progress shots

chainmaille project:

1. this project is nearly complete. the clasp is finished, and sitting in a patina solution to blacken. I'm noticing all the spots that I didn't clean up solder slop enough, but I think that's a minor issue that I honestly don't plan to address. At least not now, should I get this project photographed and whatnot, then Yes!
2. have to attach the clasp, finish adding length to the chainmaille, and then minor bits here and there to make sure it's all neat and ready for CEP. 

broach:

1. More or less finally got a design I like about this one. In full, it'll be three parts, almost like a triptic broach, but for the project I will be completing the center broach. It'll be a Cyanotype picture placed within a silver broach that will be held in place with a pin driven through the image of the person. Since I'll be forging a spoon, think I'll drawl out the pin for this piece. 
2. Still have quite a bit to go. Finishing the broach itself, the pin and then the image. 

Spoon:

1. Design idea here is a bit fun. Haven't poured the ingot yet, so this is all very fresh itself. It's going to be a lovely weekend! 
2. Pour ingot, ready the ingot for forging, forge it, design. Yep. All this can happen simultaneously. 

samples galore

thus far, I've run into multiple complications, all during my sample making process, so that's nice. Yet, I'd like to get construction of my piece started but the sample heartache hasn't been great on my confidence. Misplaced my primary sketchbook, glad I have images uploaded here. Planned on changing up the materials within my piece.

I've made the wrong jump ring size, winging it is not wise. I've learned that aluminum has a very low threshold for soldering. The thin wire that I got to use isn't thin enough, but too thin for other uses. Going great.

New ideas are to twist up some thicker (16g) wire and weave the thiner wire in a figure 8 pattern, then braiding a silver stripe through the center. Then, of course, the chainmaille, which I hope to have made up once I've completed some more jump rings, but I want to get the collar piece done first. Pictures to come later.