Blogging...

In reading through my long list of blogs that I like to keep up with, the first I always notice is the blog banner.  There are some beautiful banners out there in web land....the pictures are crisp, the colors are vibrant.  But mine...ugh.

 

Every time I try to create a new blog banner, my pictures--and text for that matter -- are always blurry.  I do not understand this.  My pictures within my blog are never blurry.  But once they are slapped in that banner...forget it!

 

My "go to" photo editing software is Photoshop.  I have also used Picasa and Pic Monkey. I have finagled the resolution...blur.  I have used the "original" photos - completely unedited and untouched...blur.  It does not seem to matter which program I use as the results are always the same...blur.

 

When viewing my banner in the photo-editing program (pick any one of the above), everything is crisp.  But when I placed within my blog - blur.

 

 

Example - this is a picture of a recent necklace (gorgeous beads by Barbara Bechtel by the way) - see how crisp?  Now look at it in my banner.  Ugh.

 

So, I am leaving my computer early today - feeling frustrated and old...with any luck, I will run into a teenager who has more knowledge of computers who can teach this old dog new tricks.

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend - thanks for stopping by!

Production Time

I have stowed myself in my basement (that's where I have my studio) and have been banging away day and night.  I have some craft shows coming up in November (3 in a 2 week period!) and I need to make sure I have enough inventory.

This is some of what I have made this week:

I could wrap Donna Millard's lampwork in an old shoe string and they would still shine!  Cool twisted clasp by Marie-Noel Voyer-Cramp.

I got these beads from the Art Bliss Bead Swap so I can't give credit - but here is Marie's clasp again!

Okay...so I love Marie's clasp-I admit it!

Heavy Metal Beads-learned this technique from Stacie Florer at Art Bliss - this time in silver with turquoise and wrangled into earrings

Stacie mentioned "air chasing metal" in class - I was not in her class when she demonstrated this technique. But she had a sample and I was intrigued.  So I found an article in Art Jewelry Magazine (July 2012) - I will be exploring this technique more for sure!

More of the same - after creating the earrings, I formed the curve on my ring mandrel - I love these!

 

Heavy Metal beads - in bracelet form and in silver

Stacie's Elemental Bracelet class - I made a few of these bracelets, and here are two examples.  If I could just make these bracelets every day for the rest of my life, I would be happy!  Although they look the same, each link is different: different textures, different techniques...SO.MUCH.FUN!

On Sunday, the temperature is supposed to drop to the mid-50's here in Virginia.  I.LOVE.FALL!!!  I plan on banging on more metal this weekend - I cannot tell you how satisfying this medium has been to me.  Do you have a favorite technique that "calms your nerves"?

Thanks for stopping by!  Enjoy your weekend!

Charmed at Artbliss

One of the many highlights of attending Art Bliss this past weekend was exchanging handmade charms with 11 other lovely ladies.  The theme was "Fall Into Bliss" and I think every woman captured this perfectly! There are charms created using some awesome mediums:  ceramic, bronze, polymer clay, etching, wire wrapping, fold forming (I received two GORGEOUS fold-formed leaves - I absolutely love these!)...

Click on the picture for a larger view



Credits for these lovely charms, Top Row, left to right:  Dawn Gallup, Louise Hea Smith, Sally Russick (Studio Sublime), Second Row, left to right:  Lori Anderson (Pretty Things), Jenny Davies-Reazor, Melissa Meman (Melismatic Art Jewelry), Susan Marling, Third Row, left to right: Beth (so sorry - There was no tag included and I do not know your last name!), LeAnn Weih (Summers Studio), Michelle Timms, Anne Savage, Last Row, left to right: Carol Dee Meyers, Me, Me (I had made extras!), and finally, the completed lovely bracelet!

 

Special thank-you to Dawn Gallup, who coordinated this event and presented us with a sweet, handmade art bag to carry our goodies!

 

 

I will re-live every wonderful moment of this past weekend when I wear my charm bracelet. Thank you so much, ladies!

 

Have a wonderful weekend and thank you for stopping by! 

ARTBliss - what a wonderful weekend!

I cannot even begin to convey what an absolutely wonderful weekend I had at ArtBliss!  Now, I have never met most of the creative minds in my "virtual world" that are behind the blogs and Facebook commentators that I visit on a daily basis.  But, this weekend I finally did!  I did not take many pictures, as my mind was literally going a mile a minute, but the fun began at the Friday Night Meet and Greet. 

 

Click on the pictures for a larger view

Jeanette Blix, Cindy Wimmer, Jen Judd, and Kerry Bogert (lousy pic, I know!)

My main reason for attending ArtBliss was to take classes from two artists - Kerry Bogert and Stacie Florer, both of whom are phenomenal in their respective fields.  But, I picked up some goodies, too! Sorry about the quality of the first two pics-I used my IPhone instead of my camera... 

Gorgeous lampwork made by Kerry Bogert

I so wanted to take a class with Erin Siegel, but there was only one of me!  But, I brought my copy of her book, Bohemian Inspired Jewelry with me and got her autograph!  I also picked up this earring kit!  I had insomnia the whole weekend so I made these on Saturday morning.  I loved them so much that I bought a second kit (which I made Saturday evening when I could not sleep) and am giving the second pair to my niece Rachel! Erin's mother-in-law came with her - they are quite possibly two of the sweetest ladies I have ever had the pleasure to meet!

 

Jenny Davies-Reazor had a trunk show....yes...I was there!

My first class was with Kerry on Saturday, where we learned how to colorize metal via embossing.  Then, we made a cold connection bezel using one of her most awesome cabochons!  The project is from her newest book, Rustic Wrappings (which I love!!).  The thing that impresses me the most about Kerry is her exciting use of color.  It's more than just looking at a color wheel and deciding "what goes together" - it is instinctive.  Kerry was a wonderful teacher and I expect to use these techniques and expand on what I learned from her.

 

The cold connection bezel I made in Kerry's class is no-where near perfect.  But, I am okay with that.  I learned so much from her that I know that I can - and will - perfect this technique!  She is also a sweet heart and a such wonderful teacher!

 

My Saturday Evening class was with the wonderful Stacie Florer.  The woman is a magician with metal work and I strongly urge you to visit her site!  I still cannot believe this was her first time teaching!  Saturday's class entailed making what she calls Heavy Metal Beads.  So. Much. Fun!!!  The beads are made from sheet metal (copper) - this entire bracelet I made was with sheet metal and wire and I LOVE IT!

 

 

 

I finagled the length of the bracelet by adding extra jump rings near the clasp.  I am always amazed at what liver of sulfur and a few hours in the tumbler can do to copper!

 

Sunday's class, also with Stacie, entailed creating the Elemental Bracelet.  This is the class that has really opened up my eyes to how I view my jewelry design.  So many techniques....so little time! 

I snuck a picture of Stacie into my collage...

My bracelets together - I love them!

My sincerest gratitude to Jeanette Blix and Cindy Wimmer for coordinating such a wonderful event.   I have not only gained much-need skills to aid me in my jewelry-making venture, but I have met some fantastic, like-minded women whom I hope to meet up with again!

 

In my next post, I will share pictures of beautiful handmade charms made by some of the lovely women I met this past weekend.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

 

 

Pay It Forward - Complete!

Following the lead of Ms. Cilla Watkins of Tell Your Girlfriends, I posted a quick sign-up to "Pay It Forward".  The first 3 people to comment on my blog would receive a handmade gift from me.  In turn, they would blog, and send a gift to the first 3 responders on their blog...and so on.  What a neat concept!  I sent a brief list of questions to the recipients, i.e, what colors and metals do you wear, wrist size, etc.  Once everyone responded, I got to work. 

 

First up is Ms. Kari Asbury of Hippie Chick Design.  She said she liked blues and purples - a favorite combination of mine, as well.  I made her a bracelet of sterling silver and 3 beautiful blue swirled lampwork beads from Sue Kennedy, along with some purple lampwork beads, a deep blue lampwork nugget bead, and a sterling silver diamond-shaped filigree bead. 

 

Click on pictures for a larger view.

 

Next up is Ms. Lisa Lodge from Pine Ridge Treasures.   She preferred "classic-styled" jewelry in silver, and typically wears bracelets and earrings.  I had these gorgeous filigree lampwork beads from Sue Kennedy - one of my all-time favorite bead styles.  I also had some tear drop shaped beads from Unicorne - the matte finish on both bead styles complemented each other so well - so I set off to make Lisa a bracelet.

 

 

Next up is Ms. Stephanie Stamper of Rainy Day Designs.  I happen to know that she has 3 children, and she answered that she liked brass, copper, and silver.  Well, I had JUST replaced my old disc cutter and was still in "metal mode" at the time.  So, I got to work and made her an ID necklace with one brass disc, one copper disc, and one sterling silver disc.  After stamping her children's names on their respective discs, I antiqued the copper and silver discs using liver of sulfur.  Luckily, I had recently received Kerry Bogert's Rustic Wrappings book - which included tips and recipes to antique the brass, which does not react with liver of sulfur. 

 

Once the tags were made, I made a bail from sterling silver wire and attached the new pendant to some Vintaj chain and clasp.  I like how it turned out!

 

 

I had fun with this and I hope the recipients enjoy their gifts!

 

I will be headed to ARTBliss Workshops tonight for a full weekend of jewelry-making classes with Kerry Bogert and Stacie Florer!  I have been looking forward to this for months now and cannot believe it is finally here! I am equally excited to meet all of the "virtual jewelry artists" whose blogs I read daily and share comments on Facebook!!  I started to pack last night (lots of materials and tools to bring), but did not get very far! I. Must. Pack.... Now.!!

 

Have a good weekend and thank you for stopping by!