Finding Center: Find the Center of a Metal Disc

In a couple of my previous posts I shared a tutorial on making a necklace using washers and another tutorial about using washers to create a pair of earrings.  The process of cutting washers from metal sheet leaves a metalworker with a pile of smaller discs. These smaller discs are a happy by-product of the process. 

These small discs can make nice bead caps; they can be domed or left flat. To be used as bead caps it's important to have a hole punched in the center of the disc. If the hole is off center the bead cap will sit crooked on the bead. I've been experimenting with various methods to find an accurate center on the discs.

You can find various methods for finding center of a circle with a google search. The one I preferred involved using a ruler to draw a line across the disc, turn the disc 90 degrees and draw another straight line. The point at which the two lines intersect is center. Sounds simple right? Not so much. If the first line doesn't bisect the disc at its true center point then the intersection of the two lines won't be center. 

Then I found this tool. Yes...eyebrows raised and a slow grin came across my face.

The EuroTool Center Locator.

Slide a round disc into the V slotted side of the tool.

Flip the center locator over, holding the disc in place and draw a straight line. 

Turn the disc 90 degrees and draw a line perpendicular to the first line.

Simple!

The tool has two sides. On side has a V shape to find the center of  a circle. The other side has a 90 degree angle to find the center of a square. The piece I have in the photo above is a rectangle. I just wanted to give you a visual of the other side of the tool.

All the discs are marked and ready to be punched. 

You need to pay attention to detail when marking the discs. The lines need to be drawn perpendicular to each other to ensure finding center. You also need to take care to line the punch up carefully. 

I'm loving this little tool. This has been the most effective way I've found to find the center of discs. The tool is very afforable, less than $9.00. I purchased my nifty Center Locator from Beaducation.

The discs after punching.

A collection of discs after cleaning up and adding some finishing touches. I embossed the discs, left some flat and domed others.

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog

Inside the Studio with Ema Kilroy of Ema K Designs

Welcome to Inside the Studio!

Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

Congratulations Colleen! You have won three beautiful, beaded beads from Rebecca at The Curious Bead Shop. Please send Rebecca an email with your information.

________________________________

Hi Friends.

Recently I needed to summarize my creative process for some pieces I was creating for a special project. You'll have to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about where these pieces are heading and why I documented the process. I love to know how an artist works and I thought you might be interested too. So I thought I'd share my creative process with you in today's Inside the Studio post.

I begin with metal scraps. Thus far all of the copper I use has been salvaged and upcycled from the construction industry. Here's a look at the raw metal before being turned into pieces worthy of jewelry designs.

The copper is annealed (heated with a flame until it is glowing red) to soften the metal, pickled and then cleaned.

Patterns are added. The metal is cut using metal shears or disc cutters.

I then use a grinding stone to round off any sharp, pointy edges.

Now comes the fun part.....

I have collected and dried an assortment of flowers. I'm so excited that Spring is here as I continue to add to this collection everyday. I then apply the dried flowers to the component. Individually placing the flowers sometimes placing one little stem or flower to harmonzie with the shape of the component. 

In the step above I created a sandwich of paper, copper, flowers and paper. The sandwich is run through the rolling mill, impressing the dried flower into the metal, thus creating an image on the copper.

After the images have been impressed into the metal, pieces are tumbled to remove any construction grime and work harden the softened metal.

Fresh out of the tumbler. It makes all the difference. The pieces are so nice and shiney. Finally starting to look like something to be used in a piece of jewelry.

Liver of sulfer patina is applied. 

The pieces are hand sanded and dipped into liver of sulfer multiple times until I'm satisfied with the end result.

Renaissance wax is applied to finish each piece.

All these pieces have been sent to Chris Thommen at The Art of the Bead and will be for sale at Bead & Button June 6 -8, 2014. You can read the back story over at my blog over at Ema K designs. So if you're going to be in Milwaukee, WI and attending the Bead & Button show stop by booth #1200 to pick up your favorite.

A personal note:  Here in the US Memorial Day Weekend begins tonight, a time to celebrate and remember those who have served our country and lost their lives doing so. A special time to honor those who have fallen. Personally, I honor those who have served in any capacity. I would be amiss if I didn't give a shout out to all our military branches for the incredible job their doing! One my best girlfriends has been in the US Army for 20 years! I'm so proud of my friend Marilyn! 

I'm going to giveaway a copper pendant impressed with baby breathe, 1.25 inches round (impressed image may vary from picture). Answer the question below in your comment for your chance to win. 

Next week I'm planning to write a post about tools. Since I work in two different mediums I could go a  couple of different ways with this. I'd like to hear from you. What would you be most interested in? Do you want to see an overview of metal working tools or lampworking tools? As always, thanks for visiting ABS today!

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog

I Heart Tools: Vintaj Big Kick

In September I was fortunate enough to attend a two day Vintaj workshop in Galena, Illinois at the Vintaj Earth Studio.  It was an incredibly inspiring weekend with more tips and tricks packed into two days than one would think possible.  One of my favorite projects was working with the new Vintaj Big Kick Machine.  We embossed textures and images unto Vintaj blanks to create fun pendants and components.

Here are some class projects of the altered blanks embossed and riveted with charms and pendants.  I love the look of layering the pendants.  It's fun way to customize your metal without hammering away or pulling out the chemicals.  The process is so simple, you can whip out a ton of pendants in a short session.

Add the embossed blanks with your favorite art beads for quick and easy holiday pendants.  In fact, that is what I'm doing this weekend to prepare for upcoming holiday shows.  I'm pairing up the tree pendants with my egg, bird and branch beads.

Step by step directions and video links can be found here.

This is the Big Kick - it's sort of like a printing press.  You place your metal blank into the folder, layer it between the two sheets of plastic and run it through.  Yep - that's it!  After your pendant is done, you can add some depth by buffing it.  The black Arte Metal blanks buff up with silver highlights - loved them!

This is my favorite folder - me and that tree became fast friends.

You can find the Vintaj Big Kick & folders at Hobby Lobby or online at Beadaholique or Bello Modo.

I see that Vintaj is hosting a one day workshop covering the embossing and melt art techniques in November.  Click here for more details.

My Bookshelf - Metal & Wire Book Reviews

Here are three book reviews using metal to create jewelry.  While they are in serious need of some art beads sprinkled in the pages - they do offer great techniques and are all worth a look if you haven't picked them up already. 

Metal Style: 20 Jewelry Designs with Cold Join Techniques - I think I would get this book for the cover project alone.  What I love about the project is after looking over the directions I realized - hey I could actually make this.  I know how to do each of these techniques!  And what is covered in the book?  20 awesome cold connection projects (meaning no flames or soldering) from some of today's top metal and wire instructors.  The project range from organic and earthy to modern to completely whimsical with found objects.  If you haven't jumped into metal work this book covers lot of the basics with great photos and a thorough technique section.

Steel Wire Jewelry by Brenda Schweder - This books offers modern designs using this inexpensive hardware wire.  The designs look like they belong in a high end gallery, yet the author provides techniques that a beginner can grapple. The book starts out with a handy guide to using steel wire and great step-by-step directions and photos showing the basic building blocks used throughout the book.

My favorite projects are the chains, I would throw in some art beads in the mix for some artsy inspired pieces.  I picked up a few spools of steel wire this summer after reading the book and have enjoyed adding the blackened silver wire work to my designs.  Visit Brenda's Etsy shop for wire and tools.

Chains Chains Chains by Jaonna Gollbery and Nathalie Mornu - This a fun and inspiring book covering 25 chains from various artists with designs ranging from wire work to metalsmithing.  Some of the projects require a soldering set up, but there are enough designs in here featuring wire work and cold connection projects that I think someone who plays with mostly beads would find this a nice addition to their jewelry bookshelf.  The projects themselves are all metal, but it is easy to imagine a glass or clay bead as the focal for many of the chains used in the book and what a great way to showcase some of your favorite beads.  What I love about this book is the way it breaks down the designs and really expands how I think about jewelry construction.  Even complex looking projects are made accessible. 


But if you can only get one metalworking book, my all time favorite is Metalworking 101 for Beaders by Candie Cooper. She mixes in beads with basic metal techniques in creative designs.  If it's not already on you bookshelf - I suggest getting this one first!

Disclosure: the books were provided by the publishers for review.  Affiliate links to the books are provided.

Studio Saturdays with Missficklemedia

Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This weeks winner is Adee. Congratulations! 

You have won a this bracelet from the studio of Lorelei. 

Send Lorelei an e-mail with your address and she will get it right out to you.
This week we visit Shannon LeVart of missficklemedia.com in her studio(s)!

I would love to show you a picture of a studio that sparks radiant light of boundless creativity.
 But I do not have that. I have "places". Spots, if you will. Tucked here and there in my little house. And most of them you have to climb mountains of laundry to get to. But I am grateful I have them. These little niches in my house have allowed me to stay sane as a mother, feel cared for as a wife and have emboldened me as a woman.
 I hide from the kids in the bedroom and roll clay.

 I shut myself away in the utility room and whack away at metal on the work bench my husband put together for me.

 I stand at the side kitchen counter and put this bead with that bead and this chain with that finding and I send these projects out to the acceptance of the handmade jewelry community.

 It's scattered. And distracting. I go into the utility room to start a load of laundry but I see patina developed on a piece of copper and the next thing I know I am heading outside to seal it, the laundry still sitting in the basket.  But it works. 
 Somehow, I have slowly built a job for myself using my passion for jewelry making. I refuse to let my circumstances get in the way of creating. No money, no space; it doesn't matter, I am doing what I am meant to do.

 Do you have a special place in your house that you create from? Your coffee table? Your nightstand? Your kitchen table? Please tell me I am not the only one who doesn't have an actual studio. Leave a comment letting me know where you create from and we will draw a name next Saturday for this awesome prize...

 Just kidding. You don't have to do my laundry unless you want to.
This is the piece you could win by leaving a comment; a vintage brass bezel showcasing a blue bird and antiqued ice resin, drilled and set with a brass eyelet for easy wire-wrapping.

Have a wonderful weekend from where ever you're at!
Much Love and Respect,
Shannon
missficklemedia.com