventory in my shop. Here's a brand-spanking new item for me: handmade toggle clasps. They're made in silver metal clay using my hand-carved texture stamps. The bar has a loop on the back for attaching a chain. More to come soon!

Copper Beads are Back Once Again!

2010-12-10T10:52:00.000-08:00

Now that I've finally found a good etching resist pen for electrolytic etching, I will have copper beads regularly available in my shop again. I'm really glad to be able to offer these again, because I love making things for other crafters to use in their work. And who doesn't love a great big chunky bead?

Etching Resist Pen

2010-12-08T21:01:00.000-08:00

After a lot of searching and some trial and error, I finally found a good resist pen for electrolytic copper etching. I had been using a sharpie paint pen for etching when I was using ferric chloride, but for some reason it doesn't stand up to the electrolytic etching process long enough to get a good etch. So today I was in the craft store and I saw they had fine point DecoColor paint markers. I picked one up to give it a try and it worked great! It draws easily, dries fast and stands up well to the etching process. When you are done etching you can just scrub it off with a scrub pad, so you don't even have to use a solvent. One caveat is that it is the "stinky" kind of paint marker. The label says it contains xylene, so don't sniff it and keep it away from the kids. Some good ventilation couldn't hurt either. I should add that good old fashioned stop-out varnish applied with a nib pen is still the best etching resist I've found, but for some things you just need a marker. Happy etching!

Buttons!

2010-12-06T15:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a little shameless self-promotion for you. I've just started making metal clay buttons! I've got two listings up in my etsy shop right now and more to come soon. So far I'm planning on making stamped "picture" buttons like my little friend the acorn, and basic shapes with stamped textures. I may have some enameled buttons coming soon, but I'm not sure exactly how fancy people want to get with buttons.

Tutorial - Wet Packing Enamel

2010-12-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

So far all the enameling tutorials I've posted have been based on sifting techniques. Sifting is great if you want an even layer of enamel over an entire surface, but sometimes you need a more controlled application of enamel. This is when you would use wet packing. Wet packing is used for several advanced enameling techniques, including cloisonne and champleve. It's a very simple technique, but it takes a bit of practice to get the hang of it. Before you begin, check out my Intro to Enameling tutorial for basic information about enameling.

Here's what you need:

Enamel powders
Water
Small metal spatula/pick
Plastic palette or spoons (optional)
Kiln or torch for firing
Firing supports, trivets, wire screens, etc
Copper or Fine Silver
Nitric acid and Baking Soda (if using copper)

Getting Started:

Prepare your metal for enameling. Here I am using a metal clay setting I made.
Wet your enamel powders. Many people use a plastic palette or plastic spoons to hold their wet enamels. I use the lids of my enamel jars. When the enamel dries out it just falls back into the container. Scoop a little enamel into whatever container you are using and add water drop by drop until you get the consistency you want. It takes a little experimentation to figure out how much water to add. I like to make mine a little wetter as I find that the water helps to carry the enamel into the corners and edges of the opening I'm filling. If you want a more controlled application keep the enamel a little drier.

Packing the Enamel:

Take your spatula or pick and scoop up a tiny blob of enamel. Place it on your piece in the center of the area you are enameling and use your tool to push the enamel into the area or shape you want. Keep adding enamel until you have covered the desired area and built up a thin, even layer. If you are filling an opening in a metal clay or etched piece, don't try to fill it up to the top all at once. It will take two or three layers.
Very carefully check your piece for stray grains of enamel. You will be able to see a single stray grain of enamel on your piece!

Firing the Enamel:

Dry your piece thoroughly by gently heating it with the torch or placing it on top of the kiln.
Fire in the kiln or with the torch until the enamel is smooth and glossy.
Continue to add coats and fire until you have achieved the thickness of enamel you need.

Between Firings:

Fine silver will stay clean when firing. Go right on to your next coat if needed.
Copper will oxidize in any areas not covered with enamel. This oxidation needs to be cleaned off before your next firing or it can pop off and get into your next coat of enamel. Sparex Pickle can do funky things to enamel, so you will need to clean it in a 5% nitric acid bath instead. Make sure you neutralize with baking soda and clean your piece really well to get rid of all the acid before you continue. (I've never tried it myself, but some of the alternative pickles like vinegar or citric acid would probably also work and not harm the enamel. If you try it let me know!)

That's it! Like I said, it's a very simple technique, but it forms the basis of nearly every advanced enameling technique. Good luck and happy enameling!

Metal Clay & Enamel

2010-11-22T19:03:00.001-08:00

I'm finding that one of the really great things about working in metal clay is that it's perfect for making enameled pieces. Since it's fine silver, it doesn't get any firescale when firing and doesn't require any cleaning between firings. I also like that I can fabricate the entire piece and then add the enamel, rather than making an enamel piece separately and then making a setting for it.
Here's a couple tips I picked up about enameling on metal clay:

Metal clay is porous after firing, so it needs to be burnished before applying enamel to smooth out the surface. Otherwise the metal clay will kind of suck up the enamel. You can burnish it by hand, but it takes quite a bit of elbow grease. I find that tumbling with steel shot for an hour does the trick.
You need to be super careful not to get any stray grains of enamel on the un-enameled parts of your piece. Any stray grains will make a nasty brown or black mark on your piece. I find that wet packing the enamel works best to keep it where it needs to be.
Keep the metal under the enamel nice and thick- I've had good results with rolling the clay 1 mm thick, as long as I keep the layer of enamel nice and thin. If the metal is too thin or the enamel too thick, the enamel will crack off.

That's it for now. I'll be posting a tutorial on wet packing withing the next few weeks.

A Sense of Scale

2010-11-11T19:44:00.001-08:00

If you sell jewelry, you have probably considered the issue of whether to photograph your jewelry with an object (or a person) to give it a sense of scale. I have never been able to think of a good object to use. Rulers and coins are tacky (plus coins aren't helpful for international buyers) organic objects vary too much in size, and some buyers are put off by models. All in all photographing the jewelry in my hands seemed like a decent option. It shows the scale of the jewelry without the jewelry actually being worn, and though hands vary somewhat in size, I think it gives the buyer a good general idea. The problem is my hands aren't really the prettiest after a night of making jewelry. So today I had the idea to make a print of my hand and photograph the jewelry on top of the print. I think it looks pretty good, and when combined with the measurements should give the buyer a good idea of the size of the jewelry. I also tried making a print of my ear but that didn't work out so well!

Book Review: Metal Clay The Complete Guide

2010-11-08T18:41:00.000-08:00

Since I just started dabbling in metal clay, I wanted to share the book I have been using as my beginner's textbook. It's called Metal Clay The Complete Guide: Innovative Techniques to Inspire Any Artist, written by metal clay artist Jackie Truty. This is a great book for a beginner, because it provides you will all the information you need to get started, but it also contains plenty of information on more advanced techniques to try as your skills improve. I really appreciate craft books that are written as a reference guide and not just a series of projects, and while this book does contain four step by step projects (two easy and two very challenging) the majority of the book consists of explanations of techniques, troubleshooting for common problems, and tips on combining metal clay with other materials. I also like that the book is spiral bound, so you can keep it open hands-free while you work. My only criticism of the book is that it's almost a little too concise, and I occasionally felt that I could use a little more explanation, but once I went over it all a second time, it all made sense. Overall, I would definitely recommend this book for anyone using metal clay.

Metal Clay Success

2010-11-04T20:45:00.000-07:00

Well I finally accomplished a successful piece in metal clay- after 3 failures. So far I've found metal clay to be a very challenging medium, and I miss the crispness of working in sheet and wire. It looks like my biggest challenge is going to be getting a nice smooth finish on my pieces. I'm by no means a mirror polish kind of girl, but I'm having trouble getting things to be even and consistent in metal clay. I do love how quickly metal clay pieces can be assembled, though. I should have lots more coming soon!

Metal Clay Attempt #1: Melted

2010-10-27T21:32:00.000-07:00

As I may have mentioned before I recently moved to a new apartment with no studio space to speak of. All of my metals and art supplies are currently residing in a coat closet and linen closet, and my workspace consists of my portable bench shoved into the coat closet, and the kitchen counters and dining room table. Needless to say, my new apartment is not exactly torch friendly, which means that soldering setting for my enamels is out. Also, the only work time I can get these days is after the baby goes to sleep, which means that whatever I do needs to be quiet, so hammering, sawing and filing are pretty much out too. Given these constraints, I decided that my best course of action would be to try out metal clay. So I got a basic set of tools and supplies and set up my little ultralite kiln to give it a try.
My first attempt was to make a simple pendant with a cutout that I could fill with enamel. I decided to start simple and cut out a little curved rectangular pendant, dried it and popped it in the kiln. Well the directions I had said to leave the cover off the kiln, but it didn't seem like it was getting hot enough so I put the cover on. This is why it is important to follow the directions the first time. I went back to check on my piece and found it just beginning to melt. I'm really glad I got to it before it melted into a puddle!
Lesson learned: next time follow the directions when doing something you have never tried before, and you won't waste ten dollars worth of metal clay.

Shop Open!

2010-10-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

After a slightly longer than anticipated delay, my Etsy shop is open once again! It might be a while before I have new stuff, but everything listed in my shop is ready to ship, so stop by and take a look.

Moving Once Again

2010-09-29T09:44:00.000-07:00

Hello everybody. Looks like it's been a while since I've posted anything. We've had a lot of stuff going on lately. My husband just got a new job in a different city, and we had to move on very short notice. We got a nice new apartment, but unfortunately it doesn't have any "studio" space for me, and it isn't really torch-friendly, which means I may have to change the way I work somewhat. I plan on continuing to enamel, but just using my little kiln instead of a torch, and I am looking into using metal clay to make settings. I'm not really happy about giving up metalsmithing for the time being, but I suppose it will be good to learn something new. Once I get set up I will post about my new arrangements and my metal clay adventures!

Safer Studio - Borax Flux

2010-07-15T13:57:00.000-07:00

I've been using commercial paste flux for years because it was what I learned to use in college. While the flux I had been using wasn't particularly dangerous, It seemed to aggravate my lungs, and I was concerned about long-term exposure so I decided to look for a safer substitute. I have been using Firescoff flux occasionally for a while, but it is fairly expensive so I like to save it for soldering operations that tend to cause the most firescale, like soldering pin findings onto the back of a brooch.
I read that plain borax has been used as a flux historically, so I decided to give it a try. I started by mixing borax powder (the laundry kind) with water to make a paste, but the grains were too big, making a gritty mixture that was hard to apply to the metal. After some experimentation, I figured out that the trick is to use a mortar and pestle to grind up the borax and water to make a finer, more "paintable" paste.
You can also use denatured alcohol instead of water, which has the advantage of burning off quickly when the torch is applied, instead of boiling off like water does. Denatured alcohol is kind of nasty stuff though, so I decided to try water first.
So how does it work? Well, not as well as good old trusty handy flux, but well enough. It doesn't stick to the metal the way paste flux does, so it helps to get the metal nice and clean first so the borax and water mixture doesn't bead up on the metal surface. The borax also kind of puffs up when heated, before it melts down to a clear coating. It takes a little getting used to. I think I will keep working with it for a little while and see how it goes.

Safer Studio - Citric Acid Pickle

2010-07-08T17:47:00.000-07:00

As my next step in making my studio a healthier place, I replaced my Sparex pickle solution with citric acid. I have to say I'm extremely pleased with how well it works. This is one of those things I can't believe I didn't know about before. I got a great big five pound jar of citric acid powder for about twenty bucks. I've heard that you can get it at the grocery store because people use it for canning fruits, but I couldn't find any here so I ordered it from Amazon.

To use citric acid for pickle, you just mix one part powder to ten parts water and keep it warm in a little crock pot. I've also read that you can use it cold if you mix a stronger solution (1:3) but I haven't tried it. The hot solution works really well. It seems to work almost as well as Sparex- well enough that it won't really slow me down at all. I can already tell that the fumes from the citric acid pickle aren't as irritating to my lungs.

Of course citric acid is still acid, so a certain amount of care is still in order. Remember to "do what you aughta, add acid to wata," and neutralize with baking soda. Don't drink it or put it in your eyes or anything like that.

Overall I'm very happy with the results, and I would definitely recommend citric acid to anybody looking for a safer alternative to commercial pickle chemicals.

Safer Studio: Ventilation

2010-06-22T18:21:00.000-07:00

Now that we have a baby in the house I've decided to make some changes in the way I do things in the studio to keep everybody safe and healthy. I already posted about my new electrolytic copper etching method, which allowed me to still make etched pieces during my pregnancy. Now that the baby is here, I'm continuing to revamp my studio.
One of the main things I had to do before I could solder or enamel was to arrange some better ventilation for my studio. My studio is in a pantry, so it's a very small space, but It was already outfitted with a window and a vent fan in the ceiling. What I still needed was some ventilation at the bench level so I wouldn't be breathing in soldering and kiln fumes before they were removed from the space.
My uncle rigged up a nice little ventilation fan for me by building a box around a bathroom vent fan, and hooking it up to a switch and power cord so I can plug it into a regular outlet and switch it on and off. I set it right next to my soldering station so it will remove the fumes as close to the source as possible. I was very fortunate in that a previous tenant had a washer and dryer in the room, so there was a dryer exhaust hole already in the wall. I just got some dryer vent hose stuff to attach the fan to the opening.
I should probably add that I should have done all this a long time ago. It shouldn't take a baby to make me finally care about my health and safety!
Coming soon: safer flux and pickle alternatives!

Shop Open!

2010-06-15T12:23:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that my shop is open once more after a somewhat extended baby-havin' hiatus. I'm not sure how much the new baby is going to let me work and make new items, but I will at least be able to ship out what's already in my shop. Also, my uncle rigged me up a new exhaust fan for my studio, so I'll be back to work soldering and enameling soon. I'm working on replacing all my studio chemicals with less hazardous versions, so I will have more on that in the upcoming weeks.

More Tab Settings

2010-04-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

Here's my latest tab-set solder-free pendant. This one is a little simpler than the previous one. I didn't realize until I finished it that the shapes are basically a pelvis and a uterus (I wonder where my subconscious is?) But I still like it. I also like the subtle grainy texture on the silver back plate, which I got by lightly hammering the silver through a piece of sandpaper. This one will be up in my Etsy shop in a day or so.

New Old Work

2010-04-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

A while ago I posted about a great filigree how-to book called Silver Threads. I didn't have much time to experiment with filigree before I temporarily gave up soldering, but I did manage to make one successful piece. This necklace has been hanging out in a shop where I used to have some of my jewelry for sale, but since the shop closed I have it back and up in my Etsy shop. Once I'm back to enameling and soldering, I will be doing more pieces like this.

Knitting is for Babies

2010-04-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Little beanie hats are probably my favorite thing to knit, but I have made so many for myself that making any more seems a little silly. Now with the impending arrival of baby copperheart, I have a new opportunity to make even littler beanie hats.

I've never really been good at following knitting patterns, so it took a little trial and error to scale my usual pattern down to baby size. This little hat is 7" wide, which I'm guessing should be good for about a 3-month old baby. I used a size 6 16" circular needle to start, and then switched to size 6 double points as the hat got smaller towards the top. I used Bernat cotton tots, which is a little thicker than some baby yarns but nice and soft and light because it's 100% cotton.

I started by casting on 54 stitches and joining them to knit in the round. I knit the ribbing for about an inch and a half, and then switched to stockinette stitch. When I had about 3" knit I started decreasing. I divided the stitches into seven groups of eight with stitch markers, and then knit together the last two stitches of each group on every other round. When there were just seven stitches left I ran the tail through the stitches and wove it in. You'll have to excuse my inability to write up a proper pattern. I guess my brain doesn't work that way.

The finished hat is about 6" tall, but you could easily make it taller by knitting more before starting the decreases if you wanted more of a stocking cap than a beanie. You could also easily size it up or down by changing the number of starting stitches. I think I might make some more with different textured knit and purl patterns, or maybe stripes. Anyways, these are super simple and fun to make, and they're great for taking along in the car or to family functions.

Copper Beads are Back!

2010-02-28T12:03:00.001-08:00

I'm pleased to announce that copper beads are back in my etsy shop! While the new electrolytic etching process is a bit more time consuming than acid etching, because it only allows me to etch one bead at a time, I do have a couple sizes and patterns available in my shop right now, and more on the way soon. I will also be adding to my selection of etched copper jewelry, but unfortunately will be taking a hiatus from soldering and enameling until the summer.

Making Jewelry Without Soldering

2010-02-03T17:38:00.000-08:00

Since I temporarily gave up soldering and enameling, I've been a little stuck on how to make interesting jewelry using only cold working methods. After a brief and unsuccessful foray into wirewrapping, I had the idea to try out some tab settings using etched copper pieces in the place of stones. Here's my first successful piece made in this style. It took a little refining to get this design to look "finished" the shaping of the prongs and the curvature of the backplate really helped to give it a little dimension. The setting is cut from a single piece of silver sheet, so there is no soldering involved, and I used my new electrolytic copper etching setup to etch the copper.
This one's available in my shop right now, and I'm planning on making more pieces in this series soon!

PS: More copper beads coming this week thanks to the magic of electrolytic etching!

Liver of Sulfur Gel

2010-01-31T19:04:00.000-08:00

Like many jewelers, I have had an old, rusty can of liver of sulfur (or "the stink" as we call it at my house) sitting around for years. After taking a little hiatus from jewelry making, I was disappointed to find that my mostly full can of liver of sulfur had gone bad on me. (Interestingly enough, when liver of sulfur goes bad it stops stinking) So I replaced my old can of dry liver of sulfur with a jar of the new gel variety, and I am very happy with it! It is much easier to use, and gives very consistent results. With the dry stuff, you had to dig around to find a chunk that was the right size, then wait for it to dissolve, and you could never be quite sure how strong the solution was going to turn out. With the gel variety, I just dip the end of a little scoop into the jar and stir it into a small container of hot water. It's easy to make just as much as you need. Plus, the gel liver of sulfur is supposed to be more stable than the dry stuff and has an extended shelf life. Of course, it's still really stinky, and you still have to be careful not to breathe in the fumes, etc, but It's a big improvement!

Electrolytic Copper Etching

2010-01-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

As part one of my mission to make my studio practice healthier for me and any future babies, I decided to give electrolytic copper etching a try. It turns out it's so easy to do I am surprised more people haven't tried it. I downloaded an article from Art Jewelry about how to do it, but you can also find lots of good information floating around the internet.
Basically, all you need to do is hook up a D battery to two pieces of copper suspended in a saltwater bath. One is the piece you are etching, the other can be any piece of scrap copper. The current draws copper from the etching piece to the scrap copper. You can use the same kinds of resists you would use for acid etching, but you don't need the etching chemicals. Neat huh?
Here's what you need:

D battery
D battery holder
Alligator clips
Heavy copper wire (14g. is good)
Copper to be etched
Scrap copper
Pure salt (kosher or canning and pickling salt)
Plastic or glass container
Resist (pnp film, stop-out varnish, asphaltum, etc)

To get set up, you need to attach your alligator clips to the lead wires on your battery holder. My friend Paul helped me out (thanks Paul!) because even though I know all about silver soldering I know nothing about soldering electrical components. Then you make a saturated salt solution by dissolving as much salt as you possibly can in water.

To get your metal ready, you need to get the piece you will be etching really nice and clean by scouring it with a scrub pad or heating and pickling it, then draw your design on with whatever resist you are using. I was surprised when I first started experimenting with this technique to find that the salt water is just as hard on the resist as the ferric chloride was. Permanent marker didn't work at all, and the sharpie paint pen I used to use for beads works ok but doesn't last long enough to get a good deep etch, so I am back to using the stop-out varnish (check out my acid etching tutorial for more info on different resists) The scrap copper just needs to be cleaned off with a scrub pad or brass brush to remove any residue, then it's ready to go.

Once your metals are ready, fill a plastic or glass container with the salt solution, then attach your two pieces of copper to copper wires and hang them from the sides of the container so they are submerged in the solution. Attach the positive alligator clip to the piece you want to etch and the negative clip to the scrap copper. You will immediately see little bubbles rising from the scrap copper, and within minutes the water will start to get cloudy and reddish brown with copper (Note: Don't pour this water down the drain! collect it and talk to your local waste management people about how to dispose of it. It's not hazardous to handle but it's not good to put copper into the water supply!)

It takes about an hour or more to get a really nice deep etch. Depending on what effect you are looking for, you can get a visible etch in about a half hour. I need to do some more experimentation, but my first piece has a visible etch so I consider it a success.

Overall I am very pleased with this project. It was easy to do and safe, without the mess of ferric chloride and it cost about seven dollars for all the supplies to get started. I am planning on doing a lot more copper etching with this technique, so I should have lots of new etched copper jewelry and beads coming soon!

New Studio!

2010-01-17T13:58:00.000-08:00

My new studio is finally starting to come together enough for me to post a few photos. My new apartment is the top floor of an old (100+ years old) house, and it has a huge pantry off the kitchen. It's really more of a room than a closet, and it has big glass front cabinets, lots of storage space and a tiled countertop. To make it even better, a previous resident has used it as a darkroom and installed a whole row of electrical outlets and a vent fan in the ceiling. My previous "studio" was in my parent's laundry room, so I am really excited to have a place to work right in my own apartment. I finally got most of my tools and equipment moved up from my parent's and now I have a semi-working studio. I'm just waiting to get some bench-level ventilation hooked up before I get my soldering and enameling areas working. Here are a few pictures.

New Year's Excuses

2009-12-31T07:44:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everybody! I think the time has come to explain the bareness of my shop and the infrequency of my blog posts. Of course, I am right in the middle of my first year of teaching, and recently moved my studio to my new apartment. It would appear, however, that the fates wanted my life to be as crazy as possible right now, so my husband and I are expecting a baby! (you can read my husband's thoughts on the subject on his blog)
Now, I'm a little wary of enameling (various metal pigments) and soldering (flux, metal fumes, pickle) while pregnant. I have heard a lot of mixed information about the health risks of metalwork during pregnancy.
After doing a lot of research and talking to my doctor I have decided to err on the side of caution and temporarily give up enameling, soldering, and chemical etching. I've decided to use this as an opportunity to re-evaluate the healthfulness of my studio practices, with the goal of making a healthier and safer environment for the baby and myself. Here are a few of the things I am planning on doing:
-Replace chemical etching with electrolytic etching (more on this coming soon!)
-Replace flux and pickle with safer options.
-Install bench-level ventilation to supplement ceiling ventilation in my new studio.
I'll have posts on all my studio updates coming in the next few months. If you have any other ideas for making a studio safer and healthier, leave me a comment!
Bonus: You can see an awesome drawing of our future baby done by our friend Josh here

Drawings on Canvas

2009-12-15T18:40:00.000-08:00

I've always preferred drawing to painting, but I have always been cranky about the fragile nature of works on paper. I've never been a big fan of matting and framing. I would rather just finish a piece and hang it up on the wall. I tried using watercolor canvas and watercolor gesso, but I wasn't really happy with the results. Then I discovered these acrylic inks. They have the same consistency as regular inks but they can be used on regular acrylic gesso and combined with acrylic paints. I've been using them diluted like liquid watercolors, and applying them straight out of the bottle with a metal nib pen. They make beautiful watercolor washes. So far I have been very happy with the results. The lighting in my new studio isn't great yet, so these photos are a little washed out, but you can see the texture. I still love my regular inks and watercolors (especially my delicious shellac-based drawing inks) but it's nice to try something a little different.

Shop Open!

2009-11-09T17:57:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to announce that my shop is finally open again, just in time for the holidays! Unfortunately, my studio is still closed so I won't be able to make any more custom orders for a while, but everything in my shop is available and ready to ship.

Still Alive!

2009-10-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

Well, way back in August (!) when I made my last post I said I was really busy getting ready for my new job. Well, since then, here is what has happened. I've been working at my new teaching job for about 8 weeks now and while it is very challenging I think it is going well. My husband got a new job in a different city and we just got a new apartment in a city halfway between our two jobs. My husband had exactly one day off between his last day at his old job and his first day at his new job, so we've been moving a little bit at a time after work and over the last few weekends. So, now that we're finally almost done and ready to start actually settling in at our new place, I got hit with H1N1. Seriously. So, now that I'm home sick with no energy for anything else, I finally have time to make another blog post! Funny, huh?
I am getting better though. I'm fever-free and hoping to be back at work tomorrow. Hooray!
The good news is that my new apartment has a perfect little studio space. One of the previous residents converted the pantry into a darkroom, which it turns out is also perfect for a metals studio. There's built in ventilation, lots of storage space and electrical outlets, and a nice tiled countertop. As soon as I get myself set up I'll be posting some photos!
I'm planning on my life being back to normal sometime in November.

One Busy Summer

2009-08-29T12:44:00.000-07:00

Well this has been one exceptionally busy summer for me. I thought everything would slow down after summer school ended, but with job applications and interviews I stayed pretty busy. And now I actually have a full time teaching job for next year. Hooray! I will be teaching art to grades 1-5. I am super excited and still very very busy getting everything ready. Maybe next summer I will be able to relax. So for right now I am pretty far behind on making new jewelry and updating my blog and stuff, but hopefully when I get settled in a little more I will have some time. Happy back to school everybody!

Call For Donations - Wildlife Learning Foundation

2009-08-20T12:52:00.000-07:00

If any of you artists and crafters out there are feeling charitable, here is a great cause that could use your help. My friend Christine of PorcupineSnuggles works for the Wildlife Learning Center in Sylmar, CA. The WLC has a non-profit branch called the Wildlife Learning Foundation which provides educational experiences to children with limited access to the outdoors and natural science education. They are having a benefit at the end of September to raise money for their after-school programs. Christine is seeking donations of items to be included in the silent auction and raffle. If you might be interested in donating some of your handmade goods, check out this thread that Christine posted in the Etsy forums for more information.

Finally Done!

2009-08-02T14:11:00.000-07:00

I finally finished this necklace that I have been working on on-and-off for a few weeks. I constructed all of the links, made all the enamels and settings by hand, made all the jumprings and the clasp myself, and soldered every single ring shut. I'm really proud of it.

Silver Threads: Making Wire Filigree Jewelry

2009-07-27T12:20:00.000-07:00

I guess I've been on a bit of a book buying kick lately. I just got "Silver Threads: Making Wire Filigree Jewelry" by Jeanne Rhodes Moen. I've been doing some soldered wirework lately, but I have been pretty much making it up as I go along, so I wanted to get a book to learn some good techniques for making designs with wire scrolls. This book includes examples of filigree work (and some things that look like filigree) from around the world, as well as numerous examples of the author's own work. It includes a sections on basic metalworking techniques, and all the basic tools and materials needed for filigree work. It then goes on to explain how to form each of the classic wire units that make up filigree pieces. The book contains a sequence of step-by-step filigree projects from simple to advanced, with ideas for variations. Personally, I hardly ever work through the step by step projects in books. I prefer to learn the techniques and then experiment with my own project ideas, but the projects do give some wonderful examples of how different units can be combined to form a wide variety of designs. The projects in this book are primary done in filigree wire (round wire twisted together and then flattened) but I think the same techniques could be applied to any kind of wire that can be soldered. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who is interested in in making soldered wirework.

Copper Beads in Action by June Sprigg Tooley

2009-07-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

Here's another wonderful example of my etched copper beads in action. This lovely neckpiece was made by June Sprigg Tooley, an avid beader and fabulous etsian. I really enjoy the combination of gemstone and metal beads in this one, and I love that beautiful dragonfly pendant. I don't have much of a knack for beading myself, so I loved seeing what June came up with!

Copper Beads in Action at Catherinette Rings

2009-07-19T19:15:00.001-07:00

One of the things I love about making my etched copper beads is getting to see what other jewelry artists have done with them. So naturally I was very excited when I saw these great steampunk bracelets made by Daniel at Catherinette Rings. I really enjoy the combination of materials in these bracelets, and the wirework is exquisite. Catherine, the other half of Catherinette rings, makes adorable and colorful flower rings. Check out their etsy shop to see all their other wonderful jewelry!

500 Enameled Objects

2009-07-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

I just got this book in the mail and I am so excited about it! I already have several books in this series (1000 rings, 500 brooches, etc) and I enjoy them because they feature such a wide variety of pieces, and the focus is really on letting the work speak for itself. So obviously I was really excited when I saw a book featuring my favorite medium. 500 Enameled objects features all kinds of enamel work from sculptural objects to vessels and jewelry. I'm really enjoying seeing how versatile enamel can be. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody who works in enamel or anybody who is interested in it.

Shop Update- New Beads!

2009-07-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

My new "pebble" bead design is now available in oval and 16mm round sizes in my shop. This latest batch came out of the etching bath with a little extra texture, which is why I always like to photograph each bead individually for my listings. Etching can be an unpredictable process, so no two beads ever come out exactly alike.

I Am a Turtle: Unanticipated Benefits of Project Wonderful

2009-07-12T11:49:00.000-07:00

I recently decided to give Project Wonderful another try to get out some advertising for my etsy shop. If you're not familiar with Project Wonderful, it's a service that allows you to purchase and sell advertising space through an auction system. The first time I tried it it wasn't as popular in the handmade community as it is now, and there weren't that many sites available to advertise on that were a good fit for my shop. It was mostly webcomics at the time. Anyway, there are lots and lots of sites in every category to advertise on now, and I have discovered that one of the hidden benefits of advertising through project wonderful is that you can find all sorts of interesting sites there. I recently found I am a Turtle through one of my advertising campaigns. It's a super basic site (we're talking black text on a white background and no graphics) that lists the phrase "I am a turtle" in 48 real languages and 15 "not so real" languages. Want to know how to declare your turtleness in Turkish? This is the site for you. How about binary? They have that too. Very useful.

More New Earrings

2009-07-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

Here's another new earring design in sterling silver flat wire. I made this pair for my mom's birthday. I like the design a lot- it reminds me of bleeding hearts. I think I will make another pair to put in my etsy shop.

The Honest Scrap Award

2009-07-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

Big thanks to Yours Truli for this Honest Scrap Award!
Here's how the Honest Scrap Award works:
- I must thank the person who gave me the award and list their blog and link it
- I must list 10 honest things about myself
- I must put a copy of The Honest Scrap Logo on my blog.
- I must select at least 7 other worthy bloggers & list their links
- I must notify the bloggers of the award and hopefully they will follow the above requirements.

Ok 10 honest things about myself. Here we go.....
1. The only things I am afraid of are clowns and mascots. You never know who's behind that makeup/furry suit. I'm not too keen on centipedes either.
2. My first car was a '85 Thunderbird named "el coche" I drove it for six years, and now I have a '93 dodge spirit which my brother sold me for five dollars. My current car doesn't have a name yet.
3. Right now I am baking carrot cake cupcakes for my mom's birthday.
4. While in high school and college I worked for several years on two separate goat farms. Have a goat that needs milking? I know how to do that. Is your goat having a baby? I can help with that too.
5. Once while working on one of the goat farms, the Alpaca escaped from its pen and I had to wrangle it.
6. I just finished student teaching in art and right now I am working as a summer school art teacher at the middle school level.
7. I have a weakness for silly 18th century gothic romance novels, like The Romance of the Forest by Anne Radcliffe. By extension I also love Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, which sort of parodies the genre.
8. My husband and I have our 1-year anniversary coming up on Sunday. My husband is a writer but I can't tell you what he's working on. It's a secret.
9. I've had many pets in my lifetime, but right now the only animal living with me is a green parakeet named Captain Darling.
10. My favorite Batman is Adam West Batman.

Ok, So I Nominate:
Fleur Violette Jewelry
Topaz's Etsy Blog
KM Jewelry Studio
Mrs. Dragon's Wares
Sparkly Like a Holiday
Momma Bird Twice
Wear Me Jewels

Clasp Fancy

2009-07-02T11:41:00.000-07:00

I've been using my own handmade hook clasps for quite a while now, and I love them for how simple they are and how well they work, but lately I've been thinking they look a little plain. On this last necklace that I made, I upgraded my simple clasp by adding a bit of wire wrapping around the loop and by flattening the wire just a bit at the curve. Everything is still soldered down for security, of course. I think it adds a nice little touch of decoration.

New Beads

2009-06-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

I've been working on some new designs for my etched copper beads lately. Here's one that I kind of like for a simple, overall design. Like all my beads, the design is applied completely by hand, which gives it a sort of imperfect, organic look. I think this one would be a good complement to my other beads which have more elaborate designs.

Need a place to store your loot?

2009-06-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

Hi Everybody! It's been a while since I've posted. I'm still recovering from finishing my student teaching, and I'm spending the first few weeks of summer teaching arts & crafts and sewing for summer school.
I still havn't had much time to make anything new or interesting, but my Friend Christine over at porcupine snuggles has been busy knitting some of the cutest little loot bags I've seen. How else could two teddy bears make off with a fortune in monopoly money and chocolate coins in such an adorable fashion?
Christine is a very talented knitter and has lots of cute things in her Etsy shop. Check it out!

Art Activity: Snake Sculptures

2009-05-22T15:32:00.000-07:00

Here's an activity I did with my second graders that turned out really well. The kids loved it and the snake sculptures turned out great. The images are of my own samples, but the kids' projects are way better, of course. We watched a little snipped of the jungle book and then looked at some pictures of snakes to get ideas, and then we started making our sculptures!
First we used tin foil to make an armature for the snake. I cut a long narrow piece of foil for each kid and they crumpled them into a long snake, pinched them to shape and then bent them around to make a snake pose.
Next, we wrapped the tin foil armatures in plaster bandages. It only took one layer of bandages to get a good solid sculpture.
Once the plaster bandages dried, we painted the snakes with patterns. This took the kids a couple classes because they were painting so carefully! When they are all painted and dried we're going to mod podge them to seal the paint.

Fun with Curlicues

2009-05-17T15:42:00.000-07:00

Those who are familiar with my artwork probably know that I have an intense interest in curlicues (or spirals, or scrolls, or arabesques, if you're classy) Anyway, I discovered that flat wire is the perfect material for making curlicue designs. I've been having a good time playing with different combinations of basic elements to create a variety of forms. I especially like the last pair of earrings. They remind me of wings.

Adventures in Tie Dye

2009-05-08T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today we made tie-dyed t-shirts with the 6th graders at school. Believe it or not, these shirts were dyed with house paint! To do it, you just mix a little house paint with a lot of water and put it in a bottle to squeeze it out (we used plastic drink bottles with holes punched in the lids) You twist and rubber band the shirts just like you would for normal tie-dying, then squeeze on the the color on, squoosh it in, and voila! Then you just let the shirt dry completely (it will be crunchy) wash and dry and you have a beautiful tie dye t-shirt. I was really surprised how soft it turned out after it was washed. My cooperating teacher tells me she has been using this method for years and the shirts really hold up well. It's a lot easier to do with kids than real tie dying with reactive dyes and such, since you don't have to soak the shirts and the paints are really easy to use. We had a great time and the kids shirts look great!

Better Late Than Never

2009-04-26T13:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some pieces I made back in college (the first time) that I never got around to photographing. They're made with champleve enamel, textured copper and steel wire. The floating effect is done by attaching the pieces using wire rivets with tubing spacers. I made each of these in about a day in the studio so they're pretty spontaneous pieces. Steel wire is great for assembling designs quickly, because you can spot-solder it with silver solder. You can keep adding pieces without having to worry about the solder on your previous joints melting. It works really well for building up three dimensional structures.

Before and After

2009-04-21T16:16:00.000-07:00

Before

After

I did a fun activity with the kindergartners today using primary colored finger paint and plastic combs to make textures. I was anticipating messiness so I took my camera along to capture the wonder of the before and after. I mixed up the fingerpaint myself with that clear "elephant snot" paper mache paste and tempera paint. It works great but It's messy!

Easter Eggs!

2009-04-12T09:18:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter everyone!

My husband and I got together with my parents last night for our traditional Easter egg making night. We make some rad Easter eggs. Here's a sampling...

A Spider-Man egg by my husband

An alien egg also made by my husband. If you're reading this Daine, Justin made this in your honor.

A cute minimalist bunny egg made by my mom.

A swirlidy egg made by yours truly

The traditional eyeball egg made by my dad.

Youth Art Month

2009-03-08T13:10:00.000-07:00

As you can probably tell from my severe blog-neglect, I've been really busy lately! Student teaching is a lot of work because It's like having a full time teaching job and still having a bunch of stuff to do for the university.
Anyway, yesterday I went down to Madison to help set up the Wisconsin Youth Art Month show in the capitol building. If you're in the Madison area you should definitely go check it out- It's on display on the second level of the rotunda. The show includes artwork from students in grades k-12 from all over Wisconsin! There are some really amazing pieces on display. The show will be on display in the capitol until march 20th. You can find more info about YAM here on the Wisconsin Art Education Association Website.
It's also great just to see the inside of the capitol building, which is very classical and ornate, with colored marble, gilding, mosaics, sculptures and paintings. Here's a shot of the inside of the dome. Every time I go to the capitol I see little kids standing on the floor of the rotunda looking straight up into the dome and spinning around in circles.

Fluxalicious

2009-02-19T17:08:00.000-08:00

I just tried this new flux- It's called firescoff and it claims to act as a flux, firescale inhibitor, and heat shield. You just warm you piece up gently, spray on the flux, and solder. I got this because I have trouble with firescale on pieces that involve soldering things to flat surfaces (soldering pin findings onto the backs of brooches, etc) While I don't think this will replace my good old trustworthy handy flux, it does do a bang-up job of preventing firescale from forming. It's not as cost-effective as regular paste flux, so I'll probably save it for places where I need extra firescale protection.

First Day of Student Teaching

2009-01-27T18:10:00.000-08:00

Today was my first day of student teaching, which is awesome of course, but unfortunately it means I'm not going to be seeing my husband much for the next 18 weeks because he works nights and weekends. This morning I got up and found this cartoon he made for me on the bathroom counter. Despite the misspelling of chiaroscuro, I thought it was pretty great! I love how the "A" has an arrow in it and how he gave me a great big belt buckle. It's very super-heroic.

Adventures in Knitting

2009-01-24T08:33:00.000-08:00

I enjoy knitting, but I'm not very good at it. I can only really make scarves and hats, so I just make a lot of them. This is my latest hat. I knit it in the round and alternated rows of knitting and purling to get the garter stitch. All you knitters out there will probably be able to see where I messed up, but I think it's still pretty cute so I decided not to worry about it. The button is a neat replica of a vintage button from the late 19th century.
As an unrelated side note, you can really see how big my nose is in this photo! I like to think of it as a Roman nose, but it's probably too bumpy for that. More of a Polish nose.

More Adventures in Papermaking

2009-01-23T18:49:00.000-08:00

I got to try making paper in one of my art education classes last year, and since then I've been wanting to try it again at home. Winter break is the perfect time to do projects and make huge messes in my kitchen, so I decided to go for it.
I used recycled scraps of paper this time (mostly junk mail and brown bag paper), tore them up and soaked them in water, then pureed them in the blender. Then I dumped the pulp into a sink of water, and used a homemade frame to pull sheets of paper. I made the frame out of old stretcher bars, stapled on some window screen and covered the edges in duct tape. Once I had a nice even layer of pulp on the screen, I let the water drain off and then squeezed out the extra water by laying the frame paper side down on a towel and blotting the back with a sponge.
Basically I figured out what I wanted to, which is that you can easily make paper out of scrap. I think this would be a great way to use up scrap construction paper in an art classroom- you would just have to sort it by color so you wouldn't end up with mud. I also learned that if you use brown paper bag to make recycled handmade paper, you end up with something resembling institutional brown paper towels. Like the kind from school bathrooms. I bet the results would be a lot more fun using a mix of coordinating colors of construction paper.

Ovalicious

2009-01-20T19:54:00.000-08:00

Here's the newest addition to my line of etched copper beads. I found these great big (30mm by 20mm) copper beads in my studio. I had forgotten that I had them! This is the first one- with my signature overall swirly pattern. I'll probably make some more with different patterns soon. I love finding things I forgot I had.

Etsy Shops I Love- Studio Elan

2008-12-21T14:48:00.000-08:00

As a metalsmith, I have a definite appreciation for functional artwork. What could be better than a beautiful object you can use in your everyday life? I also have a definite appreciation for ceramics artists, mainly because I have no talent whatsoever for ceramics. That's why Studio Elan is one of my favorite Etsy shops. The shop's motto says it all... "Functional Stoneware Pottery with Flair."

At Studio Elan, you can find a wide range of functional ceramic objects, from elegantly simple garlic graters and spoon rests to artistic treasure jars, all made with impeccable craftsmanship. I personally love the wonderful rich colors of the glazes and the beautifully proportioned forms of the pieces. Studio Elan is truly a one of a kind shop, and I highly recommend it not only for the quality of the work, but also for excellent customer service.

Christmas Treats Part 1

2008-12-19T18:25:00.000-08:00

My plans for today were cancelled, so I decided to get a jump on my Christmas treats. Every year I make homemade peanut butter cups, caramel corn, and a couple different kinds of cookies. I started with the peanut butter cups today since I thought they would keep the best until Christmas. I also found a great recipe for oreo truffles on Bakerella. I used Newman-O's instead of oreos because they are both organic and more delicious than oreos. I also made them in cup form since I was already making peanut butter cups and I think it's easier than dipping in chocolate.

In the spirit of Christmas generosity, here is my magical peanut butter cup recipe. It comes from a book of recipes collected by my great-grandmother's church.

-1 cup graham cracker crumbs

-1 cup powdered sugar

-1 cup peanut butter

-2 tbsp butter

-Chocolate for covering

Smoosh everything but the chocolate together in a bowl with your hands. Roll the mixture into little balls, and cover with melted chocolate. Super easy!

This is my cup making procedure:

1: Lay out some mini cupcake cups on a sheet of wax paper

2: Melt some chocolate (I use the microwave)

3: Plop a spoonful of chocolate into the bottom of each cup

4: Roll the filling into little balls and push them into the chocolate. The chocolate will ooze up around the sides filling out the cup.

5: Drizzle more melted chocolate over the top

There you have it! Tasty little candy cups!

Rome 1967

2008-12-08T17:27:00.001-08:00

My grandmother recently gave me a box of my late grandfather's slides from his tour of duty in the Mediteranean back in the 60's. He had all these great pictures of Italy and Greece. I'm working on getting them all converted to digital images. So far I have photos from Pompeii, Naples, and Rome on CD. Here are a few of the images.

Going fishing...

2008-11-22T10:59:00.001-08:00

I just had to show off this necklace I made last week. I've been working on combining bezel set enamels and wire forms to make various flora and fauna, and I thought a fish would be a good subject because fish come in such a wide variety of forms. I like the way this turned out, because it could just as easily be an abstract decorative motif as a fish.

Fun With Stamps

2008-11-18T11:01:00.000-08:00

I've been sprucing up my packaging and making my own business cards and thank you cards with rubber stamps for a while now. My rubber stamping skills are pretty basic, but I wanted to try something new, so I decided to make some hand-carved stamps. I found this nice little tutorial from Weirdbuglady and decided to give it a try. I already had a set of linoleum tools and some ink pads, so all I had to buy was the rubber stamp material. I got a small piece of it from the local craft store for a few bucks. I decided to start out with my little bird motif, since It's pretty simple. I made a large and small version, and used them to make some promotional bookmarks (my website is stamped on the back) They're pretty homey, but I think it kind of works in a way. Hopefully with more practice my stamp carving skills will improve!

I have been tagged

2008-11-16T11:03:00.000-08:00

So, I've been tagged by JMW Jewelry

Here's how this works:

THE RULES:

* Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.

* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.

* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog.

* Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

OK, let's see...

1: I have worked on two separate dairy goat farms in my life.

2: I have had chronic hiccups since before I was born. Usually I just get one or two at a time, every 15 to 30 minutes.

3: My favorite musician is Elvis Costello

4: My first car was a light blue '85 thunderbird named "el coche"

5: Once when I was a kid I saw a video about quality control technicians at an ice cream factory. Ever since I have wanted to have that job, not because they get to eat ice cream all the time but because they get to cut cartons of ice cream in half on a band saw.

6: I have a parakeet named "Mr Parakeet" who is vying for the title of world's oldest parakeet. He's 13 years old and just as silly and noisy as ever.

7: I'm allergic to beer (hops, specifically) which makes me a bit of a social outcast here in Wisconsin.

So I'm going to tag...

WoollyAttic

The Adventures of Wyatt Earp in 2999

Sparkly Like a Holiday

KMJewelryStudio

Travel Turtle

Mannie Mandible

Wannabe Enamelist

Getting Historical at Copperheart Designs

2008-11-06T20:00:00.000-08:00

The latest addition to my shop is inspired by the annular brooches worn by ancient Celtic and Nordic peoples. Mine is sort of a simplified version, made from etched copper with a sterling silver pin. To wear brooches like this, you just pull some cloth through the opening, put the pin through, and then pull the excess cloth back out. The tension of the fabric holds the pin closed.

Newness

2008-11-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

My etched copper beads are now available in two sizes- the substantial 22mm round and the more modest 16mm round. Both sizes are hand-etched by me, oxidized and highlighted to bring out the pattern, and then tumbled for a nice shiny finish. I can only make a few at a time, so I don't always have all the sizes and styles in stock, but I try to make some every week. Check out the bead selection in my Etsy shop to see what's available!

Like Comics?

2008-10-28T22:37:00.001-07:00

My husband does. He just started making his own little lo-fi webcomic. The first episode features an actual conversation my husband and I had almost word for word. I love the comic version of my husband with his rectangular head. I think it's a pretty good likeness. He does have kind of a rectangular head. Anyway, you should totally check it out. You can see it on his blog.

The Joys of Halloween

2008-10-28T22:26:00.001-07:00

We had Halloween a little early this year and got all dressed up for a family party last weekend. We worked on our costumes for weeks ahead of time. My husband was the Batman villain Two-Face (I probably wrote that wrong and my husband will correct me soon) And I was Vyvyan from the young ones. I'm missing a few elements in my costume but I think it worked out pretty well.

Enameling Tutorial IV: Sift and Dump

2008-10-17T12:12:00.000-07:00

"Sift and Dump" is a rather inelegant name for a super useful technique. Remember back in grade school when you made drawings with glue and glitter? This is the same concept, except instead of glue you use ink or oil, and instead of glitter you use powdered enamel.

Materials:
-Basic enameling materials listed in my Intro To Enameling tutorial
-Something to draw your design with:
Pen with liquid ink. You'll want to pick something that draws a fairly thick line of liquid ink and doesn't dry too quickly.
Brush and squeegee oil or A-5 oil. These are special oils made for enameling- available from enamel supply companies like Thompson Enamel
A-5 oil marking pen. This is a special ball point pen filled with A-5 oil. It is very convenient for this technique. Also available from enamel supply companies.

How-To:
-Start by firing a layer of counter enamel on the back of your piece. Then fire a base coat on the front. You might need two or three coats to get a smooth surface and consistent color.

-Use your pen or brush and oil to apply a linear design to the fired enamel. Immediately sift a thin layer of a contrasting color over the design. Pick up the piece and carefully tap off the excess enamel powder. The enamel should stick to the wet ink or oil, and fall off everywhere else.

-Dry the piece thoroughly and fire it in the kiln or with your torch. Try experimenting with different types of pens and brushes to get different line qualities. You can also overlap multiple layer of designs or combine with sgraffito or stencils.

Magically Concentric

2008-10-14T21:12:00.000-07:00

I just got some new tools that make it super easy to cut perfectly concentric washers. I've had a disc cutter for a while, and use it all the time, but I have always found it difficult to center the metal to cut washers. After reading this great tutorial from The Mechanical Philosopher, I got myself a set of transfer punches to fit my disc cutter. Basically, a transfer punch is a cylindrical punch with a little spike centered on the end. You can order them in sets or order individual punches in the sizes you need. To use them with your disc cutter, you basically put the metal you want to cut in place in the cutter, then slide the appropriately sized transfer punch into the hole. Tap the transfer punch gently to make a divot in the sheet. Then, being very careful not to shift the metal, cut your disc. You will have a disc with a perfectly centered divot. Then, when you cut the inside diameter of the washer, you can use the smaller transfer punch to align the disc in the cutter. This is just a super quick overview- check out The Mechanical Philosopher's tutorial to see some useful pictures and more detailed instructions. The tutorial shows the use of a press to cut the discs, but I use a hammer and it works just fine.

More Etching Tidbits

2008-09-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

I've been doing a little more experimenting with my copper etching techniques. I got a really nice new sharpie paint pen that works pretty well as an etching resist. You can get them with an ultra-fine tip, and they dry very quickly and stand up well to ferric chloride etching solution (I haven't tried it with ferric nitrate yet) I used the sharpie paint pen to make some new etched copper beads. Since the paint pen dries quickly, it makes it easier to draw on all sides of a three dimensional object. The one problem I've noticed with the sharpie paint pens is that the paint scrapes off metal easily, but as long as you are careful not to scratch the paint, they work well. I also discovered that erasers work really well for highlighting oxidized metal. The eraser gives higher contrast than steel or bronze wool, because it only hits the higher surfaces of the metal. The bead at the top of the post was oxidized and highlighted with bronze wool, while the bead below was highlighted with an eraser. Both were tumbled after oxidizing and highlighting.

Enameling Tutorial III: Stencils

2008-09-23T17:17:00.000-07:00

Stencils are a great way to create multi-colored designs in enamel. I find that they are especially good for bold geometric forms or allover patterns. You can cut your own stencils out of paper or use found materials (screen, lace, anything with holes)

Materials:
-Basic enameling materials listed in my Intro To Enameling tutorial

-Paper to cut stencils- plain white copy paper works well, as does brown paper toweling.

-Razor knife, small scissors, or paper punches to cut stencils

-Found materials to use as stencils

How-To:

-If you are using a paper stencil, cut your design out with scissors, a knife, or hole punches. I made this polka dot pattern with a standard office hole punch.

-Fire a layer of counter enamel on the back of your piece. Then fire a base coat on the front. This will be the background color of your design. You might need two or three coats to get a smooth surface and consistent color.

-Spray or brush the fired enamel with holding agent and place the stencil where you want it to go. The holding agent will soak into the paper and hold it in place.

-Sift your second color of enamel over the stencil. You can sift a thin layer to allow the base color to break through, giving you a softer effect, or sift a thick layer for a bolder contrast.

-Carefully lift the paper stencil off the enamel piece. If any little crumbs of enamel fall off the paper and land on your piece where you don't want them, carefully brush them away or pick them off.

-Dry your piece thoroughly and fire it in the kiln or with your torch.

You can experiment with different combinations of transparent and opaque, different thicknesses of layers, and different firing times. Overfiring the piece will give you a soft fuzzy design. You can also try sugar-firing (partially firing) the stencilled design, giving the stencilled design a raised texture.

Check out my sgraffito tutorial to learn another way to work a multi-colored design in enamel!

Call for Link Exchanges!

2008-09-21T13:48:00.001-07:00

If you are an artist/crafter with a website or blog you would like me to link to post a comment!
I will put your link on my website http://copperheartdesigns.com/ and this blog if you put a link to my website on your site or blog.

Announcing Copperheartdesigns.com!

2008-09-18T15:47:00.000-07:00

After about a week of messing around trying to figure out what I was doing, my very own website is finally up and running! I'm still selling my jewelry through etsy (my website links to my etsy shop) hopefully my website will increase my visibility on the internet.

Google Base Made Easy

2008-09-16T19:44:00.000-07:00

Hey etsy sellers-
I just found out about this awesome website that makes it so easy to submit your items to google product search. It's called Let's Ets. You just enter you etsy username and the site generates a feed file that you can save to your computer. Then you just go to google base, set up your account, and upload the feed from your computer. In a day or so you will be able to find your items in the google product search. I have yet to see if It brings me more sales, but It couldn't hurt!

Enameling Tutorial II: Sgraffito

2008-09-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

Once you've got the basic technique of firing enamel down, there are lots of different techniques you can use to make multicolored designs.

The sgraffito technique is a simple way of drawing in enamel. Just like sgraffito in drawing or painting, it involves scratching through a layer of color to reveal the color below.

Materials:

-Basic enameling materials listed in my Intro To Enameling tutorial

-A sharp, pointed stylus or scriber

How-To:

-Start by firing a layer of counter enamel on the back of your piece. Then fire a base coat on the front. Keep in mind that this will be the color that will show through the scratched lines in the finished piece. You might need two or three coats to get a smooth surface and consistent color.

-Spray or brush a light coating of holding agent onto the enamel. Too much holding agent will make the enamel powder clump together, making it harder to scratch through.

-Sift a thin layer of your second color onto your piece. Make sure the sifted enamel isn't too thick. In my example piece, I sifted a very thin layer, which allows the base color to show through a bit more.

-Take your scriber or stylus and draw your design in the sifted enamel powder.

-Dry the piece thoroughly and fire it in the kiln.

Try using different combinations of opaque and transparent enamel, varying the thickness of the sifted enamel, using different tools for drawing, etc to get a variety of results. Try combining sgraffito with a other techniques. I have tutorials on stenciling and "sift and dump" coming soon.

Toggle Bracelet

2008-09-08T20:21:00.000-07:00

This new bracelet design started with me wanting to make a simple everyday bracelet for myself. I Like solid wire bracelets, and I like toggle clasps for their ease of use and the way they look. This bracelet combines both. The springiness of the half round wire band keeps the chain tight. This one's mine, but I think I'll make some more and list them in my shop.

More Socially Conscious Shoes

2008-09-04T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'm always on a mission to find sweatshop-free clothing and shoes. Clothes aren't too hard to find, but shoes can be tricky. I've been very happy with my Toms Shoes , But I wanted some sneakers too. I happened to stumble across these great converse knockoffs from No Sweat in a little fair trade shop in Door County (you can get them online too). They're union made in a sweatshop-free factory in Indonesia. They're pretty much the best thing ever.

Frankenstein's Bracelet.

2008-08-24T17:51:00.000-07:00

Well maybe not quite, but I did make this bracelet out of bits from other pieces. I saved up all my spare bits of etched copper, drilled two holes in each and connected them with soldered sterling silver links.