Lisa / Behind the Scenes

  • LPDStudios - What's New - Holiday Ornaments

     Holiday Ornaments

    I love the "hands on" etching process that I use to create these beautiful Holiday Ornaments. 

    metal shapes

    My friend Sephi, of ARTZOOO cuts out my Red Brass, Copper and Silver Nickel shapes.  After I clean and file, I begin by drawing my designs directly onto the metal with a paint pen. The ink from the pen prevents that area on the ornament from being etched.

     

    Ornaments

     Next, I prepare the etching solution using kosher salt.

    LPDstudios Blog: Behind the Scenes - Saltwater Etching - LPDstudios was created by designer artist Lisa Parmer Ditty. All of her designs are handcrafted in her Pennsylvania studio. She has merged her love of leather, metal and metal clay to create a unique collection of custom leather handbags, metal and leather jewelry and even pet collars. Follow her studio blog and see what she is designing next.

     Then, I hook up the converter that will generate low voltage current.

    LPDstudios Blog: Behind the Scenes - Saltwater Etching - LPDstudios was created by designer artist Lisa Parmer Ditty. All of her designs are handcrafted in her Pennsylvania studio. She has merged her love of leather, metal and metal clay to create a unique collection of custom leather handbags, metal and leather jewelry and even pet collars. Follow her studio blog and see what she is designing next.

     After plugging in the convertor, the salt water etching process begins. The electric current slowly erodes the copper from the metal, making the drawing take shape. 

    LPDstudios Blog: Behind the Scenes - Saltwater Etching - LPDstudios was created by designer artist Lisa Parmer Ditty. All of her designs are handcrafted in her Pennsylvania studio. She has merged her love of leather, metal and metal clay to create a unique collection of custom leather handbags, metal and leather jewelry and even pet collars. Follow her studio blog and see what she is designing next.

     After sanding, filing, and a bit more magic, my ornaments are complete.  They are ready for you to enjoy this holiday season.ornaments on tree

    To learn more about the process click on Salt Water Etching.

     

  • LPDstudios -Behind the Scenes - Blue Leather Stars with Copper Moon and Mini Star Earrings

    Looking to the Heavens 

    I have assembled a vignette of the design process for these beautiful Leather Star with Copper Moon Mini Star Earrings.  Just Click on the You Tube Link.

  • LPDstudios- Family Love Trinkets - Sharks Tooth Necklaces

    Sharks Tooth with Love Trinkets
    Recently I received an unexpected email from California, a request for two custom necklaces. Through a google search they had come across my sharks tooth necklaces that I had made for a previous customer.  My clients stories of travel, the sharks dive, tradition, and family was so beautiful,  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to put all those ideas of love into one place.   Not only did they want a charm for the teeth but they requested several other love trinkets to appear with it, the coordinates where the sharks teeth where found and a compass rose.  The compass rose was their family tradition of always finding there way home.       
    I decided to create my compass rose charm out of fine silver metal clay.  I love this product, its a finely ground powder of fine silver mixed with a binder.  The end product is a material like clay or "play-doh", which is easily manipulated to create many shapes that can be built and layered.  After all my shapes where created, I then combined the triangles and circles to create the compass rose.  The challenge was to create two charms that where the similar.  After the shapes are "bone" dry, they are put into a high temperature kiln, burning off the binder and leaving solid fine silver behind.   
    metal stamps for lettering
    To make the coordinate charms I used stainless steel letters designed for jewelry making.  Each letter is hand stamped with a brass mallet onto sterling silver creating the mark.  I made vertical charms for the longitude coordinates and horizontal charms for the latitude coordinates.  Your always going to have a few mess ups with this step, so its good to practice several times beforehand.  
    The coordinates are trimmed, sanded then polished to create the charm. 
    Attaching the Bail to the Sharks Tooth
    To attach the bail onto the sharks tooth, I must create a hole.  I pull out my secret weapon, my husband.  He is a dentist so I leave this step up to him, he never fails and is always precise.  
    Love Trinkets
    For the final pieces I used liver of sulfur to blacken the charms, bringing out the letters and textures.  A beautiful end result for a beautiful story. 
  • LPDstudios- Behind The Scenes- Maine Workshops and Pop Up

    I had such a blast in Maine teaching my craft.  So many thanks to Lynette and her family for hosting the event.  I meet so many amazing people.  My students always surprise me and create  such beautiful pieces, take a look.

    Leather Clutch Workshop

    Leather Clutch in Reptile

    My Students

    LPDstudios Leather Clutch Class- Students

    Beautiful Clutch

    Lisa Ditty of LPDstudios and student

    More Fabulous Student Work

    Leather Clutch Workshop

    Pop Up

    Bracelets and Bangles

     LPDstudios bracelets and bangles

    Pop Up

    Gold Bronze Jewelry

    Gold Bronze Jewerlry

    Leather Wrap Bracelet Workshop

    LPDstudios- leather wrap bracelet workshop 

    Student Work

    Leather Wrap Bracelet- student work

    So many fun memories of my time in Maine with my students.  In the meantime, I will be planning some new workshops for next summer.

    -See you Soon -Lisa

  • LPDstudios Blog: Behind the Scenes: Craft on Tap- Pearl and Leather Jewelry

    I can't wait for my next Craft on Tap class which is being held on April 19, 2018 at the Lancaster Guild of Craftsmen.  I just love teaching at this facility because I am surrounded by amazing artwork, jewelry and pottery by incredible artist that are living and working in Pennsylvania. 
    The latest workshop is perfect for Springtime, who doesn't love a new piece of jewelry to kick off a season.   We are going to be creating a pair of Pearl and Leather Earrings and Bracelet.  This project is super easy and no skill level is required. One of the first tasks I had to do is prepare the pearls.  I needed to widen the drill holes to accept the leather cord. 
    Drilling the Pearl Holes
     Here I am drilling the pearls, I never thought pearls could be so dirty.  
    Filthy Pearls
      A pile of finished pearls, I just love holding them in my hand. 
    Getting Started
    Sometimes your intended design doesn't turn as planned, back to the drawing board with the earrings.
    Redesigning my Earrings
    The new earring design, much cleaner and simpler. 
    .Finishing the Bracelet
    The finished bracelet
    Finished Design
    The final design for the Pearl and Leather Earrings and Bracelet.
    Just Beautiful!!

    Click here to register for the class! It's held at the PA Guild of Craftsmen in Lancaster, PA on April 19, 2018 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.. The $35 class cost includes all materials, as well as a complimentary craft beer from Wacker Brewing Company!

    Thank you for stopping by LPDstudios and I can't wait to see you in class!

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