Metal Art

Casting yesterday was more social than normal. Gloria baked a carrot cake using a recipe she learned from her mother. Khnum showed up the shoot a few waxes and even Jim came in to taken inventory for his upcoming class. Ken was there for some reason, (most likely he can sense a party,) and Tom the new security guy was there. William and I both had work to do, so the cake sat around and waited while we invested. All told, there were seven flasks. William had a bunch of small things: tiny intricate crosses and frogs. These were a new form that I haven't seen him use before. He also has a good stock of completed 'angel bells' the largest housed in a puzzle box made of tung oiled ebony and studded with lapis lazuli. The two bracelets that I invested came out fine in the end, although I will have to work to build up my inventory for Christmas.
The pare atmosphere was a bit distracting. Tom was in and out talking to Gloria who showed him how to carve a ring. His work was chunky but intricate and very good for a first try. He actually has studied ceramics and taught in California, so 'first' is not quite accurate. Khnum was in to make more models for his African face. Probably, he will bring in a sprue tree to cast next time. William and I may have been successful in persuading him to cast in silver rather than bronze. It's not that expensive, but the results are much more spectacular. And easier to work with. Last time he cast we were heating the metal up for what seemed like twenty minutes.