Metalwork Monday: TARDIS Shrinky Dink Bracelet

It's back! The new series of Doctor Who premiered on Saturday night here in the US and Whovians everywhere were glued to the screen. In honor of the that, it is Doctor Who Week AGAIN here on Weasinart! First off, this super fun TARDIS pattern bracelet made from Shrinky Dinks.

Metalwork Monday: Cider Vinegar and Sea Salt Patina

At the very heart of my crafty universe is metalwork. I am always

trying to learn new techniques and love to experiment. 

Giving metal new colors and textures is one of my favorite things.

I brewed up a batch of patina solution with items from pantry and 

absolutely love they look that they produced.

How Tuesday: Commitment Phobia

My hands are sore. Like, hurt to bend my fingers sore. My arm is tired from lifting my hammer. It is like a good workout...it is a good kind of sore. I am back in the saddle, although it has taken me a few tries each day to really get into the groove. 


Nothing, though, is permanent. I may be able to stay on the the streak and make new pieces everyday. I got a fun new tool today that will pique my interest for the immediate future. I may not though. Nothing is permanent. Okay, maybe one thing is... tattoos. Lots of my friends sport a little ink. I would, but I am not a fan of pain...or very confident about how it would age. 


I figured if I wasn't going to get one myself, I would make one. Inspired by vintage motifs, it is a tiny piece of nostalgia around your neck. I come from a line of sailors, so it seemed appropriate.

Inspired by my grandparents. My grandpa was in the Navy and
I regret never seeing his actual dog tags.
The piece is an aluminum dog tag, a copper banner, and copper rivets.

This piece is a copper heart, brass banner, and vintage chain.

First, I stamped the words onto the banner. I used a
pre-cut banner piece, but you could cut your own.
I started from the center of the piece and stamped out from there
to keep the phrase centered. 

I used my chasing hammer to deckle the edges and then
used my round nose pliers to give the banner movement.

After a dip in the liver of sulfur bath.

I used my Crafted Finding rivet tool to attach the two pieces.
I added a vintage heart charm that also reminded me of an
old-school tattoo.

The rivets from the back. Check out the finished piece at
the top of this tutorial.

Metalwork Monday: Hammer Therapy

Sometimes, when you are having a rough time, it is difficult to recall why you like doing the things you do. Is it habit? Is it boredom? Or do they really still give us joy?


After the week I had been having, I doubted this morning that I would be be very productive. Heavy thoughts are still troubling me and focus has been tough to come by, but I took a couple of days off specifically to make things. So today, I put the pigtails back in and went into the jewelry studio. I had been avoiding it, primarily because since the turn of the year, business has been slow dead.  I had been spending many hours, designing and creating, but to what end? No one was buying.


I committed to posting a new metal working project every Monday, so I had to at least make one piece. But I also had a bunch of pieces that I had etched last week that needed to be made into something. Hmmm...I had to chose between the disappointment of not selling my work and the thrill of designing something totally new. Granted, if I made something truly stellar, I might sell it. Hmmm...


In the end, being creative won. I was able to make multiple pieces and I am very happy with them. I will list them in my shop later. Plus I have several more pieces to put together tomorrow. Additionally I worked on 5 other blog projects and will begin work on my sampler tonight. As a very wise man once said, hard work is its own reward.

Where I Was Meant To Be

After a long hiatus, I was finally able to get back in the studio this week. My first crafty love has always been jewelry and I am proud of the successes that I have had selling my work.
Lately though,it has been difficult to focus on that work. Embroidery is infinitely more portable, quilting is quieter (a consideration you have to take when living in a duplex), rehearsals are time-consuming and there is also the challenge of staying both current and original.


For my re-entry piece, I decided to really challenge myself to see if the passion was still there. I had worked in colored anodized aluminum previously, but had never stamped words onto it. I also had a sheet of mica kicking around the studio that I had never used. Was it best to attack it with French shears or a jewelers saw? Would it crumble if I tried to rivet through it? 

Experimented with opaque white marker and paint pen.
The marker worked much better, but needed several passes for full coverage.

Cut cloud shape with jewelers saw and textured it all
over with a chasing hammer.

Also used the saw to cut the aluminum.
Used the shears to cut the mica. No breakage but some
crackling along the cut line. Works for this design.

Utilized a variety of files and sanding mediums to smooth out the edges.
Deckled the edges of the silver cloud.

The finished product. Cold connected the three units with
brass eyelets. Measures about 2 1/2 inches. Very lightweight.

So, the spark, however dim is still there. I have a consignment supply to create, a craft show to stock, and possibly even an art show to make pieces for. Time to get back in the saddle in a major way. Keep an eye open next Monday for a new piece.