Enameled Cups

These.

Came.

Out.

Just the way I imagined.
I love when that happens.

On their way

Packed and sent on their way to the Lubeznik Center for the Arts
Just in time for Valentines Day!

Urban Institute of Contemporary Art

Did you get yours yet?

I did!

Published!

Lark Books published another of my tutorials in their new 30-Minute Necklaces book.

It's a very good book, full of great projects for those of you just getting into jewelry making as well as those of you who have been making jewelry for years.

Paying attention to Kandinsky

My Wasilly Kandinsky-inspired brooch.

Enamel on copper, forged sterling & steel.

Mine, mine, mine!

Curling Willow Leaf Earrings

I so love the anticlastic curve.

So sensuous.

Curling Leaf Earrings

Ahhhhhhhh. These are mine.



But I have a couple more pairs for Krasl's Art Fair on the Bluff in the teacher's tent.
Hope to see you there!

Kalamazoo Art Hop

I'll be showing and selling my work all day Friday, May 7 at the Kalamazoo Institute of Art.
Stop in and say hi, it's always good to see your smiling face and I'll show you some of my new work.

Time: 12:00pm - 7:00pm
Location:Kalamazoo Institute of Arts314 South Park StreetKalamazoo, MI 49007

Join us on Friday, May 7th for a special treat at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts!The KIA Gallery Shop will be hosting a Jewelry Showcase Featuring wonderful locally made jewelry from such artists as Meg Tang, Char Short, Georgia Newman, Ligita Samsons, Vicki Cook, Amy Culp and Bobbie Peters.
Remember, members get a discount on their purchases! Not a member? Click here to become one!

This is the perfect opportunity to celebrate a special Mom in your life by presenting her with a very unique gift, while at the same time, supporting the arts! What a great cause!
The galleries will be open and refreshments will be served! If you haven't seen it yet, now is a great opportunity to tour the 2010 West Michigan Area Show!
Grand Prize Winner, Michele Shelton will be on hand to discuss her piece, A Moment to Remember.
This event is free and open to the public.

Pod Necklace

Starting to incorporate some of the fold formed pods into finished jewelry...

More Fun with Fold Forming

It's amazing what metal will do

If you hit it in the right places.

Head Down

That's the way I feel like I've been working. Like a draft horse pulling along.

So I rewarded myself with some play time and made some of these. They aren't carrots but oh what a well deserved treat.

LOOK at that color! Just a propane torch and water did that to the copper. And the shape! Incredibly organic. Charles Lewton-Brain developed/progressed fold forming techniques several years ago and I'm just getting around to trying out some of the forms.

I want to forge some more until they completely curl around to make a hoop...or a spiral. But first I must get back to my chores...because that is going to be my reward after I finish my next task.

A work progresses

Back in September I had a new friend bring me an image of a 1960's era pendant out of Georg Jensen studios and ask if I would take a look at it to see if I would be inspired by it to design a pendant for her. She was willing to wait until I was ready so I decided to give it a go.

After a couple goes at prototypes, I struck on some design changes that are good, very minor shifts of the rectangles improved the proportions, opening it up on all sides gives it a lighter feel and appearance than the direction I was going.

I'm so glad I get to take my time with this piece, it calls for such precision and I'm not used to working within such precise measurements, sawing, filing or symmetry. I've had to try some techniques I haven't used before to hit those lines and measurements, I like that.


So far so good on this prototype, Ann is pleased with the design and is excited to have seen it progress. I plan to do another prototype in copper before I work it in silver.

Now my brain is filled with new ideas, spinning off this design, brooches, earrings...must, Must, MUST make them.

Striped Beachstone Necklace

Lake Michigan Thumprint Beachstone Necklace

This stone has a place to rest your thumb.

And a handmade clasp to match the links.

Pale Aqua Lake Michigan Beachglass Necklace

Grass Green Lake Michigan Beachglass Necklace

Pale Pink Lake Michigan Beachglass

The Unexpected Earrings

I took some of those sweet little stretched circles from yesterday and nipped out a section at the top.

Did a bit of reshaping, filing, and sanding with a smidgen of drilling and fusing and came up with these...

All-in-all a good days work.
Another good day.

Prototype Shape Earrings

Just off the sketchbook...

Slightly sharper shots than yesterday, still tinkering with these. They have to be as close to perfect as I can make them before I send them to friends for prototype reviews.

Should have a couple pairs good to go out next week....
*does a little nervous bounce*
Then, after getting some technical feedback from my reviewers I plan to tweak the design accordingly and make 10 pairs. *phew*
What a process.

Prototype Shape: The Story Continues

So far, so good. Well, except for the lack of light.
I decided to take the shape and use it just as is, very little alteration. Lost the pink/orange/red heat patination while I did the earwire, but the copper will fix that in the long run.

I left the wires long so I could find the best balance point when actually dangling from a lobe.

Now I'm imagining piercing this shape...or doing some light repousse and chasing....or soldering little yummy bits to the face...or...or...or...yup Toni, you are right- These are things that make me go 'hmmmmmmm'