pink! maille necklace finished, more halvah

Well, it has taken 5 days, but it is done! 16-1/2" of really pink chain. The pale pink shiny rings are The Ring Lord's new-process anodized aluminum, very nice.
Eventually I realized that the reason the darker, more matte rings were so difficult to work with is that they are the "enamelled" copper. The colored plastic coating is much more delicate than the anodized layer, and I had to throw out a BUNCH of rings, because one slip in the pliers and there was a tattered shiny spot. Do NOT like. Even though they come in a whole lot of luscious colors, working with them is not worth it.

The lobster-claw clasp is one of the powder-coat ones sold by TRL; it only sort of matches, but I think it's OK. It looks closer in real life than in the photo. I will get more in several colors. At 40¢ they may be cheaper than I can make a hook.

Also tonight I tried another batch of halvah, in hopes of taking it to CCHBA Monday night. I got the honey up to about 258°, maybe just to 260° as I turned off the fire. It got noticeably thicker. When it first got hot and foamy, it was very thin and watery as I stirred it, but at about 250° or so it started to feel thicker. Very dark. It got stiff  very quickly as I stirred the combined honey and tahini; I had to "pour" it up when still pretty hot. If it doesn't develop crystals and get fudgy, it is going to be the pull-your-fillings-out kind of candy.

Completely off-topic -- there is a wonderful new word out there - "teabonics" -- the non-standard dialect of English spoken by the Tea Party. See the comments to Juanita Jean's post.

unexpected model

To my utter astonishment, I have discovered a use for an abandoned sculpture of Craig's that I have detested for 15 years, the rusted iron and concrete barren-woman monstrosity that stands by his studio, and is too heavy for me to do anything about.

Well, I still detest it from the front, but the back makes an interesting form on which to drape a necklace for photographing.

Maybe I can turn it around...

a variety of new chains

Been playing with some “wiggle chain.” This is a simple 2-in-2, save that each 2-link unit is interlinked to itself, instead of parallel. There’s a catch to it, in that each crossed double link can be right-handed or left-handed. At first, after I discovered this, I made them alternate. When you do this, and suspend the chain from one end, the links hang at 90° to each other, as if it were a simple 1-in-1 chain. But I went back and changed it so they are all the same orientation, and it looks much more like a spiral chain, which I like better.

Ran out of links when I had 11” of chain, too much for a bracelet, not enough for a necklace. Wound up some more, which I will cut shortly.

I wonder what it would look like if I put in a third ring in each link, a chain of möbius flowers?




Saturday 15 Oct

Finished the “bear-claw” pendant on chain and the wiggle chain a couple of days ago. I had to modify my plan on the pendant, but I like the results. In going through my already-made copper rings and sizing them with the red Swarovsky bicone, I picked the one that fit the crystal pretty closely. After getting the crystal wrapped into it, a process that could use some more practice, I realized there was not enough room for the five 16-gauge links of the top of the pendant. There was just room for four 20-gauge copper links, the 5/32” ones I was using for the chain. So I put those on, oxidized it, and then put on the pendant with a black top attachment. I actually think it’s a more interesting design than planned.

I wasn’t able to hook up with Rhonda to get her any stock for the Guyer show, but she is much more eager to have stuff for her week in Galveston with the art teachers. That’s the ninth of November, so I need to work up an easily portable display to get to her the week before. One tray of necklaces and one stand of earrings, I guess.



October 18

Finished up three bracelets that had been hanging around needing finishing touches.

The "hybrid-weave" that I made a while back had had its clasp hook stolen to put on some other bracelet, so I made a new one, a modified swan-hook design.





I liked the spiral hook, so I made one of copper for the 14-gauge aluminum byzantine chain that I did a week or so ago.







Then I made another of the same general type for the "tricolor lace" bracelet I just finished. The main body of this, 3/16" 18-gauge silver-clad links, has been around for a long time. I finished it by putting 20-gauge 5/32" links down each edge, gold on one side, copper on the other.

So those are done, and I'll get them up at Etsy Real Soon Now.

actual sales!

This has been something of a red-letter month, in terms of sales (Of course any normal-scaled business would die laughing,) But hey, ten items sold in one month is a LOT, ok?

September 10 was the Arts, Autos, and Antiques event on the Square. Warren organized 5 booths staffed by 10 Oxide artists - I shared with photographer Pam Hughes. Sold six items, one, the silver leaves chain, fairly high-end.
Also Rhonda picked up her sterling bracelet (AND with Chery treated me to a Denton Co Independent Hamburger.)



Then the next morning I discovered I had sold a couple pairs of handmade earring hooks and a bag of jumprings to an Etsian in Nova Scotia, who confirmed to me today that they arrived last week.


And to top it off, Warren sent me an e-mail that my torch-colored spiral bronze earrings sold in the Gallery!


The new Gallery Night is this Saturday, and I have 14 new pieces waiting hopefully.