On Sunday I took a cool riveted pendant class at my local bead shop (Bead Cache) with my friends Barbara and Tammy. We had such a good time! It was honestly one of the best jewelry classes I've ever taken. There were only 5 students, which meant that we each got a lot of personal attention from the instructor, Dawn. I appreciated how Dawn gave us just a little bit of information as we did each step, rather than giving us a long, detailed overview at the beginning. I never felt overwhelmed, which I can't say about some of the other classes I've taken.
My pendant has a textured copper base. I used both metal stamps and a texturing hammer. On top of that I layered a flower bead cap and a piece of brass that I stamped the word "bloom" onto. (I'm obsessed with the word "bloom"—see the fabric pendant I made recently.) I'm debating whether I want to darken the lettering more. It's easier
to read in person than in this photograph, so I might wear it for awhile
and see if I want to change it.
My one big "failure" in the class was my attempt to make my own brass headpins. The idea is pretty simple, but I need more practice. I might use a softer metal next time.
Metalwork classes always have so many fascinating tools. I drilled holes using both the Dremel tool and the regular hand drill. I also used a jeweler's saw to cut the tubes. I used a bench block with holes when I was working on the headpins. I'd never seen that before, but it was handy to have, since it meant that I wouldn't smash the round balls on the headpins when I was riveting.
I also used a new form of liver of sulfur, a gel, to darken the pendant. The gel supposed to have a longer shelf life, so I was excited to get a chance to try it. I like the results. If I should start doing more metalwork, I'll probably buy some.
All in all, a wonderful way to spend the weekend!