Encompassed

I have wanted to try making a bezel for awhile.

I often find new projects hard just simply because it is so much STUFF to track down. I had to get the bezel wire, and the first one I bought wasn’t the right size, too narrow, so I had to send that back (and of course, I was impatient about it. I wanted to get to work!) I needed silver for my backing, and now I wish I had bought more, as silver has gone up over $2 since I last bought some. I needed flux, and a lot more solder than the little bit I had left over from my metalsmithing class. All these things to track down and buy. As well as a way to make the glass the right size to use with the size backing I was planning on. Which meant a modified press, for me. There are cabochon mandrels out there now, but I wanted to start working in a format I was used to. And the press wasn’t quite right, too thick, had to send it back and have it retooled, which took weeks and then it finally was here, and I made some practice glass pieces and then finally this weekend put it all together and MADE a bezeled piece of glass.

Oh, happy day! And now I want to make more. And I know I will eventuall want to make ones that aren’t round…but that will mean more silver backing, a different shape, and working out of my usual path and maybe getting  a mandrel to get a consistent shape…and on and on.

It’s less than 3 weeks until Open Studios now, as well, and I would like at least a few of these available to sell….so I will have to get right on that….as soon as I have my studio photographed for a newspaper article. That happens tomorrow. Then I can trash the place with my final push of work for the show.