Busy Hands

The weather is really yucky here. It's been raining for a few days now and has been getting colder. I think winter is finally coming to TN. :(

Because I am pretty much stuck inside I figured it would be a good couple of days to work on some projects.

I have been crocheting a lot lately. I finished these two headband ear warmers today.

I really like this pattern a lot. It makes a really nice thick headband and the way it's crocheted doesn't give you a typical crocheted look. I also LOVE crocheting large flowers and I think they look cute on these.
Here is me trying to get a picture of it on my head.

Another project that I worked on today is a copper pendant I started a few weeks back. I sawed out the shape and it's just been sitting on my table all this time. Today I finally finished it! The pictures are kind of blurry and the lighting was horrible when I took these. The copper actually has a really pretty rainbow effect on it due to a patina I put on it and the stone is actually really deep blue. It is only my 3rd time making a bezel and setting a stone and frankly I am not very good at it, but hopefully you can't tell in the picture. haha...

I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! We ate our meal at Cracker Barrel and it was actually awesome. So nice to just show up and order and not have to cook all day long. I can't remember the last time I had a Thanksgiving with no family visiting or us traveling anywhere. I thought it would feel weird but I actually enjoyed it.

Pendant

In my last post I told you that I finally was able to solder a bezel with my tools for the first time. Here is a picture of one of the pendants I made. It is made with copper and fine silver. I can't remember what stone is in there-maybe some kind of quartz or something.

I stamped the word "flourish" around the bezel and hammered the edges for some texture. For my first try-I am happy with it. It got me so excited that I got online and ordered some more cabochons, beads, and wire to do some wire wrapped stones.

I am excited to dive more into jewelry making.There are so many different materials to make jewelry out of and now that I know how to make bezels and can incorporate stones the possibilities feel a bit endless.

I am off to buy some yarn to make a custom pair of crocheted slippers for a special gal and might stop off at Fulins for lunch where I always get the same meal- Kung Pao(Pow?) Chicken.

I hope you are having a nice Tuesday where ever you are. :)

Finally!

I finally did it! I was able to solder a bezel and set a stone at home!

I have been slowly collecting tools so that I can do metal-smithing at home and although I still need a few more essentials I am at a point where I can improvise and still make some things. I have been DYING to be able to use a torch and solder, but I just couldn't decide which one to buy. That issue might warrant it's own post at another time. I finally decided on a torch and it arrived last week. I set up my work station and attempted to make a bezel and solder it to a piece of copper. I TOTALLY FAILED! The bezel never did fit right and I couldn't get the solder to flow and so the bezel never did stick. I was totally bummed and felt defeated.
When I took classes a while back my teacher kept saying how easily I was picking everything up and how well I was doing. I think I was overconfident about my abilities and when it didn't work my first thought was something like " I seriously just spent every last amount of extra money I have accumulated on tools and I can't even figure out how to use them. I stink!". I had a horrible rest of that day.
I gave myself some time and after talking with a silversmith friend she gave me some insight into what might have happened and It made me feel a little better. I had a good weekend and today I felt motivated to try it again.

It totally worked! I did it! I even made and finished two pendants this evening. Are they super awesome? Not exactly, but they aren't bad for a first time home experiment.

I feel excited at the possibilities and am sort of proud of myself for using boy tools like torches and hammers and things with acid in them. Hahaha...ahh growth is good.

Working with Brass

Today I finished up this pendant and turned it into a necklace. I am just getting started with metal-smithing and I finally got in a few more tools so it has motivated me to play around with it all.

I sawed out this pendant from a thick piece of brass, pierced it and sawed out a heart shape, filed and sanded the edges, hammered the edges, banged around the top of the pendant with a hammer, and played around with my torch to get the patina. I like the texture and patina that resulted.

I will be putting this necklace in my Etsy shop shortly for purchase.

I am thinking about talking more about my experience as a beginner metal smith in future posts. I have had to search the internet like crazy for answers to some of my questions and I am finding that the info just isn't out there or at least not easily found. So, I may make a few posts about my experiences as I go. Thankfully right now I have an internet friend who is a silversmith who is gracious enough to answer my questions. You can see Amy's work here. She is the sweetest!

Monday

Today I am cleaning up the house, doing laundry, and working on some new jewelry pieces. My mom and step dad came for a short visit over the weekend. We had a nice time. We drove to Nashville and browsed around the Antique Archeology store and toured the Yazoo beer factory. I don't really drink and especially not beer (yuck!) but it was still fun. It was also my moms birthday and I was happy to get to share that with her.

I totally forgot to take pictures of their visit! Hope you all had a nice weekend!

Monday

I haven't posted anything in a little while. So, today I will just tell you a few random things.
I cut myself some bangs! And so far I haven't regretted it :)

I snapped this little picture of my dog Mose this morning. He reminds me of an Ewok...

About 3 minutes after this photo was taken he threw up on the floor. :(

I have been listening to a lot of this lady lately. And I love this video of her.
I am reading this.
I wish I were taking lots of classes here.
I am looking for a job. (I hate looking for a job)

Cooler weather always makes me want to crochet or knit. I may whip up a hat today.
Have a great Monday.