Tag: metalsmitten

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Southern California’s Desert Open Studios, March 2023

Desert Open Studios is a wonderful opportunity for art lovers and supporters to visit various art centers in Southern California’s Coachella Valley and beyond, and engage with artists to view and discuss their work. Open Studios are the last two weekends in March.

The Coachella Valley Art Center in Indio, California and many of its artists studios will be open to the public Saturdays from 10am-4pm and Sundays from 12-4pm. Please check this link for more information: http://www.coachellavalleyartcenter.org

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Working With Bronze

Bronze was mankind’s first metal alloy, created approximately 3,500 B.C. Tin was combined with copper to create items that were both harder and stronger than those made from only copper such as tools, armor, weapons and building materials.

Bronze is well known as the metal of choice of sculptors, however it also has a long history of other uses in coins, tools, strings in musical instruments, and even as mirrors before glass was used. But my favorite use for bronze, of course, is in handmade pendants, earrings and bracelets for men and women.

There are many bronze alloys, but the majority of today’s true bronzes are copper and 5-15% tin. Bronze alloys are much harder than pure copper and have twice the tensile strength. This makes bronze more difficult to work with than pure copper; however, the results are worth the additional effort. Thanks to its copper content, bronze can be oxidized to produce a variety of wonderful patinas like on this pendant.

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Why MetalSmitten Handmade?

Over a decade ago I attended a county fair north of Los Angeles where I saw my first metal-clay artist. I was instantly intrigued by artist’s beautiful work, and soon contemplated the possibility of creating my own pieces. Having no prior metal or clay working experience I purchased my first supply of silver clay and assorted required tools and equipment, the costliest of which was a Paragon kiln (https://paragonweb.com) for firing the clay pieces that I would create. Over the next several years I created several hundred one-of-a-kind pieces from silver-clay – mostly fine-silver jewelry for men and women.

The high cost of silver clay eventually encouraged me to leave metal clay behind to try my hands at working directly with sterling, copper and bronze metals. I was quickly ‘metal smitten’ and have focused my smithing efforts on these metals for the past several years. Positive feedback from happy customers and the pure enjoyment of creating new pieces keeps me forging ahead with MetalSmitten handmade jewelry and accessories for men and women.

I still maintain a shop on a popular handmade venue where I have sold hundreds of unique pieces to men and women worldwide. However, the bulk of my new creations, from my new studio workspace in Indio, California will be hosted exclusively here on my new site https://MetalSmitten.com.

Please feel free to contact me with your comments, observations and constructive criticisms.