Quaint

Today, I finally started the making of my final pieces, after a couple of weeks wasted due to a small miscommunication.  Hey-ho, I’m just happy to get going.

Here’s a CAD of my final pieces, these are the high end ones by the way:

The black frame is silver but oxidised, whilst the coloured tags inside are made from anodised aluminium.

I also plan on making the affordable editions, where the aluminium tags will be substituted with paper.  More practical for things like images.  It’ll also allow for the consumer to change the tags to whatever they wish.

All I can do right now is keep myself busy with other projects, whilst I’m waiting for my metal to be laser cut and marked.  Good thing too, I need to get pieces ready for the final exhibition.

Very nervous.  I just hope the traffic is kind to me.  No accidents, Wednesday and Thursday, please.

I thought I had previously written a post about this competition but can’t seem to fish it out.  Basically a piece of jewellery has been designed and we’re judged on how accurate our making is in accordance to the techinical drawing.  Measurements and appearance need to be done to the tee (correct spelling?), well, give or take half a millimetre in measurement.

So beautiful.  I will incorporate these into my projects.  One of my on-going projects, besides the knife, is a ring and I can’t wait to see what it will entail.  All I know is that we will require 1 gemstone, roughly 6-8mm in diameter and round.  I slightly went over board though.

Note to self: don’t go near a gem shop again.

Gemstones I purchased.

These gemstones weren’t purchased all together; I have bought them over the years. Gosh, that just made me sound old.   However, on Tuesday I brought quite a bit so the kind gemstone lady gave me one for free.  Yay to freebies.

So, you think you buy a more than decent product.  Let’s say, for instance, a jewellery cleaner.  Decide a couple of days later you’re going to try it…only to establish that it’s ineffective.  You then turn to your friend, Google.  Find a home made solution and, voila, it works a treat.

Here’s a tip on how to clean your jewellery (I’ve only tested it with silver):

1. Glass jar
2. Fill half way with warm water
3. Add a stripe of aluminium foil
4. Then add one teaspoon of salt
5. Put jewellery pieces in jar
6. Leave for a few minutes, although it works instantly
7. For any stubborn tarnishes just repeat the whole process

Ta-da, your home made jewellery cleaner: free of potent, offensive scent.  Don’t be an idiot like me and waste your money during these tough times.    Much thanks goes to katlnhats.

This post is late and I’m a little bit lethargic so apologies if it doesn’t make sense. 

I don’t personally think I’ve done well.  All the contestants will be judged on the piece they made to the design, it’s all very meticulous: from the size of the piece; wire; metal sheet.  To put it simple, every detail matters.  My piece, for one, is bigger than the technical drawing.  Secondly I only realised this morning that I had, in fact, misinterpreted the drawing and have made it wrong.  A few things didn’t look perfect but starting the piece all over again wasn’t going to be an option.

Even though it’s not my best work I can say I’ve given it my all.  I wish the other guys all the best.