Metalwork Monday: Zarra Necklace

A new season brings new trends and new styles. Recently, one of my co-workers came in sporting a fabulous necklace with two types of chain and some metal discs. After staring at here several times through the day, I asked if I could design a piece based on it. She said that I could as long as I named it for her-hence the "Zarra"!

I started with two small copper discs, a larger disc, a copper washer of the same diameter and two different types of chain.

I ran all the pieces through the rolling mill and gave them a dunk in liver of sulfur. I domed the washer to make a locket style pendant. I punched teo holes in each of the smaller discs so I could add chain on both sides. 

I added the smaller chain on the same side as the smaller discs and assembled the pendant at the bottom. The texture of the backing piece shows through the washer. The texture is different on each piece and I love how it all came together. I am ready to rock all my fall fashions.

Metalwork Monday: Leather and Metal Wrap Bracelet

So, I may not be the trendiest gal on the block, but I do make an effort. This fall's trends include large statement jewelry but I am a tad petite for a big necklace. An interesting bracelet can dress up any kind of outfit and it is less intrusive than someone trying to read your chest.

I started with a leather band with snaps already in place and a copper ID bracelet plaque.

After stamping the phrase (I'll admit that the "e" is a little close to the edge, I added a few embellishments. I decided that it needed a little something more.

I added a layer of forest green alcohol ink. I am really happy with how it brought out the lettering.

To finish the piece off, I attached the plaque to the leather with brass eyelets and little copper accent stars. I am overall very pleased with the effect and I am excited to rock this trend throughout the fall and winter!

Metalwork Monday: Upcycled Soda Can Jewelry

So, it is fall. Well...almost. For some reason, fall always brings out the Depression-era Weas. Maybe it is putting up food, maybe it is school supplies... regardless, I have decided to make things of other things this week (and if not actually MAKE things, fancy them up a bit!)  Welcome to Weasinart Upcycle Week.

Metalwork Monday: JOY Bunting Necklace

As a rule, I avoid bandwagons. I had skirted the bunting craze until I found these perfect silver triangles in my studio. They cried out to be a bunting necklace. 

In my zeal, however; I neglected to photograph the first steps. They are as follows:

• I used a nail to stamp the dots around the edges of each triangle.
• Using a lowercase Arial font punch, I stamped each section with a letter.
• I painted over each triangle entirely with orange nail polish.
• After the polish dried, I sanded of a majority of the paint with my Dremel. I was going for an aged look, so left more paint around the edges.

Stitchy Saturday: Embroidered Pendant

Summer is giving us subtle cues. Days are getting shorter, veggies are piling up on every flat surface in our kitchen, nights are getting crisper, and I am prepping for the fall play. 

With cooler days ahead, I find myself thinking of new outfits for autumn, new accessories to make in the studio and new embroidery projects to unwind with a cup of tea before bed.

Inspiration struck in a fun way--I got a great shadow box pendant as a gift and I bought some beautiful patterns from So September (visit her blog...her work is AMAZING). Perfect. I decided to combine the two to create a fabulous necklace for fall.

I am in love with this necklace. For real.

I started with a 1 1/2 shadow box pendant. 

The well behind the glass is fairly deep, 

which proved to be a hug benefit.

Using the circle template made this SO much easier.

I simply traced the size that I needed on muslin.

I wanted the piece to look finished with a tiny

rustic touch. Hence...muslin.

I utilized a portion of Corrine's gorgeous pattern

and chose some colors that would transition nicely

into the autumn.

I cut around the circle with my pinking shears 

and cut a circle a teensy bit smaller than the shadow box 

from foam core.I stretched the embroidery around the 

foam core and tacked it with hot glue. 

I tacked the entire piece into the shadow box

with a drop of hot glue.

Ready to accessorize me all through the

autumn...so happy when my worlds collide!

Sunday Funday: Back in the Saddle...again...

Life sometimes just takes you away from what you would like to be doing. Granted, so many aspects of my life are astounding. I haven't been able to make many things lately (or at least record many)--I have run a huge race and am training for another, I have had a really great summer jewelry show (and VERY stupidly got NO photos of the work that I made and sold), and have been loading up on quality time with my sweetie before the busy autumn overtakes us.


That being said though, I feel a little hollow not producing things and sharing them on this blog. It is not that my readership is huge. Some posts, I am the only one. But in times of uncertainty, it has lent so stability and predictably to my life.


So, here I go again...dusting of the Weasinart and giving her priority again. Baby steps, but any steps are better than standing still. 


Tonight, my sweetie and I made a lovely vegetarian feast, full of produce that we grew or got just 'round the corner. And I finally took photos of it...enjoy.

Salad that we grew, squash and tomato tian and pesto rice...yum!

To make the tian, I sliced up two yellow squash, two zucchini,
and two heirloom tomatoes. 

I layered them in a casserole dish and topped with thyme.
It baked in a 400 degree oven (covered with foil) for 30 minutes.
I then sprinkled a light layer and shredded Parmesan and
baked, uncovered, for an additional 10 minutes.

We had a load of basil in the garden,
so we whipped up a couple batches--one with walnuts
and one with pine nuts.

We mixed one scoop with some basmati rice and sprinkled on some cheese.
The rest we scooped onto a parchment lined sheet and popped them into the freezer.
Once they are solid, we will individually bag them to use thus fall.

After dinner, I walked by the studio and noted that I wouldn't be likely
to make anything when the bench was still cluttered from my
last session.

Ten minutes later, and I am ready to work again soon.

So, here I am again. Feeling a teeny bit more focused and ready to zip into autumn with scissors in one hand and my lap top in the other--ready to share it all with you.

Metalwork Monday: Folded Flower Pendant

Being sick has one or two tiny advantages. Instead of roaming around spreading the plague, I have been able to do lots of designing and some creation between meds, tissues, and tea. Yay!


I spent time this week experimenting with new techniques and tools and am pleased with what I have learned. Stay tuned for future posts featuring these great new design elements! 


One of the simplest new techniques that I tested was folding my flowers rather than dapping or doming them. It needs a little refinement, but am happy with my first attempt!

I folded and curved a nickel and copper flower blank and
riveted them to a brass filigree flower to create the pendant.

The tools: blanks and filigree, hole punch, design stamps,'
round nose and chain nose pliers, rivet/riveting tool, hammer,
bench block, marker, liver of sulfur.

I drew a large asterisk on each flower. It is a little
messy, but they will buff out when I polish them.

I punched a hole in the center of each and stamped
the edges of each flower.

I used my chain nose pliers and folded each flower by
placing my pliers on the marker lines and bending
the flower towards the pliers with my fingers.
After I bent the flowers all the way around, I used the round
nose pliers to curl the ends of all the petals.
Because the hole in the filigree is larger, I also punched
a hole in a small copper blank to hold the rivet on.

I layered the 4 pieces and attached all three with an eyelet.
It is ready for a jump ring and chain!

Metalwork Monday: Lace-etched bangle bracelet

I have an admission to make. I have an addiction to vintage sewing supplies--kitschy fabrics, retro trims, and most of all; lace. My lace collection is embarrassingly large. My favorites are hand-crocheted or tatted, but I also have two boxes full of bolts of lace, both old and new.


Hence, lace week. 


Metal etching is the trend of the moment in Funky Monkey Studio and I have just learned to print with lace (check back tomorrow for that tutorial), so I combined them into a great new design. So exciting!

Lace-etched copper plaques riveted onto a bangle with a
lace overlay.

Using block-printing ink, a brayer, and a piece of lace, I applied a
resist to the plaques. I etched more pieces than I thought I
would use so I could choose the best etchings. Before I printed the copper,'
I mounted them to the sticky side of packing tape to prepare them
for the acid bath. More details on lace/ink printing in tomorrow's post.

The plaques spent 30 minutes in the ferric chloride bath.
I use recycled take-out container for the bath. The tape on the edges
of the bowl suspends the metal just barely in the acid.

After coming out of the bath and having a quick rinse, you can see the
lace pattern. I polished the pieces, used the Dremel to round the corners,
and oxidized them in liver of sulfur.

Using my French Shears, I cut the bangle blank. I used the
Dremel to round the corners and texture the piece.
I used the sanding block to smooth the edges.

I added a piece of lace over the bangle blank and used my
riveting/eyelet tool to attach it. I then added the
copper plaques and attached them with copper rivets.
The lace is attached with four brass eyelets.
Before forming the curve, I stained the lace with strong tea
brushed over it with a flux brush. I did four coats of tea to
get the shade I wanted.

Formed and ready to wear. I used both the bracelet mandrel
and the bracelet-bending pliers to achieve the  finished
fit and look.

Thursday Think Tank: To theme or not theme, that is the question...

I enjoy being a crafty blogger. I am part of a great community. I read an embarrassing amount of other blogs. I enjoy the challenge of sharing my work with you all on a daily basis. My photography, admittedly, needs more refining. My readership is tiny...for now. I don't think that I will be the next Martha Stewart by any means, but I am enjoying the process. 


My sweetie gave me a variety of Moleskine notebooks for Christmas. I must admit to more than a passing fancy with them. I have been using them for years, but have taken to carrying one with me at all times. Inspiration strikes at the oddest times and is stimulated by the oddest things. My notes are frantic and frenetic. Some pages have organized lists, others just random scrawls. I love it.


In addition to working in the real world, designing jewelry and crafting up a storm, I also direct plays at the local high school. We are just a few weeks away from our spring Shakespearean production and life gets a little crazy. I also have a craft fair, a consignment order, and a juried art show coming up. No rest for the crafty...


As I pondered how teachers and Moms get through super busy times, a thought occurred to me: themes. Already each day of the week, weasinart has a theme, but what if I combined a daily craft type theme with an overarching weekly theme? I decided that at least until the show is performed it is a good way to stay focused. 


Upcoming theme weeks will include lace, sun, floral, Doctor Who, upcycling, and birds. The plan has further organized and focused me as an artist. 


If you have any themes that you would like to see, please leave a comment. I am pretty open to suggestions.


I whipped up a really quick project this week based on a post that I saw on Pinterest. I don't see much point in "pinning" inspiration if you are never going to use it. Not original, but I like it:

T-shirt necklace/scarf: the finished product

Found a slightly stretch shirt that I wasn't really wearing much and cut 1-inch loops.
Make sure to keep the side seams intact.

As it stretches, the loops roll in on themselves.

Paired it with some fun bird earrings that I made to
 "spring up" my outfit.

In action at the office, stylish and fun!

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.