Metalworking soundtrack

Once again, it is Aspiring Metalsmith blogroll time! Each month, we agree on a theme and each of us shows our own perspective on it. This month, we talk about what we listen to while working on the bench.

Like most, what I listen to depends on my mood and what type of work I am doing. Sometimes, it is relaxing and soothing. At others, it is driven and rythmic. And occasionally, it is just plain silly.

I am a lover of classical music, from Early Music to Contemporary Works (skipping the Romantic period, to the bafflement of my friends).

Sometimes, the music helps me to burn off excess energy and helps me set a pace. Gorecki is a good alternative:



And, since I am a metalsmith who loves to forge, Verdi's Anvil Choir is not only fun to listen and work to, but it is thematic as well!



My final confession, I love to sing. Opera, show tunes and good old pop - anything goes. Two singing favourites:






I admit my music selection is unusual, but I love it! I hope you enjoyed it some as well.

Check out the other blog entries for this month!

• Kat - http://artistikat-scratchingpost.blogspot.com/
• Stacy - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
• Clarity of Scrollwork Designs -http://www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com
• Brandy - http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com/
• Happy Tortoise Designs - http://happytortoisedesigns.blogspot.com
• Claire - http://brightstar109.blogspot.com/
• Silver Pearl Jewelry and Metalworks -http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com
• Autumn - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com/
• HemlockHollow - http://gloria-hemlockhollow.blogspot.com
• Resurrection Silver - http://www.resurrectionsilver.blogspot.com
• RadianTrace - http://radiantrace.blogspot.com/
• NancyCreations - http://nancysjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
• Jessica at Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog 

Japan Relief

There is a huge movement on Etsy to raise funds for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan: artists in all media are donating items or part of the value of an item to the cause. Search Etsy for "Japan Relief" all sorts of gorgeous items that will help out as well.

This treasury is a great place to start: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d83916235af6d9148b69c34/japan-disaster-relief

I am donating 25% of the sales values of these items, but if you drop me a line saying you are buying for Japan, I will extend this to any item you get.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/64324333/sterling-silver-minimalistic-wedge-ring
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63817622/brushed-domed-sterling-silver-ring
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69941907/hope-cross-small-sterling-silver-forged
http://www.etsy.com/listing/67598093/sterling-silver-anticlastic-cuff
http://www.etsy.com/listing/63272038/small-sterling-silver-forged-cross

St Patrick's Day

In honour of St Patrick's Day, here is my attempt at a blessing for metalsmiths everywhere:

    May your solder always flow

    May your silver never scale

    May the stones you stumble upon

    Be shiny and pretty

Yeah, don't do that

My tip of the day: if you are a night owl with insomnia, don't head over to the bench at 7 in the morning because you can't sleep.

If you do decide to ignore that, make sure that the small piece of silver you are using for that fiddly, fancy form, tiny bezel is really silver, and not a small piece of sheet solder you rolled a long time ago and forgot about. That will not solder well and it will mess up the bezel.

I also recommend not forgetting that silver absorbs heat like crazy and that wire that was next to the destroyed bezel will be very, very hot even though it wasn't directly under the torch. Don't pick it up straight away with your bare fingers because it will burn.

At this point, I decided to leave the bench before I burned the house down or had to go to emergency room. I suppose I should find a picture to go with this post, but it wouldn't be pretty at all.

The one that got away

I think most metalsmiths share this same dilemma. We love working with metal, designing and creating pieces, choosing the right design for a stone (or the right stone for a design), we labour over them, holding them close to our hearts. And then... either we have an ever growing collection and an ever dwindling bank account, labelling ourselves as hobbyists, or we try to make some money out of this, perhaps even a living. Which means letting go of our creations.

Sometimes, selling or giving away a piece feels right, as though it is going to its rightful owners. Stock pieces are always easier, since we have made that same design several times and we know we can always make it again someday. At other times, not so much. Perhaps it is that special stone that sings to us or a piece that is significant. However, it is the nature of our trade.

There are, however, pieces that I regret selling or giving away (although I would never say it to the person who got it!). For me, it was the very first ring I ever made and the first time I worked with metal. Yes, I was foolish enough to sell that one, at the very first show I did. It was an interesting forged ring, but, even more, it was when I found out just how much I loved working with metal and experimenting with shapes and hammers. I just hope it is loved, where ever it is now.

I also recently put a pretty emotional piece up for sale. You can read the story here. I confess I am glad it hasn't sold yet. But I hope that it will, someday, and it will be worn and loved. As an artist, I have to let go of my work. I also must recognize that the most emotional pieces are also the ones with the most expression.

Words may not break my bones...

... but stones might just break the bank.

I admit I have a stone addiction. I am fascinated by all sorts of gems, from smooth cabs to sparkly faceted and, specially, interesting phenomenal gems, which have rare "special effects". I learn as much as I can about gemology, with help from some very knowledgeable people from GemologyOnline and many dealers who have become friends over time.

Since I am an engineer, I love the physics and mathematics that go into precision cutting. In this technique, the cutter considers all aspects of a stone to cut it to the precise angles and patterns that maximize the effect. Many precision cutters develop their own patterns and some are very creative, like the Liquid Flower cut below.

Liquid Flower cut by Osiris Gems (smoky Quartz and Amethyst)
Concave cut tourmaline by Richard Homer
Fancy cut sphene by Gene Flenigan
Modified Trillion Rose Quartz by Peter Torraca

Gem carvers not only facet or polish a stone, but they also include three dimensional carvings, which change as the light moves. I searched for a long time until I found this Munsteiner amethyst and it is one of my pride and joys.

3.3ct Munsteiner Amethyst

And then there is a whole range of faceted stones - spinels, tourmalines, garnets, zircons, tanzanite, sunset quartz and a lot more. Here is a taste...

Inclusions are also interesting - small bits of "something" that get trapped inside the crystal as it is forming.  They  are very unique, reflecting the creation of that particular stone is forming, and visually impacting.

Fluorite crystal in quartz

Lepidocrite in quartz

"Pink Fire" covallite quartz (it flashes neon pink in sunlight)

Sunstone with copper schiller

These are tenebrescent hackmanites. If they are kept in the dark, they become a pale pink, blue or lavender. As they are exposed to sunlight, however, they slowly darken. This is completely reversible, so after a few hours in the dark, they are pale again.

And that is far from all... there are plenty more of all of these, as well as cabs and phenomenal stones, which will have to wait for a different post.

Yes, I am addicted and I have no plans to be cured any time soon. There are too many beautiful gems still out there!

This month the aspiring metalsmiths are bringing out their stones. For many, collecting stones has become an addiction. Come take a look at their favorites and what makes them so special.

Autumn Bradley - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com/
Clarity @ Scrollwork Designs - http://thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com/
Stacy Low - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com
Chrissi Lynn Designs - http://www.chrissilynn.blogspot.com
Sylvia Anderson - http://www.sylviaanderson.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog
Contemporary Jewelry by Beatriz Fortes - http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
Esmeralda - http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.com/
Steph Stargell - http://www.stephstargell.com
Pennee - http://allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Silver Pearl Jewelry and Metalworks - http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/show-us-your-stones/#more-4
ArtistiKat - http://artistikat-scratchingpost.blogspot.com/
Claire - brightstar109.blogspot.com/

How we start creating

This morning, a fellow team member from Handmadeology shared how he started his line of Vintage Space Toy Art for his son's nursery. What a great concept for a nursery, by the way. It is a heart warming post and you should read it here. And he is having a 25% off sale as well in his shop.

Toy Robot poster by John Golden

I was also recently writing about how I started my art, so I will follow John's lead and repost my own story here (sorry for those who have already read it elsewhere).

I always loved jewelry. As a kid, I would drag my mother to see all the pretty pieces – no matter if it was a high end fine jewelry store or a handmade piece in a craft show. No mass produced, cheap costume jewelry, though – I was quite the young snob!

I also loved stones. Smooth cabs with interesting patterns, gemmy sugarloaves or faceted stones – all are beautiful to me.

One day it hit me. Why didn’t I make jewelry myself? It seems so obvious, but it was quite a revelation. I found a teacher, took classes and learned to saw, anneal, forge and solder. Then I learned more on my own. And I found some workshops. And so I learned my craft.