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Post by Bejewelme on May 13, 2010 17:58:48 GMT -5
Well more clay this stuff is getting the better of me, I am happier with these pieces in some ways. I thought I would try and mix some different patinas with liver of sulfer so I did 3-one with hot sulfer, one with dawn added and one with amonia added, I liked the bluish one with the ammonia, see what you guys think??? I just hate that I work so hard to get them all shiny and then turn them black, LOL I think the bezel setting was a little better I finally got my curved burnisher and that helped smooth out the bezel.  This was a bamboo texture with a jade cab, I can see that not getting enough pressure is not making a good imprint, but if you press too hard, it squishes it, LOL Reg LOS  FInally got a crystal to stay in place, sort of an experiment  Shiny leaf, round edge  Jaggy leaf with ammonia added to LOS  Shiny?/Patina? Shiny/Patina?   This was my fav, with a natural pearl glued to a post I fired into the clay for stability.  This is a natural sapphire cab Tony had made, had a little disaster and it popped out before firing, so had to resort to superglue, oh well, this one is for me anyway. Amber |
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Post by frane on May 13, 2010 18:53:30 GMT -5
Amber, those are looking so cool but I sure can't help you with what to do. I think they all look great! I like the patina on the first and last one but the pearl one looks great just the way it is.
I know you get frustrated but your work is really paying off and it shows!
Fran
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spokanetim
has rocks in the head
Member since October 2009
Posts: 656
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Post by spokanetim on May 13, 2010 21:41:09 GMT -5
I don't know, they look great to me but I know nothing about what looks good. It might be interesting to do both on one piece. Give it a patina and then come back and shine some upper surface with the Genie for highlights.
Tim
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Post by Bejewelme on May 14, 2010 4:59:22 GMT -5
Tim:
I did do that, LOL, they come out sort of solid colored, and then I have a series of 3M sanding papers I rub them over to make the raised portions shiny, LOL, but what I need is an abrasive bit for my dremel that I need to order, and then I can get more specific areas and shine them up a little better. THe lady I took the class with has been in 35 publications her work is so amazing, I need a class on finishing with her.
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Post by Tonyterner on May 14, 2010 19:21:29 GMT -5
I watch you do it so I know its not very easy but your skills are definitely increasing with each batch. I'm kinda fond of the leaves and I think I like the green that the ammonia adds the best. I understand why you like the shiny the best, it takes the most work. Keep at it honey
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MikeS
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since January 2009
Posts: 1,081
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Post by MikeS on May 14, 2010 21:39:10 GMT -5
I definately like the patina look better
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adrian65
Cave Dweller 
Arch to golden memories and to great friends.
Member since February 2007
Posts: 10,790
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Post by adrian65 on May 14, 2010 22:12:37 GMT -5
I like the patina the most. The shine is great too, but it doesn't last long on silver and it has to be maintained from time to time. The patina adds an ancient look which go so well with your great designs.
Adrian
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Post by christopherl1234 on May 14, 2010 23:35:24 GMT -5
I like the patina ones the best. Gives the pieces lots of character
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nancyid
has rocks in the head
No stone goes unturned.
Member since January 2009
Posts: 563
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Post by nancyid on May 15, 2010 10:05:45 GMT -5
Wow, Amber!!!!! Everyone is beautiful!!!! You are getting real good girl. Time to start teaching the teacher me thinks. Really those are great!!!
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rockdude
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
Posts: 187
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Post by rockdude on May 15, 2010 16:49:19 GMT -5
Those are nice! I tried several thing for pushing bezels over the years. My favorite ended up being the butt end of a pair of 5- inch tweezers. I can push with the flat sides or really bear down on it using the edge.
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wyobrian
fully equipped rock polisher
GO VIKINGS
Member since February 2009
Posts: 1,739
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Post by wyobrian on May 15, 2010 17:17:04 GMT -5
Amber i think they all look great!!! but i like the patina also
Brian
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karock
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Post by karock on May 15, 2010 23:57:57 GMT -5
Don't know anything about how you do this, but the first one jumped out and I thought "mystical eye" - you know - like magic. lol
Karock
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2010 12:14:17 GMT -5
Very nice! I love patinas....on anything! I like the look of the ones where you used ammonia.
Shannon
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Post by rockmanken on May 16, 2010 12:54:28 GMT -5
I like the first one the best. Did a good job on the bezel.
I also like the pearl. Don't care for the green ones.
With PMC, I would do them all with LOS. Give it an antique look.
Just my :2cents: .
Ken
P.S. Glad to see you are putting the kiln to good use. It makes it so easy, don't it.
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Post by deb193redux on May 16, 2010 12:55:21 GMT -5
I like the patina. Shiney can be too harsh.
I am not sure I sas the difference between adding Dawn and adding amonia. Which one had Dawn?
Was the sapphire going to be in place while fired? Does that stone take the heat?
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Post by Bejewelme on May 16, 2010 20:43:21 GMT -5
Daniel: The first one with bamboo imprint and jade had the dawn added, yes according to various charts the sapphire could have taken the heat, I fire to 1290 for 30 minutes, I wanted to see if it changed color with the heat, but when I went to sand it prior to firing it came off and to reattach I would have had to wait for it to dry, and I can't wait when I am ready to fire, LOL. Seems that most people, except me, like the patina, LOL so I have some other recipes to keep trying with it. I also have 2 titanium buffing wheels coming to polish the high spots that might work better than the 3M papers. I also need to quit being so cheap and make them thicker so the imprint is deeper, but at $42 a bag for 25gm, it is expensive and I try to conserve it. I really like it though, so I have a few more experiments in mind! Ken I got an adapter that hooks up to my 22lb BBQ propane tank so I don't have to worry about running out of gas! So far it works great! I would like to try the copper and bronze clays but that requires a regular kiln, and those are EXPENSIVE!!! The speedfire is working great!!!! Thank you!!!  Amber |
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Post by drocknut on May 17, 2010 1:11:02 GMT -5
You are doing great work. I'm more inclined towards the shiny but after reading Adrian's post about the tarnish factor I lean more towards patina... can't make up my mind...lol.
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fossilbrain
spending too much on rocks
Cookie Monster agate
Member since October 2007
Posts: 360
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Post by fossilbrain on May 17, 2010 1:42:25 GMT -5
I like them all, like I'd do a bit of both if I knew how, but I definitely say don't kick patina to the curb I really like it. I wonder what would happen with some textures if you patina-ed and then only lightly/briefly hit with a polishing wheel to bring out highlights on high spots while leaving most of the antiquing (don't ruin any of those beauties trying my inexperienced theory, though, haha).
I love them all & they're very, very inspiring!!
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rockdude
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since May 2008
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Post by rockdude on May 17, 2010 8:03:01 GMT -5
With silver, you will get patina with time whether you want it or not. You can polish the highlights of course, but it's harder to shine the whole piece after you've had it a couple years, depending on the design. Dipping in Tarnex etc will shine, but it also will cause some pitting after many uses.
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Post by sitnwrap on May 17, 2010 21:25:36 GMT -5
Amber these are beautiful both shiney and patina. Ok, so this is clay with silver in it, PMC? I had never heard of it until your posts. Man, your determination is producing amazing pendants. The design in the second to last one looks like a mossy agate only embossed in silver. Just beautiful!
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