Saturday 11 January 2014

Foxy Foxy (and a little giveaway)

Some very unusual behaviour took place in my studio yesterday - I put all my tools away (unusual in itself!) and got my pencils and sketchbook out and planned out a new design. On the rare occasion I do sketch it's usual doodles that may or may not turn into designs, but this time I sat down with a definite aim - a new Fox pendant to add to my growing Woodland Collection. A little research on Pinterest for illustrations of foxes, a few notes on what I wanted to acheive, a set of pencils that I'd been given for my birthday years ago but hardly used - and I was off! Well, ok, I sat and looked at the blank page for a while, but then I was off!


It was actually fun, to work in a different way than usual, to sketch rather than go straight to sawing and hammering.

The next stage was to cut some copper - simple geometric shapes, textured, layered and soldered together. Experimentation with different textures and different faces. I always get a much better idea of how a piece of jewellery is going to work once it's made in metal, and metal pieces are never exactly the same as any sketches I do. Once the heads were cut out and the eyes added I realised that they also needed noses, and turning the sitting fox's head slightly to one side rather than straight on made him look friendlier.

I used my favourite hammer to texture the Fox's tail - of course!
I've just realised that taking the photos at a slight angle has made the faces look a little longer than they really are!
This was where working at the Sorting Office really helped! Working at home, I really only had the cats to ask for opinions and they weren't exactly much help. At the Sorting Office there is always someone about to ask, and feedback from Denise, Eve and Jason led me to change the eyes on the sleeping fox, and I then added some texture on the body to tie the design in more with the other pendants.......but I still can't decide.......



Which Fox gets a place in the Woodland Collection?
Sleeping Fox or Sitting Fox?
Or both?

A silver version of the Sitting Fox will have a textured body too.

I need some more help please! Can you help me decide? Which do you prefer?

As a little incentive, if you'd like to head over to my Facebook page and leave a comment on the Fox photos over there, when I get back into the studio on Tuesday I'll put all the names of the commenters in a hat. The winner gets a sterling silver Fox pendant of their choice, either sleeping or sitting. And a chain to put it on of course!

Thank you, and have a great weekend!

21 comments:

  1. They are both really lovely and would be great additions. I would pick the sitting fox. N

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  2. Replies
    1. Aww.... I miss you Art Jewelry Elements girls too! Hope you're all well. Jx

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  3. Love both designs---but I would choose the sleeping fox!

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  4. Love the sitting fox! Both are just lovely!

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  5. Saw this on your facebook page and chose the sleeping fox as my favourite. I have loved reading/seeing your processes here on your blog. Wish I could get such textures on my pieces. I have a few shaped punches but I find the metal jumps around and I find it hard to create a reliable/repeated texture. Maybe I need to invest in some texture hammers. I've seen this one on Cooksons: http://www.cooksongold.com/Jewellery-Tools/Beadsmith-Interchangeable-Hammer-With-12-Head-Inserts-prcode-997-3122# What do you think?
    Kristin :)

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    1. Hi Kristen, thanks for your comments! I love my hammers, and I'm building up quite a nice set of design stamps/punches too. The main trick to getting a nice texture is to practice until you're happy with the result, especially with design stamps as I find that each one needs hitting slightly differently.
      I have one purposely made texture hammer, but to be honest I hardly ever use it, it only tends to get used by my students. That's not because it's poor quality, it's just that I prefer the hammers that I've got. I've got several hammers that are old with slightly damaged heads that give a lovely texture. The interchangeable hammer looks interesting. There's a bit more information about the different heads it comes with here http://www.the-beadshop.co.uk/beads-and-beading-supplies-c491/jewellery-making-equipment-c6/hammers-c633/beadsmith-beadsmith-interchangeable-hammer-with-12-head-inserts-p9308. I haven't seen one in real life, but Beadsmith are a good make.

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    2. Kristin, not Kristen! Sorry - that'll teach me not to write comments so late at night!

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  6. Oh my, but they are both gorgeous! If I HAD to choose......Sleeping Fox!

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  7. One more vote for the sleeping fox :0) They're both lovely, but I like the sleeping one more because sleeping pets always causes a hug instinct in me.

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  8. Thanks Jo for the info, I'll check that link out. I'm also off to check out my husband's stock of old hammers maybe I'll be lucky and find an interesting texture-making hammer without the expense - thanks for the tip!
    All the best
    Kristin :)
    p.s. Don't worry about getting my name wrong - it's happened to me all my life... Christine, Kirsty, Christian.... etc... !

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  9. I would choose the sleeping fox. :-)

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  10. I would choose the sleeping fox. :-)

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  11. I would choose the sleeping fox. :-)

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  12. I would choose the sleeping fox. :-)

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  13. I think they're both great. Headed to your facebook page

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