This is the fourth post about the workshop. To read the prior posts scroll down.
Day 4 - Monday and it was our last day. Megan started with a demo of HOT forging tools and she held up a large diameter piece of tool steel and said she was going to use it to make me a tool.

That's right folks, I was getting a tool, a big - fat - pusher made by Megan in return for giving her the swirl bowl. WOW! To say I was on cloud nine the rest of the day is an understatement. Megan has a BIG fat pusher that everyone was using and lusting after and I was getting a similar but slightly smaller version of it .

While everyone was making hot forged tools, and there were some nice ones being made, I finished my texture wheel. And for texture 8 I ended with a moon scape. This last one was not I had in mind but I ended up cracking the copper and I then turned a mistake into a design element

Once that was done, I worked on making a custom bezel cup for a cab I had cut. This technique was discussed at the last workshop and is used as the starting point of the gypsy setting ring shown in Megan's book. I did not finish this - yet, but hope to this weekend. I spent the rest of the time taking pictures and in some ways relaxing. At the end of the workshop we all shared and displayed what the had worked on for the past few days, discussed where we want to go next, when was Megan going to come back.  We also talked about starting a small group where we would meet maybe a few times a year and work and share and we tossed some names around like Talk & Tap, Bang & Banter and that maybe we would meet at Jay's studio. We hope to get this going in the fall.

And finally -

Lesson Learned: Go look at your "finished" piece a week later and use a critical eye; you will see the things you missed or need  a tweak. THEN FIX THEM.

Lesson Learned: Gelato, every afternoon at 2:00 pm is a great way to take a break from your work.

Lesson Learned: If you really, really, really, really want to keep a piece - DON'T SHOW IT TO OTHERS cause they might make you an offer you can't refuse!

Lesson Learned: Be willing and open to share your work, you never know what you will get in return.

Use this link to view all my pictures under Metals - Classes -2010

My Finished Texture Wheel

This is the second post about the workshop. To read the prior post scroll down.. 

Day 2  - Saturday and we started again at 9:00 am everyone talked about the first day, how tired they were when they got home - there was such a high energy!  We started the day with a demo and a show-N-tell where we all brought in pieces we had previously done. It was great to see other peoples work and even a few piece they had purchased. Then we got to work and I flipped my domed copper over, I scribed a small circle in the middle and then divided the larger circle into 8 segments. Each of the 8 segment and in each one, I would do a different technique.  After doing the lining, I started my textures. The first three segments were all done from the front side: Arts & Crafts planish, Concrete and Fur. The fourth texture started on the front with lining, then I had to flip the copper over so I could do some repousse and then I flipped it over again so I could add the final textures - I called this wood but I think it looks more like sargasso seaweed.

While working on my textures, there was a large amount of sharing between everyone: how did you make that, what tool did you use (Megan brought many of her tools which we could also use on our work, though I did my best to only use my tools when doing a texture); where did you get the inspiration for that; and much more!  Of course in the afternoon there was another trip to the gelato store and after class I stayed again, to go to dinner with Mary, Terri and Elizabeth. I was home and a sleep around 10 pm.

At one point Megan talked about purchasing tools and mentioned the tool set made and sold by Lisa. I spoke up and told how my husband had bought me the set and that I had it with me. There were looks of envy all around the room and Megan who knows Lisa had not even seen them! They were passed around the room and Megan asked if she could try them to which I agreed. That night just before I went home, I put them on Megan's bench for her to use and the next morning she gave her seal of approval. Personally I think there should be one or two other tools included in the set such as an under cutter and a sheep foot planisher for working on side walls as this would make the set more complete as a starter.

Towards the end of the day, a friend of Megan's arrived so they could go to dinner, it was Helen Shirk!
We had done a show-N-Tell earlier in the day and some of my vessels were on the table still because some of the other students wanted to take pictures. Well, Helen arrived and I guess she asked Megan who's vessels they were and I was called over and I was introduced to Helen who then asked about them and where I had learned to do raising. I stated that I was still learning but I was taking private lessons from 'Deb Jemmott'. Helen said: "Oh, she was one of my students". Helen also said that I was doing very good work!For more pictures, go to Kernolgy and you can see all the pictures I posted, which are more than I have shown here. 

Use this link to view all my pictures under Metals - Classes -2010
Texture Wheel Day 2 from the inside