Making history come alive

Tag : Satin Printed
new tintype, I look and wonder about the events in the lives ofthese people. I feel passionate about preserving the image of theperson inside a piece of jewelry. I am so intrigued by the dress,age, hairstyles and expression of the subject.
I purchased many of my tintypes from eBay.com . I also frequent the Antique Market at Veterans Stadium once amonth. I pay between $5 and $15 for my tintypes.
When using photos, I decide if I want to print on semigloss photopaper or cloth. I get the cloth, called premium cotton satin inkjetfabric sheets, from The Electric Quilt online.
I like using enhancements like dried baby roses from Michael's orpearls on a post. The final touch is a vintage watch crystal that Ibuy from Otto Frei.
Since I love to sew, I pierce around the tintype. I use the SmartVise that I purchased from Rio Grande. It is wonderful! No crampingin my left hand as I hold the metal down.
Since bezel wire - thin, fine silver wire - is not my friend, I usea 20-gauge sheet, cut to size. I form it into a circle and solder.Attach the back plate, which usually has the pierce work andsolder. Place the tintype in the bezel cup, next any enhancements,the watch crystal on top of that and prepare a square ring to slipover the crystal.
Some books I have used are "Forget Me Not Photography &Remembrance," by Geoffrey Batchen or for dating photos you can use"Unlocking the Secrets in Old Photographs," by Karen Frish-Ripley.
In the 1950s in my junior high, boys were allowed to take wood andmetal shop, but it was not open to girls. The girls had to takehomemaking. I looked longingly at the things the boys made in metalshop.
In the back of my mind, I hoped that one day I would have theopportunity to work in metals myself. And now I have.
Diane Weimer is a former LBUSD fourth- to sixth-grade teacher whoretired in 2003 after teaching for 36 years. Since January 2004,she has been taking metalsmithing classes at Long Beach CityCollege from Kristin Beeler.