A successful workshop

On Saturday I had the pleasure of giving a torch-fired enamel workshop at Annmarie Garden in Solomon's Island, Maryland. Solomon's Island is a quaint town that has a very cosmopolitan feel, considering the fact it lies in a semi-rural county. Because of it's location on the intracoastal waterway, Solomon's gets visitors from those sailing the Atlantic from Maine to Florida.

Until the mid-1970's this area was considered rural ... it still is what I would call semi-rural, which makes Annmarie Garden stand out as a bright spot.  The Garden has a wonderful history,  Aren't these ceramic gates by Peter King mind-boggling!  I took a workshop with Peter King in Pensacola after seeing these gates.  Pensacola has definitely been the benefactor of Peter's talent.

So back to the enameling workshop ... it was great!  Great students, great work, great facility, beautiful day! ... is there anything else?  Here are some pictures of students with their work station set up.  I bring everything, provides all materials, hand-outs ... all you have to do is show up!

Earth and Fire Treasury

Before I charged out of the house yesterday on my way to teach a torch-fired enamel workshop, I thought I should check my email.  You know, just in case some patron bought everything in my etsy shop ... I wanted to make sure I got a thank you off right away.  That didn't happen but another pleasant surprise greeted me.  Liz of Mountain Home Pottery added my Orient Red Moroccan Lantern bead to her treasury, which included some great pottery.  Liz, of course, doesn't know I'm a potter, so I can say, with a trained eye, that she makes some beautiful work. Here's a lovely example of one of her platters.  Thank you, Liz, for including my humble bead in your beautiful treasury.

"Clutter" Jewelry

"Delicate Balance"

From time to time we're all forced to straighten up our work surface.  It's a necessary evil ... if we want to be productive.  But here's where it gets crazy.  Back in 1979, my husband and I were vacationing in Negril, Jamaica with friends. (I know, some of you weren't even born in 1979!) Negril had just gotten electricity three years earlier.  There was only one hotel, which was on the beach.  We stayed on the cliffs in a place, more like a "lovely" shack, owned by the Justice of the Peace of Negril, Doris Malcolm.  There were chickens, goats, and Marcus, the ram.  I couldn't believe I was here ... it didn't seem like a place I would seek out ... but I was assured by friends that I would have a great time.  Indeed I did ... we all did!  Doris and Richard were great.  But let's just say I was lucky to remember the experience with all of the overproof rum drinks ... and such! 

But one of the things that happened on that vacation was that we made marvelous meals with few ingredients.  There was not much shopping in Negril ... like no ice cream, for instance!  And shortages of toilet paper.  We went about making the most of what we had in the cupboard.  I thought to myself, how come I can't do that at home?  Make something out of nothing.  How come I'm not able to see the possibilities with all that's in my cupboard at home?  Maybe scarcity challenges creativity.   

So, it is with this mental state of mind that I approach jewelry sometimes.  It happens when I decide to clean up my work area and make jewelry at the same time!  Kill two birds with one stone.  I try to incorporate what's on my table into a necklace or bracelet.  It's challenging, fun, and you see progress in both regards ... your work surface and your jewelry! 

All pieces, with the exception of "Individualist," feature hydraulic die formed copper pendants and torch-fired enamel beads and accessories.  I hope you enjoy the show!

"Delicate Balance"

"Individualist"

"Kiva"

"Kiva"

"Puffy Heart"

Lisa New - Lampworking Wizard

I was so thrilled when I received these beads from Lisa New, lampwork artist.  I have admired Lisa's work for some time and when I saw these beads on Flickr, they had my named written all over them.  She is a Floridian and does not live that far from St. Pete, where I manage to get away to as often as I can.  I keep threatening to visit her for a lesson!  Lisa's work can be found here.  I highly recommend her ... Lisa is very friendly, does exceptional work, and her beads arrived to my home in lightening speed!

Miss Congeniality

Hi, I'm "Miss Congeniality,"  all of my components, we all get along.  We've learned to. The enamel beads get along with the lampwork beads ... We've learned not to be possessive. Our master needs variety so we've accepted that we need to share with the new guy.  

I knew we had to get ready to accept a new fellow.  I overheard my master talking about a great contraption she bought from Jeanette Blix at Fundametals.  Jeanette who?  I guess I'm going to have to get to know her because my master loves her shop!  

Here it comes now ... this shiny brass block with holes and divots. What in the world!  I hoped she wouldn't pick on me because it looked seriously sinister.  

I saw what she was doing with it.  She used a brass brad and stuck it through the holes in her copper piece,   She put his little head in the divot, which kept him from wiggling around while she hit him with the hammer!  Poor Brad!  But it looked like he conformed, and was happy in his new home.  But, while my master whistled while she worked, a beautiful thing appeared ... something new ... it looked like it could get along with the rest of us!  I'm sure it can!

The End

An Unexpected Nicety!

Few things feel nicer than when your peers recognize your work.  That's why when I came back from working in the studio and I found a nice email from Peg at Abacus Bead Creations saying that she had selected Button-Up for her "Rustic" Treasury, it felt like maybe I was doing something right.  Thank you, Peg.  

I am a novice at creating Etsy Treasuries.  I read the directions at the Etsy site and online and make a Treasury, only to find out that it would take about 300 Treasuries to expire before I could add mine.  If someone knows a trick, please share it with me.  I figured I'd have to set my alarm clock all throughout the night to hit the right moment when I could add my Treasury. Any advice?  

Teamwork

I've been working on filling bead orders, and I want to thank everyone for that!  In between filling orders I've been experimenting with different bead combinations.  Christine of Stories They Tell requested some nice combinations: Ivory and Black, Ivory and Mocha, Pumpkin and Black. I was pleased with the results.  I told Christine that I really like it when someone else does the design work for me!   

In order for me to feel creative urges, though, I can't have things hanging over my head.  When I'm free of imminent demands, the creative juices can flow. And, Jim certainly adds to my free time by cooking almost all of the meals.   Tonight it's Chicken Marsala, Quinoa, and Insalata Caprese ... and it's a weeknight!   I can't wait to see what he dreams up for dinner tomorrow!

Cindy Sure Knows How to Start a Party!

Cindy Wimmer of Sweet Bead Studio is having a great blog give-away to celebrate the publication of her jewelry, and that of some of her friends, in Easy Wire Magazine.  If you've been to her blog, you know her work has so much wonderful detail ... and her stamped metal is to die for!  But you need to rush right away to her blog because she's giving away GOOD STuFF tomorrow at midnight.  You won't want to miss this! 

Painting With Fire!

Please visit my new etsy shop, Painting with Fire.  I decided that my jewelry shop should contain, yeah, you guessed it -- just jewelry!  So, it made sense to open this new shop, which will feature enamel and clay beads, torches, some other tools ... and who knows what else.  

As an introduction to my new shop, until the end of October, I'll be offering a 15% discount on all vitreous enamel beads, like the ones in my banner.  The Moroccan Lantern and Persian Palace beads can be made in an assortment of Thompson Enamels.  These include the opaque enamels: Mocha, Foxglove, Bitter, Hunter, Black, Steel Gray, Pumpkin, Orient Red, Spruce, Sea Foam, Robin's Egg's Blue, Peacock Blue, Wedgewood Blue, Orchid, Goldenrod, Buttercup, Nut.  Transparents include: Mandarin Orange, Periwinkle, China Pink.  If you need a color reference, you might find it by viewing the beads for sale at Painting With Fire, but you can also check Thompson Enamel

for their color chart. 

The beads can be ready to ship in 2 to 3 days.  

I Need Bright Colors!

I don't know about you, but when the days get shorter and gloomier, I need more color.  I tend to get really affected by the lack of sun.  Enamel colors can be somewhat garish, but you can moderate the color by etching or overlaying transparent colors over opaques.  

The "Bead Family" members are related but each has its own distinctive personality.  I think we all experience that in our own families!  I hate to sell family members, but these at my etsy shop. 

The "This 'n That" necklace is modeled after one I made for myself.  I love my necklace.  It is colorful, comfortable to wear because it is lightweight, and has personality.  I look forward to making more of these using different elements.  The beads in the necklace are torch-fired enamel. Enameled head pins, even though small, add quirky bits of color.  The vintage photograph is applied to Shrinky Dink ... a real blast from the past ... in more ways that one!  

The Passion Flower necklace was inspired by the plant I have in my garden in Florida.  It produces beautiful fuschia flowers that are so exotic, yet hardy.  In this necklace, the little flower bursts from the bottom of an enameled copper pipe cap.  

Even though it's pouring right now, my mind is filled with the colors of the rainbow!