If you’re anything like me, then you often find yourself foraging around on your workbench for a piece of solder, only to discover that once you find it, you can’t remember whether it is hard, medium, or easy solder. I try to use the bending method to mark my wire solder once I cut a few inches off from the spool. I loop it like a lowercase ‘e’ for easy. Give it a hard right-angle bend for hard. And bend it twice for medium. I must admit, though, that sometimes this bending method takes more time than I am willing to commit to marking my solder.

So when I found this tip in Contenti’s newsletter, I was quite excited, because it is faster and more practical than my current bending methods. If you use sheet or wire solder, color code it with a Sharpie marking pen. Use red for hard, blue for medium, and green for easy. That way, if you find stray solder snipets on your desk or floor, with a quick glance you’ll know exactly what you have by the color. It also makes it easier to put different types on your solder station, so you don’t have to stop each time to change solders.

To find more helpful tips and tricks, visit Contenti’s webiste here.

Thursday, July 3 through Sunday, Aug. 10, 2008

Gallery 1: art6 poets. Gallery 2: painting, prints, photography, drawing, and sculpture.

Location: 6 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 343-1406
Gallery hours: Thursday-Sunday, 12 to 4 p.m.

Make a trip to downtown Richmond and be sure to stop by the dynamic and ecclectic members’ exhibition this month. We will have a second opening on Friday, August 1, from 6 - 10 p.m.

I am showing two abstract, experimental paintings in this exhibition. The paintings are composed of oil on canvas and mixed media. I used my silver and copper metal filings in both pieces, which creates an interesting texture as well as a glitter effect. One piece already sold on the first opening night!

Be sure to check out the art6 calendar for special events, musical performances, and even art workshops!

I’ll be travelling to Bethesda, MD this weekend to exhibit in the Bethesda Artist Market located in downtown Bethesda Plaza. It looks like the weather is supposed to be pretty nice (well, nice for these parts in the middle of July, anyway). If you are in the area, please stop by and visit. I have a wonderful corner location in front of the fountain. You can’t miss me!

I’ll be showing two new lines of work. One is called the “Recycled Bits Collection” and it is composed of recycled silver. You can get a sneak preview on my Etsy webstore.

I’m still working on a clever name for the other new line, which has a mod look and incorporates found organic materials, such as birch bark, flower petals, dried leaves, and even the shells of insects, which are forever sealed behind clear, epoxy resin. I can’t wait for this line to debut on the internet!

The Artist Market takes place on Saturday, July 12, from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. If you’re in the area, stop in and check it out! Bethesda is only about 20 minutes from downtown D.C.