At our last meeting, Mikki Verani gave a demo on keum-boo.  I've had all the necessary equipment, but there was one piece that was missing.  That was the copper top for my hot plate.   Mikki mentioned it could be awkward when when doing keum-boo on lentils (as that was the piece she was demo'ing).  So she had a great suggestion for making this copper top lentil friendly.  Here's the result.

Start with a piece of copper (I used 24 gauge) measuring 6 1/2" x 6 1/2".  In the center, mark a 1 1/2" circle and saw it out.

This is the sheet that will sit over the hotplate (once the hole is cut). 

Next, measure and cut a piece of 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" copper.  Again, mark in the center a 1 1/2" circle.  Anneal this sheet.

Using a dap and punch, make a concave dome in this sheet.

Place this smaller sheet inside the hole of the larger sheet.  Now you have a curved area to keum-boo on that should be pretty stable.  

Meeting

Our next guild meeting will be held on January 27th, 1:00 - 5:00 at the All Saint's Episcopal church.

We'll be discussing our plan for the year:  ideas, goals for the Guild, dates for meetings, dues, retreats at Rose's, demos, teaching ideas, and whatever else you'd like to see for the year.  

Hope to see you all there!

October 28th Meeting

Our next meeting is the 28th of October, from 1:00 to 5:00 at the All Saint's Episcopal Church in Stoneham.

This meeting will be a discussion and hand's on with Sterling Silver Clay.  So, bring your sterling clay along (if you'd like to work in it) and we'll go over our successes, failures, firing schedules and how to make your own sterling clay.  

September Meeting

The next meeting will be held on Sunday, September 23rd.  It'll be held outside if the weather cooperates, so wear weather appropriate clothing.  If it's raining, it will be held in the large hall at the church and will be putting down tarps.  If you have an extra waterproof tarp - we may need it, so please bring it along!

This meeting will be on lapidary work.  If you have any stones you'd like to see cut or polished, be sure to bring them along.  

We will also be discussing our retreat to be held on Lake Sunapee in New Hampshire the weekend of October 5/6/7.  

All About Base Metal Clays

The next meeting of the guild will be April 22nd from 1:00 - 5:00. This meeting will be a general discussion on the base metal clays, all brands and varieties. Please bring in anything you've made, successes and failures. We'll share our working and firing methods for these clays.

Photographing Your Jewelry

At our last meeting, photographing jewelry was the topic.  This year, the 2012 PMC Conference will include a virtual exhibition slideshow featuring the work of members of local chapters of the PMC Guild.  So this meeting was held with that purpose in mind.  Lori Magno spoke about lighting, set-up and offered her photography services to our group for those wanting to get their work into this slideshow.  Here are some of the photos from the meeting.  This first photo showed Lori's camera and various items she uses in setting up her photo shoot.  Yes, you are seeing sunlight as that's always the best lighting to shoot with (if available).

Someone also brought in their pvc piping setup they use as a form to drape fabric over the sides acting as a lightbox.

Even an old milk jug can act as your lightbox.  Just cut off the bottom, place your work underneath and shoot from the hole in the jug.  

And for those who couldn't make this last meeting, we have a couple photographs of our new location.  The space is full of light, the location is not too far from the highway, and there's even plant life!

Our next meeting will be held this Sunday, March 25th.  Monte Nikkel will be demonstrating the Viking Knit.

Clay Turntable

I saw this on link on Facebook this morning and thought it was pretty clever.  Wanaree Tanner did a small tutorial on how she makes one of her favorite tools, the turntable.  

Click here to view her tutorial.