It was an enlightening workshop today with Susan Kazmer. She is masterful at forging different shapes and objects from simple metal sheet and wire. I can't tell you the restraint it took to not stick a mandrel in my pendant and dangle it in the flame! Be done with Klyr-Fire and handling tiny shapes and knocking half of the enamel off while getting it to the torch. I never thought of my hands as being big and clumsy ... but today proved otherwise!
Experimented with some crayons ... forged a cone and some interesting shapes. For the torch firing I would have to say ... the differences in our approaches is what makes the world go 'round!
Susan had a lot of the pieces on exhibit from her book on cold connections. To be up close and personal to beautiful works of art was a thrill. She is a very giving instructor and holds back nothing. It was worth every cent ... and more.
My two table mates ... Britton and Donna ... were wonderful. Britton, a meeting planner, had just arrived on the red eye from Vegas and got to the hotel at 8:40 a.m.! Donna Barnanko is an accomplished jewelry artist and treated me to so much beautiful work ... from riveting to woven beaded bracelets that you could stare at for hours and still not see everything. Donna is a teacher at Stars Beads in Vienna, VA ... so she's only a hour or two away from me.
Here are a few photos from the workshop:
Donna, and her treasure!
The Treasure! Beautiful Sunset Orange Enamel and Fire Scale!
One of Donna's pieces of jewelry ... a wonderful ring!
Britton at the bench pin ... filing away!
Our fearless leader!
On to Florida for two weeks where I'll give a semi-private lesson in advanced enameling techniques including use of liquid enamel, graphite pencils, overglaze enamels, liquid enamels with ceramic underglazes ... and to making projects for the book! Talk to you soon ... thank you for stopping by!
10 comments:
Glad you had fun! I need to take your advanced class - when will you be doing the traveling version?!?!?!
Looks like it was so fun!
I'll also want to take your advanced class...count me in if you want to do another NoVA class! Or Richmond! :D
That's great Barbara, Susan is a kick. I'm a big fan. She is a giving teacher, I've taken many classes with her. I love her laugh! Glad you enjoyed it, and learning new ways. Hugs, Riki
You are one lucky lady!! Glad to see it went so well, and what will we see next from you??!!!
so glad you went! now you need to show your project, unless it is being saved as something special??
Lucky, I would love to take a class from Susan, I love her book and refer to it a lot. I can't wait to see your new book, I want to explore more and more with enamel, you have opened up a whole new creative path for me Barbara.
Isn't Susan just a delight? She is so approachable and authentic and full of zest. I loved that she was always so genuine in her praise and enthusiasm just flows right out of her, you can't help but catch it. I took her class on resin at Bead & Button in 2008 right after her book was released. It was a thrill and I would be remiss if I didn't say I was jealous. I could soak up her knowledge for days, but her classes are always sold out. So I feel fortunate that I got that chance. Thanks for sharing, Barbara! Enjoy the day! Erin
I also love Susan's book and look at it a lot of night right before I fall asleep. I can't imagine anything better to dream about than images of her jewelry. It was a great workshop and I'd take another one with Susan in a heartbeat!
This brings back wonderful memories of the workshops I took with Susan, back in March, here in Australia.
Have a safe trip. The photos look great and I'm very envious! I made a glass bead this past week and have a whole new appreciation for the art. Gah!
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