Behind "A Metalsmith's Journey" Part II

I thought it was time for Part II in this yet-to-be-determined-part series.

I picked a question I get more than any other.

How do you do it all?

I usually answer, "I don't. It just seems like it" or "I might do it all, but I don't do it all well".

The truth is both, or either, or somewhere in between I suppose.

Its true - I wear many hats.

Oh so many.

And yet, some obvious ones are missing..........hmm, will have to think about that.

Anyway.

As many of you know, I'm a Mom - and a single Mom at that. I have two children who keep my life ever exciting and always busy.

I work full time outside the home.

And in my spare time I...............

- metalsmith on the side.

- facilitate (and host) the Jewelry Artists Network website and community.

- organize the yearly Jewelry Artists Retreat.

- take part in a few metals groups - online and off.

- write at least one blog.

- take workshops as I am able.

- tinker in other creative endeavors - cheese making anyone? butter from scratch? fun stuff ... and soon to come is sewing plush creatures. :)

I am an avid reader and normally have more than one book going at a time. I am curious by nature. I love 'investigating' things. I tend to be a 'deep thinker', and do a lot of musing.

I volunteer as often as I can at my son's school.

At the moment I'm not sure what else I do, or am involved in or with, but I'm sure there is something!

My hands are full, very full. That's for sure.

So how DO I do it all?

I guess I take one thing at a time to a certain degree.

On the other hand I am the QUEEN of multi-tasking. Sometimes that can cause unfortunate problems, I don't recommend it for everyone. Its not pretty when an email for one person goes mistakenly to someone else. Enough said.

I don't know how I do it all really. I just know I do. I can't say I do it all well though. Things often fall through the cracks and I get backlogged. I have often contemplated cutting things out, taking a step back...but I'm not sure what I'd give up. And usually, just when I think about that, a new endeavor pops up. ;-)

I love life.

I enjoy people.

My hands are full, but you should see my heart.

Its bursting at the seams.

I can live with that.

Janice

Doxa-what? Doxa-WHO? What's up with that?

I caught a bit of a blogpost today that was an update of sorts on the author of the blog. Citing the fact that the 'about me' page hasn't changed in a while, nor does it necessarily fully capture who he is, he put together a little update.

I thought it was a neat idea, so I'm adopting it, adapting it, and encouraging you to do the same. :) I read some of you a lot, but don't necessarily know how you got to be where you are or whatever, so, give it some thought and maybe clue us all in a little bit sometime soon.

Behind " A Metalsmith's Journey" or "Doxallo Designs", Part I

Let's start with.........some questions I get:

What's with the name?

"A metalsmith's journey" - that's pretty self explanatory and since I didn't know exactly where I might go with this whole thing I thought I chose to be decidedly vague. ;)

"Doxallo Designs" - I really didn't know what to use as a 'business name'. Some advise not to use one's own name as you can never divest yourself of it....its always gonna be with you. I have always like the word "Doxa" - greek for glory. Not that I think I'm some great glory mind you - but I like the idea that something 'glorious' can come from raw materials...and that the things I chose to work with - stones from the earth, to me, point to God's glory. The glory of His creation turned into my creations (now THATs what I call teamwork! haha).

Anyway, I combined that word with 'llo' which I shortened from "Mr. Cellophane" from the song in the movie Chicago. I love the song, the skit, and I can appreciate that Mr. Cellophane felt 'invisible', hidden from sight ("'Cause you can look right through me, Walk right by me, And never know I'm there!") , and I appreciate that the rocks I use are hidden from sight, under our feet, in the earth, til someone digs them up, cuts and polishes them; and they make it to me for use in jewelry. So its a revelation - of a hidden glory. Hence, "Doxallo" means 'hidden glory'.

It also encompases part of my life philosophy, how I try to go through life - looking for the glory in all things. Hidden glory perhaps, but still there. In 'things', in 'moments', and in people.

How'd you get your start?

I have always like being creative although I think I surpressed it for many years...or just got too busy or something. Life took over well, my life. ;-)

But I've drawn - I used to use pastels (chalk) when I was MUCH younger - pre-teen, and I've attempted tons of other hobby things - candle making, fabric painting, working with dried flowers, string art, I can't recall what all I've bought supplies for over the years thinking that 'this will be fun!'. Then never taking the time to really learn to make something of quality. I recently took up painting, acrylics, with my son, but thats done very minimally although I enjoy it a lot.

So, how did I get into jewelry?

Well, someone gave my daughter a wire jewelry kit. She never even really opened the box and it sat and sat and sat, collecting dust. For YEARS. I pulled it out once and looked at it but it wasn't appealing to me and back under the sofa it went. (for real) Until I pulled it out once again when I was cleaning. Wanting a break from cleaning (yea, who doesn't want THAT? a break from cleaning that is...)

I sat down and leafed through the book. Hmm, kind of interesting. I picked up the wire and a small pair of pliers and fiddled a bit. Cute. But thats it. Cute. Nothing I would wear. Why not? Because it was very thin metal, and base metal, who knows what kind. It just didn't appeal to me.

This is one of the first things EVER that I made - is on that hard springy wire - whats it called?? Dang, can't think of it -- ohhhhhh memory wire. Now there's a memory I'd like to forget.

I then used some base metal in the box for things like these earrings.

These are with brass or some other wire that came in the box, I know not what it was, but they are kind of cute.

I now had another tool though - the internet. I don't really recall if I went in search of or if I just happend on it, but I found some info on wire jewelry. Connie Fox is one of the most prominently known that I came across. Now THIS interested me. I like her work. I bought some sterling wire and some beads and I've never looked back. I was instantly hooked.

This is my first use of sterling wire. Loops and 's' links and a very basic little clasp. And you can see my first "Connie Fox" bangle as well.

I went online further and found others working in wire and I learned and grew and was really enjoying it as a hobby, both creatively and socially.

About a year or two into it I began adding in some sheet, using cold connections I made pieces like these earrings.

Then I bought a little plumbers torch to make headpins.

The sheet quickly began taking over my designs and I stamped and punched and used heat to reticulate. and then....

I learned to solder.

This is my first soldered piece. A simple ring band.

Soldering changed things DRASTICALLY. I learned to make my own settings and forms and its just taken off from there.

You can see where I am now....pretty far from where I began. Its been ohhhh, right about 5 years total I think.

I am mostly self guided in my learning. I haven't been able to enroll in a metals program but I've learned from books, and friends online, and other online sources, and I've had the benefit of a few weekend workshops. Slowly, and sometimes painfully, I have learned new skills. Its been a lot of fun. :)

Why aren't you selling more of your work?

I have JUST recently begun selling. There are a few reasons I've been somewhat hesitant to sell. First and foremost, I have very exacting standards. I don't want work going out that I can't comfortably stand behind 100%. So I've continued perfecting. I'm not unrealistic (well mostly) - I'm not aiming for an unreasonable or unattainable standard, but I've had a sort of circular pattern working against me. Since I had the mindset, in the beginning, of this being a hobby I have allowed myself to be very myopic; only seeing the one part of a project that I was learning at the time. Sometimes this meant the backside of a piece wasn't addressed at all. Or that I rushed through one part just to get to the part which used the technique I wanted to learn at the time. At times I didn't even finish a piece, just went on to the next. I am blessed that I could afford to approach this strictly as a hobby. But the whole "I'm not selling, so it doesn't matter" began working against me as it gave me permission to CONTINUE working that way even after I had the skils to properly finish something.

The other factor has been time. I haven't had the time to take selling seriously. Business plan, tax ID, packaging....and on and on and on...I am only now beginning to organize some of those things. So, I'm starting. But its slow going. :) And thats ok with me.

----

I'll stop there. Don't want to bore you all in one day. ;-)

Have a question you'd like me to answer? About myself, or my work, or whatever..? List it in the comments, or drop me an email (janiceihg AT hotmail DOT com) and I'll answer it in Part II, or III, or IV....

And seriously, consider answering some of your most FAQs on your blog. I bet your readers are interested in learning more about you, how you got your start, what makes you tick, what inspires you, etc etc etc. I know I am. I'll be reading......

Janice

Part lemming

I must be part lemming. I saw this 'meme' thing over at Pam's blog (99 things post) and just had to do it too! lol


Its a list of 99 things, you mark the ones you've done - the ones you haven't but are open to, and the one's you have no real interest in doing.

Following Pam's lead:

Things I’ve done in bold
Things I haven’t done but would like to do in italics
Things I haven’t done and never, ever want to do in plain text.


1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band — or musical.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo. (in my shower, does that count?)
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitchhiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden a Gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language. (not fluently, but partially)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. (quasi rock climbing)
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David.
41. Sung karaoke.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal in a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Gotten flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades. (lived right on the edge..)
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guard in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life. (I guess.....weird..)
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.

Is this me? (or my blog?)

from 'typealyzer.com' which apparently gives an analysis from the first page of your blog.

ESFP - The Performers

The entertaining and friendly type. They are especially attuned to pleasure and beauty and like to fill their surroundings with soft fabrics, bright colors and sweet smells. They live in the present moment and don´t like to plan ahead - they are always in risk of exhausting themselves.

They enjoy work that makes them able to help other people in a concrete and visible way. They tend to avoid conflicts and rarely initiate confrontation - qualities that can make it hard for them in management positions.

what does it say about YOUR blog?

To 2009.....and beyond!

Said in my best 'buzz Lightyear' impersonation. ;-)

Already the new year has not been what I expected but maybe that's a good thing.

I didn't spend my evening last night as I had thought I might.

No quiet room, no dimmed lights.....no penning my thoughts in my lovely little red journal.

My son and I watched a movie, played a game, he banged a pot outside and then went to bed - all by 9pm! That left me to do my thing. As per usual. But I just didn't feel contemplative.

So I went to the workbench even though I wasn't feeling particularly inspired either. I was a bit restless last night. And a bit keyed up - too much caffeine.

I spent a fair amount of time making a simple bangle. In the same style as the 'lines' pieces I've been working on but with a bunch more lines and those took a rather long time. I need to finish up the bangle today, a turn in the tumbler, then a patina, then a photo shoot, and then I'll share.

What really surprised me last night was how late I stayed up! It was 2am and I was wide awake (caffeine....mmmmmmm) but I forced myself to go to bed. I can't remember the last time I was awake at that hour! The past few New Years I've been asleep by midnight AT THE LATEST! So maybe, even though the night didn't go as I had thought, maybe this is a great beginning to the new year. It certainly feels 'fresh' and thats a good thing. After all, who likes stale?

a few shots and the new ring

I am playing with my new tripod -- ohhhhhhhhh, did I mention I received a little teeny tiny tripod for Christmas!?? It is REALLY small - JUST what I wanted to use desktop for shooting jewelry. I am hoping it alleviates any tiny handshake I may get pressing the trigger or just holding it in my hand while I use the timer.

ok, here is the ring that I mentioned earlier, that sort of matches the bangle....similar, but not the same - it still needs a bit of clean up - but I wanted to show it since I said I would!

And with it on. I wore it today. I have no pride....I don't care if its dirty! I just can't wait to 'test drive' new pieces!! This is a bit big, but I managed to keep it on my middle finger today. I either need to resize it or try to sell it to someone with large hands. :) Or just keep it....

Here's another photo of a few recent pieces and one OLD ring - one that I wear just about every day - my little twist ring, all the way on the left.

Looking towards 2009

I am not yet announcing any big resolutions, in fact, I'm not into resolutions - just the categorization freaks me out a bit. Messes with my head. Sounds like failure at first blush, and second glance, and third read - its no charm for me. So no resolution announcements are coming - at all.

But I do think goals are doable, and beneficial, and something I can think about - in fact I had started thinking about them a while back, about goals and intentions and benchmarks to quantify progress. The thing is, I didn't follow through - I had a good start and then things came to a screeching halt. No, thats not the truth. In reality, things fizzled out...slowly, quietly.....those ideas quietly took a backseat.

So, for starters, I am going to go back to my list and post it in several places - on my bedroom mirror, and somewhere in my car....and maybe at work. I may also post them on the sidebar of the blog. Anywhere I can get them in my sights. I lead a somewhat busy crazy schizophrenic life. . . if I'm going to follow through on some things, I'm going to need reminders.

Perhaps I need to continue to take inventory of my personality and lifestyle and formulate a plan to get the goals started on the right foot before I even set the goals and start working on them! (like a meeting to plan a meeting or a list of what lists to make...lol)

I love New Years. I love that its a definitive 'starting'....a man-made starting but a starting none-the-less. It seems so rich with possibilities, newness, fresh starts. I love that I stay home on New Years eve and contemplate. Quietly. For the past several years I have stayed home, putting my son to bed at just a little later than normal and then I sit.....I read, I listen to music, watch tv or a movie....usually in the family room - where the Christmas tree still stands, softly illuminating the dim room with the colored lights tucked in amongst the branches. Its so calm, so peaceful. I look back to the year that is coming to a close and I also look forward to the coming year. I stopped making resolutions quite a few years ago and have only half-heartedly made goals in the years since. But this year, this year I think I'm ready to really look not only at the year coming up but where I really want to be in 5 years, 10 years, and beyond. And plan. For the future.

I have talked over the past couple of years about creating a 'line' of jewelry. Something somewhat cohesive, in addition to the 'one ofs' that I love to create. But its never really happened. I have been so carefree and almost scattered in what I make because I've been so thirsty for new techniques and constant learning. Well its time to settle down and utilize what I know and see what I can do with it. Just in the past two weeks I've stumbled onto a design that I really really like. Something that I can see translating from the bangle that I made, into rings and earrings and beyond. And not just 'matching' items but slight variations - and they are all popping in my head all at once. And instead of the 'line' confining me, it is actually inspiring me! Who would have thought it?

Here is the bangle that started it all, and its so fitting since the prominent feature on the bangle is a series of lines!

I love the simplicity of the piece and the dark lines against the really shiney sterling.

Last night I sat down and created a ring which is a continuation of this bangle in a way. The shank is flattened 10 gauge rd. sterling wire and then I used half round for the top of the ring, similar to the half round used in this bangle. The lines aren't arranged the same, but they are there. Providing a nice visual effect against the super shiney sterling. I don't yet have a picture of the ring but will try to get one tonight and then update the blog. It's exciting to have something concrete that I'm working towards. I hope the pieces are well received, I really like them. :)

Sleek and casual - great for everyday wear!

~Janice

I've decided...

........that I must be part fish.

Seriously.

Ya know how 'they' say don't overfeed your fish? Do you know WHY 'they' say that? I think its because fish will just keep eating.

Whatever you give them, they eat it up.

It can make them sick. It may even be possible that it could kill them. Well, it hit me today as I pulled out piece of pizza number 2, that I must be a fish, or at least part fish.

I normally eat very minimally at work - my orange mango yogurt with Go-Lean Crunch mixed in it and then a half a sandwich for a late lunch. Today I didn't have time to make my half a sandwich so I grabbed two pieces of left over pizza. When I got hungry this afternoon I pulled out one piece and left the other wrapped up. I ate the one and then PROMPTLY retrieved the other and quickly threw that one down too.

And thats when it hit me. If I have it with me, I'll eat it. I must be a fish.

That's sad. Just sad.

Although....ya know......I AM an avid swimmer. ADORE the water, parents thought I had gills I took to the water so quickly as a young child and I began competitive swimming shortly thereafter - I actually swam for the same club as Michael Phelps here in Baltimore. Probably could have been a contender (said with a brooklyn accent) but then I became a teen and gave it all up....hmm, but I digress.

So besides being fishy...I've been BUSY.

Doing what you may wonder? I know you are wondering, even if I can't hear you....because surely it can't have anything to do with jewelry. I've been so non-productive lately.

But, wait, it IS jewelry!! YAY!

I have like 3 pieces in the works. Ok, to some of you that is nothing. I know. But come on! Remember, I work full time - with a 40 minute commute one way - and I'm a single mom...so ya know, my time is tight.

And fish are slow with tools.

But I hope to have pictures tonight! So stay tuned! :)

Sketching as an art form

When I first began creating jewelry I didn't sketch anything. What need was there? I had no real concept of 'designing' nor was I doing much more than mimicking what someone else had done or reproducing the project in a book. Not too long after though I began creating my own designs. These normally came together on the bench, in real time, 'organically'. (dontcha love that word? So many uses.)

The above sketch is one my son did to help me when he was 6. Aren't kids great?

As I have progressed in my journey I have begun sketching more and more. Sometimes it is because I have a stone that deserves major thought before use. I might trace it several times on a page in my sketch book and then design various renditions of how the stone could be incorporated into some stunning design. (in my dreams anyway). Other times it is because a technique appeals to me, say a rivet, and I want to consider outlandish ways to use it. I can easily fill a whole page with mechanical contraptions utilizing the tiny rivet. Still other times I sketch because I have seen something that stirs me. Such is the case last night. I saw an usual cloud formation and knew right away that it had to be made into a piece of jewelry. So I got out my sketchbook.

My sketchbook is a simple 5x7ish spiral bound book with heavy weight paper. There is a pocket in the front where I stash a pencil and sometimes a few clippings. I realized to my surprise last night that the sketchbook is about a quarter full and although I haven't made that many items from it, its a source of not only inspiration for me, but comfort as well. Those are loved pages. They speak to me, they have been borne out of the maddness of my mind....they are both a release and a 'returning'. They are familiar and worn....and reveal a moment in time to me. In some ways they are memories but they are also promises of things to come.

It is a humble thing. Most pages are filled with pencil sketches....full of smudges. Every now and then a page will fall open that is bursting with color. Those pages have colored stones or resin parts or foliage that pratically leaps off the page. But that is where the excitement ends. And thats ok with me. Although some sketchbooks are almost works of art in themselves, I know I don't have the time currently to invest in creating that kind of work of art. In truth, I rarely have time to create jewelry! However, for those who create layers and texture and other-wordly things in their sketchbooks - I thank you! It is a real treat to see them. For those who don't and wonder what they may be like, please browse the following links:

Jaqueline Ryan - sketchbook

Carolyn Bensinger - sketchbook (be sure to click each category, then you see multiple pages)

Aidan Lamb - Sketches

Kirsten Skiles - sketching

Eye Trouble - sketches

Peggy Cochran - just a glimpse of her book

Enjoy, and if you're brave enough, leave a comment with a link to a picture of a page in YOUR sketchbook! If you do, I'll incorporate it into a post in the next day or two with pictures of my sketchbook! :)

Oh, back to my son's sketch - here is what became of it. I PROUDLY wear it even though I fried off one of the cross wires. Not a design flaw, an exectution flaw for sure!

Janice

Another one to master!

I can never, never, never seem to rest on my laurels. (what ARE laurels anyway?) I go from one technique to another, constantly pushing, learning, striving. I'm not sure if its 'artistic drive' or pure insanity!

My latest is an attempt to make a 'claw' setting, fabricating it from square wire. One square wire. Its a GREAT technique because in a way its very quick. The entire claw setting requires no solder. HOW COOL IS THAT!?

You can see pics of the progress and set ring here.

Of course, to USE it in a piece it must be attached, the best way is solder which is what I did. By soldering it to a trangluar wire shank.

Buuuuuuut, I'm thinking of a cold connected version which would be so much fun for people who don't solder.

I really need to master this for myself first. So its back to the drawing board tonight (I hope) to mock up another and see if I can shape the prongs better than on the first one.

Wish me luck and HAPPY CREATING!

Janice

Reclaiming my studio

Many of you know that I had a studio 'disaster' this past week. I have been reluctant to post about it simply because it was such an awful experience. It frustrated me and left me weary.

However, I've gotten my studio mostly back together and have actually improved some things so it is time to share.

My flexshaft has always hung from a nail that protrudes from the side of the cinderblock wall, behind the right hand side of my bench. The nail is a big long sturdy son of a gun. However, a flexshaft motor is fairly large as well. AND since its located behind the bench, and my bench is deep - itts a bit of a stretch to use it comfortably for things like drilling, since you have to come in at the piece from the top. So as I was working one night, I pushed the foot pedal and the motor JUMPED (ok, FLEW is probably more like it) off the nail and came CRASHING down on my bench.

But not just on the bench mind you. It landed on a (closed) container of ferric chloride...you know, etchant. METAL etchant. And. . . . it broke the container. No, not really. It SMASHED the container. And etchant went EVERYWHERE. In my face, on my neck, clothes, the bench, the wall, ALL of my tools that were out, metals that were out, pieces in progress, stones, bead strands, my rolling mill, all over the flexshaft, on the desk lamp, puddles on the floor. I mean, it went pretty much everywhere.

If you've never cleaned up ferric chloride, let me just tell you that its not enough to wipe it with a paper towel. That just gets off the surface excess, but it doesn't 'cut' it from surfaces...it just smears it around. So I had to also go over everything with a wet paper towel, then again with a dry. It took me DAYS to clean it up - doing a little at a time each night. (remember, I work FT outside the studio each day) Well, I finally got it all done. Then came putting the tools back. I took this moment of cleared off bench time to collect all scraps and stones and wipe the entire bench top and then put things away. I hung the flexshaft from a long plant stand attached to the wall (with two screws and 4 bent over nails for good measure!)

So I've reclaimed my workspace even better than before. That makes me happy.

Looking at some of my pockmarked tools still makes me sad, but such is life. Life goes on and I've learned a lesson and tools can slowly be replaced. I wasn't injured which is probably the most important thing of all.

One additional upswing to this is that it should make packing for the Jewelry Artists Retreat next week much easier!! Speaking of which - YAY!!! Only 8 days and then I leave!! WHOOHOOO!

If you're not familiar with this retreat - its 7 days of non-stop jewelry making. In a very large house, right on the lake in NC, with a group of very talented and wonderful women metalsmiths. . . . it is such a good time and I can't wait to see everyone and play from sun-up til sun-down. You can see some info and pics from last year here , here, and here..and in another couple of weeks you'll see photos from this year!!!

I have been slacking in the TT department. Life has seriously gotten in the way of my personal plans here lately! Hopefully we're back on a schedule now and the tutes will be posted each Tuesday. :)

Today I have several tutorials to help us get organized in the studio!

First up, a file organizer:

File for Files
This system keeps your files organized, handy, and in good working order!

Storage for Flex Shaft Tools

This is named a "zaggat" which really means pyramid!
I have a few others you will have to check back for as I can't pull up the urls right now. In the meantime, browse the 'bench exchange' on Ganoksin to see studios of jewelers around the world!

Speaking of benches - Ganoksin also offers an articke with instructions on building your own basic bench.

And another find is a template for layout of a studio to get you thinking. STUDIO TEMPLATE

Next week, the tutorial will be for telescoping rivets - such as this:






~Janice

Tension translated

Things at home continue to be very very stressful and I haven't been getting much sleep and thus haven't had any real energy to be creative. I still have a commissioned ring, sitting unfinished which I really need to complete. However, I can't begin to think of working on something for a customer when I may end up smashing it to pieces in frustration just because I'm so tense.

I tend to work harshly when I'm stressed.

But I felt I needed to make something, so I pulled out some huge round wire, grabbed a stone, and had an idea for a ring. The result - nothing like I had envisioned (again, good reason not to work on customer piece) - but not to shabby all the same.

This is a faceted garnet with a flared tube setting and a heavily hammered (tortured) ring shank.

~Janice

Post smash-up earrings

These are the new earrings - not the smashed ones! :)

I was working on a pair of earrings last week that just weren't going well - I ended up stressing them and one broke and then I got frustrated and cut up the other one, pretty well smashed them up. Kind of felt good - a release of tension that I think I really needed.


(click to enlarge)



So the next night I started a new pair of earrings, new concept - and the result is a very pleasing, albeit very LONG pair of earrings. These are sterling and sapphire (yellow and blue) with handcrafted posts. They are 3" long.


I REALLY like the way these turned out and I hope to make some variations of these - I just need to purchase a few more (ok, a LOT more) tiny stones!

~Janice

Sorry I missed last week. Its been really hectic around my house.


Today I wanted to share a tutorial from my friend Chad Parker. Chad teaches classes in Colorado, if you're in that area - check him out!

Basket Setting by Chad

A basket setting can be added to a ring

or a pendant or earrings

Its very versatile, use your imagination and see how you can incorporate this into your work.

Have fun and show us what you made by posting on the forum!

~Janice

Someone asked today on the forum about engraving.

Sooo, I'll post here what I gave them - tutorials and info on engraving:

• Engraving school - instructions
• iGraver.com

Forums:

MSN Hand Engravers Group

Engraving School Forum

Online Articles:

Ganoksin

Recommended book:
The Art of Engraving by James B. Meek

Workshop:

Jewelry Art School - engraving

================

Video learning:

From smartflix:
FEGA Jewelry Engraving

On YouTube:

Have fun!

~Janice

More hollow ring play

There is now a flurry of hollow rings going on over at the Jewelry Artists Network forum, check it out, as there is some amazing work there. (If you're not registered there yet - DO IT, its free!!! Just be sure to post in the info thread to activate your account!).


I have also made another hollow ring, this one done slightly different in process than Han's HIDI.



Here is it:


We have been having an exchange on the forum re: hole or no hole in a hollow form for subsequent soldering operations. I decided NO hole on this one and it blew a seam and puffed up like a big pillow! I hammered out the pillow on a flat stake with a planishing hammer and thought it was really flat but the play of light in the photo indicates there is still a slight 'pillow' which is interesting. I may try another and try puffing it up on purpose. (it will probably explode - I'll be sure to wear goggles and a helmet!)

~Janice

Hollow Ring HIDI by Hans

Hans calls this a "HIDI" instead of a tutorial, it stands for "How I Do It".

I like that. It acknowledges that there is more than one way to skin a cat, or in our case, build a hollow ring. :)

Here is Hans' HIDI - Hollow Ring (or Panel Ring as he calls it)

And......(drum roll please...) following is my fried first attempt at one. For those who know me, you know I'm not great with directions. This is no exception. I read the HIDI and then did my thing. Which is not to say I ignored the instructions, not at all...I just didn't follow them exactly.

;-)

My ring:

Not as pretty as Hans' ring - and definitely different proportions! But not horrible for a first go. :)

Tuesday Tutorial - Microwave melting

Yep, apparently someone has done some melting/casting with their microwave.

Check it out:

Microwave Melting of Metals

Be sure to click the link on that page to see the photos.

Catching up on Tutorials!

I missed a week (or two perhaps) so here are a few tutorials - some in detail, some meant to provide an overview of a technique.

Enjoy and have a great PRODUCTIVE weekend!!

Make a simple "S" clasp
Circle Orange Pendant (wirework)
Lost was casting process
Enameling - step by step plique-a'-jour pendant

~Janice