Relax

0 comments on this article Posted by tnehlers in Bracelet, Chain Maille, Jewelry, Tutorial on May 8th, 2012 , tagged with , , , , , , , .

Since I got my studio all set up I started making jewelry again.  I’m really enjoying it, which is good, since that was the whole point of setting up the studio in the first place.  Somehow, wonders of wonders, I actually managed to finish a piece of jewelry.  And it only took me two weeks!  In my defense, I actually did complete a watch before this, but I am still waiting for the watch battery so technically it’s not a completed piece.  Darn technicalities!  So instead I listed the bracelet I will be discussing below, and decided to concentrate on it for this blog post.  It’s entitled, “Relax.”

Relax by Theresa Ehlers

The materials are copper and brass in two forms: sheet and wire.  First I sawed a rectangle of brass, then an oval of copper.  I filed the edges smooth and of course, rounded the sharp corners of the brass rectangle.  I selected the texture hammer I wanted and used that on my brass sheet until I liked the look.  It gave a nice look to the brass and softened some of the harsh yellow coloring, giving it more of a vintage feel.  I punched the holes I needed for my connecting rings and rivets and stamped my inspirational word on my copper oval.  I then carefully shaped both pieces on my bracelet mandrel for a gentle curve that will caress the wearer’s wrist.

Of course before I attached the pieces I gave them a good polishing, and then it was time for the rivets.  I made the rivets myself out of wire and hammered them in until the copper and brass pieces were securely attached.  When that was finished it got a final polish to give it a good shine.  I don’t try to buff out all the scratches.  I think some scratches and scuffs give it character and depth, and take away from the “flat” look the metal has otherwise.

Relax Close-up

Ok.  So then it was time to choose the weave for the rest of the bracelet.  I knew I wanted something slinky to continue the theme of the piece, so Persian 4 in 1 immediately came to mind.  It’s a sleek, flowing weave that fits easily with the overall feel of the bracelet idea.  I also wanted to use both copper and brass, but I wanted them to coexist side by side as they did in my centerpiece, rather than working the colors in sections as I have in other pieces.  It was not hard to figure out how to work it, and I was very happy with the results.  I wrapped, sawed, cleaned, and polished the rings, created the length of the bracelet, and then made a textured copper clasp to finish it off.

Relax Back View

Then I took my own advice and relaxed.


I’m Back – With a Twist!

0 comments on this article Posted by tnehlers in Chain Maille, Jewelry, Studio on May 3rd, 2012 , tagged with , , , , , .

So here I am, in sunny Florida.  It’s awesome!  I love it here.  I have always hated the cold, but I love the warm weather (if you can’t stand the heat, don’t work with a torch!).  Really the only downside of our relocation, and it is truly a humongous downside, is the loss of my studio.  Yes, I had to leave it behind in North Carolina.  It was quite depressing, truth be told.  It was a very nice studio.  I was very attached to it – about as attached to a building as a person can be, I would say.

So…what is an artist without art?  Not a heck of a lot, I soon learned.  At first I cleaned a lot.  That didn’t last long (to the disappointment of my husband).  Then I started drawing again, but that takes too much concentration and that type of brainpower is in short supply in such a busy household.  Not that I wasn’t happy with some of my results, and there is certainly plenty of inspiration around here.  In fact, I am particularly fond of one I did of our baby macaw, Malibu, when we first got him:

 

Graphite Drawing by Theresa Ehlers

So when the drawing didn’t work out, I kind of just moped around for a while.  I took a lot of naps.  Then I got an upper respiratory infection and bronchitis, and the first antibiotic didn’t clear it, so I had to take a second one, so I felt awful for a while, and that helped kill a good bit of time…  But, inevitably, I began to feel better and subsequently, bored again.  Finally my husband got tired of my pestering and came of with the idea of setting up an area in our spiffy new overcrowded garage where I could work.  He inquired if there was anything I would like to work on, other than glass.  Why, yes, there actually was.  I had just made a pair of earrings out of feathers our Quaker Parrot, Juice, had molted:

 

Parrot Feather Earrings - http://www.teasebeads.artfire.com

I had dabbled with metal in that way in the past, and had always wanted to do more, but my time (and funds) and always been dedicated to glass.  He then happily reminded me that my birthday was coming up, and said two words I never thought I would hear him say: go wild.

Go wild I did!  I happily made a list and soon thereafter placed orders for the tools and supplies I wanted needed to get all set up.  Then I waited…uh…er….ahem…patiently…for my bounty to arrive.  In the meantime,  my incredible husband, with my meager help, cleared out the garage and made it inhabitable!  Heck, we could even fit a car in there if we wanted!  But, we don’t.

We set up my table, recycled from the days when I didn’t even have a glass studio and would torch in the garage (talk about coming full circle!) and when my packages started arriving I got everything set up.  It was so exciting! It’s a far cry from the studio I left behind, but it’s a studio in it’s own right.  In case you are wondering, yes, those are stacks and stacks and stacks of frit, and many bundles of of glass delicately wrapped in the background, waiting for me.

My new metalsmithing "studio"

Then, the first day all three kids were in school, I went out there and, holding my breath, made my first cut.  I was so nervous.  I didn’t expect that!  I’ve used a jeweler’s saw before.  I’ve just never sawed sheet metal.  Of course, no matter how much I told myself to start with an easy shape, like a square, I want what I want, and I have never been patient, so an oval it was.  Or, at least it was supposed to be.  I’m not really sure what it actually could be called, other than pathetic:

 

Epic Failure

Thankfully my second attempt went much better, as did my third and fourth.  In fact, after that first epic failure, I managed to saw, file, hole punch, and even stamp or texture three additional pieces before I had to get the kids from school.

I am an artist once again.


Welcome to My New Blog

1 comment on this article Posted by tnehlers in Uncategorized on October 15th, 2011 .

I’ve decided to start using my own website to host my blog.  I plan to move over a few older blog posts in the future.  In the meantime, I’ll give you a little info about me for those of you who are wondering who the heck I am and what this blog is even about.

I go by T and I am a glass artist.  When I tell people that, I get a variety of confused responses, owing, I can only assume, to the variety of arts actually involving glass.  I really should figure out a better way to get straight to the point, but as of yet, I have not succeeded.  There are so many ways to put it.  Basically, I melt glass rods with a really hot torch to make beads and stuff.  It’s kinda cool.  At least, I think so.

That covers who I am and I think you can guess by now what this blog is about, too.  It’s about making beads, also known as lampworking, torching, and flameworking.  I plan to touch on various aspects of lampworking, and hope my readers will find it informative and valuable.  I will be happy to answer any questions that are within my scope of lampworking knowledge, as well, so please don’t hesitate to post a question if you have one.

Happy melting!