Wire work

In preparation for turning in my metal portfolio for the semester, I have been finishing a few more items.

After my wire crochet experiment the other night using 28 gauge copper wire, I decided the weave was actually a knit, similar to a viking knit, but different.  Here it is using a 24 gauge wire, before compacting it using a wooden drawplate:

Then I finished 2 more chain maille bracelets out of copper wire.  Thanks to Faith, who made me the copper jump rings used to make these:

My last picture features a leaf that is a wire formed design. You then press a sheet of metal over the wire using a hydraulic press to create the design.  Here I have it temporarily on my previous wire knit:

Hope your December day is beautiful where you live.  Check out my sunset last night from out my front door:

Hugs, Carla

More Homework

More homework pieces completed to show you.  The first one is a pea pod pin, a project from the book,  Wrap, Stitch, Fold & Rivet:

(click to enlarge)

Then, in the spirit of re-use and recycle, here is a butterfly pendant necklace using the handle of a silver plated ice tongs I picked up in the local thrift store:

(click to enlarge)

Last to show is a work in progress.  One of my assignments is to show a piece using a matrix die in the hydraulic press.  I decided to make a diva shape, so here it is textured, pressed, sawn, and surface patina:

(click to enlarge)

Not yet sure how I will finish this one off.  If I stare at it long enough, then it will come to me.

In case you want to see other homework pieces, read this post, this one, and this post.

Now it is time to quilt!  Hugs, Carla

Metal Class Homework!

Good day!!  I’m back from visiting Faith and we both finished some homework pieces for our class.  To be honest, I was too tired to take pictures while I was there, but I did take 2 snapshots this morning of  completed jewelry pieces:

This is a beginning chain maille bracelet using the box chain weave.  All I have left to do is add some complementary beads on one end for added decoration.  Thank you to Faith and Gene for creating the jumprings by hand!!  Now to make one in silver!!

Next up is a required class project; a simple hand forged copper bracelet.  Here, the instructor will be grading our forging technique:

I have more projects, but I will reveal them at a later time.  Now for some uh-oh news….  Remember this bracelet?

Unfortunately, it is now missing-in-action!!  This is a shame since I LOVED this cuff bracelet!  I am now working on a 2nd replacement one, so I will show you it when I’m done.  Luckily, I found some more of those cool beads in my bead stash!

Before I sign off, I wanted to do a couple of shout outs:  A huge THANK YOU to Faith and Gene for hosting me in their home!  Faith made some yummy “ini” cocktails to cap off our day, too, which is a bonus!  They even sent me home with a huge bag of sweet tangerines and kumquats!  Life is good…..

A quick shout out to Christine, from the delightful Oreneta Aground blog for giving me a “Creative Blogger Award” in a recent post:

I will be sure to pass the love around in a future post!  LOL!

Enjoy your day!!  Hugs, Carla

Cowboy Quilt Again

I’ve lost count on how many 3-D pinwheel quilts I have quilted in my life.  This one is a duplicate of the baby quilt seen here.  This quilt will be quilted very simply and similar to the quilt finished last year, however, this one is for a brand new baby boy!

and the overall shot of the quilt on my longarm quilting table:

My friend wanted this quilt to be quilted exactly like the last one.  A quick shout out to Carol Kimball, the originator of the barbed wire quilting design seen in the thin brown fabric section.  (thanks, Carol!)

I’m almost finished with it.  All I need to do is finish the barbed wire section, then quilt in the baby’s name and birthdate.  By the way, I think the quilt design is found in one of Mary Ellen Hopkin’s books, but I’m not sure which one.

I love quilting for friends!  Next up is one for my dear friend, Lori.  Lori, I’ll load it, then I’ll start when I get back from my trip.

Metal Beads: I made these metal beads the other day in class with the etched quilting design copper from this play day at Faith’s.  I plan on finishing these with fiber embellishments:

That’s all from my studio!  Take care, Carla