Weekly Challenge - Week 18

So, i didn't get any new work finished this week... it's the first week in a long time that i haven't at least completed something for the shop. It makes me feel sad, like i've let down my muse. ( i did however complete a ring resize, and produce a number of charms for The Rescue Way Station)

I bought some new cabs, because i'm ALWAYS buying rocks.. and these are the three pieces i'm working on next. The large mint Chrysoprase is paired with a gorgeous Kammererite from Russia that has a lovely hint of mint in the upper right area. The top right is a pyrite cube from spain paired with a meteorite that has lovely olivine and iron inclusions. The bottom is a great piece of Horse Canyon agate paired with a small aqua Larimar from the Dominican Republic. I have sketches of how they will all look and will hopefully be sharing the finished pieces soon!

The ring i made and resized

Charms in Copper

Weekly challenge- week 17

I was in Nashville at the TN crafts spring show when it was time to post my weekly update (may 1st). I was so tired- three shows in three weekends, and running full steam to make new stuff between shows.... I went to bed before 10 on both Friday and Saturday night, even though I was within walking distance to some amazing places and the weather was amazing!

The show was good though. I had a chance to do some mentoring, which is a chapter coordinators job, but one I was excited to do. I got to be a part of a friend's artistic confirmation both of her work and the value of her work.  I met some great people and I bought some gorgeous wood worked art.

I'm still working on the mobile metal studio- found 2 options nearby. Fingers crossed one works out!

I have a bit of a break from shows, which means more focus on my classes. I have a fun on coming up later this month at the Botanic gardens on how to love your jewelers saw. One next month on fine silver metal clay and glass and then in July, my weekend workshop at ACC on unique molds and textures for metal clay.

I picked up some old lapidary journals at the MAGS show weekend before last and have finally gotten around to looking through them. Omg the prices on things were so low!!! Looking back on some of the ones from the late 90s, when I really started, is interesting. Many of the places that were my dream/go to shops are long gone, victims of the economic crash in 08... and some have stood strong. Many of the techniques that were new and innovative in 1985 are coming back as, well yeah. New and innovative, again. :) all things are cyclical. Art, people, time, nature. Oh my- so philosophical over some beads. ;) now to see if I can see if any of these cab dealers that were selling top grade charoite in 1998 are still around....

Here's something I worked on last week, for my challenge.... 124 stacking rings. :)

Busy Bran- Upcoming shows & classes

It's been a busy spring! 

Last weekend was the East Buntyn Art walk, which was excellent weather, despite predictions to the contrary. It's one of my favorite shows to vend as the people that come and wander the historic neighborhood are some of the friendliest folks i've met, but i miss being one of those wandering. :) The commemorative wine glass this year was PURPLE!! and i was able to replace the broken blue one from last year so i have the complete set of them from years i've been a vendor. (OCD nerd problems)

This weekend is the Vollentine Evergreen Art walk and the MAGS gem and mineral show, so i'll be busy both Saturday and Sunday. Hopefully, i'll sell a bunch of stuff Saturday so i can buy lots of rocks Sunday. :) 

Next weekend is the Tennessee Crafts Spring Show in Centennial Park, Nashville. It's Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 3rd and i'm the chapter coordinator for the SW chapter, so i'll be set up with 2 other members of the SW chapter in the Emerging Makers tent. We will be joined by two artists from another chapter, including an artist with amazing turned bowls, so keep an eye out for pictures and if you're in the Nashville area, stop by and enjoy a variety of amazing arts and crafts by some of Tennessee's finest (and surrounding states)

The TN Craft spring show is my last show, as of right now, for the spring season. I'll be turning my focus back to my classes- the May class at the Botanic Gardens is going to be a fun technique class on using the jeweler's saw. June's will be combining metal clay and glass. In July, I'll be out at the Appalachian Center for Craft teaching a mold making/texture making weekend workshop with metal clay. I'm excited about all the cool stuff that is possible in a longer class- I always try to put too much into my 1 day workshops and have to scale them back a bit. :)

Weekly challenge- week 16

This Saturday is the East Buntyn art walk, so I've been busily making. Finally figured out how to finish the lovely silks that my pendants seem to float from. Got a project cleared off my to do... and still have some earrings to make.

Here's a teaser of new stuff.

Mobile Metal Working Studio

Last week i set up a GoFundMe for a VW bus that i can use to go to out of town art shows and also have a mobile metal studio for said shows as well as local events. I'm so thrilled at the support i have received so far but i still have a ways to go to be able to purchase and transport the bus from Cali.

I've created a logo for the MMWS and i'm already pricing how much it's going to take to get this thing on the road and to shows! (Positive thinking-- especially since the seller has lowered the price if i can get it off his hands this week!!!)

Rough draft of the logo- needs a little polish, i know.

Here's the link to the GoFundMe page- every little bit helps and i do have rewards for donations- I'm not just asking people to just give me money for an art project- I'm offering product in exchange for an investment in my community outreach plan.

Here's a picture of the high top camper VW Bus- it'll need a new paint job eventually, but it will do until i can get the inside outfitted to be useful. i think i'll paint her to match my studio. :)

Weekly challenge - week 15

These are 4 rings I finished last night and applied patina to today. they have this slick gunmetal finish now that really sets of the stones and the textures

Weekly Challenge - Week 14

I've spent some time spring cleaning at the studio - the anvil table finally has its top and all that is left is to get andy to help me drill the holes for the lug bolts. i'm excited about having not just the large vise, rolling mill and shear mounted, but also my Fretz stake holder that i have had in a little shrine on my bench, awaiting its turn to be used. :)

my bench actually has work space on it now, several unique strands of beads i purchased for the shop side have been rediscovered and are available for purchase and i re-curated my window display- adding another plexi shelf and spreading out some of the goodies so that they can be even more inspiring. My Sarah Perkins bowl (the amazing golden sun on the bottom shelf) is now out and visible as well. It feels good to get the energy of the space back into the positive, especially after such a long, cold winter.

Not the best picture, but gives an idea of the new pretties. 

I'm looking forward to a class i'm taking at the Five in One Social Club down on Broad. It's Old School Screen printing. I'm looking forward to seeing how i can utilize it in my metal working- maybe as a resist for etching, or something with enameling... I suspect there will be experiments documented here soon. :)

I'll be making some gallery rings tonight at Open Studio over at BMB designs from 6pm-10pm. That means soldering, stone setting and finishing demos! Gotta get stock built back up for the Art Walk on the 18th over in East Buntyn! I'll post a picture later, after they're all put together.

Weekly challenge- weeks 12 and 13

Just because I haven't posted doesn't mean that I have not been making- I just can't share them publicly yet :)

I've been looking at all the great things in have coming up this spring. Art walks, the TACA show in Nashville, teaching a new sawing technique class, and then in the summer, teaching at a new place.

So. I've got work to share- just have to wait. I also have a ton of new stuff in the shop, some new cabs to put in this week and some works in progress that I can hardly wait to finish!

In the mean time, enjoy today's finished piece- a variation of the infinite love pendant- I think the hammered wire is a nice touch.

Ok- here's the set that i made for week 13- the infinity pieces are gold-filled wire i twisted together for texture and the gemstones at the clasp are significant birthstones for the couple. 

Weekly challenge- week 11

I've been working like a mad woman to get as many if the in progress pieces on my bench finished for the Cosmic Trunk show this Saturday at the metal museum. I had making things that are the exact same so I have been doing little things here and there to make each piece unique.

Here are the 5 infinite love necklaces I finished tonight and the latest lily pad ring. (Also hot off the bench)

Weekly challenge - week 10

It felt so good to sit in the studio and make tonight! I've been sick for over a week and there hasn't been much energy for doing anything,  much less creating but tonight, fueled by a venti mocha and the looming deadline of my first show of 2015 at the Metal Museum next weekend, I was a making fiend! 

I actually completed 12 rings,  7 pairs of earrings, and 3 pendants tonight. I got a good bit carded and tagged, still need prices, but it's progress. And I have several more pieces in the pipeline so next time I get to sit for a few hours and work, I should be able to boast a comparable haul. :)

Here's an overview pic

something to remember on the cold, dark nights...

"Au milieu de l'hiver, j'ai découvert en moi un invincible été." 

~ Albert Camus

{in the depths of winter, I discovered there was in me an invincible summer}.

Weekly challenge- week 9

I posted 4 times before I was out of town for a week so technically, I don't think I should be penalized for missing week 8. :)
Here are the rings I made during today's snow day. :) I had some requests for smaller rings so I've been making some in the 3.5 to 5.5 range. They also work as great midi rings.

Living the creative life

The last couple of months have flown by for me. Between traveling for work, preparing for shows, and taking a very eye opening workshop presented by Thomas Mann, I've been in a physical and mental whirlwind.
One of the themes that keeps coming up (for lots of other folks too, if the blog-o-sphere is any indication) is 'telling your story' through your work and the importance of authenticity. I started thinking about what makes something authentic and how authentic does it have to be for people to connect with it- because we also all enjoy a good tale- fantasy and science fiction would not be such popular genres if that wasn't true.

I decided that living the creative life was a keystone to my authenticity. Walking the walk, if you will. A creative life is *not* the status quo- in fact, it's likely the farthest place from it right now. It's changing, mind you, but we're only really seeing the shift in affluent sectors where the disposable income to make choices about where your sustaining necessities are sourced exists. The most visible of this shift right now is in the growing presence of organic and sustainable products on the store shelves. But living the creative life goes beyond that- it's not just about *buying* things that are better for you, the environment, etc. It's about creating them as well.

Creative life isn't just for artists- look at the word creative- its root- create... It's about making, growing, producing, fabricating, bringing into being. Promoting, fostering- sowing the seeds for... it's about the choices we make that allow our lives, the lives of our families and the lives of those around us to be touched by this amazing creative energy. It's cooking a meal -even if it's not from scratch-just assembling convenient components- rather than grabbing drive thru. It's planting a garden and enjoying the crop, however big or small, from your labors- from your act of creation. knitting a scarf, putting a button back on a much loved shirt. it's in everything we do, every thing we say.

I have fully realized that living the creative life isn't just about making art- it's so much bigger than that. It's about your life being made up of so many conscious and positive choices- about creating and fostering growth. From the food you eat, to the clothes you wear to the art you hang on the wall. And when i look at my life, i see that i am already well on the path to an authentic, creative life that i can be proud of- that i can draw upon and that i can shine a light from to help others find their path.

Weekly challenge- week 7 early

My next class at the botanic gardens is metal clay and enamel- basse taille, specifically. Which is really just fancy words for transparent enamel over textured metal. :) I've made a few samples from simple pretty textures with one color on top to fancier gradients with champleve.

Here are the samples:

Weekly Challenge- Week 6.75

I tried out some new techniques this weekend while i was supposed to be making stock for my upcoming show. i needed the creative boost of trying something new, because while i love making spinner rings, and stacking rings, and antique button pendants and fold formed earrings, i can get a little stagnant with my designs and my execution without a little injection from something different... so i played with some larger scale (wall jewelry size) air chasing and some enameling techniques that i had set aside many years ago and never quite gotten back around to exploring further.

No finished work yet, but here are the preview pics. :)

air chased copper with wood, art glass and paper. still working on the layout.

  

Graphite on enamel. 2 layers of opaque enamel were laid down and fired, then stoned smooth so i could draw on it. Then i doodled :) this is before firing.

 this is after firing. :) 

Weekly jewelry- week 6.5

I'm to be completely out of pocket for a week with out the ability to make jewelry so i am getting a little ahead (I don't want to fall behind like I did last year)

these earrings are textured copper with sterling silver bezel cups and posts with onyx set in the bezels.

Weekly jewelry - week 6

Basse taille enamel on fine silver. For my March class at the Memphis Botanic Gardens.
In class we will construct the base, and it can be super simple like these or more complex, combining champleve with the basse taille. Up to the student's comfort level. Textures will be available or they can create custom textures with scribes, ball burnishers, stamps, botanicals, etc. Pieces fired at lunch, and after lunch enameled using lead free transparent enamels.

Will complete at least one pendant. Some people prefer to make earrings or 2 small charms. 

Weekly jewelry- week 5

Last Saturday I taught a metal clay filigree class- here is my (mostly) cleaned up class sample. It will be filed a bit more and then plique-a-jour enameled.

Weekly jewelry - week 4

I can show it now as it was auctioned off last night for the Memphis Botanic Gardens' Incognito event.

Wall jewelry!

Journal in copper and brass #1- fold formed copper, hardwood, woven copper, brass and fibers.

Jewelry a week - Week 3

It was ring making day at the studio. I sat and did a pseudo- assembly line and created 4 of my open rings in silver, 2 ball stackers, and 5 gemstone stackers.

The gemstones are 1 smooth moonstone, 1 rose cut, 1 rose cut labradorite,  a small oval larimar and a lab Opal doublet.

Jewelry a week - week 2

This week's piece is a hand made dichroic glass cab set in a fine silver bezel atop a lovely sterling silver art nouveau patterned band. Light liver of sulfur brings out the texture of the band.

jewelry a week 2015- week 1

I am not going to try to be as ambitious as I was last year. I'm going to try something a little more realistic given my overall schedule, and hopefully I'll be able to keep up with it better.

Here's the first piece of the year. I made the change to complement the pendant I made last year so that here's one finished piece of jewelry in 2015 :)

What I've been working on- December Update

I've had a lot of stuff going on lately on the artistic front. I created a piece for a challenge and actually submitted it (it didn't win, but that's not the point), I've been doing a fair bit of teaching, and I've been invited to teach a weekend workshop in Metal Clay at the Appalachian Center for Craft. I am participating in a show this weekend at the Brooks Museum- the Holiday Artist Market- and i'm pretty excited to see how that goes. Shows this year have been very positive experiences so far, decent sales aside, and i've learned so much from them. the shop is full of new stuff- tools, blanks, beads, chain and of course, finished jewelry. :)

So- yeah- I've been a busy little bee! Here's some Eye Candy for you. :)

Sterling Triskelion Earrings

Iris Fine silver button pendant with LOS background patina

Torch Fired enamel beads

Various rings

Infinite Love necklace

Ginormous garnet ring

Tool Corner: Mini Hammer Review

So, with the popularity of Bill Fretz's PrecisionSmith hammers, it was only a matter of time before the knock-offs arrived. After all, for the growing population of weekend jewelers, $45 or more on a single hammer that they may not use frequently is understandably hard to swallow.

Forming and fabrication are currently the darlings of the hobby jewelry making world, as evidenced by the plethora of new tools, books and videos available. This is a good thing! It means more toys for me to try out and give recommendations on :)  Which is what i'm going to do here, in what will hopefully become a regular feature for me- Tool Corner. I have the ability to order ones of tools, give them a go and then, if they're great, i'll carry them in the shop.. if they're not so hot, then i can let people know where better to spend their money.

Back to the hammers- everyone seems to have their version of the Fretz PrecisionSmith hammers now- and it is important to note that these hammers are the same size as the smallest of the Fretz hammers. The SilverSmith line has not yet been replicated. EuroTool, BeadSmith, Contenti and even Wubbers have their own take on these hammers. I have taken the EuroTool and BeadSmith hammers for a test drive. (Note- I do own several of the precioussss, i mean Fretz hammers, so i am comparing these to the real deal)

The EuroTool hammers (Mini Trustrike) have a darker wood handle than the BeadSmith, so they are visually a closer match to the Fretz (the Contenti are even closer, as they have Rosewood handles, just like the Fretz). The heads are highly polished and look very nice. they're secured to the hardwood handles with a pin on the side opposite the EuroTool logo. I took the Embossing Hammer (face 65mm) for a test drive and loved the feel of it in my hand. It's not quite as light as the Fretz- the handle is a little thicker and a touch longer. At $24.99 retail per hammer, it's a considerable price difference for minimal difference in feel and performance- i will have to see how it holds up over time. There is also a 7 hammer set with a stand that retails for $129.99-149.99, depending on the site. I am waiting on the texturing hammer to arrive so i can compare the quality of the texture faces to the Fretz (the raw silk is my absolute favorite texture and i use the Fretz whenever i can for it!) That they are called the Mini Trustrike makes me think that the standard Trustrikes are in the works.

The BeadSmith hammers, just known as Small hammers have a light wood handle that is longer and not as thin as the Fretz hammers and made of a lesser quality wood. Of the 7 Beadsmith hammers, only a few have handles that are the same length or shape. It sits in the hand slightly different from the EuroTool hammers as well. The head is coated in black and polished on the faces. It is also pinned to the handle and a few of the hammers display a little overrun of glue. At $18.99 retail, they are less expensive than the EuroTool, but they also feel cheaper.

Understanding Silver Jewelry Treatments - Plating

I've heard some comments at shows about my jewelry 'not being real silver' because it isn't as bright or shiny as the silver jewelry people see in places like Macys or mall jewelry stores. I understand that this is an education issue and if people are willing, i try to take the time to explain why my jewelry looks different (other than because i make it by hand and it's not mass produced) but i have discovered that even people who make jewelry and/or are very familiar with silver may not know the industry practices that make store silver look different.

If you've ever bought (or looked at buying) platinum jewelry, they should have disclosed that platinum is often rhodium plated for brightness (so is almost all white gold). Many jewelry stores will offer lifetime re-plating for their platinum and white gold pieces as an add-on because it really does affect the look of the piece. Rhodium is a metal from the platinum group and has a lovely bright white color that has a high light reflectivity, therefore appears 'more shiny'.

Incidentally, it is also used to plate sterling silver as the rhodium prevents tarnish. Very few jewelry stores could afford to carry sterling silver jewelry, especially en masse, if they had to polish it all the time. Some of the mid-range silver jewelry, think bridge collections like the $30 rings at Kohls, are coated with a hard, scratch resistant jewelry lacquer that is much less expensive than rhodium plating. Just like the plating, the lacquer will eventually wear off, especially if you wear your jewelry often).

This is why some people think that 'real silver' doesn't tarnish...

The problem with this, and there not being full disclosure on the treatments to consumers, is there is a false expectation that is harmful to the perception of not just our untreated jewelry, but jewelry that may wear in an unexpected way or look odd as it wears.
Further more, because the rhodium plating requires nickel to adhere to silver, once the very thin (.2 to .5 microns) rhodium wears off, the nickel plating comes in contact with the wearer's skin . Nickel allergies can range from a barely noticeable itch to blisters that resemble 3rd degree burns. So, some people (often erroneously) think they can't wear silver because they have had this reaction. The nickel content is also why some people can't wear white gold- the common alloy contains up to 10% nickel to create the white color. (some new alloys use palladium + silver, platinum or manganese)

So, to sum it up, if you have the opportunity to educate your clients (and students, if you teach) please do!

Joanna Gollberg: Collected @ Velvet da Vinci

  Joanna Gollberg is one of the 'super star' jewelers i have admired for years. (I *will* own a piece of her jewelry.. i just have to save up for those lovely purple earrings at the Metal Museum!)

In her new exhibition at Velvet da Vinci, she displays pieces that have a slightly different narrative than her usual work- they're documentations of her travels in wearable, portable, and extremely beautiful form. Just when i thought i couldn't adore her anymore, she goes and does this. :)

From the exhibition release: (click the image above to go to the full text)

On this pivotal new body of work, Gollberg writes: 
“I had never before given myself permission to use (these elements) in my 
 jewelry, because they were physical objects that kept me connected 
 to places that made my whole heart feel crushingly full... I chose to use 
 techniques that I rarely employ in my day to day jewelry making life—mold 
 making, wax carving, casting, enameling which gave me deep pleasure. I 
 freely used gemstones and materials that suited each piece,disregarding 
 any pre-planned price structure... The results are twofold: I am spiritually 
 refreshed and ready to re-enter my work life anew, and I have created a 
 body of work that is personally meaningful, yet still beautiful and true to my 
 aesthetic.”

I relate strongly to this kind of creation-  the spiritual refreshment and the personally meaningful part as well as the desire to create with no pre-planned price structure. That's creative freedom.

I also relate strongly to the idea of being a gatherer...  I've got little jars of things i've picked up on trips that sometimes work their way into jewelry or art projects, but more often just get pulled out, arranged and then I decide that they're still too precious to put out into the world. I still need them to invoke the smell of the surf in Cozumel or the crunch of the leaves beneath my feet as i hiked to a waterfall. I envy her ability to share and covet her pieces all in one breath.

Most importantly, i am reminded that 'being creative' and 'being an artist' isn't an action you do at a certain time or a certain place. It is something that permeates everything you do. It's what makes you look at the ground as you walk along the beach, picking up the perfect limpet shell or pebble, it's what makes you notice the shiny landscaping rock that has fools gold on it in the flower bed outside the restaurant you're having dinner at. It's what drives you to take a picture of the table at Starbuck's, to the protestation of your friends because of the way the light, shadows and texture relate.  It's about color, texture, sights, sounds and smells and how we can capture those, preserve them and ultimately share them. And by capturing and sharing these things, teach others how to see the world in its full HD, 3-D wonder.

New Work- incorporating GOLD!

 See the process below!

It started as a sketch.. i purchased this amazing Canadian ammolite from one of my favorite Etsy sellers (devali) after he sent me a pic and asked if i was interested (it's nice to have that kind of rapport with folks that i buy from on a somewhat regular basis!) 

well.. truth be told, it was even more amazing in person than the picture he sent, and i was sort of in love with it from the picture, so i knew it had to be made into something special... 

here's the sketch- i tried not to think about it too much- just trust the artistic gut and go with it. (i sketched out several more designs after this one, but i kept coming back to this one because 1- the simplicity lets the ammolite be the star and 2- it just felt right.)

Here's the stone laid out on the back-plate with the bezel on the main stone and the tube settings laid out. I was playing with the arrangement of the cups to see which way was more balanced. 

  

Here's the layout with the bail (sporting it's 14kt gold 6mm tapered tube bezel!) and the 2 pieces of 14kt gold 18 gauge wire, prior to balling the ends. 

 Here it is all soldered together. the gold balls and wires are all well attached and it just needed a long soak in the pickle to get the crud out of those tube bezels. I thought i was going to mirror finish the piece, but i really dig the satin finish on the bail as i was cleaning it up, so i decided to reevaluate once it's cleaned up to see which way to go.

Out of the pickle

 With the accent stones set and a satin finish on the piece...  then into the tumbler to work harden (as if i hadn't done that enough already with the hand finishing!!!!) and clean up any small scratches from setting

out of the tumbler and the main stone was set! Ta-da!

Jewelry a Week Challenge- New Work

I've finally completed the piece i started back in February using a lovely artisan cut Lepidolite in quartz rounded triangle cab and Amethyst pear CZs. It was intended to be a brooch/pendant but after i melted one pin setting and flooded another, i decided the piece was telling me that wasn't the direction to go. 

I envisioned a modernized take on a Balinese granulation technique- so i made big, bold fine silver 'granules' to adorn the piece. By the time it became a pendant, instead of a brooch, i knew the chain was going to need to echo the streamlining of the pendant's design. So i paired sterling mod components i fabricated with strong, sleek rosary links featuring spiral cut amethyst beads. 

The toggle closure is fabricated to match and the cross bar has balled ends to keep the circle/dot theme going. the entire piece has my signature sea foam patina. (here's a pic of what it looked like before polishing- the black and purple are really striking!)

This piece was a challenge to me. I had to let go of my idea of how it was supposed to be and let the piece (and apparently my skill and patience levels) direct the development. Once i decided to just go with the flow, the piece became something that i enjoyed working on again and finished as a lovely piece i'm proud of. :)

Upcoming Class- Chain Making 1- Solderless Chains

You’ve just made a gorgeous and unique art pendant, put your heart and soul into it and you’re looking for a chain to wear it on. STOP! Don’t put your amazing hand crafted pieces on generic store bought chains!

Join jewelry artist and teacher Brandy Boyd for a day of chains that are unique and strong, without the need for solder! You can whip these babies up with nothing more than wire and pliers. Perfect for waiting at the doctor’s office, in the carpool line, or anywhere else you have a lap and 10 minutes or more. Add a steel block and hammer and you’ve got a variation on a theme and a totally different look.

You’ll learn how to make a horse-shoe chain (with variations), a beaded rosary chain (VERY versatile), a sticks and stones chain (this one can go so many ways) and an infinity chain.

Your class fee will include several spools of wire, various jump rings, instruction sheets, and a steel mandrel set to keep. There is enough wire to complete 4 necklace length chains. We will cover handmade clasps as well so your piece can be 100% yours from start to finish!

You will need to bring to class- round nose pliers, flat nose pliers, chain nose pliers, and files for cleaning up the ends of your wire.

If you have these items, bring them- steel block and hammer, hole punch pliers, smooth jawed hemostats.

Contact Laurie at the Memphis Botanic Gardens to sign up at 901-636-4128 Members $75, non members- $90

I've been working.. promise!

I haven't been very good about posting regularly, but i have still been working. My piece a day has (realistically) become a piece a month, but i'm still making smaller things all the time.

Here's what i've been up to lately.

i had some Gibeon meteorite beads custom cut for the necklace that will showcase this lovely pendant. 

This is one of Ryan's gorgeous cabs set in sterling and fine silver

Finished up the fold formed pieces from my June class samples, Finally finished the piece with the branch and made another gum-drop ring with another one of Ryan's cabs. :)

Upcoming Class- Kitchen Table Silversmithing- Bling Ring Edition

Join me June 21st 10am -5pm for Kitchen Table Silversmithing- the Bling Ring edition!

Ready to take your silversmithing skills higher? In this workshop class, we will create a bezel set statement ring. I will have an assortment of fabulous boro glass cabs made specifically for this class by local glass artist Ryan Pleso.

You must bring a butane micro torch, fuel, firebrick, jewelers files and pliers for this class. Additional tools that you may wish to bring are- texturing hammers, rawhide mallet, burnishers, decorative/letter metal stamps, ring mandrel and metal shears. Some shared tools will be available for use in class.

A class kit containing silver sheet, solder, bezel wire and ring shank/pattern wire is included in the class fee. Bench incidentals like finishing supplies and flux are included in the class kit. Additional wire options will be available for purchase in class for those wishing to try more advanced techniques.

Contact Laurie at the Memphis Botanic Gardens to sign up at 901-636-4128 Members $95, non members- $110

Fold Forming class this Saturday!

If you're looking for something AWESOME to do this weekend- come bang on some metal with me this Saturday at the Memphis Botanic Garden ! Fold forming is easy to learn and is infinitely customizable (and pretty much impossible to mess up!)

If you've never done it before, all you need is a hammer and a bench block and a desire to do some greatly satisfying, stress-relieving forging. At the end of class you will have a bracelet, pair of earrings and pendant to show for it. (All in sterling silver!)

All materials are included in the class fee of $150 for members of the Gardens ($170 for non-members). Bracelets like the ones you'll make in class start at $250 on etsy!

Call  Laurie at 901-636-4128 to register. Email me if you have questions about the tools required for class (or borrowing tools if you're just not sure if metal work is for you )