Cuttlefish + Silver =

Did you know that the dried out carcass of a cuttlefish can be used to cast molten silver?!*

After the murder of my garden and some prolonged bouts of rain I found myself with a friend and we decided to make a key-ring for the new chariot of PR - a GMC Safari Van which I finally got on the road after a 7-hour adventure with the Rhode Island Department of Motor Vehicles. (pics to follow - as far as accounting goes, I decided not to count its $700 cost toward the PR dwelling, but I am thinking that it will most likely turn out to be PR $1000 hermit crab inspired mobile house). We started with a ring that she had made and given me - 

Fitting for PR

And cut a cuttlefish in half, impressed a seashell in it and placed the key in the mold -

And cut a bowl and a hole out of the top half to pour the silver in -

And then melted it with fire -

Close-up-

I think this is called throwing good after bad - we melted these silver objects down to make a key handle. 

And after some cutting and polishing - the most unnecessary key-ring in history -

Back to work this week - 

*The afforementioned knowledge was relayed and, with much patience, taught to me by master jeweler and metal-smith Tamra Mottl of Mottl Industry (with umlaut over the O).  Some examples of her work can be found here - Very talented custom jeweler. I know some of you are looking to get married soon, she makes beautiful and unique wedding rings - http://www.pawtucketopenstudios.com/dir_spring2007/artistpages/mottl.html