Monday, June 29, 2009
Are you on Facebook? Become a fan of Matur Suksema. Also check out Laughing Lotus, our Tacoma store where we sell with three others.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Bali Sterling Silver
What makes Bali Silver special? Bali silver is sterling silver made on the island of Bali, in Indonesia in the Indian Ocean. The Balinese are highly skilled silversmiths, known for their granulation and wirework decoration.
Genuine Bali Silver is made entirely by hand, starting with the weighing, melting and mixing of the 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper to form sterling silver. Experienced silversmiths can closely estimate the amount they need for the project they're designing/creating. The silver, in form of small beads, and bits of copper are heated with a simple torch, attached to a bottle of gasoline with rubber tubing. A foot-pumped bellows adds the needed air. Molten silver is poured into small wooden molds. Once cool, the silver is put through a rolling mill, cranked by hand, like an old ringer washer or a pasta maker. The worker tightens down the rollers after each pass to make the silver thinner and thinner until the desired thickness is reached.
Beads, as well as bezels and other similar findings, are made from the sheets of silver. The silver sheeting is cut to size for making a bead of a particular size, then hammered into semi-circular indentations in a brass block. Excess silver is sanded away and two halves the bead are soldered with silver solder. Other designs, such as bezels are cut and then formed into the desired shaped for the piece.
Wire is made by pulling the silver through smaller and smaller holes in a tungsten carbine template until the wire is the desired size. The tiny dots of granulation are formed by snipping pieces from wire. When heated these little pieces of silver form into a ball.
The wire and/or granulation are applied to the bead with a natural glue and then a solution of silver, copper and water is brushed over the bead. The entirely bead is carefully heated with the torch to complete the process. The silver is then cleaned with a fruit substance and dipped into an oxiding solution. When polished the raised areas with become bright on a dark background, highlighting the design. Unoxidized silver is also available.
Each bead, earwire, clasp, headpin or bead cap is made one by one with patience and skill. One slip, or a little overheating can ruin hours of work. A child growing up in a silversmith family can learn to make the first simple designs in about 2 months. Someone else will need two years of training and experience.
A limited amount of silver in Bali is made by casting. Certain designs simply don't lend themselves to the handmade method. The cast beads are still sterling silver.
One will often see beads called Bali Style Silver. These are made elsewhere - India, Turkey or Israel, for example. Sometimes they are handcrafted but often they are cast, even those that have the granulation and wirework. There is nothing inherently wrong with Bali Style Silver - just understand how it is different. If you aren't sure, compare two beads. If they are too perfect, they are probably cast, although it is amazing how uniformly made the genuine Bali beads are. Price is also an indicator. Genuine handmade Bali Silver is going to be more expensive.
Thai Hill Tribe Silver is an entirely different style and method. It is a higher percentage of silver - 95-99%. It is formed and the designs in the silver made by hammering so requires the softer, purer silver. Like Bali silver, Thai Hill Tribe Silver can be recognized by destinctive patterns.
Genuine Bali Silver is made entirely by hand, starting with the weighing, melting and mixing of the 92.5% silver and 7.5% copper to form sterling silver. Experienced silversmiths can closely estimate the amount they need for the project they're designing/creating. The silver, in form of small beads, and bits of copper are heated with a simple torch, attached to a bottle of gasoline with rubber tubing. A foot-pumped bellows adds the needed air. Molten silver is poured into small wooden molds. Once cool, the silver is put through a rolling mill, cranked by hand, like an old ringer washer or a pasta maker. The worker tightens down the rollers after each pass to make the silver thinner and thinner until the desired thickness is reached.
Beads, as well as bezels and other similar findings, are made from the sheets of silver. The silver sheeting is cut to size for making a bead of a particular size, then hammered into semi-circular indentations in a brass block. Excess silver is sanded away and two halves the bead are soldered with silver solder. Other designs, such as bezels are cut and then formed into the desired shaped for the piece.
Wire is made by pulling the silver through smaller and smaller holes in a tungsten carbine template until the wire is the desired size. The tiny dots of granulation are formed by snipping pieces from wire. When heated these little pieces of silver form into a ball.
The wire and/or granulation are applied to the bead with a natural glue and then a solution of silver, copper and water is brushed over the bead. The entirely bead is carefully heated with the torch to complete the process. The silver is then cleaned with a fruit substance and dipped into an oxiding solution. When polished the raised areas with become bright on a dark background, highlighting the design. Unoxidized silver is also available.
Each bead, earwire, clasp, headpin or bead cap is made one by one with patience and skill. One slip, or a little overheating can ruin hours of work. A child growing up in a silversmith family can learn to make the first simple designs in about 2 months. Someone else will need two years of training and experience.
A limited amount of silver in Bali is made by casting. Certain designs simply don't lend themselves to the handmade method. The cast beads are still sterling silver.
One will often see beads called Bali Style Silver. These are made elsewhere - India, Turkey or Israel, for example. Sometimes they are handcrafted but often they are cast, even those that have the granulation and wirework. There is nothing inherently wrong with Bali Style Silver - just understand how it is different. If you aren't sure, compare two beads. If they are too perfect, they are probably cast, although it is amazing how uniformly made the genuine Bali beads are. Price is also an indicator. Genuine handmade Bali Silver is going to be more expensive.
Thai Hill Tribe Silver is an entirely different style and method. It is a higher percentage of silver - 95-99%. It is formed and the designs in the silver made by hammering so requires the softer, purer silver. Like Bali silver, Thai Hill Tribe Silver can be recognized by destinctive patterns.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Another Misspelling
I see I misspelled misspelled. But someone told me how to fix my address so now the address is right for the blog - http://matursuksema.blogspot.com I just checked to be sure it worked and it does.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Mispelling
Ah, another senior moment. I just realized I spelled my own ID wrong in my address. Hopefully someone can help me figure out how to fix it.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Laughing Lotus
Laughing Lotus has been open for 10 days now. Located in Tacoma, four of us who are small importers joined together for the store. It's a great deal and a fabulous location. We can pool our inventories, share expenses, and share time. And we all get along and complement each other's skills.
We have antique Chinese furniture, Pakistani copperware, Vietnamese lacquerware and ceramic garden pots, Indonesian masks and carvings, ostrich eggshell jewelry from Botswana, baskets and textiles from around the world and much, much more.
We're in a great neighborhood. Wonderful neighbors and a great business district of small businesses with very positive energy. You can find us at 3013B 6th Avenue. Right now we're open every day from 11-6 as we figure out what days work the best for us.
Become a fan on Facebook and see photos. Photos here when I get them.
We have antique Chinese furniture, Pakistani copperware, Vietnamese lacquerware and ceramic garden pots, Indonesian masks and carvings, ostrich eggshell jewelry from Botswana, baskets and textiles from around the world and much, much more.
We're in a great neighborhood. Wonderful neighbors and a great business district of small businesses with very positive energy. You can find us at 3013B 6th Avenue. Right now we're open every day from 11-6 as we figure out what days work the best for us.
Become a fan on Facebook and see photos. Photos here when I get them.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Rain
It's raining in Seattle! Yes, that's news. We came within minutes, literally of setting a record for days without rain at this part of the year. But there was measurable rain at SeaTac Airport last night minutes before midnight.
Just supposed to be one day and then just cloudy tomorrow. I hope that's right because we're having a garage sale with our neighbor. Already been postponed and it would be nice to get this stuff out of here.
Just supposed to be one day and then just cloudy tomorrow. I hope that's right because we're having a garage sale with our neighbor. Already been postponed and it would be nice to get this stuff out of here.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Vintage Sites
I've opened a second site on both eBay and Etsy under the ID spiritjourneys. Actually spiritjourneys1 on eBay. I've sold on the eBay site off and on but the Etsy site is new.
Both will feature mostly vintage items from books to Belleek to bone china to clothing. I have things of my own, my daughter has things, my mother's estate has a few things left and sometimes I find things I just can't resist buying for resale. Right now a lot of the items come from a storage unit my daughter and son-in-law bought the contents of - it had been abandoned. Sad.
Nothing on the sites yet, but very soon. Be sure to check one or both out soon.
Both will feature mostly vintage items from books to Belleek to bone china to clothing. I have things of my own, my daughter has things, my mother's estate has a few things left and sometimes I find things I just can't resist buying for resale. Right now a lot of the items come from a storage unit my daughter and son-in-law bought the contents of - it had been abandoned. Sad.
Nothing on the sites yet, but very soon. Be sure to check one or both out soon.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Yart Sale Day 1
The Yart Sale has begun. And I got my first sale. Hope there are lots more for me and everyone else. Shop away, everyone.
Monday, June 8, 2009
Matur Suksema on WorldofGood.com
WorldofGood.com is a companion site to eBay. World of Good is a fair trade organization. Their eBay site features fair trade and green items from sellers small and large who are members of a Trust Organization who has screened their business practices.
Matur Suksema is a member of Green America, formerly Co-op America. I'm also a member of the Fair Trade Federation, but FTF decided not to initially be a trust organization for the site.
On this site you'll find wood carvings, bone carvings, teapots, baskets, lacquerwear, and other items that I import from Indonesia and Vietnam (via a trusted friend). Many listings also show you a photo and story about the artisan(s). Many of these items are one of a kind.
I also sell on regular eBay, subject of a future post.
Matur Suksema is a member of Green America, formerly Co-op America. I'm also a member of the Fair Trade Federation, but FTF decided not to initially be a trust organization for the site.
On this site you'll find wood carvings, bone carvings, teapots, baskets, lacquerwear, and other items that I import from Indonesia and Vietnam (via a trusted friend). Many listings also show you a photo and story about the artisan(s). Many of these items are one of a kind.
I also sell on regular eBay, subject of a future post.
Etsy Yart Sale Coming in Just Two Days
Just a reminder that the 2nd annual Etsy Yart Sale starts June 10, sponsored by the Etsy Supply Street Team. Check out teamesst.blogspot.com for more information and be sure to visit matursuksema.etsy.com and get free shipping on all your purchases.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Etsy Yart Sale
Join us for the 2nd annual Yart Sale on Etsy.com brought to you by Team ESST - the Etsy Supply Street Team.
What's a Yart Sale? Art + Yard Sale = Yart Sale. Thousands of items on sale and/or sellers offering free shipping or other discounts in Handmade, Vintage, and Supplies.
Rather than trying to explain it further, please check this link: http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/ya-gotta-yart-4049/ for an article in the Storque that explains it better than I can.
I'll be offering free shipping. I'm opening a brick and mortar store on Friday and I'm not sure I'll get anything more put on sale. My Etsy store is www.matursuksema.etsy.com
Have a wonderful weekend and see you at the yart sale.
What's a Yart Sale? Art + Yard Sale = Yart Sale. Thousands of items on sale and/or sellers offering free shipping or other discounts in Handmade, Vintage, and Supplies.
Rather than trying to explain it further, please check this link: http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/ya-gotta-yart-4049/ for an article in the Storque that explains it better than I can.
I'll be offering free shipping. I'm opening a brick and mortar store on Friday and I'm not sure I'll get anything more put on sale. My Etsy store is www.matursuksema.etsy.com
Have a wonderful weekend and see you at the yart sale.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Matur Suksema on Etsy.com
One of my selling venues is Etsy.com. Just in case you haven't heard of it, it 's the site for all kinds of things that are handmade.
On Etsy, handmade means you made it yourself. The creativity is incredible! If you haven't been to Etsy, you really need to check it out.
There is also a section for Vintage where you're find wonderful treasures that are more than 20 years old. I'm just starting to put a few things in this section. I think I have only one so far but I hope to add more, starting today if things go as planned - which they never do.
And finally there is the Supplies section - beads, fabric, patterns, packaging, displays - thousands of wonderful items. This is where you'll find most of my offerings. I specialize in genuine Bali sterling silver beads and findings and carved bone faces, cabochons, and pendants. I say genuine Bali because there is a lot of Bali style out there. Nothing wrong with it - just not the real thing. And my bone carver is amazing. But more on both those subjects in later posts.
On Etsy, handmade means you made it yourself. The creativity is incredible! If you haven't been to Etsy, you really need to check it out.
There is also a section for Vintage where you're find wonderful treasures that are more than 20 years old. I'm just starting to put a few things in this section. I think I have only one so far but I hope to add more, starting today if things go as planned - which they never do.
And finally there is the Supplies section - beads, fabric, patterns, packaging, displays - thousands of wonderful items. This is where you'll find most of my offerings. I specialize in genuine Bali sterling silver beads and findings and carved bone faces, cabochons, and pendants. I say genuine Bali because there is a lot of Bali style out there. Nothing wrong with it - just not the real thing. And my bone carver is amazing. But more on both those subjects in later posts.
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