What was the first piece you ever made?

I was creating large copper embossed pictures way too many years
ago. I found that I could use the copper as a mold in which I would
pour about inch of plaster. I would then finish the plaster to look
like the copper. I was selling this pictures in local gift shops.

I was looking for a more permanent medium to create theses pictures
when I discussed the problem with my buddy, Dee Morris. He suggested
I look into lost was casting. Needless to say I asked what the heck
is lost wax casting.

After an explanation of the process Dee gave me a hunk of wax. I
carved a buckle or bola and he cast it for me.

WOW!!! I had a way to create jewelry. I never created another copper
picture.

That led to a casting class with the Phoenix adult class. I found I
could pour molten wax into the copper molds. I created a cowboy
portrait buckle. I had it in a shop. A Doctor from New Jersey bought
it and wanted to see all my work. By then I has seven designs. He
ordered 10 each.

That was it. I was off and running and never looked back. I taught
myself to solder, cut stones and make southwest jewelry. Eventually
I added the pottery line.

By the way the original piece has been a bola and a buckle several
times. I still have it and it is currently a buckle.

Lee Epperson

Check out my blog for photos of the copper pictures the original
buckle and a cowboy buckle.
http://leessilver-lee.blogspot.com

I was taking a college class in metals, and was fortunate to have a
teacher who emphasized fundamentals. She taught us how to make all
kinds of cold connections, and I decided to make a pendant
incorporating each of the connections–rivets with round head, rivets
with flat heads, tube revets, hinges etc. There were 9 kinds in all.
I cut out a number of stylized figures,and attached them one to the
other with different examples of connections. I still have that piece
and refer to it often to refresh my memory as to how to make the
connection I need. It was my first completed piece of Jewelry, and to
this day I love it.

Interestingly, I wore it during a recent participation in a show,
and was amazed at how many people wanted to purchase it. It was not
for sale. If I was a good business woman I would make up a number of
pendants like this one, but somehow, I just want to keep this as “one
of a kind.” I still remember that wonderful teacher who gave us such
fine training in the fundaments. Linda Kodama was her name, and I am
grateful to her. Any students who studied under her are fortunate
indeed. Alma Rands

Hello Carol,

Neat thread. I’m looking forward to responses. I honestly can’t
recall the first piece, since that was… oh, say 45 years ago. I did
hang on to nearly all of the pieces I made that semester though, and
my daughters have most of them. I’ve kept a turquoise nugget ring,
bangle set with TE, sunflower pin set with “apache tear”, some
"chicken" earrings set with turquoise and others made without stones,
and probably a couple pendants. I had a great time in the studio room
as I took the class as independent study and was the only student
using the metals area during that hour. Since I didn’t have to share
tools and equipment, I could zing along unimpeded at my own rate.

Judy in Kansas, who is just back from Colorado and watched the
outside temperature steadily rise from 61 degrees to 109 during the
drive toward the east! Oh, and the show was pretty good too.

I still have the first kaleidoscope I made all by myself, without
anyones help.

My first kscope, to look at now, is really, really awful. But one
has to start somewhere, and I usually improve by the practice,
practice, practice method. It’s a “reminder” that many things can be
accomplished with a little persistence.

Regards from sunny/raining/hot Rehoboth Beach DE…Carol

This is a fun thread! The first piece of “grown-up” jewelry I made
was a ring for my beginning metals class. It was a round garnet cab
set in a bezel with a double square back. I then set this piece atop
two pieces of small tubing soldered to the ring band. From the side
it looked like a silly face! I was so proud of it and wore it all the
time until my skills improved and I made a better ring. To this day,
I test ring designs by making the first one for myself and wearing it
to see the responses I get. I’m currently wearing a very cool 22k
granulated band I made this past January. I occasionally get out my
old stuff to see how far I’ve come. I’m often surprised at the work
I did so early on.

Tammy Kirks
Red Bee Designs

My first piece of jewelry was a pendant made of banded agate I cut
as a experiment in lapidary, some tooled silver, a piece of copper,
and a beach tossed shell. It was all an experiment because like Judy,
I was working independently in a grad class. I still have the piece
and still use some of the design concepts of it in my newer jewelry.

Peace,
Richard