My First Workshop of the Season

It was 'old home week' at Valley Ridge Art Studio this past weekend, where I attended my first workshop of the season. Stacey Webber, an amazing metalsmith, showed us how to form and solder shapes in her workshop entitled, "Spheres, Cones, and Cubes...Oh My!" A really cool bonus was that all the gals participating in the workshop were 'veterans' of Valley Ridge...we all have taken many workshops together in the past, and get along sooooo well together!!! We had such a great time, and learned a lot!

The first day of the workshop, I happened upon this cute little nest laying in the grass.

Although we had a lot of catching up to do with each other since the last time we were together, it was all business while we each worked on our projects.

Stacey is a pro at soldering! Here she is giving us a demo on now to solder our boxes.

So here goes...I'm beginning the soldering process on the multi-knuckled cylinder I formed.

At the end of day 3, I managed to complete 3 shapes. Before I left home for Valley Ridge, my husband challenged me to make a sphere. I love taking a challenge, so there was no way I was coming back home without one. I got it done on Sunday afternoon.

Surprise! I cut open the triangle, and soldered a lip around the inside of the top to create a little container. When it is closed, the cover stays firmly in place. I just didn't have the heart to cut apart the other two shapes to make them into little containers.
Ta-da!!! Here are our completed pieces!!! Yes, I know....my hands are the dirtiest ones of the bunch!

Still Time To Register!!!

I am going to be teaching a workshop entitled "Re-sin-blage: a charming exercise in jewelry adornments" on Saturday and Sunday, May 1-2, 2010, at Valley Ridge Art Studio in Muscoda, Wisconsin.

Come and experience the magic of creating resin objects. We'll make molds, fill bezel cups, and will explore the myriad of ways in which resin can be used. We will transform objects into elements which can be incorporated into unique jewelry pieces and embellishments to enhance your assemblage and journaling work. We will then take these elements to the next level, to assemble your own signature, one-of-a-kind, "charming" bracelet or neckpiece!
There is still time to register! For those of you who have never been to Valley Ridge, it is absolutely wonderful!!! I took my first workshop there back in 2005, and I was hooked! It is nestled in a very rural and very beautiful location in the southwestern corner of Wisconsin. The owners, Bill and Kathy Malkasian, have transformed the property into a top-notch retreat center of sorts, with a well-equipped studio, community room, and even on-site accommodations for lodging in the farmhouse as well as camp sites with electrical hookups! They make you feel right at home there, and go out of their way to make sure everyone has a pleasurable and relaxing time during their visit. I can say from experience that every time I go there, I find myself getting creatively inspired. When I leave there after a workshop, I can't wait to get back in my own studio and start working on projects. I have also met and formed friendships with many people during my stays there, too! It's wonderful to be with other people who love to create!
If you are interested in registrating for my workshop, or any of the other workshops offered at Valley Ridge for the 2010 season, please click here.
I look forward to seeing you there.

Eight Counties

Yesterday was the opening of "Eight Counties" at the John Michael Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. I was amazed at the tremendous turnout for the event! The Art Center provided a beautiful spread of fresh fruit platters, veggie platters, quiche, assorted cheeses, dips, and crackers, which they kept replenishing. Later in the day they added a wonderful assortment of brownies and cookies which were still warm from the oven!!! A group which played bluegrass music also played throughout the day.

It was so cool to wander through the exhibit and look at the diverse collection of artwork which was represented. I was surprised that out of the 150 pieces of art selected, there were only about 8 pieces of jewelry chosen.


I tried to snap a few pictures of my neckpiece in the exhibit, but as soon as I snapped these, a 'camera nazi' from the Center came and informed me nobody was allowed to have cameras in the exhibits. So this is it for the pics.

I had a pleasant surprise when I was there...I knew one of the other jewelry artists that had been selected - Sarah Mann. She and I both were taught by Thomas Mann (no, she's not related to him), and both assist him in teaching his workshops whenever he is in Wisconsin. Tom should be proud to know that 2 of the 6 jewelry artists who had work in the exhibit were his proteges!

At 1:00 p.m., Ruth Kohler announced the winners of the cash awards. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them. Nonetheless, just the fact that I had a piece selected for Eight Counties is an honor in itself!!!

My Latest Neckpiece

"Art is the desire of man

to express himself,

to record the reactions of

his personality

to the world he lives in."

-Amy Lowell

This is the latest jewelry piece that I have made. It is a pendant comprised of a vintage lens shutter, an old speed regulator plate (from who-knows-what), a small antique key, some sort of plumbing part, an old photograph, and etched bronze sheet. It is suspended on a 5mm leather cord.

I have come to the realization that I need to start making pieces that don't have my old family photographs somehow incorporated into them. This way, I will be able to actually sell my work instead of keeping it. Not to mention earning some money to feed my found-object hoarding habit!

I am going to be making more pieces in the upcoming weeks, and also plan on opening up an etsy shoppe where my work will be available for purchase.