Why wait?

Spring has been pretty symbolic in the Weasinart household this year: back to the blog, back on the fitness tracking and training, back on track in the household (Spring cleaning has begun!), and today back in the studio.

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: 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.

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.

Metalwork Monday: Wibbly Wobbly Doctor Who Earrings

Okay, so it's out there. I am a geek of the highest order. 
I went to RIT (nerd central), I direct Shakespeare, I have my own Sonic Screwdriver.
True story.


This week is dedicated to my biggest nerd obsession: Doctor Who.
You're welcome.

I chose two types of washers, brass and copper. I also
chose two different fonts and two different
treatments.

After stamping, I painted alcohol ink onto "wibbly wobbly"
and liver of sulfur gel onto "timey wimey."

I used the dremel to sand of most of the ink and age the brass.
I brushed on the patina gel to make the copper look older.

Unfortunately, they don't go "ding" when there's stuff.

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.

Metalwork Monday: Sunny Day...Sweepin' the clouds away

It is a beautiful day here in Central New York. I am back to work and rehearsal and away from the studio, but have a ton of great news ideas and exciting new supplies.


Many people get down in the winter, myself included, and I always look forward to the re-growth afforded by spring. I have always seen it as a time for new beginnings and fresh ideas. Plus, sunshine makes me much happier. 


As I look to my future, I am feeling a little stuck. But with the love of a wonderful man, new ideas churning, and the sun shining, I think I will make it over the hump.


As my projects this week are designed to keep that sunny feeling going, all year long if I can manage it.

Fun sun earrings--I used a rubber stamp and ferric chloride
to create these fun little guys. I added a super-sparkly Swarovski crystal
to shimmer like sun beams.

A more avant garde steam-punky type sun earrings.

The new toy!!! Cant't wait to really start creating some awesome embossed
metal with this!!

Not at all metalwork related, but I also just designed this poster for the play
that I am directing. 

Sunday Funday: And this is where the magic happens...

I have been very blessed. I was able to take 3 days off this week and just create. I made some many things that I am more certain that ever that that is what I am meant to do. Some were challenging,  some bizarre, some really fun, and some really satisfying. 


I have added a few more techniques to my jewelry design, but more on that soon...


I am also blessed that I don't have to shuttle my creations to and from the dining room table or carve out a teeny tiny corner for myself. Since becoming a solo house occupant again, I have been able to dedicate not one, but two rooms to the things I love.


Wanna see?

My jewelry work bench. Behind me is the drill press/flexible shaft.
The vice is on the right and the bench pin on the left.

The shipping area. Also where I keep catalogs and magazines.

For painting, general crafts, drawing, and gift wrapping.

I used to work in beads and still have a ton on hand. This is also where
I keep chemicals, patina agents, and safety equipment.

I love this space too. I use it for cutting both fabric and paper,
doing decoupage, and other things that need more space.
It is right next to a window and makes me smile.

My trusty Singer Featherweight. I love it. It sits parallel to me credenza which
houses office supplies and my printer. And my crazy aloe plant...
I reupholstered a drum throne as my sewing stool (watch for an upcoming
tutorial!). 

Next to my machine, I have fabric storage. Scraps are sorted by color
in the shoe boxes and larger pieces are sorted by fabric type.

Admittedly, this is a wretched photo. Out of focus for sure. But I HAD
to include a photo my my organization center (which includes my dress form,
Matilda) and the famous "Wall of Cute." It makes me smile.

There it is, my work space. I hope it inspires you to carve out your own little creative space.

 It inspires me everyday!

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.

WIP Wednesday: Etched Metal Jewelry

Creating metal jewelry is incredibly liberating--forming the metal with your hands, using hammers and drill presses, using both brute force and precision. 
My favorite contrast is creating a piece with a jewelers' saw, the tiny teeth cutting an intricate design, and then applying my 2 lb. hammer to it to add textures, words, or rivets.The juxtaposition is delicious. 
During the holiday rush, I added a new tool to my arsenal: ferric chloride. It etches away the top layer of cooper and copper alloys. It allows a level of design difficult to achieve with different mediums. 
So in addition to my safety glasses, I have added rubber gloves to my metalworking uniform.
While teaching an etching class at Beads and Beyond recently, a student who is also a scrapbooker brought in some stamps and ink to try it as a resist. Since the pieces are suspended in an acid bath, a pigment ink is necessary. We tested Versafine Archival Pigment Ink.


It worked beautifully! I was jealous that I hadn't figured it out on my own, but that didn't stop me from buying ink and stocking up on stamps.

A gorgeous stamp that reminds me of a tin ceiling.
I think it will look fabulous as wearable art.

A variety of old and new stamps and ink.
Testing multiple shapes and types of alloys.

Stamped and drying...which takes forever!
They will go in the acid bath on Friday,
be incorporated into jewelry over the weekend,
and will be posted Monday.
Stay tuned!!