metallurgy and more

My first silver commission, failed centrifuge and another shameless concert plug:


Ty and Leigh commissioned me to make them these sterling rings. I was happy to oblige! My solder seams are nearly invisible by now. I'm still working on the inside of these, making them more comfortable, etc.



Here are a few more. The fourth ring down is mine, though I've got to size it down because it keeps flying off my hand. I left the firescale on top two "love" ones---love the way it looks.

Here is my first lost wax mold. Mixing plaster is really fun to me; I like the chalky, earthy feel. Set in the plaster, on the other end of that blue "sprue" is a ring (with a moon and star) carved out of wax.



When I got to class we fired up the kiln, measured out silver (in pennyweights) and waited while the wax burned out. After two hours my teacher threw the burnt out canister on the wound up framework while I fired the silver in the attached crucible. It was amazing to play with and stir the molten silver. I've loved lightplay and shiny things since birth, so this pretty much thrilled me. 15 pennyweights of molten silver burning at 1650 degrees, the torch in one hand and the stirring "stick" in another. Nice!

When the silver was super-liquid-y my teacher counted to three, and while I pulled back the torch, she simultaneously pulled back the pin and the whole thing went flying...but not with the intended form upon which centrifuge depends. Something went wrong with the framework and all that work and prep went down the tubes. A few bombs were dropped and my teacher went for her cigarettes. After nerves were calmed and we finally got back to the canister, I dumped it in the water bucket and tho so many minutes later, it still boiled the room temp waste water! I was disappointed, but still loved the whole experience. I know I will be doing lots of this casting stuff, and eventually it's bound to work out.

I've since thought about it and decided my guardian angels probably threw the CityArts framework. I'm a little wreckless (no, me!?!) so it's probably a very good thing that I saw/experienced what could go wrong the first time around. I had no idea the thing would spin so hard, so fast. I guess if silver has to slam the cavity walls and leave no bubbles.... Initially I wondered why my teacher bothered to put a thin wire "seatbelt" over the canister even though centrifugal force would keep it in place. I hadn't thought about what would happen if there was slack in the machine. In the end something threw off that force (they're still trying to figure out what is was), and I was sure glad for that seatbelt and the metal collar around the entire framework.

Anyhow, between all the casting excitement I managed to accomplish something else I'd wanted to try; I had the other kiln firing enamels. I really think I'll spend some serious time enamelling on copper in the future. I LOVE IT! I can't show you what I made because it's for a certain someone who is bound to read my blog.

Eventually I'll post some pieces. I'm hoping that if I can make enough pieces, I'll be able to take them to one fair next year or just have an open house. I think it will cost a little bit more than my leather stuff, but it will be something new, something a bit more permanent and flashy. This will give you an idea of what I want to do with this enamel stuff.

(Oh yeah, here's where I should mention that my birthday was last week and my husband gave me a kiln...so it's really going to be possible to do this stuff from home! I guess if you have to turn 33....)



Speaking of my husband, he's going to be playing one more time before the usual band-winter-hibernation starts. Urban John is playing, too. I'll be going to soak in all the ear candy; come sit with me. Here's the scoop. (Thanks for the awesome photo, Ty!)