Master Class with Tim McCreight

The first three days of Bead and Button were spent in Tim McCreight's master class on forging.  The man is AMAZING.  He managed to handle a room of 25 women....with hammers.  But seriously...he is a wonderful teacher.  If you ever have a chance to take a class with him....do it.  He is generous with his time and knowledge and has a great sense of humor.  Three days handling a 12 oz. hammer seemed to fly by. 

We had a very well equipped room at MATC in Milwaukee.

The first day we played with 6 gauge copper and brass wire to get a feel for what the hammer could do.  We made a plane change and practiced fanning out the metal and played with 1/4" copper rod.

Cris hard a work filing.

The man himself.  I learned a lot just by watching him strike with the hammer.  While my hammer bounced all over the place, his strikes were true and powerful.  By the end of three days I was much better.

 

The second day we took a small ingot of brass...about and 1-1/2" by 1/2" and forged a small spoon.  It was a lesson in patience and we honed our skills even further.  About one hour in... I had so mangled the ingot that I thought I would never finish the project.  But by the end of the day I had a spoon.  It may not look like much to you but that spoon is a miracle to me.  It was made entirely by hammering and just a little clipping of excess metal and a lot of hand polishing.

 

One the third day we poured ingots with Tim's help.  Using an acetyline and oxygen torch we melted down our scrap and had the chance to pour it. My ingot wasn't so great but it had a great texture on it and I want to captures in polymer.

We also had the chance to make some jewelry.  I made a bracelet from 6 gauge brass wire.  Cris helped me with the twist.

On Tuesday night there was a graduation dinner for all the master classes.  Cris ate her desert with her spoon :))

Final Count Down to Bead and Button

Tools for the Master Class (cat butt not included)....Check

But I do need to throw in vice grips.  I'm talking the forging class and I don't really need to bring anything...it's all being provided.  So I have a pair of gloves, magnifying lenses, and some scrap silver for pouring an ingot.



Supplies for teaching.....Check

Complete with snacks for the students....you can't make jewelry without chocolate and other various forms of suger.


Jewelry and supplies for Meet the Teachers....Check

A bunch of pieces parts that I will be selling as well as made jewelry.  

All the stuff for a table display at Meet the Teachers.   It's a good thing that I am driving as there is no way I could transport this stuff without a car

And Clothes......UGH.....I have been trying to find a pair of jeans that fit.  I ripped the backside out of my favorite pair (we won't say how) and it has been an ordeal finding a pair that fits.  Lou doesn't seem to know what the problem is....since I claim I invented pants....he tells me to just invent a new pair....smart ass.  Why is it so hard for companies to make jeans that fit women???.  There is a store that I usually get them from and they fit perfect...but they aren't selling jeans right now....they are selling capris since it's summer.  So I have tried on jeans and ordered jeans from just about every viable source.  There are 4 pair in my bedroom right now that I have to send back because they just don't fit right.  If they fit in the legs they don't fit it the waist and vice-versa.  I found a pair of Levi's that fit but I washed them once and the zipper won't stay up.  I can wear these as long as everyone is OK with me walking around with my fly open.  I really need to take them back to the store. 

I also have a very lovely satchel from Frye that I have to send back.  Lou bought it for me for my birthday and they sent it without the sholder strap.  Their customer service has been a bit wanting.  They don't really seem all that interested in helping me.  They told me to fill out a form and send it back to them.....and that I could use either UPS or FedEx....REALLY.  WOW....I get to send a defective product back to FRYE at my expense.  When I sent them an e-mail about this I was told they could print me a label but they have to wait for their mailroom to shut down at the end of the day and it may take 48 hours to get it to me.   WTF???  This has been dragging on since last Saturday.  I finally got the return label today.  I can have them send a replacement but I'm really not that happy with them right now so I don't know if I want to give them my money.  If I had ordered this through a store like Nordstom's....I would already have a replacement.  Every other company just sends return labels with your order....wake up FRYE!!

But I digress.....Tonight I ran to Costco to pick up snacks for the trip and chocolate for the students. And the rest of the night will be packing.  I need to run to the bank on Friday so I have some money for the cash box. 

And I am surprisingly calm through all this chaos...well....except for my rant about Frye....and the jeans

Later.
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More Irises...

The irises just keep blooming.  They must like the soil around here because they are really taking off this year.....which is surprising because we have a lot of clay.

This weekend I am doing a final pack for Bead and Button.  I have 6 containers filled with supplies for the classes.  I'm probably taking more than I need but I'd rather have more than find out I forgot something.  Lucky I'm driving. 

I also have to pack up the jewelry and table displays for Meet the Teachers.  I don't have as much jewelry made as I would like but I am taking pieces-parts to sell....after all.... this is a jewelry makers show.
And clothes....I have to pack up clothes....Tuesday I have an oil change....Wednesday I have a hair cut....it's going to be non-stop for the next few weeks .

Mom's Irises

Went home to see Mom today. Even though I told her we would go out she made a nice dinner for Lou and I.   A few years ago she gave me a number of  iris bulbs.  I planted them around my house. They are just starting to bloom.   

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Bead & Button Show....23 days to go!!!

Wow....It's only 23 days until Bead and Button.  THE show of the year.  This year will hold at least two "firsts".  The first of the "firsts" is a Master's Class.  Cris and I are taking Tim McCreight's Forging Class.  We are going to learn about metal structure, about different types of hammers and what they do, we will pour an ingot, and use chisels.  The class is 3 days and at the end we have a dinner with all the master classes, instructors, and some of the Bead and Button, Bead Style, and Art Jewelry editorial staff.  Cool!!

The second "first" is that Cris and I are teaching...which you probably know already.  We have 3 classes.  We are going to have a lot of fun!!! 

Metal Etching



Mixed Metal Pendant



Riveting

Hope to see you there!!!

All Girled Up

So this was my outfit for the party.  I went with black accessories since this was an evening gala.  It was really strange seeing co-workers....who normally wear lab coats....in evening wear.  Everybody looked great and we had a good time.  I'm just glad I don't have to be this dressed up everyday.  But occasionally it's fun.
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I'm getting all "girled" up

It's going to be a busy weekend coming up.  I have a work party Saturday night.  This is no small party.  It's our entire Division and it will be at the Great Lakes Science Center. 

We do pretty good parties....food, drinks, dancing.  And for some reason I have decided to be a girl for the party.  You might be wondering what I am the rest of the time....mostly a tomboy.  I like wearing jeans and boots.  My most favorite store is Eddie Bauer....they get me. 

But I've got some bug about dressing up for this party. When I get dressed up it is usually in black pant suits or a very tailored black dress.  Well I jumped into the deep end of the pool this time....I bought a girly dress.  Real girly and a tad retro.  The lining underneath the skirt has netting sewn into it so it poofs out like a dress from the 50's. 

And of course I had to get a pair of shoes............. 

And a small clutch would be nice.  I want something that will pop against the green and white....I found this one.  It's a Bottega Veneta....for $1700...HA. I really would need a fairy godmother to afford this one.  I love it but I think I'll keep looking.  I do like the idea of orange. 



So it should be quite the night.  At midnight my coach will turn back into a pumpkin and my drivers back into mice.  And I will turn back into ....a tomboy!!

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Metal Etching

Last Sunday Cris and I taught a metal etching class to the guild here in Cleveland.  It went really well.  It was a warm-up...at least for me....for our B&B class.  We had a room full...which is good because our first class at B&B is almost sold out. 

 

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Butin de Guerre from Bead Paradise

That's actually "spoils of war"...which might apply if you have to wrestle beads out of the hands of the woman next to you :))  Don't put it past me!! 
Last Saturday Cris and I went to see Ruth at Bead Paradise....absolutely the most fabulous bead store I have ever visited.  I keep asking Ruth if I can have a slumber party there.  If you ever get anywhere even close to Ohio you need to go to this store.  And if you can't make it you can always shop on-line. 

So here's the butin de guerre....

A bevy of Buddha's in bezels just ready to hang

A really cool old brass necklace with pods.  This is very dangerous looking.  Don't hug anyone when you are wearing this.  Someone's gonna get hurt.

Vintage Czech glass

Ethiopian brass pendants and beads

Monkeys....I couldn't help myself

Loving the design on the lid of this box.   

Ebony inlaid with silver from Mali

Ethiopian prayer boxes

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