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Saturday, October 29, 2011

Producing multiple copies of heads.

When you find a product that sells well it is important to ensure a good supply of the item. In my shop www.oscarcrow.etsy.com I specialize in both metal jewelry and ceramics. Both old vintage doll parts and newly created copies of my favorite pieces. Since many of these are one of a kind I feel like keeping them forever...that makes me a collector ? Or just a hoarder? But I like to share with everyone so I make copies. This technique will work equally well for those of you who work in Ice Resin or polymer clay. A great book for using Ice Resin is http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Explore-Create-Resinate-by-Jen-Cushman-7614
To make a mold I use oil clay that never gets hard for a base and embed the heads in it half way then spray Pam cooking spray over the surface lightly and pour plaster over the faces. The sides of my mold are wood held together with wood screws.

The result is shown here a negative impression with the details fully realised. I am using US Gypsum No. 1 pottery plaster. It is a very hard and durable material. If you work with Ice Resin you would want to treat the fully dried mold(at least 3 days) with a suitable mold release. Cushman's book and Kazmers' website will have details on the best to use. If you are working with polymer clay I would suggest http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Original-Sculpey-8464 and condition the clay very well then push it into the mold firmly and it should release and result in a very workable product.

I work with liquid clay called raku slip. I pour it into the molds with a turkey baster and let it set up. Capillary action in the dry plaster pulls the water from the clay and when the clay has shrunk away from the sides it is ready to remove from the molds. I make holes for stringing at this point by piercing the clay with a square brass tube that I rotate leaving a smooth hole. Then the pieces are off to the dehydrator for drying. When they have become dry I fine tune the parts and sand or trim  as needed . Next they go into a kiln for a 4.5 hour bake at 1856 degrees cone 6 . Then the pieces are ready for glazing and another soak in the kiln and then reduction if raku is the final state. If I use regular glaze I let the kiln come down in temp overnight and remove the pieces then.

This is last nights firing. From the top is a doll,two angels that I created from separate parts. Notice the different colors in the clay...the wings are one clay body and slightly pink while the bodies are white. Second row are two pawns from a chess set I am creating...boys heads on one side for pawns and girls on the other . Next is a skull doll and a bust. Then a doll and a head bead a face cab and a round bead. And the final row has another doll body and three frozen charlottes that are only 1 inch tall. I now know why there are so many little charlottes broken..from a perfect mold I have pulled 1 without feet and a broken arm,and two with out heads...very frustrating learning when to unmold the tiny doll. Last is a face cabochon. Something I have learned with this is that items made in this way shrink from the original size about 10%. This is how we can make smaller and smaller copies by making a mold of a copy.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Copper wire wrapped bracelet demo and a fall cuff in mixed metals.


Looking over the dragons  I decided to make the connection as a collar.

Using the ring bending pliers I made a tight loop on the end of the wire and slid the long end through the stamping. Then using bail making pliers I rolled in from the end a tight spiral and finally put a twist so the spiral would lay flat.

Duplicating that on the other side gives a nice balance.

on the under side I used the nylon jaw pliers to fold the ends over and finished with a light tap with a planishing hammer's ball end. This locks the wire to the stamping.

The shape of this spiral is common in ancient designs on pottery and often represents a wave.

Here is the completed bracelet with a copper toggle and hoop. Because I started with dead soft wire it is easy to customize the length by rolling tighter on the spirals to shorten the bracelet.

Another view showing the simple attachment to the toggle. No jump rings here just wire. Now I have to give credit for the inspiration to http://www.interweavestore.com/Jewelry-Making/Projects/Linked-Spirals-Bracelet.html?SessionThemeID=20&a=jp111018 I am a subscriber to their email daily and this is the design that made me want to make this. I did not download the article just looked at the picture and went from there.

I have also been making a fall cuff with components from http://www.bsueboutiques.com/  Using the 5 inch filigree over a plain cuff and wiring and gluing on the leaves and bird this fall cuff has emerged.

I bent the 5 inch filigree to match the cuff then punched holes through both and riveted on the filigree. The leaves were buffed with a sunshine cloth and and the stems bent around openings in the filigree then copious amounts of E-6000 was applied to fasten the leaves.

The bird was also glued down and the leaves bent to match the cuff and to act as prongs over the bird. Both of these will be available through my shop www.oscarcrow.etsy.com Please come take a look at them and all the new dolls up recently.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

The Sari Ribbon Blog Hop Is Here

This is my offering for the blog hop. wire wrapped sari over wire with beads and a rock crystal. Please visit every ones sites and see what they have created.
 Vickie Wills
http://www.jewelrybyvee.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy
http://www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Michelle Mach
http://www.michellemach.com/blog/


Michelle Lee Hardy
http://fireflyvisions.blogspot.com/

Ruth Crawford
http://www.home-with-ruth.blogspot.com


Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/


Diana P.
http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques
http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/

Elizabeth Owens-Dwy
http://www.clarityofpurplesage.blogspot.com

Connie Rios-Relyea
http://www.JewelsDesignsCreativeCorner.wordpress.com/

Jennifer Justman
http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/

Deb Davis
http://www.naturaltreasuresbydeb.blogspot.com

Beanzie
http://www.thevintageheartcharmbracelets.com/the-vintage-heart-charm-b/

Cathie Carroll
http://www.cathiecarroll.com/

Rosemary Cowit
http://www.gemrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Georgene Lockwood
http://sylvanavintagedesigns.wordpress.com/

Cathy Buckley
http://cathybuckleycatsmeow.blogspot.com

Harry Wood
http://www.oscarcrow.blogspot.com

Sonya Stille
http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Mary Deis
http://mdeis.blogspot.com/

Heather Goldsmith
http://asibeadit.blogspot.com/

Susan Rouleau
http://mountainshadowstudio.blogspot.com

Terry Matusyk
http://pinkchapeau.wordpress.com

Pam Chesbro
http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/

Mary Shannon Hicks
http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Janice Everett
http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com

Davinia
http://www.daviniadesign.com

Kristina Johansson, Maneki
http://wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com

Kris Binsfeld
http://www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com


Mandy
http://www.beadsforbrains.blogspot.com

Charlene
http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog/

Catherine Jeltes
http://www.galleryzooart.com

Jackie
http://kydojewellery.blogspot.com/

Sharon Palac
http://www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com

Deb Beechy
http://beetique56.blogspot.com/

Jean Yates
http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patrice Pfeiffer
http://treeseatreasures.blogspot.com/

Dorcas Midkiff
http://wondrousstrangedesigns.blogspot.com/

Lynn Perry Bennett
http://designsbylynnea.blogspot.com

Linzi Alford
http://www.magpieintheskyspoilheaptales.blogspot.com

Deb
http://greenshoot.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Wainscott
http://www.exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com
Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp
http://skyejewels.blogspot.com
Alice Craddick
http://alicesbeadsandbaubles.blogspot.com/
B'sue Boutiques Creative Group
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bsueboutiques/

Sari Ribbon Blog Hop List

Here is the list of people taking part in the Sari Ribbon Blog Hop
Sari Ribbon Party Blog Hop

Vickie Wills
http://www.jewelrybyvee.blogspot.com/

Susan Kennedy
www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Michelle Mach
http://www.michellemach.com/blog/


Michelle Lee Hardy
http://fireflyvisions.blogspot.com/

Ruth Crawford
http://www.home-with-ruth.blogspot.com


Hilary Frye, FryeStyle
http://fryestyle.blogspot.com/


Diana P.
www.suburbangirlstudio.com

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques
http://www.bsueboutiques.typepad.com/

Elizabeth Owens-Dwy
http://www.clarityofpurplesage.blogspot.com

Connie Rios-Relyea
http://www.JewelsDesignsCreativeCorner.wordpress.com/

Jennifer Justman
http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/

Deb Davis
http://soulsfiredesigns.blogspot.com/

Beanzie
http://www.thevintageheartcharmbracelets.com/the-vintage-heart-charm-b/

Cathie Carroll
http://www.cathiecarroll.com/

Rosemary Cowit
http://www.gemrosedesigns.blogspot.com/

Georgene Lockwood
http://sylvanavintagedesigns.wordpress.com/

Cathy Buckley
http://cathybuckleycatsmeow.blogspot.com

Harry Wood
www.oscarcrow.blogspot.com

Sonya Stille
http://dreaminofbeads.blogspot.com

Mary Deis
http://mdeis.blogspot.com/

Heather Goldsmith
http://asibeadit.blogspot.com/

Susan Rouleau
http://mountainshadowstudio.blogspot.com

Terry Matusyk
pinkchapeau.wordpress.com

Pam Chesbro
http://afortunatesoul.blogspot.com/

Mary Shannon Hicks
http://uptwnsh-fallingintothesky.blogspot.com/

Janice Everett
http://JLynnJewels.blogspot.com

Davinia
www.daviniadesign.com

Kristina Johansson, Maneki
wildrosesandblackberries.blogspot.com

Kris Binsfeld
www.cherishdesigns.wordpress.com

Alice Craddick
Alice'sBeadsandbaubles@blogspot.com

Mandy
www.beadsforbrains.blogspot.com

Charlene
http://thebeaddreamer.com/blog/

Catherine Jeltes
http://www.galleryzooart.com

Jackie
http://kydojewellery.blogspot.com/

Sharon Palac
www.sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com

Deb Beechy
http://beetique56.blogspot.com/

Jean Yates
http://prettykittydogmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/

Patrice Pfeiffer
http://treeseatreasures.blogspot.com/

Dorcas Midkiff
http://wondrousstrangedesigns.blogspot.com/

Lynn Perry Bennett
designsbylynnea.blogspot.com

Linzi Alford
www.magpieintheskyspoilheaptales.blogspot.com

Deb
http://greenshoot.blogspot.com/

Cynthia Wainscott
www.exoticperujewelry.blogspot.com
Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp
http://skyejewels.blogspot.com
B'sue Boutiques Creative Group
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bsueboutiques/
Cant wait to see what wonders are going to be displayed tomorrow.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Quick ideas for rings and using ceramic elements in jewelry.

This ring is made from a feather stamping. It was annealed and then bent around a steel ring mandrel. Heating the metal to a red color with the torch then quenching in water softens the metal so it can be easily bent. If you don't soften first you make kinks or sharp bends where the metal is thinner.

This is another fave of mine for rings. The north wind again,heated and formed. Also this was treated to an extended bath in LOS to darken the brass.

This one is just a happy flamingo cab from http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/25x18mm-Flamingo-Cameos....New-Size-6868 surrounded by the same size crown mount which is riveted to a floral shank.

Again the band is from Bsues stock with a little bat charm riveted through the middle. Simple,cheap and just right for a $10 ring for any ones Halloween attire.

As I have been learning to make things in clay a leaf seemed to be just the focal for a fall ring.

First step is to cut out some paper to match the leaf but a little smaller.

copy that in copper or other metal to match the outline of the paper and punch or drill a center hole.

Drill the matching hole in a ring shank..this is a copper ox cigar band from www.bsueboutiques.com and after filing smooth the edge rivet it to the ring in your preferred orientation. Then apply E-6000 glue to both the leaf and the metal..wait a minute the press together and let it set.

And you have a fall fashion ring. I chose copper for the shank to match the hint of copper in the leaf.

I made this little duck from clay and attached him to a square of clay then fired it. Now to find what form of jewelry will best display his ducky charm.

Monday, October 3, 2011

Fairy pendant and a repair lesson

I showed the beginnings of this a while back. It took some contemplation to resolve the edge issues and find the silver vine. To recap it is an original charlotte with cicada wings and a brass bezel mounted to a forged copper disk. The wings are set in resin as is the charlotte.

I acquired a few hundred more dolls and as some are in need of repair, I wanted to share an easy method with you. This little fellow is dressed in his dads clothing but the hat's brim is broken. What to do?

Apoxie sculpt is a great solution for this type of repair and for lots of jewelry use. It is a 2 part epoxy resin in stiff clay form. Mixing equal parts will get a very sticky material that can bond many things.

Here you can see the 2 parts are different colored.

And after a thorough mixing they become a single color and are ready to use. The mix reacts chemically to harden after 3-4 hours.

Here the hat has been filled in and shaped.

And here the whole piece is seen with the repaired hat brim. After it completely hardens I will sand the surface to blend the edges into the ceramic and then it will all go into a mold for reproduction.

This is a box of heads I am currently listing for sale at www.oscarcrow.etsy.com Many fine items will be available and lots of small detailed heads,bodies, and even a few strange things. Come over to my shop and take a look.
Remember to sign up for the Sari Ribbon Blog Hop coming soon...I have to get my sari project finished. I had one but my daughter had a birthday this weekend and she got that one..a cuff with three ceramic pumpkins surrounded by matching orange sari ribbon.