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Wednesday, January 4, 2017

RinTinTin

I've had a hankering lately to play with materials that I've taken a break from in the past year, including tin--both vintage and new. I shared this story earlier in the week on my Facebook page, but I do believe it bears elaboration here. 

My husband and I host a family Christmas party every year. Last year someone brought cookies on a red and white tin plate which got left behind at the end of the night. For all of the past 12 months, Matt and I have kept the plate stashed on top of the fridge, loathe to throw it away because it was kind of nice, but not wanting to keep it because it's not really our style. Being slick, flat tin, it would occasionally slide off the fridge and clatter to the ground, eliciting expletives and foul moods. 

the devil platter on the workbench
Last week I decided that enough was enough. I took metal shears and cut it up for use in hollow tinned metal baubles. Annoyance eliminated, jewelry gained. 

Using a technique elaborated by guru Tracy DiPiazza of pipnmolly, I cut out circles in the tin, gradually dapped them into half spheres, soldered them together using my soldering iron, filed, sanded, oxidized, and waxed. In the past I have typically hung each bauble with a lightweight wood bead of some sort. However, since I've been headed in a "less is more" direction the past year, I decided to let these little wonders speak for themselves. I simply torched up some fat-bottomed copper headpins, dotted them on top with some additional silver solder, and hung them from my long copper ear wires.


I did a whole series in different prints and colors. And when they were all done I sat on my couch and let them pour through my hands, making the most delightful muted popping noise. 

Quite the transformation--from annoying clatter to music for the ears. 

Happy New Year!
Nikki
LoveRoot on Etsy

15 comments:

  1. Lovely! I've been working with vintage [&new] tins for about 4 years and had signed up for my first soldering class coming in a few weeks. Thanks for the link to the tutorial, the inspiration & being generous with your information !

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  2. There's something so appealing about these baubles! I havered over the pair I had my eye on and... you snooze, you lose!

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    1. I need to take a video of me rolling around a handful of them--since they're hollow they make the most delicious sound!

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  3. Wow, I would have looked at that tin and not been sure if it was usable as well. But what you've done with it is amazing. Totally transformed from it's "perfect" form in to a totally different kind of Perfection!!! Love them all!

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    1. The tin was so clean and shiny and...new...we can't have that, now can we?!

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  4. Thanks for sharing your new passion! These are wonderful ear bobbles!

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  5. Nikki, you never cease to amaze me, and these earrings are no exception. I always am in awe when an artist is able to transform something "simple" and "ordinary" into something completely different and beautiful. You did a wonderful job, love them all.

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  6. I love them all!! these are the cutest earrings that I have seen in a while and you have got them in such wonderful colors:) I wish I could lay my hands on such patterned tin

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    1. Thank you! I find that thrift shops or re-sale shops are a great place to find old tin for cheap. And of course eBay and Goodwill websites are always good, but often a bit more expensive. But one good sized tin can give you quite a few baubles!

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  7. Nikki!!Nikki!!Nikki!! You, Dear Gentle Gem, amaze and astound me so. I have been looking at that tutorial for a good while now, if it's the one I'm thinking of, and just never jumped in. Why oh Why do I not do the wonderful things you do? lol It's all in the talent, my girl. You are amazing. The spirit these engender is multi-faceted, and then it settles right down into its very own. wow. :)

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    1. Tee hee! If you haven't dabbled into the "soft" soldering realm yet, her tut is a great starting place. Your words always make me glow, thank you so very much, friend :)

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