August Chat Thread

[#1]

Who we are : chatty happy people

Please note the usual rules apply - no calling out pretty please.

If you are not on the list below, it is because you haven't added your name. You can do so by heading over to the Introduce Yourself thread and following the instructions.
http://www.etsy.com/teams/7369/chattymetalsmiths/discuss/6774397/page/25#


AbellaBlue = Jessica
AHeronDesign=Anna
aimeepawluk = Aimee
ajjewelrydesigns = Angela
AlegraJewelry = Vicki
AlegriaDesigns = Marina
AlexSharDesigns = Gaynor
AlisonMooreDesigns = Ally
AmyEstelleMetalworks = Amy
anidem = Jesse
AnnealedHeart= Amanda
artdi = Diana
AZBluerockers = Mary Lou
bagsnstuff = Dianna
BeatrizFortes = Beatriz
BellaBijouJewellery = Jaime
BellaBijouToo = Jaime
bddesigns= Christen
bijoutery = Jen, Jennifer, or bijoutery
Brokentreasures= Amanda
Brontotheroocity= James L.
cabbingrough = LauraH
CGWhitfield = CG, or Cliff
CharOuellette = Char
Chrissilynn2=Chrissi
Chrissicabs=Chrissi
coldfeetstudio = Deborah
corybethy = Cory
cutforyou = Keith Cler
DaisiemaiCreations = Janea
DaVineJewelry = Danielle
DeirdreCunningham = Deirdre
Dharlee = Dharlee aka Debbie
DiemDesignsJewelry = Sarah Jo
DominicanLounge= Alpha
Doxallodesigns = Janice
Doxallostudio = Janice
DragonflyDreamers=Wendy
Duffy Designs= Duffy
Eklektisch = Cole
Elementaldesigns= Denise
EmilyWiserJewelry = Emily
Epiphany of a Dragonfly = Wanda
evelynjewelry = Evelyn
evittscreekarts= Lois
ericafreestone = Erica
EyemaginationRSB = Robin
FiliGraceJewelry = Grace
fix8ion = Tammy
FlaviaBennettDesigns = Flavia
FoldAndSpindle = Mike
FoxyGirlBoutique = Melissa
gailwilliamsjewelry=gail
GirlLovesGlitter = Lilian
happyment = Rasa
HappyTortoiseSupply = Jason
HappyTurtleDesigns = Ken
Hartleystudio = Ann
Hellfire Workshop= Michael
HRBeaDesign = Heather
InbarBareket = Inbar
InstantArtifact = Ashley
JackStones = Jack
JaneaPauline = Janea
JaneDeaux = Gabby
JaneDeauxDeLuxe = Gabby
JazznJewelry = Kathy
jdwoody=James
JelliesJewelry = Jack
JenniferCasady = Jen or Jennifer
Jewelrybysala= Lori
Jewelrytutorials = Janice
JonesingforJewelry = Carin
JooniJewelry = Yoko
Juliekirkjewellery = Julie
JudithGayleDesigns= Judy
KarlaWheelerDesign = Karla
karmahjean = Karen
KBerlinMetalsmith = Berlin
KellyDesignStudios = Kelly
kiliari = Raina
KimberlyBellDesigns = Kim
KimVGlass = Kim V
KipkalinkaJewels= Christine
KitandCaboodleShop = Gayle
KriksSilver = Kristie
lamazonian = Vema
LaraLewis = Lara
LauraRoberson= Laura
lavomatique = elizabeth
LCarlsonJewelry = Liesl
LeahBestDesigns=Leah
Lilnut = Caroline
LjBjewelry=Laura Jane
litapsilverj = Lita
Littlecherryhill = Emma
Lovebuttonsca = Laura
Loveinatangle=Nance
lsueszabo = Sue
Luxedesignworkshop = Peg
madstarsilver = Marilyn
MarcusBerknerJewelry = Marcus
Markaplan = Mark
mattjohnsondesigns =Matt
Maythenwolfbane= Nicole
Metalluxe = Peg
MetalAdornments = MorganRae
MieleMelograno = Liz
MissToryDesigns = Lina
MoMoMetals = Mo
MostlyStoneware = Kathy
novadesigns = Tess
novaofsweden = Tess
NRjewellerydesign = Nikki
OiseauMetalArts= Damon
oller13= Vegas
OrmanaDesign = Katya
OverThinkingIt = Bree
panterapens = Matthew
Pinkcoyotejewelry=Lee
Ppennee = Pennee
Prox = Jen
PureDichotomy = Wendy
Quite Clever Jewelry = E.B.
RadianTrace = Ronnie
Ranchiquita = Becki
rockaholic=Peggy
RyanQuantzStudios=Ryan
sbevisdesigns = sue
ScrapMetal = Addie
SeaglassReinvented = Korie
Seek2sustain = Francesca and Claudette
ShireJewelry = Lisa
SilverBlueberry = Esmeralda
SilverLinesJewelry = Jenny
SilverMade Studio = Teresa
silvermaven= Carol and Jackie
SilverspotMetalworks = Jessee J. Smith
slathered = Sharon
StoneBeautiful = Jenn
StoneTemple = Mark
SToNZ = Susan
SugarCity = Grace
SylviaAnderson= Sylvia Anderson
Taitaya= Marleena
Tattooedgrannysgoods = Joni
thebutterflygirl = Veronika
TheSilverExperience = Beth
TheSilverPearl = Mary Anne
TheSpeeceCollection = Pat
ThirteenGems=Melissa
tinkertown = Sue (tinkerSue)
TeklasTreasures = Kyra
Treasuregypsy = Darcy
TreeFrogJewelry = Sheryl
TuHu=Donna
TwoSilverMoons = Birgit
UnionStudioMetals= Michelle & Margarett
UntwistedSister=Terri
valerietyler = Valerie
verysmallbird = Heather
VillainAccessories = Brandi
VisionQuest = kim or VQ
WednesdaysDesign= Kristina (Wednesday)
WiredHeArtJewelry = Misty
wpcardenas= Wanda
Zenamels = Julie
2trickpony = Rachel
3sweetpeasjewelry = Gina
Senobar=Senobar

[Former_Member]

I'm sure I will! I really want to integrate the drawing and metalsmithing. I thought prismacolor would work, but I can't get the detail I want. I know it's possible, but I guess I'm concerned about it standing the test of time as well. I didn't think I was interested in enamel until I realized I could torch fire. There is absolutely no room in this house for a kiln.

[lsueszabo]

not trying to discourage you, but torch firing tends to be a more organic way of enameling. you don't have a lot of control and it's very difficult to get precision, like say, in a drawing. still, you should experiment, you might find a way to get what you want.

[prox]

Sue, beautiful ring. I love that stone.
Evelyn, have you thought of etching your drawings? You could use patina to "bring them out" or enamel even...but I don't know too much about torch firing. I would agree about the Linda darty book. it's a must to own, if you want to learn about enamel.

[prox]

http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-Enameling-Techniques-Inspiration/dp/1579905072

[Former_Member]

Yeah, I realize that. I guess if I like the medium enough I'll buy a kiln. I think it will at least allow me to add a bit of color here and there without the limitations of patina.
We've been trying to buy a house for a couple years now, so we'll find the right one eventually. Whenever we do, it will have room for more equipment than the corner of the guest bedroom :)

[cgwhitfield]

Someone needs to invent an enamelling pencil.

I'll bet in the world of modern technology there are processes that could have uses in the art world. I'd be looking for easy and permanent colour.....

[prox]

There is a pen.

[cgwhitfield]

With high temp enamel?

[prox]

There's also an amazing pen that marks a beautiful metalic gold on top of enamel. I love that pen.

[prox]

Fires between 1200-1400
http://thompsonenamel.com/product_info.php?products_id=1433

[Former_Member]

Jen, I have thought about etching. I'm still interested, but I like the idea of being able to paint or draw on the metal itself. I'm also a bit wary because of the chemical aspect, although the chem-free etching certainly sounds possible. All in all, it's a space issue. We live in a tiny cabin with no garage, and I am taking over most of the available space.

That is really awesome, Jen. The pens, I mean.

[prox]

I understand that Evelyn. I've had a studio in a one bedroom apartment before...I slept and lived in the living room....the bedroom was my studio...had to hide the B tank...so the maintenance guys wouldnt see it and freek out.

[cgwhitfield]

Ah, for vitreous surfaces. I was thinking of drawing directly on fine silver..

[prox]

Here's an idea of what you could do with etched metal and enamel :) yummy!

http://hotkiln.blogspot.com/2008/08/etched-copper-and-basse-taille-enamel.html

[cgwhitfield]

Also well understand dealing with a lack of space.

[prox]

There has to be a vitreous surface...thin lines of enamel would just burn out directly on metal, (if it was applied in a manner like a pen, or pencil)

[cgwhitfield]

Guess who knows nothing about enamelling?

[Former_Member]

Yeah, I'm kind of lucky that my landlord never fixes anything and for some reason has never asked about the vent in the bedroom window.

It's definitely not an ideal situation.

I now have a letterpress on my husband's desk, which was supposed to be there only until I finished our wedding invites... now I'm doing all his brother's save the dates and invites as well. I'm sure he would like his space back. I also use the same drafting table for painting, drawing, and metalwork. It gets really interesting if I try to do two things at once.

[Former_Member]

Ooh, that's really cool, Jen. I guess I was thinking sgraffito for line work, since I do a lot of parallel line drawings. Not sure if it's possible to get any detail that way though. Etching might be the way to go.

[Former_Member]

We're in the same boat, CG.

[prox]

Yep, totally been there...now that I have a house though, it's kinda still like that in a way, just more spread out... for example...right now I have one of the bedrooms as a painting/craft studio...the dinning table is an ever changing surface for multiple projects, the back room is the "kids room" but, that's where my computer is and all the printers I use, including the one I print my prints off of....and I'm now turning the basement into a metal space "slowly", and have plans for the garage...

[prox]

Sgraffito is nice and organic...it was never controlled enough for my liking (didnt match with the way i work) what you get can be quite unpredictable. But it may match you, just gotta try it :)

[cgwhitfield]

Evelyn, have you thought of drypiont? Without the printing the plate part, just a sharp point stylus scratching the surface of metal, then something like LOS to make the lines dark.

[prox]

That sounds interesting CG, I guess it would just depend on a persons drawing style...

man, I'm awfull chatty tonight...my brains like on overdrive right now...maybe it's the moon messing with me.

[cgwhitfield]

I have played with it before, a drypoint plate for printing, not very successful, but i took off all the burring with very fine emery, and fine lines remained qute clearly.