// BLOG
Recycle, upcycle….
July 25, 2010
One of the things that really intrigues me is using items that aren’t really designed for jewelry in a jewelry design. (Boy, does that sound convoluted or WHAT.)
Like computer parts. Ruth Smith’s etsy shop, Periwinkle Dzns is a great example. Described as “handmade geek nerd jewelry/jewellery made from upcycled computer parts: resistors, capacitors, diodes, oscillators….”, she uses stuff that would otherwise end up in a dumpster, and turns it into functional and fun mini works of art!
And check out these steampunky pieces, made from old hardware and harness leather by Devin Johnson of Make Shift Accessories. Our booths were next to each other at the Stone Arch Festival of the Arts this summer, and not only is his work fresh and fun (bracelets made from old license plates and street signs are another of his creations), but he’s just a cool guy and fun to chat with.
I’ve got a few ideas for upcycling myself…some of you might remember that my parents “graced” me with a huge box of copper tiles from their kitchen remodel. The tiles used to be a backsplash, and I’ve used the sheet to make Christmas ornaments. Plus, hubby’s been cleaning up some of his work areas, and has gotten in the habit of asking me “Do you want this?” instead of tossing things like copper tubing, wire and other goodies.
So take a look around, get some inspiration from Ruth and Devin, and anyone else who’s using “green” components!
What can I do with 21′ of wire???
July 24, 2010
Heh. Make rings. Finger rings, that is…not jump rings for once!
Craft wire Rose Rings by Lynn Kvigne
These cute little “rose” rings are made using 2 6″ sections of 20g craft wire. I found that putting my ring mandrel in a vise helped with production, as I’m not always fighting to keep it stable. My next show is our local county fair, and these go over pretty well with the fair crowd…so I made up 21 of them last night in about an hour.
You can make these pretty quickly once you have the hang of twisting the wire. Here are the basic steps:
1. Cut 2 pieces of 20g wire (craft wire, copper, silver) 6″ long each.
2. Using a ring mandrel (or a dowel a little larger than your ring size if you don’t have a mandrel), wind both pieces, side by side around the mandrel. Wind the wire at the size mark that is 1/2 size larger than your ring size.
3. Twist the four ends around each other in a knot. Twist again, making a double spiral.
4. Remove the ring from the mandrel.
5. Wind the ends (two on either side) around the ring band twice. Clip the ends.
6. The raw ends will be a little sharp! You’ll want to either gently file them or put your ring in a tumbler with stainless steel shot for about 30-45 minutes.
Wear it with pride!
Coppery Goodness
March 21, 2010
Just a few notes I wrote up for my Continuing Education students at Iowa Western Community College. Copper is one of my favorite materials to use, and it’s great for practicing wire wrapping, because it’s softer and less expensive than sterling silver or other materials!
Copper is used as an alloy…sterling silver is 92.5% silver and 7.75% other metals, usually copper. This adds strength, but also causes the silver to tarnish more quickly.
Bronze is a metal made from combining copper with tin; brass is copper and zinc.
Copper will tarnish when exposed to oxygen. Make your copper new penny shiny again by using one of the following methods:
- Polishing cloth – my favorite is Sunshine brand.
- Tarnex – dip or wipe the piece, but use care if the piece has stones (no opal, turquoise, or other “soft” or porous stones). Rinse very thoroughly with clear water and dry.
- Natural jewelry cleaner: 1/4c white vinegar, 1t salt. Put in a plastic container and shake to dissolve the salt. Add jewelry and stir around or shake gently. Rinse very thoroughly with clear water and dry.
- Rub Ketchup on the piece using a soft cloth. Rinse thoroughly. – Combine lemon juice and salt and dip/rub on the piece. Rinse thoroughly.
- Tumble in a rock tumbler with mixed stainless steel shot, water and burnishing compound (blue Dawn works well).
If you wear copper and it turns your skin green or black, your body chemical makeup has a high acid content. “Treat” your copper using a thin layer of Future floor wax, Renaissance Wax, or clear Krylon spray. Any treatment will wear off over time and will need to be reapplied.
If you have a higher alkaline content in your chemical makeup, you’ll naturally “shine” the copper that touches it!
Copper can be artificially tarnished (or antiqued) using chemicals or the natural sulfur found in hard boiled eggs. Tarnishing metal and then polishing the high points brings out the detail in wire wrapped and stamped pieces.
Verdigris is the green/blue patina that you see on copper outdoors (think of capital domes or garden decorations). Verdigris can be removed from copper, but like rust, it may have damaged the underlying surface.
You can buy copper wire at the hardware store.
Copper is alleged to have healing properties, especially for joint aches and arthritis.
Copper is probably the oldest metal mined and used by humans…when you wear copper, you are wearing a bit of history!
Stage fright….
March 11, 2010
After 10+ years of doing craft/art shows, I still have the occasional butterflies and nerves about a show.
Scenario: new event on Friday…myself being somewhat OCD, I want to know all the details (who what where when how) as soon as I sign up. It’s Wednesday night and I still don’t have them.
Last night, I had one of “those” nightmares about this event. In my dream, I am parked several blocks from the venue, and when I try to set up, I don’t know where I’m supposed to go. When I finally find that piece of information out, I start to set up, but discover I don’t have a table or any of my stock. I run several blocks back to my car to get the table, but then realize I’ve forgotten something else. Over and over again.
I wake up, panicking. Even with all the checklists (and my 10+ years of experience) I have at my disposal, I don’t want to recreate the dream! So what do I do?
Well, it’s Wednesday. And the show is Friday. Of course, I pack my car with the tables, displays, and stock I’ll need in two days.
Steampunk Style Jewelry: Interesting concepts!
February 21, 2010
I’m intrigued by the Steampunk movement – described as “Victorian meets Jules Verne”, Steampunk combines romantic elements with mechanics for an instantly recognizable design style.
Jean Campbell’s Steampunk Style Jewelry is the first book I’ve found that focuses on Steampunk jewelry…and it does a great job of doing so! From the 20 projects, to Sidebars, to a Gallery of Designs, this nicely written, beautifully photographed book is well worth purchasing.
Steampunk projects are full of “found objects” – items you pick up in a flea market or garage sale – but Campbell includes a nice listing of supplies for projects at the end of the book. You’ll probably end up finding Steampunk Style Jewelry offers more inspiration than “follow to the letter” instructions, but the instructions for each project ARE clear and easy to follow. You find the goods – Jean and the other artists credited with projects will walk you through how to create cool-looking jewelry!
In addition to the great projects, I found the Sidebars to be extremely interesting. Campbell has written great mini-articles about other facets of Steampunk, from Modding (modifying modern items) to music, films, and costumes. Yes, the Steampunk movement is not just about jewelry…there are entire conventions that focus around the lifestyle!
Bottom line, if you find Steampunk interesting, pick up the book and be prepared for entertaining reading as well as giving you some great ideas. At $24.99 US ($31.99 CAN), it’s chock-full of inspriation and information and a great value!
