Etching Filigree

As you know, I tried out etching the other week. I was pleased with the result and found it surprisingly easy so, of course, I decided to dive right in and try something a lot more challenging.

I decided I wanted to have a go at etching right the way through the piece of metal and, not being satisfied with a simple cutout shape, decided to start with an attempt at making filigree. Me being me I also did not bother to do any research beforehand!

Preparing the resist

I didn't bother cutting out a template this time. Instead I started by painting both sides of my copper squares completely with white acrylic. I then drew my design onto the paint on one side using a sharpie (green to contrast nicely with the copper).
Finally I used a needle file to scratch away the paint from the rest of the copper square, the parts that were going to be etched away.

After etching

Some idea of how long to leave the pieces in for might have helped but all I had to go on was the single attempt I'd made at etching before. I kept checking the pieces of hour or so and eventually decided to take them out when they looked like this (after about half a day)

At this stage I was surprisingly pleased with the results. You can see the white paint that was on the back of the piece in almost all the gaps and the green parts seem to be intact.

After removing the resist

Unfortunately appearances can be deceptive and it turned out that I had actually left the pieces in for too long. Judging by how well they turned out it looks like they were only in a tiny bit too long but it was enough. The fine lines of copper I had ambitiously planned were too thin and just fell apart in lots of places when I started cleaning off the paint. Turned out the paint had been keeping the whole thing together!




I didn't let that stop me, though. The very next day I started another etching project, taking on board what I learnt from these mistakes. I made sure my copper lines were much thicker this time so there would be more leeway on how long I could leave them in the etching bath. The result is a much chunkier feel and I'm not sure if it deserves to be called filigree anymore but I quite like it. I know just the home for these geometric shapes and I'll share it with you soon!

A more successful attempt

Gilder's Paste

I showed you the beginnings of a piece created with my newest skill - etching - the other day and I also told you there was more to the story.

Well I wasn't lying and I want to share the next stage in the creation of this piece today. (It involves more exciting supplies!)

Since I couldn't bring enamel into my pieces I decided to have a look at other ways to include colour and I came across Gilder's Paste.

The effect is nothing like enameling and I wouldn't use it in the same way at all but I loved it nonetheless. I like my pieces to look natural so I only bought paste in 3 colours; gold, cream and this one pictured -  'patina'.

Gilder's paste applied to the disc

I had to try the patina first since its one of my favourite colours, goes wonderfully with copper and it is possible to get copper to patina to this colour naturally. I have also had customers asking if they could get my items to this shade.




I applied the paste with a thin cloth but I also managed to get it all over my fingers. That's ok, though, it says you can use your finger to apply it. I spread a layer all over the oxidised copper disc, making sure to get the paste right into the cracks and indents.

Once the paste was dry (touch dry in a few minutes) I used a sanding block to take off the paste from the raised areas and to polish off some of the tarnish as well. When I was happy with the overall tarnish and "patina" effect I treated the disc to prevent further tarnish. I'll share that technique with you in another post.

Buffing to a shine

This little disc is getting a lot of posts for one small component that hasn't even found a home in a finished piece of jewelry yet! Of course I'll let you know when I find the perfect piece to put this little disc in!

Etching

I've been itching to learn some new techniques to expand my jewelry designs so, with Christmas out of the way and more time on my hands I got started!  I really wanted to pick up torch enameling and I was thinking of using my copper clay (that's still untouched) to create pieces with raised designs on to enamel cloisonne style.

However some quick research into enameling revealed the need for a mask, good ventilation etc. so I decided, since my studio is still in my bedroom, I'd have to put that idea on hold. One day I'll have a house with a nice, ground floor studio with proper ventilation and a kiln... or I'll rent out studio space somewhere.

During my research I discovered this awesome blog and there, alongside a tutorial for enameling, was a tutorial explaining how to etch copper. The more I read, the more I thought it sounded like the perfect way to create texture on my pieces and not too difficult to get started.

Painting the resist through a handmade stencil

Not long after I went a bought some Ferric Chloride (from Blick), cheap, white Acrylic paint and a small plastic container with a lid so I could use it to etch in and then also keep the Ferric Chloride in it when I'm done. While I was in Blick I also spotted some plastic stencilling sheets and added them to the basket!



Once I got all the exciting new stuff home I couldn't bring myself to use it. What should I etch on first? What design should I do? What if it doesn't work and I waste my copper sheet. Eventually the fear was replaced by inspiration and I finally got started.

Copper ready for etching

I settled on a simple, barcode-style design after realising the cute pattern of tiny flowers I'd first thought of would take me forever to cut out the stencil. I cut a strip off the stencil sheet and cut out the pattern, then stenciled it onto a simple copper disc.

Copper in the etching solution

I loved the masking tape suggestion for suspending the copper in the Ferric Chloride and it was so simple to setup. I wasn't really sure how long to leave it for. The solution around the copper went green straight away so I was worried it would be super fast process and I kept checking it every few minutes. However it took much longer, I think I left it about half an hour before I got impatient and took it out! Nail polish remover took off the acrylic paint easily.

Etched copper disc

This is the finished result. You can see the lines aren't straight but the lines of paint weren't straight either and I like the more organic feel of it. It comes out beautifully shiny but the blog recommended torch annealing the piece to be sure all the Ferric Chloride has been removed. Of course that turned my shiny piece black but my flame did glow green for a good few seconds under the torch.

I finished the disc off with another new product and technique which I'm excited to show you in a future post!

Once a Month Promise - February

I know I'm cutting this one right to the line but my (lame) excuse is that February has fewer days!

Anyway, coral has been on my mind lately, as I'm on the hunt for a coral bridesmaid's dress, so I'm suddenly finding myself attracted to a colour I normally shun.

This month's Once a Month Promise item is a perfect example:

Fused Glass Cabochons from Outrageous

I simply couldn't resist that bright, happy colour so I've ordered these fused glass cabochons. I already have something in mind for them, inspired by a piece I saw on the Oscars on Sunday. It should push my skills in a new technique as well so I'm really excited. They're coming from Australia, though, so who knows when they will arrive, fingers crossed it's soon, I can't wait!

What of last month's item?
Well as soon as they arrived I was inspired and knew exactly what to create with them. Unfortunately I've... misplaced the item so I can't photograph it to show you! I'm hoping a proper tidy/sort out in the next few days will reveal it, otherwise I'm going to have to buy another set and make another one (or 2, I really want to keep one for myself!)

New project - Rock

You know those Wedgewood beads I mentioned the other day? Well they aren't actually the first unique supplies I've been given.

I got these cute little chunks of rock from my friend Abby after I looked after her cat while they were away.

She brought them back for me from Seattle and said she thought I might be able to make something with them - how exciting! They have a very faint tinge of pink to them and I assume they're some kind of quartz.

 They came simply wrapped in that gold-coloured wire but I decided it just wasn't going to be enough of a challenge if I kept them like that.

So I took off the wire and cleaned out the dirt from all the cracks and crevices...

... and then they sat on my desk for months while I waited for inspiration to hit. I started making something with them occasionally but each time would end up dismantling the project.

Of course, eventually, inspiration did hit. I started with the smaller piece and took advantage of its rough surface to create a wiggly wrap around the top and a loop so I could suspend it. I had a long piece of brass chain waiting for a home so I added 2 tiny rose quartz nuggets and turned it into a really long pendant.

I tried to make a ring with the larger piece but it was just too big, it looked ridiculous and kept trying to turn around on my finger. Eventually I took a risk and decided to attempt to make the piece smaller. I put the rock on my steel bench block and whacked it with a hammer whilst praying I wouldn't end up with rubble all over the room!

It worked, though, I ended up with about 3 smaller pieces (and lots of crumbs). I took the largest piece and tried again to make a ring - much better. It's still quite a large ring, so for parties only but not on the ridiculous scale of the first version!

 I still haven't done anything with the final 2 pieces, I'll have to wait for more inspiration before I work on those. I'll let you know when I do :)

Once a Month Promise - January

You may have noticed this logo appear in the sidebar of my blog a few weeks back and wondered what it was. Well, wonder no longer, I'm about to explain it to you.

IAMTHELÄB is running the once a month promise so it's best explained in their words:

The 1ÄM Promise is easy: It’s a simple promise to purchase 1 handmade item a month. Whether big or small, each handmade item you purchase helps to keep a artist in motion.

They are looking for 100 bloggers to make the promise, to buy handmade and help spread the word, but you don't have to be a blogger to take the pledge. You don't have to buy once a month either, simply raising awareness of handmade and increasing handmade purchasing is all supporting the handmade community.

Anyway, I have made the promise so I'm going to be buying at least one handmade product every month. To make it easier for me to find something to buy and to make it more fun for you to read I've decided to combine it with a regular giveaway and here's how its going to work:

I will buy a handmade jewelry component, probably beads or findings and make a piece of jewelry with it. The following month I will then offer that item to be given away on my blog. Hopefully this will also encourage me to try out different things with my jewelry. I'll share the details of how to win when I actually have the first giveaway item ready.

Anyway, enough boring details, here is my purchase for January!

Ceramic Beads from Captured Moments

I ordered them yesterday so when they arrive I'll have to work out what to do with them (they're curved so as to be perfect for bracelets but I'm not sure if that is what I'll make). I'll post the giveaway sometime in February, once I've had a chance to make something.

New Project - Wedgewood Beads

I'm back! A little later than I anticipated thanks to some computer problems but I'm really excited because I've got soooo many things to tell you about and so many ideas buzzing around my head for the new year!

For today I wanted to show you one of my Christmas presents from my mum:

These gorgeous beads are Wedgewood ceramic. Very different to anything I currently work with but I love getting different things to challenge my creativity.

She sent me beads in 2 different colours; blue and white (above) and teal and brown (right) and I got 4 of each. Both types of bead have a similar, swirled design but the blue and white are squarer and have bolder stripes.

I've already been pondering just what to make with them, I want to make sure I get the best possible use out of them! When I decide, I'll let you know and show you the finished result.




Also, if you were admiring my new, crisper photographs, well that's thanks to another of my Christmas presents. I'll be posting about that soon!

Did you get any creative presents this holiday season? Any new tools or different materials to encourage you to try new techniques, styles or designs? If you did, please share with us in the comments :)

Work in Progress - Creative Chaos

My desk is an absolute state right now and this extends throughout our entire apartment as well. The reason (and the answer to the question I posted on my facebook page) is that I've been preparing for Craft Shows. I'll have a post up later in the week showing my (hopefully) finished booth display!

Oh and don't worry, I haven't forgotten I promised you an explanation for my last 'Work in Progress' post. Everything has taken a backseat to preparing for the craft shows but as soon as I get my displays finished and extra jewelry made I will have that post up for you too!

The mess on my workbench

In this snapshot you can see... everything! I have tools all over the place, some freshly soldered stud earrings ready to tumble, handmade copper components ready to be wire-wrapped and/or attached to other things and a whole pile of components just out the tumbler and waiting to be fished out of the pile of steel shot.

Also, in the top left corner, you can see my current attempts to accurately price my items. I've started making notecards for each item telling me how long each takes to make and exactly how many of each component they need as well as how long to cut each piece of wire. I'm working on this side by side with increasing my inventory ready for the craft shows because I can time how long it takes to make each item as I go.

Work in Progress - Metals

I thought you might be interested in seeing more of my work in progress; seeing my ideas and designs as they take shape rather than only viewing the finished product or a refined and perfected process.

So this is the first post in a new series 'Work in Progress' where I will share a snapshot of my desk and explain a little about what is going on.

Different metals ready to be textured

Today's post is titled 'Metals because I finally got around to using some of the alternative metals I've had sat in my drawer for months now. (Look out for an upcoming post if you want to find out what the metals are)