Pewter Castings

I've been working feverishly on my ideas.  Well, honestly - considering the post on polychronic behavior I'd like to think feverishly but it's more like consistent linear progress...LOL.  I have like five projects going at the same time - maybe more.  I keep telling myself if this ever all comes together it will be like a volcano.  I keeping worrying that it will be like one big eruption and then I'll go dormant for another 10 years.  Scary - scary thought. Okay - let's perish that singular thought to the - been there - done that - pile and move forward.



Five of the new carved plaster casts for pewter

I've been working on the pewter casting from B&B.  I never did show you what I made in that class. As soon as I get home again I'll add a photo of the first castings we did while we were at class.  I have three of them and Susan, my friend, gave me one of her hedge hogs.  They are cute and remind me of me.  Maybe it's one of my totem animals - The other and most prevalent one being the Raven.



There are three new plasters in this photo and two hunks of pewter to melt down.

I bet you feel you just have to know why a hedge hog - right?.  Got myself giggling here...not just because it's nice and round but more because it tucks and balls up as a self-defense against it's perception of a predator.  My tendencies are to get quite hermit like at times.  Anyway, I digress. 

None of these casts in the photos have been poured yet.  I have all the materials and am ready to go but maybe just true to my nature I can't just do one thing at a time so I've finished quite a few to pour at the same time.  I'll let you know how it goes.

If you have any questions about how we did this plaster casting - please feel free to ask....

Bead and Button Classes

Let's talk about the classes I took at B&B and all of the fun stuff that was seen and done.  First off there were hundreds of different classes offered.  I already know quite a bit about casting precious metals but not a lot about casting pewter so I took a pewter casting class offered by The Glass Bead Company.  Debbie and David Austin  (the delightful owners of the shop) were the instructors, primarily David.

What a sweet, patient, and encouraging instructor.  I'd recommend a class from either of them at any opportunity - whether at Bead and Button or at their studio.

While Dave was teaching us how to carve the plaster for pewter casting Debbie was busy working on tin tube beads for the show.  She graciously showed me and Susan Lambert how to make them during a quiet moment in the class.  What a kind gesture...and of course that was all it took for us to dig in to those kits she had and buy a few extra goodies.  I can't wait to make some tin tube beads.

Betty Boop Bead by Debbie Austin

The pewter casting was great fun and I'm sure I'll be adding plenty of pewter pieces to the Etsy shop soon.