January 28, 2010
Design Challenge #1 - Anne Mitchell
Anne shares with us a brief overview of the steps she takes to create her wonderful clasp. If you are interested in the full step-by-step please stay tuned. They will be available late February at Whole Lotta Whimsy. They will be in a handy bench format too!
Anne's project is inspired by the texturally rich steam pipes in this photo. Inspiration can come from many places. Look through books, magazines, or carry a camera. You never know where the next great idea might come from! Glue those pictures into a notebook which can serve as a great source of inspiration when you need a little. Think about texture, color, shape, dimension, and how to compose all those elements.
Using the 2 Hole Punch, TL402, punch out 18 to 24 dots.
Using the fine point tweezers, place the punched dots on the freshly cut clay in a pattern that mimics a Steam Pipe Cap.
Mark the holes to be punched for your stringing connections.
Using the 2 Hole Punch, TL402, punch out the holes.
Take the sharpie and mark the placement for the location of the hook for the clasp. Punch a hole in that marked location and saw out the hole.
Make fine silver wire headpins and rivet the watch parts into place.
Here's a closer look at her finished product. It's going to be the perfect clasp to a wonderful piece.
Why not always make the clasp, instead of buying a commercial clasp? After all, we are making wearable art. It becomes the beginning and end to a perfect piece!
We'd love to see you take the challenge as well to make an incredible clasp. Can't wait to see your pieces. Send them and we'll post pictures in a future Challenge Gallery. No toggle or c-clasps. Challenge yourself!
Leave a comment Jan 28th on this blog and get an entry into the giveaway. We'll pick a lucky winner of a pack of 30gm of CopprClay, a Stainless Steel Pan, and a pound of Carbon, courtesy of Whole Lotta Whimsy. Spread the word!
If you are in Tucson visiting the Tucson Gem Show, please come see Anne's latest work at the Best Bead Show booth SH-9, February 3rd through February 7th
Anne Mitchell started her creative career over 20 years ago as a professional lighting designer. Looking for another outlet for her artistic energies, Anne began teaching chain making and metal working approximately eight years ago for just pure enjoyment. During those years, Anne found that the creative outlet provided by teaching, as well as a consistent demand for her classes was too alluring to deny. Leaving lighting behind in 2003, Anne is now a full-time designer, teacher, and author. Her classes always sell out at the Bead & Button Show. She was the recipient of Bead and Button's Excellence in Bead Artistry in 2009. She is a dynamic teacher who always pushes the technical and artistic limits with her designs. www.AnneMitchell.net
You have written an excellent blog that has convinced me to read this! Excellent Job!
Posted by: coach handbags | May 11, 2010 at 07:50 PM
Cool clasp. Love the steampunk look.
Posted by: Kenji Von Achen | April 09, 2010 at 05:23 PM
Such a nice change from toggles, very clever and I look forward to trying this.
Posted by: Ann | February 17, 2010 at 12:45 PM
The whole Master Muse Challenge concept is brilliant. Sheer genius. Inspiration, motivation and instruction, all in one beautifully-presented package! And it provides promotional and marketing opportunities for the design-team artists and WLW, too - all of whom we want to support and see succeed. Win-win all around. Kudos to Tonya and the entire WLW team.
And kudos to Anne for this great clasp design. It triggered lots of new ideas that I can't wait to explore. Thanks, Anne.
Posted by: Claire | February 03, 2010 at 11:41 AM
LOVE IT!
Posted by: Georgie Galante | February 03, 2010 at 08:12 AM
I love the industrial look and the inspiration for this clasp. Creative to use watch parts to carry out the look. Thank you for sharing.
Posted by: Ethel Loh Strickarz | February 02, 2010 at 07:14 AM
What a great base design! I like the addition of the watch parts...they take the clasp in many design directions.
Posted by: Evalie Lockard | February 02, 2010 at 12:27 AM
very nice design, appears light and easy to use on a necklace. Sometimes metal clay clasps get a bit bulky. Thanks for starting the Master Muse projects. Looking forward to more and more,
Posted by: cindy holst | February 01, 2010 at 10:14 PM
Wonderful ideas! I can't wait for more!
Posted by: TerryWilliams | February 01, 2010 at 07:47 PM
Fabulous! I will look forward to more.
Posted by: Linda Greene | February 01, 2010 at 02:45 PM
This is a wonderful idea. I can't wait for all the tutorials.
Posted by: Chris Childress | February 01, 2010 at 02:41 PM
Neat idea and program is very intriuging. As a Mechanical Engineer I like the "Industrial" feel of the clasp. The imagination is reeling with concepts for the rest of the piece!
Posted by: Geoff Grinnell | January 31, 2010 at 07:10 AM
Great new program and fun idea...cant wait to see the work that is inspired by this.
Posted by: Diane | January 30, 2010 at 05:00 PM
Yee Ha!! Here we go!! WTG Anne!
Posted by: Barbara Simon | January 29, 2010 at 03:03 PM
Great way to launch the program, with a clasp project! Good incentive to think about that from the start while designing any kind of a piece that could include a clasp.
Posted by: Carol | January 28, 2010 at 10:58 PM
What a great start to the Master Muse tutorials! I'm really looking forward to seeing all the variations on a theme.
Posted by: Vickie Hallmark | January 28, 2010 at 09:36 PM
Hi Donna Allen,
First, thank you for suggestions! We love feedback ;-)
You'll be able to see the front and back of the pieces and have all the details on the projects in the full tutorial. The space on the blog is limited to a synopsis, but you'll love the detailed and complete tutorials. The Masters have done a really great job at leaving no detail out including specifics on materials used, products, etc.
Thank you for leaving a comment! Keep the suggestions coming. We love them!
Cheers,
Tonya
Posted by: Tonya Davidson | January 28, 2010 at 08:10 PM
Great project! Thanks for the inspiration. Love the new site too!
Posted by: Tracy Hibsman | January 28, 2010 at 07:33 PM
And how about showing the flip side on designs?
Posted by: Donna Allen | January 28, 2010 at 02:13 PM
I'm definitely looking forward to getting the tutorial!
Posted by: Donna Allen | January 28, 2010 at 02:11 PM
I'm encouraged by any and all unique ideas that come my way. This is one of the best! Thank you.
Gretchen
Posted by: Gretchen Olberding | January 28, 2010 at 01:51 PM
This is a very wonderful idea!!
As a person that loves to learn everything about Metal clay, I can't thank you enough!
Thank you so much Tonya
Blessings to you always,
Candi
Posted by: Candi Frost | January 28, 2010 at 01:00 PM
Love it! Love it! Love it!!!!!!!!!!!
And how did Anne know I was looking for a new clasp design!!!!!!
These tutorials are very exciting.
Posted by: Diane Parson | January 28, 2010 at 11:40 AM
This is wonderful. I've been wondering how I would use those little gears and things I bought from WLW a while ago. Now I have a couple of ideas inspired by this project.
Posted by: Pat Accorinti | January 28, 2010 at 11:36 AM
Wow,that's a great design and great idea. Love it! Thanks again for the post!
Posted by: Maya Macauley | January 28, 2010 at 11:28 AM