One of the questions Anne gets frequently is how to go about finishing rings. With hundreds of sales in her Etsy store alone, it's safe to say that Anne had some great professional ring finishing tips to share - including recommendations for supplies. Next up, metalsmith Early Bushey walked us through his home studio, stove-top method for creating a durable STUNNING blue steel patina and shared a great book all about tool making. Continuing with our Setting Up Your Home Studio series, we got pickled! Anne described her pickle approach and a crock pot recommendation. After a bit of Q&A we finished by checking out two Works that Wowed us this week - mokume pendants & earrings by Elizabeth McKenna and some striking mokume rings by Debbie Rodriquez. Read on for photos and resource links.

In this week's MAAAA Anne did a Tip Test to see if Baby Bell cheese rinds really do work as saw lube. Next in the demo portion. we delved into the options for adding a torch to your home studio with a quick look at butane, MAPP gas, acetylene air recommendations. In keeping with the home studio theme, shared her unconventional bracelet mandrel - a sawed off shotgun (to be fair, she lives Montana and it's not a working gun). We also checked back in with Kathe on her MASSC Challenge and ... she did it! "Dogfish in Kelp" was successfully completed and submitted on time, so we're all rooting for her in the Challenge. Resources from this episode:

• Shanks & Mandrels Ring Smackdown by Danaca Designs: danacadesign.com.
• Anne's Home Studio Set Up Presentation: Download the pdf.
• For more info on oxygen concentrators see https://www.riogrande.com/product/re-manufactured-oxygen-concentrator/500140
• Paige brand torch tips (for use with an Oxy/Propane torch): www.paigetools.com
  

If you missed it live, watch it on our YouTube channel and don't be shy about sending in your questions for a future episode.

Send us your Questions
Our next MAAAA is scheduled for Thursday, June 11th from 6-7pm PDT. This is your chance to get FREE feedback from professional metal arts instructors! Send in your questions or submit an item for one of the other segments and we'll follow up as needed on any details. Want help with a tricky soldering job? Ask Anne. Wondering if a tip you saw really works? Send us the link. Want to share a recent piece or give us a tour of your studio? Send us some pix. Care to recommend a special tool or great class (or instructor)? Let us know! You are heartily invited to send us your questions, works-in-progress, new tool finds and more!

We are very excited to announce a new, free weekly online gathering starting Thursday, May 28th. Join us online via Zoom from 6-7pm (PDT - Pacific Daylight Time) for Metal Arts Adventures with Anne (MAAA), a metal arts presentation hosted by Anne Wolf followed by an open discussion Q&A. In this fun, online, interactive gathering our goal is to offer demos, share tips & tricks, feature work by artists and students from around the world, go on virtual studio tours, discuss historical metal arts traditions, and cover good tips/bad tips. Think of it as a hassle-free metal arts happy hour. Join us by simply visiting our home page starting at 5:45pm on Thursday 5/28. We'll have the link and password ready for you - just byob! ~ Ame

Our July #FirstFriday #ShopAndSwap#OpenStudio was a big success! We had about 75 visitors come through to enjoy browsing our Maker's Rummage Sale (which extended out into the hallway), watching @alexandrahartmfa doing her fascinating #anticlasticraising demos and @paparon1943 demonstrating his #FrenchMarquetry work. We also had Abby selling her beautiful #cabochons, Susan with cabochons and lots more, and generous donations of goodies by Karen F. and Karen R. So far we’ve raised almost $300 for #JewishFamilyServices in support of the Downtown Migrant Shelter - and we’re not done yet! (More on that in the next post). Super-duper big thanks to the wonderful Joanne & Herb Hein @joannehein and @growinggreeninteractions for their fabulous set up, cashiering and MC Services! And now for the winners of our JFS fundraiser raffle ....

Over 35 attendees stopped by our March 1st Friday Night Liberty to watch Anne and Julie demonstrate their ingeniously unique metalworking techniques. Julie started things off with her unconventional torch-fired enamels. She wowed visitors with the transformation of white powdered glass into colorful, organic patterns. Meanwhile Anne showed off her fascinating hido quench trick for transforming normal metal into brilliant red gradients. Read on for photos!

We had a lovely time on Friday night visiting with old friends Guadalupe and her handsome beau who were out celebrating their anniversary. All-in-all about 20 people wandered through checking out The Lab and watching Anne's live goldsmithing demos - she even finished a client ring order! Join us next month when we'll be featuring our new instructor, Julie Monroe. Hopefully we can talk her into doing some live demos of her amazing torch-fired enamel techniques ... stay tuned!