We had a fantastically magnetically entertaining class today here at Flux Jewellery School…
We’re looking at magnets and how to incorporate them into jewellery in innovative ways, and students found instant attraction to the most unusual items!
Our theme for the term on Tuesdays is on the use of magnets for clasps in jewellery, and as it is our firm belief that play holds the key to true innovation, today we played like kiddies in a toyshop!
Drawing from the deep recesses half-remembered facts on the laws of magnetic attraction – along with some cautions for pacemakers and credit cards – students were sent on a hunt to find the most unusual magnetic objects..
In putting aside all notions of practicality great new discoveries were made about how we can join the most unlikely objects together. My favourite discovery was that meteorite should be strongly attracted to magnetic force
Oh, and that the volcanic rock I picked up from Tenerife is also weakly magnetic too!
The size and quality of a ferrous object, and the consequent size and strength of magnet required to hold it are clearly key factors in designing with magnets in mind. Our assemblages presented talking points for how we might refine these sketches into working, beautiful, precious jewellery. I love this squashed screw that Lizzie found –
How to integrate steel or other ferrous – containing substances and magnets with non ferrous (non-rusting) materials becomes the talking point for next week. Think cold connections ……