I spent the first couple of hours of waking time pondering what exactly to make for my first piece of the year. I had in mind to do earrings. That was about as far as I'd planned, apart from deciding they'd have to be fairly simple, given that I was starting late in the day. Finally made it to the studio late afternoon, and then had to spend a couple of hours clearing rubble off the bench and finding my tools and materials. So much for being prepared! It will all get easier from here on in. If I can keep the bench relatively clutter free, I can do a little bit of sorting elsewhere in the studio every day, and I'll eventually be the model of working efficiency. That's the plan anyway.
After toying with the idea of going with sterling silver and doing something resembling i-ching coins, I suddenly remembered the niobium discs I'd bought about a year ago. Two things about niobium. It's a lot more workable than titanium, so those discs would dome nicely. Also, it anodises beautifully.
Time to play with some of my favourite studio 'toys'!
I started with this:
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| Sterling silver wire and niobium discs. |
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| Anodised niobium and sterling silver earrings. |
I'd estimate they took somewhere between 2 - 3 hours to do, but that did include a bit of messing about with those rivets and re-forming and re-anodising a dented dome. A good learning process though. At some point I might revisit this design and try some in different sizes and colours.
The photos aren't the best, given that they were taken late afternoon and at night, under the fluorescent lights in the studio. Still, you get the idea. I might think about some professional shots, or at least a properly lit re-shoot at some stage, perhaps when there's more pieces to shoot.
Setting off to work today with no fixed plans gave the start of this project the familiar air of NaNoWriMo, only it's high pressure jewelling instead of speed noveling - sort of a LoJeMaYe (local jewellery making year!).
Hmmm. I wonder what I should make tomorrow?
Good luck with this amazing task you have set yourself Betty. It will be a fantastic year knowing we turn 50. With the big 50 in mind, I suggest you create an item of this theme. Good luck and happy creating and have a wonderful 2012.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sheryn. I'm thinking that when special events like birthdays and anniversaries crop up during the year, I'll make pieces to suit. My 50th falls in November, so I'll probably do something relevant then. I'm also thinking I might sometimes set myself a theme for the week or some such, just to keep myself inspired and motivated.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely pieces to kick off with! Well done, B!
ReplyDeleteAntonia
You're off to a great start.
ReplyDeleteKerry (I can't log in with Blogger these days for some inexplicable reason, so I use my Wordpress ID instead)
Thanks Antonia, much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteKerry, I recognised your user name from LJ days, but thanks for making sure I knew it was you.
It's lovely to start off with positive feedback.
Sadly, I seem to have stayed up almost all night again, so I'll really have to sleep in and try for a simpler piece tomorrow. Maybe a very basic pin. I'll see how I feel when I get back to my studio.
Go for it Betty!
ReplyDeleteLike the idea of having your own gravity wave detectors!
LOL Ralph! Is that what they are?
ReplyDeleteI was thinking they looked like Diabolo toys, or, what was that similar thing when we were kids? OpYop? Something like that.
When they are hanging, as they would when worn, the upper edges of the semi-domes fall out slightly, so that the lower edges are closer together. Viewed from the angle of the one to the right of the image, when they hang like that, my Mum thinks they look like little butterflies.
On the whole, I prefer your description. Perhaps I should name the piece in your honour? Goodwin Gravity Wave Detectors.