Day 18

Before

11:45pm: Under the line! Well, actually I got it done earlier, but I was gaming with family. Yeah, I'm one of those. Well, I wanted to try this again, but hammer on one side, on each half. Got it?

Hmmmm.

after

We have some scroll action! Add copper plate with word and rings. Maybe word plate vertical to the left. Note to self: order alphabet punches.

Day 17

Before

3:03pm - Went back to acute angles and trimming corners on my original 1" x 3" copper rectangles.  Because I CAN. And I found these anodized aluminum sheets to put under my anvil, and over the wood counter, especially when I'm playing with a micro-torch. I wanted to buy a ceramic tile, but 1) I'm cheap.
2) It would probably crack from my hammering. duh.

Part way

8:33pm - So I have figured out that hammering on one side causes it to curl in that direction. And I wonder if that effects the final piece. Maybe. I'll find out tomorrow!

Scroll,anyone?

It looked like a scroll to me! So I cut out and added a little copper plate that has room for a word. Like 'kittens'....or something. And the cab is a purple CA obsidian from Kris and Jo via Paul.  Yes, it's scotch taped on for the photo op. I so need to learn how to bezel soon. And buy a set of alphabet punches. Sigh.

Day 16

11:10am - Aw, cute! It's a little shed.

I'm already getting distracted to do other things, other hobbies. I have purses to sew, socks to knit, rocks to slab and cab. Silver to solder!! Much less my dayjob when school starts. And cleaning house...bwahahahahahh! snort.

So I'll undoubtedly do things like this to entertain myself. 349 days to go.

Before

After

7:09 - Yes, I split it, layered it. As soon as I learn how to solder (I ordered a book from Amazon) and bezel (hopefully this week in my silversmithing class) this will be a pendant. Malachite I cabbed. Hint: for malachite, I go to the basket of already polished pieces of tumbled rocks at the local rock shop.
That way I can choose the best patterns that are perfect little cab sized nuggets. There can be a lot of uninteresting malachite buying rough.

Day 15

8:31am - Back to basics, sort of. Will it end up looking like a tribble?

Before

6:04pm - I made an earring! ONE earring, alas. It's so light, and strong! Soon, I need to make a pair of earrings.

Day 14

8:09am - A variation of yesterday. And posting the before early in case, of you know, difficulties.

Before

After

11:18pm - A bit predictable, yes? Which is nice! I keep seeing round cabs with these.

Day 13

I claim technical difficulties. I did my fold yesterday but am posting today EARLY BEFORE COFFEE.
Note: Do NOT accidentally lock me out of the house when the cookies are almost done. I don't react well.

The fold

oops

1:00pm - What can I say. We fought. It was going in opposite directions, just like I folded it.

Soldered and cozy with an ammonite

 2:00pm - Bubby showed me how he solders copper pipe. And then I play with his Dremel to clean up the solder and sharp parts. I think I'm in love with the Dremel!

Day 12

10:45pm - Hey, this format sure makes it easy to make a title for my posts!

But a bowtie. I need to order scissors. I'm tire of my tin snips.

I'm thinking a round carnelian in a bezel would look nice on this. 

Day 11

9:10pm - Not only am I working with REAL jewelry tools, I'm working in my new 'studio'! INDOORS.
Okay, more like in a shed in the backyard, but it's IN a door to sit down in a chair to hammer! I hope this doesn't spoil me....

Day 10

 11:07pm - I've taken to hammering folds that aren't 'opposing' - it seems that the curve is countering if too close in proximity! Small labradorite cab will be bezeled and soldered in where it sits in the pic.

I've upgraded! My little 4oz. jeweler's hammer and steel plate 'anvil' arrived today. I admit the copper is MUCH less beaten up. 

Old

New!

Day 9

10:28pm - Just got back from my brother's new place. Now to experiment hammering and torching in the dark! Stay tuned...

11:59pm - Advantages - could see the flame so well, I know my little butane is getting a clogged tip. Disadvantage - Realizing my front porch light goes out after every few of minutes, unless I stand up a wave at the light to trigger the motion sensor.

I don't stop playing with the anticlastic, until I can see how it can hold a stone. That's it's purpose to this rockhound. I find my folds made it seem less organic, and I find I enjoyed it a little less.

Stone is an unfinished lemon chrysoprase.

Day 8

Introducing Anticlastic Daily v.II!!

Starting on this memorable Day 8, I'm going to start taking pictures of the copper before, so this might actually be useful for me if I want to recreate a fold.

I wanted to try thinner, and it's a simple fold, but not too exciting, but a nice stone in the lower left would do wonders.

...but that would be v.III, after I learn how to solder.

Day 7

7:42pm - With this, I had to fold and hammer, then open to access other folds to get the shape I needed. I'm still pickling in vinegar and salt, and recoloring. I've ordered micro wax to coat the shapes which should be here next week. As should my steel plate to hammer on!

Day 6

6:32 pm - I'm beginning to feel my lack of a hard surface to hammer on. Hammering on concrete or a rock is losing it's appeal. On the one hand, I like the texture, but now I want to play with smoother.

Bonus pic!

I'll put this together....as soon as I learn how to make a bezel.

Day 5

11:00am - I've given up hammering on a brick, and moved to a big, flat rock. It chews up the copper less! I also wonder if it will get too thin, and sure enough, I hammered the tip right off! Hmmm. Still LOVE the colors I can get heating copper. And I'm having fun with my pliers, as you can see.

In and of itself, these are beautiful shapes and forms, organic and flowing, as well as light and strong.

Day 4

10:00am + - Metal -> origami. Interesting! I did a valley fold, and had to let it cool, since I had to flip and hold it in various ways to hammer. I am wearing down my brick.

Day 2

8:00am - Took about 20 minutes of hammering today. I tried heat coloring it after, and love the reddish orange on the inside curve, and the flash of hot pink on the pointed tip! So far these are small, starting with approx. a 1" x 3" strip.

Day 1

7:59 am - I'm starting this blog. I should be starting my very first anti, BUT...I don't remember how to turn on the butane torch I bought. I have to wait until my bf is awake so he can show me again.

Well, sure, it's a bit of a shaky beginning, but I have high hopes. I bought the copper at the hardware store yesterday. It's .016 sheet. I'm still looking for a cross peen hammer, but for now I have my rockhounding hammer. I had the tin snips already! Yay, me.

11:30 am - Ah. Child-proof button. Check.

2:00 pm -  No anvil of any kind, so I hammered it on a brick in the backyard. Was too impatient to wait for it to cool, so I held it down with a rock while I hammered away, wondering if it would 'work.'  I was timid hammering it at first, thinking I was going to 'break it' - then I figured the metal molecules don't move for the timid, and hit  it harder. I just pickled it at the end, in a mixture of white vinegar and salt.

And we're off!