Sunday, January 2, 2011

Learning Curve

I thought you might like to join me on a little learning adventure ...
You see, this morning I was cleaning out my handbag and found these ...


I had bought them at a market in the hills well before Christmas and they have been stealthily lurking in my bag ever since. These a roughish bits of quartz and whilst I fell in love with them at the time, I had no real idea about what I would do with them. Well, it is a new year and all so maybe it is time to learn a new skill? I wanted to capture the crystal in a way that would allow me to hang it. Somewhere in the blurry recesses of my brain I have an idea that I have seen some jewellery made using little tabs to hold things in place. How hard can it be I thought ... Well for better or worse I decided to go for it. Here is how I did it ...

I chose my crystal and decided which would be the uppermost side. Then I did a rough little trace around it. Then I added tabs that will eventually wrap over the crystal, and some half circles that will form the hanging mechanism.
I cut out the paper pattern and tested it on the crystal - notice how I have marked the top of the crystal - it is easy to lose track of what goes where ... I had to make the tabs a little bit longer as I had underestimated the crystals' girth - in much the same way as I often underestimate the girth of my butt!


Next up - pattern glued to some brass and we are ready to cut this baby out!


Okay - that is really just a gratuitous shot of me wielding my trusty saw and looking like a proper jeweller!

So, I have cut the shape out, files and sanded the edges and here it is being "antiqued" with a blackening solution.


The moment of truth - will it fit? Will it be secure?


Yessirreee Bob! It does take a little bit of manipulating and some very very gentle taps with a small rubber mallet, but it most definitely WORKS!  Bear in mind that I didn't measure anything so if you wanted a less "organic" (wobbly!) style you would need to rule straight lines and so forth - me, I think it works well with this less-than-perfect bit of rock! Now, to figure out how I am gonna use this component ...?!

5 comments:

Rustic Tarts said...

Loved your post - it made me giggle a few times - but you are so right, the end result looks great.

Anonymous said...

Suits the crystal- looking forward to seeing the end result. You are just going for it this year!

Ro Bruhn said...

You're really off to great start for 2011. Love how you solved the problem. Looking forward to seeing how you use it.

Thea said...

Good for you! I wish you a Fabulous New Year filled with love, health and prosperity! I look forward to following more of your creative adventures Sue. xx

Emma said...

did you say straight lines? I don't do them either, lucky to have a good eye ;)

Here's to a healthy happy & more problem solving creativly new year!