Announcing :: Belts, Bracelets, and Straps with Amy Hanna

I'm excited to announce a brand NEW workshop that will be taking place in Studio CRESCENDOh by the uber-talented Amy Hanna. It is called Belts, Bracelets and Straps and enrollment is open now, right here. Amy will show samples and provide instruction on how to juxtapose vintage elements with leather and some of ther other favorite materials.

She'll provide a basic buckle and leather pieces that can be used to create a belt, and another basic buckle that can be used to make a bracelet.




If there are treasured items in your collection ... like tin types, pennants, patches, and other special items, you are encouraged to bring them to class as Amy helps you design one-of-a-kind straps that can become belts, bracelets, or straps for bags.

I am honored to have Amy lead this fantastic class in Studio CRESCENOh. It's gonna be a good one.

See you in the Studio. :)

Enroll for Amy's class here.

Soldering with Terri Brush :: Rock Star Moment

Last Saturday during the soldering class with Terri Brush, it was a total rock star moment when she said to everyone ... "OK ... from all the pieces you've got going, pick your favorite and finish it!"

It got all of us to power through and finish a piece ... making each of us feel like complete and total rock stars. Here's the one I finished. Love it SO much.

Here's a second one that I ALMOST finished ... just needs a chain to make it wearable. For both, I encased crocheted flowers that I made with perle cotton thread. So cute, right?

Here are some others that I almost finished ... little baby ones that I can't wait to wear.

And another larger one that just needs a leather cord to finish.

Terri was an amazing teacher who taught everyone not only how to solder, but important principles of etching, and how to make cold connections.

During our lunch break, our group decided to squeeze in a quick trip to the Santa Ana Elk's Lodge to say hello to the good people at Glitterfest. So fun.

So Terri will be back in March 2013 to offer 2 full days of jewelry-making. It'll be the Sunday and Monday that dovetails Glitterfest ... so save the date!

See you in the studio.

Soldered Hearts Jewelry Workshop with Terri Brush!

This past Saturday for our party, I had the pleasure and thrill of wearing a brand new design by Terri Brush. A soldered heart shadow box attached to etched and stamped metal. It was great fun receiving so many compliments on it.

I'm excited to officially announce that Terri Brush will be teaching her class in the studio in March, where students will learn how to make this very necklace.

Terri is offering this class as a one-day workshop but offering it on two days: March 10th and 11th. The content for the class will be the same, so that everyone gets to make this neckalce.

However, if there are any students who want to take the class for both days, Terri will help those studnets make this second stunning necklace on the second day. The details for the class and enrollment information can be found here.

Enrollment for Terri's class is open here.

Our full calendar of events is available here.

Soldering with Terri Brush at Art Camp

Check out my first soldered pendant. So cute, right?

I've spent all of today learning how to solder from the amazing Terri Brush. I'm so excited. I've always wanted encase my crochet within solder and I've finally learned how.

Terri has given so much by way of tending to so many special deatails for this art camp. 

I find myself surrounded by creative, funny, talented women creating all day long next to large windows with a view that takes my breath away.

My charms will evolve as I go into the next phase of using a patina to darken them and then add some wire wrapping. More to come.

Happy creating. :)

Killer Beads = Killer Necklace

Check out these killer beads that I got from Amy.

I stayed up all night using the beads and other baubles in my stash to make this.

I used a vintage rhinestone bracelet that has a built-in clasp.

It can be worn long or wrapped twice and worn close to the neck. So fun.

 

 

 

The Final Step = Sharing :)

And the final step to the creative process is of course enjoying one another's company and sharing with each other what we made.

The participants in today's class did some phenomenally beautiful work!

Many thanks to all the students who traveled from far and wide (San Francisco, Maryland, New York) to be part of this day. Many thanks to Amy for a wonderful class. We hope to offer this workshop again next year so stay tuned. :)

After Oxidation Comes Wire Wrapping, Power Tools & Composition

So after oxidation comes wire wrapping ...

And then drilling ... (this part is kinda scawee. Amy wore her protective goggles.)

And then comes the discussion on how to compose your piece. Amy's secret: You gotta use special parts to make the final piece special.

Amy Hanna is in the House

Bright and early this morning, my dear friend Amy Hanna came to my home to start setting up for her workshop. How adorable is she? My friend who has a knack at causing me to bust into roars of laughter in one split second.

My studio is surrounded by her gorgeous creations. So beautiful.

After settling in, the students started learning how to oxidize metals. Very cool.

Stay tuned. More updates to come as the class progresses. For those who wanted to be here but couldn't make it, I recommend highly that you pick up a copy of Amy's book titled Rejuvenated Jewels, where she shares her methods for jewelry-making. Find my review of the book here.

Bow & Button Necklace

Check out my new knitted and crocheted bow & button necklace. I love it. I designed it during a late-night parenthesis of life.

And of course now I'm obsessessed as I make several more for my Etsy shop and for assorted friends who also love it.

Happy Saturday. :)

I {heart} Lisa Kaus Jewelry

Check out my new necklace. So beautiful, huh?

It's one of the pieces my buddy Lisa Kaus offered at her Color My World event.

I'm so happy that Lisa's starting to make jewelry ... been wanting her include jewelry in her offerings and I feel fortunate to add this one to my collection.

Can't wait to see her future designs.