I'm front page news! Well, sort of

One of my sculptures is in the Artfire Daily Collection which is titled "Collect Me Please". There are 11 other item worthy of your collection. I hope you'll take the time to check it out  :0)
You can view the actual collection here: http://us1.campaign-archive2.com/?u=98fbd55a1d5bdaf9e1d296c27&id=ecbbe8922c&e=69f5cba8fb

Artfire Daily Collecton

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com
Facebook Fan Page:  http://www.facebook.com/Lunarskiesjewelry.quentin.eckman?sk=app_106171216118819

http://www.facebook.com/Lunarskiesjewelry.quentin.eckman?sk=app_106171216118819

Kindred Spirits, Fairy Sculpture is completed

This one took a while to complete, but I've got to say it's my favorite so far. The fairy sits upon a pokadot mushroom and beckons to an elusive butterfly whose wing pattern matches her own.

 All the finished copper pieces

The wood pieces

The finished work assembled (more views below)

 

She'll be going to her new home very shortly. I hope you've enjoyed viewing the process.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

I am the victim of a crime!

I think theft is one of the worst crimes of which to fall victim. Recently I've noticed small items disappearing from my shop. I've just identified the thief.
I don't like to single out any specific group, but these little guys have a well earned reputation for this very type of activity. That's right! I'm talkin' about pack rats.

 

I was out of the shop for a couple of days, and one of these little guys was VERY busy while I was gone. I guess I'm just going to have to lock everything up. I thought this stuff was over when my children grew up.

OK, back to my fairy project. It's getting closer to completion. I got the wings cut out. I start with the wing pattern glued to plates of copper.

 

Drill a hole for each opening

 

And saw out the opening along the pattern line (forgive the fuzzy pic)

 

For the butterfly body I start with a piece of round copper stock and carve until I get the final shape

 

Here's a view from the top

 

The mushroom top required a lot of hammer work

 

The body parts are about ready for assembly

 

And the hair is coming along nicely

 

So now it's just about time to select the pieces of cholla I'll use to complete the piece. Thanks for looking.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com
Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com

Fairy, Still a Work In Progress

Did you ever notice how everything you create takes more time than you thought it would. Happens to me all the time. So my fairy is still not finished; consider this a progress report.

 

She's not in pain, trust me. I haven't even applied any heat yet.

 

If you think a lot have holes have been drill, you're right. I glue the pattern onto the copper with a glue stick, simple!

 

After I've cut out the metal, I have to remove the pattern. I used to struggle with this step. I tried just peeling the paper off; nope, it separates. I tried soaking in mineral spirits; nope, better but mostly just messy and it leaves a nasty residue. The solution? If all else fails, read the instructions. The glue used for glue sticks is water soluble. After about two minutes soaking in plain water the paper just floats away from the metal. Boy is my face red. Great, red face and green hands, and it's not anywhere close to Christmas.

 

That's better! I'm working on the hair now. After that I can start putting her together.

My ArtFire Store: http://www.artfire.com/users/lunarskies

My Etsy Store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LunarSkiesJewelry?ref=pr_shop
My Jewelry: http://www.lunarskies.com
My Sculpture: http://www.lunarskies.com/pages1/fineart.html
My Cabochons: http://www.gemalchemy.com

Creating The Hive Artisans Group: http://www.creatingthehive.com