The Beauty in SIMPLE

A couple of weeks back I shared about my venture into fusing fine silver wire. I'm happy to say that I'm continuing to have loads of fun with it.

I'm also learning that there is a lot of beauty in keeping things simple. With this economy, I am noticing that a lot of my sales lately have been simple, classic pieces with clean lines, something that can be worn for so many occasions.

I love the look of shiny silver simply on its own and how hammering the metal gives it hundreds of tiny facets that reflect the light. Here's my latest, I've sold 2 of these to friends this week and added one to my shop today. The rings remind of ripples of water that emanate from a pebble tossed in a lake so I called it "Ripples".

I'm also finding as I work with the these thicker gauges of wire that my flush cutters are just not "cutting" it, sorry for the pun! There are a pair of Tronex cutters that Liz Jones, the author of "Fine Silver Fusing" recommends. Unfortunately, they are about $60, but I'm getting to the point where I think they will make my life a lot easier and cause me to waste less wire. Getting a really clean flush cut is so critical to getting the fine silver to "fuse" or flow together at the join. This necklace has 4 rings that are fused, including the smallest one; you work your way from the smallest to the largest.

Well, now, I'm getting too technical! I simply wanted to share my latest creation.

Oh, and I also wanted to remind you that I'm drawing a name tomorrow for my "Where in the World Giveaway contest". To enter click here.

Have a great day, and may you find beauty and peace in the simple things!

FUSING FINE SILVER

Just a quick post today. I got some more wire from Rio Grande to play with yesterday. This time it is Fine Silver wire for fusing. Last summer, I bought a book called "Silver Wire Fusing" by Liz Jones and had dabbled with it a little. I really wanted to try soldering silver this year, but I thought I'd give fusing fine silver wire an honest effort first as I have most of the tools necessary from working with PMC.

After making all of these rings last night in gauges ranging from 14 to 18 gauge, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. It certainly is different fusing fine silver wire than firing PMC. They are both done with a micro torch, but when firing precious metal clay you have to be very careful not to let the silver get to that melting and shimmering point. So it's a little alarming for me to see the fine silver get "flowy". I guess I feel like it's going to curl up in big messy ball and have to be thrown in the scrap pile! Now I have lots of ideas for making earrings and necklaces. Here's what I've put together so far for my shop!

Here's to trying something new! I love these quotes on TRYING:

The best angle from which to approach a problem is the Try-angle.

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There is no comparison between that which is lost by not succeeding and that which is lost by not trying.

Francis Bacon (1561-1626) British statesman and philosopher.