Next week classes start at Texas State and I am more than ready for them.
During my last few weeks of freedom, since returning from my Metal Spinning Workshop, I have been doing a bit more knitting, drawing, and attempting to make some metal stuff.
There is a metals guild/club at school and they have pop-up sales every once and a while so I thought I would use this time to make some cuffs that I could sell and make a few extra bucks. I went through my copper and brass metal and found leftovers from larger pieces of sheet that I could use. I annealed it all and then selected the rolling mill plates that I was going to use and ran them through my rolling mill. Next I pulled out the pancake dies to cut/stamp the bracelets out with the hydraulic press. This is where it all went wrong. All the metal got stuck in the pancake dies with only half of the shape cut. With much frustration I was able to free the metal but to be honest I am done with these pancake dies! I also realized that I enjoy the long and time consuming process of making cuff's without a hydraulic press.
I have also spent time thinking more about making, art, and the process to the finished object. This is what I was thinking about on the 2 day drive to and from the workshop. I am really thinking that. for me, I enjoy the learning and the process more than making ART and a finished piece. Yes, I do make things for me and yes, I do occasionally sell some of my stuff but it isn't about making a living at this; it isn't about being famous and having my work in a museum or gallery, it is about learning and mastering a skill. I am also going to re-focus my attention on those things I do enjoy making.
I am now going through my tools and equipment and selling those items I don't need because I am not going to use them any more or never have used them.
During my last few weeks of freedom, since returning from my Metal Spinning Workshop, I have been doing a bit more knitting, drawing, and attempting to make some metal stuff.
There is a metals guild/club at school and they have pop-up sales every once and a while so I thought I would use this time to make some cuffs that I could sell and make a few extra bucks. I went through my copper and brass metal and found leftovers from larger pieces of sheet that I could use. I annealed it all and then selected the rolling mill plates that I was going to use and ran them through my rolling mill. Next I pulled out the pancake dies to cut/stamp the bracelets out with the hydraulic press. This is where it all went wrong. All the metal got stuck in the pancake dies with only half of the shape cut. With much frustration I was able to free the metal but to be honest I am done with these pancake dies! I also realized that I enjoy the long and time consuming process of making cuff's without a hydraulic press.
I have also spent time thinking more about making, art, and the process to the finished object. This is what I was thinking about on the 2 day drive to and from the workshop. I am really thinking that. for me, I enjoy the learning and the process more than making ART and a finished piece. Yes, I do make things for me and yes, I do occasionally sell some of my stuff but it isn't about making a living at this; it isn't about being famous and having my work in a museum or gallery, it is about learning and mastering a skill. I am also going to re-focus my attention on those things I do enjoy making.
I am now going through my tools and equipment and selling those items I don't need because I am not going to use them any more or never have used them.
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