LOS – dianne karg baron

YOJ10-09 Felt & Crochet Bead Necklace

Posted on February 26, 2010 by dianne

Felt & Crochet Bead Necklace (2010)
Fine silver, merino wool, Beadalon stringing material, crimp beads
Crochet, felted, assembled
L 47.31 cm x 17 mm (largest bead)

I mentioned in my Week 6 post that I was making felted beads, and now I can share the results of that effort. Initially I was going to pair the felted beads with the crochet beads just as I’d made them, in fine silver white. Then it occurred to me that over time, the silver is going to tarnish, and the necklace will be difficult to clean without taking it apart.

The solution was to add LOS to the silver.

Liver of sulphur stinks to high heaven, but it creates such interesting effects, especially when a bit of salt is added into the solution! I love how the colours change, and in this case, how they became mottled in the purple-blue range.

A friend of mine asked me to produce a bunch of pieces for her to use in the fall for a fashion show, so this is going to be one of the things I send her. It’s not my typical style, but it will work well with the clothing being shown.

More photos:

YOJ10-07 Crochet Ball Pendant

Posted on February 26, 2010February 26, 2010 by dianne

Crochet Ball Pendant (2010)
Fine silver
Constructed, crochet, liver of sulphur patination
L 3.9 cm x W 2.0 cm

The other day, while commiserating with my friend Margaret about our work loads and not seeming to be able to stop to catch a breath, she quoted back to me a comment that I’d deadpanned into one of our conversations once:

“Breathing is just sooo overrated…”

This week, I told her that I think that would make a perfect epitaph for my headstone. That laid both of us flat with laughter.

I shouldn’t complain, because it’s self-inflicted: I’ve taken on too many projects to try to deal with at once. As a result, I’m struggling to do anything as effectively as I’d like. My DH is currently working a rotating shift schedule, 4 – 12 hour days then 4 – 12 nights, which is also wreaking havoc on my regular routine.

As a result, I’m off the rails on the YOJ project. I so want to be producing quality work, but I seem to only have time for the barest minimum, and even that seems mediocre!

In an effort to catch up, I’m going to just put together a couple of very quick pieces. I found these little crochet balls while cleaning up the studio a week or two ago. I made them several years ago, but the project they were intended for didn’t really work out. I applied LOS to some of the balls, and they are being used in the project that will be posted next. These two were left over, so I put them together to make a little pendant.

YOJ09-12 Viking Knit Chain (and “Merry Meet”)

Posted on March 20, 2009March 30, 2009 by dianne

Viking Knit Chain (2009)
Fine silver, sterling silver
Chain L 68.6 cm x W 0.35 cm
Pendant L 5.8 cm x W 2.5 cm
Nalbinding, constructed, cold-connected, flameworked, cast

Several years ago, my husband and I collaborated on making a Thor’s Hammer. Malcolm is fascinated by all things Norse, to the point where I’ve joked many times about him being a born-again Viking. He carved the cross for this pendant, but struggled to model the head properly. I came up with the idea of forming the head out of stick tack (aka white tack, blue tack etc etc), and then we cold molded the whole piece for casting. That original was finished, and then remolded and four more pieces were cast.

Malcolm made himself a lovely chain to go with the original. Unfortunately, our studio gremlins made off with it some time during our move, so all he has now are the copies. Wanting to wear his Thor’s Hammer, he recently asked me to make a chain for him.

So this week, on the heels of finishing my competition entry, I decided to whip it off. My hands are not quite recovered from the massive project, so by the time I was half way through working on this chain, I was having to put a bandaid on my pinky. I was developing a blister from all the pulling.

My beloved husband is very happy with his new chain, and thrilled to be wearing his pendant.

Some more photos:

Also, as promised, I’m posting the photo of my competition entry to “Connection”, the National Juried Exhibition being held by Zilberschmuck Art Jewellery and hosted at Shao Design. The call for entry asked: “What is your interpretation of the word “CONNECTION”? Is there a connection part, link or bond? Is there an association or relationship between two or more things? Do associates, relations, acquaintances or friends influence the outcome of the piece? Is it a single connection or one of many types and kinds of connections that make up the piece? How can these ideas be formalized into a three-dimensional piece?” My entry focused on the connection we make with each other, through a handshake. Clasping hands in greeting, in parting, in confirming business arrangements, in offering congratulations, is often the only physical connection we make with each other.

Merry Meet (2009)
Fine silver, sterling silver, glass
L 102 cm x W 7.0 cm
Nalbinding, constructed, cold-joined, liver of sulphur patination

My husband’s comment about this piece: “It’s odd.”

Yes, but that’s “art” jewellery for you… LOL

The hands clasp together just over the solar plexus. If I thought anyone would wear it that way, I would have liked to turn it into a stomacher – I think it would be well suited for that – but it works as a necklace as well.

From start to finish, it took two months of solid work to construct, and is (pardon the pun) hands down, one of the most ambitious pieces I’ve ever attempted. It’s not exactly what I envisioned – that would have taken another three months of work to complete.

As I mentioned last week, it didn’t make the final cut for the exhibition, but I’m not disappointed about that. I am satisfied that I got it done in time for judging.

Here are more detail photos, along with shots taken during construction: