Book Review Stamped Metal Jewelry

I preordered Stamped Metal Jewelry from Interweave Press last March when I first heard that it was going to be published. I was familiar with Lisa Niven Kelly from her website, Beaducation so I was sure it was going to be good. I also wanted the book so I could have it on hand for my Stamped Metal Jewelry Class at the Thousand Islands Arts Center Class in July. I knew when I ordered it that the publication date was probably too late for the class and I was right. A few days after my class, it arrived in the mail. What a thrill. It is such a great book. Wonderful illustrations, great projects, crystal clear directions and wonderful tips from an artist who is very experienced in this craft. And to top it all off, the book comes with an instructional DVD. You can order this book from Amazon.com, from Beaducation and Interweave Press.  This is one you won't want to miss.

Work of students in my stamped metal jewelry class at the Thousand Islands Art Center, Clayton, New York a week ago.

New on My Website

Clover Pendant in shades of blue.

Here are several new pieces on my website.

I love those tall clover pendants and above is a pic of a new color combo for me.  Pretty wild.

 

A new toggle called Wild Harvest in Plum and Teal 

A unique pattern of leaves and color in this Wild Leaf Toggle in Purple and Pink

A vintage color style toggle in pinks and teal

And my first oval toggle clasp

Tiny charms and connectors

These are some little connectors and charms that I made from a cool set of mircro cutters that I got at Michaels a few weeks ago.

They will be great for my bead work and I am thinking of putting some onto a thin leather snap bracelet that I have.  I have also tried them out on some metal rings. I love the size and the potential for them.

I needed a boost today

I needed a boost today to fill the gap here now that my son has gone back to his home.  So I went to Flickr and uploaded some photos and then made a mosaic with them for a post card.  I used Mosaic Maker.  It is a great photo tool/toy and can be set up so that it grabs photos from your Flickr photo stream.

One of the best ways for me to cheer myself up is to get busy making.  So after catching up, a little, on the weeding in the veggie garden, I went to my studio and glazed and glazed and glazed.

With the help of my wonderful husband and 3 dips in the river, I was feeling better.  And I have lots of fun memories from the visit.

New on My Website

New on my website

I had fun with the colors on this pendant.  I was really  pleased that it came out so well.

And this twin flowers blooming tomato pendant is also now on my website.

Love that branch toggle bar from Bello Modo.

A new toggle for me.  Wild pasture grass.  I like the brown and light green and copper together.

My son is here for just a couple more days.  We had torrential rains and lighting like crazy yesterday.  And today it is back up in the 80's and even though the river is rising, it is still warm.  We are going to go out in our canoe soon and just gets some of that lazy summer river sunshine.

This was take before the rain.  Now the river is a luscious brown color. And looks sultry and summery.

Happy 4th of July

                                                    Lady Liberty  

Have a wonderful 4th of July--lots of sunshine, good company, good food and an enjoyment of our many freedoms. 

I am having a great 4th of July.  My oldest son is visiting for 10 days and we are doing lots of catching up, computer talk and enjoying our river by canoe and dock.
He is the designer of my website, my computer guru, online business innovator and loving friend.  I am so lucky.

Celebrating Summer

                                           First Day of Summer Sunrise   4:45 AM

First Day of Summer Beads

First Day of Summer Tumbling

Summer is my favorite season. I was up early to welcome it to the North Country. I feel blessed to have had such a beautiful day and the time to do some of my favorite activities. 

Right Angle Weave Bracelet

I have been making a lot of bracelets and necklaces lately for a shop in the Adirondacks called Red Truck Pottery in Chestertown, New York. The owner, Bill Knoble, has moved to this area lately since he married one of my good friends.  Bill makes incredible ceramic dinner ware and fires it in a giant wood fueled kiln.  His glazes are to die for.  As you can imagine, I am pleased to be asked to have my jewelry in his shop.

 The photos above are one of the bracelets I have been making.  I used turquoise rounds,  tiny mookite disks and one of my toggle clasps with those great leaf toggle bars from Bello Modo.  The bead work is made with number 6  seed beads and is the right angle weave stitch.

Peyote Plain

A new peyote stitch bracelet without any surface decoration.  The button is in the back and it is overlapped onto the bracelet so that there is no skin showing when I wear it.

More tumbled, stained stoneware beads.  I now have a new barrel--clear plastic--for my tumbler.  I had a rubber one and it would get the black sludggies every so often.  Now I can watch my beads tumble and pull them when the color is just right.  I can't wait to try it.

When I was working with these wonderful multicolored seed beads (bracelet above), I noticed how well they go with the teal ceramic beads.  So now I have a partly finished bracelet with the two together.  Just waiting until I get the right button to close it with--and to finish the edges.

Donation Bracelet

Tuscan Sun Bracelet

Made with my handmade Tuscan red ceramic beads, deep red sea glass beads from The Beadin'Path, small mookite disc beads and Sun Toggle Clasp from Lima Beads. 

Bracelet is constructed with right angle weave.

I am donating this bracelet to a silent auction to raise money for GardenShare.  Their mission is " to build a North Country where all of us have enough to eat and enough to share—where our food choices are healthy for us, for our communities, and for the environment. "

Art Bead Scene Carnival Bloggers Statement Necklace

Statement Necklace Honoring Ceramic Beads of Clay Artists 

I made this necklace from ceramic beads and pendants that I have collected over the years as part of the Yahoo Beads-of-Clay group

handmade ceramic beads, buttons or pendants from the the following artists  are included in this statement necklace

Captain's Clay

Tyler Hennigan

Joan Tucker

Marti Conrad

Natalie Gillihan

Annie O'Fallon

Virginia Miska

Shattera Clay

Jessica Sharrah

Melanie Brooks

Lisa Peters

Christine Smith

Vanessa Gilkes

Vicka

Gaea

Lisa Shifflett

Kristie Roeder

Marla James

Tracy Isley

Creative Impressions in Clay

Yolanda's Clay

Jangles

Mary Harding

Marsha Neal

Gail Splaver

Golem Studio

Barb Tilley

Natalie Pappas

Marsha Hedrick

Joan Miller

Cindy Dolezal

Annie Dilker

Evelyn Peckham Arvey

Mossy Hill Studio

Elaine Ray

Andi Fasimpaur

SummersStudio

Maku Studio

Lisa Stevens

Visit the other ArtBeadScene Statement Necklaces

http://www.cindydolezaldesigns.blogspot.com/

http://lampworkdiva.blogspot.com/

http://islandgirlsinsights.blogspot.com/

http://janeldudleybeads.blogspot.com/

http://site.jkdjewelry.com/blog

http://www.jenjuddrocks.com/

            http://sharonsjewelrygarden.blogspot.com/

                                                           http://organicodysseys.blogspot.com/
                                                               http://labellajoya.blogspot.com/
                                                                http://nickisreef.blogspot.com/

New Toggle Bars

Heather Powers of HumbleBeads put me on to these cool toggle bars  by Patera carried by Bello Modo. 

They come in a variety of finishes-- copper, silver, gold...

And I have been experimenting with making some of my own  toggle bars out of thick wire.

I would love to hear which ones you like.

And the Winner is...

STEUFEL is the winner of my Clover Pendant and beads.  Yeah!!  Thank you one and all for the lovely supportive comments.  Please send me your email address and they will be on their way to you.

Industrial Chic Susan Lenart Kazmer

I've long been a fan of Susan Lenart Kazmer and am excited that her wonderful components are now available, yes, at Michael's.  I found these and some others last week a few days after they arrived in the store.  These are all made in China but are surprisingly well made.  Susan is given credit for each and every piece.  They even have a small project booklet which she has written with about 15 completed necklaces/bracelets to make.

Now the challenge will be for me to find a way to use them.  I can admit to just keeping beads and never using them.  But I do have some vague ideas for these.  I think they will go well with some of my rustic fused glass pieces and perhaps those unglazed stoneware beads.  At least I am going to give it a try.

We are having full summer weather here.  I am loving it.  I hope you are having a wonderful Sunday too.

My BeadStar Entry got in

I am excited to tell that my BeadStar entry got into the hearts category.  I made all of these little hearts out of ceramic clay and the big one too.   Such fun.  I see many other wonderful designs from my friends in all of the categories including Hearts.  I have been through and voted.  I hope you will vote too. You can vote here. Follow your heart in your choices since there are so many wonderful ones.  Without knowing who made what, I see now that I voted for many of my friends.  Their work is just so good, I didn't need to know that they made it.  They just stood out from the crowd.

Giveaway 100th Blog Follower Celebration

I am having a giveaway to celebrate my 100th blog follower.  I thank one and all for following my blog and giving me such wonderful support and feedback.  All you need to do to participate in this giveaway is leave a comment on my blog. The winner of the giveaway will win this Clover Pendant and 6 of my new stoneware dug up from the earth look beads.  The winner will be announced on  the morning of Thursday, May 28. I look forward to hearing from you.

Another Color Inspiration

I found this color combo by chance.  Since I am not exactly Type A, I have a lot on my bead table at once.  Luckily I found these lying near each other.   I think they look great together.   They may soon be hanging around my neck .  Have a great Day.  Look for my 100th Follower Giveaway coming on Wednesday.

Yes I finally made it to 100 Followers!!!! Thank you one and all.

Stoneware experiments

I have been experimenting with a new clay for me.  Stoneware.  I usually use earthenware which is a low fire clay.  This stoneware has been fired to Cone 5.  I stained it with a teal color stain and fired it.  No glaze.  Then I thumbled the beads and the pendant for about 2 hours.  I put a little beeswax on the tree part of the pendant.  Hard for me to give up that shiny glaze LOL.

These beads have also been fired to Cone5 but have not yet been tumbled.  I tumble them so that there is no chance that the stain will rub off on clothing.  Unlike earthenware, most of the stain has been fired into the clay and does not come off .

I like the old archeological look to these beads.  I will keep experimenting with stains and see what else I can come up with.

I'd love to hear what you think.

 

WATCH FOR MY 100TH FOLLOWER GIVEAWAY EARLY NEXT WEEK.

Cool Triangle Treasury

                           

Check out this cool Treasury

It includes my Wild Leaf Pendant in the picture above.

Have a Great Day.

Spring Color Inspiration

Isn't this color combination stunning.  Pink, green, brown.  These are grape vine leaves beginning to open.