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Sunday 30 September 2012

Fire and Water Casting - Update

As promised, here's a wee update of the pendants I made from the last post on water casting.


 




Hope you like them. I'll be adding these to the Kaledo shop next week.

www.Hypersmash.com

Saturday 29 September 2012

Fire and Water - Casting

I have been keen to add some organic forms to my jewellery collection, and today I finally managed to make a start using a method called water casting. I will be using reclaimed sterling silver for this, otherwise known as my huge pile of scrap silver.




I have taken a few photos of the process. The photography turned out to be my biggest challenge. An absolute nightmare trying to get decent photos when you have a blow torch in one hand and a red hot bowl of molten silver in the other.

The camera was on my very handy gorillapod which was wrapped around a high shelf next to my bench. I had intended using my foot to press the remote shutter, but the lead didn't stretch far enough from the high shelf (Christmas list - wireless remote), so in the end I had a blow torch in one hand, a red hot bowl of molten silver in the other and a remote shutter under my arm . Who needs an exercise class, I get to flex my muscles in my workshop while taking photos and making silver jewellery. Talk about multi tasking.


Anyway back to the melting pot. I like to heat the cruscible to a red glow, prior to adding the sterling silver. The silver becomes molten a lot quicker than if heating from a cold cruscible and reduces the time that the silver is under the flame, hence reducing the likelihood of serious oxidation. Once the cruscible is glowing, I add the silver along with some borax paste or powder to again help reduce the likelihood of oxidation of the silver.
                                                                                                                                                             

The silver will eventually take on a glassy look and all the pieces will start to move towards each other to form a ball. Have you ever seen 'terminator 2' when the terminator is shot and splinters of him fly all over the place, the splinters of metal turn to liquid and then move towards each other to form a whole part again. This is what you will see here, all the little blobs want to be one, but don't worry it won't turn into the terminator.


At this point I make sure that the spout of the cruscible is really hot as I want the silver to run out easily when I pour it. I keep the heat on the silver as I lift the cruscible and continue heating as I pour the silver into the water.


The finished piece will be totally organically formed and the outcome is always a surprise. Each piece will be unique, never to be created again. You can loosely control the shape, to a certain extent, by the way you pour and so it is always good to experiment with different pouring methods to produce different forms.

It is a bit of a hit and miss process. Sometimes you find nothing at the bottom of the bowl worth using and other times you will find a beautiful form that can be used as a pendant or soldered onto a ring.

Below are a few of the pieces I produced today. They will need to be properly pickled and cleaned if they are going to be used, but I wanted to get a few shots just to add them to this post. The piece can be left as a silver piece or accent beads can be added. I have added a swarovski pearl to one of the pieces just for some inspiration.




If you plan to try this out yourself, please be safe. I cannot take responsibilty for fire or bodily harm. Wear cotton clothing and a cotton apron if you have one, safety specs and sturdy shoes. If you have a fire extinguisher, keep it close, otherwise use the pot of water your quenching with to put out the fire.


The image above shows the gorillapod just in case you haven't seen one before.This is a really handy piece of kit. The tripod legs will bend and twist to allow you to support your camera anywhere. A shelf, a railing a tree branch etc.    

I will update this post if I use any of the pieces produced today for pendants or other jewellery items . For now, you can view a small collection of my jewellery at Kaledo.

Until next time xx

Friday 28 September 2012

Copper Cuff

 After the last post about hammering metal, I came across these copper cuffs handmade by John S Brana in San Franscisco and just had to share.

Corrugated Fold Formed Copper Cuff

I think you will agree that they are a work of art.
 A prime example of using a hammer to create something beautiful

 



John uses reclaimed metal and ethically sourced gemstones in his work and has many beautiful pieces, but these are just a selection of my absolute favourites.
 

Being a relatively new hammer addict, I can only dream of making something so beautiful at this time, 
but these have certainly inspired me to keep on hammering.

My neighbours will be sooooo happy.

Chased Fold Formed Copper Cuff



You can have a look at more of John's work here


   




Hammered Silver

   
 


Athough I've been working with metal for many years, I have only recently started my journey into hammering and forming and already, I'm completely addicted. I love working with metal. I am constantly in awe at the abuse a piece of metal can take before being transformed into a beautiful piece of jewellery that will last several lifetimes.

There are so many techniques to work metal into different shapes and forms and textures. The design possibilities are endless and the learning experience just continues to be challenging , fun and an absolute obsession.

The love heart in the image above started life as a flat piece of sterling silver sheet metal. The piece was annealed and then folded in two. The seam in the centre was hammered flat and the shape of the love heart cut out. It was then annealed again before unfolding.

Each side of the seam was then hammered over a forming stake to curve and give it the puffed up look. A hole was then drilled to fit the jump ring and chain and the piece was cleaned and brushed to give a beautiful satin finish.

 
The silver leaf above was formed in a similar way , however in this case a hammer was also used to texture the surface of the leaf.

Thursday 27 September 2012

Is There A Psychiatrist In The House ?


My jewellery workshop is on the top floor of my 3 storey town house, so it’s not a big commute to get to work. In fact, on occasion when I awake totally inspired and raring to get going I have been known to enter my heavenly space in my PJs and slippers. Not a very good look when working with fire and silver, but hey ho! What can I say, creation just can’t wait.

The downside of walking one flight of stairs from my bedroom to work is that if I don’t make a concerted effort, then I get no exercise and no fresh air all day. My problem is that once I am in my zone, I don't want to stop ............... I mean I'm extremely happy with my obsession, so what's the problem?



Seriously though, I do have a constant daily battle with myself to leave my creative space for any reason. Do you ever argue with yourself? I catch myself doing it all the time. It's really funny, when you become aware of the excuses of why you can’t and shouldn’t do what you really need to be doing.

In the end though, I drag myself away and find that a brisk walk and some fresh air do me the world of good. I always feel refreshed and re-energised and often inspired by the water, the trees, the birds and the architecture that I see when I’m out and about.

So why the constant battle every day?

I have no idea but would love to hear if anybody else has this problem. I keep thinking my brain has been wired up wrong. I mean why is it so difficult to go for a walk when it makes me feel so good. Is there a psychiatrist in the house? I think I need therapy.