Back in February I mentioned I was applying for the 2008-2009 Craft Artists Awards and I’ve been so busy with work that I haven’t mentioned it since. I got a letter in March saying that I had been awarded £500 – so was chuffed to bits.
Again I’ve been too busy to actually do anything with the money. One thing I have been doing though is learning silversmithing/metalwork. My application was based around the fact that I’m doing a skills exchange with one of my web design clients – Dot Sim – in that I create her a new fabby dabby website which she can update herself and she teaches me basic metalwork/silversmithing techniques in return.
I was applying for £500 so that I could buy the basic tools / equipment / materials to get me started. I’ve been travelling up to Dot’s studio in Newport on Tay regularly for one to one classes and have so far learnt how to solder, how to set stones and today, how to rivet. I like riveting the best so far and this is one of the pieces I created today…
The button was an after thought and was added at the end and I wish I had put more consideration into what I was making rather than just seeing it as an experiment / practice session. This is an image of it from the side where you can see the construction more.
I cut out two circles of brass and then punched a hole out of one. I drilled three holes through both pieces and then cut three sections of brass tubing so that the two circles could be set apart. I riveted them together using copper wire and it’s only after I did this that I saw the colour relation between the copper and a button I had brought with me. So I decided to drill a further two holes into the back plate and attached the button with fine silver wire. Unfortunately this is just twisted to secure it at the back.
If I’d thought ahead, I would have riveted the button to the back plate first and then added the front plate.
I love riveting as it involves no heat, no soldering etc and means that I can work with metal and buttons without the risk of melting the buttons. Today’s experiments have given a load of ideas of where to go next.
As Cookson Gold were doing free p&p on all orders over the bank holiday weekend, I decided to put in a huge order of tools and equipment as well as sheet silver and wire. I’ve got the silver, but managed to miss the courier delivering the rest of the stuff twice now as I’ve been out! So hopefully,, if I stay in ALL day tomorrow, I’ll get my shiny new tools and will be able to carry on with the riveting at the w/e.
That’s the best rivet I’ve seen,it looks lovely great colour combination and well done for getting the grant and a brilliant use of it too.
Hi! I love it, the button feminises it, is that a real word… very nice.