#211

Hello fans of non-silver silversmithing!

Here is the latest progress in my two pendants (reverse side of mountain shown so you can actually see the metal this time):

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The brass one is almost done, I only have to finishing polishing the surface and make a jump ring for it to hang from. I am not entirely happy with the cut out details, but I know how I could do that kind of thing better next time.
The mountain still has a lot of work to go, but it is good to finally have the ‘snow’ part pierced out! Though I don’t like the design as much as whwn it was just on paper, it is alomst like there is too solid a bit of metal with no detail.

8 Likes
#213

Thanks :smile:

I am sure there is some kind of creative pursuit you can find that suits you!

#214

I’ve been making tea for my wife whilst she’s been making these Christmas charms…

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6 Likes
#215

btw, once I have got these and my Christmas projects out of the way I am totally up for taking practice commissions if any one is interested. I struggle doing things just for the sake of, whereas if I am working with someone or towards a goal, that makes more sense to me.

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#216

Those are so cute! Also, a mark of a good maker is that you can see each one is totally consistent with the design :slight_smile:

1 Like
#217

She’s delighted to hear that, thank you!

1 Like
#218

What are they made of?

#219

Fimo!

#220

Ah, I had that stuff when I was a kid. All I made was a complete mess!

#221

Yeah, me too. She’s always used it- has the type you mix your own colours with, which I think is a bit more serious than the stuff I had when I was a kid.

#222

I made this lovely fimo giraffe when I was a kid, it sunk slightly when it was baked(?) but in just the right way that it made it look like it was meant to be leaning forwards. Only recently did it’s neck get accidentally broken though :slightly_frowning_face:

#225

I just remember being baffled comparing all the lovely shiny examples in the brochure (like the ones above) to what I’d made and wondering where I’d gone so wrong!

1 Like
#226

Cool… do you think it would be more that you would have a design you would like me to try and make, or would you prefer to just start with ideas that we could develop together? (either is cool)

#228

She has a tiny mould for the bases, but the rest is all just sculpted by hand- she makes about 10 of each part at a time to make sure they’re pretty much the same, then assembles them. Having watched her, it’s definitely not something I could do- would end up looking like a five year old’s Sunday school project in my hands…

1 Like
#229

I will definitely let you know when I am finished with my current projects and we can work on something :slight_smile:

#230

Update: totally over-worked my mountain (not helped by a bone headed soldering mistake) so I don’t think I can get it to a good finish now, though I will give it a bit more work:

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More successfully, earlier I finished a bunch of Christmas decorations made from coloured aluminium. Some beginners mistakes, but I think they came out alright enough:

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Was great fun drilling all the holes in the trees. The blue one was a Gravity Falls/Dipper Pines inspired design I made for my brother. The R bauble made for my son as part of my plan to get him a Christmas decoration every year so he has a bunch when he eventually leaves home and is indoctrinated into the family tradition of mismatched tree decoration.

Has anyone else made anything Christmas-y this year?

9 Likes
#231

Totally forgot to put this one in the post earlier, a copper approximation of a bracelet I would like to make in silver when my class starts up again:

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Nothing fancy, just links of two alternating sizes, but hopefully it’ll look effective.

3 Likes
#232

Now I’ve finally gotten that mammoth banker out of the way I’m starting to crochet but having real trouble with the tension.

I can never slip the first loop off the hook. Just making foundation chains over and over right now to get the feel of the hook and get comfortable with the way I hold it but as soon as I try to do slip stitch I can’t get the first loop off the hook without real effort.

#233

Blanket not banker!

#234

Whilst I’m here does anyone know much about dying? My mum was a really good knitter and she made my baby blanket in a lovely intricate lace stitch, she passed it on to me when Jnr was born but it’s not very practical - it just looks nice. I’d like to dye it from white to a terracotta colour, but don’t want to do a home dye job really as I don’t want to mess it up! Is there such a thing as people who’ll professionally dye fabric for you just as a one off?