New tutorial released!

This tutorial took forEVER to make.

I'm glad its finally done and I hope it is clear and helps lots of artists make beautiful things. :)



This tutorial uses the most basic fold forming technique, line folds, and takes the technique into 3 different directions for 3 projects in one. This lesson shows how to create folds in metal in order to create dimension and texture in your work. We will look at three different projects which take the fold formed metal in very different directions.

You will learn to use the inherent properties of metal to your advantage - Work hardness becomes your friend! Your imagination will ultimately determine what your pieces look like!

There are 39 pages, approximately 85 steps, and over 100 pictures and diagrams. There are also some bonus tips and alternative ideas.

You will automatically be taken to the tutorial upon check-out.

Your purchase signifies your agreement not to share, lend, or dsitribute this tutorial in any form without my express written permission.


I am ALWAYS available to answer any questions regardina ny of my tutorials that you purcahse, including looking at pictures of your work to help you improve. I want you to be successful! :)

Janice

I'm a texture girl

From way back. It affects a lot of things - from the food I eat to the clothes I wear, and yes, to the jewelry I make. :) Texture can make or break things for me. I don't like corn tortillas, instead I favor flour ones, because I don't like the texture of corn tortillas.

While I make do make jewelry that is 'smooth' and more sleek - I LOVE texture! Texture can add so much to a piece - character, depth, visual interest. And there are so many ways to GET texture. From expensive rolling mills, to inexpensive options like a nail and hammer.

I surfed back through my blog and pulled some photos of pieces with textures:

This piece was textured by hammering the sterling onto concrete - in the driveway. LOVE the effect. :)

The rolling mill was used to texture the sterling in these earrings. The metal was run through the mill with window screening.

More window screening

This pendant was given texture with a quasi-fold forming technique. The granules also add a layer of texture.

Corrugation was used here to provide texture to the sterling - a nice offset to the smooth copper.

This pendant shows some chasing all around the bezel, on the wire.

More chasing...........this one using a 'professional' chasing tool.

This was done using nails and screws, etc. I did a tutorial showing how to modify nails etc to complete this pendant.

Etching can provide texture either in terms of a 'scene' or just a random pattern.

The two pieces to the left are samples of reticulation. (using heat - torch - to create texture) The earrings have an added layer of texture as holes were drilled and then the metal was run through the mill to elongate the holes.

These final earrings combine reticulation, chasing, and roller mill printing.

These are just some of the things I do with texture. I'm interested in hearing other people's favorite texturing techniques - what do you like to do?

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?

More in the series

Its still going strong! YAY!

I've made another bangle in the 'lines' series. Its almost identical to one I posted recently, the thinner bangle with the lines all the way around.

AND I made a new ring - quite different from the other one. The photo to the left is snapped quickly at work - no lightbox or anything. And my camera battery went dead so no picture of the shank. I am not thrilled with the shank - on a different ring, yes. On this ring, no. So I may haeve to keep this or maybe I'll offer it up and just see what happens!

I have two more pieces ALMOST done - one is a pendant with lines and the other is a ring with a nod to the lines, but not the same. Both pieces have a charoite stone in them. I hope to have them later tonight.

Now that I'm really getting some work out there for consumption it really has hit me that I MUST figure out packaging and inserts and whatever else I need when I actually sell something. OY. I have some small jewelry boxes - REALLY inexpensive. They are green which coincides with my color scheme on the website. I think I am going to make labels with my business name on them and a muted purple border - to match the other color on my website - and place one on each box top. I may use a string or ribbon to tie them shut.....not sure. And I am thinking about a logo - I don't have one and am not even sure what I would want it to look like. Oy.

Thanks for all the feedback and well wishes so far everyone! I appreciate everyone who reads here and for the comments, emails, etc. ((hugs))

~Janice

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 haven't been posting consistently - life has been busy. One of my little chihuahuas is feeling poorly and has been back and forth to the vet. Poor little Pedro.

This is Pedro:

and here he is with the other chihuahua, Lisa:

He is somewhat settled now on a course of prednisone so I got some bench time this week and made this:

Poison Ring-prototype: