Geode panel

[Lauren]

Wow, those are gorgeous!!  Anne, I especially love the wire and butterfly!! 

Guys, if I may ask, what do you use as the frame?  Do you buy a circular frame??

[JoanFrances]

very pretty and creative use of the geode. 

[Anne]

Lauren, on those ones I did use a metal circle, it gives the piece so much more strength and then you can do those airy whimsical things in it. Now this will show you how old I am -  it was the same circles that we used in macrame years ago!  I've had trouble finding the big silver ones in the past few years - the biggest I've been able to get are 8".  The last one I showed you was done using a 15 or 18" hoop - would love to find some that size again (in silver).......so if any of you find some please let me know.

[Lauren]

Thanks for the info Anne!  aaah, macrame, now that was an interesting fashion!!   I know those rings you are talking about.  Did you just lead tin them?  They are really beautiful creations - so simple, but effective!! 

[Lauren]

Hey Anne, I see you can buy them online!

http://www.kingskountry.com/rngs-brass-macrame-rings.htm

[Anne]

Hey Anne, I see you can buy them online!

http://www.kingskountry.com/rngs-brass-macrame-rings.htm

Thanks Lauren.  I knew they were available in brass but you do have to tin them then and I've just found they don't come out very nice so I look for the already tinned ones. I have a few 12" brass ones and even though I tinned the last one with a propane torch it just didn't tin evenly enough to meet my expectations and I just wasn't happy with using it.

[Lauren]

I realised the brass bit once I had posted that last comment!    I'll be keeping a lookout for tinned ones definitely!!

Thanks again for the info   

[Anne]

You're very welcome, I like sharing!! And if you do find the tinned ones please let me know.

[Rebecca]

Action tin will usually give you a nice smooth tinning layer.  It has flux and solder in it and you have to keep stirring it every time you use a bit even if it is just seconds later.  I open the jar and use a popsicle stick to stir it and to dop some where I want to tin.  Then a good hot iron will usually take care of it.

Rebecca

[Anne]

Now that's nice to know!  I've never heard of it before Rebecca.  Do you buy it in a place like Home Depot?

[Rebecca]

Nope, the last I had I ordered from Warner-Crivellaro.

Rebecca

[Anne]

I have some on the way to me, thanks Rebecca and Alan.  Guess I'll be using up the agates I have!!  Yay.

[nansea121]

Wow, those are gorgeous!!  Anne, I especially love the wire and butterfly!!  

Guys, if I may ask, what do you use as the frame?  Do you buy a circular frame??

I use U shaped lead came for the outside of circle or oval panels, like the 'Big Wave' panel for example. You can lightly tin it, but I like the look of the lead came, so I leave it as is. I used that same U lead came around the agate ones as well. 

[nansea121]

Here are some I've done in the past using the agates, and in two of them a crystal as well.  Love making these, but Nancy is right, you have to hang them in a north window if you want to keep the agate color!

Very nice Anne!

[PiscesGlass]

Wow, I love all the agate projects..how creative and beautiful!  And Anne, I'm right up there with you..I did my fair share of macrame projects..in fact, I think sitting down in my basement is the most god awfullest looking hanging lamp I've ever seen...in the 70's I thought it was waaaay cool.  Ugh..I should cut the macrame off it and use the circles...lol.  So don't feel alone.

De

[Lauren]

Thanks Nancy, I thought that is what might have been used.  Because Annes has so little inside I thought it must be something else though.  Nancy, is there any special one needs to do with patina on the lead came?

[nansea121]

Thanks Nancy, I thought that is what might have been used.  Because Annes has so little inside I thought it must be something else though.  Nancy, is there any special one needs to do with patina on the lead came?

You can lightly tin the came with solder (iron set to approx. 5 on the rheostat to prevent the lead from accidently melting) before or after you put it around your piece. That way, you'll get the exact colour as your solder lines. You may want to clean the lead with steel wool if you fine that the flux/solder doesn't go on very easily. I find that when the lead is a shiny silver, tinning is alot easier.
The natural soft grey colour of the lead is lovely as well tho. I generally leave the lead in it's natural state unless the client wants otherwize.