SNOW DAY

Our place looks great in the snow. Even the turkeys like it! I stood at the counter to pour another cup of coffee, and noticed that we had visitors. Here they are from my kitchen window. (Yeah, I know, I need to clean the window again. It's too cold, though. Shhhhh. It's a perfectly good excuse.  Really. ) 

They were just hanging out in the driveway this afternoon, sniffing around and napping. Seriously, three of them were really napping, for about 10 minutes. Heads down, eyes closed. Sort of. Then their compadres came along. They kept popping their heads into the snow, and under the rear tire of my car. I wonder what they wanted down there? Ice?

 
Well, it seems as though these are the only visitors I'm going to get for a while. I got a call from my UPS delivery folks. They were very nice. In short, they are afraid to drive up my icy dead end dirt road, so I may not have any new metal for a while. My silver shipment will be sitting in the UPS office. Did I really want to make any jewelry today anyway?

That's OK. I can pick it up tomorrow.  For now, I have visitors to attend to. Where did I put the bird seed?

Treasury Widget!

Ever see an Etsy Treasury?
They have come up for me as delightful little surprises over the last few years. Among others, my Spiral Geometry Bracelet, Fusion Tree Brooch, and little Black Dress Pendant have all been treasured by Etsy members.

Today. I learned how to include some of these treasuries in my blog! You can click on these treasury images and go right to the actual treasuries, visit the shops, and see what other treasures await in the artist's shops.

 Etsy Treasuries happen when an Etsyer decides to create a collection of favorite Etsy items, usually centered around a theme. Out of the blue, I have gotten notices that someone has chosen one of my jewelry items to include in their Etsy Treasury. What a really lovely compliment!

 Whether you are a seller or buyer, treasuries are a fun way to browse the many handcrafted items on Etsy, and to check out the work that others admire.

Have you ever been "treasured" on Etsy? Here's how you can include treasuries on your own blog - it's easy!
http://www.craftcult.com/treasury_widget.php?userid=7604671&src=banner

Want to find some treasuries to browse? Go to www.etsy.com/treasury/
Look around and enjoy!

Save The Arts: An Important Message About the Arts by David Shrigley

NEW BOOTH

It's been at least 4 years since I have done an art show, and why? NO BOOTH!! (Left and below, my glass cases before repair and new stain and new inserts, and phase 1 of the counters.)











I decided the best way to get myself back out into the art show world was to schedule a show so I would have to build a booth for it.

It took about 2 weeks of almost constant work, more money than I expected, and several days with almost no sleep, but I made it! I built cabinets, took them apart and rebuilt them again. I took apart glass cases, stained and cleaned them, and put them back together. I created counter tops and figured out how to get them to sit properly and safely on their bases for every show. I mounted photos and signs on backer boards and sewed fabric panels to set them off.


And then, I FORGOT TO PHOTOGRAPH IT!!! So here are some of the before (above) and after (below) photos of the construction. (Left and below, cabinets are rebuilt, and given fabric inserts, and everything has a nice new coat of matching stain.)

I am really pleased with the results, although you won't get to see any of the nice colorful elements here. At the show, I added black drapes, some patterned turquoise fabric hangings to add color, and tan fabric hangings behind my photos. And nice booth and case lighting, too. But now that I'm back in the show world, I'll have to get some photos at my next show. Stay tuned!

RETREAT!!!!

Don’t retreat, run TO the retreat!!! Last week, I returned from the Jewelry Artists Network’s East Coast Retreat, fondly known as JAR, or Jewelry Artists Retreat, in North Carolina. What fun, what fun!!! I was lucky enough to become a part of this wonderful group three years ago, and I have gone to the retreat every year since. I’m a solid devotee now, and wouldn’t miss it for the world!

The Jewelry Artist Retreats all begin with Janice, who created the retreats, and who also administers the Jewelry Artists Network. If you love making jewelry, you will want to check out the forum at www.JewelryArtistsNetwork.com and become a member. Join us, it’s free, and a better group of people you won’t find anywhere! I was thrilled to find a place where jewelry artists could ask any question at any level, and find others who care and take their questions seriously. I have been privileged over the last few years to meet Janice and a number of the other forum members in person, and they are a truly wonderful group. The first east coast retreat was held in 2007, and some of this year’s retreaters have been there every year since! Our house was full this year, with 13 retreaters. Although we have developed a core of returning members, we always have room for new blood, and 4 of this year’s attendees were brand-spankin new to JAR. We had a blast!

The retreat house is a lovely large house on Lake Gaston in north-eastern North Carolina. It has 2 kitchens, 5 bedrooms, and a beautiful private dock on the lake. Our most common view, however, is usually of another metalsmith, intent on their work and viewed over a sea of tools and torches. We have taken to setting up shop in the large garage, where we can leave the doors open to the breeze and sun, and still sit together to share ideas, designs, techniques, and tools. We might run an impromptu demo for others, or help one another with a particular technique or tool. This year for instance, I had the opportunity to try Janice’s flex shaft hammer hand piece, and Ann helped me to use her Koil Kutter, where I cut enough jump rings to last me much of the coming year.

We shared the liquor-and-chocolate table, many home-made cakes, food, meals, tools, bedrooms, and lots of laughter. Some of the demos and sharings included chain maille patterns, torch-fired keum –bu, forging a ring from a silver coin, cuttlebone and broom straw casting, using a hammer handpiece, making bezels, salt water and ferric chloride etching, and so much more that I can’t remember it all!

The JAR East Coast retreats are really a treat! More details will follow.

Just Off the Bench!

Things have been really hot around here! OK, so it's been the hottest summer in years, but I'm talking about the bench work going on at the Silver Vine! I haven't come up with so many new things in ages!! What a great feeling.

My current inspiration are some eucalyptus leaf skeletons I bumped into in a local shop some time ago. They have been living in the back of my mind for a long time, so I went to buy them. It turns out they haven't sold these for five years!! I guess I have a better memory than I thought. Well, they were great, ad gave me some tips to hunt them down. i finally got the chance to play, and here are the results!

I am in love with this pendant. As soon as I get the chance to make some more, I think one will get to become mine! I want to make these in all different sizes. They are just too much fun!

Great Vacation, Great Book!

We just got back from a great time on vacation at Rehoboth Beach, DE. What a great place to relax! It’s good for singles, but great for families. We always have a wonderful time. We lay on the beach all day, sunning and wave jumping, out past the breakers. I love to jog on the beach, and then go into the ocean for a cool-off swim. We love to park our car and not move it for 5 days! There are so many places to eat and shop, and the alleys between streets are filled with lovely flowers, great shops and cafes, and even water bowls for the ever-present pups. You can rent bicycles and pedal to other nearby beach communities, too. Each one has a different ‘flavor’, and they are all good!

There are and lots and lots of galleries and craft shops, and - you guessed it – endless hand-crafted jewelry to see and enjoy! That’s always part of my exploration when I go on vacation. At Browseabout Books on Rehoboth Ave, I picked up a great new book that I recommend highly; Joanna Gollberg’s The Ultimate Jeweler’s guide – The Illustrated Reference of Techniques, Tools, and Materials. I thought it was the perfect souvenir for my vacation. I love Gollberg’s books. They are always chock full of great color photos, and packed with lots of information. This one covers all the basic details and specs of precious and base metals, solders, and even mining ethics, then moves on to a wide selection of basic tools, full of great photos and info about ways to use them, and even how to make some of your own. She continues through all of the basic jewelry-making techniques, from cold-connections through fabrication, forming, texturing, stone setting, and finishing. This book is just perfect for beginners and still full of info for the experienced metal worker. I learned a lot just from a quick skim, and I think my jewelry students will love it! It’s an easy book to browse through and read, and with its spiral spine, it will stay open on your bench while you follow the techniques. I think this one’s destined to be a classic, second only to Tim McCreight’s Complete Metalsmith.

Well, I'm back now, and YEOW!! I can’t work in this mess. Mess-clearing has been my summer, but that's another story. It’s time to clean off my bench, and get some making done!