I had my last Metalsmithing class yesterday. I wish it weren’t over, it was a quick 10 weeks. But I feel like I learned a lot and am excited to start doing some things on my own.
Above is one of the final pieces I completed in class. It is sterling silver and an old button. Everyone in class thought I did the silver work in the center of the button. But it was already part of the button, so I can’t take credit for that.
Sewing met metalsmithing on this project. I sawed and hammered the piece on the purse clasp a few weeks ago in class and wasn’t sure what to do with it until last week. It is made out of copper, but with the help of a brass brush shined it up to more a golden color. I went to Jo-Ann’s with a deep purple in mind for the purse and as luck should have it I found both fabrics next to each other in the remnants bin just waiting for me to buy them at half off. The liner fabric even has shiny gold fibers outlining the flowers. I included a magnetic clasp hidden behind the flower piece and sewed a pocket on the inside. Maybe I will make a matching wallet with the remaining fabric.
We learned to bezel and set stones in class last week and I finished mine this week. I didn’t make the chain, but I did the rest! The stone above is glass and the bezel is sterling silver.
I am going to go and bezel everything in sight now. I really enjoyed doing it. I actually have two other things I am in the process of bezel setting right now. Hopefully I will be able to finish them up in class next week and post them.
Sorry the pictures are fuzzy. I took them on my iphone in some dim lighting. Yes, while I was at work. I am shocked a customer didn’t call me out on it, they love to point out when I am “not working” at work. They usually say things like, “does the boss know you are working so hard.” They also love to read whatever is on my computer screen over my shoulder. Such delightful people that walk through our doors. Shortly I’ll be able to grab a drink and forgot about these delightful people. Yes, while I’m at work.
I finished my pin! (Those are flowers not the bird’s feet.) I even made my own pin back. It is a good thing my camera isn’t very good with the close-ups because the pin back is a little crude. Which is fine since it is the back and I suppose my first attempt. I probably could have sanded the final piece it a bit more and maybe even polished it, but the pin back was so much work that I was kind of excited and glad to just be done with it. I did a ton of practice rivets on a scrap piece of metal and they were looking pretty good. I felt very confident to move forward and try it on my final piece. So of course I do my first rivet on my real piece and it is way too huge, oh well!
I am just excited about how cute it looks on my coat. I love the color contrast of the bright purple-pink and the copper. I think a lot my future pieces will be cut-outs that are similar with pretty fabric adhered to the back. I also have plans for pieces that are sewed to cute bags. I think I like the idea of combining basic metal pieces with fabric then sticking strictly to intricate metal works.
