ObjectsandElements.com

Cat Kerr Mixed Media Muse....

If you want some wonderful inspiration and instructions for your mixed media love check out  Cat Kerr's Blog.  Cat is a new Design Team member for Objects and Elements and we are so so proud to play with her!   

 

Free Books and Patterns

I always like to pass along any free patterns and books that come my way...Click here look at what is now avaialble from Interweave and F&W media. 

 

                                                         

 

                                                                                                         

 

                                           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A New Year....

I love a fresh start...I can let go of past lapses and start fresh and feel the energy a fresh start brings....I am going to try to do a better job of blogging this year.  I got really lazy after I lost my easy photographer who took care of the photos anytime I wanted.  I now have to do my own photos and it  is so much harder!

A real 'aha" moment for me came several years ago when I realized that the element of sheet metal allowed me to create pretty much anything.  I am starting out with a simple earring and texture--something that has an unlimited uses and endless variety.   

I love polka dots so I took severl different punches, two from the hardware store in the nail set tools.  I always love the old hardware stores that have been there for years...the other is a  Circle in Circle Punch  we carry at Objects and Elements.  I am sure that if you start looking around you can find all kinds of things that can be hammered into sheet to give it a pattern such as old tools or even steel wire.

When I am doing simple shapes I use Shears or for more precise cuts a Jeweler's Saw.  As you can see by this cut, the shears tend to "tork" the piece a bit and you have to hammer it down to smooth the surface.  I threw it in my shallow wood dappng block and used a dapping punch to round it a bit and give it a curve.  Then I punched it with hole punch pliers and filed the edges to make sure it is smooth.

I heated 22 gauge bronze wire with a torch to darken it along with my bit of metal to make the texture show up more.  A little 000 steel wool cleans it up nicely.  I did a wrapped loop through the hole and then formed the wire around a sharpie--always a handie tool!

Don't forget to tap the shaped ear wire to work harden it.  I try to count out 20 taps.  Keep them light so you don't smash the wire out of shape....

 Never one to leave something too plain, I dug into my stash for washers and a stone.  I made a headpin from the bronze wire.   String a few washers for movement and the stone and attach and you have a nice earring that would sell well or be great with a spring outfit.  One of these maybe larger would make a simple pendant.  

 I just finished these bangles today so I thought I would photo them real quick.  They are 16 gauge sterling wire twisted in the flex shaft and hammered.  The hammering opens the twist into this pattern.  I shaped them oval and soldered the ends together.  

They are already on my wrist with my favorite wear every day bangles.  Sounds like a good blog for later.  

I had a photogapher's helper today...I have been in California (in 70 degrees!) and Fat Cat missed me so he would NOT get off my work bench all day....

Any ideas you would like to see on the blog this year?  ....leave a comment and I will randomly draw a few names to send a piece of sheet metal to!  Linda