Kat’s Arts Blog

I’ve just updated the gallery here with a couple of images of my latest copper jewelry creations. (Click the image below to see the whole gallery.) I finally fired up the new flex-shaft tool to cut the jumpring coils made with the Pepe Jumpring Maker described in an earlier posting, and everything worked just fine. Not only did I have no problems with the flex-shaft tool (in spite of its being a cheap knock-off of the Foredom product pros recommend), I think it may be possible to use the foot pedal controller that came with it to control my Dremel 395, since it works inline between the tool and the wall socket. The final verdict will have to await further testing, but I can’t see any reason for it not to work.

Meanwhile, enjoy the new pics. They’re in the album called “Beaded Jewelry” under “Copper” even though they aren’t actually beaded. They are pure copper, though, and today I restocked my wire stash with a trip to the hardware store, so expect to see lots of copper things in the future, especially if it is made from jumprings.

This week we’ve been in Tucson for the extravganza centered around the famous Tucson Gem and Mineral Show (TGMS). However, my primary interest is in materials for casual beaded and wirewrapped jewelry, not fine gemstones, lovely as they are. The bead shows and polymer clay (PC) workshops have been totally worth it, even if some of the serious gem merchants may think they are just a side show. To me, they are the main event.

I’ve acquired a good collection of semi-precious stone beads, and a lot of ideas and tips from the PC artists gathered here. Even my husband has gotten interested in the possibilities and fun of polymer clay sculpture after attending a class and make & take PC party. Christie Friesen, the clay sculpture class instructor, was both informative and a whole lot of fun. Her enthusiasm is as inspiring as her originality and skill as an artist and teacher. I have a feeling we will look her up at future events around the country as well as visiting her website and buying her books. She has a chatroom on her site that she says is very active, so once we get our internet connection squared away I will check that out.

As we put our new knowledge to work, and create new things with the skills and supplies obtained here, I’ll post pictures of them in the gallery.