My Plan to Sleep with a College Guy

(Grinning at ehBeth...)

soz, that's a forged (hammered) bangle. I just leaned it against a fancy schmancy glass thingy you lean your knife on so it doesn't get the tablecloth dirty.

I did a bit of casting many years ago when i was a dental technician. I also fooled around with a little jewlery. Some pewter cast in cuttlefish cause i like the texture but mostly silver.

An idea i had was to include movement into jewelry.
As an example of that the above earings could have a girl on a swing pivoting on pins within the framework.
The other thing i wanted to do was cast natural materials, wood. insects seeds, pods, leaves replicating the textures and colors where possible.

Thanks for taking an interest, dadpad. You know, then, that jewelers use the same investment as dentists for casting (unless it's primitive casting, like cuttlefish). I've seen some beautiful cast leaves, acorns etc. Some of my husband's fellow students use small plastic toys from the dollar store. Anything that will "burn out" can be used. I seem to remember him casting a small plastic chicken from a toy farm set that turned out okay but he later melted it down. He really likes primitive casting -- you need less equipment for one thing!

You're right about movement (especially with earrings), texture, and contrast being key to catching a customer's eye. He has used wood inlay and has started setting stones. Going to try to incorporate antler this coming school year (his final year).

These are all so beautiful Tai Chi! You are both so talented! Love them!

Is that you with the college guy at the street festival, Tai?

(Nice shot. )

It had better be!

Oh it is, it is, Tai! No doubt about that!

You must be very busy at the moment. A long time between your posts on this & your other thread. I'm hoping for more soon. I've really enjoyed them. (hint, hint! )

Sterling silver bracelet with sliced dyed agate

WOW!

Anodized titanium earrings:

Enamelled poppy pendant:


Back view:

The poppy! Amazing!

Hi soz! Yeah, the poppy really is beautiful. He wasn't too sure how he would take to enamelling but he got some really good results.

These latest are fantastic!

I really like how he's experimenting with his craft, Tai.
Mixing different materials (like agate with silver) & also trying out different techniques, like enameling & anodizing titanium.(I wonder how that's done?)

Was it some sort of strong fabric thread, or metal "threading", that he used to attach (or "sew") the agate to the silver on this bracelet? (Which I love, by the way! )
Interesting, very interesting indeed, watching his work (& his skills!) develop!

Thanks for the positive comments, margo

Hi msolga. The anodizing is done by passing an electric current through some sort of bath. Different voltages result in different colours. You can buy a machine for many 100s of dollars -- or -- you can have a MacGyver type teacher like the college guy's who'll show you how to build your own

The agate slices are prong set. See the four little bent over sterling silver posts on each slice?

He's really getting more adventurous this year. Stay tuned!

Wonderful, lovely things! I imagine there just has to be such a strong sense of satisfaction and accomplishment at learning to create such beautiful items. So cool.

Hi Joeblow. Long time no see.

Wowzer! The College Guy is developing a recognizable style. Nice.

(did he hear me talking to MAB about how I wish someone would come up with a permanent poppy so I don't have to buy 4 or 5 of those felt ones a year?)