Tuesday, April 5, 2011

This week so far - April 5th

This is my last instalment on the workshops I took a couple of weekends ago. I took courses in riveting, enameling, etching, soldering and resin. Last week I talked about the resin and etching classes so this week I'll talk about the riveting, enameling and soldering classes.
My second workshop of the weekend was the soldering class. I was excited about finally getting to use my butane torch. I've taken a soldering course before but we used an oxy-Acetylene set-up that was quite intimidating and expensive. As the workshop was a beginner class most people were in the same boat as me. We learned about safety. Our project was "bubble" earrings in sterling silver. I doing this project we used hard, medium and soft solders. I also learned not to place my small silver "bubbles" close together on the fire brick because if you over heat them the just melt into a ball. Here's the result of my class.

They need a bit more polishing and some earring wires but I'm quite happy with them.
The next morning I took a riveting class. This is definately not an activity to do if you have a hang over. A lot of pounding with hammers as we also textured the metal before riveting. We got to play with the fun expensive tools from one of the supplies from the tradeshow.
This is the results of the class

They just need the finishing touches, earring wires and a chain.
The last workshop for the weekend was copper enameling. Some people fell in love with this right away and some not so much. I'm still on the fence about it as the results seemed very hit and miss. The kit that came with this class was awesome, it contained enough materials for us to take home and experiment with enameling on our own. I plan to get some books about it and practice with it some more. I did have a few pieces from the class that I really liked and I've posted them in my etsy shop.
From my shop


These were some of my others:


I'm hoping to work with these new techniques and I'll be posting my results in the future.

13 comments:

  1. I love those circle earrings. they would be great for a night out on the town!

    megan
    craftycpa.blogspot.com

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  2. hi there visiting from Where are you Wednesday blog hop.... fabulous blog . You certainly are artistic!! will again.. HHL

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  3. those earrings are BEAUTIFUL!!! I'd love to take a metal class sometime. I love making jewelry and would love to make things like this

    I'd love for you to link this up to my new link party, Your Whims Wednesday! http://mygirlishwhims.blogspot.com/2011/04/your-whims-wednesday-1.html

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  4. I'm loving your enamel work. Though, I understand how frustrating it can be to put a lot of effort into something and not have it turn out the way you want, or for the results to seem random. Maybe, with a bit of practice, all of your enameling efforts will be rewarded with such lovely success. :)

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  5. Stopping by from the WW Blog hop! Love your jewelry especially the industrial pieces.. can't wait to see what else you create! Hope you stop by and visit me @ http://pinkapotamus.blogspot.com
    I am your newest follower!

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  6. Your jewelry is beautiful! I came from Wandering Wednesday and now a new follower. Hope you'll stop by.
    www.acreativeprincess.blogspot.com

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  7. HI, stopping by from Wandering wednesday blog hop. Lovely to meet you :)

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  8. Love the circle earrings, sounds like a fun class!

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  9. stopping by from trendy treehouse

    xoxo
    bB

    please stop by and say hi
    www.itsybitsybrianna.wordpress.com

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  10. ooooh, love the copper accents!


    Stop by and link up at my 2nd ed. Make and Share Friday! I'd love to have you!

    ~ Christy

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  11. WOW you are very talented!
    Thank you for stopping by my blog to link up :)
    Lu

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  12. Those are going to be amazing bubble earrings! I'm an earring freak! Thanks so much for joining me at Anything Related!

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