Showing posts with label love my art jewelry. Show all posts

ART SPARK creative challenge for May.

by D'Arsie Manzella

On the Road Again

I'm packing. Putting all my belongings in boxes once again to travel the distance from South to North. Back to my homeland, the rolling hills and gorgeous lakes of Western New York. Each item is being wrapped and contained. As I go through the process I wish my possessions a safe journey- until we meet again.

Recently my grandfather passed away. Straight away after hearing of his death, I had a strong desire to create hand folded paper boxes. I didn't really know what I was doing when I started, it's not something I commonly do, but all other creative projects stopped and my quiet time was spent with these beautiful little boxes. I realize now that I was trying to contain my grief.

There are many ways that containers change or affect our lives. Notes arrive in bottles, boxes take us up into tall buildings, heaven wafts out from our morning coffee can. They contain surprises, treasures and mysteries. Sometimes they hold our hearts, sometimes our fears.

So I bring you, from beneath my stack of paper boxes, this month's *Art Spark* challenge. It's a little bit different and a whole lot of fun...

~May you always be inspired by the beauty of your experience~

~*~

*ART SPARK*challenge

Here's a challenge that we can all get fired up about! I'm saying "we" because we will be playing along. The first Monday of each month one of our members will present a challenge. The challenge is designed to not only get you thinking creatively, but also sharing your process and learning from each other.

The creative sparks will be flying all month. One or more entries will be chosen by the "challenge" artist to shine on our blog the next two subsequent Mondays. On the 4th Monday, the winning entry will be chosen and showcased on the Love My Art Jewelry blog for one month and the Love My Art Jewelry website for 1 year with links to your shops or blogs.

Can it get any hotter? You better believe it! These wonderful components were graciously donated by Staci Smith at Staci Louise Originals and will be awarded to the winner at the end of the challenge!

As will these fabulous pieces from Sue Kennedy of SueBeads!

Thank you so much ladies for your support.

We invite you to play along and try out our challenges. This month's challenge is......

~Create a piece of jewelry, art bead or component that illustrates the word 'CONTAIN'~

'Contain' as a verb is defined as: to include, hold
Synonyms include:accomodate, be composed of, comprehend, comprise, consist of, embody, embrace, encompass, have, have capacity for, hold, incorporate, involve, take in\

~Once you have your creation ready, here is what you do:

1. Take pictures of your creation and upload it to our flickr account.

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 description is thorough.

3. Since we are a group promoting 'creating handmade with handmade', your jewelry 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. Please only one submission piece per artist. Multiple views of the work are allowed and encouraged.

6. Have fun an come back often to check out the entries!

7. Links to our flickr site can be found on the blog sidebar.

erin s. come on down!

you are the giveaway winner for this week! contact me with your address to have the earrings sent out to you -

just for fun i am going to compile a list of the books you recommended and ask our other members what their favorites are... stay tuned...

designer of the week -

mary jane dodd

our contributing followers are presenting us with beautiful and inspiring work - to the point that i had to randomly pick this week - for that i thank you! it is wonderful to see how the 'call' is speaking to people...

molly alexander

who did all of the enameling and wire work herself... i love the soft colors, the metals and leather, that gorgeous jade used as an accent...

you can visit molly's blog here and her etsy shop here ...

there are still a couple of days if you would like to enter - simply follow these rules - and you can be entered to win the terrific items donated by our sponsors!

remember, if you would like to be a sponsor for our monthly challenges, just contact me... besides sharing your talent, you will be getting a free month of advertising on the blog...

designer of the week

mary jane dodd

welcome kate koroleva who comes to us from moscow!

kate is a lampworker ~

she picked up the rich colors from the palette... just look at all of the detail on her focal bead! i like the dangles she hung from the focal - lots of interest, texture and subtle color variation there... you can see more of kate's work on her flickr page... but she also has a website where she shares tutorials...

thank you kate for participating - she also submitted a second design where she worked in brighter colors... but i had to pick just one - it wasn't easy!

Creating with your senses

by Patty Lakinsmith

I thought it would be fun to explore how each of us immerses our sensory selves in our work as we create. By "sensory selves" I mean our five senses - sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. I assume that all of us use our visual sense as we work, for obvious reasons, but what about the other senses?

Creating with hot glass is a bit different than many other art forms because we can't touch our medium (1700 degree molten glass) directly as we are working with it. We can "touch" it indirectly with tools, but not with our fingers until after it's fully created and annealed (cooled slowly). I'm sure I'm not alone in saying that there have been a number of times that I see something in my bead, for example a small ripple) that I want to reach out and touch, so I can feel it. It doesn't take too much restraint to remind myself that it would not be a wise move, but the temptation occasionally arises.

(image from my Playa Tortuga tutorial)

I do use what I'll call a modified form of touch as I work to ensure that a bead I'm making is and stays centered on the mandrel. I'm working against gravity, so there is a constant interplay between my sight and the feel of the bead in my hands as I rotate the mandrel. Can I feel that one side of the bead is pulling down more as I rotate the mandrel? If so, that's the side with too much glass and I have to get it to the opposite side of the mandrel either by marvering it (touching it to a tool surface such as graphite or brass) or by heat application and turning. I can also gauge this by holding the hot bead level with my eyes while turning, to observe the profile of the bead as I turn it. Is there the same volume of glass above the mandrel at all points around the bead as I turn it?

(image from my Playa Tortuga tutorial)

I also use touch when applying very small gauge fine silver wire to beads (for examples see this bead set). I briefly put the end of the wire into the flame, and touch it to a very hot spot on the bead, and then start to rotate the bead out of the flame. I'm waiting for a gentle tug on the wire that tells me that the wire is stuck to the bead. I need to feel this tug because the wire is so small that it's sometimes hard to see.

What other senses do I use? Well, obviously I use sight, but sometimes I inadvertently use taste, or at least my mouth. I make hollow beads and large holed beads using hollow mandrels, and after I dip them in bead release I stick them in a bucket of sand upright to dry. Sometimes I forget to tap the sand out of the end of the mandrel and end up with grit in my mouth as I'm starting to blow a bead.

My sense of smell comes into play when I'm inattentive, and a molten glob of glass drops from the rod onto my work surface, which is cement board that I spray painted black. There's not much appeal to the smell of burning paint, I can assure you, but it reminds me to pay closer attention.

Some days my sense of smell is also engaged when my exhaust fan sucks in wood smoke filled air from outside my studio, from our wood stove. That assures me that my ventilation is working, which is good.

Let's see - hearing. Normally when I make beads I hear the rhythmic "inhale" and "exhale" of my oxygen concentrator - it's a sound that's common in hospitals or nursing homes, but not typical in a normal household. It's rather loud, and normally I drown it out a bit with my iPod. When I had a problem with my concentrator the O2 output was low and I got an occasional kerplunk-SHUDDER from the concentrator and periodic bursts of hissing air that blew my flame out.

What about you? What senses do you use when you create?

the language of color & weekly designer

mary jane dodd

'i found i could say things with color and shapes

that i couldn't say any other way -

things i had no words for.'

~ georgia o'keeffe

first, our weekly designer -

kristi bowman... i love how she balanced the colors in these earrings... to see more of her work you can visit here and here... oh, and no pressure kristi - but i want to see some of your bronze clay pieces entered soon!

barbara came up with a call theme that at first almost shocked me in its vibrancy... i tend to feel more comfortable with the neutral, worn and subdued ... but in her choice i saw the enamels i have in my home - i saw the fiestaware we eat off of each day... i saw richness - and fun...

i would like to offer 2 mini giveaways with a quick turnaround time and winner announcement next saturday...

keith o'connor purple raku bead, marsha neal studio porcelain charm in brown, swirled apricot lampwork glass by linden avenue designs and a couple of my own deep red trade beads...

more colorful marsha neal studio charms, keith o'connor orange raku and trade beads...

truly one of the gifts of a group blog is working with other members to create something interesting for those who visit... and it can take you out of your comfort zone which is an excellent thing...

just leave me a comment -

and congratulations kristi!

Celebrate the New Year with a Yummy "Call to Create!"

Well, the past year appears to have flown by like the blink of an eye ... which is kind of what decades appear to be doing too! I want to do something a little different with Call to Create ... in terms of inspiring colors and images. The chips of a color chart are good, but I'm feeling a need for something more sensual, luscious, appetizing ... maybe I should just get up and eat breakfast! But, I've decided to take you with me on this little journey. So, without further adieu, here's the Call to Create for January.

photo courtesy of Matt Armendariz; Styling by Adam Pearson

How about some fantastic jewelry pieces in spearmint, chocolate, grape, tomato red, and that luscious orange yellow of the peach, which are only some of the colors represented here. Your look can be more somber by graying down or saturating these colors ... but even the Jadeite plate can be part of your inspiration. There's a lot to work with here. Remember our slogan, "Making Handmade with Handmade."

Since we're starting a new year, what about a resolution to try to make some of our own components? Kelli Pope shows you just how easy it can be ... go here to see how. Not only will you feel a sense of accomplishment, but you'll be creating something that is truly "one of a kind" for even if you were to try to recreate it the next day, it would not be the same. We are unique and what we make is unique!

But what would a challenge be without prizes?!!! And great prizes we have ...

Altered Curiosities by Jane Wynn and A Porcelain Pendant in an etched bezel setting by LeAnn Weih

I guess I don't need to tell you about this book ... it's very popular already ... Jane has some VERY unique ways of looking at things and bringing found objects together to create art ... whether it be wearable or sculpture. This is a great book.

Our own very talented LeAnn Weih is offering a gorgeous pendant. Here's her description:

This pendant was made from brass sheet that was etched on one side. A bezel was soldered onto the unetched side of the pendant. I made the cabachon from porcleain. The size is about 1.25 inches high and 1.25 inches at the base.

And as always you will be entered in our weekly "Designer of the Week" as well as the possibility of being sponsored on the blog for one month. The winner will also have a page displaying the winning piece on our website. Click here to see the most recent winner's page.

So, there you have it ... post photos at our flickr page and enter as many pieces as you'd like. Good luck and Happy New Year and, as always, thank you for participating!

We have a winner!

Congratulations, Erin, you are the winner of the December Call to Create! What a gorgeous piece!

Irreverant Couture Necklace: "Stormy"

Detail of handsewn beads and strands cinched with metal chain

by Erin Fickert-Rowland
materials: silk, polyester, cotton fabrics, thread, beads of glass, pearl, and stone, black chain

This necklace is composed of handmade strands sewn from different fabrics,
and bound with a handmade silk strand. The beads have been handsewn on
the strands.

visit my blog at http://blog.elysianstudiosart.com/

Erin, please contact Mary Ann Carroll and Laura Guenther to collect
your winnings which are some gorgeous handmade ceramic beads
and a beautiful mixed media box for something very special!

We want to thank all of you who participated in the December
Call to Create. Even though it's a very busy time of year, you all did it!
Tomorrow we announce the January Call to Create! You all are going
to love it ... but don't come hungry!

Holidays Traditions ...

by Barbara Lewis

Some of us have what you might consider traditional "traditions" ... others are more unconventional. However, wherever you fall in the spectrum, a tradition is something to be cherished. Traditions are what binds families together. In times of uncertainty, traditions provide comfort. They take on a meaning that transcends another's understanding of the event.

Besides giving thanks to Christ at mass either on Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning, we have three Christmas traditions ... The first is our love of the California Raisins Christmas music. We have been groovin' to the California Raisins since, I'm guessing here, but I'd have to say 1992. In 2002, we realized we couldn't find our cassette tape. It was a sad day, until an Ebay seller came to the rescue. In two days, we were again happily singing to our favorite Christmas music. We're still enjoying this music with our kids, who are now 25 and 26 ... and they have shared this tradition with their friends, who look at us like, "Huh?"

Our second Christmas tradition is our love of the movie, The Long Kiss Goodnight, with Geena Davis. I know some people love, "It's a Wonderful Life," but our differences are what makes the world go 'round.

The final Lewis Family Tradition is a Christmas morning breakfast of Lox, Cream Cheese, and Bagels ... with sliced tomato and lots of pepper. Yum!

Whatever your tradition, my wish is that you enjoy them fully in the love and grace of the meaning of Christmas! Ho, Ho, Ho!

weekly designer highlight - call to create

due to the fact that the entries are all lovely, are about equal in percentage of handmade components and i am a libra - this week's designer was picked randomly...

this piece by molly alexander uses icy grey blues and handmade lampwork beads with a shot of yellow in them... i really love the many layered asymmetrical design... you can see more of her work here...

thank you all for your beautiful submissions - please keep them coming... after all, isn't crunch time when we all seem to work best? (though we reprimand ourselves for doing it, there's nothing like a little pressure to create a spark)... and, yes, i am aware that it is the holidays... but you have the week after!! i always seem to make deadlines on the very last day... and i also seem to be doing lots of non- holiday related work right now... it brings me peace...

Endicia for Mac ... Shipping!

by Barbara Lewis

I love my Mac computer, but it can be occasionally frustrating to find that some business solutions software are not compatible with Mac. Like Stamps. com ... it's only after you buy their scale that they tell you that the program is for Windows! Then they tell you they don't make refunds! Buyer beware!

When I was selling only on etsy, Paypal was great. But when the website opened and people paid by credit card it was a different matter. I tried Click 'n Ship with USPS but it didn't provide any mailing options other than priority, flat rate and express. Hey ... what happened to parcel post or mailing a letter! Perseverance pointed me in the direction of Endicia for Mac. I love this set up!

I bought the Dymo Labelwriter 4XL, which is perfect for printing mailing labels for packages. Here's what the program looks like ... I type, copy and paste, or use my Address Book to enter the address. Then I select the mailing service. The scale is attached to the computer via a usb, so, all I have to do is to click "Weigh" and the weight appears. Click prepare label for shipping and a new page appears with a preview of the mailing label and the shipping costs. At this point you have a chance to go back and change shipping options if you want to. Print the peel and stick label and that's all there is to it!

A Mail Log is maintained so later I can search by date or customer name ... to find shipping information. My life became so much easier with this program. I highly recommend it! They also make a Windows version.

December Call to Create

Magnolia by Lori Anderson

Isn't this the perfect interpretation of our color palette for December. It's a necklace of contrasts to be sure ... hints of Spring and growth in the presence of those blue glass beads that can easily be interpreted as icicles. I love this piece by Lori Anderson. It is, btw, beautifully photographed and the diagonal plane adds dynamism to an otherwise quiet photo. Thanks for your submission, Lori.

December's Call to Create!

December Color Palette

This rich color palette for December has something for everybody .... some icy blue-grays, a bright red, a vibrant yellow ... and some softer pastel colors perfect for winter. Remember, the motto of Love My Art Jewelry is making handmade with handmade ... which shouldn't be too hard since we have so many talented artists out there! :-) And, guess what, we have two prizes this month! And, there's no limit on the number of times you can enter!

We're happy to have Laura Guenther of Blue Antiquities as a sponsor of the December Call to Create. Laura has donated one of her gorgeous mixed media gift boxes ... who cares what's inside ... give me the box! "Cirque Chicago" is a petite gift box ... perfect for earrings. The vintage iron key is torch-fired in Orchid enamel and measures 2.5". This is a real beauty from a super talented young lady!

Our own, Mary Ann Carroll, has donated some of her awesome ceramic beads. Who couldn't use a batch of these one-of-a-kind beauties. Having worked in clay for over 20 years, I can guarantee you that every ceramic bead is a one of a kind ... even when you're trying to make a matched set! LOL Love these beads ... and the only way you can get these is to enter the Call to Create!

Have fun! I can't wait to see what you all create ... the November pieces were over the top ... some really lovely, top-notch pieces! Bravo!

Call to Create Monthly Winner!

By Barbara Lewis

Okay, folks, today's the day! We have a winner! It is Jen Judd! Even though the winner is selected by random, Jen's work is a beautiful example of making handmade with handmade. This is a very smart piece and it goes to show you that pink isn't only for spring and summer! Jen, please contact me and send me your mailing information so I can send you the beads of Autumn Bliss! You can find me here: www.paintingwithfireartwear.com.

Tomorrow we announce the Call to Create inspiration for December. Should it be ice or fire! Hmmmm! Come back to see!

Do you remember I promised to clean the studio?

If you were visiting LMAJ two weeks ago, this is what you saw ...

What follows are photos of how the studio looks today. Tomorrow may be another matter entirely. I'm a little bit of a tool junkie. Many times I'll ask for tools for presents: Christmas, birthday, anniversary. One year I asked for a stationary tub for Mother's Day ... ! So, this studio has been acquired over about 15 years.

The studio is in a detached building a few steps from the house. Here's the view when I walk into the studio.

Work tables. Across the continental divide is another set of tables.

5 lb containers of Thompson Enamel. We're up to over 75 colors!

The packing area ... with the ever-present stereo!

Beads, beads and more beads ... waiting for a little color ... or your color!

3 oz. and 8 oz. jars of enamel waiting to fly off the shelves!

A rolling mill, bench shear, and a hydraulic die press, which I'll use when I get more time!

One of the torch areas with a vent hood! This torch uses propane and oxygen from an oxygen concentrator.

A polishing/grinder gizmo with a filter. To the right are two kilns I've never used to fire enamel!

Soldering area with pickle pot.

Bench for working with metal. I simply turn around and I have dapping blocks at the ready.

Enamels that David, my son, and I use to add color to our beads. Right now they're in alphabetical order but don't check back next week! To the left are plastic bead trays.

What's on my work bench ... some pendants ...

and some hearts waiting for paint and resin!

The studio is very industrial looking. It will never be in "Where Women Create," but it's my little piece of heaven on earth. :-)

"Call to Create"

by Barbara Lewis

Have you ever stopped to think, "How is it I got involved in making jewelry? Do I have talent? Should I continue making jewelry even though it doesn't sell as fast as I would like?" I remember talking to my first art professor about doubting my "talent." He said, "Talent is the need to create!" I found that so freeing ... because there was no doubt that I had the need. I had been sewing since I was 12 years old and now I was working with a new medium.

My favorite quote, and one that has kept me in good stead, is by Martha Graham, the inventor of modern dance:

There is a force, an energy, a quickness, that is translated through you into action.

If you block it, the world will not have it.

You do not have to believe in yourself or your work.

It is not your business to compare yourself with others. It is your business to keep open and aware directly to the urges that motivate you,

to keep the channel open.

It's a "calling" really. To deny it is to deny God's gift. How are we to know whether or how our work may impact another ... what joy will another derive from it. We at Love My Art Jewelry have been inspired by the Art Bead Scene monthly challenges. Personally, there have been many times that the challenge gave me the impetus to give a little extra so that I could participate. Even when I thought there was no way to add another thing to my plate, I did. Thank you, ABS.

Today, Love My Art Jewelry announces "Call to Create," which will be based on a selection from Pantone's color chart. Remember, your work needs to FEATURE handmade elements. Here's how it operates:

Weekly we will select an artist to highlight based on photos submitted to our flickr group. Your work will be highlighted in the sidebar for the week, which we can link to whatever site you choose.
Monthly we will randomly draw a winner from our flickr group. Your work will be featured in our sidebar for the month and on an entire page at our website devoted to you, the monthly winner! Links will be made to whatever site you select.
Donors of handmade beads and components will be honored in a sidebar ad with a link to your shop. We want to reinforce our conviction to our slogan: Creating Handmade with Handmade.

So, here comes the fun part! Color, color, and more color! A beautiful palette of rich colors that have been grayed down for the Fall. November 1 ... it all begins!

The winner will receive all of the beads that were used in my necklace, "Autumn Bliss," which appears on the cover of Handcrafted Jewelry, just released. I'm not saying you have to recreate Autumn Bliss, but you're welcome to if you'd like. Please pass the word ... we'd appreciate it.

i am moved by ~

the colors of autumn... looking up through flame bright trees into crisp bright blue skies...

manifestations of fragile strength... delicate hand dyed fibers wrapped around strong, life worn circles of copper...

knowledge that is unearthed from within us when we put fear aside; if you open up, it will present itself...

Get it Together with MaryAnn...

Hmmmmm? I have been trying to think about what I want to include in my Sunday Post for LMAJ. Since I also post for the Beads-of-Clay on Sundays, I wanted to keep it similiar, yet different. Here is what I've come up with...subject to change depending on how this goes. Today, it didn't go so easy since I'm so indecisive when it comes to creating jewelry. Like many of us who create components, we often start out creating jewelry. I'm working out the kinks right now in terms of doing both! I hope to make one of our extra bedrooms into a studio of sorts. It was being used for storage while my son and his family were between houses. When they came to clear out the very packed room, they discovered that water had gotten in (It is a walkout basemet) through the windows that were at ground level. Needless to say, there is going to be a slight delay with my plan.

I am hoping, however, that once I can get everything spread out, my creativity will start rolling along with only minor bumps in the way rather than having mountains to climb. You know....the ones that always seem to jump in the way right when you think you're sailing smooth....

Today I've come up with some ideas using a half dozen handmade components that I might pull out when trying to design a necklace. Of course, I started out with about 3 dozen choices and then finally narrowed it down with sweat pouring off my face and heart palpatations serving as a drumroll.....to 6. Now I'm going to write just a little bit more since that '6' keeps ending up on the next line all alone.....

Obsessing?