The Bead Soup Party Jackpot!

Boy, did I hit the jackpot when I got Nancy Schindler as my partner.  I have to admit that when I received Nancy's components, as beautiful are they are, I was in a quandary ... which is one of the great benefits of Lori's party ... it forces us all to stretch.  I looked at her focal piece and thought "Should it go this way or that way? Hmmm.  I think most people would have it go this way, so I'll have it go that way."  Going "that way," encouraged a triple strand necklace, which was perfect because I remembered a great clasp I've had kicking around her for some time.

Here are the results ... a piece I call "Twilight."

The pearl strands are hand-knotted.  Labradorite makes another appearance, as does some patina work on a flower bead cap (learned from Shannon LeVart).  Love the beryl beads and rhinestones with Nancy's companion piece on the other side of the necklace as a counterpoint.

I felt incredibly "rich" wearing this the other day in the studio after I had just finished it ... with my sloppy mock turtleneck with food stains on the front.  The drape of the necklace is incredible, which I owe primarily to the hand-knotted pearls.  I am in love with this piece ... really! And, I owe it all to Nancy, for providing me with such rich "ingredients" for my Bead Soup.  It is delicious!

Please check out the other Bead Soup Partiers at Lori's Blog. 

Links!

I love the way these links look and they are so much fun to make ... I think it's because I love to see the wire ball up on the end.  It's 16 gauge copper so it takes a little bit of juice ... not everyone has a torch that can handle this gauge.  These are a little over 3/4" wide at the outside diameter and are bound with sterling silver wire.  They are hammered, oxidized, and polished.  Here are just a couple of ways you can use them ....

But, you can stack them as rings, use them as earrings ... I can also send them to you unbound so you can link them together.  They would be complete except for binding them closed with wire. These are available at my website.  Look under "Beads/Components" on the left sidebar ... the price is an affordable $5.25 per link. If you buy 3 or more, the price drops to $5 a link.  The discount will be refunded when the links are shipped.  

Jewelry Predictions for 2011

Want more information from Jill MacKay and Creative Leisure News for jewelry predictions for 2011, check out Love My Art Jewelry.

Fringe-y Earrings from Sundance Catalog

Blog Hop ... Art and Soul, Portland

Hi guys, I want to invite you to join me for a blog hop of some of the most talented artists in their field ... who coincidentally will be all in one place at Art and Soul Retreat, Portland, Oregon, from Monday, September 26 through Monday, October 2, 2011.  Ten years ago, Portland was the incubator for Art and Soul Retreats ... which continues to grow and prosper.

For myself, I'm offering three full-day workshops and an evening session. I am beyond grateful to those of you who have signed up for my Painting with Fire - Torch-Fired Enamel Workshop, which is completely filled!  I try my very best to make sure that you leave my workshops with knowledge, skills, and head full of ideas!  By the end of the workshops you'll be saying, "I didn't know you could do that with torch-firing!"

My North Light book, "Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: a Workshop in Painting with Fire" will have been released on August 4 ... mere weeks before Portland.  Do you know what that means?  It means that everything I have is yours ... the cat's out of the bag ... I can tell all!  And all you will get!  

The other thing is ... students need very few tools for my workshops.  For instance, in the Painting with Fire Workshop, no tools are required ... I supply everything.  Check each course description for what you'll need to bring.  It will be a relief when you realize that what you need for the workshop can fit into a plastic sandwich bag!  The line up is as follows:

Forging Ahead Bracelet, Tuesday, September 27, 9 a.m. to 4:30 - Fire, metal, glass, and fiber unite in a uniquely “yours” bracelet.  We'll forge and then enamel our focal beads, make this neat link and an S-clasp, too.  You'll not only learn the Painting with Fire Technique of torch-firing enamel, but you'll leave with a gorgeous bracelet. Bring a hammer, wire cutters, round nose and chain nose pliers to class.  Everything else will be provided.

Forging Ahead Bracelet

Enamel Explorations ... Suitable for Framing, Wednesday, September 28, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - This workshop will explore the painterly qualities of enamel. Using pendants as our canvas, which can later be turned into jewelry, we will explore the vast opportunities for surface design in vitreous enamels. Our explorations will include the use of liquid enamels, ceramic underglazes, ceramic overglazes, embedding of objects in enamel, graphite pencil, enamel crayons, ceramic glaze stains, sgraffito, cat’s whiskers, etc. No enameling experience is necessary. Please bring some fine paintbrushes for detail work. 

Enamel Explorations ... Suitable for Framing

Treasured Snippets Workshop,  Friday, September 30, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. - “Treasured Snippets," a project from my book, is perfect for “onesies” … you know, a little of this and that. Of course, if you’re taking my “Enamel Explorations” workshop, you'll  be bringing Chintz Charms, like the one here. Otherwise, bring the little precious orphans from your studio for this unique bracelet. Bring some chain and round nose pliers, wire cutters, and some extra beads and buttons if you have some you want to add to your bracelet.

Please be sure to check the blogs of these other exceptional teachers ... who are offering some pretty awesome workshops!  I'm in very good company!

Sharyn Sowell   www.sharynsowellartblog.blogspot.com 

Jane LaFazio    www.JaneVille.blogspot.com

Jenni Horne  www.jennihorne.blogspot.com

PeggyKrzyzewski   www.artandsoultoo.blogspot.com

Rogene Manas    www.rogenemanas.blogspot.com

Doreen Kassell    www.doreengay-kassel.blogspot.com

Corey Celaya   art-with-moxie.blogspot.com

Patricia Seggebruch   www.encaustikits.blogspot.com

Jen Crossley    www.amarkintime.blogspot.com

Some time for a jewelry project ...

Erin Prais-Hintz's post about the Art Bead Scene Challenge for February inspired me to make this piece... read more about it at Love My Art Jewelry.

"In the Meadow" ...
Green Girl toggle and floral dangle, labradorite, beryl, rose quartz, torch-fired enamel

"In the Meadow" (detail)

Home at last!

Well, I'm home in one piece from the Bead Show.  It was quite an exciting time.  I met some wonderful students in the workshops, some editorial staff of magazines, such as Danielle Fox and Denise Peck of Interweave and Pamela Hawkins of Bead Unique. I managed to snag a couple of wholesale orders from Fusion Beads and Bello Modo.  I had some wonderful artists around me in my booth area.  I'd like to introduce some to you.

This is Karen Ovington.  She was my next door neighbor.  Karen is a lampworker extraordinaire.  I have coveted her beads for some time and decided I had to make a couple of them my own.

These are Karen's beads that are now in my possession.  I think James Cameron just excavated them from the ocean's depths.

And, here is the darling Michelle ... a saucy Aussie!  We developed quite a friendship during the week.  We adopted her ... her maiden name was "Lewis" and she felt like family.   She knows more about good Scotch than anybody should! 

My Tucson Neighbors

Okay, I found my camera.  Here's what I was promising ...

This is Judy and Fran of Class Act Designs.  They make the most beautiful hand-dyed silks for bracelets, necklaces ... what have you!  What nice neighbors to have across the aisle from me.

But look at what stared me down!  OMG!  These are absolutely beautiful ... and look so much better when the white balance of your camera is set properly! :-) Very soon you'll see what I mean because I purchased a wholesale order from the girls and will be bringing these to you online.  You should have been there to experience the fun Judy and I had pairing my enamel beads with their silks.  Gorgeous combinations!  I can't wait.  Their "Spring Fling" with my Bitter beads ... gorgeous! But that's only one example!

Who is this handsome devil at the Painting with Fire Artwear booth?  Why, it's none other than David Lewis looking like some corporate executive making a high-powered deal! Yes, he is indispensable ... to me at least!  David has been wonderful!  Besides knowing his business ... by that I mean how to enamel beads with the expert skill of a drummer/guitarist (can you imagine the fine motor control!), he's adept at creating color combinations.  He's the originator of the Candy Cane beads that so many of you liked at Christmas.  I'm very proud of David ... actually it's more like I'm very dependent on David! LOL  Shh! don't tell anyone, but his nickname is the "Master Beader." (Don't think too hard on that one.  Good thing he doesn't read my blog!)

Tomorrow I have more treats in store for you when I introduce more of my neighbors ... and the Tawny Frog Mouth!  Don't miss it ... it's a "HOOT!"  Love to you all!

Book Cover!

"Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: a Workshop in Painting with Fire"

While I try to find my camera so I can post the photos of yesterday's scene at the Tucson Bead Show, I thought I'd share with you the cover of my book.  I know the fonts will undergo some change, but the rest of the cover will remain the same.

It was a challenge for the designers to impart a feeling of fire without actually having a flame in the photo.  My daughter says it's like the glow of a fireplace.  When I opened my email and saw it for the first time, I had a visceral reaction ...  I felt flushed, had goosebumps, a dry mouth, and a lump in my throat.  Sounds like stage fright doesn't it!  

The first week of August is the release date, which will conclude an 18-month process unlike anything I've ever experienced before! ... but in a good way. :- )

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

It is friggin' freezing in Tucson!  Apparently, it hasn't been this cold since 1918!  There's no heat in David's part of the suite. And, our pipes are frozen... And, I'm teaching a workshop in our suite ... And use your imagination ....!  Okay, the maintenance staff brought two 5 gallon buckets of water, one for each bathroom.  No showers ... but I'm still smelling as fresh as a rose!  My hair is pouffy so that's good ... it isn't stuck to my head.

So, my first act of business for the workshop will be to explain the old Girl Scout motto:  "If it's yellow, let me mellow; if it's brown, flush it down."  Actually, that isn't the Girl Scout motto ... but it sounds like something I heard in the Girl Scouts.

I promise to bring more inviting news later.  I'm taking my camera with me to the exhibitors hall ... lots of goodies to follow!

News Flash:  The maintenance guy just brought us keys to a new room ... for us to use for showering, etc.  We can't move in there permanently because I'm teaching in the suite!  But, it's all good!

News Flash Flash:  They're using a hair dryer to defrost the pipes.  Any of us who live in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-West, and Alaska know how successful that is!  It's kinda like camping! LOL!

Hey, they did it!  Yay, Doubletree staff!

Art and Soul, Portland

Hi Folks, Registration for Art and Soul, Portland begins today, February 1!  I've got a pretty exciting line-up.  I'll be teaching everything I know!  My book, which will be out by then (August 4), will beautifully record what you'll be learning in the workshops with hands-on experience. I can only imagine how creative you'll be with your artwork ... and you'll inspire me to greater things!  That's how it happens you know ... the teacher learns from the student.  It happens every time I teach ... I learn as much as I teach.  Would love to meet some of you out there.  Portland ...  the spot where it all began.  Ten years ago Art and Soul pioneered the concept of art retreats and is still leading the pack!  Come join me!