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Post by susand24224 on Feb 23, 2024 19:12:38 GMT -5
That yellow little finger is "Indonesian Tube Agate". I was also thinking of using some of them to hold a small cluster of dried flowers, so it is interesting when you refer to it as vase! Thanks for the information! Yes, they are perfect for that. I have some very small (1 mm) lapis beads which should look very nice in racines. And thank you again for the thought-provoking collection you sent me.
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 23, 2024 17:20:28 GMT -5
Okay, in a remarkable display of bravery, I am posting what is not completed. I have no reputation to ruin, so a few introductory notes. Wrap: The cab really isn't. Rather, it is an interesting semi-cab with pieces that sort of glued themselves together at random, without my interference, coupled with pieces that broke off at all inopportune moments while I was trying to make a cab. Then. . .THEN. . .I paired them with the cutest little sun that came in the scrap that liveoak Patty kindly sent me. The cute little sun is now living elsewhere, thanks to my Main Coon Cat from H*ll, but it's not under the rug, the stove, the dishwasher or the refrigerator. It will show up some day. So there was another cute little sun, but it hadn't been cut out yet so I started doing that, including removing one of the rays. Back to the semi-cab: I had no idea what I was going to do with thing, but I knew I didn't want to encircle the little piece on the bottom right. And I still haven't decided how to do the back; so it's not done, nor is a bail (I might add several jump rings). Probably I will do nothing because this piece should never be worn--it's just too fragile. Next is the flower-to-be which requires stamens and pistils and a lot of reshaping, but I like it. The cute little chalcedony in the center (which forms a vase) was sent to me by pebblesky , and is deep enough to hold the pistils. What fun! This "wrap" is the most seat of the pants thing I have ever done--at no time did I have a clue of what I needed to do next. So--I've decided to add a photo that shows the bottom right "blob" more clearly since it is what made the wrap so difficult:
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 18, 2024 19:03:51 GMT -5
liveoak Well, Patty, I don't know where to start, so I'll begin with a huge "W.O.W." on the earrings--another design I want to steal! And I'll give you a clue (not that you should sell them) but I test wear all jewelry before it is sold and once in a while I am *very* glad that I did. Of late, this excludes earrings since I don't feel a burning desire to re-pierce my ears. I have two partially made projects from your copper scrap, and but for lack of time of late would probably have a dozen. I am running into difficulties with both of them as to how to finish, one I have tried several approaches which produced hideous results. On the other I'm going to be forced to put holes in your little copper sun (bah humbug) I think, but it will work. Thank you again for the gift of scrap!
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 11, 2024 17:54:21 GMT -5
I agree with Tela (I think). I'm not remembering one that I liked better, but this is absolute perfection! I'm enjoying that it's granite turned elegant, and you've completely nailed the wrap. PS: I like the back, it made me smile.
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 8, 2024 16:40:40 GMT -5
You did an extraordinary job for your first attempts, or even for your 100th attempt! I am especially impressed that you accomplished this with very simple tools more manually than "usual." Nice!
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 5, 2024 17:01:45 GMT -5
I agree, although I don't buy from Fire Mountain unless I absolutely can't find it anywhere else. But--Fire Mountain's prices are much better unless you wait for a sale at Artbeads or Beadaholique. One thing I question though (don't know for sure, but question) is whether it works as well as the "wire" stuff with cheap beads. I've taken apart a few failing necklaces where it broke and found it very frayed--I think in large part because cheap gemstone and glass beads are not finished well on the inside so they cut into it. I also took apart one necklace that was on wire (couldn't identify the type) that was also frayed, I think for the same reason. Maybe fraying is not avoidable with any media when the beads are poorly made (?) (Just thinking out loud here.) But--I use Fireline for, for example, seed beads that are components in earrings and lighter-weight bracelets. I've *never* had Fireline break, but I've never used it for a moderate to heavy weight project. PS: I've never had a problem with orders from Fire Mountain, I'm just very environmentally oriented and I have a *real* problem with their excessive use of plastic in packing their stuff. I listed the first big site that came up. I'm not advocating for FMG. Just wanted to demonstrate the variety. I have used heavier Fireline for quite heavy necklaces with no issues. I have also used it for seed beaded things.
Thanks for the extra info., Tela. It is also entirely possible that the stuff I am repairing was not treated properly by its owners--perhaps they were reading the old "Hints from Heloise" that advocated using toothpaste as a cleaner. By way of explanation, lately I've gotten stuff that had fallen apart or close to falling apart to "redo" and put on the charity's website that I work with--on two occasions from the children of people who have passed. It's good to hear that you have had positive experiences with it, since it sure is easy to use. (Off to search for 14 lb test.)
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 4, 2024 17:08:16 GMT -5
I always liked fireline www.firemountaingems.com/shop/fireline It was developed as a fishing line and took off with crafters. Its ridiculously strong, resists cutting, drapes well and comes in lots of variety. I agree, although I don't buy from Fire Mountain unless I absolutely can't find it anywhere else. But--Fire Mountain's prices are much better unless you wait for a sale at Artbeads or Beadaholique. One thing I question though (don't know for sure, but question) is whether it works as well as the "wire" stuff with cheap beads. I've taken apart a few failing necklaces where it broke and found it very frayed--I think in large part because cheap gemstone and glass beads are not finished well on the inside so they cut into it. I also took apart one necklace that was on wire (couldn't identify the type) that was also frayed, I think for the same reason. Maybe fraying is not avoidable with any media when the beads are poorly made (?) (Just thinking out loud here.) But--I use Fireline for, for example, seed beads that are components in earrings and lighter-weight bracelets. I've *never* had Fireline break, but I've never used it for a moderate to heavy weight project. PS: I've never had a problem with orders from Fire Mountain, I'm just very environmentally oriented and I have a *real* problem with their excessive use of plastic in packing their stuff.
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 3, 2024 17:12:46 GMT -5
susand24224 Again, I don’t know how I missed this. I do want it to drape well, not be stiff. I think you’re right. They probably aren’t using high dollar wire to send out with purchased beads. Thanks for the Art Beads info. I’ll look into them. I had previously started doing some reading and of course everyone had both good and bad things to say about the various brands so it didn’t really narrow it down for me. It is spendy stuff so I just need to try to determine the best brand for me to try. There are multitudes of types of wire out there, as well as thread, and each has a different purpose. I'm no expert, but *somewhere* on Artbeads (it may be one of their instructional videos that link to Youtube) there is a discussion of which is best for which. It could be that people used the wrong wire for what they were doing, etc. I don't think any of it will hold up if it isn't properly cared for or it would be stiff as a board.
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 2, 2024 15:40:28 GMT -5
Hmmm. I have no sheet metal scrap, and very limited sheet metal, with minimal tools to work it. But perhaps I can accomplish *something* (emphasis on "thing" and perhaps it will motivate me to enlarge my capabilities. I have a saw, but not one of those thingies where you put your sheet metal on top and cut into the grooves. I have core drills, but wait! I have shears! I'll think of something. Susan, I have a sheet metal shop. I dump loads and loads of scraps of galvanized sheet metal. I also have a pretty good little stash of sheet copper scraps. If you want I can send you some. I use the copper scraps for earrings so I can't be as generous with that but can definitely spare enough that you could do a couple of projects as I still have a pretty large piece of a sheet. rockbrain Gary, thanks so much for your kind offer! And having seen some of your copper creations, I fully understand what you are saying. liveoak sent me a message this morning saying she had already mailed me a box, along with suggestions for creating that "v" thing, so I will turn your offer down. But, please be assured, I appreciate it and will be happy to return the favor any time if I have material that you want/need.
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Post by susand24224 on Feb 1, 2024 20:19:52 GMT -5
Hmmm. I have no sheet metal scrap, and very limited sheet metal, with minimal tools to work it. But perhaps I can accomplish *something* (emphasis on "thing" and perhaps it will motivate me to enlarge my capabilities. I have a saw, but not one of those thingies where you put your sheet metal on top and cut into the grooves. I have core drills, but wait! I have shears! I'll think of something.
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 30, 2024 22:50:40 GMT -5
Wonderful! I share Tela's observation that this type of wrap is far from the easiest, and you did it with style. Quite impressive!
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 29, 2024 16:14:06 GMT -5
Wow! I'm trying to figure out whether I'm more excited about the new tool or what you did with it. I must ponder this important question for a bit. Nice job, and thanks for sharing!
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 23, 2024 16:20:31 GMT -5
liveoak Patty, another gorgeous heart wrap--I love the look, but oh! The back! My mind is swirling trying to figure out how you managed all that--and with finesse, no less!
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 22, 2024 21:47:02 GMT -5
I really like those susand24224! Good use of negative space and I like the different colored metals. But, I feel compelled to drop a bead off the bottom. LOL! Hopefully, I can come up with something next.
Yes! I agree, but I wanted to stay true and use only scrap and as of yet I don't have a scrap pile for beads. Well, maybe the jar that holds the beads that I picked up off the floor months after I finished the piece their kin was attached to . . .and was too lazy to figure out where they actually belonged.
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 22, 2024 17:21:15 GMT -5
Interesting with the pickle. I've probably seen that happen but wasn't paying enough attention to realize it could be a benefit. Hmmm.... nice tip. We are all our own worst critics ! Personally, I like them, they are the kind of design that you want to look at a bunch of times to understand. Patty liveoak Patty, a little more detail for you. I use a small ceramic "dish" for most pickling and leave it in the microwave for a minute and 15 seconds, which has it very close to boiling. I also run the piece under hot water (as hot as my tap water gets) before I put it in the almost boiling water; I put it under the tap water immediately so the stone or whatever is in there gradually warms up as the water warms up. If you just leave it in the LOS a short period of time you usually get the silvery color with a lot of blue. Left a long time, I found out that some of the blue remains despite the darkening from the pickle. This is by no means sure--but when it works, the colors can be beautiful. **Special thanks to liveoak for catching my earlier error! (Now corrected)
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 21, 2024 23:15:23 GMT -5
I like them Susan, they are interesting. The different colors & different hanging lengths & that they both move independently, is my favorite kind of jewelry. How did you color the outer ring ? Patty Thank you, Patty! I like movement as well. The outer ring was *very* hot pickle and the piece was hot as well. I left it in there quite awhile. The heat caused the blues, which remained after I removed some of the pickle. It was supposed to be silver wire over the pickled areas, and the rest more coppery, but they are so small and I am sufficiently "clutzy" that it didn't quite work that way. The silver wires and chain lengths were added after the pickling. I got one of the circles backward when I put it on the ear wires, which is why there are so many wire ends showing. Since I'm planning to make new ear wires I'm not going to fix that for now. These were formed around a ring mandrel for size 9.
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 21, 2024 17:45:12 GMT -5
Okay, here goes: All copper wire is 16-gauge, the silver wire (not sure if it is argentium or sterling) is likely 28-gauge, but when it gets that small who knows? The beauty of the silver wire is that it came from my "not enough to use for anything" silver scrap container, rather than the "might be able to be used for something" pile. The links with the copper balls were rejects from a chain I was making; I decided to make the links smaller so there wouldn't be so much bare space. I had to remove some of the bindings on one so it matched the other. Finding earwires that could accommodate two 16-gauge wire took a bit, and I really need to make my own to have it work completely. I like the design -but- were I to do it again, I would use 14-gauge so I could really smash parts flat without fear of breakage, and I would make them larger. I likely would do silver balled dangles hanging from the bottom--thought about it this time but have used copper pickle and more copper to pickle, so didn't want to start over with new pickle for the silver.
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 21, 2024 17:07:51 GMT -5
liveoak Patty, you did it! And I am so impressed with what you did, each and every one of them. I finished mine last night so will add it shortly, but it certainly pales in comparison to yours. All of yours are *very* creative--I have found that having these interesting scraps around stokes my creative side, and I wanted others to experience the same--it looks like you did! Congrats! I have to edit to say that your earrings holding a circle and a diamond brought a smile to my face. I've always believed that life is too short to wear totally matching earrings, and this is one lovely example of why!
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 16, 2024 17:02:02 GMT -5
susand24224 Susan, thank you so much for being such an inspiration and full of enthusiasm. I love your attitude. You are such an asset to RTH and a great cheerleader. Thank you so much for your kind words, Tela, I'm blushing . . .
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Post by susand24224 on Jan 16, 2024 4:30:18 GMT -5
All I can say in my defense is that it's from quite a few years & in the early years I only used sheet, very little wire. And 90% of it is actually copper flashing, of which was mostly from a huge copper gutter that I bought at a garage sale for $5. But I ain't showing my failed wire bin. Wire weaving can be wasteful, especially when you're learning ! The cone idea sounds interesting though & there is a bunch of texture sheet in there to utilize. I also keep staring at discarded enamel experiments.
Lots to play with - just what I need !
Patty
You need no defense for your amazing scrap pile--you were creating future works of art! Just think, Patty, if you try one thing or ten things and none of them work, it doesn't matter because it's just your scrap pile. Thus, no guilt connected with screwing up. For me, at least, that is very liberating. I've actually got my design worked out but can't do anything until this below zero stuff breaks in a few days. It requires hammering and my old dog gets frightened and runs out the doggie door; he can barely see and barely hear (except loud noises like hammering things flat) and then gets lost in the yard. There's only so many times I can wrap up like I'm in Alaska to go search the three acres to find him late at night.
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