| Welcome to 2023! Thanks to everyone who visited my shows this year, or took a workshop - I hope my art (and yours) brought you joy As we anticipate a "normal" year, I look forward to a full schedule of shows and workshops. My first show will be March 3rd-5th, at the American Craft Made Baltimore. Mark your calendar, details to follow. I resolve this year to remember how rejuvenating it is to be out in nature -- even a short hike, as in this New Year's Day hike in Blackwater Falls State Park. Also, I will pull myself out of the studio more frequently to immerse myself in art museums and visit local artists and artisans. One thing I learned last year is that people like rings! I don't make many rings (I never know what size to make them) but this fall they were very popular. So I'll be expanding my ring-making this year. (Let me know your ring size and I'll make more in that size!) Behind the Bench -- how is the sausage made? Well, I don't make sausage, but you might be interested in the design and creation process for my art. How do I decide what techniques and designs to incorporate into my one-of-a-kind jewelry? Here's one example. Sometimes I create a design and proceed briskly to make it, but more often my process is iterative. I look through the glass pieces I've made, find a beautiful one, and ponder what design will best show it off. Shall I create a texture for it, or set it in an arc? How shall it attach it to the chain? What will this lovely piece become? I like this shape Hmm, nice texture but not right for this piece Maybe I'll use this "floating" setting, with the tube carrying the chain I often don't decide the details until I see how the glass looks in the initial setting, and try out different ideas. Sometimes I even post some design choices on social media ask for feedback -- I always take the collective advice! I admit this not the most efficient process, but I feel it results in the most creative, innovative and beautiful pieces of jewelry and art. And it's fun! Done! I'm calling this Waiting for Spring In my next newsletter I will reveal how my mistakes sometimes result in an even better piece of art. Winter is a great time to learn something new My new jewelry making class starts January 11th and continues for three Wednesday evenings -- there are currently three seats open. This is my first class that takes you through a three-stage process to understand how the kiln affects your glass creations, how to cut, grind and drill the glass and how to finish your pieces. I've been asked to do another class in February or March -- if you are interested, let me know and I will figure out a time that works. If you don't have three evenings, my regular three-hour workshops are a great opportunity to have fun, learn something new and discover your inner artist. You can choose to make 2 pieces of jewelry or a plate. it's not too late to sign up for this month's workshops, either this coming weekend or the weekend of January 28-29th. More information on my workshops here , and sign-ups are at the links below. Plates January 8th January 29th Jewelry January 7th January 28th Stay creative my friends! |
Welcome to 2023! Thanks to everyone who visited my shows this year, or took a workshop - I hope my art (and yours) brought you joy As we anticipate a "normal" year, I look forward to a full schedule of shows and workshops. My first show will be March 3rd-5th, at the American Craft Made Baltimore. Mark your calendar, details to follow.
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I resolve this year to remember how rejuvenating it is to be out in nature -- even a short hike, as in this New Year's Day hike in Blackwater Falls State Park. Also, I will pull myself out of the studio more frequently to immerse myself in art museums and visit local artists and artisans. | |
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One thing I learned last year is that people like rings! I don't make many rings (I never know what size to make them) but this fall they were very popular. So I'll be expanding my ring-making this year. (Let me know your ring size and I'll make more in that size!) | |
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Behind the Bench -- how is the sausage made?
Well, I don't make sausage, but you might be interested in the design and creation process for my art. How do I decide what techniques and designs to incorporate into my one-of-a-kind jewelry?
| |
Here's one example. Sometimes I create a design and proceed briskly to make it, but more often my process is iterative. I look through the glass pieces I've made, find a beautiful one, and ponder what design will best show it off. Shall I create a texture for it, or set it in an arc? How shall it attach it to the chain?
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What will this lovely piece become? | | |
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Hmm, nice texture but not right for this piece | | |
| |
|
Maybe I'll use this "floating" setting, with the tube carrying the chain | | |
|
I often don't decide the details until I see how the glass looks in the initial setting, and try out different ideas. Sometimes I even post some design choices on social media ask for feedback -- I always take the collective advice! I admit this not the most efficient process, but I feel it results in the most creative, innovative and beautiful pieces of jewelry and art. And it's fun! | |
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|
Done! I'm calling this Waiting for Spring | | |
In my next newsletter I will reveal how my mistakes sometimes result in an even better piece of art. | |
Winter is a great time to learn something new
My new jewelry making class starts January 11th and continues for three Wednesday evenings -- there are currently three seats open. This is my first class that takes you through a three-stage process to understand how the kiln affects your glass creations, how to cut, grind and drill the glass and how to finish your pieces. I've been asked to do another class in February or March -- if you are interested, let me know and I will figure out a time that works.
| |
If you don't have three evenings, my regular three-hour workshops are a great opportunity to have fun, learn something new and discover your inner artist. You can choose to make 2 pieces of jewelry or a plate. it's not too late to sign up for this month's workshops, either this coming weekend or the weekend of January 28-29th. More information on my workshops here, and sign-ups are at the links below. | |
Stay creative my friends! | |
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