June 6th Sawing Circle Update - New Class Alerts, Casting Tips, Taxco Repairs, Contest Updates and More

​We started by catching up and sharing news. Miranda is going to teach a beginning cloisonné class and also assist with a class in the techniques of enamelist Fred Uhl Ball; see his work here. Marianne is repairing a Taxco bracelet that’s been in her family--learn a little about the history of Taxco silver here. Kathe has turned in her pieces for the San Diego County Fair. Chapin will be teaching several classes in Colorado and is selling his work on Instagram.

Marianne has also been experimenting with powder coating and showed us her work. Cool Tools sells powder coating and posted a video about it. Ryan Gardner uses a light application of clear powder coating on his metals.

We talked a little about the current MASSC challenge, which several of us are participating in. David Huang also came up—he uses microcrystalline sculpting wax inside his vessels to be able to chase them. He documents his entire process here—fascinating! Chapin told us about David Huang’s upcoming workshop at the Colorado Metalsmithing Associations July conference—where Anne will also be presenting!

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First: Congratulations, Ame, on your great MRI results--such good news! (Also, check out the new items in her Etsy shop—cephalopods rule!)

Thank you to everyone participating in our Desert Meets Ocean competition. The mystery pieces will be mailed this week.

​Chapin showed us the elaborate wax tree he made to cast rings for his students to work with. We got a quick tour of the casting part of his studio, too.

During our discussion of casting, Dale mentioned steam casting using a flower pot; more here.

​Annette shared photos of the piece she just made for a (lucky) friend who is retiring. She included many meaningful symbolic elements—and made her friend cry.

​And Jan had pieces of wood from her oak tree made into cabs. Here is what she created using one of them.

Don’t forget: our challenge for our June 20th meeting is Pirates/Oceans. Since the first Tuesday in July is the 4th, we are going to cancel that meeting. The challenge for July 18th is an easy one—share jewelry or other items you love that were made by someone else. See you on the 20th! Best, Dusky