Studio Update and Birthday

I've been working.  Really!

I've got a rush job to finish this weekend.  Every job is a rush job, but in this case, I like the Contractor enough to really rush it.  I'm also getting prepared to teach a workshop in Minnesota next weekend, and to sell at an art show at the end of July in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

I turned 40 yesterday.  So far so good ;)
For my gift, I got exactly what I picked out.


Currently Watching
Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Collector's Set (40 discs)
By Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyson Hannigan, Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Head, James Marsters

Oh yes.  I've got some tv watchin to do, along with a margarita, some angel food cake and fresh strawberries.  Here's my fantabulous Buffy set. 

We've watched 4 episodes so far.  I forgot how good that show really was.

Smiles and Leafy Stuff

Hi There! 

I've been busy with lawn work, roses, paperwork, shopping, chauffeuring, re-organization, and catching up on Pirates online.

I have to giggle every time I see myself as a swashbuckling cartoon pirate, with those clothes.  My character is wearing the pink shirt.  I think I forgot to give my character hips when I started off.   (I'm a fairly happy person and am easily amused.)

Stay on track!  back to metalwork!
So I mentioned our fieldtrip to Doug Wilson's shop in my Haystack journaling. While there, Doug demonstrated a fairly simple veined leaf, with the vein created by folding.  It's a great intro project because it works the basics- tapering and spreading, with no special tooling.   While he was demonstrating, I remembered my first blacksmith class, over 16 years ago.  Rick Smith taught me how to make the exact same leaf, telling me that it was a Doug Wilson leaf.  I made variations of that same leaf over and over again for a long time.  So many years later, I've changed the leaf, evolved it into my own style.  My leaves are curvier and have an implied rather than folded vein.  The artistic style overall is different too. 

It was really wonderful to meet the artist and the leaf form who, in a roundabout way, introduced me to the skills I needed to follow my own creative path.  (Coincidentally, Rick Smith is teaching at Haystack right now, the session after mine.)  After Doug's demo, back at Haystack, I made these little forged steel leaf pendants, bringing me back full circle, reminding me of the way knowledge is passed through the craft and how the little simple things do change lives.

Click for details

click for details



Click for details

click for details

Hollow Branch Forms in Steel

A few entries back, I posted about some tree shelf brackets that I've been working on.  Here's how they turned out! 

I used a U shaped beam at the top.  The shelf should be routed to fit over the u shape, so that it looks like the tree is going right up into the shelf. 

The shelf brackets are large, about 30 inches high with a shelf support length of 12 inches.  Surprisingly enough, they are not very heavy.  I specifically designed them to be strong, but also to be lightweight.

Let me back up a little.  When the client first approached me about the project, I sure "sure!" jumping in headfirst like I usually do, without thinking about it enough.  I originally thought I would use branch textured bar stock.  Then I realized a few things.

1. I don't have a power hammer anymore, so it would be terribly difficult to for me to texture my own bar stock like I used to. 
   
2. Those would be heavy!  I'm trying to avoid heavy.
   
3. Propane is very expensive right now, so that means hot forging is very expensive for me.  I've been adapting my work to use much less propane.

So I started to re-think the process.  At first I thought I would use plain un-textured bar stock.  Still that would use lots of propane for forging and would be heavy.  Then I thought, well I'll just buy the bar stock.  That was a mistake.  That supposedly "branch textured" bar stock from King Metals is UGLY and doesn't look at all like a branch.  Finally I realized, I need to go back to the rough anticlastic technique that I've used in the past to make hollow twig/branch forms, in both large and small sizes.  I used to use it a lot for steel work, but I only have the pictures as slides, with no slide-scanner.  If you look back through my jewelry pages on flickr, you can see the technique on the twiggy copper bracelets and on many of my leaf stem pendant bails.

Basically, I cut asymmetrical long strips of metal.  Then I shape them over the step of my anvil into a tube shape.  To finish up, I close up the tube, letting the metal overlap and wrinkle at the edges.   I also hammer around the hollow tube form, to create more texture and form.  This creates a surprisingly strong and lightweight hollow form, that is very organic and convincing as a branch form.

I agonized over this for ages before I started!  I hadn't done it large scale in so long and I was worried that it might not work after all the effort I put into it.  But as you can see from the pictures above, it worked beautifully!

I was so pleased after I finished the brackets, that I even created a few small steel branch sculptures, and a candleholder, using the same technique.  Click on each photo for full details.

All in all, it's turned out to be a great example of how a challenging project can lead to exciting new directions, or exciting new takes on old directions.

To-dos, a kimono pin, and a featured seller

I'm back.

And I have far too much to do.  I realized that I have about one month to complete these tasks, before I fly off to teach a 2 week workshop at Haystack in Maine.  I think it's all doable, except perhaps the railing.  This list is not truly complete and does not include all of the endless lists that my family makes for me as well.

I've been waiting awhile to tell you about my first (and only so far) alchemy commission on Etsy.  Greygoat had posted a request for an "obidome", a kimono pin.  Obidome are tied to the sash of a kimono, so they use 2 loops, like a belt buckle, rather than traditional pin findings.  My husband and I are fans of Japanese kimono pins and related sword ornaments, so I just had to make a bid on it.  Greygoat decided on a bronze ginkgo leaf and it turned out beautifully!  She took some photos of it modeled on one of her kimono costumes.  Take a look.

It's wonderful to see the piece in context.  Thanks Greygoat for giving me the opportunity to make such a beautiful piece and for letting me see it in on a kimono. 

Greygoat is also a very talented clothing designer and seamstress.  Take a look at her satin knickers, well not exactly hers...  They are waiting to be yours  .  I really like her vintage scarf shirts.  Here's the one that I want



Ria vintage scarf top - russet, orange and golden leaves on olive green - size S-M

by greygoat
or maybe this one



Ria vintage scarf top - yellow and gold Canadian maple leaves - size S-M

by greygoat

Working to Use Less Propane

I am working with some different thicknesses and metals for my leaves, in order to reduce my use of propane.  My forge runs on propane.  As you might imagine, the cost of propane goes up as the cost of oil goes up.   This could be a huge strain on a business that runs on propane- but I'm flexible.  There are so many ways to work with metal!

Copper and Bronze Ginkgo Leaves.  I use propane to anneal them, but they don't need constant heat.
 
Wax as a final surface treatment really brings out the heat colors on copper.

 
These are steel yes, but a thinner steel.  I pay special attention to the edges and surfaces, to maintain the feeling of strength that I give to all of my work.  Look at the difference in surfaces.  The one on the left has been burnished back much more and highlighted with brass goldtones.  The one on the right keeps its true forged steel black.

And of course a few more pendants, another copper oak leaf and a forged steel maple leaf.

back to the studio now.  It's a welding day- for cattail railings and branchy shelf brackets.

Copper Oak Leaf Jewelry

I've got some nice big copper oak leaves that I've been making into talisman-like pendants.  The leaves are my design, well nature's design, about 4 inches long from the top of the stem loop to the bottom of the leaf.  You may click on each picture for more details.
 
I have a local friend cut them with his computer aided plasma cutting system.  This is my first time to have non-ferrous (copper and bronze this time)  metals plasma cut and there are size limitations.  The surfaces are more rugged, as the plasma cutter sort of burns away the cut lines.  Of course I like the way that looks.   Smaller shapes and other metals will still need to be sawn by hand.

I had to have one of the oak leaf pendants for myself.  I like large bold pendants on long 24 inch endless chains that slip easily over my head with no clasps.

I am finally starting to own a nice selection of my own jewelry!

Chasings, Butterflies, and Cattails - so much!

I have a lot of things to show you!

First, the exhibit pieces that are now in my online shop.
Remember "My Heart in December", the piece I did while teaching a workshop in Minnesota?

The Steel Bamboo Leaf Cluster

and the Bear

I am still slowly working on my silver butterflies.
 

And the marshy piece...
Now you can see how pipe transforms to cattails

I use a fullering tool to pinch in the pipe all the way around.  I work my way down the pipe, making what looks like a length of link sausages.  I'll break them all apart and weld on round bar above and below the seed pod shape for the stems. I'll be sure to post another photo after they're welded up.
Here are some of the leaves before I form them.  The tips are too pointy, so I'll make them more blunt first.

This is going to be a busy week, so keep checking back for more wall art, jewelry, and cattails in-progress.

My Chasing and Repoussé Back from the Exhibit

and ready to list in my online shop... Each photo links to its listing in my shop, so click on the photo for a price and more details.

Everyone's favorite, the Green Man!

This is the most expensive of the chasings that I will be listing. It is also the most detailed, most time consuming and most... well.. enchanting.

Oak Leaf Reflection

This piece shows off the best of my skills, with a chasing at the top and the reflected forged bronze leaf hanging from the bottom. I've been making oak leaves for as long as I've been doing chasing and repoussé, oh about 13 years now. The oak leaf chasings are very representative of my work and style.

and The Eagle

one of my favorite subjects this time of year, when the bald eagles are migrating North through Wisconsin's part of the Upper Mississippi River Valley. Many of them will stay and nest along the river. There are a few mature eagles that stay all year round.

I'll be listing the bronze heart and steel bear next.

Big or Little?

Many of you have noticed that I'm doing much more jewelry these days. A few people have asked which I enjoy more, the small work or the large work.

The truth is, I enjoy both. At this point in my life, the smaller pieces, the techniques, time frame, materials, fit my busy lifestyle. Jewelry and small art are so fun to make, quite challenging, yet less stressful than architectural work like railings. The small stuff is easier to ship too...

I am still working on a railing section with enticing elements like birds and flowers. (I really can't resist such things.) You'll see pictures as it progresses a bit further. For my online shop, expect to see more jewelry and lots of art.

Here's the jewelry update.
These copper maple leaf pendants sold about as fast as I got them listed.

I've set myself a little creative challenge- to start making earrings on a regular basis. I've set some guidelines for myself. 1- Keep it simple. 2- Keep it in my own unique recognizable style. 3- Make most of them in the $16 to $30 a pair price range. (You may also see some truly exquisite indulgences along the way.)

Copper Drop Earrings - Simply beautiful hammered and burnished bits of copper. I know what hammer I used by looking at the marks it made.

Reticulated Silver Panels with freshwater pearl drops. These remind me of ice melting in the spring.

Then see how the creative challenge inspires me in other pieces. The silver earrings inspired this series of Ice Cube Rings, reticulated silver panels on sterling silver bands.

Yes, you'll be seeing more rings, with pretty things like hearts and leaves, some as commissions and some for my shop.

Coming up- more tendril hooks, silver butterflies, chasing tools....
Remember. I can make any of the jewelry in gold. Just ask and I'll work up a price for you.

Hearts and Leaves, No Bunnies

I know.  I should have bunnies right now.  Instead I have Hearts and another Ginkgo Leaf.

The matching set of heart pendant and earrings are on their way to their new owner.

And here's the back sides of them. They are created completely with chasing and repoussé.  You can see the little tool marks on both sides.

Yes, I can create more like this.  Yet every single heart will be slightly different, each one unique because I freeform sculpt each one with my little chasing tools and hammers.  I don't use a mold or form.

I also finished a sterling silver Gingko Leaf Pendant for my online shop.

Again, every leaf is individually handsawn and hammered out, using no molds or forms.  Every one is unique and has its own special magic.

A Little Carried Away

See what happens when I let myself get a little carried away.  I put in all of the curves and supple edges that I want.  I let the leaves gleam and dance. I don't worry about tastefulness or decorum or where to stop.  I work until they are done and overdone, supple and alive. 

Click on the pictures for more information.

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.

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

New Jewelry and Sprinkles too!

More jewelry on Etsy...



Textured Twiggy Copper Bangle Bracelet - No. 2




Textured Twiggy Copper Bangle Bracelet



Hand hammered Copper Heart Leaf Pendant on a 36 inch endless chain




Spiraling Bronze Leaf Ornament - Hanging Art




Hand hammered Bronze Maple Leaf Pendant on an 18 inch bronze chain

I'll be posting an oak leaf brooch tonight or tomorrow.

I promised sprinkles too. Here they are!
Family likes the cookies too, but really, it's all about the sprinkles.

(Stir and Drop Sugar Cookies from the Betty Crocker Cooky Cookbook. sprinkles optional)

Hooks and Hats

In-progress in the metalshop

These are for a special request. The client wanted ball ends, for a hook that's more gentle on suit and dress coats. They just need a little clean-up, a few more hammer marks, some burnishing and some oil before I deliver them.

In the house, I've gone back to crochet with some handspun yarn from Kittygrrlz, a yarn spinner right here in Wisconsin, USA.

My daughter needed a hat for her doll.

My son needed a new hat for himself. He's getting older now. He wanted something unique and beautiful, but not too "weird." I mixed it up with some brown glossy cotton yarn at the top and bottom.

He even modeled it for me, sort of.

Jewelry, Cookies, and Crafts

Jewelry first

Two are already claimed.  The other two will go on Etsy soon.  I'm working on some other custom jewelry too that should be done in a few days.

Now to the cookies, kaleidoscope pinwheels from the Betty Crocker Cooky Book - basically butter cookies dyed with high fashion artificial colors and coated in sugary sprinkles.

and now the crafts.
After hours of tv, cookies, and computer games, my son announced that he must make a felt craft. I pulled out wool felt and two felt craft books to give him ideas.  He decided on the ipod case from Heartfelt.

front

back

He cut up the wool felt (recycled from outgrown pieces) and stitched them together.  I sewed on the button because the daredevil didn't want to poke his finger with a sharper needle.  He cut out the star, which we decided to glue onto the back.  He says I can use it until he gets his own personal mp3 player. 

Daughter decided to personalize her own clothing with some fabric markers (with my complete approval.)

 
She did a shirt for me too, but I think hers is better.

Kids do the best crafts when it's their own idea. 

I'm still here!

I'm still here! just not taking so many in-progress photos.  Here are a few leaves.  I prepped a lot for the show last weekend and am now listing the rest in my Etsy shop.

About that show last weekend...
Well, let's back up about 3 weekends.  I came back from a visit to my mom's house with a horrible cold.  That cold turned into a bad cough.  After 3 weeks of coughing, the NP said I had reactive airways and gave me an inhaler and some other symptom treatments, with instructions to call back if I didn't improve.  A week later, last Friday before the show, I came down with the throbbing headache and fatigue of a sinus infection.  So I called in, talked to the nurse and got a prescription for antibiotics.  I did the show anyway, a Holiday Faire at a local Waldorf school.  I did alright, although I'm not sure the customers appreciated my juicy coughs and tissues. 
On the way home in Saturday I was driving home in this ridiculous wet snow storm, still miserable with my sinus infection.  I thought for sure I'd get stuck somewhere.  I made it all the way home and 1/3 the way up the driveway before the truck's wheels started spinning.  So I parked it and walked up the drive.  Husband tried to move the truck further, but ended up driving it off the driveway, where it was really stuck.  Next day, we try to plow.  That wasn't snow.  That was a 3 inch slab of snow-ice.  All we could do was stab it with a big shovel and move snow-bergs around.   I called around and got a local guy to plow for us. It was fun to watch him.  He would back his truck up the driveway, awfully fast by the way, to crunch up the snow slabs.  Then he plowed the snow back down the driveway.  He also pulled our truck out of the yard and back onto the driveway.

I'm feeling much better and have been working for the most part, despite all sorts of distractions like snow days, kid sick days, me sick days...  Someday soon I'll have a studio update.

For now, see what my son drew on http://crayola.com

Both my kids really enjoy the site.  To get to the digi-color, click on the spinning palette under the "About Crayola" link in the left hand sidebar.  Check out the games too.  Little kids love 'em.

Gingko Sneak Peek

Gingko leaves drying, after applying the sealant.

 

I've got 2 sizes.  The small size is about 4 inches across the leaf.  The large size is about 5-1/2 inches across the leaf.  Some of them have looped stems for hanging.

Studio Update - I'm still working on bamboo, new leaves including gingko, chasing tools, drawer pulls, hooks, and planning for some jewelry. In the meantime, I leave you with some wallpieces.
For price and details click here

For details and price click here

Studio Updates

 I never knew it would be this tough to stay on a blogging schedule.  I've been busy.  The kids have classes, their last official classes of the summer.  I'm preparing to go teach a workshop at Touchstone Center for Crafts in Pennsylvania.

I'm working on a small commission, not pictured in this entry. 

I listed 2 new bronze ivy pendants on my Etsy shop.  I also updated my banner and avatar. 

 
 I'm working on gazillions of chasing tools for the workshop and resisting the urge to list them all on Etsy immediately.
   
 
I'll be listing tools after I return in mid August. 

I'm working on more pendants in varying price ranges.  Here they are on the welding table, waiting ...
 

I've been playing with a little copper vessel form that I started sooooooo many years ago as a raising sample.  It will be a sweet little bud vase when it's done.
 

These big acanthus leaves are calling my name, but I absolutely must finish some other things first.  So I keep looking at them.  I've got some even bigger blanks waiting for me up in the storage area, sigh.

I do not lack for creativity or motivation.  I have piles of things waiting for my attention - bamboo, bas-relief panels, flower blanks, and more. 
I don't think many of us lack for creativity.  I think most of us are just afraid to start on an idea that isn't good enough or isn't fully formed.  If you can't think of something, just start, even with your most vague of ideas.  Work it out in progress and the ideas will keep coming.  Don't wait for the right tools or supplies.  Use what you've got.  Save all of your samples.  They are great for trinkets and collage pieces.