And I'm Feelin........

Gooooooooood.......

And wearing these FABULOUS earrings made by Mary Jane Dodd ought to do just that! 

They could be yours.....

What makes you feel good?

Is it a special friendship?

A kiss from one your children?

Completing a piece of jewelry that came out just like you wanted it?

A big huge piece of chocolate cheesecake?

Leave a comment letting us and everyone else who reads this blog know what makes you feel good!

And as usual.....share those good feelings on your blog, your facebook, your twitter or anywhere else that you might share on the internet and come back to leave multiple comments letting us know each time.  Each comment will only be counted once....

Thank-you for...

~creating handmade with handmade~

The winner will be picked at random on February 7th.



The Morning After...

by MaryAnn Carroll

can be tough with any kind of addiction...  Well... not ALL addictions!  The morning after a kiln firing when you have a "BEAD addiction" can be quite exciting.  It's the part of the addiction that keeps you wanting more.  It's like this one time, when Bill and I were in Saugatuck, Michigan, and went into this very cool bead store with LOADS of beads on sale!  It is a similiar thrill!  When it comes to beads, my second love next to art beads is turquoise... and that store was loaded with it.....

Okay, I'm heading off course...

Back to the morning after:  For all of you out there who are part of the "Supporting All Bead Addicts" group, you can imagine what it might feel like to open a kiln first thing in the morning and see this....

Lookin' Good!

Next, it is time to get them out and see if any minor collisions took place like 2 beads becoming 1 because they were placed too close in the kiln and the glaze fused them together or..... one dropped from a wire because I balanced it too far to the end.

Out they come....  Beads covering both sides of the bead trees....

Still Lookin' Good....

Time to remove them from the wires.  Here is when the the jury is called in....

Will they be good enough to put through to the next round?

And....we have all, but one survivor...  Not bad!  And that was just a little stray that I found and didn't want to throw out!  You can see it there still hanging on!  I guess that little bead was never really destined to be made into something special.

Now....I sort a little further.  Since I started up my jewelry venture again just a few months ago, I have been finding that I'm having a hard time parting with so many beads.  Instead of looking at them and thinking about what might look good together for sale in my Etsy shop, I've been looking at them and wondering what might look good in a piece of jewelry.  So, with this firing I decided to solve that problem and glaze extras of the beads that I covet the most.

So, there you have it.  The beads that are in a little group in the upper right are the ones that I'm keeping to add to my own collection (well...truthfully, since this picture was taken the other day, I've grabbed a couple of others....  but mostly, what you see here will eventually make it to my shop).

I have to say that clay is so fun to work with.  What you can do with it is endless.  An example of one  difference are the beads shown above.   I used the exact same glaze and applied with the same amount of thickness.  The clay body used on the beads shown on the left  is a stoneware mix and on the right is the porcelain, the clay that I use most often.  I gravitate toward porcelain because I can 'mostly' control the results because of its whiteness and translucence.  Lately, however, I have stepped outside of my little clay box and I'm experimenting with other clay bodies.  I have to say that it has been fun and the results surprising.

And lastly, I'm going to be redundant.....what I love the most are the endless creations.  You can create VERY small pieces of art like these little 5 mm beads (that is as small as I can get) .....

to these cute little guys and gals that my husband Bill has been working on.... 

These will be headed to the next wood-firing.

to very large sculptures created by clay artists around the world. 

Thanks for stopping by to see a little of what goes on in my little part of the world in Homer, NY.

The questions I would like to leave you thinking about today are...

"What art beads are your favorites?"

"Do you make your own art beads, if so, what do you make?" 

"If not, do you perhaps see yourself making art beads in your future?"

We would love to hear from you....  and stay tuned tomorrow for our next

EXCITING giveaway offered by Mary Jane Dodd.

the beauty of a good challenge

mary jane dodd

'i shut my eyes in order to see.'

~ paul gauguin

i committed to the ring a week challenge this year... for all that deadlines can often fill me with dread, this one sets me free... it is the place my mind goes to play while i figure out what i 'need' to do with other pieces and other aspects of my life... 

RAW 1 - landscape of the sky

RAW 2 - you are here

RAW 3 - broken promise

and this week - 

(unnamed as yet... and unfinished)

what do you like/dread about challenges?

and you still have a couple of more days to enter our call to create for january... 

Metal crazy!!!

by Kelli Pope

After years of making jewelry, I felt the need to expand my horizons, and increase the creativity in my designs. I had a love for anything metal, especially rustic, handmade metal pendants and sculptures. I purchased a book, The Complete Metalsmith by Tim McCreight (very technical!), bought my first torch, and some sheet metal. I did research on the internet, but after weeks, I just couldn't bring myself to light that torch in my studio!! I had the knowledge and the tools, but I just couldn't do it. Yep..... I could hear my mother's voice saying, "You'll burn the house down!!" I knew I was going to need some hand's-on training before I could do it on my own. Luckily, I found a 6 week metalsmith course at a local college and signed up. My husband and I both went and had a BALL! Lighting the torch in someone else's studio was SO easy!! :)

Better yet, I learned to saw my own shapes from sheet metal, and gained much more respect for the time involved in the process. The soldering, sanding, grinding, sanding, polishing, hammering, sanding, heating, (did I mention sanding?) is time consuming, but so worth it when a piece you envisioned comes to life. There is just COMPLETE and absolute joy in creating something with your own hands.

Something handmade. Handmade by you.

Whether it's forged metal, sculpted clay, precious metal clay, lampwork glass.. wherever your heart leads you, follow it. If you have a creative spirit, you know you have no choice but to create.

Here are some vendors I use that sell sheet metal and wire. Who are your favorites?

http://www.jatayu.com/Education/Tutorials/SFDtut2.htm

At the above site, you'll actually find a WONDERFUL tutorial on working with sheetmetal. No torch required :)

http://http://www.fdjtool.com/category.aspx?categoryID=520
http://rings-things.com

http://www.contenti.com

http://firemountaingems.com

Hello from the Great White North!

My name is Jennifer VanBenschoten (you can call me Jen!), and I'm the artist behind VanBeads Jewelry and Designs.  I design and create one-of-a-kind pieces of fine beaded jewelry using one-of-a-kind handmade components.  I was so surprised and delighted to be asked to be a part of Love My Art Jewelry because it's such an amazing group of talented artists, and because I love their unique philosophy!

I like to joke that my three-year-old son is actually my full-time job, because he certainly keeps me on my toes.  When my husband and I found out that I was pregnant, the first thing we talked about was whether or not we were going to put him in daycare so that I could keep my job.  We decided that I didn't enjoy my job enough to keep at it, and instead I decided to use the 9 months prior to my son's birth getting myself organized so that I could focus on my jewelry business as a way to bring in income while staying at home.

That first summer was an eye-opener.  I sold my fused glass and lampwork glass jewelry at local farmers' markets and craft shows, and I was thrilled to discover a huge market for beautifully crafted handmade work in my area.  I also found many, many kindred spirits among the other vendors - people who, like me, were looking for a way to promote well-made local goods.

Some of my handmade fused dichroic glass components

To supplement my income in the winter when there are no farmers' markets or craft shows nearby, I started working as the Guide to Beadwork for About.com.  My job there allows me to share my knowledge and love of beadwork and beadweaving with readers all over the world - I've had emails from people in Greece, South Africa, Israel, Singapore and Iceland!  It just goes to show that there is a universal interest in the craft of beadwork, and I'm always thrilled to connect with someone who loves it as much as I do.

I recently decided to cut back on my glass lampwork and glass fusing in order to focus on my first love - beadweaving.  I've been weaving with tiny beads ever since I purchased one of those "Indian" bead looms from a craft store back in 1989, when I was just 14 years old.  I fell in love with beadweaving right away.  It seemed like magic to sit down with a pile of beads, some thread and a needle, and then watch as this beautiful piece of jewelry just sort of made itself as I stitched.

I have a background in environmental science and non-profit community development, so the relaxing and meditative aspects of beading were exactly what I needed to decompress after dealing with the frustrations of government regulations for eight hours every day. 

There are some amazingly talented artists out there making the cabochons and pendants that I use in my work.  My three favorites lately are Lisa Peters of Lisa Peters Art, Kristie Roeder of Artisan Clay, and Marsha Hedrick of Amazing Porcelain.  And I'm always happy to "discover" a new artist whose work really speaks to me so that I can turn around and use it to tell another part of the story.

A selection of handmade cabochons by Lisa Peters, patiently waiting their turn to become a piece of finished jewelry

In addition to creating one-of-a-kind works of wearable art, I've also just started working on a series of eBooks called "The Beaded Amulet" that will give clear and detailed instructions on how to use bead embroidery, beaded fringe and other embellishment techniques to create your own personal beaded amulets.

I'm so very excited to be able to share my creative insights and my work with a whole new audience!

And by the way - if you can't find me at home, I'm either out ice fishing, belly dancing or chasing my son around the backyard in all the "deep, deep snow" that we get up here in the Adirondacks!

This is torch-fired enamel? Yep...

How would you like enamelwork in the shade of a ripe papaya ... or maybe the dusty color of a faded rose ... or how about the green of the Caribbean?  It’s possible and so much more.  

Everyday I’m grateful for my degree in Fine Arts where my understanding of color theory is crucial to designing new enamel colors. Knowledge acquired while pursuing a concentration in ceramics has led to an understanding of how oxygenated and reduced flames are an enamelist’s best friends. Torch firing can produce remarkable results that are only possible by manipulating the atmosphere of the flame ... making it either reduced or oxygenated.  

I love working with transparent enamels to accentuate the details of filigree beads by allowing the enamel to pool in the recesses of the bead. While a color swatch is a good start, it does not tell the whole story ... the depth of color ... its richness. Many of swatches are of colors we have created ... so you won’t find them on the Thompson Enamel color chart. Just know that as beautiful and sensuous as this color chart is, our finished beads are even more beautiful!

This is only part of our color chart ...

Here are a few things coming from our studio that you might like!

"Grunge"

Fused and reticulated sterling on etched copper

"My House or Yours?"

"Little Sayings"

"Sweet"

"Tequila Sunrise"

The Queen and Eye

Thanks for visiting!

Designer of the Week

by Patty Lakinsmith

I'm pleased to announce that the honor of the Designer of the Week this week goes to Stefanies Sammelsurium. Stefanies "Very Berry" mixed media necklace boldly used most of the colors in the challenge, and is especially appealing to me because of its use of so many materials. She uses recycled sari silk, lampwork, copper, gemstones, and czech glass. She made the copper heart herself.

In looking through Stefanies Etsy shop it's immediately clear to me that she has a keen eye for color and a wonderful design sense.

Congratulations, Stefanie!

Lampwork Focal Winner...

...is Kell from Beadativity!

Please contact Patty with your mailing address.....

More information regarding donations for our giveaways and our challenges can be found in the "sponsor" tab at the top of this blog.  In exchange for donations, you will receive a button "ad" on the sidebar with a link to your shop or blog for one month. 

Thank-you to all who participated in our giveaway and to the generosity of those who have donated.

Challenge Yourself....

by MaryAnn Carroll

There is still time left to enter our Call-to-Create Challenge, which you can easily link to by clicking the button on the left side of the blog.  We are offering some fabulous prizes as you can see on the right side of the blog.   In addition to those, you will also have a spot on the side bar of our blog which is reserved for the monthly winner.  The winning piece will be displayed here for 1 month as well as having your piece displayed on our website indefinitely....  Here are the winning pages from the past couple of challenges......

Our December Winner's Page

Our November Winner's Page

The challenge this month is to include something that you made.  A few tutorials have been offered to help you out.  You can find Kelli's clasp tutorial, Barbara's clasp tutorial or my earrings tutorial by clickling....

Kelli

Barbara

or

MaryAnn

See.....isn't that easy?  How about challenging yourself a little this year?  If you are someone who already creates handmade components, we would love to see your finished work as well. 

Now...

How about a little walk through Etsy?  You might like or be inspired by some of these handmade beads and components.  You can read more about each item by clicking the caption under the pictures.

AngelasPaperArt

AnnesGlassJewels

Dferr7666

EBrown2503

MilenaCh

MoreSkyeJewels

NotSoShabbyChic



SigalsArt

And remember....buttons make very unique clasps or focal pieces in your jewelry designs.  An example of a button clasp is seen below in the picture by TocaDora Leather.



LidDesignsSupplies



WoodenButtons



TocadoraLeather



ArtisanClay

So.....don't delay any longer...

Join us...

In our...

Call-to-Create Challenge...

designer of the week

mary jane dodd

'i heart you'

molly alexander

this wonderfully colorful yet rustic necklace is centered around molly's own enameled heart focal... i love how she set the bright wire coils against the antiqued metals... a wonderful balance! she shares her work in her blog, website and etsy shop...

the submissions are really inspiring - thank you all so much for your participation... 

invited by a friend, i have been participating in a ring a week challenge... so i am off to finish that while the kids sleep!

congratulations molly~

A new adventure!!!!!!!

by Kelli Pope


As posted for the new year, I'm embarking on a new adventure- Making my own beads for my jewelry!!!!! I'm SO excited!! Last year about this time, I took some private lessons from a local potter, got some wonderful advice and help from Mary Ann Carroll, and made a batch of beads. Unfortunately, after that the clay, glaze and tools sat untouched until last week. I pulled out my clay and it was a little on the stiff side. I was SO dissapppointed! With some advice from Mary Ann, I let it sit overnight with some water, and it rehydrated VERY nicely. BACK to bead making, FINALLY!!!





Here is my greenware. Can't wait to get it fired and glazed!!!!!



I'm headed to my sister's, in the country, this weekend to 'hole up' and just make more beads. Stay tuned for more Beads by Kelli!!!!!!!!!!!

Do Something Different !

Yeppers, that doesn't look a thing like jewelry. It's my first zen tangle. It's my pen drawing on a little 4 inch piece of paper. And yes, I do know this is a jewelry blog. But bear with me, this might actually make a little sense by the end of this post.

 I recently stumbled across zen tangles when I was reading Marsha Neal's blog. Lots of you know her for her incredible ceramic pieces with these amazing textures that she's created from her own drawings. She recently started doing a weekly challange over on the I am the Diva blog, hosted by Laura Harms. She's a Certified Zen Tangle teacher and truthfully I don't in fact know just exactly what that means. So I hitched a ride and started tangling just because it was different from what I usually do as a jewelry component maker. It was a little different from my rather rigided thinking about design. You know, I like all of the dots to connect. I like things to be coherent within a strict and rigid little world I set up for myself.

Well low and behold letting go of those constraints is a real eye opener. Zen tangle actually opened up a whole new world for me. I am by no means an expert. Very far from it. Zen Tangle is an art form in and of itself with the premise that anyone can draw. But beyond that is the letting go of preconceived notions of what your drawings might look like. Think childhood, think coloring outside of the lines, think just letting go for a little while.

And just how does this tie into jewelry? I know you've  been waiting for how this actually has anything at all to do with a jewelry blog. You know how sometimes you hit the wall. Just nothing at all comes to mind that might be in the least bit new, interesting. You know, the I can't make one more piece of jewelry because I am done in. There is nothing at all out there that is original. OK, I can totally accept that I am the only one who has ever been in this position.

Well, I can say with absolute certainty that taking a little tiny bit of time to do something completly different can open doors.

This is a grown up version of a pattern from my very first tangle. Go back and look at the first photo. This is a larger version of the pattern that I didn't even think about. It's in the bottom left corner. I would never have thought of this pattern if I hadn't just let go. It's destined to be a texture plate for working with metal clay (probably, but you never know).

The point of all of this is that sometimes if you let go you can move to a place that is totally an expression of you. And if you a tangle, and nothing at all comes of it, you've had a few minutes to let go. The ideas spring from there. And thats what making art jewelry so, so much fun.

So let those ideas bubble up, spring forth!

Happy making

Taking credit cards at shows? A must read

I've been in pursuit of the perfect credit card system for about 6 months.  I wanted one that would enable me to give the customer a receipt.  I already had a free device that plugged into my computer where I could swipe the card, but the only way I could generate a receipt would be to have a printer available.  I started doing research on portable printers.  The only one on the market, that didn't cost a million dollars, was by HP and it got terrible customer reviews.

So, we're in the Apple Store and the sales person checks us out using his I-Phone and a small portable printer.  We're like all up in his grill ... as my son would say ... asking about the system.  More research was needed.  We came across Merchant on the Move where you use your smart phone, in our case, a Droid X to make the transaction.  The printer/card swipe and phone are not physically connected ... it is Bluetooth enabled.  Swipe the card, key in the sales amount, print one receipt or more.  The customer can sign on your phone or on the receipt.  $300 for the set up ... much less than other options that generate a receipt. I used the set-up on Saturday at a workshop and it was a dream to work with.  If you're interested, contact Tony Salvaggio at Merchant on the Move ... he is super to work with.  He'll set you up and do over-the-phone training.  Even a blue-haired lady like me can get it ... although much more slowly than my 25 y/o son! :-) 

Entering the Discomfort Zone

I had a chance to study with a masterful, experienced silversmith of 30 years over the weekend, and once again entered my discomfort zone. Husband and wife Jerry and Fran Harr do a lot of the same local shows that I do, and we've struck up a friendship over the years. Their jewelry is exquisite - fine craftsmanship and materials combine to make unforgettable and unique pieces. I was thrilled when Jerry said he'd be willing to teach me what he knows about silversmithing, and jumped at the chance to grab an introductory one day session with he and Fran in their Northern California studio.

Jerry solders prongs on "his" half of the pendant.

Humbled, excited, afraid, and energized, are a few of the emotions I'm feeling after our day together. I went from feeling very accomplished about a new bead design I've just created to feeling like a fish out of water, gasping for air. But I know that there's some wonderful things I can create if I spend the time to perfect my new skills.

Jerry demonstrates how to make a hinge.

In the same day I was told I was too tentative, too shy with the tools, but on some things I was too aggressive. With swift moves he firmly formed metal around a mandrel, and with a few well placed blasts of the flame he fused pieces together with solder. He made everything look so easy, and when I took my turn in the chair to try it, I was humbled. I figured I'd have an advantage with my few metalsmithing skills, my knowledge of the flame and all, but it didn't get me very far. Sure, I could light the little propane/O2 super hot micro torch, and I did avoid burning things up, but soldering and using the Foredom tool seemed clumsy to me and I think I almost soldered my pick to my piece of silver.

But Jerry and Fran were generous with their knowledge and time and I learned a lot. There are a few key things I need to add to my modest metalsmithing bench, but they'll take me far. So, with much flourish, I present the finished project that we completed:

It's just a simple half round wire frame onto which we soldered some prongs, and inside floats one of my straight sided lentil beads. A generously sized simple bale lets this pendant slide on any chain, and the bead spins freely inside the cage. You can't even see the bead hole.

It was one long day, but we blasted through soldering, bezels, sawing, hinges, earring posts, polishing and buffing. Jerry and Fran were wonderful teachers, and I hope to schedule another class sometime after I can practice all of these things first. But first, I have to unwrap my new Rio Grande catalog...