Some of my Recent Work...

I have to take a small break from metalsmithing...I am so sad.  My kiddo's are having some health issues...so they need some of my undivided attention.  In the mean time, so you know I am not a slacker...I thought I would post some of the work I have created this year...
Here goes...

 More to come...

New Tools

This is the new... or pretty new, "Knew Concepts" saw frame.  It's suppose to BLOW DOORS off of the old standard jewelers saw.  The official spec's are below:

Enjoy the superior engineering of the original Knew Concepts jeweler's hand saw frame plus a quick-change cam-lever tensioning system.
The cam-lever system lets you quickly change blades without losing your tension adjustment: simply flip the lever up to release tension, swap out blade and flip the lever back down. Save time and trouble when work demands repetitive blade changes, such as when piercing metal.
Knew Concepts saw frames are light and rigid, providing precise control, reduced blade breakage and virtually no flex. The hardened aluminum frame weighs only 129 grams, far less than a comparable steel saw frame. The 5" (127mm) throat depth is ideal for fine work on small pieces; working length of the saw blade is 4-1/4". A comfortably curved wood handle and excellent balance and control make this saw an excellent choice.

I plan to order this soon...so I will let you know if you should  blow $78.00 on this saw or not (I added shipping to the cost...but that's what comes out of your pocket)

Clayton Art Fair

Probably the best known art fair in this area is this week-end!! The Clayton Art Fair...I can't wait! 

    
 

Some of the jewelry artists that will show their goods (and my favorites) are:

(no particular order)

Hilary Hachey  =  http://www.hilaryhachey.com/index.html


Christy Klug =  http://christyklug.com/


Janice Ho =  http://janiceho.com/home.html



Michele Friedman  =   http://www.micheleafriedman.com/


Debra Adelson  =  http://www.debraadelson.com/

Those are just a few of the artists that are going to be at the fair!!  Obviously there will also be ceramics, metalwork, paintings, printmaking, sculpture, wood works...and so on.  Along with some of the BEST food around!!
For directions, parking information and a music schedale you can visit the below link!!!

Cultural Festival - Clayton Art fair 2012

Have a good one!!!

New ring made (fast) after a vacation!

Wow...just got back from vacation...
I jotted down jewelry ideas all week.  I packed some colored pencils for the kids...but I ended up using them on some sketches.  However, I didn't touch a tool the whole time I was on vacation.  I usually take "something" with me.  I either take some earring finding tools and some wire or my tool "kit" for making Viking necklaces...or something...but NOT this time.  I did manage to run across a store called "Direct Tools" and I ducked in for a look.  I found some really nice pliers for delicate work...so I bought two pair:-)

Anyway...when we arrived home we looked at the damage caused by the storm and unpacked a little.  I made dinner for the kiddo's and watered the plants.  Then I headed upstairs to look over all the stuff I had left on my bench.  For some reason I started looking at my gemstones and decided it was time to set one of them in a ring.  After all, I never made that cocktail ring for myself and we came back from vacation 3 days early...so I figured I had some time to spare.  I set off making a cage setting for my dazzling blue topaz :-)
I am usually a pretty slow butt when it comes to making rings.  But believe it or not this one only took me about 6 hours!!!  That's a huge record for me. It usually takes 2-3 days!! I made a quick tutorial on this setting...it's the second one on my tutorial page!

 
                                

I am pretty happy with it.
I guess the vacation was a good idea!!!

Enameling Masks

Since I have been enameling a lot lately...I decided it was time I purchased a new respirator/mask.  Last time I purchased one was eons ago...but I remembered that there was a specific kind I was suppose to buy.  The kind that would not let all of those nasty little silica particles into my lungs!!  I do have a super duper actual RESPIRATOR (my kids say it looks like I am coming from a bio-hazard spill area).  Mine looks like this, only it's grey in color.
.
This is not the kind I am going to talk about today.  The one I need to replace is a smaller version of the above mask...it's white and a lot more comfortable to wear....and I can take it with me to my enameling meetings and not scare anyone.  It looks like this (below)... 





Most of the books and websites I have read always refer an enamelist to wear an NIOSH-approved N95, which has a 95% filtration efficiency against solid and liquid aerosols that do not contain oil.  3M is a great brand however, they tend to be on the expensive side.  I just purchased two new N95 NIOSH respirators from my local Big Box hardware store (the smaller ones didn't carry them ) for $8.00, and many websites sell the same respirators,only the 3M brand and they cost MUCH more.  For 1 respirator I have seen prices from $10.00 up to $17.00.

When I was researching respirators I ran across a website that contained some information I had not heard before...
(http://www.gemplers.com/tech/sresp.htm) 
 
Q) Which respirator do I choose if I'm working around dusts, mists, fumes or agricultural molds?

A) You can wear an N95 in almost any dust situation. Exceptions: If you are welding a highly toxic metal that requires a HEPA (high efficiency) respirator, you should wear an N100 or a P100. Examples of highly toxic metals are lead and cadmium. OSHA also has certain substances that it has always required a HEPA respirator for, such as asbestos and lead.



Many enamelist also do some soldering...and some solders contain cadmium...just more chemicals to worry about huh!!  With all that said...I am not going to pretend to be an expert in the respirator field...just be wise in what you use.  At least use SOMETHING... a lot of my friends don't:-(

Below is another good link for respirator information.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npptl/topics/respirators/disp_part/RespSource.html#whatresp

Happy Enameling...

 My new favorite quote by Thomas Edison.

"To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk."  ;)  

Well...not that I could have a pile of junk in this studio...

I have been thinking about the kind of studio I would like in my dream world.  You know...the world where I retire early from the rat race and spend the rest of my life "making things I like".  I think the above studio would "do" nicely...don't you think??  Or perhaps this little cutie below???

 

Now...it depends where I end up living too...  perhaps a barn would be better...

 

Or maybe if I grow some "you know what's" I would move to the scary city!!!...  Wouldn't that be nice.  Remember the warehouse in the movie, "Ghost".  Well you know where he ended up!!!...but I digress. ..it's still a really cool space.

Remember the cool loft in Ghost, the movie... See below...

 Or anyone of these spaces would doooooooo!!!

 

So...now it's your turn.  Where would you spend your time if you could spend it ANYWHERE???