This belt buckle came about for a class…but, in the end, turned out to be so much more.  As I was preparing for the class sample, I thought what in the world am I going to make?  I don’t wear belts, my husband doesn’t wear belts….then, I thought of my Dad.  I attribute a lot of my drive and passion for my “art form” by way of Metalsmithing to my Dad.  As I was growing up, I spent more days than I can count watching my Dad buzz around his garage creating “things”.  He has a great inventive mind.

As I was working on this belt buckle, it took me back to my childhood in that garage.  It is my homage to my father….one of the greatest men I know.

Materials:

• Backplate:  German Silver (Nickel)
• Embellishments:  Brass

This Calla Lily ring was my second project in Lorena’s Bronze Metal Clay class.  It was mainly an exercise in making the Calla Lillies. Those little flowers were hard for me!

Hand sculpted and carved.

I recently took a Bronze Metal Clay class with Lorena Angulo.  This Rose Lilly Heart is one of the projects learned.  The Bronze clay is an incredible medium.  Molding and carving comes so easy with this clay.  …and when fired, it turns to a solid metal.  In this case, Bronze.

Thank you, Lorena!  You taught me much more than just Bronze clay!  Your kindness and generosity with information is a value to each of your students.  That is the mark of a true teacher!  I will remember our talk as I continue on my journey!

I love, love, love these little poppies!  They are just so darn cute and fun to make.

Materials:  Copper Sheet, Sterling Silver wire, Bali Sterling Silver spacers

Techniques:  Fold forming, Metalwork, Enameling

Thompson Enamels:  Robin’s Egg Blue, Nile Green, Butter Yellow

Layers/Firing:  3

I had been working in my studio for several days.  Upon the end of my work stint, I had forgotten to empty my water bowl that I had by my pickle pot.  After days of evaporation, the above picture was the result in my stainless steel bowl.

I thought to my self, “How amazing!”.  The metals and composites had formed to their own artful design.

This leads me to document the measurements and percentages of metals for reference.  Use your calipers to determine the gauge by measuring either in millimeters or inches.  Typically, millimeters are used.

Wire & Sheet Metal Sizes

AWG Wire

Guage       MM          Inch

6                4.11         .162

8                3.26         .128

10              2.58         .102

12              2.05         .081

14              1.62         .064

16              1.29         .051

18              1.02         .040

20               .81          .032

22               .64          .025

24               .51          .020

AWG Sheet

Guage       MM

9                2.9

10              2.6

11              2.0

12              1.6

14              1.6

16              1.3

18              1.0

19                .92

20                .8

21                .71

22                .65

24                .5

26                .4

28                .33

30                .25

32                .2

34                .15

Metal Percentages

Gold

24K:  .999 pure gold

22K:    .916 + .084

18K:  .750 + .250

14K;  .583 + .417

10K:  .417 + .583

To get the beautiful colors in gold, the alloys are a mix of gold, copper, and silver for the yellow and pink golds.  Nickel and palladium are mixed with gold to create white gold.

Silver

Fine Silver: .999 pure silver

Sterling Silver:  .925 pure silver + .075 copper

Copper

Copper: 100% pure copper

Shibuichi:  .75 copper + .25 pure silver (percentages can vary with each artist)

Shakudo:  .96 copper + .04 gold

Bronze

Bronze: .90 copper + .10 tin

Brass

Brass:  .70 copper + .30 zinc

I love medallions.  There is just something about the thought of ‘Old World’ that intrigues me with medallions.  This is one of my favorites.  This Cross Medallion was created from PMC3.  The handsmithed chainwork is sterling silver.

This is just outside Kerrville, Tx.  It is a massive reproduction of the original Stonehenge in England.  Until recently, it was built on land with a gorgeous back drop of a huge mountainous cliff.  That property was sold and believe it or not, the new owner did not want to keep the reproduction on the property.  Thus, it was donated to an art center and moved.  It is a massive work of art.  I truly wish that I can see the original one day!

I have been going to Mo Ranch down on the Guadalupe River for the past 3 years.  I love the scenery there but never have taken the time to stop for pictures…until this year.  The pictures in this post depict one of the crossings (and there are so many) over the Guadalupe River.  This one is my absolute favorite.  It is such a magical place to me that I can see the tree fairies dancing on the water.

Every year, I am blessed to be able to go to a jewelry camp down on the Guadalupe River with a good friend of mine, Marla.  It is beautiful country there.   What shines even more, is my mentor and friend…Jim Morris.  He is a very talented and established jeweler that donates a week of his time to teach.  I am very grateful for all that he has taught me.  Thank you, Jim!!

This ring was designed by my husband, Garnett.  He drew the basic shape of how he wanted the ring to be then handed it over to me.  I showed the drawing to Jim two years ago.  By memory, he carved and cast the ring in perfect form.  It was a total surprise to me.  And that made the journey for this ring even more special.  This year I was able to finish the ring to come full circle.   You might say that it was some sort of a collaboration:  one designer, one caster, and me…  Well, my part was to design the battle scars and recreate them as if the ring itself had been in battle.  The marks indicate swords hitting and slashing.  There is intentional pitting to resemble battle worn swords.  I took the ring straight from being cast as a smooth metal and created the look by forging, cutting, sawing, drilling….and lots of polishing.  There is a black diamond set in center (with Jim’s help) that represents how special Garnett is to me.  He is my diamond!   Overall, the ring is not perfect as this was my very first piece from lost wax casting.  But I love the way it turned out.

The shape is inspired by a King’s crown which gives it a sovereign look.  The battle worn texture represents the battles to maintain that sovereignty.  The concept behind the ring is that a great king fights his own battles and in time, gains wisdom.

Garnett, you mean the world to me…and you are my king!  I love you so very much!  I know that you wear this ring with pride and I am very proud to stand by your side everyday!

Shibuichi (“she-boo-ee-chi”) is a billon of one part silver and three parts copper.  Its name means “one-fourth” in Japanese and can be patinated into a range of blue or green shades.

I had a chance to “get some melt on” with this alloy last week.  The results are phenomenal.  I measured an ounce of total metal to include .75 copper and .25 silver.  The ounce of mixed metals were put in a crucible and torched with high heat until molten liquid emerged.  With a cuttle bone cast already prepared, the Shibuichi was poured into the cast mold which was in the form of a Cross.

Of course with cuttle bone, the results are never guaranteed.  My original carving was a long cross about 2′ in length.  I have found that the designer is really just the pilot sometimes.  Pieces have a tendency to take on a life of their own sometimes…not always…but sometimes!  In this case, the finished piece is nothing like I had originally designed.  When this happens, I think the piece is extraordinary.  Mainly because it has created itself with you as the Metalsmith, well…just smithing.  It is very cool when that happens.

I can’t wait to play around with this alloy more!