Acid Etched Warhol Banana

A customer asked for a banana pendant as a gift for the 1 year anniversary of his friends website called Steel Banana  I etched the Warhol screen print onto the silver using tar as a resist and put it in a mordant of nitric acid for a while.  This one was actually my second attempt as the first one sat in the acid a bit too long and became but of a ghost of the banana that it once was.  I hope Warhol doesn't mind that I hung the piece upside down as it was the only way I could do it without it looking too phallic.

Deadline Drama

Here I sit at nearly 2am after a long, long, long day of work (too wired to sleep).  I believe everything began at around 9pm Wednesday after class when I went ahead and casted the two commissions from the kiln against my better judgement (listen to the little voice in your head Sarah!) Nothing turned out!  I had to re-carve the rings that night after a late dinner, re-invest and set up to cast.  Finally a successful casting came out at 1pm the following day after my (whoops I forgot) privately booked class with P.  Bla, bla, bla more work, meetings and feedings, class again, late dinner and then back to the shop to finish up the rings.  All done!  My fingertips ache, my back muscles are sore and the worst part is that I believe that I enjoy the deadline drama! what is the matter with me?

Enamelling for Beginners

This weekends Enamelling for Beginners class this past weekend went great! Thanks again Catherine!

The students got to work with glass on metal to create these great pieces using scrafitti, painting and cloisonne. One of the Artists that we represent at The Devil's Workshop, Mary Frances took the class this weekend and made the cutest little tea pot set in cloisonné, I cant wait to see how she applies this new application to her work. Some day I will have to take this class.

Our next Enamelling for Beginners workshop is scheduled for November 7th and 8th.

Good Question! - Diamond Alternatives?

Diamond Alternative Inquiry - (the names and locations in this inquiry have been hidden to protect the innocent)

Hello Sarah,

I came across your workshop online as I perused a location close to where we live where my fiancée and I could take part in the process of creating our wedding bands.

We are both outdoors, ethical, and sustainably-minded individuals, and thus having a difficult time in selecting a stone/material that would fit the path we have are trying to live in our lives (i.e.. making wise/green choices when the opportunity arises). I’m hoping that with this email and your experience in the jewellery business, you might provide your own insights to us. Perhaps you’ve been faced with similar questions in the past. I know that more individuals are aware of “blood diamonds” and the Canadian north diamonds are an alternative, but I’ve worked in the Arctic for many years, and unfortunately have seen the irreparable damage a diamond mine is. As is the majority of stone/gem mines.

With some guilt, I admit that I am an admirer of shiny stones/gems (shocking my fiancé) and I tend to wear silver for my day-to-day attire. Are there any particular stones/gems that you would recommend for an engagement ring that matches our philosophies? Do you have sources that you have used in the past?

Your thoughts and advice are greatly appreciated.

Cheers,
Desperately seeking alternatives

My reply...

Hi Desperately seeking alternatives,

Have you ever heard of Moissanite (they are natural but i think that you would be interested in the more common synthetic variety) or Lab-grown Diamonds? I have often had sentimental (practically no value) stones cut like diamonds and then set them into Engagement Rings like this stone (see here) found on the streets of Bolivia while my client was visiting with his fiancée to be.

But if it must be the "real thing" then I always advise my clients to buy an Antique Diamond, something that predates "conflict stones" and mass mining practices, these may be hard to find but the chase is half the fun ;)

Happy hunting!

Sarah