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Stephen Leacock Museum Show -

I was so rushed getting things done I decided to pack in the morning as I only lived 20 minutes from the venue. But I should never do that - I got up early packed - and came back to the house and studio 3 times before I finally was on the road to the show.

Was a lovely day in Orillia - right by the water and kind of funky seeing people dress in period dress of the early 1900's - They had an old fashion band and an afternoon tea at the actual Stephen Leacock Museum
http://leacockmuseum.com/ there was a small gathering of vendors and the weather was lovely

I got my shelter up and my sign in a nice shady area

Etched Bracelets, earrings - and large glass fish

dichroic glass - more fish and etched necklaces

etched pendants, more dicro, and lampwork flowers

I always worry I dont have enough but then I can always fill the table

The only problem was that the museum did not do any advertising or included any information that there would be a craft show on the Sunday so sales we almost nil as hardly any people were there

But I am prepared for the next show

Ranger Patina's - not just for copper

As you know I have been using the Ranger Patina to get those vibrant colours onto my etched pieces and then dipping them in Permalac EF to seal them -
Last weekend I was trying to finish bracelets and earrings for my Sunday - one day show - I usually keep my hands pretty clean but I was in a rush so I was not cleaning between things I was doing, cleaning copper, stamping copper, etching copper, cleaning copper, sanding copper, coloring copper. My fingers looked like the rainbow !

Finished Etched Small Disc Copper Zentangle Bracelets and Necklace

I stamped 60 pieces of 1" copper discs with my zentangle pattern from my rubber stamps
After etching 60 pieces of the 1" discs . 5 per tape load and 6 loads per etching container ( thats two etching sessions) I had to clean - my most un-favorite part

But once done I was able to color sets to match pendants and earrings as well as make a full disc necklace

I love the colored sets - I put toggles on as I find they are easier to manipulate when putting on a bracelet - and on one end a bit of byzantine as part of the extender

I made some with just liver of sulphur

Then I took some of the liver of sulphur discs and made a necklace

All discs were cleaned using penny brite, then sanded with dremel and split mandrel and sandpaper (be careful - because these were smaller than the pendants I tended to let the lap from the sandpaper hit my finger - which sanded down my skin and made it bleed. Didnt really hurt but the damage was done by the time I realized what I had done - so I put a bandaid on and continued to work)

Etching Multiple Small Pieces

I like to use packing tape and stretch it across my glass container - I find the floating Styrofoam cumbersome and some more expensive to use - double sided tape is more expensive than regular packing tape.

If you put more than one piece of copper the pieces tend to bend in the center so I wanted to be able to put 5 pieces of round copper to etch so it needs support.

I found the easiest and lightest pieces are those foam nail files you can get two for a dollar at the dollar store.
They have foam centers and are just long enough to fit into the glass container - if not I could cut very easily

I tape my copper pieces as usual then place the file on top and put another piece of tape. Voila - lightweight and supports the pieces and lets them sit in a straight line on the surface of the ferric chloride

so I can make 30 of the etched pieces at a time

Another tip - as you put your taped pieces in just write the time you put it in so you can gauge when you should check it - sometimes I've forgotten when I put in - although I just check the piece visually

Etched Copper Bracelet - Colored

Thought I would test out color on a bracelet

Etched Copper Pipe - Rings

So I have some etched pipe and figuring out what to make right now - want beads but I didnt have time today - so I cut one up and made some rings
not finished - cut with a pipe cutter - could use a saw but I have no patience - I'll finish them this week.
This particular size pipe is about a 9