Fastenation Workshop with Thomas Mann

I think it's always a good idea to take workshops if you can.   And even better if you got a friend to drag along.  My friend doesn't have any experience (none necessary) and I could use some exposure. So we called Angele (she's AWESOME!) and signed up for Tom's Fastenation workshop here in New Orleans.  It's about time this city had some workshops!   

We arrived at Thomas Mann's studio and received our supplies.  It was a box of metal, screws, headpins, faux bone, and a name tag with our names on it!   There was no one from New Orleans.  How can that be?  Me and Tysheena were the only ones.  It felt like we were at a convention.  Fun!  Anyway first things first...lecture on how to do things.  Next...time to use tools.

Look at everyone.  So busy at their workbench.

There's Tysheena using a hammer to give her metal some texture.  

I had to remember that we were there to learn the technique and not to create something spectacular.  I knew if that was my thinking I would get stuck.  So I decided to saw a fish and Tysheena sawed a flower.  Did I tell you she doesn't know how to saw?

Our first assignment was to texture our metal and then make two tube rivets.  A large tube rivet (surface set) and then a small tube rivet (counter sunk).  Not too shabby and now it's time for lunch!

That's me making a counter sink hole.

Our final assignments were solid wire rivets, mounting tube sections, and wire wrapping. Tom went around the studio making sure we were using the tools correctly.  He corrected me on several occasions. So after awhile if I saw him come my way I would stop working.  Hehe!  But I finally got over it.  I liked that he corrected me.  How else is anyone going to learn?  All this time I've been holding the metal stamp incorrectly.  No one corrected me before.  And to think all this time I thought I was doing things perfect! Wow!  

Anyway here is our final pieces.  After the flower incident Tysheena sawed out easier shapes and her piece turned out to be a flower and mine was a fish.  Although Tom thought it was something else.  I forgot what he said.

After we were done Tom brought us upstairs for a tour into his studio.  Oh what fun.  He walked us through his day and behind the scenes operation.  We got to see his and other artist's workbench.  All I have to say is that he's a VERY busy, busy, bee.  

This was a lot of fun.  I learned a few tricks and honed in on my skills, AND Tom was a great instructor.

I'm thinking about taking his soldering class.  Yes, I know how to solder but am I doing it correctly?  Ha!  

Muchas Gracias studio flex!

Namaste

Kalaya