Step by Step - Copper Yosemite Acorn Bead

I picked up a bunch of these Acorns while visiting Yosemite recently.
I actually picked the Acorns up at a rest stop along the road on our way home from Yosemite.

Originally I only considered making a mold of the top portion and making it in Copper,

then I decided why not make the whole bead!

So that's what I did.

I took some pictures along the say to show the process, I'm happy with the result but I'm definitely going to try again and see if I can make it even better!

This shows the original acorn the 2 sided mold and the 2 copper pieces I created with them.

Take each piece and sand it in a circular motion,

test the fit.

Continue to sand and test, sand and test,

 until they fit together snuggly and smoothly.

Slight variations can be taken care of once they are put together.

Moisten both sides and add slip

(slip is clay with water added, very moist and goey working as glue)

Fit 2 moisted sides together and hold.

Even at this early stage you can start smoothing the seem out with your finger.

Continue gently sanding and using your wet finger or a clay shaper to fill in spaces or take away extra clay until you get a smooth finish all around.

(my acorn is a little flat, not chubby and round as the original, practice practice)

Once it was completely dry I chose to make holes on either side for stringing,

I carefully made the holes with an exacto knife.

You do have to be very careful since you're working on a seem,

you dont' want to pop the seem open.

Here is the unfired piece next to the acorn it was molded from.

Here is the fired Copper Acorn next to the original.

They do shrink quite a bit.

My Acorn didn't turn out nice and round but I'm quite pleased with it.

I think I'll start at the beginning again (probably several times)

and perfect the process.

Kristi

Presentation

Remember my "Collaboration Coolness" post 2 weeks ago?

I ordered one of the lovely packages from this amazing collaboration. When my order arrived, I was so excited to open it... as it turned out, opening my prize was more than merely ripping open the package apart. The "unboxing" (as we refer to it in the industrial art world - my "daytime job" as an interaction designer), was an experience in itself. I was very pleased and inspired. Presentation (or "Staging) is an important part of how we deliver our art. What a lovely example...

Feelin' the Bliss...

I  attended 2 classes at ArtBliss Workshops several weeks ago.  I have been meaning to blog about it, so I thought I would do so here, for my 1st blog on AJE, as a sort of introduction!  I'm Melissa Meman, by the way.  I create art jewelry and components with an emphasis these days on metals and wire. I am very happy and honored to have been chosen to join the group and look forward to having a lot of fun!!

Via SweetBeadStudio.com

For those who don't know, ArtBliss was founded by Cindy Wimmer and Jeanette Blix in Northern, Virginia.  From their website..." workshops that encompass jewelry design and mixed media from internationally renowned instructors. ArtBliss brings in the Dream Teams of creative coaches and motivators in a warm, relaxing, and collaborative environment. Join us and open the door to creative discovery and inspiration!" Wow!  You had me at hello :)

This was my 3rd year to attend and as usual, it was a blast!  My 2 classes were with Stacie Florer, and were both centered around metalwork..Ranch Hand Earrings and Heavy Metal Beads.  Stacie was a very generous and patient teacher and I left both classes with lots of new information swimming in my head, just waiting to be utilized in future work.

Photo by Cindy Wimmer; me, LeAnn Weih, Michelle Timms

Here are a few things I have made so far with some of that knowledge...a couple were completed in class, others needed to be tweaked at home!

One of the best things about the workshops, was running into jewelry-making friends, old and new!  It is always fun to see Cindy and Jeanette every year, as well as the "regulars"...you know who you are, Jen Judd, Sally Russick, Carol Myers, Bette Brody, Lori Anderson, Sandi Volpe!  It was oh, so fun to meet other folks that I have only emailed, blogged and Facebooked (is that a word?) with!  Patti Vanderblomen and LeAnn Weih, for example!  And Stacie Florer...I have known Stacie online for several years, but had never met her in person.  Meeting someone in person and putting a voice with a face and words that you see online is the best!  I told her, now when I read her blog, I will be able to hear her voice in my head!!!

One of our other newbies here at AJE, Jenny Davies-Reazor, was there and I happily attended a trunk show that she had going on in her room on Saturday night!  Here is a look at some very sweet goodies I took home with me!

Just made for Earrings Everyday

Another special event that happens every year is the charm swap...interested attendees sign up to make art charms and swap with each other...this year, the theme was "Fall into Bliss".  I created fold-formed copper leaves with Czech glass flower dangles.

Photo by Cindy Wimmer...left to right: Jenny Davies-Reazor, Sally Russick, Patti Vanderblomen, yours truly,  Beth , Anne Savage - looking at their goodies! Beautiful handpainted bags by Dawn Gallop, the swap organizer!

ArtBliss usually offers a smaller grouping of Spring classes as well...I have been blessed to be able to take classes with Stephanie Lee and Richard Salley there...can't wait to see what they will offer in 2013!  If you live in the DC suburbs (or not!) you should definitely check it out!

How about you?  Have you taken any cool classes lately?

Freeform Friday: your friendly neighborhood hardware store...

 The Hardware store, whether Big Box or independent, inspiration everywhere...

Color explosions: gourds, paint chips, orchid, fall leaves. 

With my first post coming up here at AJE, I wanted to make it a good one, interesting to you readers out there - and introduce myself a bit as well. I am a mixed media artist, and lately I have been making more and more wearable work. I do have an Art School background in metals and painting - and taught full time art for 12+ years... But the last ten years, (Oh how time does fly...) I have been primarily in the studio. This week - I also found myself in the hardware store...

My husband and I went to look for some materials for a costume I am creating for FaerieCon. (there's another post there...) and I realized how well I knew my way around the hardware store. Yes, its your place to purchase sandpaper, steel wool, tape, certain torches, glues, safety glasses, gloves... but I get ideas at the Hardware store...

So much potential... epoxies, copper and PVC tubing, clear tubing, washers, tanks of gas, copper pipes/caps. 

I purchased some 1/4" PVC tubing ( so cheap!) and those copper end caps... ooh I have a bracelet idea... (thats another post, let me make one and I will show you!) I thought I would share with you a few of my mixed media pieces and their hardware store ingredients. 

"Great Wave" amulet: PVC pipe, brass, felt, paints, raku bead, leather, wire.  This amulet style bead was inspired by Robert Dancik's book "Amulets and Talismans".  It may or may not have a secret message inside...

"Whispered Tales": wire, silk, gems, copper, nickel, twig, micro fasteners, cedar, paint, chain, resin. (Full story: here. ) Would you believe that the base for this entire piece is cedar? Yes! Sawed from a cedar shingle meant to be hung in the closet. 

I used epoxy putty in this bezel to set a hand made button by Sandi Volpe. 

Evidence: copper pipe visible in this pix of sketches for the "Inspired by Travel" challenge. 

"Inspired by Germany" : copper, resin, key, calcedony, micro fasteners,  images, mica. Read all about it here. 

Surprised you with the cedar shingle, didnt I? What unusual materials do you use in your work? What is your best hardware store find? I look forward to hearing from you...

Jenny

www.jdaviesreazor.com