Playing with Metals

Learning how to work with metals was quite a switch from my usual late January activity – skiing – but it is something I have wanted to do for awhile now.  So I hauled out my collected books on metal work, liked the excuse to buy a few new tools, and started making things. Here is an idea of how that week went…..

My New Tools!

First, I needed materials…..

When I was in Rome last fall, I roamed the streets and enjoyed the everyday art.

My Favorite Street Vendor

I particularly enjoyed meeting street vendors and my favorite one recycled metals to form interesting shapes that he linked together for jewelry. As is typical of me, I bought them to take them apart. I made the necklaces sturdier and, in my opinion, even more interesting!

Street Vendor Jewelry from Rome

Above are the chains I bought, mostly from the vendor pictured. Below you can see what I did with them.  Riveting and forging have become my favorite new skills.

I also started to work with copper and sterling silver wire of different gauges. Below are my first attempts, before and after I applied a patina.

Metalwork before Patina

Copper and Silver Bracelet with Patina

Copper Earrings with Patina

Have a Nice Spring! – Deb