tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-286903432024-03-14T08:32:02.744-05:00my shiny & sparkly gem of a lifeWelcome to the Green Spot Studio blog. Green Spot is a bespoke jewelry company specializing in engagement & wedding jewelry, working/modifying estate pieces, and creating something especially for you!
Please visit this shiny little spot often and come along for the ride!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.comBlogger490125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-21751681147332705022013-01-04T15:02:00.003-05:002013-01-04T15:04:03.322-05:00New Blog!While I am still holding onto the pipe dream that I will reopen my shop, Sal and I decided to start a new blog about the adventures of owning and renovating our house. So... if you want to keep up with us, add it to your reader list!<br />
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Come and give us a look! It's called <a href="http://www.houseanddog.com/" target="_blank">House & Dog</a>. <br />
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Happy New Year to you all!<br />
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<br />traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-41245410061197250632012-08-02T10:03:00.000-05:002012-08-02T10:54:19.934-05:00GS: Needing to Stay Focused...I am still in the "debating" mode on if I will start business back up. Slowly researching, quietly thinking and making notes, even a few quick sketches have made it into a note book.<br />
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Granted, I'm not completely focused on this... but Sal attempts to not only keep me focused but make me put a business plan down on paper and stick to it. So during the day he will IM or email me business articles, images, jewelry articles, etc. While he sends me great information, he sent one that hit home.<br />
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It was a Tech Crunch article titled,<br />
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<a href="http://techcrunch.com/2012/07/23/baublebar-series-a/" target="_blank">"BaubleBar Raises $4.5M From Accel And Greycroft For Affordable Designer Jewelry."</a><br />
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(Give it a read if you have a minute, it's about 10 sentences.) It's not so much that the company got so much funding that caught me off guard... it's the price of the jewelry they are offering! While it is apparent that for these prices the pieces must be mass manufactured overseas, I am still confused by how low the prices are!<br />
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$28 for a <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_683325648" target="_blank">complicated chain piece</a><a href="http://baublebar.com/index.php/fashion-shop-trends/turkish-delight.html" target="_blank">?</a> (Sorry, the link is dead... they must have sold out of it! <a href="http://baublebar.com/index.php/" target="_blank">But here's a link to their site.</a>) Even thought it is made from plated base metal, they labor of linking the chains alone is worth more than the price they are selling it for. This would probably take multiple trained employees well over an hour to link all of the pieces (and this means working in an assembly line, no counting of chain links to make sure they are spaced evenly, no soldering the links, no buffing out any dents or gouges made by the pliers, etc.) Honestly, this would probably take me a day to link it all together properly. So why is it $28? Well, first off, we have no idea where it's made. There is no "designer" name attached to it, so there is nobody to research. Under their FAQ's page there is no mention of where anything is manufactured.<br />
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Looking up this type of information it made me realize something... do you know where your jewelry is made? If you buy a shirt, it will say "MADE IN ____________" on the tag. When was the last time you bought an expensive piece of jewelry and it had a tag that said where it was made? Sure, the lobster claw clasp may have "Made in Italy" stamped on it, but most likely it is simply the one component. And the box may have a "Made in China" sticker, but that is the packaging. And I'm not talking about "hand made custom" jewelry... that should have a makers mark inside. So where was your jewelry actually made? Curious, huh?<br />
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Well, while I have you pondering that, the debating on whether or not to reopen continues for me... <br />
<br />traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-16477099956215624862012-07-15T19:32:00.001-05:002012-07-15T19:32:45.187-05:00GS: It's been nearly a year...It's been a crazy year since I last posted. Nearly a year of working on our new house, which may not sound exciting... but let me tell you, it has been insane. But even though I have so much work still to do on the house, I'm beginning to miss my time at the bench and making jewelry. <br />
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So, I'm debating. Debating on whether or not to open my shop again. But I need to learn from my mistakes... all of the negatives that made me close my shop in the first place. And with that, I'm fairly certain that I will not be taking on any custom work. Between the flux in metal prices, people searching for a "good deal" (and comparing prices for a hand made custom piece with a mass manufactured piece from overseas), and trying to compete with this low ball pricing and losing money on most jobs. And my work is really good, and my products and time are worth the money. So, unless you have an incredibly high budget, don't ask for custom work.<br />
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I'm looking into designing a small/simple/clean line. Everything is handmade (by me, in Boston), small pieces that can go from the office to the evening, made from only precious metals (no plating over brass and other base metals), and all for a reasonable price. And everything will be made in limited editions, signed and numbered. If I want to make jewelry as art, I might as well treat it like art.<br />
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So, after a year away from the bench, I'm a little out of the loop. I have spent some time researching styles and what is available on the market at the moment. And there are piles and bunches of jewelery out there. But something caught my eye this morning. Not because it is the absolute most creative design (though it is rather darling), but because the description is just hilarious. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEJ99RJO5knoihhqtXR8OgnlR4-3ivNtqdyEpaw_NJ140nEitdzMpxzoN1iiIPUonMrJR5LvwFt4wxk7TAAci7aUwfsoWBxh1Iz7ZjWPZFd7hmuytn3pohRVZ2BQ2Qb6KS0H8/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-07-15+at+8.06.37+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaEJ99RJO5knoihhqtXR8OgnlR4-3ivNtqdyEpaw_NJ140nEitdzMpxzoN1iiIPUonMrJR5LvwFt4wxk7TAAci7aUwfsoWBxh1Iz7ZjWPZFd7hmuytn3pohRVZ2BQ2Qb6KS0H8/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-07-15+at+8.06.37+PM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you read the text, it explains that "true friends are like anchors... they give us something to hold onto, and help us stay afloat." Ummm, I may be wrong, but anchors do not float. They sink. So, if follow this train of thought, if a friend is like an anchor they drag you down. Really, they should have made a life preserver charm. <br />
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Let's see if I can come up with something a little better than this. traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-58165484498098652112011-10-05T21:17:00.003-05:002011-10-05T21:54:27.207-05:00GS: Coming to the EndWe're down to the end of the jobs... which means the end of the jewelry photos. But don't be sad, we still have a few more photos left!<br /><br />This is a wonderful set of knife edge bands. But, as you can tell, the woman's band isn't actually a knife edge. But it has tapered outer walls, mimicking the knife edge of the men's band, but just a little more "blingy" in the middle.<br /><br />Both bands are platinum. The woman's band has 3mm VS F diamonds equaling about 2.1 tcw.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfnrQSNfOejmscZBE9RB79D_Cn3GYyQyQRoJx9uNP5l0kFdf5H0S8xwVOwjHsQn5HSid2ofF_q9XRvpiAxAVqCiC3JbKryYLEl3CC8zE0C_uCP-b86A_MsUtLtrSd13-dG3ZH/s1600/knife+edge_eternity+band.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijfnrQSNfOejmscZBE9RB79D_Cn3GYyQyQRoJx9uNP5l0kFdf5H0S8xwVOwjHsQn5HSid2ofF_q9XRvpiAxAVqCiC3JbKryYLEl3CC8zE0C_uCP-b86A_MsUtLtrSd13-dG3ZH/s400/knife+edge_eternity+band.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660205710274413202" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx-lXIc5ZsHc5FL1XRaNJ5aAyQYvvR29njh9Hlpnm7zGO8LoTerduZuKjYu6xGSYbgn5e2s-7kH-DI1pM0s_LKB40TpBBR0VObyicUciceAP6oDHHBqTzTI7rc0OMQn40gHhV/s1600/knife+edge_eternity2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZx-lXIc5ZsHc5FL1XRaNJ5aAyQYvvR29njh9Hlpnm7zGO8LoTerduZuKjYu6xGSYbgn5e2s-7kH-DI1pM0s_LKB40TpBBR0VObyicUciceAP6oDHHBqTzTI7rc0OMQn40gHhV/s400/knife+edge_eternity2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660205714060308194" border="0" /></a><br />If you can't tell, I have a new camera. And, obviously, I don't have the settings down yet. But I think you get the idea!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-50086848136094358552011-10-03T12:26:00.002-05:002011-10-03T12:49:20.120-05:00GS: The Website is DownIf anybody has attempted to go to the <a href="http://www.greenspotstudio.com/">Green Spot Studio</a> website, you may notice that it's different. Apparently, it was hacked. It looked fine if you typed the web address in directly, but if you Googled "Green Spot Studio" there was a notice that the site was compromised. We actually wouldn't have noticed it if it weren't for a few emails from clients. What happened was somebody came in and put a bunch of image files into the site. Because the images were imbedded all over the site, we actually had to delete the entire thing (fingers crossed that I still have all of the images saved somewhere!) <br /><br />We had been intending to build a new site, but put it on the back burner when I decided to close the business. But since I am hoping and planning on opening up my doors once again, down the road, I do want to keep a portfolio online. So, over the next few months, we will rebuild. <br /><br />And I know that everybody likes looking at the pretty pictures... so don't worry! They will be back online again soon! <br /><br />On a personal note, there is so much big stuff going on that I will share soon! There will be all kinds of new fun stuff coming up to blog about!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-1652075781217202522011-09-04T10:15:00.004-05:002011-09-04T10:45:26.937-05:00GS: Fingerprints, Part 2When the palladium rings were returned to me, I was pleased to find that the finger prints survived the casting process. But I knew I had to handle the rings with the utmost care during the finishing/polishing process so not to disturb the fingerprints. Normally, I would use various types of files, emery and rubber wheels inside the rings to take off the top surface after casting (to remove any surface pitting, texture, etc) to create a smooth surface for polishing. But in this case, I had to clean lightly around the fingerprints, not touching them at all, and then I tumbled the rings for an extended period of time.
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<br />By tumbling the rings, it would not only remove any rough/sharp areas in the fingerprints while still retaining the pattern, but prepare the rest of the metal for final polishing.
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<br />And these are the final pieces.
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwvTjRbmbhuApZgedCPwFaRdkAS20_XWq_4k8aKLcyszLI_wN3PtGISMxhPgn7ehBylWQmhlxZd6MPLocDfyRFeTmICfJjnUbo3kzLRyq1HD3n9jc2mSMJSsDBYAXe-TS3jjl/s1600/fingerprint1_LARGE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwvTjRbmbhuApZgedCPwFaRdkAS20_XWq_4k8aKLcyszLI_wN3PtGISMxhPgn7ehBylWQmhlxZd6MPLocDfyRFeTmICfJjnUbo3kzLRyq1HD3n9jc2mSMJSsDBYAXe-TS3jjl/s400/fingerprint1_LARGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648528999548005474" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv7iQPJFaUvOzpmLsfIdlK0bmcF-yQffAus4L8mNA3zXv1KIll0_wVz4fiXhqqWJCv7d0btrlF6SKJjbu6qAdDvDKXqz2DVVo4eeUUr8wOg9sTfqhaMWjP-VYdbnDVf9JYoj8/s1600/fingerprint2_LARGE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvv7iQPJFaUvOzpmLsfIdlK0bmcF-yQffAus4L8mNA3zXv1KIll0_wVz4fiXhqqWJCv7d0btrlF6SKJjbu6qAdDvDKXqz2DVVo4eeUUr8wOg9sTfqhaMWjP-VYdbnDVf9JYoj8/s400/fingerprint2_LARGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648529003021213890" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn2589n3YyQhHOJyizvaEPCdMSVMy8NUBXmZSUEUP3IVYZlkfF2GHX4feoFD4FqUlbK3HyO5cvDXQNUTz_7qsKz6j7IANawVBYRcTTruUHzsj6p8mDI3rIQPmjWF6PJZ398me/s1600/fingerprints3_LARGE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn2589n3YyQhHOJyizvaEPCdMSVMy8NUBXmZSUEUP3IVYZlkfF2GHX4feoFD4FqUlbK3HyO5cvDXQNUTz_7qsKz6j7IANawVBYRcTTruUHzsj6p8mDI3rIQPmjWF6PJZ398me/s400/fingerprints3_LARGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648529008155665698" border="0" /></a>
<br />When off, the finger print is clearly visible. But when worn, nobody else needs to know that they are there. The perfect little secret... more personal than most engravings.
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<br />And I was thrilled that my experiment worked!
<br />traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-85059476897576103882011-09-01T21:00:00.010-05:002011-09-02T06:48:45.428-05:00GS: Fingerprints, Part 1I have had so many inquiries about "Fingerprint" rings, which is the person's fingerprint imbedded into the ring (normally on the outside of the band.) But after I explain the process, nobody seems to want to go through with it. Until now.
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<br />There are a few different ways that jewelers make fingerprint bands. You can scan in a fingerprint and laser engrave the fingerprint, but I this process too mechanical and perfect. You can have the client sink their finger into clay and once the clay hardens, use that as a mold to melt wax into, but that can leave a rather faint imprint in the final piece. And then there is the way I decided to do it...
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<br />First, I lined the hard green (high melting temp) wax with a purple repair wax (low melting temp). Then I cut the rings in half (because they wanted to have the fingerprints on the inside of the rings.) And then I burned my fingers holding the wax over an alcohol flame to soften it up...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hxj5zkUOL2Da4vZ3QS9HTjfPgI1izR6j3gbp0XtGn-bkuD6-66qBEkpOsLpaE6EZ1S9MGdvW8TGsKIuYSolwegd1wjUKkP6JRw31IUWxhsNfZ6gmcd_wi-5GdUOieDgQDQR3/s1600/P1170705.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Hxj5zkUOL2Da4vZ3QS9HTjfPgI1izR6j3gbp0XtGn-bkuD6-66qBEkpOsLpaE6EZ1S9MGdvW8TGsKIuYSolwegd1wjUKkP6JRw31IUWxhsNfZ6gmcd_wi-5GdUOieDgQDQR3/s400/P1170705.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647578456760859362" border="0" /></a>
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<br />...for my client to SINK HIS FINGER INTO THE HOT WAX!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0O-NgFaQEB3ysrQtJYc18q5EBjScAupbh3mGnlCVdmnraQPKDD-wuzDR20N4uxPgXeIXM8doX7O9Ot83a-0hzjNrwSTXC94n89dMkxX2P3aMcgq8VsyXcOKyHtAilc4M0HDV/s1600/P1170709.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM0O-NgFaQEB3ysrQtJYc18q5EBjScAupbh3mGnlCVdmnraQPKDD-wuzDR20N4uxPgXeIXM8doX7O9Ot83a-0hzjNrwSTXC94n89dMkxX2P3aMcgq8VsyXcOKyHtAilc4M0HDV/s400/P1170709.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647578734511997794" border="0" /></a>
<br />... e Voila! Wax imprint! (That is the fingerprint of the groom to be on the inside of the band of the bride to be.)
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw7c-av-24Ee8VpKo38CWq89yLHBut9geFuHBNdWbruag4rswnnjMCqkXV3ZUkvZk5l4UFNxPmmhLyFfoAWDEDbnPjLwL0YrrZbA497eZLEL2_lv6SYJjYK_u9Lu1S720Ja6r/s1600/P1170711.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQw7c-av-24Ee8VpKo38CWq89yLHBut9geFuHBNdWbruag4rswnnjMCqkXV3ZUkvZk5l4UFNxPmmhLyFfoAWDEDbnPjLwL0YrrZbA497eZLEL2_lv6SYJjYK_u9Lu1S720Ja6r/s400/P1170711.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647578935818750834" border="0" /></a>
<br />And then I make the bride to be repeat the process...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPf3XiAyGKSwQ188XQTaEmbX4vQHdbEFM_w8MFpjl679u1oE2F8G9tVfDXWHlkEfHv7dJbzW3W6eASLjqmwyodxeSKZOQIcLez579HiqQThaHLPGHWlMQEYu2z1P95ru-PUEK/s1600/P1170718.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDPf3XiAyGKSwQ188XQTaEmbX4vQHdbEFM_w8MFpjl679u1oE2F8G9tVfDXWHlkEfHv7dJbzW3W6eASLjqmwyodxeSKZOQIcLez579HiqQThaHLPGHWlMQEYu2z1P95ru-PUEK/s400/P1170718.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647579303029999602" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1C9Uqm0HidepEARVvXGvqljz_6uppA2ynRfaWhO_9PB8pQay3TJ9KHkSAtkTZehmf3RJJ9bwhGO2At-gBL-aBI7DO4DKuBdxhoBUMI143kZN3hFi4UGQww7-MPzhFnEqN4oj/s1600/P1170724.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT1C9Uqm0HidepEARVvXGvqljz_6uppA2ynRfaWhO_9PB8pQay3TJ9KHkSAtkTZehmf3RJJ9bwhGO2At-gBL-aBI7DO4DKuBdxhoBUMI143kZN3hFi4UGQww7-MPzhFnEqN4oj/s400/P1170724.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5647579650378211410" border="0" /></a>
<br />Then I had to reconnect the bands in the wax, do some light cleaning and have them cast. We actually did practice waxes to make sure the process was going to work, so if the casting didn't come out, I had backups.
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<br />Final ring photos later!
<br />traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-25060008488530255182011-08-17T19:14:00.003-05:002011-08-17T19:49:44.449-05:00ME: Lino's Chair, Day 2 & 3Just a quick post to show you what I've been up to. And, honestly, the pictures do not explain the amount of time and work that is going into this chair!
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<br />First I started building back up the head rest...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwAVGieoHnb1LYuMmn8qrsJBOXYo0Qo2gSl9q2yRyb6Q_qSHiVa8IrqXHR0Wf3pIoFANiy_9LTcCU2bz1OkQsbilaNPkyeHoiGH1Ka8ydDjR7jIBoNWTeE9VvV2B0zUYBxiDB/s1600/photo-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOwAVGieoHnb1LYuMmn8qrsJBOXYo0Qo2gSl9q2yRyb6Q_qSHiVa8IrqXHR0Wf3pIoFANiy_9LTcCU2bz1OkQsbilaNPkyeHoiGH1Ka8ydDjR7jIBoNWTeE9VvV2B0zUYBxiDB/s400/photo-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641983138691479282" border="0" /></a>
<br />And then I covered the arms...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLpniAnEskUS_MlStIDPDi4TDmxJ1ox_mZekWXup2OiBtHYA7lezD_baL52xKnqhqlop-XYVlMTjgJOYK0-BIgyLounoM6i7Ahj_2yTWU1uUxKDXJzKuAjzO1HzqOOO8eBWf0/s1600/photo-3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLpniAnEskUS_MlStIDPDi4TDmxJ1ox_mZekWXup2OiBtHYA7lezD_baL52xKnqhqlop-XYVlMTjgJOYK0-BIgyLounoM6i7Ahj_2yTWU1uUxKDXJzKuAjzO1HzqOOO8eBWf0/s400/photo-3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641983139379512274" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdGAaf93magb5seaosiYYVb19pNAWBo_GF0YawYZCRqHFLMV105y9iFUJpEiJnIXC__wamKPxNv1x4zsVu5n9PvLShOYFYeOLqYUNxiQ1zHQkMtGAT8D0YNd25kdJV4LftAtb/s1600/photo-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUdGAaf93magb5seaosiYYVb19pNAWBo_GF0YawYZCRqHFLMV105y9iFUJpEiJnIXC__wamKPxNv1x4zsVu5n9PvLShOYFYeOLqYUNxiQ1zHQkMtGAT8D0YNd25kdJV4LftAtb/s400/photo-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641983141865986194" border="0" /></a>
<br />Then I had to work some magic to create the separation between the headrest and the back...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KSsMun4kkPDEJdEkhFyWZyVCWaJ_cJ7FVBeBOmrJ-MJTKQwiXbV7uirqvwtR5FBgyQbaEx4tNt3AVuZ4EOqo9mHKkLzSxUoosfbUxifaCni2iwf0sMT7cWsU9UpNgYq-3SK3/s1600/photo-5.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KSsMun4kkPDEJdEkhFyWZyVCWaJ_cJ7FVBeBOmrJ-MJTKQwiXbV7uirqvwtR5FBgyQbaEx4tNt3AVuZ4EOqo9mHKkLzSxUoosfbUxifaCni2iwf0sMT7cWsU9UpNgYq-3SK3/s400/photo-5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641983147618805810" border="0" /></a>
<br />And this is where I left it...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO-jiP3rkAbYwm7Io94R7UtTZNMc68uKk11cXmG420mehKdM9H5y7OkBD0-dbMGhO1V4Lj-U3JycHvDluDiJ7-hNirvpDg0q4b6N1ILlJP6fbbzRjr78KsarRAANT12NXr9H7/s1600/photo-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhO-jiP3rkAbYwm7Io94R7UtTZNMc68uKk11cXmG420mehKdM9H5y7OkBD0-dbMGhO1V4Lj-U3JycHvDluDiJ7-hNirvpDg0q4b6N1ILlJP6fbbzRjr78KsarRAANT12NXr9H7/s400/photo-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641983152684499826" border="0" /></a>
<br />And there is your sneak peek at the fabric for the chair.
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<br />Now, I'm sure you are thinking that doesn't seem like I've gotten that far... but trust me, this chair has been so much work. We actually had to do some re-designing today because the original spring cushion died on me. I didn't notice when I took it apart, but once we started to look at it we noticed that the structure had snapped in about 15 different places and there were sharp shards of metal over the entire thing. So, I need to build a deck to accept the new foam cushion. Oh well!
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<br />The funniest part is now that I'm finally onto my fabric and it's looking like I MAY finish by the end of the day on Friday, my instructor Seymour informed me that he didn't want to tell me on the first day, but I brought the most difficult chair... ever. And it would normally take him 4 days to do it, so I should be proud if I manage to do it in 5.
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<br />Keep you posted!
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<br />traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-47923094530794248282011-08-16T06:56:00.003-05:002011-08-16T07:00:48.144-05:00ME: Lino's Chair, Day 1Just a quick post of what I accomplished on day 1 of upholstery boot camp!
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UA9YKwXf_cwLkiCEJ2t6UN_f4FvzgALqONAPdZTvcqDXzUFJUJiC_GoCTvXg50xLKiHFL-86crmm9WzpTVbLrJYGp3mXI0MfvFCsGHNAV7cceTNfLO_4IJznO4oU6su-3Nnz/s1600/photo-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UA9YKwXf_cwLkiCEJ2t6UN_f4FvzgALqONAPdZTvcqDXzUFJUJiC_GoCTvXg50xLKiHFL-86crmm9WzpTVbLrJYGp3mXI0MfvFCsGHNAV7cceTNfLO_4IJznO4oU6su-3Nnz/s400/photo-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641422011564315650" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj0fosLZMLjVYOhvo3yzUmx92lCmBU2h_ntYwnT10zgFgZg0j__U5B5DUOtFHHSRifK7cmGVuo-ijtjJF77pSGVbjqlY4gGe_yYo0CCqENOm05O3VD4y3r2lnuHMxBbj4JHb6/s1600/photo-3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmj0fosLZMLjVYOhvo3yzUmx92lCmBU2h_ntYwnT10zgFgZg0j__U5B5DUOtFHHSRifK7cmGVuo-ijtjJF77pSGVbjqlY4gGe_yYo0CCqENOm05O3VD4y3r2lnuHMxBbj4JHb6/s400/photo-3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641422011561291554" border="0" /></a>
<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXZQeNaK2ZUOJOrr_jeXrSxmzw5kt0LDxUrGP3AJoBsfmBNHbJdZMP6He7VyF0SIj8EIfvs2_MPmN77450aYT4TwlV-AeUbhsqV7WVA3jnrCJd1uBK5YQae8seJQOojbsu7cT/s1600/photo-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioXZQeNaK2ZUOJOrr_jeXrSxmzw5kt0LDxUrGP3AJoBsfmBNHbJdZMP6He7VyF0SIj8EIfvs2_MPmN77450aYT4TwlV-AeUbhsqV7WVA3jnrCJd1uBK5YQae8seJQOojbsu7cT/s400/photo-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641422018951012642" border="0" /></a>
<br />I know it doesn't look like much, but it was time consuming. It should start looking more like a chair by the end of today! Off to class!
<br />traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-28605677147200922012011-08-14T20:08:00.004-05:002011-08-14T20:55:19.814-05:00ME: My Idea of a VacationMy goal was to be done with everything in the jewelry shop by today. Well, that didn't happen. I got nailed with 3+ days of migraines last week which just pushed everything back... but honestly, even without the sick days, I'm pretty sure there was no way in hell that I would have been done.
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<br />Oh well, everything will hate to take a little longer since this is a vacation week for me. I signed up for a one week intensive upholstery class at the <a href="http://www.eliotschool.org/">Eliot School</a>. Yup, only I would do manual labor for a vacation.
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<br />My project for the week, Grandpa Lino's chair.
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<br />It's looks like a recliner, but it's actually a rocker. And in mint green vinyl...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglM9v6xM3yqBKnOr-xRa2a0bZzM7cY6XAHJ1p9v9iP27ZXsyErfOaLYJNpy-VnW_tKnc5x-YYsOtiU0QTKah-s9ORWinVG0LIz_UEdZRO6zjO2RWLZGL0ytNAC4QmJ6ELmZFV/s1600/chair1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgglM9v6xM3yqBKnOr-xRa2a0bZzM7cY6XAHJ1p9v9iP27ZXsyErfOaLYJNpy-VnW_tKnc5x-YYsOtiU0QTKah-s9ORWinVG0LIz_UEdZRO6zjO2RWLZGL0ytNAC4QmJ6ELmZFV/s400/chair1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640887773535162018" border="0" /></a>
<br />A god-awful ugly chair that is so damn comfortable, I just can't bear to part with it.
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<br />I decided to get a jump start on the chair and strip it before the class started. The inside of the fabric was stamped with the date of 1963, which answers a lot of questions as to why Lino would go with mint green vinyl.
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<br />As I stripped it, I had all kinds of goodies falling out of the chair...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dFPS-F0t-0Vzlopk26HZfWEjjcinJdXQhc4-v45B2Sqe0WKnpoKpUVSvG3bD5drJWG0UGy1S5BftyCOJydgjtLShJw9gPz7T4v2IIDP9siixBpvijQ8YTgohbwvX2-En0Zfs/s1600/chair2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dFPS-F0t-0Vzlopk26HZfWEjjcinJdXQhc4-v45B2Sqe0WKnpoKpUVSvG3bD5drJWG0UGy1S5BftyCOJydgjtLShJw9gPz7T4v2IIDP9siixBpvijQ8YTgohbwvX2-En0Zfs/s400/chair2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640887779916445154" border="0" /></a>
<br />It was full of pocket change, nails & screws (being a carpenter, I'm sure Lino's pockets were filled with things like that too), pieces to what I can only imagine was from the game <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-4730-Battleship/dp/B00000DMBB">Battleship</a>, and a few other random things...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbtEoSntaz3ldG9JeO8mb7bAe6ER90L13TVe_O4IJo99jHC2HB7-AR0711ScVQpK6H3j3ryc7sKiwULmiH6-KBbIbENEo0MNAa3cxZz9DD7xafQ1egUZb63K6vkDLQXtusw5_/s1600/chair4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbtEoSntaz3ldG9JeO8mb7bAe6ER90L13TVe_O4IJo99jHC2HB7-AR0711ScVQpK6H3j3ryc7sKiwULmiH6-KBbIbENEo0MNAa3cxZz9DD7xafQ1egUZb63K6vkDLQXtusw5_/s400/chair4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640887782206596498" border="0" /></a>
<br />And after a couple hours, we have a naked chair...
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCF-aIJsrOScfhd1ZWxRCzX5M5eAJHvBgw7LEi0a7DEGjnjUQkfHNDD8HWM66puE6ES4C2FjinCE_j-BwsCJebgiad7lJDTxqeA6IvKTAtcyK6FNxFUzQC2-wDwIDPsVjm6-U/s1600/chair3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKCF-aIJsrOScfhd1ZWxRCzX5M5eAJHvBgw7LEi0a7DEGjnjUQkfHNDD8HWM66puE6ES4C2FjinCE_j-BwsCJebgiad7lJDTxqeA6IvKTAtcyK6FNxFUzQC2-wDwIDPsVjm6-U/s400/chair3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5640887785948596866" border="0" /></a>
<br />I had to do a little gluing & tightening, but I think it's stable enough to start putting it back together again. More posts to come...
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<br />traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-39908353268900145952011-08-07T14:55:00.004-05:002011-08-07T15:47:34.502-05:00GS: ReinterpertationOver the past few years, the most common inquiry for a wedding ring has been the <a href="http://www.greenspotstudio.com/custom/noguchi-inspired-mens-band">Nouguchi Inspired Men's Band</a>. But this time a client asked for a version for a woman... more delicate and blingier. This is my reinterpretation...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rnXjdtq0PDoNCspWCatKKDVzFjeYgccci7pOzc_Eaks1Jx1OL6jYGdFD5Ht-e0oH35BZz3W1Jl0_KMjYeBcblZEcCMsk_viymaCceR4AvUGAEV620NceUTk-4cuxmw1SpVSl/s1600/stanley_large.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1rnXjdtq0PDoNCspWCatKKDVzFjeYgccci7pOzc_Eaks1Jx1OL6jYGdFD5Ht-e0oH35BZz3W1Jl0_KMjYeBcblZEcCMsk_viymaCceR4AvUGAEV620NceUTk-4cuxmw1SpVSl/s400/stanley_large.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5638209702213378562" border="0" /></a>traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-5070032305895836112011-08-03T08:09:00.009-05:002011-08-03T19:45:33.369-05:00GS: It's Worth Whhhaaatttt?This morning I was up at 4AM with an itchy pup (poor Jupiter got attacked by mosquitoes on a hike the other day) and I thought I would just flip through a few of my favorite sites and see if there was anything new. As I clicked on Etsy, I spotted a giant green stone ring for $50 in the 'Handpicked Items" on the front page...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_570xN.164182213.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 570px; height: 427px;" src="http://ny-image1.etsy.com/il_570xN.164182213.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So, I clicked on the listing to see the materials/information:<br /><br />"MEASUREMENTS<br />The size of the cabochon is 0.7 inches (18 mm).<br />This ring is adjustable.<br /><br />► It´s made with great quality materials, I only buy from official suppliers of Swarovski components for my work."<br /><br />I have a few questions/concerns.<br /><br />First off, that's not a cabochon... it's an emerald/octagon cut faceted crystal.<br />Second, if this is made out of sterling silver & Swarovski crystal, how is it only $50?<br /><br />Since I couldn't sleep, and I couldn't really get work done at 4AM because I would have woken up Sal, why not research the materials and pricing.<br /><br />So, I started with the setting, and I found a similar sterling silver setting on one of my vendor's sites for $22.00, with a bulk price of $18 for a dozen or more. The one I found is probably a bit heavier, so I will guess this Etsyer got theirs for around $15 each.<br /><br />Next I moved onto the HUGE Swarovski crystal. I checked out the site of one of the largest jewelry supplier in the country. The largest emerald/octagon cut Swarovski was an 8x10 mm and was $32! Wait! What? Now even if they bought 144+, the bulk price is still $25.25 each, and this is still way too small! I can't even find 18mm Swarovski emerald crystals, so let's just toss out a ballpark price of $30 each for bulk pricing of these.<br /><br />So, that's $15 for the silver setting and $30 for the stone. And don't forget, there's packaging, so add another $1.00. So we're totaling $46. And they are charging $50. A $4 profit? Really? Oh, and don't forget that while these are made from 2 pieces to assemble, so there is some minor labor, I'm still shocked that there is only a $4 profit to be made.<br /><br />If we want to take this one step further, the average salary for a bench jeweler is about $20-40k/year (depending on if it's a mom & pop shop or a larger named jeweler), so it would take selling 5,000 of these to these to just barely make a living. Which leads me to believe this is a side business and makes them on the couch while watching tv after work.<br /><br />But this is the kind of jewelry that is forcing me close my shop. How can I compete with that pricing? This is a full time career for me, and I cannot make $4 profit on pieces (even thought there have been plenty of times I have lost money on jobs.) But this is what people are looking for... bargains.<br /><br />So, for my final thought, if she's being honest about all of her materials, it's an incredible deal, go grab one. It's just too bad that she has to under price by so much that it reflects poorly on jewelers that are fighting to make a living. And... if this person is anything like me... they will probably burn out really quickly by saying their time is only worth $4.traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-81248465312080868282011-08-02T07:58:00.003-05:002011-08-02T08:44:25.874-05:00GS: Please Don't Lose Your RingAfter all these years I had my first client lose their ring. I've gotten the few panicked calls over the years, but they always ended with finding their jewelry in places like the vac, the carpet, in the couch, in a pocket, the backseat of the car, and other random places. But Memorial Day this year I got my first lost LOST piece.<br /><br />Now, you all know that I'm closing up shop, but they managed to sneak in a remake (and matching wedding bands) before I pack it up. But anybody past this point won't be quite so lucky.<br /><br />So, do me a favor and have a place that you always put your jewelry. For example, I have a few different holders for my wedding ring...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x-g7d2zMMCbIWOcLhr-OpXqDQeSNGwGBM3ACZu_JdXMWKlfgH6M2ZP0gvaVA3u5V7zv0m2pXiYGnn8XeTQuNoObdFve7aw5b1ED8Q89KhETco1utHlYCmGAfA5OrtuF_07d0/s1600/eiffel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3x-g7d2zMMCbIWOcLhr-OpXqDQeSNGwGBM3ACZu_JdXMWKlfgH6M2ZP0gvaVA3u5V7zv0m2pXiYGnn8XeTQuNoObdFve7aw5b1ED8Q89KhETco1utHlYCmGAfA5OrtuF_07d0/s400/eiffel.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636246834494333042" border="0" /></a><br />While I am not one to have lots of tchotchkes (well, yes, clutter, just not tchotchkes) but I have an Eiffel tower that sits in my kitchen that became my ring holder while I cook or do dishes. Actually, I have two, a large and a small one... Sal uses the large one for his ring.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXLk1msjwkNKs0XWdMIJ79VkrrL96wcao4j6EdqnEiOOf-8pxzR1aXJZE6RmJ3DlHZ_88mURFvQL0kfTGiLSgMd6HDGKcEm__aqTp-dL-pasju2A1KkYKrLAntE1MrsdamAF1/s1600/elephant.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXLk1msjwkNKs0XWdMIJ79VkrrL96wcao4j6EdqnEiOOf-8pxzR1aXJZE6RmJ3DlHZ_88mURFvQL0kfTGiLSgMd6HDGKcEm__aqTp-dL-pasju2A1KkYKrLAntE1MrsdamAF1/s400/elephant.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636246838838400290" border="0" /></a><br />On my nightstand I have the classic ring holder... the elephant. I found him on Ebay for $2.00 and I love him. He holds a couple rings on his trunk and some other stuff in the dish around him... all while being adorable.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWD8JD7uLWto6sEk8dtFUyOzzQ0DBHPMHaTyj36M1EvlaX9xavKxazkTWBIezadJGrPgyx2UktJ6kb-GoMgTcZzM6clKLVuhFI5HuV_SOCYUfxFDIBuL0ytMmKGqUiJxD50Yk/s1600/greenguy.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcWD8JD7uLWto6sEk8dtFUyOzzQ0DBHPMHaTyj36M1EvlaX9xavKxazkTWBIezadJGrPgyx2UktJ6kb-GoMgTcZzM6clKLVuhFI5HuV_SOCYUfxFDIBuL0ytMmKGqUiJxD50Yk/s400/greenguy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5636246843360935474" border="0" /></a><br />In the shop I have the "green guy" that Sal bought me to hold my glasses. While I pretty much never put my glasses on him, he holds my ring perfectly on his nose. <br /><br />If I ever misplace my ring, 99% of the time find it in one of those 3 places. Another thing that I recommend to all my clients, GET A SAFE! Yup, just go buy a cheap safe over at the hardware store and screw it to the floor of your closet... similar to a hotel safe. And it's not just good for jewelry, it's also great for passports, personal & financial info, etc... <a href="http://www.lowes.com/pd_50056-254-310713-S0310_4294807808_4294937087_?productId=1090945&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_quantity_sold%7C1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Personal%2BFire%2BWall%2BSafes_4294807808_4294937087_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr%7C0%7C%7Cp_product_quantity_sold%7C1&facetInfo=">here's one</a> that's probably bigger than most of us would need and under $100 bucks! And, if you are a client of mine, I'm sure I gave you the "insurance" talk.<br /><br />So, the moral of the story is have a safe place to put it when you take it off and DON'T LOSE YOUR JEWELRY BECAUSE I WON'T BE ABLE TO RE-MAKE IT.traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-11567199819844130442011-07-27T18:46:00.004-05:002011-07-27T18:57:27.690-05:00GS: Pile o' waxes<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPa1WXLVbHRbHr7drFi49UpjV_bM6zNLFmldpK185heLKnYhCMEKc6RNer_dJkh40MKk0Qhp7cC4FNvjTnMrTarKZEYGYvQxNsVN4qWhDp3HKBv3b-1fElS-Drn2tI_jggl4g/s1600/pile+of+waxes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEPa1WXLVbHRbHr7drFi49UpjV_bM6zNLFmldpK185heLKnYhCMEKc6RNer_dJkh40MKk0Qhp7cC4FNvjTnMrTarKZEYGYvQxNsVN4qWhDp3HKBv3b-1fElS-Drn2tI_jggl4g/s400/pile+of+waxes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5634182944683841122" border="0" /></a><br />I am so close to finally being done in the shop that I can almost taste it! I have 2 last waxes to carve and a bunch of things finish & to set stones in... but I am so damn close! Which is good since gold hit $1625 and I can scrap out what I have left kicking around the shop. And soon the shop will be in boxes & I can easily say no without the guilt of thinking "Well, what will one more job hurt?" <br /><br />The only problem now is that I don't know what I'm going to be when I grow up. Never thought I would be 35, still paying student loans from my last round of college & wondering what to do next. If anybody has any thoughts, let me know!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-13243263231013424942011-07-18T12:55:00.008-05:002011-07-19T08:17:24.684-05:00ME: The FINAL chair photos!Okay! No more dilly dallying! The final chairs!<br /><br />We started with this goldenrod yellow beauty at the local Goodwill...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIy7dXlhivYPscRUaDHcnjJyl4b5JZgAZfzyHpPcObA8UnlvhkseO5SwgvAC5-clDZ6YWuLWEKPtK1f4l5Jh9FzaFpSOja1EYgzAiMUNNwupsrg5RQzN4tCdYQ7thUcDJbi5c/s1600/P1160816.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIy7dXlhivYPscRUaDHcnjJyl4b5JZgAZfzyHpPcObA8UnlvhkseO5SwgvAC5-clDZ6YWuLWEKPtK1f4l5Jh9FzaFpSOja1EYgzAiMUNNwupsrg5RQzN4tCdYQ7thUcDJbi5c/s400/P1160816.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630766004875140786" border="0" /></a><br />... stripped it down to this...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD-5pxIw3xztxqvYIx205J4Px8jItt-hZz1sg_woj_4SDKBCuDEoBBFXPpEYYRCQpHhbBztmqsENkuYo8vP_c90bTpom3HndwIwdQCt0zNw12oee_u1yqmVWeacGC_3KPNyLA/s1600/P1160833.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjD-5pxIw3xztxqvYIx205J4Px8jItt-hZz1sg_woj_4SDKBCuDEoBBFXPpEYYRCQpHhbBztmqsENkuYo8vP_c90bTpom3HndwIwdQCt0zNw12oee_u1yqmVWeacGC_3KPNyLA/s400/P1160833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630766002136671906" border="0" /></a><br />... and built it back up to THIS...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3Bm2hDCVMrkXf3acADxY5UUJQSXsdr8DC2ZES9-rjgh1sZk6fmgeIm1dzt6EcP7DHxEf5GxSYeNxsMexIdgwC8J9nJjl9F5KvIeyeBZvzOT56ibG4tqIzbEGPQ84L_RsKNkJ/s1600/final_chair1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ3Bm2hDCVMrkXf3acADxY5UUJQSXsdr8DC2ZES9-rjgh1sZk6fmgeIm1dzt6EcP7DHxEf5GxSYeNxsMexIdgwC8J9nJjl9F5KvIeyeBZvzOT56ibG4tqIzbEGPQ84L_RsKNkJ/s400/final_chair1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630753294581311938" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCmN5pAJIvPKT8NDqV9r_bqj86FjoyDjIHyWM7huoAPalpFPOEcQUxppnHTO2ALE4sYl-batcRj7QcYU99UFhQiI_q1Y6UtLUSgF2NRu711iprXdbi2Ci8eBWbGyorljrci8t/s1600/final_chair2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCmN5pAJIvPKT8NDqV9r_bqj86FjoyDjIHyWM7huoAPalpFPOEcQUxppnHTO2ALE4sYl-batcRj7QcYU99UFhQiI_q1Y6UtLUSgF2NRu711iprXdbi2Ci8eBWbGyorljrci8t/s400/final_chair2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630753299250177858" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We took a 1950's nightmare (with incredibly itchy and possibly highly flammable fabric covered w/ stains, springs popping out, etc) and ended with a fully restored French Country style complimentary pair of slipper chairs. If you want to see the entire process again, take a look at these blog posts...<br /><br />1. <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2011/01/me-changing-things-up.html">Changing Things Up</a><br />2. <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2011/04/me-breaking-it-down.html">Breaking it DOWN</a><br />3. <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2011/04/me-one-of-these-things-is-not-like.html">One of These Things is Not Like the Other</a><br />4. <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2011/04/me-eight-way-tie.html">The Eight Way Tie</a><br />5. <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2011/05/me-finally-starting-to-look-like-chair.html">Finally Starting to Look Like a Chair</a><br />6. <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2011/07/me-building-it-back-up.html">Building it Back Up</a><br /><br />The reason I decided to make them complimentary was because (if you remember from this <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2011/04/me-one-of-these-things-is-not-like.html">post</a>) once I stripped them I realized that the didn't quite match. I decided to go with my gut and make them similar but with slight differences because I knew I could never force them to be identical, no matter how hard I tried. And while others may not see the differences, I would and it would drive me out of my mind. Plus it gave me an opportunity to be slightly more creative and play around with the design a bit. I have caught a bit of flak from somebody who is in the decorative business and thought my choice was poor because you could have put them on 2 different sides of a room and never seen the difference. But the choice was mine, so I decided to go the more creative and playful route.<br /><br />So... were they worth the wait? You tell me!<br /><br />Now, the difficult part, I think it's time they find a home that's not mine. Just know, I did not set out to restore these chair with the intention of selling them. But one of the first things you learn in art school is to disconnect from your work so you are able to sell it. And from years of making custom jewelry, apparently I got really good at enjoying the point when I hand something off to its new owners. And while I loved the process of restoring and upholstering these chairs, I feel like they will make somebody out there really happy. And when my work brings somebody joy, well, it makes all the time and effort worth it.<br /><br />How am I going to sell them? Hmmm, not sure. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/greenspotstudio">Etsy</a>? Maybe. <a href="http://www.sowaopenmarket.com/">SoWa</a> market? Maybe if a friend will let me put them in their booth for a day. But for now, let's see if anybody here would want a pair of French Country Slipper Back Chairs. If you want any information, drop me a note at the <a href="http://www.greenspotstudio.com/about/contact-us">Green Spot Studio Contact page</a>. I would prefer not to break up the set, but if somebody really only wants one, I am willing to talk.<br /><br />Now, I am taking another upholstery class and this time I will most definitely be keeping the chair. The reason, because it was my <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2007/09/linos-wallet.html">Grandpa Bonfiglioli's</a> chair. But that is a post for a later date.traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-15946949359994714542011-07-17T20:17:00.004-05:002011-07-18T14:49:38.588-05:00ME: Building it Back UpFor those who have been wondering (and those who have been asking) the chair has been done for a while. Actually, both the chairs are finished. I just needed to take the time and set the scene to get some nice photos of it. And if you have ever seen my apartment, you know (1) I have very few empty walls, (2) very few walls that are straight [since we're basically in an attic] (3) horrible lighting (4) and more clutter than you can imagine [that's what happens when you have 2 people living in a very small space that has more hobbies than you can count.] And I finally did that this past weekend. But those are not the photos I'm going to share today... I want to show the final stages of building it back up! And I don't want to drag this out anymore... so we'll just plow right through this!<br /><br />So, if you remember, we had a chair covered in muslin. Now it's time to show how we added the final fabric. We started with the seat...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduSrXmXS-U0e8DBEczwHY3cZSZuXYPiE5rdf-wwKEN9fgEwrc3peTNDgbHIp_E5nSN_NyPEQWLdBDcPoxzial6ASkFTLtmBEw_vuEbzUugBEmrIzXZ5N4aqm8ZILfMrxvjg7E/s1600/photo-21.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduSrXmXS-U0e8DBEczwHY3cZSZuXYPiE5rdf-wwKEN9fgEwrc3peTNDgbHIp_E5nSN_NyPEQWLdBDcPoxzial6ASkFTLtmBEw_vuEbzUugBEmrIzXZ5N4aqm8ZILfMrxvjg7E/s400/photo-21.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496124937339298" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIUqUWjEp8ngcBApb3H-mBzSY8Jl4pbMIqkkoYBPipaTdFaesl1USpQ-wHfA692cDeM7mrYQN8QG966SaT-zCrjqnFUOXtM7W_ppG5pUZdIGAd3xurORHKqPWSB4EBIwuLqvz/s1600/photo-9.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOIUqUWjEp8ngcBApb3H-mBzSY8Jl4pbMIqkkoYBPipaTdFaesl1USpQ-wHfA692cDeM7mrYQN8QG966SaT-zCrjqnFUOXtM7W_ppG5pUZdIGAd3xurORHKqPWSB4EBIwuLqvz/s400/photo-9.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496129381935250" border="0" /></a><br />And with some sewing, tucking, tacking and stapling we have a covered seat (I also added a little kick pleat skirt, but that came later)...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbORv-iZ37wpCdsLo5IRD-yy43DHk9ee3uz0qsr_gib44BiRyk4BHwgqWtjjiNW9Pa54SAAwvNFsmqcy6EK9GL_6hZbxJRd0yDoIlMCuEUSAlHqbYZzyQ7-dpO7kHJPNYS9my/s1600/photo-10.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZbORv-iZ37wpCdsLo5IRD-yy43DHk9ee3uz0qsr_gib44BiRyk4BHwgqWtjjiNW9Pa54SAAwvNFsmqcy6EK9GL_6hZbxJRd0yDoIlMCuEUSAlHqbYZzyQ7-dpO7kHJPNYS9my/s400/photo-10.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496136852189858" border="0" /></a><br />And then we moved onto the chair back...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFhiEY9-xogioZ52JlWtM07vSRBEuryVE0YSovFIkpPHqiiuOMOZXz8fRW-2Ac-65yxB60hcGcfRUVxvS6UYLXRQsf6MgpiVxOJIybUdM-WpsbX31Yx_6NS6ejK9qFKFhMGjV/s1600/photo-11.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdFhiEY9-xogioZ52JlWtM07vSRBEuryVE0YSovFIkpPHqiiuOMOZXz8fRW-2Ac-65yxB60hcGcfRUVxvS6UYLXRQsf6MgpiVxOJIybUdM-WpsbX31Yx_6NS6ejK9qFKFhMGjV/s400/photo-11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496140672816834" border="0" /></a><br />And added some lovely "sunflower" details to enhance the slight curve of the slipper back...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXS97RNiOnie6zsoeRukP6Bhm18xvyrXMHgXxoxXZLl73sBMUTvocPQtBzqJM4-xwRqHdv5EvcUVP3NUcAQSd7KL2XVoq4tuKaHRNZ3FIuZtP_mXx806aqZyKkyxbngvtsh9A/s1600/photo-12.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyXS97RNiOnie6zsoeRukP6Bhm18xvyrXMHgXxoxXZLl73sBMUTvocPQtBzqJM4-xwRqHdv5EvcUVP3NUcAQSd7KL2XVoq4tuKaHRNZ3FIuZtP_mXx806aqZyKkyxbngvtsh9A/s400/photo-12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496148239118434" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd2wxJwAQKlWjxYqC3r4JyQ-I02m5nuMRSmhR3B3wR8K8adSmgKygACDSog7yud3zUcB2ughInJtZCg31RKStE1q3-RnKiBKhxVvcK4q6cvJ4F7cFEgLt1SXIhnOLveKJ6DeS/s1600/photo-13.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisd2wxJwAQKlWjxYqC3r4JyQ-I02m5nuMRSmhR3B3wR8K8adSmgKygACDSog7yud3zUcB2ughInJtZCg31RKStE1q3-RnKiBKhxVvcK4q6cvJ4F7cFEgLt1SXIhnOLveKJ6DeS/s400/photo-13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496496746323778" border="0" /></a><br />Then I cut the back panel and used multiple methods to attach it including staples, hand stitching and ply-grip...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9glJoFBXWCbeYELkaWsYln92u9rQRBU0UN91062HBmf5hWhyphenhyphenx1Iv1UzJAyog-ugQJBkJSuq6u2-hYAoH84nOM3QfownXqWMYx64do6dOWFovAgkOgmtNHKgXXi2aOE0D1Ie0U/s1600/photo-14.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9glJoFBXWCbeYELkaWsYln92u9rQRBU0UN91062HBmf5hWhyphenhyphenx1Iv1UzJAyog-ugQJBkJSuq6u2-hYAoH84nOM3QfownXqWMYx64do6dOWFovAgkOgmtNHKgXXi2aOE0D1Ie0U/s400/photo-14.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496502369157666" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfUksui1BzzKWgsAocPAioxVIgCmlCDCRcXvpvCUiRSxyOxhP7whlAmBFx72m_PYXnaiyaPlGmKkfXLJ8NUR9ASkYwee3P_noU32Izxw400BHGNhCNesueU604jjHnko7YyIf/s1600/photo-15.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYfUksui1BzzKWgsAocPAioxVIgCmlCDCRcXvpvCUiRSxyOxhP7whlAmBFx72m_PYXnaiyaPlGmKkfXLJ8NUR9ASkYwee3P_noU32Izxw400BHGNhCNesueU604jjHnko7YyIf/s400/photo-15.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496506066290738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtm4Ateifm08fo7h44-uqjuuf3VcOMhngAGSwBeSQ4llZ6x6tGtVM5Ur5RGgiBlRYueXXQHDATm_TF_xPoZlnFLxO9g86iIUhfxQwvKmUB8iatrCcNyuCyvVn6YcBgnQj8NYd/s1600/photo-16.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAtm4Ateifm08fo7h44-uqjuuf3VcOMhngAGSwBeSQ4llZ6x6tGtVM5Ur5RGgiBlRYueXXQHDATm_TF_xPoZlnFLxO9g86iIUhfxQwvKmUB8iatrCcNyuCyvVn6YcBgnQj8NYd/s400/photo-16.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496507076229874" border="0" /></a><br />And finally, the the cambric (dust cover) on the bottom of the chair...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEbTZXRah6V5NLi6aqX34wTFn3wUUCBS6pR7lj8WSxXsQaj_b7OStHpxhenXe0GnXlyoMAbBouXzOoutHnCsoFprzgpdxT3hLYadVEE7ZafeQfFpz1Sn6R_vBMFHQyfLfc9Zx/s1600/photo-17.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxEbTZXRah6V5NLi6aqX34wTFn3wUUCBS6pR7lj8WSxXsQaj_b7OStHpxhenXe0GnXlyoMAbBouXzOoutHnCsoFprzgpdxT3hLYadVEE7ZafeQfFpz1Sn6R_vBMFHQyfLfc9Zx/s400/photo-17.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630496511361792466" border="0" /></a><br />And I know at this point you are dying to see the final product. Well, tough... you'll have to wait till tomorrow. OH... THE ANTICIPATION!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-64736557595820437482011-07-14T15:15:00.003-05:002011-07-14T15:43:07.213-05:00GS: Ring of FireI feel like such a slacker for not posting for a whole month... but I have actually been getting a good amount of work done. A good amount of the pieces are repeats, but there were a few new designs.<br /><br />I had some clients come to me and told me how a friend described their relationship as a "Ring of Fire" and wanted to have that reflect in their wedding bands. We went through multiple versions from very bold and literal but ended up with something much more subtle.<br /><br />The design I came up with had the literal flames but hidden inside of a classic scroll pattern to create a whimsical design.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubPuNwPWAmhGZC_9N8SLJivlXsJVd_kEb8wYGqxlw7R5v9e8L037rh8jy2yc32EWNBaOaGqKp_G5nqmNxFjJr8rx6aZuQGLZCNBnaM-q5WAuEh7PhIQmnd0Ew6VIH4q2xkVgP/s1600/ringoffire_close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 192px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubPuNwPWAmhGZC_9N8SLJivlXsJVd_kEb8wYGqxlw7R5v9e8L037rh8jy2yc32EWNBaOaGqKp_G5nqmNxFjJr8rx6aZuQGLZCNBnaM-q5WAuEh7PhIQmnd0Ew6VIH4q2xkVgP/s400/ringoffire_close.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629309804963987730" border="0" /></a><br />And the final piece was 2 tone 14K Red and Yellow (to give it the coppery warm glow) with a hand engraved pattern...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQuVYIAahsFOyHNP2VZC03KbocIBdeiq0TkWSHy95Z5bhuGOHIluLHxpLpXAJZcE9TVL7a5MKzsZm2E43912OzybQx3U5xJhTKMBGH2arfSHjYmZiW2bxWe1ZieFrx5Un9a5e/s1600/ring_of_fire.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQuVYIAahsFOyHNP2VZC03KbocIBdeiq0TkWSHy95Z5bhuGOHIluLHxpLpXAJZcE9TVL7a5MKzsZm2E43912OzybQx3U5xJhTKMBGH2arfSHjYmZiW2bxWe1ZieFrx5Un9a5e/s400/ring_of_fire.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5629309801129688866" border="0" /></a>traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-26509054293729496252011-07-13T12:00:00.004-05:002011-07-13T12:32:50.475-05:00GS: Just when I thought I was out...They pull me back in (said with clenched fists.)<br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UPw-3e_pzqU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br />That famous line from the Godfather couldn't be more true in my life right now. The past couple of months I have been working on closing my custom jewelry business (which I am referring to as a "Sabbatical" because hopefully some day I will open the shop again) and it has proven to be way more work than I would ever have imagined. And I'm finding it mentally exhausting (hence no blog posts.)<br /><br />I put an end date of May for taking any new custom jobs and I have been very good about sticking to that with strangers... but I'm a sucker for my friends. Give me a sob story, tell me you love my work, tell me that you can't imagine getting your wedding bands from anybody but me, and I'll give in. And while I hesitantly say yes, and love you dearly, it pretty much sucks.<br /><br />It took so damn long to come to the conclusion that I was taking this sabbatical, that I really want to be done in the shop. I want to move onto the next chapter... whatever that may be... and I'm currently stuck in a horribly messy shop limbo. Honestly, I think it's more work attempting to close the shop than it was trying to keep it open!<br /><br />But I finally took my ABSOLUTE LAST JOB! And I had a fabulous past client (who I kept as a friend) come to me begging for an engagement ring for her brother in Trinidad. I first said no... but then the compliments started flying and that damn cute accent and my head started spinning and before I knew it, I said yes to ONE LAST JOB. I did set some ground rules though, I show a few designs I had tucked away in my book (for a rainy day) and whichever is the right direction, I can just go ahead and build.<br /><br />So... the end is in sight. There is a light shining at the end of the tunnel. Still don't know what's on the other side, but I can't wait to find out!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-49809572901058013752011-05-27T07:58:00.003-05:002011-05-27T08:46:02.135-05:00GS: Etsy TreasuryHappy Friday!<br /><br />I woke up to an email from Etsy telling me that my upcycled <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2010/11/gs-little-something-different.html">Lemon Ring</a> was <a href="http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4ddf1ac307748eef159bbacd/citrus-dreams?ref=pr_treasury">featured in one of the Etsy Treasuries</a>. Cool! Go ahead and take a peek!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxqTMMy43xqvMfWFKgDIs2fYhH5hoNpiz4sbgcOmJQ8gU5hN9JWhwvl0ME8nR5zdmRaI5KTGEUCPstXeQKznW7DMjY2crk7WMCdHYEQbdFOge8QRORk3orFwiwitpSpGvK8Ae/s1600/lemon1_LARGE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxqTMMy43xqvMfWFKgDIs2fYhH5hoNpiz4sbgcOmJQ8gU5hN9JWhwvl0ME8nR5zdmRaI5KTGEUCPstXeQKznW7DMjY2crk7WMCdHYEQbdFOge8QRORk3orFwiwitpSpGvK8Ae/s400/lemon1_LARGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611391467207749762" border="0" /></a><br />But it seeing it with all of the other listings, I realized I need to photograph my Etsy stuff with bright colored backgrounds. My fine jewelry looks nice on a dark background, but whimsical pieces new to be fun and bright!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54k-1cGC3vxauUrPfrosBCry5TV5coBd9ZwZUQsRGzW7wxJQfto7cpjzJbvgyZceoV3p-3jBK2RgR5TT7MkBj4gy8kx3X6VrBmDMf3B9wqO9xeXphhhKHqAkQDCrn5AjW6FHz/s1600/lemon2LARGE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi54k-1cGC3vxauUrPfrosBCry5TV5coBd9ZwZUQsRGzW7wxJQfto7cpjzJbvgyZceoV3p-3jBK2RgR5TT7MkBj4gy8kx3X6VrBmDMf3B9wqO9xeXphhhKHqAkQDCrn5AjW6FHz/s400/lemon2LARGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611391472796442146" border="0" /></a><br />But that's a project for another day. I'll just be happy that somebody likes my ring ;)traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-73494281174640888352011-05-19T20:15:00.004-05:002011-05-19T20:49:43.928-05:00ME: Finally Starting to Look Like a ChairI haven't done a chair update in a while, which is bad on my part since the chair is nearly finished.<br /><br />So, last you saw we were up to the eight way tie, I have made some good progress since then. It is really amazing how my empty little wooden box is all of a sudden looking like a chair. <br /><br />On top of the springs you add burlap...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53SaStWx3Dx3fiYPcDKBAVcFTIS-gBNuMywBeoRLzv18qTzrgZ6XXP7cmi4OCY6ajgWhrgsmcQn7sgKdjytbokD328Kwf25g1aPx8FNlnhxcdPvxhw10vvfjG8r4HpWu9VIcF/s1600/photo-1.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53SaStWx3Dx3fiYPcDKBAVcFTIS-gBNuMywBeoRLzv18qTzrgZ6XXP7cmi4OCY6ajgWhrgsmcQn7sgKdjytbokD328Kwf25g1aPx8FNlnhxcdPvxhw10vvfjG8r4HpWu9VIcF/s400/photo-1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608602067412065538" border="0" /></a><br />And then you made edge roll. An edge roll is a burlap stuffed with cotton (rolled and stitched) and added to the edges of the chair to start creating soft edges...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70LyWMRy5dxrwPOy3_H8Nt8h6qe0cW9091WluufMb0ZFRntmSq2lXGMN9m1zekVgjMm35eMv5Lj3NJfo-ieh1JG8sWGZGCzAzD29ABsysvBqQYynPfiwTSyDZJ60fpM0c2FWZ/s1600/photo-2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg70LyWMRy5dxrwPOy3_H8Nt8h6qe0cW9091WluufMb0ZFRntmSq2lXGMN9m1zekVgjMm35eMv5Lj3NJfo-ieh1JG8sWGZGCzAzD29ABsysvBqQYynPfiwTSyDZJ60fpM0c2FWZ/s400/photo-2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608602070931122898" border="0" /></a><br />Now, the front edge roll actually came from the original upholstery of the chair. It is not made from cotton stuffing but a cork tube. This will help keep the shape of the front of the chair. Now, to keep that in place, I had to stitch it onto the burlap covered seat...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvWlBp2-2K06RLjBVFTWU9N-IybmPhryD4LoD6xq4pRLlM8vu-LR0UlzmjGWUK_XX_ZMj5AOid33iJlts7qxbDdTngZ9hqLjultwwH0X_h1hfcPMwvNSqkor2K9M-3t2qjTlt/s1600/photo-3.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMvWlBp2-2K06RLjBVFTWU9N-IybmPhryD4LoD6xq4pRLlM8vu-LR0UlzmjGWUK_XX_ZMj5AOid33iJlts7qxbDdTngZ9hqLjultwwH0X_h1hfcPMwvNSqkor2K9M-3t2qjTlt/s400/photo-3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608602080664866050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />When I was done adding the burlap and the edge rolls, I had to stitch the springs to the burlap. This is to make the springs move with the burlap when somebody sits on the chair. This is just a quick basting stitch, so there isn't much rhyme or reason other than the fact that you have to catch 3 spots on each spring...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOV_3FNbcmICDuVW0MBJYQMpLvNZ4NMsbas9QMzOArQbTyXFl5h8nTEaplIu1Qzo93KRUBoB99LoTPaNeHlpHloSaPT9XmdjgW_FUzXpBNTwHCAPAu2hzz3RV-hBDthu6hiKD/s1600/photo-4.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOV_3FNbcmICDuVW0MBJYQMpLvNZ4NMsbas9QMzOArQbTyXFl5h8nTEaplIu1Qzo93KRUBoB99LoTPaNeHlpHloSaPT9XmdjgW_FUzXpBNTwHCAPAu2hzz3RV-hBDthu6hiKD/s400/photo-4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608602079448245330" border="0" /></a><br />(You only have to catch 2 spots on each of the back springs since they don't see as much action as the seat.)<br /><br />Once all of that is done, you move onto the cotton and foam. Unfortunately, I forgot to take photos of these stages. But from there, you add the muslin. Now, if you send something out to get upholstered, they may or may not use muslin, but for us in class , it is like a dry run before we cut our expensive fabrics!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ194vHVyPo8ugch_H0Dof5vjpwAnYwBNhMtTER8Rg9zaIfLKfQupLL3dlObTT7x3gu_ptDum2bNn6dTBIYvv-cliDusrYnCHJUxFrkqNZKuz6Omt-R4odCUSnjtXdPJKciNA/s1600/photo-7.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ194vHVyPo8ugch_H0Dof5vjpwAnYwBNhMtTER8Rg9zaIfLKfQupLL3dlObTT7x3gu_ptDum2bNn6dTBIYvv-cliDusrYnCHJUxFrkqNZKuz6Omt-R4odCUSnjtXdPJKciNA/s400/photo-7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608602505657527234" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOST7tinBwp4bmkbfluauqySVwuCfgM9BXzBSXSzHhH2Gf5IM4-CX4v91KxmlVvpQGR-Wr6cOWvsGjdo6CWmqD9fpvmoh79Zhxn0BlOwwYugF7fDiGFfT57AHgDa-ft0rp8Ti/s1600/photo-6.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOST7tinBwp4bmkbfluauqySVwuCfgM9BXzBSXSzHhH2Gf5IM4-CX4v91KxmlVvpQGR-Wr6cOWvsGjdo6CWmqD9fpvmoh79Zhxn0BlOwwYugF7fDiGFfT57AHgDa-ft0rp8Ti/s400/photo-6.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608602506520423298" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVYsZrD240yZ9EoJ_4kUclPxbdrhJfgqMFIANFL8QRI-lCKjuLYuQ_5kR30Wf6YEZzyzQajz_W2gGUtACiyPmCktr-k-ZONWpT3ATbrRFKIVWs56mMfInm033Vx9yictT3gwu/s1600/photo-8.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVYsZrD240yZ9EoJ_4kUclPxbdrhJfgqMFIANFL8QRI-lCKjuLYuQ_5kR30Wf6YEZzyzQajz_W2gGUtACiyPmCktr-k-ZONWpT3ATbrRFKIVWs56mMfInm033Vx9yictT3gwu/s400/photo-8.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608602509561096322" border="0" /></a><br />E voila... it's looking like a chair all of a sudden! And at this phase, I couldn't stop sitting on it. I know, silly, but damn it's was more comfortable than I thought would be!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-42060333742122387692011-05-12T13:21:00.000-05:002011-05-13T15:28:28.959-05:00GS: Stacking Ring(s)One of my first ever custom jobs was <a href="http://seeingshinyspots.blogspot.com/2006/10/stacking-rings.html">stacking rings</a>... and I haven't had an order for any since. So, it is only apropos to have one of my last custom jobs be stacking rings.<br /><br />I started with making a very whimsical band with round and modified diamond shapes. While it the shapes seem that they wouldn't stack/fit together well, sometimes you can force the square peg in the round hole and it just works...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIAG6VVgjW1M8w1b-RyvB6MoFVmlKfewozJbvARF-GYR2kIwW7NHXxhTD3XMBChI75K0JkdLv_UrWCFCxW6VZ7nzrE2SnEhVw2gq9p5cusA-FnDdtxiBzR_1Khl8pLmDec_z_/s1600/P1170455.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOIAG6VVgjW1M8w1b-RyvB6MoFVmlKfewozJbvARF-GYR2kIwW7NHXxhTD3XMBChI75K0JkdLv_UrWCFCxW6VZ7nzrE2SnEhVw2gq9p5cusA-FnDdtxiBzR_1Khl8pLmDec_z_/s400/P1170455.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605896018784631426" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I decided to stop at this stage and make a mold. I really liked the simplicity of the shapes and thought they would make wonderful simple stacking rings. Or possibly cool wedding bands. Or maybe the inclusion of flush set stones in the round sections. And the possibilities are endless!<br /><br />Then I continued on, and finished the 14K white gold ring (below) by adding a prong head, basic engraving to mimic the look of stones in the band and milgrain. Now, this is the first of 4 or 5 rings. The opal is the birth stone of the client's first child, and the plan is to add more rings for future children along with her and her husband's birthstones.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoN2RLxPRflkl8l44u6RqiBghiek-_XhIAabQaMBogtpcltz9kJXFKIKEP71G_sfCWyjy0LVqf-uGZNKsQBL0GTtrv1KA4mEvV-LapJRjdlLsslO5MTR4oJ8l2JjGZ8uOzfy7/s1600/Opal_stackingLARGE.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFoN2RLxPRflkl8l44u6RqiBghiek-_XhIAabQaMBogtpcltz9kJXFKIKEP71G_sfCWyjy0LVqf-uGZNKsQBL0GTtrv1KA4mEvV-LapJRjdlLsslO5MTR4oJ8l2JjGZ8uOzfy7/s400/Opal_stackingLARGE.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5605896025181869138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you notice, the photo doesn't seem shot in my normal style. That is because I used somebody else's light box. We all have our own style. I shoot my pictures in a fabric light box with natural light on black paper. This was in a light box with about 20 different lighting options, a glass floor and crinkled black tissue paper underneath the glass. While it's not my style... and the crinkled paper feels a little 80's to me... it still works to show you the ring.traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-2767249544394054542011-05-05T14:15:00.003-05:002011-05-05T15:35:33.668-05:00GS: The Polka Dot Process, Part 2Okay... I shouldn't really be calling these polka dots. Polka dots are 'cutsey'... that is not how I would describe these rings. I know the state that they are in now (in this photo) the red gold is virtually screaming adorable polka dots, but that's not the actual intent. This just goes to show how many stages a custom piece of jewelry goes through.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQGLfgQ-TdeVnR6cFlQGZ02Q-2IBUTkrdsjIXz-FMyc4LFGRL-K8L48t2TLwbVWonzVirDhgCP4GIIiNGl-hZEbrVjIj2tXMDqyJYO_-tgNZizSnugiym-fvSVabvBl10lPdu/s1600/polkadot.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvQGLfgQ-TdeVnR6cFlQGZ02Q-2IBUTkrdsjIXz-FMyc4LFGRL-K8L48t2TLwbVWonzVirDhgCP4GIIiNGl-hZEbrVjIj2tXMDqyJYO_-tgNZizSnugiym-fvSVabvBl10lPdu/s400/polkadot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603314127658238050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We were going for something more complex... more layered and textured. Normally, when I'm talking about layering textures, I'm usually speaking of fabrics. But you can layer textures in metal too. <br /><br />For example, anybody can put a satin finish on a ring, there are many different ways to do it. But there is only one way achieve an incredible satin finish... start with a high polished finish. I know, sounds counter productive to polish something only to make the surface matte again. But the polish shows through, adding a wonderful lightness and luster to the satin finish. <br /><br />And then there are the little details that I like to add in, like cross hatching. Yes, I like to overlay my satin finish in different directions, which I feel adds not only another layer of depth but allows the light to reflect off different areas at different times.<br /><br />Now, in the image of the <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-7nOVyNrYrckxy8pEo9jFHYZmj0ImZ_eoyjacd0Fd1pzk6GxrhizjLCly_eVp433pLRpmIi9pIakiWa6iSkmVaqlYPsQr6kwAothBCDffvgnSbhXM1W9kCPf2NapMb0Ya3U8/s1600/KitamuraJunko.jpg">vase</a>, you saw this wonderful geometric pattern spread across the vase. It seemed sporadic in some areas and carefully plotted radiating circles in others, all creating a wonderful final 'layer' for this vase. For our purposes, in jewelry, we needed to find a way to recreate this layer. <br /><br />We played around with the idea of drilling the holes (but that looked a bit Swiss cheese), half drilling the holes, using a ball bur (which reflected like little diamonds and not the look we were going for in these rings), using a ball bur with a hammer finish on top... and a few other ideas. Nothing seemed to fit, they were all TOO geometric, not organic enough. Then the decision was to go with selective planishing...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ki-RDLMdHKp8KHtOgJif1q4XWV-HFYgSSL_1MGAMZ5fRJIxqiKosVy3Pi3kg2CFbp3rMVlPgj4R9AGPOtEshZddMHxaFtU9kaMByZil17hIEGPyZnv-phinMWz82cunBwtfl/s1600/polkadot_process6.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ki-RDLMdHKp8KHtOgJif1q4XWV-HFYgSSL_1MGAMZ5fRJIxqiKosVy3Pi3kg2CFbp3rMVlPgj4R9AGPOtEshZddMHxaFtU9kaMByZil17hIEGPyZnv-phinMWz82cunBwtfl/s400/polkadot_process6.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603314125109231506" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And finally, to complete the rings, both rings had to be finished first to a high polish and then brought back to a satin. And this is the final pair of rings...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9zs7m6PEorFJWLsy-kjgIgN4d8UtLhSZXzjIOisD1O8gH7f9B14ajdnwqOEhAR-702PTNPnQxTCGskUhCgEymSv72MBJAIre3XRcr-GA4pelNJ44tN5QZ_I56lQ9IIE_6cv4/s1600/Mark_Arend1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9zs7m6PEorFJWLsy-kjgIgN4d8UtLhSZXzjIOisD1O8gH7f9B14ajdnwqOEhAR-702PTNPnQxTCGskUhCgEymSv72MBJAIre3XRcr-GA4pelNJ44tN5QZ_I56lQ9IIE_6cv4/s400/Mark_Arend1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603314130426063266" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj083JlmHzraZ48gYiOnSN8eMY9vcUb9q-FGXlpoJpugKnTC8Jk1tx3FFNVMd0wRwPJ8-0E2zWSde-pezmkKETNqnf8Q6xTgcMAYTqURF5XOxhTPmD7zTGN4jGHxfFnlI3jUx/s1600/Mark_Arend2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfj083JlmHzraZ48gYiOnSN8eMY9vcUb9q-FGXlpoJpugKnTC8Jk1tx3FFNVMd0wRwPJ8-0E2zWSde-pezmkKETNqnf8Q6xTgcMAYTqURF5XOxhTPmD7zTGN4jGHxfFnlI3jUx/s400/Mark_Arend2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603314132665884322" border="0" /></a><br /><br />They are not polka dot anymore. They are complex and subtle all at the same time. <br /><br />The reason I wanted to share a lot of information about the process of building these rings is because even though they look like simple wedding bands from a far, a great deal of time, thought and effort went into every step designing and fabricating them. I think this point is lost on a great deal of people... they are not just spit out of a machine or picked up at a mall, these were labored over. <br /><br />And, in my humble opinion, these are not just wedding bands but small pieces of art.traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-87574301671030785832011-05-04T20:41:00.005-05:002011-05-04T21:46:40.414-05:00GS: The Polka Dot Process, Part 1It all started with a picture of a vase by Kitamura Junko...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-7nOVyNrYrckxy8pEo9jFHYZmj0ImZ_eoyjacd0Fd1pzk6GxrhizjLCly_eVp433pLRpmIi9pIakiWa6iSkmVaqlYPsQr6kwAothBCDffvgnSbhXM1W9kCPf2NapMb0Ya3U8/s1600/KitamuraJunko.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 232px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm-7nOVyNrYrckxy8pEo9jFHYZmj0ImZ_eoyjacd0Fd1pzk6GxrhizjLCly_eVp433pLRpmIi9pIakiWa6iSkmVaqlYPsQr6kwAothBCDffvgnSbhXM1W9kCPf2NapMb0Ya3U8/s400/KitamuraJunko.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603044823561933154" border="0" /></a><br />There is so much to say about this beautiful piece. The geometry, the pattern lay out, the layering of color and texture... just amazing! So we had plenty to work with.<br /><br />We started simply with an 18K white gold ring and 18K red gold wire stock. I had to carefully drill each hole directly through the ring (to make each dot visible from the inside and outside) just a hair smaller than the wire to be inserted. The reason is because the tighter the fit, the better the solder joint. <br /><br />Now, you're probably wondering how you make the wire fit into a hold with a smaller diameter. Simply put.. you taper the end and hammer the hell out of it till it fits.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLajgj5W3XMYBVmKttaDdUHIBV9nbkNod7MmtWBYHt9q3fBtahbuNn2mBmzZ9Xgclk6l8Cg8vMW8EzBMywE8IejDoozA32P3DnOx9IBXHFTJipX9RLz91t2qdvBtMkFRbXo8rf/s1600/polkadot_process1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLajgj5W3XMYBVmKttaDdUHIBV9nbkNod7MmtWBYHt9q3fBtahbuNn2mBmzZ9Xgclk6l8Cg8vMW8EzBMywE8IejDoozA32P3DnOx9IBXHFTJipX9RLz91t2qdvBtMkFRbXo8rf/s400/polkadot_process1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603044823276172898" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6zbVlFihX-A_hUUm-wzEB_p__CCu0p1XeYaaz0ywg3_n1TRYStumaa_WjKAogFFZ_5CR-AvfK4M81cHjfq8Pj2e2i4_UQ_KQnKNk7YOkXUHuhejL6rsyJ6EDgvzmfFH1encu/s1600/poldadot_process2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV6zbVlFihX-A_hUUm-wzEB_p__CCu0p1XeYaaz0ywg3_n1TRYStumaa_WjKAogFFZ_5CR-AvfK4M81cHjfq8Pj2e2i4_UQ_KQnKNk7YOkXUHuhejL6rsyJ6EDgvzmfFH1encu/s400/poldadot_process2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603044833164072562" border="0" /></a><br />I proceeded to drill all the holes in the ring and lay out the 3 sizes of red gold wire in preparation for soldering...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpMTuzgjKp7xYe5E7yOVGMP6i0FSXHR3zmhiqR_rNxl4lDn_CXv7o1xgAtkVyyv6Ve9Q5WJvfo7yITx-95KgvQUnTRy4pWuQhl9pdXg-HJ0d15a2J1l363BjwDR4N8qw3-UOw/s1600/polkadot_process3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpMTuzgjKp7xYe5E7yOVGMP6i0FSXHR3zmhiqR_rNxl4lDn_CXv7o1xgAtkVyyv6Ve9Q5WJvfo7yITx-95KgvQUnTRy4pWuQhl9pdXg-HJ0d15a2J1l363BjwDR4N8qw3-UOw/s400/polkadot_process3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603044834190241602" border="0" /></a><br />While it was technically soldering the pieces together, I would actually consider it more of welding. The reason being is because the flow point of the solder is very close to the melting points of the two metals.<br /><br />I used 19K white gold solder which melts at 1670 degrees. 18K white gold melts at 1730, just over the solder flow temp, and 18K red gold melts BELOW the solder flow temp at 1655. This is why the end of the red gold are melted after soldering...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G6TYA4znL93WJ4S2xRCAr_G4u5hFpS2-6z1gnh0zJLn1V2XKy94ea-nrhlB0J41NIPgK361Ye13y6lKPVf_4ua4JW3hhutlhLpHQkDUihUwTJptE0cn1FzPe_-k0HTTmUHPY/s1600/polkadot_process4.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9G6TYA4znL93WJ4S2xRCAr_G4u5hFpS2-6z1gnh0zJLn1V2XKy94ea-nrhlB0J41NIPgK361Ye13y6lKPVf_4ua4JW3hhutlhLpHQkDUihUwTJptE0cn1FzPe_-k0HTTmUHPY/s400/polkadot_process4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603044837039759378" border="0" /></a><br />This is also why I had to leave an excess of gold wire for each dot. Seeing the melting temp of the red gold was below the flow point of the solder, I needed that little extra red gold material for melting. If I had each of those wires cut flush with the white gold ring and then attempted to solder the pieces together, there would be a very good chance that the dot would actually melt and leave a divot at the top surface. And if that did occur, I would be forced to remove quite a bit of the white gold band to meet with the lowest points of the divot... or even worse, have to flow red gold solder into each divot to attempt to fix any mistakes. <br /><br />But thankfully, with taking a great deal of time preparing, the joints cleaned up beautifully...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISd_XqgQ_CaLcYIy05dBCrQ2dwbdwYEKH7eOpI2YOvQScYTbpDDfirxVFHwh-zXAw4OqplyxMGqofiqGyJWRyfkNZmanqL0ezk1WesQYSu3oTxyJ7s3YAajU5zaqcwJVPPxs9/s1600/polkadot_process5.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjISd_XqgQ_CaLcYIy05dBCrQ2dwbdwYEKH7eOpI2YOvQScYTbpDDfirxVFHwh-zXAw4OqplyxMGqofiqGyJWRyfkNZmanqL0ezk1WesQYSu3oTxyJ7s3YAajU5zaqcwJVPPxs9/s400/polkadot_process5.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603045059743962082" border="0" /></a><br />I have to admit, I have always wanted to make polka dot rings...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSEo3TRfdlPwinX85srCexHBN1NzzPfS_GHoNCLQX6odMq7xc9uwBrOLNWVlyJ3UUWm0T1JYrk7lAP_39VVF2MiQPbxgGHN5E0R_6xTAUHaKsoU1m20-R-YVpxznXNMi6nGKV/s1600/polkadot.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizSEo3TRfdlPwinX85srCexHBN1NzzPfS_GHoNCLQX6odMq7xc9uwBrOLNWVlyJ3UUWm0T1JYrk7lAP_39VVF2MiQPbxgGHN5E0R_6xTAUHaKsoU1m20-R-YVpxznXNMi6nGKV/s400/polkadot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5603045063373126450" border="0" /></a><br />But we aren't quite done yet! To be continued...traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-62248149756736208632011-05-02T15:29:00.006-05:002011-05-02T15:56:37.220-05:00GS: Compass rose ringI have always loved the idea of a compass ring... you know, to help you find your way home. And I don't know how many different clients I have suggested the idea of making a compass rose ring, but apparently they don't get lost as much as I do ;)<br /><br />I think an antique map with an ornate compass rose is beautiful...<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://financialservices.uno.edu/travel/images/CompassRose.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 288px; height: 285px;" src="http://financialservices.uno.edu/travel/images/CompassRose.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Well, I finally found the perfect client! While this isn't quite the ring design I always envisioned (I wanted to do a little more detail, red gold inlay, engraved fleur de lis, etc) but I think this is clean and simple... and delightful!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhditXF0JrSg57j1oJfIUDuS9krFEcPWYrG8QNQJG_TLJ9fpyuJPU4rMPEoRe67oFpDSFLCyYhdS6FLVOuA9KJCaZSzDLJVexnp6mj-1YZ66O44DorcD1B62tnXhwdzgYUf3ut4/s1600/roseline2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 363px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhditXF0JrSg57j1oJfIUDuS9krFEcPWYrG8QNQJG_TLJ9fpyuJPU4rMPEoRe67oFpDSFLCyYhdS6FLVOuA9KJCaZSzDLJVexnp6mj-1YZ66O44DorcD1B62tnXhwdzgYUf3ut4/s400/roseline2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602222995554055890" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This compass rose ring is in palladium with a collet set rhodolite garnet and hand engraving.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrShs-y4-f3MYFRlXJDTvPqvuh8MgYCRUVKh85qBDEUR2hsm7EkyVvUCcCAZecOtViF19sjDe4eCPZwSPDr5HjOIZMomp5OLqRRL5BacTGdQPttiruUD-UP1v8EXdKjLSgv_ID/s1600/compass_rose1.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrShs-y4-f3MYFRlXJDTvPqvuh8MgYCRUVKh85qBDEUR2hsm7EkyVvUCcCAZecOtViF19sjDe4eCPZwSPDr5HjOIZMomp5OLqRRL5BacTGdQPttiruUD-UP1v8EXdKjLSgv_ID/s400/compass_rose1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602220962538785650" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhBrE9Tdppl-0Tj5kG-pw4QE1MhXRTIA8VIpYh_DjGOGoOq72Fo7CSMu6D1SWi3RHpGZjUOZR1_KnooR0iC2YVR8RCHVBgFmWpGQPUsvLZMcmftT6PHP93gbNluOhC0A4Ujwk/s1600/compass_rose2.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMhBrE9Tdppl-0Tj5kG-pw4QE1MhXRTIA8VIpYh_DjGOGoOq72Fo7CSMu6D1SWi3RHpGZjUOZR1_KnooR0iC2YVR8RCHVBgFmWpGQPUsvLZMcmftT6PHP93gbNluOhC0A4Ujwk/s400/compass_rose2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602220967394640258" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qAe3ixJIpRFtBpn4KP0QV5w06-SFXXr_YVOB1BiT4y8DRRoD81ijbOn9Ee2oYPhzaZi5XpieaF8E-3U-60tTLHpGqRW4ojv03q0klyZr3TQXH5b179xf8CQbldvnntoom17m/s1600/compass_rose3.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qAe3ixJIpRFtBpn4KP0QV5w06-SFXXr_YVOB1BiT4y8DRRoD81ijbOn9Ee2oYPhzaZi5XpieaF8E-3U-60tTLHpGqRW4ojv03q0klyZr3TQXH5b179xf8CQbldvnntoom17m/s400/compass_rose3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5602220968073947426" border="0" /></a>traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28690343.post-12201641135131950162011-04-23T21:53:00.004-05:002011-04-24T16:06:47.461-05:00ME: The Eight Way TieAs I mentioned before, it is amazing how much "stuff" goes into a chair... literally. Well, not so much newer chairs (most are just plywood with foam glued to it) but my antique chair has guts.<br /><br />So, I started with the chair frame...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK2kDlPfSNRMy04r6G3-5QL-d6YWRL_il7CbWy6V8Q7-SvwUykvMghbRXWcqNbMrTITWHshwrpb_AHE133cYNQB61uyK5jvBmIwECNTG_-P5W19NPdAHwzcFR1-vmbXWlEXDg/s1600/P1160833.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTK2kDlPfSNRMy04r6G3-5QL-d6YWRL_il7CbWy6V8Q7-SvwUykvMghbRXWcqNbMrTITWHshwrpb_AHE133cYNQB61uyK5jvBmIwECNTG_-P5W19NPdAHwzcFR1-vmbXWlEXDg/s400/P1160833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598979381143467730" border="0" /></a><br />(it looks so tiny... and empty... and a little sad.)<br /><br />Then I stretched the webbing and tacked it on...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJVREXxfjEKi5FOJC_hr4zLgbUYjXD0Nn8mjLd6PD8bVgOyy5CogNbOl5wNQRfWMKsnuYnqTFLSUrEovX1I9Jyi0hQeQ3tKJKk5Z7kWAK5JDGwXZB7lvgN1AoVNyb2F_dEwBC/s1600/photo-16.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFJVREXxfjEKi5FOJC_hr4zLgbUYjXD0Nn8mjLd6PD8bVgOyy5CogNbOl5wNQRfWMKsnuYnqTFLSUrEovX1I9Jyi0hQeQ3tKJKk5Z7kWAK5JDGwXZB7lvgN1AoVNyb2F_dEwBC/s400/photo-16.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598978375014153506" border="0" /></a><br />Now... this was one of those points where I ran into an issue and we had to change things up a bit. Because the wood is so brittle and, well, dug up from being upholstered multiple times, I had to move to staples. I really wanted to do things the old fashion way (tacks) but they kept popping out. So, I modernized a bit and moved to staples... lots of staples. And then I added a few extra straps of webbing and attached them to the side of the frame for just that little bit more support.<br /><br />Next, I added my NINE seat springs (my instructor, <a href="http://www.seymoursupholstering.com/default.html">Seymour</a>, said the person who made the chair must have had stock in a spring company, because there was no reason for nine giant springs in this tiny chair) and used a clinching tool to attach them to the webbing. From there, I started my eight way tie...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK5sozXd-rkRkzTALD-2T4xkdWknu8by4T2yMjCW3tK9KE6mfHhde6jRwLq7_M2g3LF6qUEsvO2a0nsgS66vjgfBSNg-aaFU5vX2dSd5t6o1n6jSMzVyMoKDBiQBShIwUi_tZ/s1600/photo-14.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbK5sozXd-rkRkzTALD-2T4xkdWknu8by4T2yMjCW3tK9KE6mfHhde6jRwLq7_M2g3LF6qUEsvO2a0nsgS66vjgfBSNg-aaFU5vX2dSd5t6o1n6jSMzVyMoKDBiQBShIwUi_tZ/s400/photo-14.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598978377740826786" border="0" /></a><br />First was back to front. Next was left to right...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjJ18eSnl4K_9hs30VJ-4LrCb4ud6RUj6ShE8VPetzCysMhOBQanQTaSQoe-8SnarXu-D3x_YreIvtXQCYi_lrj_X-60lBGTFOvTrNr_kReAAgqJFODi3CEgoj_gUd_ddKDvG/s1600/photo-13.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikjJ18eSnl4K_9hs30VJ-4LrCb4ud6RUj6ShE8VPetzCysMhOBQanQTaSQoe-8SnarXu-D3x_YreIvtXQCYi_lrj_X-60lBGTFOvTrNr_kReAAgqJFODi3CEgoj_gUd_ddKDvG/s400/photo-13.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598978380113707170" border="0" /></a><br />And finally, the diagonals which makes the 8 way tie ...<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_pYOGLUhrxR3HJbR3vhTEXwUWj8UJsTR7j8tEsSS9q_67lYFGTAhn4ma7SqIXHrcKR1beOzMMCgWuVbaJRLygz53ENwEZOu-i3-tDWpr9MV29wxU1cpc7qAuyzv7Ysml67p1/s1600/photo-12.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_pYOGLUhrxR3HJbR3vhTEXwUWj8UJsTR7j8tEsSS9q_67lYFGTAhn4ma7SqIXHrcKR1beOzMMCgWuVbaJRLygz53ENwEZOu-i3-tDWpr9MV29wxU1cpc7qAuyzv7Ysml67p1/s400/photo-12.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598978384623436418" border="0" /></a><br />(Notice the front spring is tied in 8 different locations... that's where the name comes from.)<br /><br />When dealing with the back (which only had 6 light springs) you don't have to do the full eight way tie, just four is sufficient since it carries less weight than the seat.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZHmCFxf_wT1KwcSBGKpG8Be_PavJQFU7dKLeoyUUORLBH0oWlXlrEW8XgXsoI88JkMrl8SQsCV71GdEsSSZT7RrifDJCIBHJ4pPrZRV7nGCdRTV0rAHkUig6NtlSf4-wUlTV/s1600/photo-11.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLZHmCFxf_wT1KwcSBGKpG8Be_PavJQFU7dKLeoyUUORLBH0oWlXlrEW8XgXsoI88JkMrl8SQsCV71GdEsSSZT7RrifDJCIBHJ4pPrZRV7nGCdRTV0rAHkUig6NtlSf4-wUlTV/s400/photo-11.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598978384425986050" border="0" /></a><br />And there you have it! The beginning guts of my chair!traceyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03443500994059138489noreply@blogger.com0