Cockamamie IV - Cockamamie Light

An invitation to participate in an upcoming exhibition, SOOT, at the Made: art boutique, www.madephx.com, had me back to welding and grinding. Here is a crude photo of my submission. I like to abide by the old expression "there is money in arc-welding." Well even if there isn't, it fun as hell being that close to so much electrical current an heat. This, being #4 in the 'Cockamamie' series, is approximately one foot shorter than it's predecessors; quiet a bit lighter, too.

Lecture, Gas Forge, and Mokume: Six Days in Nacogdoches, TX

Here are some images from my recent trip to Stephen F Austin University in Nacogdoches, TX. I was invited by recent ASU graduate, Lauren McAdams. Lauren is in her second year as the Metalsmithing Professor at SFASU. In the time I was there, she and I built a forge, lit it, and fired off 11 billets of 23-layer, copper and nickel silver, mokume-gane billets. ** For MORE IMAGES, go here: www.flickr.com/photos/teddmcdonah**

New Mokume-gane Lure

One of three and time is short, so I'm at least getting this one up to blog-status. Will soon be posted to my Flickr, Etsy, and Crafthaus... with the other two. Mokume-gane is copper and fine silver, floral elements are torch-fired, enameled copper. One of three made for the 4th Annual Intercollegiate Metals Exhibition.

In progress Recyclure Bodies

I've decided to try an enameled body, as opposed to a patina. Here are a few prior to enameling. I can't bring myself to turn on the kiln while it's still above 100 degrees outside. The connections will most likely need to change from rivets to miniature machine screws. The can and copper body-portions are formed with a hydraulic press.

Glorious Nature

A "Chappy" ride down the logging road, into the deep woods, offers stunning natural phenomenon such as these still-unfurling fern. What a great place to be by one's self and observe the great world of the wilderness. I would add, though, with this experience comes lots and lots - I mean boatloads of wood ticks...

Liking the woods and water

It's been almost two weeks and the weather is still cool. Today is especially windy and cool. Probably won't break 50 deg. I don't mind, though. The cool air feels good against my skin. Some days have been too windy to fish, but I've managed to get some images of fishing, fish and other various facets of the northern Minnesota environment.

Enameling underglaze samples

A few samples I recently finished using vitreous enamels and black underglaze pencil. These may or may not end up as anything but samples. I was really happy with the polychromatic, pastel-colored one.

Breakfast Food

Some mornings are just better that others...

*Not Pictured: Buttered Toast and Tang

Newly posted items on Etsy

The Original Recyclure Fishing Lure. Not all the lures in the image have been listed, but if'n you'd like to request a specific lure, holler! www.teddmcdonah.etsy.com. Some jewelry pieces listed recently as well.

LaCrosse Tradition

My experiences as an art student at the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse were all positive, but none more so than those I took away from having had Bill Fiorini as a professor, instructor, and mentor. The most significant skill I was taught, was the production of diffusion-bonded Mokume-gane. At the time of my graduation I was still "dabbling" with the process, but later, in graduate school, I was able to spend the time to make mistakes, experiment with different metal combinations, build forges, and pattern-out material to the point I got very comfortable with the process. I am, typically, only making materials for my self, stock piling until a need arises.

Torch-fire Enameling

My presentation was based on the ability to form 18 gauge copper with a steel punch when back-supported with a hockey puck. The resulting floral-form was then enameled via torch-firing. Here I am doing the enameling with onlookers from the UW-LaCrosse metals program.

Together Again

This past march I was able, through the generosity of Ruth Anne Knapp, able to attend a gathering at the University of Wisconsin - LaCrosse. The event loosely entitled "40 Years of Metals at UW-L" was an event to honor and celebrate the retiring of Professor, Bill Fiorini. Shown are (from L to R) Bill Fiorini, Brad Nichols, Becky (Chader) McDonah, Tedd McDonah, James Viste, Ruth Anne Knapp, Dale Wedig, and Mike LaRonge.

40 years of Metals at University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse

March 27 and 28th. Metalsmithing Symposium at UW-L hosted by Bill Fiorini. Bill has unofficially decided to retire and has put together an event to help celebrate his accomplishments as a Professor of Metalsmithing at UW-L. Dale Wedig, James Viste, Becky (Chader) McDonah, myself, and Brad Nichols, will be presenting demonstrations and showing 'n' telling about current and/or in progress work. Topics: Dale Wedig, Angle-Raising and manipulation a raised form; James Viste, Textures and further discussion of texturing die production for both ferrous and non ferrous metals; Becky (Chader) McDonah, Mechanisms/Captures and etching with PNP; Tedd McDonah, torch-fired enamels and threaded connections; Brad Nichols, chasing and repousse.

Thank God I was on the Dock

As anyone who fishes for Northerns will tell you, "careful, they've got long, sharp teeth." This day, that was the last of my worries. If they have enough energy, they will continue to fight after they are out of the water. Well this little guy sure did. At this point, the bend of the hood is visible. It hadn't always been that way; as I was holding the fish in one hand and reaching for the pliers (to remove the hook from the fish), with the other hand, the slippery dude opted to fight some more, and "good for him" I say, keeps things interesting. The hook had been buried to the point where there was no light between us. And, oh yes, it stung a little. I tried having my 6 year old son try to remove the hook with pliers - bad idea. Grasping the fish with one hand, and the other, as you can see, tied up, gave me some time to think... ooh, go get the camera! Long story short; I finally got the hook out on my own.