Year of the Dragon

I'll be participating in the Japanese Garden Spring Festival in Fort Worth this Weekend, April 28 -29th. This is a new show for me and I am very excited. I will be in the Meditation Garden and will be featuring some of my newer enamel pieces. Come for a day of fun in a beautiful setting. Brochure is available online.

Mothers Day Sale!!

This is an awesome opportunity to get the perfect gift for Mother's Day or to find that perfect something for yourself. Get 15% off online at participating Etsy Fort Worth Shops us the coupon code "momsday" at checkout. Have fun shopping.
Etsy Fort Worth Mom's Day Sale.

Spring Floral Enamel Pendant with Ilene Kay

Wow - what an honor to teach at the Dallas Arboretum! My students included other artists, staff members and an art teacher who was vacationing from Dublin, Ireland.

Eight students participated and each pendant was unique as the creator. It was so much fun to see how the same supplies could be used to create such a variety of color and style.

Themes that repeat

Most artists' work will contain themes or repeated images. I have a common theme that has been weaving its way through my jewelry as well as my graphic design.

Below is a bracelet that I designed with the whimsical motif of dandelions blowing in the wind. One of my favorite childhood memories is picking dandelions, blowing the fluff, and watching it sail far away on the wind. The enchantment of watching the fluff dance along the wind and wondering what faraway place it would come to rest is what childhood dreams are made from.

 

To create this design I explored alternative metals copper and aluminum. Since the price of silver has increased I’ve widened my repertoire of metals.  (Don’t get me wrong, I love how easy Argentium silver fuses and how easy it is to shape). I stamped the majority of this design using a block letter capital V stamp. Sometimes it’s fun to challenge myself to see how inventive I can with one tool.

Another dandelion motif that floated into my world of design, This Enamel Necklace - Spring Dandelion is an example of a sgraffito technique which is drawing in enamel.

I also used the same motif in my graphic design business card, but I expounded on the idea. The dandelion fluff doesn’t just blow along in the wind, when an idea (the fluff represents ideas going out via print, web and social media) is correctly illustrated or produced it becomes a light and catches the attention of all it encounters. My passion is to visually communicate my client’s idea and bring those ideas to the attention of their client.   

 

Connect with me on LinkedIn, I am looking to assist my clients with their visual needs.

Spring Floral Enamel Pendant

The sgraffito technique is drawing in enamel. Just like sgraffito in drawing or painting, it involves scratching through a layer of color to reveal the color below.

I'll be teaching this technique at the Dallas Arboretum on April 12, 6-8 pm. Sign up and make this Floral Pendant. I hope to see you there.

Etsy Fort Worth: February’s Birthstone

Etsy Fort Worth: February’s Birthstone:

Amethyst Facts

Amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning sober.
Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral quartz Amethyst does not come in any other variety of colors like many gemstones do, but it does come in several different shades of purple.
Amethysts have a Mohs’ hardness of 7, which is about the same as a garnet or 1/15 as hard as a diamond.

Amethyst lore
The early Greeks believed that amethyst would protect the wearer from the effects of drunkenness when consuming wine. In ancient Rome amethyst was crushed and added to wine to prevent drunkenness. Known as the sobriety stone as it was also believed to assist with healing from additions and compulsive behaviors.


The intense violet hue of Amethyst appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color. Purple dye was scarce and expensive at one time, and so it was reserved for the garments of kings and queens.
Amethyst is also symbolic of spirituality and piety. It has been used to ornament crosses used in religious ceremony, and worn in rings and on rosaries by bishops and priests.


When given as a gift Amethyst is symbolic of protection and the ability to overcome difficulty. It is also believed strengthen the bond in a love relationship, so it is an ideal anniversary, engagement or even a valentine’s day gem stone gift.



Check out Brazilian Amethyst necklace by Art Masquerading as Jewelry, Amethyst Crystal Jewel Earrings by Peach, Plum, Pear, Amethyst Gemstone Sterling Silver Necklace by Be Spangled Jewelry or Amethyst and Silver Hoop Earrings By Art Jewelry by Ilene Kay.

Bright Blooms in time for Spring

These earrings will bring bright blooms into your life everyday. The inspiration for these blooms are from the  clematis, which is the aristocrat of climbers with rich hues and varied bloom time. These are more examples of torch fired enamels. Sooo much fun and a great way to work with color.

Love to Make Art with Fire

I have a new "love" or passion in my jewelry making. I have been experimenting with torch enameling and have experience the joy of immediate color from the torch flame.

This heart and the 3 flowers were all "torch" fired. 

Detailed instructions on the technique are in

"Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry: a Workshop in Painting with Fire"  

by Barbara Lewis

Painting with Fire

Etsy Fort Worth: Treasury Tuesday

Treasury Tuesday from Etsy Fort Worth

Love is in the Air

Pearl Dangle Earrings - Pear... ArtJewelryByIl... $49.00	lavender palmarosa vegan fac... thesoapaddict $6.00
You're The Cat's Meo... thereddogbarke... $5.00	Hunger Games Every Minute Pe... Serenitystorms $11.95
LAST ONE Vanilla Buttercream... robotpop $15.00	I Love You Solid Maple Teeth... JustOffNormal $12.00
Floral Greeting cards, set o... Zyada $12.00	Romantic Hearts Earrings ArtMasqueradin... $25.00
Crystal Drops with Red accen... Gnashchick $10.00	Infant's Eyelet Lace Tri... heartsandhome $20.00
Pink, Red, and Purple Malabr... dye2spin $34.00	Sterling silver and Turquois... AmyNicoles $175.00
Valentine's Gold Heart P... bespangledjewe... $62.00	Hearts Themed Bib, Burp Clot... kraftymommy09 $42.00
Framed Rose Print jmlphotoworks $25.00	Je T'aime Ruby Earrings

A Great Little Christmas Art Show

 This was Brenda Benson's first time exhibiting at the Randy Brodnax and Friends Christmas Art Show. Brenda sculpts glass and "light" in most inventive of ways. Each of the lighted glass sculptures evokes a different emotion. For example the tree form next to Brenda in the photo has a surprise - the back of the light box creates an entire work of art in colored light on the wall behind the light. My photo from my phone does not do justice to the inventiveness of this piece of art. The next time you see Brenda at a show take the time to have her show you the subtle beauty that she creates with glass and light.

Another fun part of this show is that Randy shares his Cajun roots by reading a Cajun Christmas Story. Great fun for kids and adults alike.

The Importance of a Craft Support Group

Like most artists I find creative inspiration from many different things, but I sometimes find it difficult to creatively promote my work. Fortunately I have found a great network of creative people from which to draw inspiration, Etsy Fort Worth. 

Members find artistic expressions in many ways - Art/Photography, Ceramics, Children's Clothing and Accessories, Handbags, Hats and Accessories, Home Decor, Jewelry, Pet Products, Screenprinting, Soap, Cosmetics and Candles, Teen  and Adult Clothing and more. With such diverse medium and artistic styles its no wonder that there are just as many great ideas on marketing, creative copy writing, photography, and social media.

At each meeting ideas are freely expressed and every time I feel energized, excited and equipped to promote my business. Brain storming with a creative group opens up many more ideas and refines these ideas.

Esty Fort Worth is the group to join to learn the skills, get the inspiration, and the accountability to build your craft business.  These are some of the benefits.

• Live member support at our monthly team meetings
• Live member socializing at our monthly "Coffee Time" and quarterly craft parties.
• Feature in our "Spotlight Moments" blog column
• Free promotion (team blog, twitter, facebook)
• Vendor priority at all Etsy Fort Worth events
• Free business advice at our mini "Indiepreneur" classes held at our live team meetings
• Access to our members only calendar of local events, craft shows, deadlines and more

Membership is open now - Applications will be accepted from  December 1, 2011- December 15, 2011

ETSY FRIENDS AND FAMILY SALE

Starting today I am participating with some other Etsy Fort Worth shops in a Friends and Family Sale!

Use the code "EFWfriends" for 15% off your purchase. This includes everything in my shop.

Lots of other great shops are also participating in the sale so go take a look at their shops, too. You can find everything from handmade soaps and jewelry, to children's clothing and pet goods.

Remember shop Handmade for the Holidays!

Fold forming adds dimension to working with metal. These leaves were made using the instructions for the Romero Leaf Fold as written by Charles Lewton Brain. I found the instructions in the September 2008 Issue of Art Jewelry Magazine. Charles Lewton Brain also has written a great book on fold forming and there is also information on the the Orchid Jewelry website http://www.ganoksin.com/brain/gallery.htm

I'll be adding some more examples of fold forming in the weeks to come.

My Copper Shell Box Reveals Its Secret

Boxes, hinges, latches, and lockets – adding functionality, dimensional form and compartments that can hide secrets to your work.  My copper shell box hides a lovely free form pearl that is secured to the inside with copper prongs.

Here is a hinged box that I made with a friction clasp. This is a simple hinge created with copper tubing for the knuckles and the hinge pin is a brass rod that fits snugly inside. Just like with rivets it’s important that the hinge pin is the correct size. It will be much easier to flare the ends with a snug fit.

On the left and right of the Shell are the plexi-glass die and the rubber build-up I used to push the metal in the die. A very low tech way to add volume to your work.

One of my favorite books is sure to inspire and instruct you is Tim McCreight’s The Metalsmith’s Book of Boxes & Lockets.  This book will take you from the basics to complex construction. Chapter 2 covers hinges and lids, with pages 49 – 50 explaining how to make the basic hinge.  The photos and the step by step instructions are clear and concise. Tim includes tips to make the hinge stronger and soldering using a clamp made from a coat hanger. This is just one example of the detailed and helpful information packed into this book. This book is a must read for any jeweler or metalsmith wanting to add a more enticing tactile element to their work.

Copper Leaf Pendant at the Dallas Arboretum

On a beautiful fall day in the gardens of the Dallas Arboretum I taught basic jewelry skills to 10 wonderful ladies. We hammer textured, stamped and added patina to a copper leaf which was the focal of the necklace. Using basic wire wrapping techniques we added colorful bead accents to our pieces. Every one's pendant looked great.

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Wired Up Beads

I was featured on our blog at Wired Up Beads. We're having each of us write about our creative process. I think its fun to see how we each work through our ideas. Check it out.

Stacking Rings

Fabulous and Fun stacking rings made by fusing Argentium Silver wire. 

 Using Argentium Silver makes it a breeze to make

ring bands the same size.

  I was able to fuse the band and the rivet wire at the 

same time - only heating to fuse 1 time.