Fundametals Blog http://www.fundametals.net/blog essential tools for creating wire and metal jewelry Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:28:19 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 My First Giveaway! http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/19/my-first-giveaway/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/19/my-first-giveaway/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:31:04 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=521 Continue reading →]]> Were are building up steam over here at Fundametals. So to create a little buzzzzz I am having a giveaway of some cold hard fundamentals CASH! $25 bucks to shop with on my fundametals.net. Do you need a new tool? How about some metal, wire, beads..oh my? PLUS I will ship your order to you FOR FREE! All you need to do is a few simple tasks….that are oh so easy. The more tasks you complete the more entries you will get. I have wanted to have a giveaway for a while but they are so hard to manage. But I found this really cool service called Rafflecopter. It takes care of all the entries for you. The more tasks you complete the more entries you will get. Now that is pretty cool. They are also having a giveaway on their website to win an Ipad. Go to there site to enter. Yeah! Free stuff!
To enter our contest just use the widget below. The more you tasks you complete the more entries you will get. Contest ends on the 12.01est 1/29/12..so hurry!
Thank-you! Michelle Mahler Fundametals

a Rafflecopter giveaway

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/19/my-first-giveaway/feed/ 5 My new friend..He is called a Potter Press http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/11/my-new-friend-he-is-called-a-potter-press/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/11/my-new-friend-he-is-called-a-potter-press/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:03:25 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=500 Continue reading →]]> Last summer I was sooo lucky, after selling off some unused tools, to take the plunge and buy my hydraulic press. I researched and researched…Will it be the Shark Bite? The Bonny Doone?  Then I stumbled onto the Potter USA website. I first I dismissed it, was it for ceramics(potters?)?   I went around and asked others questions..read up on building my own. I do tend to obsess over the details when I am making a big decisions like this one. Then with more searching I found the Potter USA site again and this lead to Kevin Potter’s You Tube channel. The videos of this guy totally enjoying his job..cutting and welding metal won me over. I then ask him a bazzillion questions which he patiently answered. So my order was placed…once it arrived…It was Love at first site! Or should I say first squeeze! The 20 ton PressI thought of making a video showing you how they work. But how much better could it be to see Kevin himself explaining how a blanking die (or pancake die) works with a 20-ton press. The press can do a multitude of tasks. Cutting metals blanks is just one of them. Thus the term “blanking die”. This is a sample of what a pancake die looks like:Pancake DieHere is Kevin demonstrating how to cut with the die:

This is a necklace I made using this very die.  I first cut it out of copper, shaped it with some reposse and dapping tools.  Then I enameled it:
More about the press later.  Michelle Mahler  Fundametals

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/11/my-new-friend-he-is-called-a-potter-press/feed/ 4 A video I just had to share http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/06/a-video-i-just-had-to-share/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/06/a-video-i-just-had-to-share/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:56:10 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=360 Continue reading →]]> I was looking around on You-Tube and ran across this great video on making a ring out of a quarter.    It came by way of the video I have posted on the Swanstrom disc cutter and positioning plugs to make a washer. One Video led to another. So much cool information out there. I just had to share.

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2012/01/06/a-video-i-just-had-to-share/feed/ 0 Holiday Specials!! http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/12/06/holiday-specials/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/12/06/holiday-specials/#comments Mon, 06 Dec 2010 15:07:49 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=352 Continue reading →]]> Wishing everyone a very happy holiday season! Everything in the shop is 15% off. Please use code DISCOUNT 15% in comments to receive your credit after purchase.

Additional Sales!
Greek Alphabet Set-25% off. Please be sure to leave DISCOUNT 25% in comments to receive your credit after purchase! No other discounts can be applied to this purchase.

Wire Winder is discounted by 20%. Please be sure to leave DISCOUNT 20% in comments to receive credit after purchase!

Specials are valid until December 31st. Keep checking back for more specials!

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/12/06/holiday-specials/feed/ 0 A quick look at the process of enameling… http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/09/20/a-quick-look-at-the-process-of-enameling/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/09/20/a-quick-look-at-the-process-of-enameling/#comments Mon, 20 Sep 2010 16:11:01 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=343 Continue reading →]]> Michelle Mahler, our enameling tech for fundametals.net, put a little something together so that you could get a closer look of the process of enameling by kiln. Please click on the photo below to be directed to her site.
Need to stock-up on your enamels..we have a wide range of beautiful colors to choose from! Have a great day!

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/09/20/a-quick-look-at-the-process-of-enameling/feed/ 0 New Design Specialty Stamps in Stock http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/09/03/new-design-specialty-stamps-in-stock/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/09/03/new-design-specialty-stamps-in-stock/#comments Fri, 03 Sep 2010 19:34:02 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=320 Continue reading →]]> We have added a few new design stamps to our Specialty Design Stamp Category-a new flower stamp and the Chinese Symbol for LOVE has been restocked. We also have the Autumn Issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry in stock and ready to be shipped. Free shipping to all fundametals.net customers…

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/09/03/new-design-specialty-stamps-in-stock/feed/ 0 Guest Artist, Mary Jane Dodd-Post 2 http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/08/11/guest-artist-mary-jane-dodd-post-2/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/08/11/guest-artist-mary-jane-dodd-post-2/#comments Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:49:06 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=304 Continue reading →]]> Mary Jane Dodd was my first guest artist. I sent her a small package that included some copper washers, resin and mica and asked her if she was inspired to create with any of these items, to please share them with us!
I love these metal & mica earrings!! Please stop by Mary Jane’s blog to see more of her recent creations Thank you, Mary Jane. I absolutely love these and everything else you created from my humble package.

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/08/11/guest-artist-mary-jane-dodd-post-2/feed/ 4 Guest Artist, Mary Jane Dodd http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/07/29/guest-artist-mary-jane-dodd/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/07/29/guest-artist-mary-jane-dodd/#comments Thu, 29 Jul 2010 02:17:45 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=273 Continue reading →]]> Mary Jane Dodd, was given a box of copper washers and I asked her to do her magic, which she did, beautifully.

“this design is based upon the egyptian shen ring… it is compromised of a circle for the cycles in life and a line across the bottom to represent the infinite… egyptians used lapis and turquoise in their adornment… lapis blue represented the heavens, water and the primeval flood… turquoise represented joy…

‘when we discover the truth is already in us
we are all at once our original selves.’
~ the dogen

we are complete as represented by the circle… but need to branch out and stretch to grow… winding fibers lead to faceted spectrolite which imparts strength and supports transformation…

‘(wo)man is harder than iron,
stronger than stone
and more fragile than a rose.”
turkish proverb

‘fragile strength’earrings reiterate this point in numerous ways..etched metal
appears delicate yet sturdy..fibers made of silk..kyanite enhances tranquility
and calm while quartz ensures grounding…

work in progress…

‘ a guest never forgets the host
who has treated them kindly.’

thank you, Jeanette for this opportunity..and I have other goodies to play with..so there will be another post about that!

Thank you,  Mary Jane!

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/07/29/guest-artist-mary-jane-dodd/feed/ 3 Tool Time Tuesday-Lets catch-up! http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/06/30/tool-time-tuesday-lets-catch-up/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/06/30/tool-time-tuesday-lets-catch-up/#comments Wed, 30 Jun 2010 03:09:26 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=193 Continue reading →]]> Melissa Muir has been so wonderful about dedicating so much time in putting together the Tool Time Tuesday Tutorials.. I have the easy part, to share them all with you and I have fallen behind. Please click on the image below and catch-up on some tutorials and some useful tips.

To learn how to “pierce”, mark your solder and tool storage, please click on the image below!

Enjoy,

Jeanette

]]> http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/06/30/tool-time-tuesday-lets-catch-up/feed/ 0 Introducing ArtBLISS http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/05/26/introducing-artbliss/ http://www.fundametals.net/blog/2010/05/26/introducing-artbliss/#comments Wed, 26 May 2010 21:02:28 +0000 Michelle http://www.fundametals.net/blog/?p=164

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