There must be a torch!
UPDATE - this baby is sold! Gone. Woo hoo!
Spent a few hours at the bench today. For a while now I've been wanting to fire up my torch and see if I could still wield it with any skill at all. Before I went on hiatus I had just begun fine silver fusing and found I really liked it. But I was hesitant. I hate wasting wire and I hate disappointing myself. I finally got my butt in gear and here's the result!
I'm sort of amazed at how well it turned out. Oh sure, I have a few goofed links, but not as many as I feared. With each dud I learned what I did wrong and fixed it though, so it wasn't a total waste. The ones I used are nearly all perfect. One or two have a bit thicker side to them, but not so awful that I pitched them.
That's the beauty of handmade, right? It's the thing we're all going for. At least what I'm going for. Quality pieces, even fine pieces, but without that assembly line look. I even did pretty well on the clasp having never made one like it before. Toggles are great and this one was a breeze.
My torch is at its limits though with 14 gauge wire (which is what the large links of the chain is made from, the smaller ones are 18). It took quite a while to heat the metal enough to make the balls at the ends. We'll have to see if another is in my future, especially if I want to work with 12 or 10 gauge. So many ideas floating around in my head! Must put in an order for wire!
And while I'm posting, I will show you one of my gemstone shipments. I LOVE getting new beads.
As you see I've already used some of them. Here's what I got, starting at the top left -
UPDATE - this baby is sold! Gone. Woo hoo!
Spent a few hours at the bench today. For a while now I've been wanting to fire up my torch and see if I could still wield it with any skill at all. Before I went on hiatus I had just begun fine silver fusing and found I really liked it. But I was hesitant. I hate wasting wire and I hate disappointing myself. I finally got my butt in gear and here's the result!
 |
| Amazonite & fine silver bracelet |
That's the beauty of handmade, right? It's the thing we're all going for. At least what I'm going for. Quality pieces, even fine pieces, but without that assembly line look. I even did pretty well on the clasp having never made one like it before. Toggles are great and this one was a breeze.
My torch is at its limits though with 14 gauge wire (which is what the large links of the chain is made from, the smaller ones are 18). It took quite a while to heat the metal enough to make the balls at the ends. We'll have to see if another is in my future, especially if I want to work with 12 or 10 gauge. So many ideas floating around in my head! Must put in an order for wire!
And while I'm posting, I will show you one of my gemstone shipments. I LOVE getting new beads.
As you see I've already used some of them. Here's what I got, starting at the top left -
- polished apatite rondelles
- polished muscovite flat ovals
- polished lapis lazuli rondelles
- polished amazonite nuggets
- rough cut and polished graduated iolite beads
- matte finish impression jasper rondelles
They are all fairly high-grade stones considering they're not for setting or mounting. I've been on the lookout for better sources for my materials and I'm really pleased with this lot. Another is on the way and some handmade glass beads that I could only find on Pinterest and drooled over. Just couldn't find where the artist sold them. Looked all over. Zip. Then coincidentally I joined a group on Facebook and there she was! I scored about 1/2 a dozen and I hope to get them soon.
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