Raising Japanese style

It's so fascinating to me how metalsmiths work in other countries, like Japan. Raising a silver vessel while sitting down seems so much more comfortable! Okay, so the video is in Japanese but once you get to the 5 min. mark things start to get very interesting. Watch it!
I snagged this video from Ford Hallam's blog. He studied traditional metalsmithing in Japan.
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Colonial silversmithing

Whoa - I wish I'd seen this video months ago when I was trying to chase my first bowl! Often process techniques don't occur to oneself until you see someone do it and then it's an aha moment, or for me, "duh?!"




I will say that when I'm sinking a bowl I use a much larger hammer and more hallowed out tree stump. Lately I've really been getting into raising and forming. My goal is to have three 3.5 inch diameter bowls raised, planished and chased by mid-summer for the trunk show. I've already got one raised and planished, and another half raised - so I'm almost there!

Thanks for reading and have a great Memorial Day weekend!
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bench shot

Now that classes are over, I can make whatever I want! I'm planning on making a 'man' brooch. We'll see how the guys in the studio respond.

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much better photos!

So I finally took a good friend's advice and shot my work outside on an overcast day - what a difference it makes with photos?!

Below is my beloved hinge vessel for my Jewelry I class with Mi-Sook Hur.

I'm quite proud of the vessel for several reasons, the curvy lines, the crystal and the fact that my hinge works! However there are design issues, the catch is tiny compared to the heft of the vessel and the prongs for the crystal are a bit obvious but all in all I'm happy and admit that, I love looking at it!

And here are two rings I made on the fly because I just wanted to make some pretty bling. The above ring I used a casting from my antler necklace and now...it's got me on a roll to make more for the summer...a possible trunk show is in the works!
Last week the Contemporary Techniques class with Ken Bova did a demo on using concrete in jewelry - which I was super psyched to sit in on because I missed the workshop Jim Cotter did at ECU a year ago.

Anywho, I had initially made this ring for a boulder opal but I had a little mishap so I used it for the concrete - which I love too! I'm already brainstorming ways to introduce it into some jewelry.

Thank you for reading!
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new Craft in Sight video: Sue Amendolara

Craft In Sight (Craft in Sight is a collaboration between Brian Ferrell and Brigitte Martin (crafthaus.) Our goal is the creation and distribution of videos about crafthaus artists, showcasing a range of craft media, creative processes, and the environment in which craft work is made today.)

They just released a new video, found this from Crafthaus. check it out...
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progress report

I have been so busy lately; unexpected visits from old friends, summer plans and meeting amazing new people popped up all in the past two weeks. But that is life and I'm taking it as it comes.

Along with all of that excitement I've got three projects due next week and I'm getting ready to pull my hair out with all of the small details I have to keep track of.

Annnnnnyways, here is a photo of my lid and vessel which will soon by attached with my first completed hinge. I'm nervous and anxious to get it over with. It's like surgery or something!

Keep me in your prayers to the metalsmith gods!

And thank you for reading.
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David Huang bowls

Luminous Relic 724

Sensual Radiance 866

Whorled Flow 877-2

Whorled Flow 877-4

I was recently browsing new work on Crafthaus and spied a new bowl from David Huang. His chasing and repoussee work is amazing. He creates entrancing swirls on his bowls and then applies gold leaf on the inside as well as gorgeous patinas, like the blue/green one above.

As I've worked on my copper vessel, I'm becoming aware of how the metal moves and behaves according to the type of hammer I use and how I want to manipulate it. Looking at David's work, I'm challenged to stick with this new technique and not be tempted to give up when I'm frustrated.

Hope you enjoy his work as much as I do - and thank you for reading!
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on my bench

I'm making good progress on my vessel/hinge project for my jewelry I class...hammering texture on a bowl with pitch is SO much more fun than chasing with little tools.

Below are my black moth earrings but with gold leaf! I am loving this look, adding the gold leaf gives it more pop and bling. These gorgeous earrings will be listed very soon on my Etsy page.
Thanks for reading and have a great weekend.
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spring break in the studio

Having a week free to work on my copper vessel and catching up on work has been wonderful. I don't want it to end! I get to sleep in and hit the gym and then head into the studio. Today I spent most of the afternoon in the studio planishing my copper container.

Sometimes I like planishing, it's somewhat meditative and you don't have to think too much, just make sure you hammer at the 'sweet spot' - for that 'ting' of the steel hammer meeting the copper with the steel stake on the other side HOWEVER, my hands and forearms do not like planishing.

I get so wiped out from raising and forming! Anywho, here are some shots of where I'm at.
Okay, my vessel is somewhat skewed to the right however it'll look way better once I chase it.
thx for reading!
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reaching back in time

Being an artist you can never escape the past but for me it often goes deeper; to the root of spirituality and beliefs - and yes, an ethereal quality.

Above is my 2nd raised vessel - but this vessel is not for my raising and forming class but for Jewelry I, in which the assignment is to make a container that tells a story.

I drew several, unsuccessful sketches and finally came upon an idea to raise and chase a vessel that tells a story of creation and energy. Waves of water on the outside, earth on the inside and a crystal on the lid (the creation). The main and challenging component of the container is the hinge. I'm NOT looking forward to it - more the final and hopefully beautifully made product.
And for my raising and forming class I'm making a necklace - seems contradictory, to be making jewelry for raising and forming and a vessel for my Jewelry I class however, I do not like to differentiate between my classes - they feed each other.

The sketch above may not be what I actually make, I'm still working on more sketches however I do like the idea of the turtle shell skins hanging like they do in the sketch. I may use it for another piece.

However, what is constant is that a torc neckpiece will be the main part of the design. This goes to my nostalgia and love of Celtic culture and metalwork. I've always been completely fascinated by their belief system, culture and language. It is so intriguing to me.
Several taped photos in my sketchbook of inspiration and references.
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On my bench

I've got two projects due next week and I don't plan on repeating last semester in not turning in complete projects.

My necklace above has presented some challenges that I plan on tackling today.
Last night I worked on planishing my vessel for Tim's class. I actually am enjoying it more than I thought. Once I planish my vessel I will chase and repousse some designs.

Wish me luck, 'cause I think I'll need it!

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raising and plaiting

A little update on my raising and forming class with Tim Lazure, it's going pretty good. I've decided for my first project to create a bowl imitating a snail's shell and then using prisma color to add a pop. Before I apply the color though I want to do some repousse work.
Here I am raising my copper bowl (at 8am in the morning) that I initially sank. I really hope my idea comes out the way I plan...sometimes you never know, especially when you're trying a new process.

Speaking of which, below is my plaiting project for my textiles class. Plaiting is another term for basketry, it's a wonderful way to give a strong structure using a light material.
Next up in textiles, fabric dyeing!
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sunken

Here's a snapshot of my notebook and my 2nd 'sunken' bowl.  It's a 6 inch, 18 gauge copper disk that I started sinking on Wednesday.  I've taken raising and forming, but a looooong time ago (probably 3 years ago) and I learned a new method from Tim Lazure, using a different kind of hammer and then planishing it.  

I think I'm really going to enjoy this class, Tim is a good teacher and makes it easy to understand new methods; for those of us that don't know them!

My goal for this course is to make a silver baby cup for my newborn niece, Doris.  She's a beautiful little munchkin, I can't wait until she gets older and shows more of her personality.  Here's a photo of my brother making her smile.

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well rested

Is how I felt all weekend. I spent Saturday cleaning my apartment, exercising and relaxing. It was wonderful not to have any pressure to go into the studio.

I did go into the studio for several hours today. I tried repairing some of the dents in my mother's silver cup. However, mid-way through I discovered a solder seam come very slightly apart. I stopped planishing at that point because I'm not as sure of soldering a seam in an old cup.

I sanded the bottom and top of the cup with 2500 grit paper and then polished with tripoli then rouge. I'm considering taking it to my old employers, and friends, Lawrence at Lawrence Miller & Co., to get his expert opinion.

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