No, it's not a spelling mistake in the title, I spent yesterday evening having fun with a soldering iron! Let me explain. Maureen had asked me some weeks ago if I would like to go with her to a workshop at the Lovatt Gallery. As I love the beautiful pieces that Linda, the owner of the Gallery, makes, I jumped at the chance. Lind was quite happy for me to take photos to put on the blog, but as I was using the point and shoot, I had to use the flash, as it doesn't like low light levels, so not the best of photos! I had to start by making a little drawing of what I wanted to make. As drawing isn't my strong point, Linda let me see her little catalogue which has line drawings in it, so I was able to produce this very faint sketch. I also had to decide whether to use the bit of broken wine glass, or the piece of sea-washed china for my base
Linda let me use one of her templates, which I drew round on the copper foil
having cut the hare out, I turned it over and embossed it, just using a ball point pen. This is it turned back to the right side
then I was let loose with the soldering iron, which was a bit scary! First I attached the eye with a pin which went through to the back and was soldered in place. Having wrapped this little chip of china in copper tape, I then soldered it in place. You can see that the copper has changed colour where it has been heated
I had to put little blobs of solder on the ends of the three brass wires, which was very tricky - I had to remind myself to breath, I was concentrating so hard! Linda wrapped the piece of china for the base with copper wire, ready to solder the hare in place
I got so wrapped up in what I was doing, I missed taking photos of a few stages, so we move on to this. You can see the third brass wire clamped in place ready to solder to the back of the hare
the beads for the flowers are from a necklace which Malcolm gave me, which kept breaking. The next stage is for the hare to be treated to give the copper a verdigris finish, which is done either by Linda or one of her assistants. I am looking forward to getting him back!!
a last little look at him, showing off his whiskers!