I had a challenge to these folks on how many unique items they could create from just a 4×6″ piece of metal-these are only a few of the pieces they ended up with- more to come.  They were just amazing-so much time, care and effort was put into selecting their stamps and original designs!  It is soooo rewarding to stand back and watch creativity happening, I am sure I get far more from these sessions than the attendees….

Etchings were a huge success-way to go ladies!!  No casualties, no stress-was an awesome day!

I am far from being an expert or even an decent beginner at repoussé but I have been having so much fun with using some of these time tested techniques, just had to share…I call it “poufy stuff”  -poufy hearts, leaves, circles, ovals and a myriad of other shapes I just can’t stop thinking about-and drawing, and hammering on.  A lot.

And that’s all I have to say about “poufy”…

Really not sure if this is the common name for these little gems but I can tell you, making them nearly “tipped” me over the edge…I etched some copper tube and then cut it into segments, cut out and domed caps to fit-then proceeded to put it all together–soldering teeny, tiny parts…like real teeny.  After more than a dozen attempts, here is what I have to show for it all–

And am lovin’ the results…just not sure the effort required is something I will do again–it was a LOT of work!!!  Also did a few 10 ga. copper textured rings-soooo much easier than the tubes!  Now I am off to find a terrific project to use them in!

If you are a photographer, you are very familiar with those “golden hours (sometimes known as the  magic hour, especially in cinematography) – a period shortly after sunrise or before sunset during which daylight is redder and softer compared to when the Sun is higher in the sky.”  Well, right now those magical moments come streaming through my workshop between 4-6 pm every afternoon…I will do almost anything I can to be there ..today was one of “those” moments…

My work bench was flooded with warm light, and not only do the beads and rocks sparkle and shine, I can see beautifully without  my glasses, and my old back and shoulders are doing a happy dance with the sun’s warmth acting like a soft masseuse…Yes, I live for moments like these…♥♥♥