So excited! The wait is over!

I have been working on this on and off for so long - so VERY long.

At least it feels really long.

Its been done in fits and starts and stops and starts and tantrums and starts and lots of dead time inbetween.

Well, I finally decided it was time to get it done. Or "git 'er done" as my good buddy Lisa would say.

So, last night I sat down and banged through some of the techy stuff that I had been putting off.

I'm NOT a techy person!!!  This is NOT my favorite thing to do, but,  I now have a 'complete' Tutorials page on my website AND on the Jewelry Artists Network Website - Tutorials WITH automatic download!!! 

Each site now is all set up, though some testing probably needs to be done. . . . . .and I can't tell you how pleased I am!

And it's not just me! There are going to be tutorials from other artists. People I've known for a long time and that I respect and trust. We'll be going deeper into metalsmithing and also featuring wireworking tutorials.

AND, on top of all of that, video tutorials are in the works! I hope to have a collage snapshot of some of those soon.....I've watched a few and they are really amazing. Filmed in a very relaxed conversational style that shows how things are REALLY done in a studion on a day to day basis they are sure to be a HUGE help to people!

Other than that - its SNOWING here! I hear we are supposed to get a doozy of a storm - for us anyway. Maybe over 20 inches....ok, have to run!!!

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

TT - A little late

Tutorial coming - pics of 'fold and gold' for now.....

Yes, Tuesday Tutorial WILL be posted today, but its going to be a LATE date post - well, more like a night time post. :) Hope you'll come back tonight or check in tomorrow. I'm having a good time posting metalsmithing tutorials that I find and also sharing those of friends.

In the meantime, I said I'd try to grab a photo of the fold and gold ring now that its oxidized. I didn't get to it last night - swim team is going to be a killer! Yesterday was our first practice. My father was good enough to take LG to the pool at 5pm at which time we found out he'd be in the 6:15-6pm group. They decided to stay and wait it out, so I ran home and picked up little Lisa and took her to the vet. I returned home with Lisa around 7pm and little guy and Pop-Pop pulled in a bit after 7:15. Needless to say, dinner was on the late side last night, little guy needed a shower after being in the strong chlorine, and after he went to bed, I crashed.

Ohhhhh, No, scrap that. I did go to the bench - - got started with the 14k gold bezel - on a lovely little triangular (trillian) cut aquamarine cabochon. After fiddling with that a bit - I then crashed in front of the tv for an hour and went to bed early. (again!)

So I snapped these photos on my way to work this morning and now that I'm taking my lunch break have uploaded them.

Whatcha' think?

I don't really like the way the LOS was left on there....I may redo the LOS and use pumice instead of steel wool, but my pumice doesn't arrive until Friday, so the ring is going to stay as is for now.

:)

Don't forget to check back for the Tuesday Tutorial - if all goes well it will be up whilst its still actually Tuesday!

Oh, and for fun, here's little guy playing Ultimate Frisbee at the school fair this past Saturday.

Isn't he just too adorable?

~Janice

TT - Fusing!

Today its all about fusing.



Fused Foxtail Chain

Fusing Jumprings

Fused Heart

Fine Silver Granulation Pt 1
(and Part 2 )

Granulated Earrings

Basic glass fusing

Plastic bag fusing

ENJOY! :)

Try something new and create something NEW!

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Update on my health - I've had some routine bloodwork this morning and will have an MRI of my brain tomorrow morning at 0830. :) I think its all going to be just fine. . . no matter what we find or don't find. Thanks for all the notes, comments, prayers, etc.

Tales from Tuesday (TFT)

I think this will be a new 'regular' blogpost here.

Now that I have Tuesdays tightly tucked away for my bench time (ahhh, alliteration - I love it! don't know why, I just do!) that means Wednesdays should be ripe with rich reports of resplendent results. (ok, I'll stop)

Here is how lovely last night was. I arrived home to find a BIG bag of chinese food sitting on the kitchen table -which was set by the way....so we just poured drinks and dug in! YUM! After that, I helped clear the table and put away some food and then I was summarily dismissed to the basement! I was so surprised and so grateful and glad!

I wanted to work on whatever I wanted to work on, however, I've had a couple of 'promised' tutorials or 'HIDIs' pending, sooooooooo, that is what I did. I went from camera tripod to holding pliers and wire for a shot, back to the camera. Can I just say "UGH!"? NOT fulfilling. At all. But necessary I suppose.

In the midst of that I did manage to almost complete a pair of half-hoop earrings. First time I've attempted anything remotely resembling hoops. They are for my 'lines' series - like these I did not long ago. The wire is a bit more hefty, and with the tight curvature of the hoops (they are sort of small) they sawing was a bear or maybe it was holding the piece while sawing. Whatever it was, there are a few unwanted nicks here and there. I hit them with sandpaper and then ran a buff with ZAM over them just to get an idea of whether or not they were 'clean' enough to procede. I think I am going to sand them some more tonight and then polish them up and then odixize them. They may not make it to sale (MINE!) but I'll have a much better idea how to proceed next time. And who knows, maybe they WILL clean up enough....

I am hoping to have pictures of the earrings tonight.

And then I really need to organize the photos for the tute. Its for a ring similar to the one at the left. But last night I used heavier gauge wire and a turquoise bead. I don't think I like the heavier gauge wire (10 ga) although it provides more space at the top to put the bead. I didn't bother cleaning up the ring and photographing the process of sanding and polishing - maybe that's a good one for a free HIDI. :)

Its mid-week - hope everyone is having a happy, SAFE (Lisa), and productive week! Only two more days and its TGIF! :)

~Janice

New Tutorial!

I have just finished a new metalsmithing tutorial - this one for creating a scenic pendant by stamping using tools that we modify from household items. (mostly household stuff anyway - nails, brads, srews, a phillips head screwdriver) For those who want to branch out from wire or beading, this is a great way to start. Its inexpensive, no special tools needed, quick, and endlessly new because you modify your own tools as you go! Designs are fresh and you are only limited by your own imagination.

Here is the pendant used in the tutorial project:

This is on copper with sterling jumprings.

Here are two other pendants done with the same sort of technique - one a scenice pendant and the other uses one 'stamp' which was repeated over and over for a great eye catching texture!

If you are interested in purchasing this tutorial, please see the info below.

This tutorial shows how to use inexpensive ‘tools’, by modifying items found mostly in your own home, to stamp patterns onto metal to create a scenic pendant similar to the one above. Your imagination will ultimately determine what your pendant looks like!

There are 34 steps, 48 photos, and various tips inserted throughout 15 pages.

Materials:24 gauge (or thicker) sheet metal, jump rings (optional)

The tutorial will be delivered via email, to the address used in your payment, as a pdf file. You must be able to open and view a pdf file. If needed, you can download adobe acrobat reader free at: http://get.adobe.com/reader/

As this is an electronic transfer of goods, all sales are final once the file has been transmitted. As with all of my tutorials, I am available for questions at any time after purchase. I want you to be successful! Click photo below to purchase. :)

Disappearing Act

It seems my 'home page' or 'index' page has done a disappearing act. And in trying to entice it to come back I have messed up several of my other pages on my website.

ARGGGGGGGGGGH! I have no business trying to create my own website. By myself. Maintaining it I can probably do...but I am no longer really confident that I should be creating it.

I love my webshost - bluehost - they are FABULOUS. But the tools for creating webpages etc aren't as user friendly to me as bravehost was. Maybe its just me. So I am trying to figure out how to get my index page back......it says its there but when I publish I get a blank page. grrr.

Like I need this headache right now.

And just when I have put up my second tutorial which is for a pendant using a telescoping rivet - at least THAT page is working...but thats only if people can find it!

So I REALLY need to get the website fixed.

On to rivets -- The really cool thing with telescoping rivets is how much you can do with them if you have a good imagination.

This is my little 'pagoda' pendant which is in itself very versatile. It can be worn with something straight through or just at one corner so it hangs at an angle.

A cheat sheet on how to create this pagoda will be sent out (at a later date) free to anyone who purchases the above tutorial. Once you know the basics its not that different to build and add more - but there are a few tips on riveting order and whatnot to have successful reproducible and even results, so I am in the process of mocking up a quick sheet on how to do this one.

And then there is this ring - which is ALL cold connected.

Fun huh?

It needs a little work to be a stable piece and if I want to offer it as a tutorial I need to iron out any small glitches. Maybe after the first of the year on this one.

I have also been re-taking photos of some of my pieces as well as taking measurements of them which I need when I go to list them either on my website or in my etsy shop. There is so much more to the selling side than one might think! Or at least than what I thought....ya know, take a few photos, calculate the price - good to go, right? Wrong.

I need to write the desciprtions, complete with measurements and materials etc. I am really hoping to get them done by the end of the week and have a handful of things ready for sale (Finally. It sure has been a long time coming).

Finding the time for all of this is the hard part. With Christmas just around the corner we're starting baking and shopping and wrapping and ohhhh, decorating! We put up decorations this weekend, got the tree up with lights and orbs (as my son calls the balls!!). YAY! So pretty. :)

I guess I should run - need to keep cracking if I want to stay even remotely on schedule. ;-)

~Janice

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