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February 26, 2006

Show #2

Hey Everybody-

Have you ever had one of those days where you are standing in the shower and you can't remember if you washed your hair?!?!  This is how my whole week has been!  So hold on to your hat as I bring you another Candie Cast.  As always, Thank You for checking it out! :-) Candie

my email: candie(at)candiecooper(dot)com

Play Show #2

Podsafe Music Network:

Chaz-Black Coffee Caffeine Remix

Beatrice Ericcson-Reach Out

Project for the next few days...."GROW" Pendant with Bead Dangles

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This project includes some great basics like:

sawing, filing, sanding, stamping text into metal, applying the liver of sulfur patina and attaching the beaded bits.  Then top it off with a matching bead bracelet.

Where can I get a Saw Frame, blades and bench pin?

I ordered mine from Rio Grande. (Prices may be different than catalog tells me-not sure)

  • Bench pin ready to go item #110-010 $6.50
  • Bench pin/anvil where I have to saw my own v-slot according to my prefs. item #110-014  $13.75 This is the one I have. (I like this one because it has an anvil with it, but the disadvantage is that you have to cut your own slot with the hole)
  • Saw Frame item #110-042 $13.00
  • Saw Blades 1/0 there are different quality levels of these, I'm listing a "middle" item #110-044

Those are the basics that you need to get started and you can saw more than metal with these supplies/tools.

Materials:

  • Saw frame
  • Saw blades
  • bench pin
  • #55 drill bit (for piercing)
  • dremel tool (for piercing)
  • 20 guage metal of your choice
  • beeswax

Simplified Step by step:

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What you need- please pretend the crayon is a little block of beeswax! :-)

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Decide which way you want to transfer your image to the metal, center punch, put safety glasses on then drill the hole using a dremel tool.  Notice I am drilling on top of scrap surface, please don't forget to do this, I don't want you to mess up your good work surface. I just realized it looks like I'm going for her jug! Ha! Yikes! Sorry.

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Note orientation of the blade.  It should look like a pine tree when turned to the side-teeth facing down.  Inserting the saw blade at the top peg point first.  Be sure it goes all the way to the top and tighten the peg.

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Be sure the saw blade hangs straight down, not angling forward or back.

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1/3 of the way down is where the end of the blade should be at the bottom peg or close to anyway.

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If you are piercing, thread the piece on the blade so that you can see the design facing up.

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Then put the handle end towards your sternum and the opposite end, pushing in, tighten the last peg.  Remember when you pluck it, it should ping, not thug.  Please note too, that the bench pin is parallel to the work table.  This is for sawing, later you can flip it over and use that side for filing.

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Add a tiny amount of beeswax to both sides of the blade, but not the teeth side!  Using your index finger-nail as a guide, saw at 45 degree angle, make an up-stroke, then back down, up, down and all the while straightening up the saw frame a bit at a time.

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Take nice, long strokes with the saw.  Try not to angle the saw either.  Take caution to keep your digits behind the blade! Now it's practice time.  Take your time and remember to saw on the outside of your shape, not on top of it.

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Pretty raw at this point, but we'll begin to fix that next time.

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This is a piece that I made and it also has stamped text along with the liver of sulfur patina.  The only difference is copper vs. this one is silver.  But you get the idear!

Kris's Charity Dolls, All 100 of them!

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I'm amazed!  Thanks Kris for sharing your inspiring story.  And the dolls look great.  From one crafter to another, I'm proud of you!

Want the charity doll pattern? Click here.

Please feel free to email me your thoughts, feedback, shout outs, whatever at feedback(at)candiecooper(dot)com  just be sure to replace the at with @ and dot with .  Thanks!

February 22, 2006

iTunes

iTunes emailed me and said The Candie Cast has been approved. Woo hoo!  So now you can do a search on iTunes and it will bring up The Candie Cast vs "did you mean the Candle Cast" or how about "CandleMass"?

New Candie Cast coming at ya this weekend.  Who wants ice cream...I mean to learn how to use a jeweler's saw and bench pin?!?! 

February 19, 2006

Nibble while you work!

It's Sunday for all you peeps back in the states!  Need a snack to nibble on while you work? Did I hear a yes?  Then this is for you!

Play this Snack Podcast!

Podsafe Music Network:

El ten eleven-Lorge

Thanks Gram, for making this wonderful Snack!

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The Recipe:

You Need:

  1. 1 1/3 Sticks of Butter
  2. 3/4 Cup of Worcestershire Sauce
  3. 1 box each: Rice, Corn and Wheat Chex Cereal
  4. 1 large can of Peanuts (2-3 cups)
  5. Really big roasting pan (unless you cut this recipe half)

Pre-heat oven to 250 degrees.  Melt butter in the large pan by putting it into the oven during preheating.  Once the butter is melted, add the Worcestershire sauce and stir.  Then add the rest of the ingredients into the pan and toss it up.  Bake for 19 minutes, stir.  Repeat this 3 more times for a total of 4.

I love this stuff and I hope you do too!

February 16, 2006

SHOW #1 CLASS NOTES

Hey kids-the first show is up and ready for download.  Like I said in the beginning of the show, please hang in there with me while I figure this stuff out.  Already, 24 hours after recording the first show, I have new ideas and ways to improve.  I guess that's the process we crafters have to go through-try it and march onward.  Let's go!

LINK TO PLAY SHOW #1

PODSAFE MUSIC NETWORK:  Songs/Artists from this Show

Slau-Act Upon My Love

Ruby Shuz-Time Will Tell

Smallfish-Thank You

Thank you all for putting yourself out there for us to listen too!

The Project for Today=Happy Heart Pin Instructions....

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Materials:

  1. wooden heart piece
  2. acrylic paints
  3. semi-satin acrylic varnish
  4. colored pencils
  5. epoxy
  6. pin back finding
  7. sand paper
  8. paint brushes

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The blank page....

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Base coat the wooden piece with one or two coats of acrylic paint-leave to dry.

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Choose a few colors and paint a really simple design.  As you can see it doesn't have to be "perfect."  Yes, I used that giant bamboo brush to paint all of that.  Ha!

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Doodle away with the colored pencils, Dears.  Basically, you are just enhancing the colors from the design and adding surface texture.  Add two coats of acrylic varnish to protect your surface-let dry.

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Choose your weapon pin-back.  Don't forget to sand the back of the pin back.

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Glue the pin back in place, remember, above the center line so the pin doesn't fall forward while being worn.

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And ta-da! Ready to wear.

Here's another one...

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Also, I'd love to have a listener gallery.  So if you make this project or your own version of it, send me pictures with your name and location (if you want) and I'll post them.  projects@candiecooper.com

February 14, 2006

Welcome

Hey everybody!  Welcome to CandieCast!  The podcast about jewelry making...and a little bit more.  This will be the home base for instructions and class notes.  I would love for you to post feedback and questions in the comment section or email me.  Please also let me know if I am allowed to read it on the cast.  I'm new to all this techno stuff so please hang in there with me as I feel my way through it.  Remember the part in Goonies where Andy had to play the right notes on the organ...or else.  Yeah, I sort of feel like that.  But, I'm so excited about this and ready to get things going!