After 2 other cancelled play dates, the etching of the musical cuff finally happened this past weekend.  Lisa, the awesome DBA and muscian, drove the LOoOoonnnNnggggG distance to my house (it was a 50 minute drive, and it really isn't that far!) and arrived at 11 am. It should be noted that she should have arrived at 10am but her day job got in the way.

We got started right away. We walked through the design in Illustrator, the export to Photoshop, import to PS and the inverting of the drawing,  printing on the paper, cleaning the silver and applying the mask to silver.  Oh, trust me I had every thing laid out - silver, iron, hot plate, etching bath, rectifier, gloves, paint pens, tape - all in the kitchen by the sink. 

The first and the SECOND application of the mask did not work but we got it on the third time and then it was the fixing of the mask, applying the electrodes and applying the power.  

IT's ALIVE!, IT's ALIVE!!!

Every 10 minutes we checked the progress and after 40 minutes, out of the etching bath it came.  We rinsed and then found that some of the masking had not taken and had come off during the every 10 minute check when we brushed off the surface with a soft brush.   But we moved on to remove the electrode and tape that masked the back. After cleaning it was then into the garage to do a preliminary polish; trim with shear and sanding sticks; and back to the garage to finish the polishing with the soon to be cuff having many baths in the ultrasonic cleaner in-between the various compounds.  After all the etching, trimming, and polishing Lisa applied some solvent dye to color the bars and notes and then we shaped it for her wrist.   

THEN we popped a bottle of champagne, celebrated and went out for dinner.    Here are LOTS of pictures but not all of them as we took over 143!

I finished the FOURTH Sea Urchin this morning. This is the last one in the BIG commission I was given back in May when I sold my first one and basically this is the majority of my work since then. Yes I squeezed in a cuff or two and a few workshops - given and taken but this has consumed my free time around all of them.  I promised I would get them ALL delivered before Thanksgiving as they are to be holiday presents; so thankfully I have met that promise and then some. 

Follow this link to see the other posts concerning the Sea Urchin series.

This sea urchin is an EXTRA LARGE where as the first and third were small and the second was medium/large.  I started with a 7" diameter 18g copper disk which was raised. I had to bring in the walls a bit or else it would not fit IN the pitch bowl. YES, IN IT. I removed most of the pitch from the bowl so I could literally get the shell into the bowl and then back fill around it. This allowed me to do all the repousse without having to remove and reposition it as I worked my way round the inside.  I finished the chasing last weekend and then I had to raise the edge more to roll it under. I then applied a Liberty Green patina to give it that "long under the sea" look. 

​Enjoy the process pictures. 

Today I finished Sea Urchin III which is the second small one I have done and the third overall. I have one more to make and that one will be a large one like the Sea Urchin II 

What I enjoyed while making this one was the confidence I had - the raising of the bowl, the repousse, and the chasing and raising the edge under. It still took careful planning and time but it just was easier to accomplish.   I am going to deliver it Wednesday and next weekend I will start the fourth one. 

Here, as usual are some process pictures. 

Back in December I was contacted by a Doug who had seen my link in the A Hundred for One project. Doug had, after finding my submission and a link to this website, wandered around here and saw many things that he liked.   After a few emails we met for coffee and a bit of a trunk show.  Doug then bought two of my items - The Pueblo Pot and the Braided Bracelet

And at the beginning of January, Doug contacted me again. This time he wanted to commission a memento box for his fiancee as a Valentine Day present, and could it be based upon a book that represents their finding each other and falling in love. The book is Paul Meets Bernadette and Doug has even been in contact with the author and bought some of the art work from her.

So, Doug sent me some pictures from the book. I sent back a picture of some tins I had that could be used as well as some ideas of how to put Paul and Bernadette on the tin. Once I got the go a head, I spent 3 weekends (in between two other trips I had scheduled but could not cancel) making the tin which include not only the chasing & repousse but coloring it and then lining it with green velvet. I delivered the tin last Wednesday and I thought Doug might actually cry.  To say he was pleased would be an understatement.  Here is what he sent me on Thursday: 
"L,
Well, I want to thank you again for this extraordinary work. It does exceed my expectations and brings a tremendous heart to the object. Another way of sharing this feeling with you is that I will be very proud to give it to Judy and feel that it is a proper exaltation of our Love. That says a lot..."

This morning I took the process photos I took during the making of the tin and made a small movie (see below). I sent the movie to Doug and he wrote back: 
".Judy was out shopping when I watched this.
I had no idea....broke down. Wow Wow Wow.
I'm sending this to Rosy Lamb as soon as I give the gift to J.
And to Peter, of course.
Heartfelt thanks!
d.
watched it again full screen and cried again.
Now, to show her the film, watch her "get it" and give her the box, or vice versa?
Hmmmmmm?"

My suggestion was to place the present (wrapped of course) on the table in front of her. And say that before she opens it, she has to watch another present… the movie. Then I would show it on the biggest computer (or TV screen) you can get it on. THEN have her open the present. You will get major points for it! Oh and have tissues ready too.

So, my readers, by the time you read this post Judy will have been given her present for Valentines Day.