Lately, I'm in love with everything that has to do with birds, nests, and home. I also have a long-standing love affair with sheet metal, hammers and anvils, and wire-wrapped beads. What better way to honor my current loves than to create an art journal which marries traditional book binding techniques with unique metal working designs.
In this class, we will construct a gilded bird cage journal with wire and brass front cover, sheet-brass back cover, and signatures filled with a variety of papers. Using an everyday hammer, some wire, and a steel block, we will pound, shape and design our own unique cages. Once we have the wires all flattened, you will have a choice of using rivets and assembling your cage with all cold joins, OR using solder and assembling without rivets, OR a combination of both techniques. We'll top it off with just the tiniest bit of decorative soldering and bling.
This project oriented class will appeal to beginners and veterans alike as the end product is a sweet tweeting little journal that can be used for just about anything. Once you have the basics down, think of the future possibilities.
Supply List:
- Sheet Metal: Brass, Copper, or Nickel Sheet (24 or 26 gauge) 6" x 8"
- 20 pieces of handmade/vintage papers (6" x 10") nothing too fragile
- 15 pieces of Heavy Weight Watercolor Paper (6" x 10") - i.e. Fabriano Hot Press 140 lb.
- Scissors for cutting out paper for signatures
- Small piece of cable chain, 3 - 4 inches used for closure, if desired
- Focal Piece for hanging in the middle of the bird cage, if desired
- Few LARGE holed beads for embellishing wire, if desired
- 2 - 3 pieces of organza ribbon (or other type ribbon) for accenting spine, 6 - 8 inches each, if desired
- Pencil and paper for creating pattern (or use mine)
- Small piece or two of rhinestone chain or accent piece (used for decorative what-not on top of cage), if desired
- Sharpie Marker - Extra Fine Point works best
- Ruler for marking up Sheet Metal
Optional:
- If you have any of these tools and can bring them, then you will not be waiting for a tool. However, I will have ALL of these on hand to share.
- Tin Snips
- Small Flat File (for smoothing edges of the cut brass)
- Soldering Iron
- Soldering Iron Holder
- Silver/Tin Solder
- Flux and Flux Brush
- Small wet sponge for cleaning Soldering Tip
- Sal Amoniac Block for cleaning Soldering Tip
- Metal Cookie sheet for work surface
- Drill (Dremel tools do NOT work well on flattened steel wire)
1/16 drill bits
- Center Punch
- Small Bees Wax for coating drill bit before drilling each hole
- Small piece of disposable wood for support when drilling holes into metal
- Sheet of 220 grit sandpaper or disposable sanding block in fine grit
- Ball Peen Hammer (or Regular Hammer)
- Steel Bench Block (or Jeweler's Anvil)
- Bench Pillow or dish towel (used to soften the hammering sounds)
- Round Nose Pliers
- Long Flat Nose Pliers (with or without serration)
- Flush Cut Wire Cutters
- Craft or Book Binding Awl for piercing holes in signatures
- Book Binders Needle or Long Needle with large eye
Teacher will bring:
- 2 yards Waxed Linen
- Escutcheon Pins - used for riveting
- 16 gauge wire
- 20 gauge wire
- focal Tin Bird
- "Donut" beads used for spacers in binding
Patterns for cutting out Signatures and Cage
- Acetone (Polish Remover) for cleaning Sheet Metal
Note: I will have all my tools there and if you are unable to find/purchase a requested tool, don't worry about it. We can share what I have, but it will just take you a little longer to get through some of the steps when waiting on a tool. The hammer, anvil, and bench pillow (or towel) are the most desired tools to bring if you have them, because we will be flattening a ton of wire to create the bird cage.
Web Resources for supplies:
- Sheet Metal
- All Variety of Pliers - cheap ones from Michael's or Hobby Lobby will work
- My Favorite Tin Snips(shears)
A Little About ME
My Grandmother paid for my first art lessons at the age of seven. She must have known something because that early passion has traveled with me throughout my life. While my desire for art simmered during the first part of my adulthood, it wasn't until I had been laid off from my "regular" job in 2006, that I returned full circle and embraced my true heart's desire. Now a full-time mom and a full-time artist, I can't breathe without creating art every day. My particular passion is Art Journaling and I'm always looking for ways to take my Art Journaling one step further. In 2010, I started teaching my first class and was surprised at how much I absolutely love sharing my passion and experience with like-minded women. It is liberating and I am so excited about pursuing this new area of growth.
