The Bead & Button Show 2008 - half way point
So, we're a little past the half way point, but I finally found a spot of sun to take a few photos of what I've been making here at the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee:
Above, you can see the glass beads I made the first three days. Days, which I have to tell you, were not without incidents! Besides burning myself on the first and third days of class, I also set a small fire! Oooops! I burned myself with a piece of hot glass, so I dropped it, but it fell onto some paper towel which immediately ignited! And spread. Oy! Luckily, it was a metal table and there was plenty of water around (and makeshift firemen as it turned out).
Yesterday, I took two classes:
The first was a lesson on coloring metal to look like enamel. We made our textured back pieces of silver from PMC. PMC is the coolest thing on earth. It's pure silver mixed with an organic binder. So, it presents like clay. When you fire the PMC (Precious Metal Clay), the organic binder burns out and you're left with pure silver! How cool! Then, we used a combination of wax, turpentine, and colored pencil to color a copper surface, which was then riveted to the PMC using brass nails. This was my first time riveting with nails (I had only ever tube riveted before) and I think it's a technique that I'll be using over and over again! It's a great way to join metal without any solder or a big fire! I will mention that I managed to super glue my fingers together in this class....
Above you can see a bracelet and a pendant necklace made with silver and buttons. The buttons are antique buttons. (I didn't like the ones in the kit, so I bought some pretty antique ones.) We textured the metal and coiled a lot of twisted wire to create the bezels for the buttons. I love the way that they turned out. It's definitely an "apartment craft" - something you can do without fire (though there is a lot of noise from the hammering) or a lot of supplies. I'm always looking for something I can do in my apartment and I foresee a lot of jewelry using these techniques!
(BTW: I used my Tim Holtz Texture Hammer to texture these pieces. I wrote a review of the hammer for Craft Critique a few weeks ago, and I will certainly post that review here sometime this week.)
Today, I took another wire class. We're working on a butterfly pendant, but I didn't finish mine. You can see it in progress above. It's made with sterling silver and glass beads and even though I'm not really a butterfly girl, I think it will be really cool!
Thanks for stopping by!
wow - looks like you're having a fantastic time, fire notwithstanding!
Those beads are beautiful - I love all the goodies you're making.
Posted by: Andrea | June 06, 2008 at 08:55 AM
I have totally enjoyed reading about your Bead&Button show adventures! The beads you made are *gorgeous* and I'm thoroughly impressed with the fact that you can use a torch and do something requiring safety glasses. That stuff is WAY beyond me! I am LOVING that butterfly pendant and cannot wait to see the finished product. Fabulous stuff, Julie! Is there anything you DON'T excel at? =) BTW, that airport story is crazy!
Posted by: kira | June 06, 2008 at 10:45 AM
Wow! What cool projects!! The process is really intriging!
Posted by: Jen Martakis | June 06, 2008 at 12:30 PM
Oh how I would have loved to have been able to attend that! Sounds so fun!
Posted by: Linda | June 06, 2008 at 03:25 PM
OK...so call me silly, but I didn't realize that you would be making the beads yourself. I'm so used to buying my beads that I assumed that's what the show was about. This is SO much better than just shopping for beads and buttons!!! Looks like you're having fun and staying as safe as possible around all that fire:)
Posted by: Sue Clarke | June 06, 2008 at 03:57 PM
Very very cool stuff!!
Posted by: Deb Wisker | June 06, 2008 at 08:31 PM
Wow sounds like you are having a lot of fun amidst the calamity! :) I like the beads you are making as well as the bracelet & the necklace. All very pretty.
Posted by: Lisa | June 08, 2008 at 05:40 AM
Love to see what you've shared here...sounds like you're really enjoying yourself despite the "accidents" :)
Posted by: ania | June 08, 2008 at 12:44 PM
Great stuff.
I like your blog and all your scrappy things.
Look forward to reading more.
I love it!!!! Thank you very much!
http://www.papercraft-ideas.com
Posted by: memorial-signs | June 17, 2008 at 06:31 AM