"Cold Connections"

Last Wednesday, 5 of my fellow South Shore Beaders and I went to the Fuller Craft Museum for a class on "Cold Connections" I wasn't really sure what to expect other than it would not involve a (hot) torch.

The process of attaching metal to metal usually involves heat thus this class in "Cold Connections" would be different. We found that there are many different ways and depending on our previous experience our teacher would instruct us in something new. She was well prepared for most anything. What we did learn was how to use rivets to connect two pieces of metal.

For the first piece, we chose a flat piece of shaped copper and a decorative piece to attach. I chose a funny shaped piece of copper and a flower.

Our first thing was to drill a hole in the copper piece where the center of the flower was to be placed. That meant using a drill press. Something new to me. Our instructor explained other ways to drill a hole since most of us do not own a drill press. We all took turns using the drill press under the helpful aid and watchful eyes of our instructor.

Then, since the hole was not big enough (better than being too big) we had to use a round file to make the rivet fit. That seemed to take a long time as we were really learning the technique of how to file. I soon discovered that my weaker hand held me back a bit but that it indeed was good physical therapy for strengthening my wrist. At least I had something to show for the exercise - more than squeezing a ball!

Next we inserted the rivet and the flower - with much joy as the hole was finally big enough (fortunately the flower already had a hole in the center). Using an awl we "flared" out the rivet and then one hit with a hammer, done!





I asked if I could add another hole (using the drill press as other methods sounded harder) so that I might be able to use the piece in a new necklace with a hole already there. I haven't decided what to do next yet.

Then we made a bail to attach to a green circle. That involved pounding the piece of copper round/flat wire so that both ends had totally flat, paddle shaped ends. Paddle shaped ends eluded me a bit as you can see in the picture. We now had three holes to drill and (most important) make bigger with our files. I rather pooped out as my physical therapy was getting old. So, with help from our instructor, I was able to finish and line up the three holes and make a pendant with a large bail.



We repeated the process of flaring and pounding the rivet to finish attaching the bail. Not sure what I might do with this piece but it is all a learning process.

So this summer has been a learning time and I'm progressing with new techniques. Now, to put them together and produce some amazing pieces!

B


www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000markets.com

Time for new skills?

Today, I went on one of the South Shore Beaders field trips. We visited a School for Jewelry and Metal Arts where a vendor of gemstones was showing their wares. I'm not sure what we thought we would find but soon discovered they were out of our league (I guess I should say MY league anyhow).

Realizing we would find nothing we could afford or more importantly, our current customers would purchase, we decided to find a local bead store we quickly found in an Internet search. While these prices seemed higher than we would like, too, at least they were less than $850 per strand. More like $25 or so. I did find a nice strand for $18 that I liked and will be working on a design soon.

On our trip home, we had our usual discussions of how to find people to buy our wares and other such related themes.

Tonight, while watching the national news, I saw several pieces on the recession. One was about graduating college students that were altering their job searches from what they would like, to what was available. They specifically mentioned the fact that many were looking into government jobs like law enforcement.

The other was about how the recession was affecting children. They showed an organization in Chicago that placed children of parents who were out of jobs, loosing their homes etc, with people who would care for them temporarily while the parents got back on their feet.

All in all, today gave me something to think about in my jewelry designing business. The gemstone salesmen seemed to be doing well. ;-) I guess it amounts to finding your niche and maybe then learning some more skills such such as those taught at the school we first went to. Looking over the offerings there is a lot to learn. I found Trisha Harding is one of the instructors. I featured Trisha in a previous post. One of her pieces is shown above. We met her at the Fuller Craft Museum.


B


www.bevsjewelry.com and www.bevsjewelry.1000makets.com

Fuller Craft Museum. Tricia Harding

Last night some of the South Shore Beaders went to the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA for the "Come and Craft" group. The room to meet is in the Education Department wing and is often different each week depending on what else is going on that day.


So, we walked in, stuck our heads in the first door and asked if this was the "Come and Craft" Group. The answer was no, so we started on when someone spoke up and said it was a Jewelry demo. We quickly turned around and asked if we could join. Since the answer was "Yes" we pulled up chairs and were treated to a nice demonstration of metal smithing by Tricia Harding. Tricia has a web site at www.triciaharding.com You can check out her jewelry items and portfolio. Tricia also has a studio in Fall River and we plan on visiting her in the near future.

I was very impressed with her passion for her work and the joy she showed as she worked. She had just finished a twisted ring when we arrived and was showing how to add texture to another ring that had been rather plain. She made it look easy but I'm sure my attempt would not have been as nice.




Next, Tricia demonstrated how to make an "S" clasp. Not the kind you can buy but a real handcrafted one. She started out by cutting a 2-3 inch length of 12 (?) gauge wire and proceeded to make it look like a tooth pick. Not the flat variety but the round whittled at the ends tooth pick. Next she bent it and hammered and soldered one end close and more hammering. The result was beautiful.

The picture at the beginning of this post is a Brooch by Tricia entitled "Chrysanthemum, Brooch, 2001 Brass, pierced and fabricated, dia: 1 1/4" See what I mean about her pieces?

You can see more of her work at her web site www.triciaharding.com.

B

South Shore Beaders Field Trip

Yesterday the South Shore Beaders went on a Field Trip to the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, MA. Wow! What a place.

We gathered at 5:00 PM and spent several hours looking at the various exhibits. Somehow, the name "Craft" doesn't give the pieces their due. Now, that may just be me but Uber Craft or extremely Artistic craft or Artisan Crafts might fit better.

We went from room to room oohing and awing at the pieces. We finally went to what seemed to be the end corridor only to find a new Gem! The Education class rooms and the workshop for those who just wanted to come and craft with others. We hit the right night, Wednesday. A group gathers around 6 - 7 PM and just does their own thing. We saw several making "Dream Catchers" each one very different from the others. Another lady was there because she wanted to learn how to knit. She pulled out several beautiful scarves she had made. Her choice of yarns, mixed together made some spectacular pieces.

We asked about the schedule of classes and since most of us are interested in jewelry were told that we should wait a while and Ann would be here. She makes lots of jewelry. While waiting, we had fun talking to the people already there. Our group almost filled a table but Ann shortly joined us and then the conversations really got started. What classes have you taken and the infamous passing our jewelry around. How did you do that? Where did you get those stones? Do you buy on line? What are your favorite sites? and on and on.

Then we all had a laugh when one of our group started laughing about a post she (and several others) had seen on The Beading Daily blog. It was called "The Beaders Handshake"

"That’s when you walk up to another bedecked beader (maybe someone you don’t even know), stare at her chest, freely pick up the focal piece on the necklace she’s wearing, get a goofy “wow” look on your face, look into their eyes, and then finally say 'Hello!' ”

We had just done that to Ann when she walked in.As the conversation rolled around to point out that we all had much in common, Ann mentioned that she is going to start teaching at a bead store in Mansfield. We, in a chorus said "The Beadcache?" Of course, many of us met there and all frequent the place often. That is where I teach Chain Maille classes.

We are all sure that we will be back to the Fuller Craft Museum. If you live close, you should check it out.

B