Punchy Roller Lifestyle Dot Com

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Silver and Enamel Poppy Pendant

This was probably in the spring of 2011

The back comes apart and I made several different enameled plates to go inside. That way the flower can be different colors, etc.

Here is the back

And here is the process:

Start with a detailed sketch and engineering plans:

Rough out the construction:

Make a big mess:

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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.

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/p480x480/578874_10151047199949694_1780750198_n.jpg

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

celtic broach

So this was about the third object I made. It is a broach and the idea was to reference the old celtic wheel of progress. It turned out okay.

I was still learning a lot about soldering and surface finishes. This is nickel silver, but copper plated.

Gallery One Visual Arts - Regional Show

Yeah for me! Kitty Moe sponsored the award, or rather her family in her memory.

scrap decorated ring.

My next attempt at a ring, actually two, now that I had the basic soldering skills down.

I had all of these little pieces left over, just scraps, and wanted to see if I could make a passable ring.

So I basically just filled the space and soldered them down.

Then banged it into a ring shape on the mandrel

I was a little scared with what it looked like. Those are the products of combustion and cupric what-evers from getting it very hot

Once it had soaked in the pickle it looked somewhat better.

I made a just round one too.

Not great, and looking back.... I'm still fairly proud because of the attention to detail, but not my best work. creative, so okay.

Adventures of a jewelery student

I have been taking Metalsmithing and Jewelery classes at Central Washington University since the fall quarter of 2010.

This is my first attempt at a blog. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or just to say - hello.

I'm attempting to share the skills I have learned and the products of my work so that, hopefully, these can be helpful to other students or maybe just enjoyable or interesting to anyone who stumbles upon this little blog.

So, I'm kind of doing this backwards I think, but here are some pictures of the first real object I made. This is a basic sterling band ring I made for my wife Jodi about October 2010.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

First Real Art Check

I have won some awards at little regional shows and stuff, but mostly just given the stuff away. It feels good to do that. Especially if I know the person will enjoy it. Jewelry is hard to make for someone, it is just too personal.

Sort of like Grandma's sweater that she made for you and you only wear when she comes to town. You know she worked hard and it is well made, but she doesn't really know what you like because she lives in Cleveland and you only see her once a year and that isn't so much fun because they live in the country and because .... wait - too much. Anyway, this is my first real check and it will buy some tools!