Love My Art Jewelry

Strut Your Stuff features...

noreply@blogger.com (Artisan Beads Plus) — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

weekly work done by artists who submit their unique designs to our flickr pool. On the first Monday of each new month a winner is chosen randomly from all of the submissions. Today we have these very cool skulls created by Kalaya Steede. Here is what she had to say about them.....

Still enjoying the moments in making these little charms.

This time brass was used instead of my norm copper for etching.

And, also featured this week is a piece created by Mary Harding from Bead Soup Blog Party 5 made from the bead soup shereceived from Miss Ficklemedia.

And, we "At the Beach Party" by Amazing Designs 46. Here is what she had to say which I just loved.

"Painted" this day at the beach scene with polymer clay on a pendant after my 5 year old granddaughter came over raving about what fun she had the day before (the reason for the bucket). The tiny sea shells are real - some of the treasures she found.

We also have some ceramic art by MartiC51. These little beauties look like they could be made into matching earrings and a necklace.

We had many awesome pieces to choose from.

Please keep them coming in and also, please remember to tell us a little bit about your design. Also, if you include links to shops in your description others might want to explore more.

and.....

Thank-you for supporting the artists who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn Carroll

From 15 to 51......

noreply@blogger.com (Artisan Beads Plus) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

by MaryAnn Carroll

I really connected with Stacie's post about bling versus and more natural look.... something that is a part of you... She didn't exactly use those words, but it made me think about my own taste in jewelry. As a teen, I thought I was pretty cool.... perhaps, a little too much so due to teenage brain syndrome....

I didn't wear much jewelry, but was sure to adorn myself with ripped or patched jeans, oh yeah.... memory.... Jethro Tull necklace.... , whatever shoes were the latest style.... usually big platform shoes (never sneakers) that now look to me like something Herman Munster (maybe some of you know who Herman is) might wear, and whatever casual, yet hip shirt to match the rest of the wardrobe. As I aged, I still kept my "in style - my style" personality and most of my taste in clothes. If I felt comfortable wearing my jeans to work every day (which is frowned upon), I would. Another thing with age is that if you are smart, you will realize that at 51 you really should NOT wear what you did at 15. I've tried to remain true to myself (a rare dress and panty hose) with age appropriate style at the same time.

One thing that works well with my style is cuffs. I searched on Etsy to find art cuffs that I would buy today ..... They are probably not fashion friends with my shiny Jethro Tull necklace (nor should they be), but I think they are pretty cool......

Click on any of the links below to see more of the artist's creations.

and, of course.... Stacie Florer....

soultosubstance

How has your style evolved over the years?

........and as always,

Thank-you for supporting those of us who...

-create handmade with handmade-

ebb and flow

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 15:05:00 +0000

mary jane dodd

'what you leave behind is not what is engraved

in stone monuments,

but what is woven into the lives of others.'

- pericles

like any blog, this one is a living organism, so to speak - it depends upon the cooperation and vision of people...

we have had some members need to leave, most recently patty lakinsmith, barbara lewis and shannon levart...

and we thank them sincerely for sharing themselves & their work... the time they gave to help us learn and grow...

if you have noticed the changes in our sidebar, you will see that we have two new members - stacie florer and libby leuchtmann ... and we are very excited to hear their voices emerge...

one of the things i love so much about contributing here is that it really is about people - our members, you, our guest bloggers...

connecting through art and craft...

helping each other...

making us feel a bit less alone as we work through problems, get excited about work, try to figure this 'whole thing' out...

look for libby's glass on the cover of 'step by step wire' april/may 2012

staci louise smith and maryann carroll in the mar/april/may 2012 'belle armoire jewelry'

staci has a heart focal in 'bead star' featured in a necklace by erin strothers

perhaps our 'class' page will come back - and won't look as neglected! because i know there are teachers amongst us...

thanks as always for stopping by, we appreciate your interest in what we are doing...

Why I Oxidize

noreply@blogger.com (Stacie Florer) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 08:00:00 +0000

I am an oxidizer. I openly admit it, and I don't make a piece of copper, brass or sterling silver jewelry without finishing it with a stinky bath of Liver of Sulphur.

It is a personal choice. Some people love the antiqued grey and black look while others tend towards shiny. But I am not a shiny person. I have never worn sequins, patent leather or rhinestones. My bent for the old and worn goes back a long way.

When I was a young girl, I had a distant cousin and her mother from California stay with my family overnight. My cousin was around 17 or so, with long, blonde hair and the easy tan that comes from surfing and swimming in the ocean year round.

When I woke up the next morning, I quietly crept into the living room to get a good look at her as she slept on our couch. She had numerous earring holes in each ear, filled with oxidized silver hoops in various sizes. That was so exotic to my 12 year old, raised in small town Arkansas mind. She wore a silver, oxidized necklace that didn't seem to be just adornment, but it was a part of her somehow. It looked as if she had been born with it around her neck. It blended with her in a way that my gold butterfly necklace did not on me.

And her rings! It was the same thing. They were weathered and oxidized, and blended beautifully with her whole being. I was entranced. I have never forgotten that first feeling of seeing someone wear oxidized jewelry.

Of course, back then, I had no idea what oxidized jewelry was, or how to find it. I just remember the feeling of effortlessness and longevity and belonging to one's self it instilled in me.

When my husband and I moved to Singapore for a six month contract 7 years ago, I was walking down the street in the Arab part of the city, and during a rainstorm, ducked into a shop filled with mysterious and musky perfume oils. I found a box with oxidized tribal jewelry from Pakistan and Afghanistan in the back part of the shop. I felt like I had found my home. In that brief moment, I saw my future--I was going to learn how to make this jewelry and dive into finding out how to belong to myself, too.

As a new member of LMAJ, I want to extend my thanks to you, the readers, and to the amazing and talented artists that contribute daily to this forum. I am excited to be a part of LMAJ and look forward to learning more from each and every one of you as we all walk our own path into creativity and honor our self expression, oxidized or not!

***I prefer to use Liver of Sulphur Extended Life Gel. I like this product because there is no dry dust inhalation hazard. I use a pea sized amount and add to hot water. I immerse my jewelry in this hot bath (don't use boiling hot water!) until the desired color appears, then I rinse it off in cold water and let it air dry.

After it is dry, I rub off the excess patina with 0000 Steel wool that you can find in any hardware store, and tumble polish in my Lortone Rock Tumbler with stainless steel shot and 1 drop of Dawn liquid. My studio is located in my garage next to our deck, so I usually do this outside because of the smell.

Handmade....from start to the very FINISH!

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 12:14:00 +0000

by Barbara Bechtel

About 6-8 months ago, while looking around at all my unused craft supplies, I decided to make a concerted effort to start using up all the bits and scraps of paper, wood, craft supplies, etc. and try to make a 100% effort not to purchase anything that was absolutely non essential.....ahh, the sweet horde of a mixed media artist....I'm sure many of you can relate.....

Specifically, I'm talking packaging. Although, I've always waffled between buying boxes, business and jewelry cards, packing supplies, etc. I've always used the excuse, "I don't have enough time to do ALL those things." For myself, though, I realized that in the time I spent researching, comparing prices, doing graphic design, layout, and printing, I really could make the time with a little extra effort to make these supplies to truly make my jewelry and designs unique from start to finish AND use up my extra paper supplies at the same time.

Instead of using bubble wrap, I've been shredding beautiful catalogs after I'm through perusing them and shredding vintage clothing patterns that I've been hoarding! Almost anything can be shredded to use as filler! So much more fun than shredding old bills and receipts, eh?

A selection of completely handmade business cards. All have their own unique personality. Clockwise from top: Beth Schaible ( letterpress by the artist), Second Surf (designed, printed, and handcut myself), Canoo (stamped and screenprinted on recycled household paperboard), Dacey Hunter (scrap watercolor paper, then inkjet printed with contact info), Sara Lee Parker Textiles (screenprinted)

The back of Canoo's card....she recycles all the paperboard from their home into business cards! This fits in nicely with her upcycled sweater goodies!

This is the packaging I did for Lori Anderson's upcoming Cup of Bead Soup. I've been painting tiny paper doilies from my estate sale stash to use in my paintings. Torn and taped to the pillow boxes (whose supplies are ever so slowly dwindling) with washi tape and tied with some pretty string and a little tag from leftover watercolor paper scraps.

Vintage postcards that have been tea stained and with quick sketches and collage elements make great earring cards for more involved earrings and the buyer gets a cute little piece of art to keep!

Here are some other great ideas for using upcycled or handmade supplies:

~Patty from My Life Under The Bus takes those ugly bubble mailers that we always mean to reuse and don't and makes them PRETTY!

~From the Love My Art Jewelry archives: Make an origami box to hold your jewels....This would look great with a little of that shredded tissue inside...hmmmmm......

Pancakes?

noreply@blogger.com (Izzy) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:10:00 +0000

by Izzy Winterhart

A while back I bought these pancake dies.

Watch this video on how to use them.

No, I don't have a Bonny Doon,

I have Big Red.

Now I can take my cold connection bezels

to a whole new, fun, fun, fun level.

What new treasures have you discovered lately?

Bead Fest and the beginnings of production

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 12:01:00 +0000

by Barbara Bechtel

In December, as I was evaluating my plans for 2012, I was feeling a bit introspective and thought that this year would be my year for slowing down and reexamining the work I've been making and growing my roots deeper to help strengthen my work.

Not long after I had decided that, I was presented with an opportunity to exhibit at Bead Fest in Philadelphia in August. I was filled with anxiety about making that decision. It didn't seem to fit in with my plans at all. The more I thought about it, the more I began to wonder about this opportunity that the universe was presenting me with:

Perhaps, not only would this help reinforce my goals, but it might teach me a better way to answer the questions I keep asking myself.

Was this not the opportunity that I've worked so very hard for since I began making beads and jewelry over 3 years ago?

What did I stand to lose by jumping in with both feet, instead of sticking in my big toe to keep testing the water?

image via

"Jump, and you will find out how to unfold your wings as you fall. "
~Ray Bradbury

Unconsciously, I'd had the above image as a screensaver on my phone for several months. What was it that made me put it there in the first place?

And so, with a giant leap, and a deep breath, I jump!

the small beginnings of many months of work ahead....

What big LEAPS have made and did you find your wings on the way down?

Strut Your Stuff March 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Artisan Beads Plus) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

MaryAnn Carroll

And... we have a winner for February. It is our newest LMAJ member Stacie Florer. Typically, we do not include members in our drawings, but in this case, Stacie's submission was prior to her invitation to the group. These very cool earrings were chosen using random.org.

Gotta love these VERY cool earrings..... Definitely created handmade with handmade.... Love it!!!

Here are some others designs that Stacie shared as well.

Check out more from Stacie by going to her shop and blog. Both can be found on the side bar of this blog.

And for those of you who may be new here, this is a re-cap of what Strut Your Stuff is all about, and how you can win.

About STRUT YOUR STUFF - Love My Art Jewelry

A place for jewelry and bead artists to show off their jewelry creations using all handmade components.

Monthly Challenge Rules

1. Take pictures of your current creation and upload it to our flickr pool. (up to 3 per submission). Look for your work to be added to the group when it meets the rules of the challenge.

2. Leave a description of your thought process while creating your jewelry or beads/components. We really want everyone to share their creative thinking so please make sure that you share.

3. Since we are a group promoting "creating handmade with handmade," your jewelry should consist of at least 75% handmade. This doesn't mean that you have to create everything that goes into your piece. You could use beads/components created by other artists. Please give credit to that artist in your description.

4. If your submission will be loose beads/components, it may include any medium that you prefer to make those in. These submissions would also require a description of your creative thought process.

5. You may submit as many pieces as you like in a month, but please note that your name will be put in the hat once for the end of monthly giveaway. And in fairness, you can be chosen only once for designer of the week.

6. This challenge begins the first Monday of each month. Winners from the previous month will be announced the first Monday of the following month. For example January's challenge starts 1/2/12 and the winner announced 2/6/12.

7. Have fun, show off!!

http://www.lovemyartjewelry.com

So.... what will you have delivered to your home if you are randomly chosen? Let's look....

These fab ceramic beads and matching pendant created by Yoli Miramontes, YolandasClay on Etsy.

This very cool assortment of beads and pendant that will work well together, or mix and match with your own designs. These ceramic beads were created by Karen Totten, KTotten on Etsy.

And lastly, keeping with the ceramic theme, I've donated some beads and a matching focal. My shop ArtisanBeadsPlus is also found on Etsy.

So, what are you waiting for? Get those creations going and upload to our Strut Your Stuff flickr site.

As always,

Thank-you for supporting those who create handmade with handmade.

It's a BEAUTIFUL necklace GIVEAWAY.....

noreply@blogger.com (Artisan Beads Plus) — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

MaryAnn Carroll

This beauty was generously donated by Elisabeth Strong from Lizard Breath Beads.

Here is what Elisabeth has to say about her creations sold on Etsy.

Thank you for your interest in Lizard Breath Beads. I am Elisabeth and I enjoy bringing my love of glass, jewelry making and art together in my pieces. My passion is my lamp-work glass beads that are made one by one by me in my studio just outside of Buffalo, NY. The process involves glass rods, an oxygen and propane burning torch, 7 hours in the kiln and a whole bunch of fun.

Let's keep it simple.

Check out Lizard Breath Beads and come back to mention something you really liked AND/OR join Elisabeths' blog and come back to tell us that you did. (both = two entries)

Please leave your name and an email with the comment so that we can contact you.

Entries without contacts will not be included. I'm sorry for any inconvenience....

Stop back on Wednesday, March 21st to see if you have won. The winner will be posted on the side of the blog.

If you want to be entered more than once, feel free to share the necklace pictures in this giveaway on your own blogs, Facebook pages, Pinterest, etc. and let us know you did.

If you don't have any social network sites, please stop by our website (link on the left sidebar) and leave a comment in our guestbook and come back to let us know. Also, you can visit a member shop or the new Strut Your Stuff on Flickr and come back to leave a comment letting us know where you visited and what you liked.

Keepin' it simple......

Up to three entries per person. Thanks!!

MaryAnn Carroll

as always....

Thank-you for supporting those who create handmade with handmade.

PS Feel free to "pin" this giveaway on your own Pinterest board. The link is right at the end of this post.

Also, if you have not done so yet, you can also find us and connect with us on-

FACEBOOK

GOOGLE +

TWITTER

FLICKR

PINTEREST

OUR WEBSITE

bead soup blog party reveal

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 05:30:00 +0000

mary jane dodd

today is the big reveal of the 5th bead soup blog party hosted by lori anderson - 200 participants from around the world will be sharing the work they made with components sent to them from a partner... i was paired with stacey curry of star- hitched wagon and i would like to thank her for what she sent to me...

a lisa peters focal and some really fun felted wool... an assortment of vintaj components and some autumn jasper pebbles... autumn colors - my favorite!

lisa's focal made me think of weaving... so i cut off the links and used it as a cabochon instead, setting it on a brass back plate that had been stamped and given a heavy patina...

'lives are woven together'

i ran my wire pattern parallel to that on the ceramic piece... and used (naturally) some of lisa mozart's silk to weave with...

looks like a woman, doesn't it? which is interesting (and not done intentionally) because i have been working with a pregnant form since december... and here she is fully realized in a tribal kind of way with a head and breasts!

i loved working with the felt beads by smika (they are something i would love to learn how to make)... used some of the jasper pebbles, recycled african glass beads, paper beads, polymer by genevieve williamson of jibby and juna and ceramic by nan emmett of spirited earth... continuing the use of the trapeze structure in brass and sterling...

thanks for stopping by...

to see the whole list of participants you can visit pretty things here... and thank you lori for always organizing such a large event so well...

My "happy place"

noreply@blogger.com (Kelli) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:00:00 +0000

by Kelli Pope

"Art is the only way to run away without leaving home"
Twyla Tharpreversible flower bracelet

Do you get lost when you're creating? For me it's a magical place where time and responsibility do not exist. Problems, issues and stress fade away as I engage in the creation. All thought is on the piece in front of me, whether it be raw clay, making a necklace, raw metals, sawing, hammering or just glazing beads. It truly is a wonderful escape.

guest post - genevieve williamson

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

An Unexpected Turn

I have a confession. I spent years thinking of myself as an artist without ever writing an artist's statement. My excuses were many and probably not uncommon. I've compiled a list and have used all of them at one time or another.

1. Why do I need a statement? My art should stand on its own.
2. I can't put art into words - after all, isn't that part of why I make art anyway?
3. I don't know how.
4. I'm an artist not a writer.
5. I don't have the time.
6. Artist's statements sound pretentious.
7. No one really cares about artist's statements.
8. I work intuitively; I never really think about why I do what I do.
9. What if I dig deep into my soul and find that there is nothing there and my work is shallow, pointless and a waste of time? (the scariest of all!)

And so, with all of these excuses at my disposal I successfully avoided an artist statement...until one day when I was presented with a creative opportunity that required one. It was time to do this. I figured a statement doesn't need to be my life story. It just needs to sum up in 2-3 paragraphs, the basics of what goes on internally that leads to external.

I started with free writing, jotting down anything that came to mind about my work and my process. No sentences, not even complete thoughts - I just wrote anything and everything that I thought of over the course of a couple days. "Strong contrast of shape, size, color; repetitive pattern; groupings; interesting connections..." I kept a piece of paper on my desk and covered both sides. I saw patterns develop, bit and pieces became sentences and several sentences turned into two short paragraphs. I did it! It was amazing how just putting it all out on paper made me see how that my work, while informed by my many interests and experiences, eventually comes down to relationships, visual and human.

So surprisingly writing a statement wasn't that hard, didn't stop my work, or slow me down or prove to be a waste of time, in fact its actually been quite energizing, like looking at something from a completely different perspective. And it turned out to be less about fulfilling an obligation for a gallery and much more about self discovery. And I think it will probably mark a turning point in my work.

........................................................................................................

you can learn more about genevieve here:

blog

etsy

twitter

Who Doesn't Love a Challenge?

noreply@blogger.com (stacilouise) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Today I am honored to be participating in Erin Prais Hintz's Music Challenge Blog Hop.

Here is what Erin said about the hop.

Participation is limited to the first 100 to sign up from February 1st-4th, 2012.
Decide on Your Song. Listen to it. Write your thoughts about it. Think about the words and emotions and mood and color and tempo that it evokes. If the lyrics are particularly important to you, find the lyrics and highlight your favorite phrases. Research the singer, the songwriter, the time period or the inspiration for the song.
Create an accessory of your choice that evokes that theme song. Any accessory is applicable. Art beads are encouraged, but are not required. Feel free to use your stash!
Find a way to share this song on your blog: write out the lyrics, tell us some background information, post a YouTube video of the song. This will be a great way to connect with new music and share your taste and help us see the connection between what you create and the song.
Mark Your Calendars: Blog Hop on February 29th

I was blessed to make it into this challenge. I love to create based on inspiration, and music is such a deep and rich source for me, that I could not wait to play!

Here is a list of the blogs who are participating. So take a hop and check it out/

Michelle Escano-Caballero

Guest Post - Lauren Luquin

noreply@blogger.com (Izzy) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:23:00 +0000

Jewelry from the Heart

Greetings.. My name is Lauren Luquin. I am so grateful that my friend Izzy asked me to contribute a guest post here at this lovely blog. Thank you ‘Love My Art Jewelry’ for having me...

I’d like to take this opportunity to share a bit about myself and what I do, with the intention of hopefully inspiring others in some way. My works are all about sharing in love and gratitude, and being true to myself as I evolve on my path, peacefully.

I am a married mama to 2 young children who constantly amaze me and challenge me to become more present and aware. After years of education and several jobs teaching the youth in public schools, I decided to stay home to homeschool/unschool my eldest and run my business. In August 2009 I opened my Etsy shop VisionWise, and started a blog as a way of expressing myself. Since then I’ve made lots of changes and transformed many times, and my business has grown slowly but steadily. I enjoy creating whatever I feel guided to make, but I spend most of my crafting time designing wearable art jewelry, and other spiritual medicine. The entire creative process of making my jewelry is guided from my heart-center and intuitive mind. The energy I feel permeates what I create, so I focus on love and healing... I write about the healing properties of the minerals, crystals, shells, and animal medicine I use, so that the deeper elements of what energy is being exchanged is known to the wearer, or anyone who reads my listings... This is a very important part of my creation process.

I’d like to share more about the deerskin cuffs I make because I have been thinking a lot about them and have the intention of creating lots more of them in March. My Etsy shop has been slowly running out of items because I’ve been deeply involved with my latest project- Intuitive Heart eCourse. Even though I haven’t been making as much stuff for my shop as I usually do, I know that my journey inward and my day-to-day experiences play a roll in the overall outcome of my creations, and that they will manifest in divine timing...

I use deerskin to make pouches, medicine bags, necklaces and cuffs. 90% of the deerskin I use has been given to me by other medicine people and lightworkers. The times that I have bought hides I have purchased from Native American Trade Posts that respect the animal’s life in ceremony. This is important to me because deer farming is not something I want to support in any way. Deers are sacred to me and I have learned so much from them. I love working with deerskin because it’s so soft and yet very durable, natural, and grounding.

When I feel drawn to make a cuff I get into a meditative state and burn white sage- purifying my workspace and giving thanks for the deerskin, and crystals, etc. I use: natural fiber sinew, a leather needle, a lighter, sewing scissors, a leather hole punch tool, and various organic beads. Sometimes I use recycled cotton fabric for the inner lining of cuffs, pouches, and bags.

When I begin handling the deerskin I envision the shape of the piece and begin to cut it out freehand. For cuffs, I use my own wrist and a measuring tape that used to be my grandmother’s to decide the length and width. Then I lay the deerskin onto the fabric I am going to use, and I trace around the edge, and then cut out the fabric. I punch holes around the edge of the cuff, then I get my sinew and needle and I sew on the beads of choice, and usually a coconut or abalone shell button... then I pin the fabric to the deerskin... and then cut a small hole on the opposite end of where the button is.

To start sewing, instead of making a knot, I use a lighter to burn about 3 inches of sinew into a hot waxy seal that I press flat onto the deerskin, paying attention to detail and trying my best to keep all of the seals concealed. I hand sew the entire piece and charge it with love and light... always. When I finish, I burn sage once again and move the cuff through the smoke purify it once again from any residual energies that it may have accumulated in my environment. I take great care to ensure that all of my items are passed along with the purest intention.

I feel healed when I follow my heart and create art jewelry using organic materials. It fills me with joy to share my works with others, and it inspires me to hear that my pieces affect people in positive ways. It is a beautiful exchange of energy that I am so grateful for.

I hope you’ll come check out my shop, and visit my blog... That’s where you can learn more about me, and contact me if you’re interested...

I’m also available on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram. Here's more on my Intuitive Heart eCourse.

Thank you all for reading. Blessings on your path...

Much love,
LL

Its the Monday Strut..................

noreply@blogger.com (stacilouise) — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

by staci smith

...................strut your stuff that is!

I am so happy that our very own Mary Jane added these to the group, because I really wanted to be able to feature them this month. It's still February, and hearts are all around, but I really admire the thought and process of these.

This is what she had to say about these................

open heart

'only from the heart can you touch the sky.'
- rumi

and this one too.....

on love and rumi

'your task is not to seek for love,
but merely to seek and find
all the barriers within yourself
that you have built against it.'
- rumi

And I also picked this lovely work of art! It an enamel piece by Zenamels, Julie Holmes, and I enjoyed the story behind it.

She writes......

Roam

This piece was inspired by my son's road trip. He's a grad student and he and his friends did their trip the college student way....little planning...economy motels...cheap rental cars. They had a ball. So glad we live where we are free to roam as we wish. I did this piece very off the cuff as well...the shape was drawn free-form (my boys say it's not unsymmetrical enough, that it looks like I was trying for symmetry and missed), the stamping was random and the finish is rough....but it's the way I intended it :)

Thanks for sharing! There is still time to enter Strut Your STuff this month. The winner will be announced next Monday.

Have a wonderful and creative week.

Collaboration as a means of growth....

noreply@blogger.com (Barbara) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:59:00 +0000

By Barbara Bechtel

It can be a very solitary existence being an artist. Most artists feel the need for a certain amount of solitude in order for their inspirations and ideas to take shape. However, it is also important to reach out to those around you as a means to either discuss art, exchange tips and ideas, and uplift and encourage one another during the peaks and valleys of creativity.

The internet has made a invaluable contribution to the way we are able to communicate with each other and forge new relationships and alliances. Add blogs to the mix and it becomes an exciting way to collaborate and exchange ideas. Before I began making jewelry, I found and participated in some other art/mixed media swaps and was immediately hooked!

Collaboration, whether it is online through blog hops/ round robins, or whether it is exchanging a piece of work back and forth with a friend in another town is a great way to push yourself outside of the box. By working thematically or working collaboratively on the same piece, each artist can help each other learn new things or overcome specific problems they are having in their own work.

Many times, you may even be introduced to a new medium, technique, or style that will influence and change the way you work! It wasn't until I first participated in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party that I saw the potential of how such collaborations could help me with the solitude that a life being creative sometimes creates. Not only has participating in these types of exchanges allowed me to make new friends, it has even enabled me to connect with other people who live right in my backyard who I didn't know were there!

How do you use collaboration to help you grow in your work?

What ideas have you come up with to reach out and connect with other artist's and jewelry artisans?

If you're interested in participating in an upcoming swap, Lori Anderson is hosting Cup of Bead Soup, an extension of her Bead Soup Blog Party and I'm very excited to be the first art bead partner! For more information, please go check it out.

Where are we?

noreply@blogger.com (Artisan Beads Plus) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:25:00 +0000

Just in case, you have been wondering where else to find our group on the web, here is a quick reference guide. We would LOVE to have you follow us at any of these spots!

Just click any to be taken there....

GOOGLE +

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

PINTEREST

FLICKR

TWITTER

Or..... You might want to follow the....

ART BEAD LOVE TOUR CHAIN

where you can share to love of exchanging art beads while promoting your own blog at the same time.

Follow Silver Rose Designs so you do not miss out......

Thank-you for supporting those who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn

metal stamping

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 14:38:00 +0000

mary jane dodd

one of the first techniques i tried was metal stamping...

how hard could it be? you have a metal blank and hit the metal punch with a hammer on an anvil or bench block...

right?

well, yes...

and, no...

i learned that you could get some very frustrating results...

like double striking - you know that one, where you get a double image of the stamp...

or the letters are drifting up (or down)...

or the character is sideways - because you didn't check that one last time to make sure it was being held correctly in your hand...

when you make mistakes in stamping, it can be incredibly frustrating - you can be almost to the end of a phrase and get careless... the metal gets put into the recycle bag... but if you aren't able to cut your own discs, you have now lost one blank in your limited supply...

like any technique, it is worth learning about... trial and error are always important learning methods, but the waste of time and money can be teeth gritting...

double strikes - if you are using a steel hammer to hit a steel punch on a steel bench block there is a lot of bounce back... the energy has to go somewhere... for me, a brass head hammer has really been helpful... a softer metal, brass absorbs the shock...

brass head hammers are also recommended any time you are hitting something steel - like when using a disc cutter... metal work hardens when it is repeatedly struck... eventually it can snap... using the brass lessens that effect...

wonky orientation - draw a line with a sharpie marker, double check just one more time that the stamp is facing the way you want it to...

and find the position that works best for you... meaning, whether you are sitting or standing depending upon how high your work table is... it matters in terms of the strike... i have found that i really do need my elbow to be able to come to a 90* angle... stamping is also not really a technique you can do on a plastic card table... you need some stability behind it...

i hope these tips will reduce some of the frustration for you... because there are such fun and beautiful stamps out there to purchase... and it is a rather inexpensive way to personalize your work...

if you want to be inspired by clean stamping, take a look at the work of cindy pack - she is a great example of one who knows her tools and the techniques by which you optimize their use...

if you want to dap your discs, use a wooden set...

a great source (besides etsy) is beaducation ...

"Your life is a piece of clay. Don't let anyone else mold it for you."

noreply@blogger.com (Kelli) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

by Kelli Pope

Ta-da!!!!!!!! My first kiln opening was this week. BOY was I excited!!!!! No stuck beads, no blow ups, no meltdowns!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I just have to make my own bead trees to maximize the space in my kiln.

Seeing your creation in the final stage is absolute bliss!!!!

"There are no happier people on this planet than those who decide that they want something, define what they want, get hold of the feeling of it even before it's manifestation and then joyously watch the unfolding, as piece by piece by piece, it begins to unfold. That's the feeling of your hands in the clay" - Abraham

My mind is blank, but my hands are busy......

noreply@blogger.com (stacilouise) — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

I am so sorry. The Berks Bead Bazaar is next weekend, so all I can think of, all I am doing, is making beads. Art beads require many steps, and I make many different kinds. I am surrounded by tons of beads, all in some sort of bead making limbo...awaiting the next step. Not to mention the whole getting ready for a show deal. So instead of a fancy post, or deep thoughts, I only have pictures of what my life has been about for the past few weeks.
Enjoy!!!

I am wishing I had more variety for the show. But these will have to do. I still have a lot to do to make all these into sell-able beads. I am loving it though, and can't wait to design some new stuff after the show is over. I need some new styles. Not to mention its feeling like spring these days, and that always inspires me. Ok- now I am rambling, blank to rambling. Enjoy the pics (don't you love the organizational system of paper plates with writing as to what step needs to be done next?) and wish me luck.

guest post - nan emmett

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Thank you for inviting me to share a little about myself and my work on the LMAJ blog.

I've always loved making things and have experimented with a variety of materials and techniques ranging from crochet, sewing, knitting, painting, metalsmithing, stained glass, and ceramics.

Beading and ceramic bead making is a relatively new venture for me, however I have quite a long relationship with clay. An elective course in ceramics spirited me away from a painting major and I've never looked back.

This is what I was making before beads-ceramic rattles

I think clay is one of the loveliest materials, there is no end to the things you can make with it,and it readily accepts the mark of your hand, something I find especially beautiful.

My beads and pendants are created from a variety of clay bodies,earthenware ,stoneware and sometimes raku, which are quick bisque fired, in little Skutt kilns. The clay pieces are then glazed with a layered Majolica type technique and returned to the kiln for the final firing.

Most of my past ceramic work would fall into the sculpture category and I think that carries over to my clay jewelry components, as well.

Bisqueware

Glazed

I've often described my work as possessing a Wabi Sabi quality, though I'm not certain if that is exactly correct, perhaps it's more about embracing spontaneity, not over thinking the piece. I try to feel what the pendant wants rather than having a mapped out plan, and if things turn out a little wonkie, it's ok.

There is something very delightful about the imperfect. An unexpected, irregularity excites the eye and compels you to look closer. Imperfection holds a little bit of magic, and I hope I can bring some of that magic into my little wearable works of art.

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you can learn more about nan at these places:

website

blog

etsy shop

guest post - riki schumacher

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Whom teaches who?

By Riki Schumacher

When asked by one of the amazingly talented contributors to Love My Art Jewelry blog, to write a post

as a guest artist, it was kind of a struggle to think about to say. What inspires me, what story might be

interesting to you about my life as an artist?

A journey, or an opportunity, or maybe a process, were fabulous suggestions. And after this recent

weekend’s experience of teaching, it flashed on me that I could write about all those things, and hopefully

you will find it useful.

I would like to share little insight about the “journey“of going from student…to instructor, and what I

learned from it.

Here are some pictures from this weekend’s class I taught with another instructor.

I hope the pictures speak a thousand words. Teaching is amazing!

Here’s a mom and daughter team.

Already friends.

Making new friends.

How have any of these students gained by taking this workshop?

I don’t know what each one did for sure. But from these smiles, they were having a ball. I can share what

I took away. Each and every time I teach, I am reminded of how important it is to “pay it forward”. After

about 12 years of traveling, taking workshops, and soaking up every blessed word I could from endless

instructors, it is finally a wonderful time to give back to this amazing industry. Making Art Jewelry is my

passion and teaching it is incredibly rewarding.

After taking classes with lots of instructors, you start to have your favorites, and your not so favorites.

From each class you have taken, did you walk away feeling the teacher was impartial? Did you learn

what you hoped to, in numerous ways? Did you have a blast? Were you disappointed for some reason?

Or were there too many students so you never got the attention and help you needed after traveling and

laying out much money?

I have had all of these things happen to me. And now, since teaching a couple years now, I try to reflect

on how my instructors shared, and how giving they were/are. I’m trying to learn from what I think were

their mistakes, which didn’t happen often. We are in an interesting and opportune period I think, this

day and age. There are thousands of baby boomers retiring every day, and given an opportunity to seek

out what they want to do in their leisure. I understand many students are not retired, and have limited

time to access classes. But, there are a lot of women, and men, following their passion from their youth,

whether they are retired or not. That means there are more opportunities to teach. That’s why it is really

important, to me, to get it right. After retiring from my profession of 20 years, I ran to the nearest jewelry

workshop I could find! I felt like a little sponge, soaking up every word that was fed in, and wanted to

master every technique I could wrap my little brain around.

So if you are a teacher now, or considering a career in instructing to the craft world, the main thing I

would like to stress is how rewarding it is. I learn so much from each class I teach. I gain as much, or

more, than the students. I am so grateful that each student has put their trust in me for one or two days,

and I know that they expect me to deliver as advertised. Each person in a class, paid good hard-earned

money to learn what techniques I promised to share. And not only learn techniques, but be made to feel

welcome and have fun. How can you possibly live up to all the expectations of each student?

After all the classes I’ve taken, and all the instructors I have learned from, as well as my history as an

instructor, here is my two cents on a little recipe for success in teaching. A little dash of each, leads to a

fabulous gourmet class!

listen

laugh

say it

show it

be passionate

you can’t be perfect, stop trying

If you listen as much as you talk, you will answer all their questions. I often tell my grand

daughter, open your ears and shut your mouth. She doesn’t but that’s okay, she hears it!

If you are having fun, they will. You set the tone of the class.

If you are practiced and honed your craft, you can demonstrate each technique with ease,

and explain it well.

If you believe in what you are doing, they will share the passion. Be sincere in your intentions.

And don’t act like you are perfect. You are going to make mistakes so embrace them. We all learn

from mistakes, and who needs the added pressure?

And for people taking workshops who are reading this, let your instructor know what they did right, and

where they really kicked it in. Feedback is so important, we will learn from that, hopefully!

This can be a successful recipe for on line and e-workshops workshops as well. As an instructor, you can

bring all these elements to your students on line. You just can’t reach out and touch them. But you can

share equally, and deliver the same quality of teaching as if you were there in person.

Look at yourself; look at the way you instruct.

Would you want to take your class??

Happy instructing. And have fun attending workshops. Have fun doing what ever you do.

You really never know if you’ll be here tomorrow.

Love and hugs,

Riki

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you can learn more about Riki in these places:

blog

etsy shop (where you will also find tutorials)

Strut Your Stuff Monday

noreply@blogger.com (stacilouise) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:00:00 +0000

by Staci L. Smith

This week I want to highlight these great earrings from our Strut Your Stuff monthly flickr group.

This is what Vintajia Adornments has to say about her great rustic earrings.

Strange Attractors

Mismatched earrings with white and rust coated polymer clay. Salvaged pewter bail, rhinestone, vintage tin bead caps

These stood out to me for many reasons. First, I myself have been working in polymer clay with faux finishes, so, the fact that these rusted beads are polymer drew me in right away. I haven't seen anything like it before. Second, I think its wonderful to incorporate recycled pieces into new jewelry. It takes creativity to visualize an old component in a new way. And last but not least, I am always drawn to contrast. The white and rust beads are mis-matched and look like a before and after, and the rust contrasts the bling of the crystals. Great pieces.

The next one I want to highlight is a piece by our very own Mary Ann Carroll of Artisan Bead Plus. Every bit of this bracelet is handmade by her. I just kept coming back to this piece. In case you missed it, you can read her blog about it here.

She punches and sands each disc, enamels layers and layers until she achieves the perfect look, and then made her own clasp for it, before finally connecting them all with original and rustic style wire wraps. Its a great piece, and a great example of handmade jewelry from beginning to end.

In other news, the Art Bead Love Tour is moving to its new home with Silver Rose Designs.

Remember to keep trying, and maybe you will be the next stop on the Art Bead Love Tour!

Happy Monday!

guest post - stacie florer

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

"Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people that have come alive." Howard Thurman

But first, let me start off this conversation by introducing myself. My name is Stacie Florer, and I have been exploring my life via jewelry fabrication for about 6 years. Exploring my life is a strange way to describe making jewelry, but I am a huge believer in using a creative craft as a vehicle to know yourself better-- to be able to drive into my passions in life using beads, wire and sheet metal as my getaway car has allowed me to visit the land of Photography, an ever changing landscape depending on my moods, and process what I learn from these visual trips via the written word.

When I first started out exploring jewelry fabrication, my only thought was that I knew I had to relieve the ache in my soul yearning to create something with my hands and my heart. I was in Seattle, WA visiting a friend of mine, and she had recently taken up beading. She took me to a big, old bead shop, the sort where there are treasures hanging from every available spot and the incense is constantly being burned. It was absolutely overwhelming to look at it all, but the vibe was such that I instantly recognized that beading was an activity that would begin to heal my soul's ache to create.

Beads are the gateway bling, for lack of a better term, into the world of jewelry fabrication. There is a bead out there that will perfectly express your feelings about yourself, your life and your interests. I was attracted to all things tribal. Bone beads, Krobo beads, trade beads, Hill Tribe Silver...there was literally a whole world of beads that allowed me to express my love of the tribal and primitive. If your bent is on antiques, there are a whole host of beads for that such as Czech glass, vintage buttons and rhinestones. Or what about glass? Lampwork beads are always going to be hot...who can resist those candy colors and fun textures? Glass lovers are usually fun and colorful too, aren't they? The beads you are attracted to are an indication of how you perceive your life and yourself. They are literally extensions of the unique and glorious you, and you can continue to go down the rabbit hole of self inquiry by exploring your world via beads.

But for some of us, there comes a time when beads are no longer enough. We crave more expression by our own hands, and maybe the next step is working with wire. Wire involves using a few more tools and if you have never been exposed to tools before ( I was deathly afraid of an electrical bead reamer), the urge to create brings up some fears too. Fear of tools is very common when you are beginning. Fear of tools, I believe, has stymied many a jewelry designer from taking the next step in their urge to create. I can say from experience that a love for tools, which are just extensions of your hands and eyes, will come if you keep pushing through those fears. See? This is but one of the deeper qualities of exploring you that I am talking about. Overcoming fears enables you to gain confidence in yourself. That confidence spills over into every other aspect of your life. You start looking at tutorials about difficult wire weaves and have the confidence to try it. You are growing and expanding! Pretty soon, Home Depot will start becoming a favorite place to shop instead of the department store!

The journey doesn't end for some of us with wire, though...next comes sheet metal. Cutting, sawing, etching, sanding and soldering are next up on the "learn to do" list. The fever to create is running high. The need for self expression gets stronger and stronger as you gain confidence. By now, you have gotten quite a bit of experience with your digital camera, and maybe are starting to photograph your life outside of jewelry. The two start to merge somewhat. At least it did for me. I started seeing my world differently. I paid attention to what I was interested in...shapes in my environment became inspiration for my metal work.

When you pay attention to your life, your own style will begin to take shape. The trick is to go within yourself by noticing and acknowledging and accepting that what you love will find its own audience. There is inspiration all around you. All you have to do is take some time, with your pen or camera or scrapbook (or whatever you use to collect images and ideas), and watch what you come up with; notice patterns! And most importantly, trust with your heart that your way of interacting with the world is singular, and that is the most precious gem you have in your collection. It really is all about you and what makes you come alive!

For more about living from Soul to Substance, I have a rather longish post about my own awakening here.

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to learn more about stacie, you can visit her website...

on hearts of all kinds...

noreply@blogger.com (mairedodd) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:48:00 +0000

mary jane dodd

like so many of you, hearts were calling these past weeks...

i am attracted to hearts that show wear and tear... hearts that are mended or need mending...

hearts that show that you are living and taking chances by loving deeply...

hearts that though they have been put to fire, come out softer and more giving than before...

and now for the winner of erin's generous giveaway -

congratulations sue of sue beads! please contact erin to receive these lovely charms...