What Makes a Good Teacher

I attended a 2-day very intense soldering class this past weekend.  I signed up for the class last fall and I have literally been counting down the days - I was so excited! It was offered through a local bead store, and featured a supposedly well-known teacher. Well, I will not divulge his name, as that is not what my blog is all about.  I will share some things today.

I am basically self-taught.  I have lots of books.  I have taken several e-classes.  I even have more DVDs than I care to mention.  But I have only taken a handful of classes through artBLISS.  And after this weekend's class, I realize how blessed I am to have taken the classes at artBLISS (Jeannette and Cindy  - thank you!).  The teachers at artBLISS are well known - Kerry Bogert and Stacie Florer.  The teacher this weekend COULD NOT EVEN HOLD A CANDLE to these two exceptional teachers.

 

The first problem, in my opinion, was booking 11 students who sat around elongated 8' tables.  We were dealing with fire people....my opinion is that the class should have been limited to 6 students maximum.  The five of us on one side of the table felt utterly and completely neglected.  At one point, I soldered a charm to my piece.  He came over, asked "did you attach it properly", and then fiddled with it, and the charm fell off.  Instead of assisting me, or giving me any guidance whatsoever, he snatched it from me, and yelled "I have another repair to do".  He proceeded to place it at his station and then walked around for 29 minutes (yes...I timed him) while I sat with my arms crossed...waiting....

 

This went on for 2 solid days. I am not the only person that experienced this in his class. Not once did I hear ANY positive feedback.  I am not saying that I needed to hear "Oh Patti...you are wonderful!"  What I needed to hear was "Yes, Patti, you are doing that correctly". Or, "No Patti, that is wrong, let me SHOW YOU how to do it correctly".

 

I added up my total "idle time" from the two days (15 hours) - AT LEAST 4.5-5 hours.  There was actually one point on Sunday, around 1:30 PM, that I almost got up to throw my $50 kit fee on the table and just walk out.  But,  I kept repeating my word...my mantra - FEARLESS - in the back of my head, and I stuck it out.

 

I am also in no way, shape or form, a "prude".  However, I do not want to hear about a man's bathroom habits while I am attending class in hopes of learning a new jewelry design technique.  I would also like a little enthusiasm...just a little.  I am not even sure he actually he actually enjoys creating jewelry. 

 

Okay - my rant on this past weekend is over.  Phew!  I feel better.  Now, I do want to again thank Kerry Bogert and Stacie Florer for exhibiting the qualities that I believe make for being a good teacher:

• Enthusiasm-they actually enjoy what they do!
• Congeniality-two of the nicest women you will every meet!
• Knowledge of the craft - oh to spend just one day in their studios would be a dream come true!
• Preparedness-not just for the task at hand, but also what to do if something goes wrong
• Patience - if these women were flustered by the students, man, I could not tell!
• Ability to involve the students in the task at hand-both Stacie and Kerry had students exchanging ideas - it was awesome!

I know that I am leaving things out of the list above, but those are the most important, to me.

 

In the end, I am STILL glad that I went to the soldering class.  I really did learn a ton of information, even though it was truly an agonizing weekend!  Here is my completed pendant:

 

 

 

I try so hard not to be negative on this blog - but I actually feel better after venting! 

 

Thank you for stopping by and indulging me in my rant! :)  Enjoy the rest of your week!

Sue Beads and Kerry Bogert

I like the title of my post today - two artists that I greatly admire in one sentence.  Sue Kennedy makes awesome lampwork beads. AWESOME-PERIOD.  Last year, I donated 75 bracelets to the Rare Organization (Global Genes Project) and I commissioned Sue to create over 50 sets of blue lampwork beads - and she did not let me down!

 

And, Kerry Bogert, while an awesome lampwork artist as well - is also a jewelry designer/wire wizard extraordinaire!  I know I have mentioned this before, but it bears repeating! I have taken two classes in person with Kerry - and two online courses as well.  I also own both of her books - Totally Twisted and Rustic Wrappings - I truly love them both!  (I hope that does not make me sound like a stalker.....hmmm...)  The necklace below was inspired by one of Kerry's designs in her first book Totally Twisted - but I had recently ordered two sets of Sue's Blue Denim Sparkle Beads just for this project. (You can find Sue's beads in two place online - her webstore here or Etsy here).

 

(Click on pics for a larger view)

 

Yes - this is a double strand necklace.  BUT - I wired half of one chain of Sue's beads and connected it to a spiral link chain.  (In addition to the necklace design, the spiral link chain was also inspired by Kerry, from her Aspire to Wire class.)  The other side of the necklace is the same - but opposite.

 

 

 

 

 

I made two pair of earrings - as I just could not decide whether I wanted to highlight the spiral in the chain or the beautiful blue of the bead - I did not like the two elements together in an earring.  We need choices, right?

I have a craft show coming up March 9, so I have been making jewelry like crazy.  I have absolutely fallen in love with this handmade spiral chain and have incorporated elements of the spiral into many pieces lately!

In my continuing saga to both photograph and present images, I have also been playing with my pictures in PicMonkey - the edge on these pictures is kinda funky and I think I like it!

That's about it for this past weekened - I hope you had fun creating, too! Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a wonderful week!

Inspired by Winter Challenge

As if Sally Russick of The Studio Sublime did not have enough on her plate with the 52 Week Focus on Life Challenge, she came up with yet another one... "Inspired by Winter".  Sally instructed us to create a piece of jewelry that reflects the beautiful shimmer of newly fallen snow ; the muted colors of nature as it awaits Spring; the yummy browns of hot cocoa, the deep greens of the evergreens, or the bright red berries from the holly bushes.

I love Winter - it is my favorite of all the seasons.  I was born in Chicago and vividly remember The Chicago Blizzard of 1967 that literally shut down the City.  Over 23 inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours on January 26th.  To this day, it is the worst blizzard in Chicago history.  COOL! My Mother remembers it too, though her memories of this week were not as fond as her 6 year-old child who did not have to go to school!
 

Just say the word Winter to me, and this is what my mind sees:

So far this season, Mother Nature has basically forgotten about me, as there has been but a smitten of snow in Northern Virginia...sigh.  Oh well, still inspired, this is what I created:

GORGEOUS beads by Sue Kennedy (SueBeads)  aptly named "Winter White Sparkle Beads" adorn this bracelet wired in Silver. 

I added some tiny Czech glass bead dangles

Had to make earrings to match!

Look at this absolutely stunning lampwork bead by GlassBeadArt!!!  It just shimmers and shines and screams Winter!

I had fun playing with these pictures in PicMonkey - I added my own frost, since Nature could not provide it for me!

Thank you, Sally, for hosting this Challenge!  I at least got to visit Winter in my mind!  Now, go visit all of the participants who have been Inspired by Winter!

Sally Russick

Patti Vanderbloemen <--That's me!

Shelly Buettner

Therese Frank

Donna Bradley

Jo Tinley

Karin Slaton
Rochelle Brisson

Renetha Stanziano

Tanya Goodwin

Jenny Davies Reazor

Cynthia Machata

Lola Surwillo

Veralynne Malone

Mary Lamoray

Lynsey Brooks

Mary K McGraw

Ailsa Cordner

Staci Smith

Rana Wilson

Karin King

Beth Emery

Pam Farren

Jess Green

Susan F.

I am so sad...

This morning, I got to my computer at my normal 5:30 am and realized that today was the very last day of Kerry Bogert's Aspire to Wire e-class!  30 new projects in 30 days!  Kerry is truly a wizard with wire!  This class was so full of wonderful, creative techniques and I have thoroughly enjoyed every single project!

 

I have incorporated some of these techniques into some pieces I have made in the past week.  This post is pretty picture-heavy, for sure!

 

These earrings are a spin-off design from Kerry's class.  Beautiful boro lampwork beads that I have had FOREVER.  They were the last two in a set of 10 beads that I have slowly incorporated into other designs.  I am afraid I cannot remember the maker of these lovelies...

Just a simple necklace and matching earrings - but these artisan beads are from two separate bead artists and I thought the beads complemented each other well.

I am so in love with this green lampwork bead by GlassBeadArt - I attached tiny Czech glass dangles - doesn't this color remind you of peridot??

 

I also used a sweet handmade clasp by Joanne Tinley

Is this not a fun color?!!!  Beads by GlassBeadArt

These are tiny lampwork beads by Mallory Hoffman- I am happiest when I get to bang my hammer and make these, my favorite earring style to create.

This necklace was made using a link style technique highlighted by Kerry Bogert, and beautiful ceramic beads by Natalie McKenna.  The next 3 pics are of the same necklace.

I was inspired by Kerry to coil...coil...coil!

 

At my last craft show, if I was asked once, I was asked 100 times..."do you have earrings to match??"  Why yes...I do now!

More beautiful ceramics by Natalie McKenna-this time a bracelet.

 

I won a gorgeous "bag of beads" by leaving a comment on Alice Peterson's blog a couple of months ago.  Her bag of beads included this beautiful Silver Mist Jasper..yum!  Alice is having health issues right now and has taken a temporary sabbatical.  I include her in my daily prayers - she is a sweet lady-and I wish for her a speedy recovery!

Twisted chain again..this time in silver.

Gorgeous beads from Unicorne - this shape is so beautiful and there is  just a touch of dichroic glass in these beads.

 

 

I made this necklace nice and long...there is that link again!  Can you tell how much I enjoyed making handmade chain!

This last picture is my FAVORITE!  Kerry gave some fabulous tips on riveting with WIRE - this is the result!  I was so pleased!  I have only ever used actual rivets before!  I made a few of these in silver too....love it!

 

Have you tried any new techniques lately? 

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I love to read each and every comment!

Focus on Life - 5/52

This week's Focus on Life prompt from Sally Russick is Capture Our Hearts.  Sally's email included the following:

"Have you ever taken a moment to notice all the hearts that come into your life everyday? From candy hearts, patterns on clothes, a paper heart you make yourself or heart shaped spirals made from the ornate rod iron fencing that you may or may not have ever noticed on your walk around the neighborhood, hearts are hiding everywhere." 

I was excited to receive this prompt - I actually carried my camera with me when I was out running errands ( I never do that)!  I looked everywhere - including my wrought iron fence, as I was positive the scrolls on my gate would form a heart SOMEWHERE!  Nope!  I refused to take a picture of a bag of candy at CVS, or the numerous hearts in the Hallmark Card aisle.  This made me a little sad!

 

So, the only place I found hearts were in my jewelry...again (I have got to expand my horizons and come up with another venue to express myself other than jewelry)!

 

Before I show you the pictures - which I did have fun editing in PicMonkey - I want to thank all of the artist for their inspiring posts, especially last week's (Create Art).  I was in awe - truly!  Oh - and Sally - I am so happy to report that I was contacted by someone to design a necklace - I actually did a sketch of the design and sent it to her - I was so proud of myself!  I would never have sent her that sketch if I had not gone through these past few weeks of blog posts - you are helping me to attain FEARLESS!  Thank you!

 

Okay..here are my hearts...

 

Sweet little lampwork hearts by Unicorne

I bought the Unicorne Heart Beads months after I bought the marble rounds and was pleased that they matched so well!

A single Unicorne Heart bead surrounded by gorgeous boro beads by JavaBead.

Thank you for stopping by today - and please be sure to visit Sally's blog here to follow along with all of the other participants who have Captured Their Heart this week!  Enjoy your weekend!