Toolie the Toolbox

You lookin' at me?

316 brass belt buckle

 This was the first piece I ever cast.  It is a belt buckle depicting the logo and number of a masonic lodge in Seattle, Esoterika #316.

It came out okay, for a first attempt.  I did my design and layout in excel.  That really confused my professor, but - hey  - I am an accountant by trade.  Whadda expect.  I gave it to a friend and member of the lodge.

Dragon Bicycle Bell

This is a fully functional bicycle bell.  Nickle copper and enamel.  I fabricated everything except the bolts.  This is sort of what I would have imaged my bike bell to be like when I was a kid.  So that sort of explains the cartoon like image.

My professor told me that I couldn't make a bell, because we didn't have the right materials and tools.  I really don't like to hear that I can't do something........

DING DING DING!!!  OUTTA MY WAY!!!!

Here are some pictures showing the construction and pieces prior to assembly:

 

I think there are about 75 separate pieces.

How to get an "F" in Art

 

This one is a little weird.  Or maybe just a little weirder than the rest.  We had an assignment to make jewelry for the Art  Building.

So here is the final product:

It hung a little better the first time, but I took it down... after two days, and forgot to get a picture.

Here are some photos of the process:

Enamel Poppy Buckle

This is a piece I made when I was learning about etching and enameling.

  

It is entitled "reproduction" and has a sort of, well.... double image.  There are the pods, the fresh buds, the full bloom, then the end of the life cycle when the drooping flowers drop the seeds in hopes of reproducing.  Then there is another picture.

Here is the back.  I placed the bolts through the front in strategic places to meet this design on the back.

 I actually won the "Kitty Moe award for 3-d art" at Gallery One in Ellensburg  for this piece.  A money award.

I think it was for this piece, but when they set up the show they switched the name cards on the two pieces I entered, so i don't really know.  They didn't ask at the bank so maybe I don't care.

I bought a jeweler's bench with the money. :)

 Neat and orderly.... a place for everything, and everything all over the place is what I always say.

But anyway, here is a glimpse at the process:

I drew one side then made a mirror image using the GIMP software

More pictures after the link

stones for future projects

Heather...   here are some stones that I have right now.  The larger ones are pendant size and the smaller are ring size.

high quality Ellensburg Blue

this shows accurate color in daylight

These are not as high quality, but still would be considered gem grade and 'very good.  The small dark blue one is london blue topaz

These are Idaho Garnet.  The cabachon is a 6 star and the smaller one is gem grade.

This picture shows  the 'star'.  It is much sharper in the sun.

The green loaf shapes on the right are Chrysophase, the same type of stone as Ellensburg blue.  These were cut by a friend of mine and are very good.   The Green/Yellow is Flourite. 

These are Welo Opals cut by a guy in Idaho.  They are much better in person.  They look so good that they look fake.

The funny one to the left is a fancy cut blue topaz.