BeadFest Santa Fe: Fold Forming Class

I went to my first big BeadFest in Santa Fe, New Mexico last month.  Wow, is Santa Fe beautiful!  I got to go to the Georgia O'Keeffe museum but--even better--I got to take some metalsmithing classes!  The first day, I took Fold Forming with Kim St. Jean.  She was fantastic!  I learned to anneal and fold form.

We learned a basic line fold first.  I've got to say, this is my favorite technique!

Line fold

We also got to try some pod and leaf folds.  I think my leaf fold looks more like a set of lips, but, um....LEAF.  Really, it's a leaf.  Mmm-hmmm.....

Leaf and pod fold

We also learned a T fold.  I'm not sure exactly how I'd use this, but it's pretty simple and I do like the linear look of it.

T fold

Then there's the supercalifragilistic fold.  NO, that's not the name, but it seemed pretty complicated.  It's actually called a Pillow fold.  As in a pillow.  Get your mind out of the gutter.  I don't care if it looks like...um...a, um...something plucked...mumbling...anyway, it's a pillow fold.

Pillow fold, possibly diseased

Toward the end of the day, I really wanted to make something I could wear.  Keep in mind we were in a room with no ventilation or soundproofing, and there were 19 of us constantly firing up torches and hammering.  It's possible the fumes and the constant noise got to me.  Maybe, just maybe, this wasn't the best idea.  But, I decided to try the spiral fold and then to make a cuff using the line fold.  Behold, my copper cuffs!

Line Fold Cuff (l) and Spiral Fold Cuff (r)

After fold forming was over, I realized my sinuses were slowly bleeding from the altitude in Santa Fe.  But before I could head back to the hotel, I wanted to check out the expo.  (to be continued....)