March, coming and going already? Daylight Savings came like sweet relief. St. Patrick’s Day has come and gone as have the VCU celebrations. I’ve been chomping at the bit for three weeks now since my Hydraulic Press class and I’m still waiting and eager to hear back from the VisArtsCenter regarding the use of registered studio time. Crickets….4th time the charm? I’m too excited to be in studio again to let it go so I’ll walk in personally sometime next week. I have ideas bursting out of my cranium to try with new tools and skills I’ve already picked up in my short 8 months here. Stay tuned.

I’ve been working to get my shop back online and slowly restocking some basics. Chain. I love chain, varying sizes, design, etc, mostly for the sound the links make. When there are different shapes and weights the sound varies. Music! The process of chain-making is nothing but repetition. This exercise I thought would be ideal for warming up my skills again. Honestly after a year out from behind the torch, I was curious to see how may llinks would melt during fusing and soldering. Patience seems to be the skill that wanes over time. That too I can practice. BTW, one rascal melted. My eye for a second was off the prize.

Coiling, twisting, straightening, stretching, all to hand make chain links.

After twisting, annealing is performed to soften the material to be formed and shaped as i wish.

Next up for me, once I get my mits on using that hydraulic press, I have a few earrings in fine silver and 24k in mind. Some of those Keum Boo technique skills I had picked up from previous classes and projects will be begging for play. Additionally I havent been able to shake that spring green color I’ve been so attracted to. You can be sure there will be some of that color gemstone too.

RVA Patty’s Day 2023 — Patty’s Day was not to be outdone from the other holidays celebrated in #TheFan.

Vernal Equinox 2023

Mid-April so soon?

Winter’s Rhythm