3xR # 29

I was hoping to be working with the ocean debris again this week, but instead I continued with another remnant piece. A band ring.

A usual I started with a pile of scrap

Played with layout until I was happy

Cleaned up the smaller bits with a little filing and sanding

Partially melted some hard solder to the backs of the little pieces

Sweat soldered the little bits down

Cleaned up the edges of the strip and formed it into a horseshoe using a ring mandrel and rawhide mallet

Brought the ends around to meet and soldered the joint

Hammered it back to round and presto

Remnant band ring.

Thanks for reading!

3xR 22-28: Back on Track

This week I created several pieces in what is emerging as my favorite style from this project. Simple and elegant, unusual but somehow familiar, and geometrically on trend as well. Crazy.

I started with a lovely pile of scrap primarily left over from eyelet lace and orbital pieces. 

Each top piece had to be cut, filed, and sanded before I could pair it with a piece for the bottom. I was having so much fun I pulled out this second pile of scrap and did the same.

Then I sweat soldered them together, and filed and sanded some more. 

For a moment I toyed around with the idea of creating a bracelet... maybe next time. This time I decided to create some larger dangles in addition to the usual posts.

3xR #22

#23

#24

#25

#26

#27

#28

It feels so good to be back on track! Look for a new marine debris piece next week and head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group for a look at what the other participants are creating.

Thanks for reading!

3xR 20 and 21: Hand me Down

A couple of weeks ago I came across this box I received from my aunt (from her high school jewelry class).

 

Just look at that fantastic reuse.Tucked inside this old treasure was not only some super old chapstick in a METAL tube (score!), 

but also two of the best files that I own. I pulled them out when she gave me the box a few years ago and have been happily using them ever since. 

Sadly, when I went to purchase more of them I found that they are no longer made in the USA and that the quality has gone way down. But I digress, when I opened the box more recently to see what was left inside I was very pleasantly surprised. 

Look at the tarnish on this silver! I love it! I knew there was a 3xR or two in there the second I saw it. 

The sheet metal wasn't quite large enough for the bezel, so I had to get creative. 

Meanwhile I grabbed some copper from my stash for the other stone. I have no idea what was originally planned for this copper, but that tape had been on it long enough that the plastic peeled off and left the adhesive behind. 

Here the bezels are soldered down. 

Back to the scrap bin for some more copper. I textured this piece on some concrete to match the somewhat beat up state of the silver. 

At this point I got so into the making that I neglected to take more photos... 

3xR 20:

Copper, Silver, Agate

I think it's interesting to see the vast difference in two pieces made from the same materials at the same time. 

3xR 21:

Copper, Silver, Agate

I have to say, I love creating without a plan! I never know where it's going to take me. 

For a look at what the other 3xR artists are working on head over to the 3xR 2014 flickr group. 

Thanks for reading! 

3xR catch up weeks 17, 18, and 19: Marine Debris

While I'm working on catching up with the 3xR challenge I'll be incorporating the marine debris I collected in Hawaii and well as using up more metal from my scrap bin. In fact, while I was unpacking from my last craft fair I stumbled upon a long forgotten box labeled "copper", so now I have a whole new and exciting scrap source!

Week 17
"Caught"

Scrap Brass, Coral, Marine Debris (Plastic Net and Cap)

Week 18
"Strangled"

Scrap Copper, Brass, Coral, Ocean Debris (rope)

Week 19

"Capped"

Scrap Copper, Coral, Marine Debris (Plastic Cap)

The more I read about ocean and beach clean up efforts, the threat to marine life, and the lasting marks that we are making on the environment through marine debris the more emotional these pieces become to me. According to the Ocean Conservancy volunteers picked up more than 12.3 million pounds of trash during the 2013 international coastal clean up. 12.3 million pounds! And that's just the trash they could get to along the coastline. Imagining the amount of debris in the ocean leaves my head spinning.

So what can we do? The top ten items collected were heavy in disposable products that beach goers are most likely bringing to the beach and leaving behind (plastic bags, utensils, straws, bottles, etc). Whenever possible use reusable items. Throw a couple forks in the glove box, stash a reusable shopping bag in a door pocket, drink water out of the tap in a reusable bottle. When that's just not possible make sure disposable items get to the proper recycling bins. Go the extra mile and pick up trash someone else left behind. For more ideas on how to help check out this handy infographic from the Ocean Conservancy!

For a look at what the other 3xR artists are up to head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr Group.

Thanks for reading! 

3xR (Reduce, Recycle, Reuse) On My Mind

It's been a couple of weeks since I've created a piece for this project. Happily, my absence has been due to travel. I had the great fortune to visit Kauai's beautiful beaches.

Sadly, those beaches were sprinkled with plastic, tumbled by the surf, original purpose long forgotten.

On our last day we were fortunate enough to come around a bend to an endangered Monk Seal resting just off the path.

Suddenly, the two huge (3") fishing hooks and hand full of line (a fraction of which is pictured below) I had just pulled from the same beach became even more unsettling.

When I get back to the 3xR challenge I'll be focusing on this issue for a bit.

For a look at what the other 3xR artists have been up to head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group.

Thanks for reading!

3xR Week 16: RAD remake

I'm pretty sure that the sad piece of brass I pulled from my scrap bin today was at one point destined to be a RAD (Ring A Day) ring.

Brass and Silver Scrap Metal

It seems that this 'not quite a ring' ring was deemed unacceptable for some reason and was replaced with something else. My best bet is RAD #266. At any rate it found new life today! 

Brass and Silver Two Finger Ring

I'm sure it feels much more accomplished.

For a look at what the other artists are making head over to the 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) challenge on Flickr. While you're there take a trip back through my journey during the RAD challenge.

Thanks for reading!

3xR Week 15: Tropical Daydream

I've been daydreaming about a tropical paradise while at the bench lately, so I was really pleased when I pulled out the scrap for this weeks ring.

Sterling Silver, Fine Silver, and Aventurine Ring

 There is a flaw in the Aventurine cab, but I like to imagine it's a dolphin or whale swimming through warm green waters.

The scrap consisted of the rolled down heavy wire I've used on the last few rings, a strip of fine silver bezel left behind from a beach pottery pendant, a round bezel that I was able to stretch to fit this cabochon, and the outer edge from cutting out who knows what that I was able to roll down to back the cabochon.

For a look at what the other 3xR artists are up to head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group. This ring and many other pieces from the challenge are available in my Etsy Shop!

Thanks for reading!

3xR Week 14

I was sure I was making another ring when I pulled together this assortment of scrap for week 14. 

Turns out I was making a pair of earrings! 

Sterling Silver, Agate

The back plates are piercings from setting stones, the wire is from a wire wrapping attempt gone wrong, and the stones have been hanging out for a while. I've been told these earrings look like ice cream cones. Now I can't see anything else. 

You can check out what all the other 3xR artists are creating over a the 3xR 2014 Flickr group. 

Thanks for reading! 

3xR Week 13: Hidden Treasure

Eco friendly Onyx and Silver Ring

Bits of this and that.

Silver Scrap

A treasure found while rummaging through some inherited rocks.

Tumbled rocks inherited from my husbands grandfather the lapidary work still attached to huge nails

A little experimentation

Ring in progress

Resulting in an unusual ring. 

Silver and Onyx Ring

You can check out what the other 3xR artists are up to over at the 3xR flickr group or take a look at more of my eco friendly work in my Etsy shop.

Thanks for reading!