Happy Halloween

Here are a couple of ghoals. I for one find the one below extremely scary. Especially in about 5 years!!!! Yikes, what a devil. By the way, she won "most scary" at the Girl Scout Halloween party.

Below is the beginnings of a bracelet I am making using sterling silver that has been stamped with my rolling mill using a copper plate that I etched. I love the possibilities!!!

Keum Boo

The art clinic held a class this weekend on Keum boo and Carl Stanley, Silversmith and teacher extrodinair taught a very enthusiastic group. That was Saturday and today, Tuesday I spent a few hours bonding 24k gold to some of my metal clay (fine silver) pieces. Keum boo is an ancient Korean metalsmithing technique in which gold is bonded to silver. It is relatively simple, you just need the right equipment. I have wnated to learn this technique for years and had practically everything needed, but i was scared to do it!?! Why you may ask. Sometimes I get freakout by heat, but that is changing. Carl Stanley http://carlstanleyjewelryarts.com/is an excellent, giving, caring teacher. We want him back at the ART CLINIC.

I made these in the class. I am longing for a disc cutter.
My husband bought me a rolling press because he spoils me. We went to Harbor Freight to look at a hydraulic press and they had a rolling press. I didn't twist his arm, just looked longingly at it. I haven't played a lot with it as I need to bolt it down. So far I love it!!! The silver below was pressed with sequin scrap.
The silver below was pressed with a piece of copper that I had etched previously.

New Jewelry Ideas

I am gearing up for the holiday season which, for me as an artist/jeweler is a busy time indeed.

Below you can see that I have been working with sheet metal (sterling and fine silver), a hammer and a torch and loving it. At the end of the day I am beat, my eyes are tired and I need to sleep, but I am enjoying forging the metal and learning new things constantly. I guess that is the part that I love the most, the challenge, the new ideas and ways of working.

Yesterday, I received my copy of "Mixed Media Self Portraits" . It is jam packed with information, but truthfully, I've not had a chance to look at it. I will though, soon. I'm sure I can learn a thing or two!!!!

New jewelry designs-Mixed Media Self Portraits out

Today I received my addition of "Mixed Media Self Portraits" so the book is out!!! How fun to see it in print. I've not had a chance to read it, but it looks packed with info and lots of gorgeous self portraits!!! Even Ruth got a her name in it as she was the photographer of my picture, how fun is that?!!!