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I love buttons. I still remember going to my Grandmothers house and playing with the cookie tin full of buttons. When she passed, I took home the cookie tin of buttons. I still, to this day I will just run my fingers through the buttons, it brings a smile to my face every time. Now, I make buttons, using old pennies. Rolling them out into different shapes and sizes, sifting and fusing glass to the pennies in several thin layers. I just love the transformation. It is amazing to me.
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I love to work with recycled copper. To use the wire, I first need to strip the plastic coating off of the wire, then I clean the wire with sandpaper. After this I will wrap the wire on wooden dowels to make the links that I need. Then take the wrapped wire off of the dowel so that I can cut it into jump-rings, join the rings together to make a bracelet and set of earrings. Then to the soldering board I go to solder the jump-rings together, then to the pickle dish. After the pickle, it is off to the bench to file, sand and clean the copper. I will start with 320 sandpaper all the way up to 800. Then this is one of my favorite things to do, "Texture". I will use different types of hammers and metal stamps to make put the texture into the metal. When this is done it is off to the tumbler for a few hours to work harden the copper. This will harden the metal so it won't bend and twist when wearing it. The last step that I like to do, is add a patina. This adds a smooth vintage look to the copper. Stay tuned for more post on my future projects. Take care- Stay safe- Be Kind. I love using vintage jewelry, breaking it down and making something new out of it. I was in New York a few years back when I found a vintage jewelry shop. It was amazing. They had 5000 sq ft of jewelry components, crystals and beads stack a mile high. It was the best 3 hours I ever spent in one place. I hope to go back when this covid 19 goes away. Tip: To clean vintage rhinestone jewelry - use a paper towel and glass cleaner. Spray the cleaner on the paper towel and wipe the rhinestones clean. Do Not put the rhinestone jewelry in a container of water, this will ruin the gold or silver foil backing on the rhinestones. Below in the slide show are beads and rhinestones that were from New York, still in the paper envelopes and boxes from the 1940's-60's. I don't know if I will be able to use them all. But I will try. Well we made it to 2021. I am wishing everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2021. Like I always say, "bring it on cupcake". I just want to say a very sincere Thank You to everyone who has supported me this year, it is very much appreciated. So far this year, I am trying to get some beads and metal components made ahead, hoping for a busting at the seams kind of year. Hopefully we can burst this bubble for good. Wishing everyone well. Stay Safe. Kate  The symbol of the butterfly is:
transformation, romance, renewal, playfulness, spirituality, gracefulness, and celebration. Let's go 2021! Here we are again, another year. With all this pandemic going on around the world, it is hard to know where things are going, but I hope everyone is keeping safe. I have been trying to keep busy with the help of my husband, I have beautiful new workshop. Love it, cozy and clean, but totally neat. Can't work like that. Working on some new beads, making new frit from pieces of glass left over from making beads and doing some bead crochet. Soon will have to work on some silver, brass and copper findings. Here are some new pictures, hope you like the new style of fish beads. I love them, they have so much personality and style. Keep safe.
Working away in my old workshop. Turning some old pennies into Wearable Art. Loving the challenge of designing something unique. Here is a sample of the beautiful earrings, pendants, buttons and bracelets to come. Just honing down my technique. Here are a few pictures of how it is done.
 This is something new for me. Sand Casting. Thanks to Gail Hodder for her kindness in showing me this Art. Sand casting is both interested and mind boggling. But for the most part - Fantastic. The picture of the dolphin tails give you and idea of the process. The 1st part - the blue dolphin tail - this is carved out of jewellers wax - then the 2nd part is the tail on the right - this is the piece that comes out of the sand when the granules are melted and poured into the mold - the 3rd part is the tail on the left - this is sanded and polished.
This ring above shows the wax mold and the finished ring after sanding, filing and polishing. The cross shows the wax mold and the cross when is comes out of the sand mold. So much to learn and so much to do - but just having fun doing it all. The show was wonderful. The talent at this show is Amazing, I am so glad to be apart of this show. Thanks to Everyone for supporting me at the PEI Christmas Craft Show. It was a success Thanks to You! To all - Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.  This Summer has been GREAT! I went to Lexington Kentucky, it was beautiful. Found a great little town called Berea. Now, this was an exceptional outdoor Craft Show. A must see. The baked potato with the works and fresh lemonade was the best.
I went to Newport and talked to Tom Ellis at Thomson Enamels. I learned a lot. He also took me through the Museum - this is a Must see. You wouldn't believe your eyes, how enamels were and still are used in products from jewellery, pictures and vases. Some of the pieces were 100's of years old. Wow. www.thompsonenamels.com Then off the great Madeleine Islands for a week. What a great place and wonderful people. Meet some very nice people over there and had a great supper at Denny's Diner. Thanks to Denis and his wife Leonise for the wonderful Sugar Pie. Still can't get this out of my mind. It was delicious. The rest of this summer, I am making beads and jewellery for the fall shows. Hope to see you there. |
AuthorI am a glass bead and jewelry maker. I love color and nature. Archives
February 2021
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