Wednesday, August 29, 2012

YOJ Week 35 - "For Emily"

Emily's Backyard

As a city dweller accustomed to constant noise, rude drivers and never ending crowds, I delight in opportunities to get away to the peace and quiet of the country. A few weeks ago, I did just that while being hosted by a lovely gracious woman who, having never met me, made me welcome in her peaceful country home.  I find that so refreshing in these cynical and jaded times we live in.

I also discovered we have a mutual love of sea glass so I made a couple of pendants, as a token of my esteem and appreciation. I hope you enjoy them Emily!!! :-)

For Emily

Sunday, August 26, 2012

YOJ Week 34 - Patina Party

Did y'all happen to see Sue Lacy's blog post on patina's? I decided to experiment with ammonia fuming on a couple of previously created copper pieces and wow! Did I ever get the most beautiful blues and greens!!! Check this out!


Monday, August 20, 2012

Bead Fest Philly 2012

Bead Fest; where students, jewelry designers, and jewelry vendors of all types gather for several days of classes, meeting up with friends and of course, shopping! I have been attending the semi-annual Bead Fests hosted by Interweave for 4 years as a student, and this year as an instructor. I also do my share of shopping, and judging by the crowds this year, there should be a noticeable uptick in the economic indicators.....

It's been a tradition for my Dad to attend the show with me. It's a great way for us to spend time together, and as an artist himself, he appreciates the passion inspired by a dynamic community of jewelry designers. He does get a little impatient that it takes me so long to move from booth to booth but he's a pretty good sport when a pretty lady asks to take his picture. Thanks Brenda S!


Here are some of my jewelry artist friends, 
always a treat to see you all!!!!
And BTW, I'm officially a member of the Creative Bead Chat group, I know the secret handshake and everything, thanks Melinda! ;-)

I also taught 2 classes; Textured Copper Cuffs and Crystal Cornucopia. Here are pix of my student projects. Fabulous work by every one!!!!


 
Before heading home Sunday, we had lunch with "Gran", my sisters MIL, another Philly tradition.


See y'all back in oHIo!!! :-)

Thursday, August 16, 2012

YOJ Week 33 - Fold Formed Cuff

I'm heading out to Philadelphia for the annual Bead Fest in just a few hours. I'll be teaching some classes, shooting a few videos for the Jewelry Making Professor, meeting up with some friends and of coarse; shopping!!!

But before I go, I wanted to show you the completed version of a piece I started at the Fold Forming Conference with Charles Lewton-Brain. This fold was a variation of the Flag fold. Here's what I did there....


and here's the completed cuff. What do you think?



Friday, August 10, 2012

6th Bead Soup Blog Party®, 2nd Reveal

So what is the Bead Soup Blog Party?  It's a huge blog hop and beading challenge (click here to see the map of participants) put together by Lori Anderson. that has become so popular there is even a book coming out in October! This is my third time participating and I can honestly say, each time has stretched me creatively.

Here's what my partner Astrid Boyce sent me...she must have known I have a thing for blue....thanks Astrid!
And here's what I did....

On the left is a sweet little Swarovski heart to which I added a cobalt blue bottle topper link and hung it on a shaggy link chain for a fun yet classic look. 

The center piece has an antique gold and sapphire clasp which was so beautiful, I wanted to feature it as the focal. I accented the clasp/pendent with gold squiggle noodle beads surrounded by tiny gold swarovski crystals on a delicate gold chain.

The lamp work bead on the right was created by Astrid and I added a cobalt blue bottle topper link to it to accentuate the beautiful colors of the hand made bead.


The rest of the beads seemed to want to become earrings so I cooperated..... :-)


And don't forget to check out the rest of the participants in the 2nd Reveal here...


Hostess, Lori Anderson, Pretty Things
Adlinah Kamsir, Dream Struck Designs
Adrienn Lukacs, Raszputyin Designs
Agata Grygiel, Cytherea Bijoux 
Alenka Obid, Pepita Handmade 
Amy Dickerson, Damyjo Designs 
Amy Schmidt, Amy's Treasure 
Amy Severino, Amy Beads 
Andrea Trank, Heaven Lane Creations
Anke Humpert, Anart Island Studios
Ann Rishell, My Critical Eye
April Grinaway, Brooklyn Bead Goddess 
Ashley Bunting, Miss Ashely Kate 
Astrid Boyce, Astrid Boyce Beads 
B.R. Kuhlman, Mixed Mayhem Studios 
Barbe Saint John, Saints and Sinners
Beata Benkone Meggyesi, Beahobbi
Brandy McNair, Bella Vita Handmade Jewelry 
 Bryna Lumb, Bryna's Bead Box
Carmen Lau, Little Maketto
Cate van Alphen, Fulgorine
Cathie Carroll, Cathie Carroll's Studio
Cathy Khoury, Touch Jewelry 
Christina Stofmeel, Feng Beads 
 Collette Collins, Fire Fly Myst Artisan Jewelry
Courtney Breul, Beads by Breul 
Crystal Thain, Here Bead Dragons
Cynthia Abner, Created Treasures
Deana Hager, Just Deez'Art & Life
Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing
Dhea Powers, Java Bead
Diana Welte, Lilyweeds
Dita Basu, alankarshilpa
Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 
Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie
Elisabeth Auld, Beads For Busy Gals
Ema Kilroy, Ema K Designs
Emma Todd, A Polymer Penchant
Eva Sherman, Eva Sherman Designs
Evie and Beth McCord, EB Bead and Metal Works
Francy Inman, Francy's Studio
Ginger Bishop, lilmummy likes...
Giorgia Rossini, Jo in Wonderland
Ine Vande Cappelle, Jewels by Ine 
Iveth Caruso, Creative Atelier 
JJ Jacobs, Coming Abstractions
Jackie Ryan, Kydo Jewellery
Jeannie Dukic, Jeannie's Blog
Jelveh Jaferian, Jelveh Designs
Jenna Tomalka, Twin Birch Studio
Jenni Connolly, Jenni's Beads
Jennifer Van Horn, Jennifers Jewels and Junk
Jo-Ann Woolverton, It's a Beadiful Creation
Johanna Rhodes-Nash, Fire Phoenix Creations 
 Joyce Blair, Bent Wire West Coast
JuLee Wolfe, The Polymer Penguin
Karen Vincent, Swallow Tail Jewellery
Karin Slaton, Backstory Beads
Kayla Potega, The Eclectic Element 
Kim Dworak, CianciBlue
Kris Lanae Binsfeld, Cherish Designs by Kris Lanae
Kristen Latimer, MJM Jewelry Designs
Kumi Fisher, Malie Kai Designs
Kym Hunter, Kym Hunter Designs
Lennis Carrier, Windbent
Leslie Wayment, AA Beads & More
Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead
Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders
Lisa Sittniewski, Love, Yesterdays
Lois Moon, Que Onda, Q'Town?
Lola Surwillo, Bead Lola Bead
Lorelei Eurto, Lorelei's Blog
Lori Bowring Michaud, Artfully Ornamental
Lori Finney, Using My Beads
Margareta Saari, Mags-koruja
Maria Horvath, Horimarika Beads
Marian Hertzog, M's Place
 Mary Ellen Parker, BeeTree by m.e.
Mary K McGraw, MK's Creative Musings
MaryLou Holvenstot, time2cre8 
Martha Aleo, Ornamento
 Maybeline Tay, The Jewelry Larder
Megan Collins, Churchy & Her Sailor
Melissa Meman, Art. Life. Love.
Melissa Mesara, One-Eared Pig Beads
Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs
Pam Farren, re-maker
Pam Hurst, Pam Hurst Designs
Patricia Handschuh, The Color of Dreams
Patty Miller, CabariBeads
Penney Klapoth, Faerie Acres
Regina Santerre, Regina's Writings
Rhea Freitag, starrgazer creates
Rochelle Brisson, A Creative Chelle
Sabine Dittrich, PerlenDschungel
Sandra McGriff, Creative Chaos
Sandra Neights, Petalo Azul
Sandra Young, It's a Bead Life!
Sara Oehler, SoftFlex Girl
Saturday Sequins, Saturday Sequins
Shanti Johnson, Sunshine Bliss
Shari Replogle, Plays With Paper
Sonya Stille, Dreamin' of Beads
Stefanie Teufel, Stefanies Sammelsurium
Tammie Everly, TTE Designs
Tania Spivey, Moobie Grace Designs
Therese Frank, Therese's Treasures
Tina Holden, Polymer Clay Bytes!
Toltec Jewels, Jewel School Friends 
Tracey Nanstad, A Beadiful Mess
Tracy Choy, BumbleBeads Designs
Valerie Norton, Hot Art

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Day 4 Fold Forming Conference with Charles Lewton-Brain

Four days have never flown so fast! Everything went seamlessly in no small part to our hosts, The Center for Metal Arts. Our conference was held in a converted barn which houses the workshop and studio space downstairs while upstairs is an absolutely stunning showroom with a small office. Our hosts Ed & Rhoda Mack are an amazingly talented couple, not to mention extremely kind and giving of their time and talent.  Ed is a blacksmith and head of production while Rhoda is the creative force behind the whole mission. They launched the Center for Metal Arts in 2003 with the intent of; 
  • passing on the knowledge of blacksmithing and fine metal arts
  • providing a forum for accomplished smiths to pass on their knowledge of technique and process
  • providing a hands-on learning exchange for the wider lay audience
  • gathering, documenting, and passing on the knowledge base of contemporary metal masters
Here are some pix of their place, their work and them.....
The Converted Barn
Detail of Commissioned Gate
Commissioned Gate
Workshop
Showroom
Ed & Rhoda Mack
Day 4 again began with reviews.....you've seen the pix in previous posts so I won't re-post them again. A quick break for lunch followed by a CLB guided shopping trip to Harbor Freight had me buying tools I didn't even know I needed....

Shopping at Harbor Freight
We arrived back at the studio just in time for the announcement of the winners of the first annual Lewton-Brain Fold Form Competition. I was fortunate to have seen the slideshow of all 160 entries, and there were some truly excellent submissions. See the award winners here.

We managed to squeeze in a few more paper model demo's before calling it a wrap....

Ward Fold
Flag Fold
Eckland Fold
All in all a truly wonderful experience and I can't wait to do this again next year! :-)

Ed, Rhoda & Charles

Me, Charles and Sue (my traveling companion and new BFF)

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Day 3 Fold Forming Conference with Charles Lewton-Brain

These 4 days I am spending under the tutelage and guidance of the guru of fold forming himself are seriously the best investment I have ever made in my career as a jewelry artist. I have idea's that will keep me busy for years. Not even the lunch hour is wasted; Charles uses them to give impromptu lectures. Today we had a great informational session on small scale photography. Even the "throwaway" sessions are invaluable!

As is his custom, Charles began the morning of Day 3 with a few reviews:

Charles at the Anvil
Romero Fold Ruffled and Unruffled
Forged & Milled Good Fold

Student Work by Dave Kurdyla

FYI: A list of recommended metals books:

After lunch new material was demo'd...

Boat Fold
Cross Fold
Round Line Fold

We received lots of personal attention during studio time and one-on-one help from Charles. Here's my masterpiece of the day....can you believe this was once a flat sheet of 3"x3" copper? Me neither...

YOJ Week 32 - Fold Formed Flower


Dinner with the whole group at a local Mexican Restaurant rounded out the day and I'm pleasantly exhausted....

Photo Collage by Sue Lacy

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Day 2 Fold Forming Conference with Charles Lewton-Brain

Can you tell I'm having fun?


Day 2 began with a review and then moved right into T-folds and their many variations including wedge T-folds, T-folds on an angle, and alternate T-folds. Here is a sample of a T-fold forged with the legs free on the left and legs pinned on the right.. If the piece was long enough it would spiral all the way around and take on a "bamboo" quality.


The next T-fold demo involved inserting items into the T, whacking it under a protective piece of rubber and voila! The poor mans rolling mill effect:


Chasing on air; a technique I've been wanting to learn.....


Last sample of the day; scored folds....


And finally, here's what I did today...




Saturday, August 4, 2012

Day 1 Fold Forming Conference with Charles Lewton-Brain

Wow! We packed a LOT into one day, my body is exhausted, but my brain is in creative overdrive. For those unfamiliar with FF, here's a brief overview:

"Charles Lewton-Brain is credited with inventing fold forming, a metalsmithing technique recognized the world over as the only new, original innovation in metal working in millennia. Fold forming uses the metal's flexibility to make complex forms resembling chased, constructed and soldered shapes. You can rapidly achieve results in three to five minutes from single sheets of metal! The tools are simple: fingers, hammers, mallets, anvil, vise and rolling mill."

Our morning began with a lecture on the basics and terminology of FF, a review of the latest applications in industry and art, an overview of tools and how to modify them, and a quick discussion on intentional design. We also looked at slides showing the similarities and links between the organic nature of FF and actual designs that occur in nature. Fascinating!

Charles then spent several hours explaining and demonstration basic folds before turning us loose to "play". Here are his samples and a few of my pieces....