Bamboo Leaf Art

Here's another piece going into the exhibit for the month of March. It's a forged steel bamboo leaf cluster, measuring approximately 10-1/2 by 9 inches at its maximum dimensions. This can be hung on the wall or displayed on a tabletop or shelf surface as sculpture.

So be patient. Everyone in this house has been exchanging viruses during the month of February slowing my work down considerably. I'll be working on railing commissions and jewelry for the next few months. In April, after this exhibit is done, I will have lots of art to list for sale in my Etsy shop. If you are interested in any particular pieces that you've seen here or on my flickr pages, you can contact me for more information or prices.

New Growth - New Art

Here are five more pieces, finished and ready to deliver for my upcoming exhibit at the Frehner Art Gallery in the Monroe Arts Center in Monroe, Wisconsin. They are part of the New Growth series, simple trellis-like arrangements of forged bronze tendrils, in the 18 to 24 inch size range.

February Heart

too many sick days!
means more fiber, and less metal
So here's my heart at the end of February

(This picture got nearly 50 views in 90 minutes on flickr.)

and My first handspun single drying on a handforged hook

Fiber Art Fun (and metal leaves)

First- the metal. Here are a few new pendants. I've got a lot more commissioned jewelry to work, several larger jobs to design and bid on, and a show opening in Monroe Wisconsin on March 6th.
I'm busy.

However, this potential work week has been completely consumed by snow days, sick days, no-kindergarten days, and a running errand days. I didn't get more than about 90 minutes studio time, but I did get bits of fluffy stuff put together now and then in the house.

Crocheted Pink Octopus, by special request, for my daughter

litte Embroidered Heart Ornament

Needlefelted Ball Ornament, made with Whimzypinzy's handdyed alpaca locks

The same ball ornament

I've got another octopus in progress for my son. I'm also teaching myself to spin- slowly with a lot of odd looking fluffy unreadable results. I'll post pictures of that if it looks like yarn when I'm done. If it doesn't look like yarn, I'll felt it.
I'm reading an Anne McCaffrey book and have a pile of several other non-fiction books to browse. And the internet...plenty of browsing on the internet.

ahhhhh... I'd better get that designing done now.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered!

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered!

I recently completed and delivered two 24 x 30 inch copper bas-relief horse heads for a commission.  This was a great challenge for me!

I can tell you that I spent a whole lot more time agonizing over these than I did actually hammering on them.

Keeping scale and function in mind, I deliberately kept them much simpler than my smaller work, with the emphasis on the lines of the drawing rather than on the surface detailing.

I did a brush and ink sketch, that was only line for the design. I scanned the design into the computer, sized it up to the right size and had it printed (facing opposite directions) full size at Kinkos. I transferred the design to the back of the copper sheets with lightly punched dots. (For a small piece I'd put those dots on the front, but not for a big piece.)

I started off by working them over sandbags, from the back side, with a variety of hammers. I worked a few areas with my pneumatic chisel (and bits modified for chasing). I annealed the sheets one time and then went to the refining. I did most of the refining from the front, and just a little from the back. I couldn't figure out how to do it without pitch, so I set up a wood block with pitch on it. I did the refining over pitch in sections.

You can see the wood block with pitch in this picture, waiting on top of the anvil. I filled up the section to be worked with pitch and slowly melted it with a very very bushy flame. When it was melted enough, I plopped the wood on it and weighted it with a sandbag until the pitch firmed up enough to move the whole thing.

I didn't want to set up a huge pickle bath, so I scoured the surface with an improvised scotchbrite buff

then patinated it with Midas red to black patina solution (from riogrande.) 

I burnished back the highlights with handheld 3M Scotchbrite pads and sealed the surfaces with a low gloss tung oil varnish.  

For you metalsmiths, yes I do love the 3M Scotchbrite and unitized wheel products for finishing.  I buy them from industrial suppliers. I always wear a respirator when I use the products.  I'm not so crazy about the FX wheels or radial discs, but I prefer a more distressed surface, even on jewelry.

Leaves Leaves Leaves...
The 2nd and 3rd photos show some custom heart shaped leaf jewelry, pins that also function as pendants.

I made the gingko leaves for my Etsy shop and one has already sold. You can find the other one here at http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=9466739

The first photo is a sneak peek at leaves I'm making for the next big railing project. I'll be making lots of these lightweight leaves and welding them together for not-so-heavy, but still structurally sound railing.

www.flickr.com More of knitsteel's photos tagged with leaf

So many things!

Oh there are so many things I'd like to buy on Etsy!

Creativity Update

I seem to rely on photos more than text to tell my story these days. So here we go again..
First, I have 5 of my copper bracelets for sale right now on Etsy. Next, I am going to make at least 5 for myself. I love seeing them all together on my wrist. Here they are separately, each linked to its sale page.

Zapping over to fiber arts, here is the 2nd trio of embroidered hearts, again not for sale. I have to save something to hand down to my children!

and they are so much fun to make right now. Do you realize that on flickr, my fiberart embroidery pictures get anywhere from 70 to 100+ views, while my metalwork photos average around 15 to 20 views. Hmmmm.... what does that mean?

Scholarship for Women to Learn Blacksmithing

Vance Baker, a retired line foreman for the utility board in Athens, TN, began blacksmithing in the 1970's.
Over the years, Vance taught blacksmithing at the John C. Campbell Folk School, as well as at the Appalachian Center for Crafts. Some of his skilled reproduction work can be seen at Fort Loudoun in Vonore, TN.

As Vance honed the craft that he loved over several decades, he especially loved introducing beginners to the world of blacksmithing.

This scholarship, founded by two self-described "Vance Baker groupies" is intended to carry on that tradition. This scholarship specifically reaches out to women, as an underrepresented group in the blacksmithing community, to begin to share in this time honored craft.

APPLICATION CRITERIA and GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Any female beginner student age 18 and older who has a strong interest in pursuing blacksmithing may apply.

2. The scholarship has been established to allow such a student the opportunity to take a beginning level blacksmithing class at John C. Campbell Folk School. Visit http://www.folkschool.org/ for a list of classes.

3. The scholarship is intended to cover class fees, material fees, and housing expenses. The scholarship does not cover any travel expenses. Scholarship amount will not exceed $1,000 and will be paid directly to the Folk School. One scholarship will be awarded per year.

4. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 15, 2008 and the recipient will be notified by April 15th, 2008. Applicants should take this into consideration when selecting a class.

5. To apply, please send an email inquiry to:
VBakerMemorialScholarship@earthlink.net
with the subject line APPLICATION. Include your name and address and preference for mail or email correspondence. Application materials and instructions will be mailed or emailed to you.