Cleaning Silver

A lot of people wonder how to clean silver chains, or more delicate silver jewelry.  When I was in grad school so many years ago, one of my professors, Arline Fisch shared her secret.   Arline specialized (still does)  in textile techniques in metal.  With her woven, knit, and crocheted silver jewelry, she needed a non-chemical cleaning method that would get into all the areas that a polishing cloth can't reach.

She used a product that she got from the Harriet Carter catalog (of all places) called a Maggie Pan.  It's basically a blue plastic pan with a sheet of metal in it.  I don't know the exact alloy of the metal.  I and a number of other students got Maggie Pans of our own.  I still use it - especially with tarnished chains. 

I place my jewelry in the pan, directly onto the metal sheet.  I squirt some dishwashing liquid right onto the jewelry and pan.

The photo looks blue because the metal is reflecting the royal blue walls of the surrounding plastic pan.  The name pendant is just a touch dull, but the chain and the acorn pendant are tarnished to a dull gray dingy color instead of whitish silver.  They look ok in the picture because of the light reflection, but trust me, they weren't good enough for me to wear in public.

I heat up a lot of water nearly to boiling temperature in the microwave and then pour it into the pan, on top of the metal sheet, jewelry, and detergent.  Let it all sit there and steam awhile.

After the water cools down a bit, I use an old toothbrush to move the jewelry around and to scrub any parts that might need it.

The jewelry really is all bright and shiny now, ready to wear.  I couldn't have gotten that chain clean any other way, unless I used some sort of smelly toxic dip. 

This is some sort of electrolytic cleaning, but please don't ask me to repeat any of the scientific explanations. 

I did some Google searching.  It looks like the Maggie Pan is no longer available through Harriet Carter or anywhere else online.  If you search on ebay, there is someone selling another product using a metal alloy sheet, hot water, and washing soda as an activator.  (Washing soda is available in many laundry soap aisles or online.)  I think I'll try washing soda in my own maggie pan next time I need to clean my jewelry.

If you have a similar product,or buy one, and it works, let me know in the comments!

A Taste of Spring

Spring is easing in this year, slowly but surely.
The bleeding hearts are blooming. I haven't gone out searching for any wildflowers. I'm satisfied with the flashy, yet coy reddish pink of the dicentra.

I do love the wild, or half-wild, violets that grow in the margins between yard and woods.

Yes, I have gotten a little studio work done, silver ginkgo leaf pendants. Four of them are for a custom order.

They actually have more of a white silvery satin sheen. In the photo, they are reflecting too many of the dark colors around them.

In the house, I've been completely redoing the kids bedrooms. If I have any energy left, I will take photos. Son gets a big heavy old style tv, complete with rf modulator, so he can play Wii in his own bedroom, with plenty of space. Daughter of course gets lots of pink flowery fluff, so much fun for Mom! :). Now if I could just find some yellow eyelet curtains..... If you see some, let me know.

fyi- I am completely giving up any serious gardening this year. I am devoting myself to all of the little home finishing jobs that we've talked about for the past 4 years but not done anything about. We still need trim in some places. We need a total interior paint job. I'd like a minimum of landscaping around the house - that sort of thing. Let's not even mention that "temporary" railing in the loft. It's time to "finish" this house.

Mother's Day is coming up.

What's your Mother getting for Mother's Day?

Mine is getting the silver heart ring in this picture.

Here's another one, size 7, available in my Etsy shop that could go to your Mother. Or buy it for yourself!

I know I like to pick out my own presents. I don't want to be surprised. I just want what I want.

Hey, if you do buy it for your mother, put a note in the "message to seller" letting me know if you need it shipped to a different address or if you need a gift card enclosed.

2nd Butterfly Finished!

 The 2nd butterfly pendant is finished!  It is created with chasing and repoussé, no molds or forms, completely one of a kind.

and a side view, just because

Both the first and the second butterfly have been claimed and will be flying off to their new owners very soon.

I love it when new owners claim their pieces even before they are completed.  Then I know the pieces have a story to tell and will stay close to someone's heart for a long time.

Butterflies and other pretty bits in progress

Many Etsymetal Street Team members participate in a monthly theme challenge. There are no votes or prizes. The goal is to stretch our creative skills and grow as metalsmiths and artists. I'm currently working on the insect theme with butterflies.

There are 2 different butterflies, each one about 2 inches at its maximum dimension. I haven't decided yet if these will be pendants or pins, maybe both.

Some other things going on in the studio...

Leaves and cattails in progress! Oh, you don't think those pipes look like cattails yet? They will. I'll show you later this week.

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.

The Hearts of March

You knew I couldn't stop making hearts once I'd started....

Delicate Hearts

about 1-1/2 inches long, Both already on their way to a new home

Blue Hearts

needlefelted, about 3-1/2 inches or 8.7cm tall and wide

Lucky Charms!

No no, not the cereal (even though it is one of my favorite sugary processed cereals)

Sterling Silver Lucky Shamrocks- already off to their new owner

It's a pin and a pendant. Take a look at the back.

Another pendant

Those went over so well that I decided to make another for my online shop.

This photo will give you an idea of the scale.

and Monkeys! Maybe monkeys are your own special lucky charm. I finally put together the last of my monkeys into earrings and just a few tie tacs.

Spring is coming, even though our yard is still covered in multiple feet of icy snow and the driveway is mud. I'm starting to think of butterflies and bunnies, more hearts, and lots of flowers- in metal and in fiber.

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

Pendants

These pendants are all for sale in the pendant section of my Etsy Shop . They are all hot forged, except for the silver bird pendant.

Flying Bird Pendant...
Knitsteel
$25.00

Oak Leaf Pendant fo...
Knitsteel
$25.00

Handforged Bronze I...
Knitsteel
$15.00

Handforged Bronze I...
Knitsteel
$15.00

Handforged Oak and ...
Knitsteel
$20.00