From our family to yours....

New Year, New Plans, New Place, for my small biz...

GRB is Moving!!! Well Folks, I have an announcement.... After weighing the pro's and cons of continuing as an artist/instructor/entrepreneur and all that is involved in making that work, I've decided to pull the plug on retail and just focus on being an artist/instructor for awhile. Sooooooo...I've signed a lease on a great studio space at the Lake Erie Screw Factory in Lakewood where I and my Design Team plan to teach, write and create. Beginning Feb. 2013, GRB's new home will be: The Lake Erie Screw Factory 13000 Athens Ave. Lakewood, OH 44107 Studio #341 440.331.4950 See location on map HERE Some background about our future home: The Lake Erie building at Templar Industrial Park, commonly known as the Screw Factory, is a great example of the innovative use of re-purposed space. The sprawling building houses dozens of artists' studios, teaching spaces, more than fifty businesses, plus an active factory. The Templar Motors Car display on the third floor features the finest collection of Templar cars in the world. Over the past four years, more than 30 artist studios were constructed on the second and third floors. The raw nature of the industrial space and large expanses of glass attract artists like moths to a flame, and this creative enclave is now host to a diverse range of mediums including; glass, ceramics, sculpture, fiber arts, mixed media, painting, jewelry, metal arts, photography and printmaking. And yes, there is an elevator! :-) So, here's the plan...   1) Beginning Feb. 2013, Grand River Beads and Gift Gallery will become Grand River BeadStudio.  2) Hours will be by appointment only 3) GRB will continue to provide the wonderfully creative and ever evolving selection of classes you have come to expect. We also plan to host guest instructors, as we ourselves love learning new techniques and being inspired by the wide world of jewelry designers. 4) Many of our existing products will be cleared out so if there is anything you've had your eye on, we suggest you get 'em while we got 'em! We will begin discounting selected products in Jan. as per the following schedule  Jan. 2-5 (20% off) Jan. 9-12 (30% off) Jan. 16-19 (40% off) Jan. 23-26 (50% off) 5) Jan. 26 will be our last day of business in Rocky River, and the new teaching schedule will resume Feb. 13, 2013.   I am looking forward to the future with optimism and anticipation. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support, encouragement, creative inspiration, but most importantly for your love and friendship. I could not have done this with out you!!! Eva Sherman & the Entire GRB Design Team at Grand River BeadStudio

YOJ Week 51, 52, and DONE!!!

So I finished the Year of Jewelry Challenge for 2012! I made one piece of jewelry a week for a year, although some weeks, just barely. But I will say that having participated in this challenge for 4 years now, it has evolved me as a jewelry artist like nothing else. I plan to do it again next year. Care to join me?

YOJ Week 51 - Labradorite Flower Cuff

YOJ Week 52 - Ribbons and Laces and Metral, Oh My!

YOJ Bonus Cuff

Yes, more cuffs...

YOJ Week 49 – Margarita Cuff

YOJ Week 50 – Embossed WreKnitz Cuff

Are you tired of cuffs yet?

Me neither. I may finish out the year with these. These are my Year of Jewelry submissions #47 & #48.....only 4 more to go... :-)

YOJ #46 - From the "Atlantis" Series

Fold formed, cold connected, ammonia fumed, and sealed with a spray enamel.

YOJ #44 & #45

YOJ #41, #42, #43

YOJ #40 - Slider Pendant

A proto type for caging and containing focal beads....work in progress...

YOJ #39 - The "Atlantis" Series

So I was experimenting with patina applications on copper and found that fuming with ammonia and adding a dab of hydrogen peroxide creates the loveliest deep sea blues and greens. What do you think?

 

YOJ #38 - The "O" Ring Cuff

Wanna see what I made completely out of leftovers?

Free Tutorial - Queen Victoria Cuff

 Queen Victoria Cuff
By Eva Marie Sherman

WireKnitZ® makes a beautiful canvas for vintage themed creations and you’ll feel as elegant as the Queen in this dramatic cuff!  Create the cuff, finish it with hand stitched grosgrain ribbon, and add a vintage pin for drama!

MATERIALS AND TOOLS
1 – 9” 3000 Series WireKnitZ®
Fireline® 4 lb. braided beading thread
2 – 6” x .5” Grosgrain Ribbon
1 – 30” x 1.5” Grosgrain Ribbon
3 – Sew-On Snaps
1 – Vintage Pin
Scissors
Tape Measure
Fabri-Tac™
Sewing Needle

STEP 1
Fold ribbon in half and make a seam 2” away from the fold

STEP 2
Open ribbon and make three folds on each side. Pin and then stitch in place.

STEP 3
Open WireKnitZ® tube and gently massage folded edges until smooth. At one end, gently pull outward with fingers until the end begins to roll outward and then roll three times to measure about ¼” wide. Press the roll down with fingers all the way around, burying the cut end. Repeat at opposite end.

STEP 4
Stretch each end to get a slight bell shape. Stitch rolled ends in place, if desired, though it is not necessary.

STEP 5
Make a cut down the length of the tube. Fold the 1/2” grosgrain ribbon in half lengthwise and pin in place along the cut edge of the WireKnitZ® tube. Tip: Before pinning to WireKnitZ®; create a soft crease in the grosgrain ribbon by gently ironing with a light weight towel to protect the ribbon.

STEP 6
Measure your wrist and size WireKnitZ® 1” larger than your wrist size. Depending upon wrist size, WireKnitZ® may be made larger by stretching width at ribbon edges, or made smaller by stretching length at rolled edges. To stretch, grasp opposing edges and gently pull, moving fingers along edges. Keep moving fingers around and pulling as WireKnitZ® begins to adjust in size. When the sheet is the correct size, stop stretching. A bit of trial and error may be required.

STEP 7
Line up the center of the tri-folded 1.5” grosgrain with the center of the WireKnitZ®, approx. ¾” from the top roll and pin centers together. Pin rest of ribbon in place, folding edges of ribbon under twice. Tip: Use Fabri-Tac to secure ends of ribbon.

STEP 8
Stitch grosgrain ribbon in place. Secure vintage pin at center of tri-folded ribbon.

STEP 9
Stitch sew-on snaps in place as shown.

Enjoy the complements!

Hungary 2012

My Hungarian roots are not even one generation deep. My dad grew up in Satoralyaujhely and mom in Tallya, a rural area know mostly for it's vineyards. Her father owned a vineyard and crafted wines that I'm told were legendary. Just a few years ago the family homestead and vinyards were sold but we were able to visit.both.

My maternal grandfather Sebo Osvay married my grandmother Eva Enekes and they had 4 kids. Those 4 kids married and had 12 grand kids between them. These are pictures of my Hungarian aunts, uncles, cousins, spouses and some of their kids....

 

 

This trip was a lot about visiting family but also reliving memories for my mom, and making new ones for me. My grandfather always took my grandmother to Lilafured for their anniversary. Lilafured is a converted palace that became a luxury hotel with a wonderful restaurant and beautiful gardens. All 3 of my mom's siblings and their spouses joined us for lunch on what would have been their 78th anniversary. Bittersweet for all.

 

My mom and dad were married in Budapest and fled communist tyranny a few months after I was born and shortly after the student led revolution of October 1956. Although we visited my grandparents several times in my childhood, this is the first time I was able to visit with my mom as an adult.  It was a wonderful trip and I am truly grateful for the opportunity to visit my homeland. We spent our last 3 days in Budapest where my sister Liz was able to join us.