It’s A Wonderful Life, Happy Thanksgiving and More Mushiness

Is mushiness really a word? Probably not, but luckily it’s my blog and I can make up any word I want! So there–all you grammar police. Which while I am on the subject, I don’t know where I picked up the dash habit — ? I think dashes–are the new dots…… It will drive some of you nuts, all 2 of my readers but whatevs—-. I think some sweet little english teacher is turning over in her grave right now.

So……can you believe I have never seen the classic movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” until yesterday? I am not a big movie person and I really dislike old movies. But I had to watch it for my daughter–which leads me to the reason why I have been AWOL lately. My daughter’s high school is putting the production on in a few weeks and every year I help as stage manager. I have been doing it for years but it takes literally weeks of my time. I usually can do nothing else–it’s hours a day, everyday. It was a cute movie but unbelievably corny and in my opinion, I think Frank Cappra ripped off “A Christmas Carol” just saying–now Frank Cappra is doing summersaults!

Anyway, while I am here I thought I would wish you all a wonderful Turkey Day! Here’s the mushiness part of the blog I promised.

I am only thankful for one thing on Thanksgiving, I wish it every time I blow out my birthday candles, crack the wishbone, see a shooting star (yeah right) or anytime I need to make a wish for something

This is what I wish for (we are missing Franky my son’s girlfriend who should be in the pic). This handsome group is what I am thankful for. My happy, healthy and wonderful family, that’s all any Mom could ever want.

Oh geez–I just blew it that was our Christmas picture–well pretend you didn’t see it. Okay, I will sign off and bid you a Wonderful Holiday. I hope to get some studio time in soon and put some new work up–

My Obsession With Reliquary Cases

Well at least I had a better day in the studio.  No cuts, no bleeding–that’s a good day.  Not to mention, my 3 new reliquary cases.  I don’t know why I am so obsessed with them but I am.  The funny thing is I just like to make the cases.  I always think I will fill them and make some kind of jewelry out of them, but it never happens.

Reliquary Cases

These are out of the watch tins, riveted, with an acrylic center.  The usual stuff–but the medals are interesting.

Reliquary Cases by Sarjeant & Co.

Masonic Medal

This case was made from the medal to the right.  I have tried and tried to find out which masonic organization this is from and can’t find it.  As you can see I removed the middle, removed the scales and riveted them to the top of the medal. Polished them up a bit and VOILA!  a new case.

None of these are listed yet.  I will probably list them next week, I just wanted to give you a sneak preview.

Reliquary Case

This one is from the “Astra Castra Numen Lumen” medal that I had listed.  If you want any medals in my shop you better grab them quick, if not I will make a case out of them!  This one is ‘rosary style’ meaning it has the 2 links on top and 1 on the bottom.

Last, but certainly not least is a finger rosary with a sterling silver sacred heart medal riveted to the top.  Man, I have written riveted about 6 times in this post.  My torch is probably thinking I abandoned him.  I need to get back to my torch–no more rivets–I must stop riveting–I need riveters anonymous!!!!!!

I am still trying to figure out how to make glass tube lockets so that you can add your own stuff inside and then glue it closed.  It sounds easy but it isn’t because the brass tube has to fit the glass exactly right so I need hunt more brass tubing down.  It’s next on my list of things make.  I think I will take tomorrow off from the studio stuff and enjoy the outside world.

I am excited to have some girlfriends over Saturday for a day of soldering.  They have never soldered, I think we will make Christmas ornaments–fun, fun…

 

You Ever Have One Of Those Days?

You ever have one of those days when everything goes wrong?  I will rephrase that and say, when nothing goes right. It’s like the cup half empty or half full thing–it depends how you say it–either way the day sucked.

Anyway, the first problem is I am tired. I don’t work well when I am tired –especially with fire, power tools and sharp objects.   I wish I could say that my art is my living, but I can’t.  Actually, if I made me living out of it I probably wouldn’t do it anymore. I am weird like that.

So yes, I have a real job, kids, family, dogs, friends, holidays, all the usual things that fill my day 100%.  Luckily, I only work part time and the rest I can play in my studio–which by the way, my studio is beautiful.  Someday, I will show you.

I was so excited to have 3 days off today. I planned to get loads done.

So I start off by cutting myself. You like my disgusting nails? Actually, these are nice nails for me. They are usually worse.  Looks like I build cars for a living.  Anyway, It wouldn’t be a studio day if I didn’t cut myself–without fail.   You would think I would keep band-aids around. Of course not. Instead, I use whatever I have laying around duct tape, masking tape, plastic baggies, my shirt, in this case it was hemming tape.

I finally get my finger squared away, sit down, ready to start my big 3 DAYS OF CREATIVITY and then…… draw a huge blank.

You know those days when it just ’empty’ upstairs.  Nothing comes to you? I just kept looking at this mess thinking I have 3 days off and I need to make something  fabulous.  Nothing………………

My plan B when I am drawing a creative block, is Mr. Ipod.  Music can always pull me out of a funk.  Today it was Glee, all day all the time. Yep, I am a “Gleek” with a big “L” on my forehead.   ‘Whatevs’…….as my child would say.

So now I have wasted half the morning, stalling with things to get my creative juices moving.  If stalling translated to jewelry pieces, I would have had 100 pieces made today!  The computer is the best time waster of all.  Hence, me posting on my blog for no good reason.

Then this happens…….yes, look at these faces, only a mother can love.   These eyes are saying, “I am bored, sick of being in this house and please MOM–TAKE ME OUT!!”

We can now add guilt to my list of other issues today.

So that’s the end of my sad story……………….my son actually ended up walking the dogs for me.  I am still on the computer and have decided sometimes you just have to cry, “Uncle” and just figure tomorrow is another day.  So for now, I will cry “UNCLE”!!!!!

New Reliquary Cases

I had this long post about  “Trench Art” which is fascinating but I can’t seem to finish it.   I will eventually post it  instead I thought I would post something easy.  Like my new cases.  I just love these cases!  I keep making them and making them, which is unusual for me because I get bored easily.  These are just so much fun, and I love treasure boxes, treasures–especially little ones.

When I first started I would just list them without anything in them.  I decided that customers/designers needed to see what it would look like with SOMETHING in them even a picture.  I wanted something different besides the masonic eye, so found Mr. Peacock Circus Man.    He  didn’t make the final cut–so I wanted to give him so ‘air’ time anyway

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So I ended up with a piece of red felt–kind of giving it the Christmas feel if you want, or not.   I think next round I will add a ring to the bottom so you can use it rosary style if you want.

Reliquary Case--Sarjeant & Co on Etsy

Here’s a case with a finger rosary.  It has a plastic container in the back,presumably for Holy Water.  I am not sure.

Basic Brass Etching Techniques and Tutorial

Etched Brass Pieces on Sarjeant & Co on Etsy

How about an etching tutorial?

These etched pieces are for sale in my store Sarjeant & Co. with the exception of the corset. I sold out of the corset and will probably not make anymore (okay that’s a lie, I have ONE more but it’s not for sale).

Anyway, here’s some basic information on how to get started in etching. This is my own ‘self taught’ way of etching–I am not an expert. There are many ways to etch. I will show you my way. I have only etched brass.

I use an ‘etching’ tank. I made this tank with household items I picked up at Wal-Mart.

Etching Tank by Sarjeant & Co.

Etching Tank Supplies:

Plastic Container with vacuum lid (I couldn’t find a picture but I got it at Wal-Mart)
Cheap aquarium pump with tubing
Acrylic 8 x 10″ sheet available at Lowes (used for picture frames)
Hot Glue gun
Bic Pen (old school kind, you will take out inside and use outside)

Use your dremel or flex shaft and cutting disc and cut a hole on the side just below the lid so the tubing fits in even with lid closed. Take the acrylic sheet and hot glue it to the bottom of the container this makes it stable so it doesn’t topple over.

Attach tubing to pump, I then hot glued pump to the tank. Next, You need to drill holes in the clear plastic bic pen sheath. Hot glue the clear pen sheath to the tubing. Take the entire contraption (the bic end with the holes) and hot glue REALLY WELL to the inside bottom of the tank.

Basically, when you plug in the aquarium pump all the chemicals will bubble from the holes in the drilled bic pen sheath. This makes the etching work quicker and circulates the chemicals for a cleaner etch. Heat also helps, I tried an aquarium heater –don’t waste your money. By the time it heats up you will be done. It works fine without heat.

This is the hardest part of the entire process. Finding the FERRIC CHLORIDE!!!!! Apparently Radio Shack used to sell it but guess what–NOT ANYMORE! I tried Fry’s and they had it one time about a year ago. But that was the last time I found it. I had good luck with a little Mom and Pop Electronic Store about 20 miles from my house. I bought 4 bottles, all they had. You can order the ferric chloride online but the shipping prices are crazy expensive! I suggest you go find a store near you and buy all they have before someone else does.

I know there are ways to etch with muriatic acid but it seems way to dangerous for my taste. I just take the ferric chloride and dump it into the plastic tank, about 3/4 of the way up. Make sure to use gloves when handling Ferric Chloride, it will stain anything and everything you come in contact with including your hands! Ugly, ugly.

Use some Staz-on and a rubber stamp and stamp an image on some clean, scrubbed brass. I think stamping is the easiest ‘resist’ to use. You can draw an image, or iron on with pNp (never works for me). I think stamps are the easiest to work with. When you are done take a sharpie and cover all the edges completely. Remember anything that is not covered with some kind of resist will be etched. Take simple packing tape and completely cover the back.

You will need another container of white vinegar to neutralize the etched brass when you take it out of the ferric chloride. Make sure the area you work in is protected–like I said the stuff stains.

Now’s a good time for my disclaimer:
*Be smart–wear gloves, use in a properly ventilated area, read all directions, dispose of chemicals properly, etc., etc.

Okay so you got your tank ready and built, your container of white vinegar ready, you have cleaned your brass, stamped it with something cool, used sharpie around the edges, taped up the back completely with clear packing tape.

It’s time to etch———–yeah!

Take a couple of pieces of masking tape, tape the ends to the brass –then lower it into the tank and tape the other end over the side of the tank (sorry I will take more pictures next time–it’s that darn attention span of mine).

Set the timer for about 20- 30 minutes–plug in the aquarium pump and let it rip!  You will have to just pull it out of the tank periodically and check the etch, if you like it then take it out and put in into the vinegar bath to neutralize.  Then into soap and water and clean well with a brush.

I usually need to shine up my stuff with a little steel wool and then coat with Renaissance Wax–my favorite sealing type agent.   That’s all folks!  I hope I didn’t confuse you too much.   Until next time………………