tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-361668122024-03-13T08:59:41.049+08:00Get SilveredGetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-26491512738868085862014-02-14T19:44:00.001+08:002014-02-14T19:45:26.240+08:00I've moved to GetSilvered.com<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Things have been a bit quiet here metal wise. I've been in a creative slump this year with my metalwork, hence the lack of posts.<br />
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Fortunately, It's been calling out to me lately and I hope to be dusting off the tools very soon :)<br />
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I've been keeping busy with other crafts though, mostly papercraft and cardmaking - I got a new cutting machine last year (Silhouette Cameo). I enjoy designing in the software and it's something I can do in the evenings while I watch TV. I started a new blog for all that as I feared it wouldn't interest my metal followers but I've decided to move both blogs to my <a href="http://getsilvered.com/" target="_blank">own domain</a> and in the future put everything there, whether it's Metal, Paper or other crafts.<br />
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I can see the potential to use the cutting machine to make textures from cardstock to use in the rolling mill or to cut shapes in vinyl as an etching resist. I've already cut acetate stencils with my machine and used them for enamelling. I want to explore all these possibilities further.<br />
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I have decided though, that I'll keep the archived content of my Metalsmith journey here in the one spot, although all my future projects will be at <a href="http://getsilvered.com/">GetSilvered.com</a><br />
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I'd like to thank all my followers and subscribers for sticking with me (especially in the quiet times) and invite you over to my new place. I hope you'll subscribe over at <a href="http://getsilvered.com/" target="_blank">GetSilvered</a> too so you won't miss my metal comeback when it happens :) <br />
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Cheers,<br />
Pam<br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-91702111499415604402013-02-19T18:03:00.003+08:002013-02-19T18:03:55.269+08:00Happy Everything!Well, it's a little late to be saying Happy New Year seeing as we're well into February already.<br />
And we won't mention about the 6 months plus since my last post except for me to say Thank you to my readers for still subscribing to my blog and not culling me from your blog lists when decluttering (Wasn't that everyone's New Year's Resolution?) <br />
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After finishing my Cert 2 at Tafe, I was keen to continue on creating at home but last year it just fell by the wayside. My inspiration abandoned me and I was busy at work and at home so it just didn't happen.<br />
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Two recent events have changed that! First my husband bought me a great Christmas present (yes, he's a keeper!) - it was a total surprise, and a much appreciated gift - Here it is:<br />
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It was hiding in the shed for 2 months. Even though I do go in the shed quite often I never even noticed it hidden down the back among the neglected camping gear! Just goes to show how cluttered the shed was! What a fabulous surprise - I cried when he took me out to the back garden Christmas morning and it was sitting there with it's big Christmas ribbon around it. (Ha Ha - tears of joy!!) No longer do I have to attach my small vice and Bench peg to the Meals Area Table. I now have my own dedicated jewellery bench to hammer, saw and drill and solder. We had to do some rearranging of the spare room and I need to get another power point put in but other than that it's working really well.....and we can use the Meals Area Table for ......well, our meals!<br />
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The second event is that I enrolled in another course. Two former Tafe Lecturers have opened up<a href="https://www.facebook.com/ContemporaryMetal" target="_blank"> a metal studio</a>. They are running courses, renting out bench space, opening up gallery space, loaning out metalwork books library style - everything!<br />
I enrolled in the 6 week enamel class which was their very first class. There's so much about this that is good: they are awesome teachers and have created an informal, friendly, practical, well equipped, safe place for us to learn. Perth people check out the link - <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ContemporaryMetal" target="_blank">Contemporary Metal</a> Students are very spoilt.<br />
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We are covering experimental enamelling techniques in this course, rather than the traditional techniques such as Cloisonne. This suits me as I don't really have the patience for that sort of work. We've covered techniques using Liquid enamels, Sifting, Stencilling, Stamping, decals, & Sgraffito. Pretty much anything we can think of - we're encouraged to try. Some of things the other students have tried were impressing glass beads and fusing them to the work, and impressing ferns & material into the enamel before firing We're churning out lots of sample pieces and having lots of fun. I've made some cool pieces (and a couple of ugly pieces which I'm not showing!) but I'm learning so much and I'm looking forward to firing up the kiln at home when classes are over and playing with it all some more.<br />
Some of my favourite experiments were with stencilling.<br />
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The samples above were made by sifting the powdered enamel through thin acetate stencils. The exception is the bottom left sample where the enamel was sifted directly through a piece of lace ribbon. If you're interested there's more on the stencils and how I made them over on my other <a href="http://getsilveredcraft.blogspot.com.au/2013/02/cross-over-crafts.html" target="_blank">Craft blog</a>.<br />
<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-64850261673668888362012-08-03T11:01:00.001+08:002012-08-03T20:30:11.277+08:00I'm Back :)We're back from our Far North Queensland 4 Wheel Drive Adventure. It was full of fabulous sights, scenery and people - but more on that later.<br />
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I've waited to blog this as it was a gift for my daughter, but now her Birthday has come and gone I can blog away and not ruin any surprises!<br />
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In June, my friend Jane & I enrolled for a two day workshop at <a href="http://www.fac.org.au/" target="_blank">Fremantle Arts Centre</a>, one of my favourite learning places. We were fortunate enough to be taught how to make Sterling Silver Spoons by the marvellous George Lucas, a renowned and very well respected Silversmith here in Western Australia.<br />
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Here's the results of my class efforts.<br />
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The spoon was made in 3 parts, the top was sawn from sheet, shaped and hammered. The middle was from thick square wire and the bowl also sawn from sheet and domed to shape.<br />
That was the easy bit - the fitting it all together and soldering was a bit trickier. A bit of precision sawing was involved in getting that top bit to fit the mid section but we all got it in the end under George's watchful eye. <br />
Fortunately George had a jig he'd made which we used to hold the bowl and the handle together when we came to soldering those parts together. Jane was clever and soldered her spoon together without the jig - smart move really because if we ever want to replicate it at home we'll all be jigless and have to do that!<br />
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I made the little custom gift box because next to making jewellery I love messing around with wrapping and papercraft.<br />
Hopefully, one day the spoon will get handed further down in the family as a little heirloom - in the meantime, I was pretty chuffed when my daughter (who'd seen it after day 1's class when it was in 3 pieces and not cleaned up in any way) on receiving the finished spoon said "Mum, you can't see the joins!" WooHoo!<br />
<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-60317642641471359722012-07-03T22:05:00.000+08:002012-07-03T22:07:38.375+08:00Certificate 2 - Yay!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I finally applied for my certificate and now I have something to show for my time attending Tech College last year.
And yes, I <i>am</i> going to frame it and hang it on a wall! </div>
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This was a big deal for me, I left school the first time 40 years ago! (oops showing my age now!) so going back into a formal learning environment definately challenged me and I was often out of my comfort zone. </div>
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I'm so glad I did it though :) </div>
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We're heading off to Queensland this week for our 4 wheel Drive holiday that I wrote about <a href="http://getsilvered.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/just-4-kids.html" target="_blank">earlier</a>.</div>
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As it's a charity drive they'll be some fundraising auctions along the way. I'm donating the jewellery below - hope it gets some bids ;)</div>
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We'll be in some remote areas so I doubt I'll be blogging - I'll update when we return. </div>GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-66966576064887910282012-05-18T18:01:00.000+08:002012-05-18T18:01:26.578+08:00A little exposure goes a long Way!I've had an Etsy shop since 2007 and a Made It shop since 2009. My sales have been modest in both shops to say the least!<br />
I understand how these things work (except for SEO that is - does <i>anyone</i> understand that?) and that my lack of sales is due to the fact that I don't put <strike>the</strike> any effort into promoting the shops.<br />
In my ideal world the buyers would magically find my shops and start spending extravagantly. But sadly reality is a little different ;)<br />
Instead I send stock down to<a href="http://behindthemonkey.com/" target="_blank"> Behind the Monkey</a> and fortunately the customers there like my work and buy it - well most of it anyway :) Despite bricks & mortar success, I still get the frequent urge to list things in my online shops - I'm not sure why though, as the lack of sales & views invariably leaves me doubting my work/prices/designs and I end up depressed/fed up/frustrated. <br />
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That all changed this week when I got an email saying I'd been featured in the <a href="http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Contemporary-Silver-Jewellery.html?soid=1102437359584&aid=fN8Y7sBKuWs" target="_blank">Made It Newsletter</a>.<br />
How exciting! I secretly hoped it would result in a sale......<br />
Well, my expections were exceeded as I sold the featured pendant, then got an order for another which I just filled and mailed today, and I am currently emailing another possible customer re a potential order. WooHoo all because I was lucky enough to get featured in a newsletter.<br />
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So I have changed my expectations - Now, in my ideal world I would like to be featured regularly on front pages and in newsletters...<br />
" Oh no" I can hear you all groan, however, please allow me the pleasure of my unrealistic expectations. (grin)GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-61012742830864158212012-04-29T13:24:00.002+08:002012-04-29T13:24:59.880+08:00Going Dotty! I seem to have a thing for dots lately. First my recently updated 'dot style' blog and now it's crossing over into my jewellery making :) <br />
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Just experimented with punching out some holes in cardstock with a hole punch. I ran it through the rolling mill with a brass disc and this is the result.<br />
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I was pretty happy with it, so I have filed it in the "must try that in silver next and experiment some more later" part of my brain.<br />
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As usual it suits my non fussy, minimalist style. <br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-4197393178774827852012-04-20T09:50:00.001+08:002012-04-20T09:51:40.013+08:00Some earrings finished!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, I actually made something! 6 pairs of Sterling Earrings :) </div>
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These are heading down to<a href="http://www.behindthemonkey.com/" target="_blank"> Behind The Monkey</a>.</div>GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-69096550689124304462012-03-30T12:24:00.001+08:002012-04-07T19:47:48.027+08:00Just 4 kidsMy husband won a holiday! We were pretty excited. I had visions of sipping cocktails around a pool with the palm trees rustling in the gentle breeze.<br />
Those thoughts soon turned to "How the hell am I going to get up off an airmattress every morning with my dodgy knee" LOL - the holiday we won was a "Tag a long" 4 wheel drive camping adventure holiday. <br />
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No matter :) we are off to Far North Queensland in July to discover Cape York Peninsular and will venture as far as the most northern point of the Australian mainland. It's something I think we wouldn't have ventured out to do alone, travelling over rough roads and tracks in this remote area, so this type of tour and travelling in a convoy is an opportunity too good to miss. <br />
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The tour organisers have an agenda other than making holidays happen, they raise money for Aussie Kids..... and along the way during the tour they present cheques from their fundraising efforts to the communities in the local areas.<br />
As part of this trip we'll be involved in the fundraising efforts too, so I'm kicking off my fundraising by making jewellery to sell so I can donate the proceeds.<br />
I've just listed this little Sterling Silver Crossed Heart Pendant in my <a href="https://www.madeit.com.au/storecatalog.asp?userid=321" target="_blank">Made it shop</a>. I'm donating the materials, listing fees, time, etc etc, so that 100% of the purchase price can be donated to the <a href="http://www.just4kidsmotortrail.com.au/" target="_blank">Just 4 Kids Childrens Charity. </a><br />
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Hope it sells quickly so I can make some more - I've got the bucket below to fill with money!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDFV6R5ycKw/T3Umg4JaqlI/AAAAAAAABF8/p7mpKUfma7A/s1600/J4K1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDFV6R5ycKw/T3Umg4JaqlI/AAAAAAAABF8/p7mpKUfma7A/s1600/J4K1.jpg" /></a></div>
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Buy the necklace <a href="http://www.madeit.com.au/GetSilvered" target="_blank">here</a> within Australia....or<a href="http://etsy.com.au/shop/Getsilvered" target="_blank"> here</a> If outside of Australia</div>
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<a href="http://www.just4kidsmotortrail.com.au/" target="_blank">More about the charity </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.just4kidsmotortrail.com.au/2012_event.php" target="_blank">Where we're going...</a></div>
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-27924668743257220882012-03-23T11:45:00.000+08:002012-03-23T11:47:43.959+08:00Irregular PendantI've been meaning to make a silver version of the chunky copper pendant from my <a href="http://getsilvered.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/get-coppered.html" target="_blank">last post</a> and I finally had a chance to do it.<br />
This time I've used Sterling Silver Wire and it's on a smaller scale - The largest link is around 5cm x 3.5cm at it's widest points. (2 inches x 1 1.2 inches) Still, thats a pretty decent size for a silver pendant.<br />
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I like that you can rotate the shapes around in the jump ring bail to give it a different look. The top pic shows it in a uniform order then underneath it's pictured in a more haphazard arrangement.<br />
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My current quest is to create from the supplies I already have rather than buy in more materials. I've plenty of this Sterling Wire, so I can see some more of these coming on, maybe even earrings too! <br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-64384083111902261492012-02-04T12:14:00.000+08:002012-02-04T12:17:36.193+08:00Get Coppered?No it doesn't have the same ring to it as "Get Silvered" does it? But lately I've been playing around a bit with copper and Brass. What about "Brassed off"? Lol - no I think I'll stick with Get Silvered.<br />
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M. came in from the shed the other day and gave me a stack of nice thick copper wire. Each wire almost 3mm thick in 30cm lengths! Score! He salvaged it from work - it was a sample piece of Industrial cable that was going to be chucked out! There I was, thinking he was hiding in the shed playing with his fishing lures and reels when all the time he was stripping wire for me :)<br />
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We've had days and days of heatwaves lately with temperatures in the high 30s and even getting as high as 42 degrees (that's 107.6 degrees farenheit for the Celsius challenged!) Obviously, that's not the weather for soldering in a tin shed, especially when there are total fire bans. So I waited patiently and courtesy of Cyclone Iggy out to sea further north we've had rain and even cloud cover and cooler temps in the last day or two. Of course I seized the opportunity to light up the torch -Here's the before and after shots. It's nice and chunky - The largest shape is around 8 x 4cm.<br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-22144364594718686862012-01-23T21:30:00.001+08:002012-01-23T21:30:13.298+08:00Tiny Treasure PendantBefore:
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<br />
This pendant was inspired by those gorgeous cylinder shaped Bali Silver Prayer Boxes. I've admired them for a long time.<br />
For my pendant I used some copper pipe from the Hardware store, and used the same<a href="http://getsilvered.blogspot.com/2011/10/brass-box-pictorial.html" target="_blank"> techniques</a> that I used with my trinket boxes.
I've plenty of spare pipe leftover - it was a 1.5 metre length and the pendant is only about 4 cm long. Overkill?? HaHa maybe! Anyway, I hope to experiment some more with the leftovers! I may try etching the next one, and I want to try out some kind of safety catch...and... if I get really adventurous I may try out a hinged version and....Oh well .....we'll see how I go......... :)GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-46135800253886812092012-01-13T21:14:00.000+08:002012-01-13T21:14:48.175+08:00Success or the opportunity to try again.....How are your resolutions and goals going?<br />
I'm on target so far - My housekeeping schedule is getting organised and I decided that as the house was spick and span that I'd treat myself to a day of metalwork today.<br />
<br />
My plans nearly didn't happen as the postie delivered my late Christmas pressie to myself! I must say I have excellent taste when buying gifts for myself....<br />
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<br />
This is an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Metalsmiths-Book-Boxes-Lockets-McCreight/dp/1929565232" target="_blank">awesome book</a> with instructions for making all kinds of boxes and lockets as well as the hinges and catches. There's heaps of jaw dropping gallery pictures to inspire too! But instead of sitting in the airconditioning reading all afternoon it inspired me to finish my second trinket box that I <a href="http://getsilvered.blogspot.com/2011/12/end-of-era-well-that-sounds-rather.html" target="_blank">started last year at Tafe</a>. <br />
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I had a <strike>few</strike> many soldering issues, then torch issues, but remembering Tim McCreight's comment in the book that there are only two outcomes - "success or the opportunity to try again" - I pressed on - trying again and again.......and again... until I finally got it right, all the while, ignoring my urges to go with third option which he never mentioned in the book which was to chuck the whole lot through the nearest window!<br />
Heads up to my friends too - <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cas-Designs/36785220740?sk=app_4949752878" target="_blank">Carolyn</a> for providing the copper pipe I used for the box and to <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetLime" target="_blank">Jane</a> who suggested I check my torch tips for blockages. It did the trick!<br />
<br />
Ta Da.....here it is:<br />
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and opened:<br />
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and with my first box:<br />
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Specs for those interested: Copper & Sterling Silver - Its about 5cm (2inches) high including the dome and about 3.5cm (11/2inches) in diameter. <br />
<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-55989168230984265192012-01-01T11:11:00.000+08:002012-01-01T12:34:54.447+08:00Happy 2012!Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and holiday season!
Ours included a lovely day with most of the family and a Christmas lunch at our place, followed by a Boxing day lunch with our youngest who was away at work on Christmas day.
The lead up to the New Year has been good, we're on hols from work, so eating leftovers, reading books, catching up with friends and general lazing around has been the focus.<br />
<br />
Now the New year has arrived it's time to think about being more productive.
I haven't made any resolutions but I have some loose goals and ideas I want to achieve so putting them down here makes me a little accountable.<br />
<ul>
<li>
I've decided not to go back and start another Tafe course this year, so the extra time at home will be spent creating and making more metal jewellery, so that the skills learned last year become second nature. I hope to devote at least one day each week to my metalwork! </li>
<li>I'm happier when my house is in order, so I'll continue with my ongoing decluttering and try and establish a cleaning routine that will work for me. I joined <a href="http://flylady.net/" target="_blank">Flylady</a> a few years back and although I don't subscribe now, I've adapted one of their cleaning plans to suit my house and I'm going to follow that to keep on top of things. I just revisited the site and it really does have some <a href="http://www.flylady.net/d/sitemap/" target="_blank">great ideas there</a>. </li>
<li>
Last year, one goal was to sort out the many pre digital family photos, it didn't happen so that's going to roll over to this year. </li>
<li>No suprises here: to address my health & fitness! I'm
not doing too badly but the body could do with a little more exercise
and a little less calories. </li>
<li>"Being Happy" is a bit vague, so I'll be working on specifics for that
one - I'm pretty sure it'll include finding more time for connecting
with family and friends but all of the others above will contribute to
that too I hope!</li>
</ul>
Happy New Year Everyone - Hope all your wishes and dreams come true in 2012. <br />
What are your plans?<br />
<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-32218482104409206622011-12-18T08:39:00.000+08:002011-12-18T08:39:18.605+08:00Stringing it along....I love wrapping gifts - so Christmas is a good time of year in that respect!<br />
<br />
This year I'd been coveting the red and white bakers Twine that is all over the internet at the moment. I picked some up last month when we were in Sydney! My husband thought I was crazy that we go all the way to Sydney and my first purchase there was.........string!<br />
<br />
Well, this festive string has a bit of a natural look to it so doesn't really work that well with the glossy, patterned Christmas papers, so some regular plain brown paper was in order.<br />
I tizzied up the ladies' gifts with the other <strike>over exposed</strike>
ever popular paper product...doileys, but that wouldn't do for the
men! Instead I got the printer fired up and made up some labels with a
vintage wreath image and a holly border.<br />
<br />
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Now what am I going to do with the other 45 meters of Red & White string?</div>GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-85651075598078577432011-12-04T21:07:00.001+08:002011-12-06T21:06:24.331+08:00Sydney.............In my last post I may have given the impression that since the term
finished, I've been chained to the vaccum cleaner. Well that's not
strictly true....M and I did find time for a short break on the other
side of the continent. <br />
We were celebrating our 33rd
wedding anniversary on the 11/11/11 (Don't you love those numbers! - it
wasn't planned back in '78 - just a lovely numerological coincidence!)
and then M.'s Birthday on the 16th. What better excuse to spend 6 nights
in fair Sydney Town down at the best ever location in <a href="http://www.therocks.com/" target="_blank">the Rocks</a>!<br />
What can I say, we hadn't visited there in 25 years and it's still an awesome city.....<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjSoRqfPFhM/TtuCMxtoiuI/AAAAAAAABAE/jhx1GXE29Ew/s1600/syd2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PjSoRqfPFhM/TtuCMxtoiuI/AAAAAAAABAE/jhx1GXE29Ew/s320/syd2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Icon ;) Covered in self cleaning tiles no less!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z02-MLi040/Ttt94h0YRDI/AAAAAAAAA_8/_5oY2Oz3iYc/s1600/syd1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="195" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Z02-MLi040/Ttt94h0YRDI/AAAAAAAAA_8/_5oY2Oz3iYc/s320/syd1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other icon complete with a most cooperative Seagull</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaNcFEuNY-4/Tt4GoXnD90I/AAAAAAAABBk/1UQJwT2Sz5o/s1600/syd11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xaNcFEuNY-4/Tt4GoXnD90I/AAAAAAAABBk/1UQJwT2Sz5o/s320/syd11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Icon 2 viewed from inside Icon 1</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VbKn-FpboA/Tt4KA-lgBZI/AAAAAAAABBw/RQhaWp2R55Q/s1600/syd12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2VbKn-FpboA/Tt4KA-lgBZI/AAAAAAAABBw/RQhaWp2R55Q/s320/syd12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Icon 1 viewed from Icon 2 - it was high - I felt brave!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUlIWvPaqik/Tt4Excu-7AI/AAAAAAAABBY/I1JeaBoCtQI/s1600/syd10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZUlIWvPaqik/Tt4Excu-7AI/AAAAAAAABBY/I1JeaBoCtQI/s320/syd10.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Heights: Didn't climb over but did walk across the bridge!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUCbtpkfJ2I/Tt4Qai7kTNI/AAAAAAAABCI/a6sFIvoNcp4/s1600/syd4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DUCbtpkfJ2I/Tt4Qai7kTNI/AAAAAAAABCI/a6sFIvoNcp4/s320/syd4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gaudy: No, I don't mean Murray ! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czvUUR0Qhis/TtuIvUJPkWI/AAAAAAAABAk/jEAOmktT214/s1600/syd5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-czvUUR0Qhis/TtuIvUJPkWI/AAAAAAAABAk/jEAOmktT214/s320/syd5.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Quirky - No washing just birdcages!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOnTXHVYxD0/TtuKjMHH6YI/AAAAAAAABAs/eosatMpBVnA/s1600/syd6jpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DOnTXHVYxD0/TtuKjMHH6YI/AAAAAAAABAs/eosatMpBVnA/s320/syd6jpg.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Arty- Recreation of the original laneway.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8NlsIPHz60/TtuMh14cPrI/AAAAAAAABA0/kMVZtXNDcJE/s1600/syd7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F8NlsIPHz60/TtuMh14cPrI/AAAAAAAABA0/kMVZtXNDcJE/s320/syd7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Old Buildings - They treasure them and don't flatten them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45CjZvUWyYw/Tt35qrYKxSI/AAAAAAAABBA/nMgm2ni2aOI/s1600/syd8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-45CjZvUWyYw/Tt35qrYKxSI/AAAAAAAABBA/nMgm2ni2aOI/s320/syd8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Oldest Pub - one of many we visited :)</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_Py4r6rerA/Tt4DbEI46hI/AAAAAAAABBM/oDQuqWxcEfo/s1600/syd9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_Py4r6rerA/Tt4DbEI46hI/AAAAAAAABBM/oDQuqWxcEfo/s320/syd9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Atmosphere: Friday night markets at The Rocks.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OQdRwCYwPQ/Tt4NMr2bEaI/AAAAAAAABB8/NE-ZoNNAoMQ/s1600/syd13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1OQdRwCYwPQ/Tt4NMr2bEaI/AAAAAAAABB8/NE-ZoNNAoMQ/s320/syd13.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Unusual: A Lovely pressed metal construction.....Umm... a urinal!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Thanks for joining me in my express 12 photo tour of the Rocks in Sydney. Believe me,you got off lightly -I was rather snap happy and took 251 photos. Maybe I'll put some of the other better pics up on Flickr. I'll pop the link up here when I get the chance to upload them.GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-24378010364419788522011-12-02T22:52:00.001+08:002011-12-06T21:06:58.639+08:00End of an era - well that sounds rather dramatic....<i>"Life is what happens to you, while you're busy making other plans" John Lennon </i><br />
<br />
My year of study has come to an end. It happened over a month ago, but this is the first chance I've had to blog - I've been filling my time with other creative endeavours...........Hmmm, I wish.......I've actually been catching up on the housework, but it does make me somewhat happy to have a clean kitchen floor and a tidy linen closet ;)<br />
I'm still waiting for my Cert 2 in Jewellery Manufacture to arrive in the mail. I've passed but I've been told not to hold my breath for the actual certificate to arrive. In the meantime I've done nothing creative! Despite my smug attitude about my kitchen floor and the sparkling bathroom tiles (did I mention the sparkling bathroom tiles?) I thought that with the extra free day each week now the course has finished, that I'd be churning out magnificent jewellery creations, but no..... it's pretty much been housework and the occasional half decent meal every now and then!<br />
I still have my copper pipe trinket box to finish. It's probably only a half hour or so of work to get to the clean up stage but the weather's hotting up here in Perth and soldering out in the tin shed isn't that appealing at the mo. And of course it's the "season to be merry" and lots of shopping, wrapping, decorating of trees, socialising and prep to do before Christmas. Yeah, I know.....excuses, excuses!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9gkUoNhEdx4/TttpB90t3hI/AAAAAAAAA_0/TvXwVMvVI6U/s1600/trinket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9gkUoNhEdx4/TttpB90t3hI/AAAAAAAAA_0/TvXwVMvVI6U/s320/trinket.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To be continued.................</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-77615203896001633332011-10-12T12:43:00.000+08:002011-10-12T12:43:50.459+08:00Class countdown!The Tafe year is nearly over for my course. I have mixed feelings - I'm looking forward to spending the time at home creating instead but really will miss the classes. And then there's the motivation issue when I'm at home - there's so many distractions: housework, shopping, washing, ironing and cooking. <br />
I'm not saying I <i>do</i> them but the need to do them definately distracts me from the task of creating ;) Not to mention the biggest distraction of all - The Internet!!!<br />
Anyway, we had a great day in class yesterday. A classmate is working on a new range and the teacher gave us all a lesson/demo in how to make a rubber mould. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/PlanetLime">Jane</a> was then able to use the mould and use the wax injector to reproduce her design in wax.<br />
<br />
I took about 20 grams of scrap sterling in to class and melted it into an ingot then spent far too long (but I love doing it) rolling it down on the mill and then drawing it down into .8mm wire which I'll being using for earring hooks.<br />
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Another classmate <a href="http://www.southall.id.au/">Carolyn</a> generously bought in some copper pipe for me to use for future <a href="http://getsilvered.blogspot.com/2011/10/brass-box-pictorial.html">trinket boxes</a>. The teacher took us down to the metal workshop and we had it sliced on the cold metal bandsaw (at least I think that's what it was).<br />
It took the metal workshop teacher a few minutes to do and will definately save me an hour, probably more of sawing. I'm always pleasantly amazed at the resources available at Tafe.<br />
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I also rolled down my <a href="http://getsilvered.blogspot.com/2011/10/why-it-pays-to-save-your-silver-scraps.html">ingot</a> from last term a little more. I've decided I'll leave it now at about 1.5mm thick until I have a definate project in mind for the silver.<br />
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We also got the course info for next year. There's a possibility that we may be able to enrol in the Advanced Diploma as part time students and just do a few of the units. There's about 5 of us from this course interested in doing more. Love to be able to do that if it fits in with all the other commitments I have, like family and the day job! <br />
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Now that the formal class projects are out of the way I have to plan what I want to do in class next to make the most of my last 3 classes............. <br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-21346151092624253912011-10-04T22:48:00.000+08:002011-10-04T22:48:53.188+08:00Brass Box PictorialHere are the pictures I took as I was making my little round Brass Box.<br />
This isn't a tutorial (I wouldn't presume to try and tell anyone how to do this - I barely managed it myself !) It's more of a pictorial to show you my process - It was my first attempt to make a box and I'd be more than happy to hear suggestions if you know of a better or easier way to make these :) <br />
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I started with 1mm sheet brass which I formed and soldered into a 3cm diameter tube about 2 cm high....then:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wst1x1EDopc/TobAooq8AsI/AAAAAAAAA9s/mtafaW0UPD8/s1600/trinket1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wst1x1EDopc/TobAooq8AsI/AAAAAAAAA9s/mtafaW0UPD8/s320/trinket1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I carefully sawed around the mark I had made with the calipers.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OS_kAeFBCro/TobBqv0NCeI/AAAAAAAAA9w/zaWLkehBcns/s1600/trinket2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OS_kAeFBCro/TobBqv0NCeI/AAAAAAAAA9w/zaWLkehBcns/s320/trinket2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! Two pieces - a lid and a base</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BsPjuA-MDX8/TosSVtOBCuI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/KlFxebbSD1Q/s1600/DSC01848a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BsPjuA-MDX8/TosSVtOBCuI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/KlFxebbSD1Q/s320/DSC01848a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand on flat surface in figure 8 action. I do this as required.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FejBvZVAfAA/Torqy_0UszI/AAAAAAAAA90/aR__-d0iVcU/s1600/DSC01851a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FejBvZVAfAA/Torqy_0UszI/AAAAAAAAA90/aR__-d0iVcU/s320/DSC01851a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used a cardboard template and made an extended lining to fit lid .</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjZYopKA80w/TorwFodNQKI/AAAAAAAAA94/qH3jTlJHMdU/s1600/DSC01852a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjZYopKA80w/TorwFodNQKI/AAAAAAAAA94/qH3jTlJHMdU/s320/DSC01852a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lining Soldered in - now checking for fit to the base.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDMKzFWlIUM/Torx2SKFAsI/AAAAAAAAA98/6SkU1mByXKI/s1600/DSC01853a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" id=":current_picnik_image" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BDMKzFWlIUM/Torx2SKFAsI/AAAAAAAAA98/6SkU1mByXKI/s320/DSC01853a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on the Base now - Bottom soldered on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr3bw2DOk3c/Toryt9aDFyI/AAAAAAAAA-A/1GRmysBYwDw/s1600/DSC01854a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Zr3bw2DOk3c/Toryt9aDFyI/AAAAAAAAA-A/1GRmysBYwDw/s320/DSC01854a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sawing off the excess</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTtpKu7-7dk/Tor0C11HqaI/AAAAAAAAA-I/xdxJ4wsaK1s/s1600/DSC01855a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RTtpKu7-7dk/Tor0C11HqaI/AAAAAAAAA-I/xdxJ4wsaK1s/s320/DSC01855a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoddy Sawing! Lucky I enjoy filing :) Tweak the lid to fit!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xb3jNzi7Sms/Tor04aehu8I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/-sLeJ5c7oaU/s1600/DSC01862a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xb3jNzi7Sms/Tor04aehu8I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/-sLeJ5c7oaU/s320/DSC01862a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That looks better - after filing & some sanding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9xIeEL4q6o/Tor3d3c26qI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/ejjH_p_uXnk/s1600/DSC01863a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--9xIeEL4q6o/Tor3d3c26qI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/ejjH_p_uXnk/s320/DSC01863a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaargh! Never noticed that before - back to re solder that bit!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQtbsmezEQM/Tor4OCmDqFI/AAAAAAAAA-g/TvYnJGyeblE/s1600/DSC01864a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IQtbsmezEQM/Tor4OCmDqFI/AAAAAAAAA-g/TvYnJGyeblE/s320/DSC01864a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Working on the lid now- soldering the top on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rUJCPMDq3c/Tor48UFwwGI/AAAAAAAAA-o/7vxoen0dLMQ/s1600/DSC01867a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rUJCPMDq3c/Tor48UFwwGI/AAAAAAAAA-o/7vxoen0dLMQ/s320/DSC01867a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After sawing. You knew I'd textured the lid in the rolling mill, right?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYCgkQ5KgJ8/Tor6_eUnAbI/AAAAAAAAA-w/YoPGqnVlUtU/s1600/DSC01868a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYCgkQ5KgJ8/Tor6_eUnAbI/AAAAAAAAA-w/YoPGqnVlUtU/s320/DSC01868a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready for more and more filing fun....and some sanding.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hSK5JxL5rbQ/TosOGSo9YUI/AAAAAAAAA-4/L-yxf13-06g/s1600/DSC01884a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hSK5JxL5rbQ/TosOGSo9YUI/AAAAAAAAA-4/L-yxf13-06g/s320/DSC01884a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More clean up ...then.......All done - Here 'Tis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zBfntzrS5BU/TosO60k9apI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Bf-5nIgtNAQ/s1600/DSC01885a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zBfntzrS5BU/TosO60k9apI/AAAAAAAAA_A/Bf-5nIgtNAQ/s320/DSC01885a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lid comes off...but it fits back on....phew - wipes brow! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWx9RLobIbs/TosQMi8b9zI/AAAAAAAAA_I/pu7btHKxqx8/s1600/DSC01886a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sWx9RLobIbs/TosQMi8b9zI/AAAAAAAAA_I/pu7btHKxqx8/s320/DSC01886a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep - I even cleaned up the inside.<br />
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This is just a brief summary but if you have a any questions just leave a comment and I'll be happy to give more details if I can. GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-61138897486110702332011-10-04T09:00:00.000+08:002011-10-04T18:51:40.011+08:00Works in progess.On a week's break from class so here's a snippet of some other projects I'm working on. <br />
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I pulled apart our broken toaster to salvedge the Stainless Steel outer casing. Hope to saw & pierce out some simple shapes in the not too distant future from the sheet. It's 0.5mm.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA1vQz4cBGw/Toa8OKEarvI/AAAAAAAAA9k/H7f0aIolqIY/s1600/toaster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eA1vQz4cBGw/Toa8OKEarvI/AAAAAAAAA9k/H7f0aIolqIY/s400/toaster.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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I'm also working on making a little round pill box/trinket box. The sort with a friction fit lid. Had no idea how but just jumped in anyway.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4CX7ysWC-E/Toa-AF_DBYI/AAAAAAAAA9o/-YRTqFygbiE/s1600/trinket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--4CX7ysWC-E/Toa-AF_DBYI/AAAAAAAAA9o/-YRTqFygbiE/s320/trinket.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
That's the lid on the left - I sweat soldered the outer piece to the inner piece when they were just flat strips. Bit like a stepped bezel really, but inside out ;) On the right is the base piece which when soldered will fit over the inner part perfectly....well in a perfect world! In reality it didn't. I thought I'd measured and cut correctly but darn - obviously I didn't! <br />
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Earlier in class the lecturer saw the lid and suggested an easier method to get a matching top & base: Start with one piece of tube and saw it to make two parts exactly the same diameter. So I put the lid to one side and reused the base piece to try it out. Funnily enough I'd thought of this earlier and abandoned the idea as too difficult, which was why I did it the other way. Well I got that arse about eh! LOL<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wst1x1EDopc/TobAooq8AsI/AAAAAAAAA9s/mtafaW0UPD8/s1600/trinket1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wst1x1EDopc/TobAooq8AsI/AAAAAAAAA9s/mtafaW0UPD8/s320/trinket1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I scribed a mark around the tube with my calipers and clamped the tube in the vice, just sawing a little at a time along the line on the top of the tube then repositioning the tube to continue sawing the next bit of the line. This went suprisingly smoothly and Voila! in no time: 2 pieces!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OS_kAeFBCro/TobBqv0NCeI/AAAAAAAAA9w/zaWLkehBcns/s1600/trinket2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OS_kAeFBCro/TobBqv0NCeI/AAAAAAAAA9w/zaWLkehBcns/s320/trinket2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Next step is to fit in the inner lip in the lid (or the base - don't think it matters which one?) Then solder on a top and bottom plate. <br />
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I'll let you know how i get on ;) ......................<br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-16024037788664675322011-10-01T14:48:00.003+08:002011-10-01T14:48:50.153+08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfZD4MNQiY8/ToavJwo012I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/jl_7SOELKhg/s1600/ring.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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Tafe -Weeks 29 & 30.<br />
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Last two weeks of term and we had a chance to use tools again that weren't pencils or related to wax!
Oh how I've missed you torch, saw and files!<br />
Our final assessable project for the completion of our certificate was to make a ring from scratch. This was the project:<br />
<ol>
<li>Calculate and weigh out how much copper to add to 10 grams of fine silver casting grain. </li>
<li>Melt the grains and pour an ingot. </li>
<li>Roll the (round) ingot into a square bar of 4x4mm. </li>
<li>Roll the square bar into flat stock, measure up bearing in mind that the finished ring must be exactly 4.1mm wide and 1.7mm thick</li>
<li>Form into a ring band and solder. </li>
<li>Then it's to be finished to a 600 grit finish ready for marking. When it's finished our solder seam must not be visable, have no pits etc and the ring must be a perfect size L. </li>
</ol>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfZD4MNQiY8/ToavJwo012I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/jl_7SOELKhg/s1600/ring.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfZD4MNQiY8/ToavJwo012I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/jl_7SOELKhg/s400/ring.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Work in progress with the left over strip in the background. Still some cleaning up to do.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7C8R4Vs2mEw/ToawZAxa_uI/AAAAAAAAA9c/j6DTQ_FjByM/s1600/ring2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="350" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7C8R4Vs2mEw/ToawZAxa_uI/AAAAAAAAA9c/j6DTQ_FjByM/s400/ring2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay! Right width! You'll have to take my word on it that the other measurements were right too!</td></tr>
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The vernier calipers have been in demand these past two weeks, that's for sure!
We did make a ring earlier in the year but we made it to fit ourselves and were assessed on the finish rather than measurements, so this was more of a challenge, especially when we were told that if it didn't meet the requirements we'd be melting it down and starting again!
The idea behind this project is that for students seeking industry jobs, they can be sent off to their new apprenticeships and have the skills to make a wedding band to the exact standards and size as required by a client/boss. Apparently making ring bands is the most common practise in the industry! I'd never really given it much thought, but it figures! <br />
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Anyway - all done - no remelt required! :) And a bonus - the Size L fits me.............GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-16260499876363633982011-10-01T14:33:00.000+08:002011-10-01T14:33:16.939+08:00Why it pays to save your Silver scraps!Last TAFE lesson I melted down some of my sterling silver scraps. The
years of collecting excess headpin and wire offcuts and other
silver scraps has paid off. I ended up with a rather hefty ingot of sterling
weighing 102 grams (just over 3.2 troy oz). I've more scraps to take in next term too.
Here's a pic taken after a few turns through the rolling machine.<br />
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It's
got a way to go yet before I can use it - lots of annealing and rolling to do!<br />
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GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-59630069047789257662011-09-16T14:34:00.003+08:002011-09-16T14:42:40.632+08:00Out Cast!Tafe - Weeks 24 -28 <br />
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I haven't blogged lately so here's a rundown on the last month or so of Tafe lessons. <br />
Our project was to design and carve a piece in wax, ready to cast. <br />
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First up - research & inspiration :) After many hours of web browsing and looking through books, inspiration was eluding me! Who'd have thought that it would be while flicking through <strike>a Store catalogue</strike> junk mail that I spotted a dinner set and inspiration finally hit. The contrast of the plain square shaped plates with their lovely fluid curved profile appealed to me. Then on the next page I spotted a set of bathroom scales and loved the dots! Finally I had a starting point.....<br />
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The next step was to sketch out some designs, so the drawing lessons we did earlier in term had come in handy already. I'd come up with a couple of designs but in the end I abandoned the triangular idea (Swiss Cheese anyone!) in favour of the curved square with some dots and texture.<br />
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Next step was the tech drawings which had to be to scale. Drawing comes naturally to many people - unfortunately I'm not one of them..<br />
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Then on to the wax carving. I started with a block of Green wax and the fun began. Sawing and shaping first then carving out the shape. My shape was much easier to form than <a href="http://getsilvered.blogspot.com/2011/08/weeks-21-22-23.html">the knot</a> I carved out in an earlier lesson, so this step went pleasantly quickly. Once the front surface was shaped and sanded smooth I applied the surface texture - I used a bur to make the little concave depressions and a scribe to make the scratched lines. <br />
The thing with casting is to get the wax as light weight as possible, so the back had to be carved out so it wouldn't use more metal than necessary when casting. Also, the piece can't be too heavy to wear - the weight of a piece in sterling silver would be about 10.5 times the weight of the wax. So I set to work with a bur in a pin vise to hollow out my wax.<br />
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The wax block is a dark bottle green - the aim is to have it looking a consistant pale translucent green when it's held up to the light.<br />
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Later I did lots more tidying, carving and sanding and the final wax weight was about 3 grams. I was really happy with the finish and so was the teacher! The better the finished wax model is- the less work needs to be done on the cast metal piece. I didn't take a final pic though as we sprung into action in the afternoon getting our pieces sprued up and into the flasks to pour in the investment, which is like a super, super fine plaster of paris.<br />
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For those not familiar with casting: the metal flask contains the wax model with the hardened investment around it, and is placed in a kiln to heat up - the wax melts out leaving a void in the investment. About 6 to 8 hours later the flask is removed from the kiln and the molten metal is poured into the hot investment and fills the void so the shape can be replicated in the metal! There's a bit more involved but you get the idea.<br />
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Which brings us to this week's lesson - The flasks were in the kiln and we busied ourselves drawing colour renderings of our designs..... these had to be a standard suitable as if to present to a client. Now mine doesn't look too colourful really but that's what happens when you are drawing silver! I used 4 shades of grey and an indigo! <br />
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Still with me? A bit long winded I know, but this is the condensed version of about 5 class days! I suspect that you will be dissatisfied with the ending of this story though! <br />
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After being removed from the kiln, a little piece of investment chipped away from inside the flask. Not sure what happened as I was busy melting my silver at the time, but it chipped in a crucial location and any silver poured in at the top would have gone straight through to come right out the bottom!<br />
There was lots of speculation about what caused the investment to chip off - possibly my positioning of the wax in the flask (not enough clearance - don't think it was this) or my prep of the investment (hmmm - quite possibly) or it could have been no fault of mine - the flask could have been knocked going in or out of the kiln or any number of other mystery reasons. <br />
The lecturer tried a last ditch attempt to cast anyway by plugging up the chipped investment with wet paper towells but by the time we got the silver remelted the flask had cooled down too much and the silver just spat back up out of the flask during the pour. My casting had failed! <br />
My piece went from "one of a kind" to "none of a kind" in the space of a few minutes (insert sad face here)<br />
Here's the remnants of my silver which I reclaimed from the investment and the work bench. <br />
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Teachers and fellow students were mortified for me but on the upside, (there's always a silver lining eh? oops - excuse the pun - sorry!) I won't have to spend next week's lesson removing my sprues and cleaning up my casting! <br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-69363189826889469712011-08-10T17:34:00.002+08:002011-09-16T14:35:50.183+08:00Drawn Out! TAFE: Weeks 21, 22 & 23.<br />
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Back at Tafe for Semester 2, we're 3 weeks in and for the first 2 weeks didn't touch a tool or a torch! Well that's unless you consider a pencil a tool!<br />
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We've been learning the practical aspects of design, particularly rendering jewellery designs with a little bit of tech drawing thrown in.<br />
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This may seem basic but it's been many years since my high school art, so it was new to me - first the basics of shading, light source etc<br />
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Then with coloured pencils
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Later we learnt how to draw twisted wire and a chain<br />
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More drawing practise, this time learning the best colours to use for rendering in gold & silver then learning the tech methods of drawing a ring to scale.<br />
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Then the pencils were put away and at last some tools came out - hmmm, wax carving tools. And now for the piece that took a day and a half out of my life!!<br />
The cord piece was the model and we had to carve a 3D model of the knot from a block of wax. I found this incredibly difficult and it was a great relief to finally finish it, having confirmed my suspicion that I'll never make the cut as a sculptor! <br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-77852104322274367402011-06-29T20:04:00.000+08:002011-06-29T20:04:16.173+08:00Halfway There!Week 20 Tafe:<br />
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I can't believe we are halfway through the year and the first semester is over already at TAFE. This week we were free to finish things off or do our own projects.<br />
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I did an anticlastic bangle. I don't have the right stakes or the right hammers to do this at home but wanted to have a go. It involved lots of noise & hammering for most of the day and I went home with an aching arm....but I also went home with this - a brass cuff. It's about 3.5 cm wide.The colour is from the constant annealing but I rather liked it so I just sanded and buffed up the edges for contrast and I'll just leave the oxidisation.<br />
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Towards the end of the day I made this open brass bangle. This was quick and
simple as I cut it out with the guillotine. Now that would be a luxury
to have one at home *dream*, then I drilled the holes quickly
with the flex shaft. I got to use an oval steel mandrel which was a change - at
home I just have a very basic round wooden mandrel. <br />
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Now - 3 weeks break before the second semester. Hope to get a little bench time at home while we're on break. GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36166812.post-76360502996418219142011-06-26T10:43:00.002+08:002011-07-07T22:12:24.442+08:00Lost ClawsWeek 18 and 19 TAFE:<br />
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Sunday I attempted to re solder my bail to my claw setting. I did everything right and made a successful solder join........except the bail was a little crooked.......aargh - after I'd spent ages fiddling around to set it up, it had looked pretty straight to me pre flame! So, I reheated to unsolder to start again, which worked fine........until I put it in the pickle and that's when things started to go downhill - the CZ went cloudy! Damn!<br />
With nothing more to lose I set up to re solder it all again (maybe I could pretend my CZ was <i>supposed</i> to be frosted!) and that's when things went totally pear shaped! My poor little claw setting said "enough is enough" and melted.....right before my flame! (Actually it just popped apart - like a mini explosion)<br />
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This kind of wrecked my weekend. I sulked, I whinged about nothing going right - In short I transformed into a drama queen - but the upside is the family gave me a wide berth and my husband cooked a nice roast dinner that night! (there's always a silver lining - right?)<br />
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I dragged my sorry arse to class and told my sad tale to the sympathetic teacher with some embarrassment. She gave me the choice of remaking, working on some other exercises or working on my own projects for the day.***. Initially, I was all keen to remake but gave up on that idea after a few more frustrating hours. Instead I played with brass and the sandblaster. Now that was more fun!<br />
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*** Wondering why the teacher didn't <b>make</b> me complete another claw setting? Well, this is a <i>pre apprenticeship</i> <i>level </i>course and completing a claw setting was an extra project the teacher gave a few of us to stretch our skills - so it's not actually a requirement of the course, although it<i> will</i> be a personal challenge for me in the distant future :)<br />
Despite the occasional frustrations above - I'm still enjoying the course..... really :)<br />
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<br />GetSilveredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11011512115332991543noreply@blogger.com0