I've Got An Etch To Scratch

Okies...my canvas's ladies are still waiting for me to complete them but that darn etching stuff is like a disease...an etch eeeerrr itch that I just have to scratch and keep coming back too LOL.It's Jen's fault(and I love her for it LOL) and while I find my own way in etching I know all my work is greatly influenced by the classes I did with Jen Crossley,her Divine samples and the projects in Stephanie Lee's book (Semi Precious Salvage).
My two daughters snaffle anything I make in the form of a necklace and these were no exception even though they are just simple imperfect attempts.I had an etched house shape from a past project and decided to make three more the same size.I did a nickel/silver one(at left),a bronze one(middle) and a copper one(at right).I adored the look of time etched one best.They were all patina enhanced using Lime Sulphur liquid for plants...its not as smelly as Liver Of Sulphur.


I decided on nest themes for them all using wire to make the nests as per Stephanie Lee's book and Jen makes gorgeous wire nests on her blog site as well.Thicker wire gave better stronger looking nests but were harder to weave...pliers help to shape them too.There is a small dictionary word at the top that reads "fly on this copper one.

The copper wire nest on the brass one was a bit scrappy and the wire too thin I think.It has the dictionary word "chirp" on it.

I grabbed this one for myself LOL.I like the nest on this nickel/silver one

and I was getting the wrapping of the wire nests perfected by now.It has "sing" on it.

Melissa is a steam punk fan(remember her faux metal and part steam punk style mask she got me to make her in 45mins) and wanted watch bits in her nest...like a watch part collecting Bower bird LOL.I truly loved the end result and she adores it too.

Vintage supplies and trinkets are near on impossible for me to get up here in Humpty Doo(YES that is the name of my town) so I hope to buy some stuff when we go to Melbourne next year to the Creativesoul art retreat.I just know I like making things with metal and will keep practicing and hopefully get better at it too.It's cool to run into my girls in town with their Mum made necklaces on though :o).I'm thinking of making some etched metal ear-rings and bracelets to match the necklaces for Chrissy presents.

hugs

Annette In Oz

Revamp and THE Snails :o)

We finally had a good rain storm this afternoon.It was so nice to smell the wet Earth smell of the Wet season rains....the cool breeze...and the drop in the oppressive heat.The rains mean the grass and trees will once again look green and new life starts over again here in the NT.One thing that happens is the land snails return to feed on the grass.Two years ago the kids painted the back of some of the snails with markings to see if they would come back.Last year they did.Tonight Tim checked and there again were three painted snails feeding on the grass.We could not believe our eyes when we saw them.Grant tells me they bury themselves in the dirt in the Dry but even he was unsure how long they lived for.






I'm just glad the metallic paint didn't kill them...wonder who will come back next year. I have also done a blog upgrade today using images from here .Hope it looks OK
hugs
Annette In Oz

Etched Metal ATC's ALL Traded/Canvas ladies so far

OMG you folks are fast...all ATC's are traded.I'LL try to get them in the post tomorrow and I look forward to what the posty brings :o).Below are the gals I'm painting on canvas with their undercoat skin on.....alias my aliens *grin*.My ladies are from memory and not meant to be realistic looking.This is "seeking" and I want to add an etched metal heart to her body for seeking...love.

and closer

I haven't named the next one...she looks so sad at the moment....any ideas?

and closer

The skin colour will change with the top painting so she wont look as red in the end.Next is the eyes and lips....maybe a blue eyed blond for seeking and red haired amber eyed for ????

hugs

Annette In Oz

Etched Metal ATC's To Trade

I have three etched metal ATC's available for trade.There is a copper Oriental Dreaming one.It has bamboo in the bg and cranes dancing.

The next etched metal ATC is a nickle silver one called "Floral Fantasy".

and the last one is a vintage looking brass etched metal ATC like the one I gave Linda

There was another etched brass ATC called "measure of a man" but its already taken and on it's way to someone.Here is what it looks like.

Mary's etched metal house is on its way.I etched a base of flowers and wrote her name in it for the house to sit on.Hope it travels well and gets to you safely Mary.For the rest of the day I'll be painting the under coat skin tones onto my two ladies that I have drawn and copied onto canvas.They always looks like aliens at that stage till I do their eyes and lips.

hugs

Annette

In The Mean Time

Mary has contacted me...I had a wrong e-mail for her and she is so delighted in winning the etched metal house.I thank you all again too for entering and your kind words.Over the two weeks of the draw I have been creating quietly in the background.I've made four etched metal ATC's,three etched metal flat house shaped necklaces inspired no doubt by Jen Crossley and Stephanie Lee's book "semi-precious salvage" which my daughters snaffled up.I also managed to fix two other past projects and start two painted ladies on canvas.
The etching process works really fast here in the tropical heat but I decided to leave the ATC's in the etchant for 1hr and I love how deeply etched they are.The one below was for a return to Linda Aldred.The wings move and there is alcohol ink on the wing and the "fly" word.It has black patina added after etching.I'm getting much better at drilling in metal now...thanks too Jen for showing us how :o)

This was my first ever attempt at soldering(again after a much appreciated lesson from Jen C) and it took me AGES to add the jump rings LOL.Then I realized the one at the right is slightly smaller then the other one afterward.Oh well its just for me anyway LOL.I finally got some silver glue on bails to add a chandelier dangle and its done at last.

This was a pin I had previously made but I took the pin back off and drilled holes to make it into a necklace as well.

The other three metal Atc's Ill upload shortly and I'm thinking to offer them as trades.Two more evenings to work and then hope to have two days off at last.Last week at work was a nightmare with me doing double shifts and extra shifts on my days off.As soon as the heat and humidity hit(40C Degrees last few days and 90 plus percent humidity)spare RN"S disappeared and have gone South.Several of our permanent staff have also left *sigh*.Disconnecting the phone line for two days may be the go I think.I'm still painting my ladies so want to get them done and dusted too.There are too many bugs at night to paint later in the day but the days are so hot the paint dries really quick...may take a bit to finish them

hugs

Annette In Oz

Etched Metal House Winner is

Hi all
the winner has been drawn.I used EVERYONE who entered including people from Overseas and e-mails.The last e-mail or blog comment received was from Karen S.YES I was sure I wanted to give this away and thank you so much for all your encouraging and lovely comments.I'm sorry I could not respond to all of you.OKies the winner is


Thanks to all who entered and congrats to the winner MARY FENTON.Mary I just need your address so I can send the house on to you.I believe Mary has been really ill with pneumonia so hope the little house brightens your day a bit and you are on the way to good health and creativity soon.
hugs
Annette In Oz

Etched Metal House Completed...READY to Give Away

At last the etched metal house is complete.The walls are attached and steady and the roof is on...all windows and doors open Ok.My etched metal house is 11cm high and 6cm at its widest.This is the first time I have made something personal to give away so I am hoping it goes to someone who will treasure it.If anyone would like to try to win the etched metal house all you need to do is leave a comment and your first name so I know who you are.If you don't have a blogger account then just send me an e-mail instead(its at the right hand side from here).After two weeks I'll randomly draw out the winner. Oh If you want to see the detail more of each side look at the posts below this one Ok.They also explain a few items that I have used as well.

Front door above and door open from the side below

Same side with door closed.Optical lens is folded under the window here but if you haven't seen what is under the windows look in the posts below this one

Other side window is next

Lastly is the back door

and with its door open

How exciting and I look forward to seeing who wins the house that Annette built LOL

hugs

Annette In Oz