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

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!

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!!! :-)

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?

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 

Ana Krepel, Cat's Pajamas, Dog's Tuxedos

Andra Weber, Andra's Joyful Journey

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 

Barb Fernald, Barbara S. Fernald Jewelry 

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 Davis, Natural Treasures by Deb

Debbie Phenes, Deb Joy Sing

Debbie Rasmussen, A Little of This, A Little of That

Dhea Powers, Java Bead

Diana Welte, Lilyweeds

Dita Basu, alankarshilpa

Dorota Zeranska, gdymamczas 

Dot Lewallwn, Speedie Beadie

Eleanor Snare, The Magic Square Foundation

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

Krafty Max, Krafty Max Originals

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 Florian, Lilys of the Valley Jewelry Creations

Linda Murphy, Bonita Bead

Lisa Johnson, Whimsey Wonders

Lisa Lodge, Pine Ridge Treasures

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 Callahan, Dancing Wire and Beads by Lori

Lori Finney, Using My Beads

Marcia Dunne, The Alternative Foundry

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

Melissa Muir, Kelsi's Closet Jewelbox

Paige Maxim, Paige Maxim Designs

Pam DeBoer, Purple Notes from the Studio

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

Tanya Wiles, Tenebrous Hollow Studio

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

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)

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

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...

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....