I’m just sitting here trying to keep all the plates spinning. AND to add a few more plates!
I was working on my PMC resin pins I mentioned a few posts back. I soldered on the pinbacks and loops so they could double as pendants. Well I added some resin. The resin turned out badly. I was walking around with a cloud over my head for a couple of days. I hate it when that happens. Then the lightbulb went on! I wrote a few emails to people who know about resin. Nina Bagley and Ivy Solomon, two artists whose work I greatly admire and they responded with advice. I also called Rio Grande’s technical help line. I have more tests to make like using a heat gun to warm/dry out my resin because it is humid here and stiring my resin for a longer period of time. The best news of today was learning that there is a substance (hazardous, of course) that I can use a little of and I can get the resin out of my pins. All is not lost! Thank you! (hands up in the air and directed at the heavens) I have to wait till my chemical gets here. To be continued...
I entered the Saul Bell Design Competition. Rio Grande sponsors it and this is the 7th year. For 2007, a friend from my silver clay guild won in the PMC category, Patrik Kusek. He made a gorgeous “Botanical Bracelet”. That’s the category I entered, Precious Metal Clay. I sent my entry in last week. I don’t know that I should show you what I made. I find out December 10th if I am a finalist. O.K. Here is a peek...
The day I finished it, my husband gave me this quote:
“Make visible what without you, might perhaps never have been seen.” - Robert Bresson
Nice huh?
I really would love to win but just entering was a big victory for me. I feel good about myself because I tried something I have dreamed about doing. I designed it, I FINISHED IT!!!!!! I would so wear it too. It is special and yet, it is wearable for some one like me. I must admit that I do like seeing all those gorgeous couture gowns and outfits but I really would never wear them. Ha! Even if they actually made one for MY body type.
Anyway, I make jewelry I like and would wear myself. If you are going to Art and Soul, ask me if you want to see it. I will have it with me and I have no problem with showing it in person. I am just not going to show the whole thing until the finalists are announced. I don’t want to jinx it.
Moving on.
Here are some little cages with birds in them. One in gold and the other in silver. They are pendants and made of PMC.
And some more ATC’S. The last ones I am going to make this go around. 122 in all. That really was fun to do. I am going to trade these at Art & Soul.
SO, here are two necklaces I made that were definitely influenced by Nina Bagley because we all love her and her style, me included. I made these for myself.
and a heart pin made from a stamp by “invoke arts” that doubles as a necklace. It is very simple plain silver with patina.
Then, while I was at my all-time favorite bead and jewelry making store “Beadisimo” in San Francisco taking a Silver Granulation Class with Yehuda Tassa this last weekend, I got hired to teach some PMC classes by Kate Richbourg. I love her store! The best classes. The best shop. A great resource. I have been taking classes there for the last 3 or 4 years. I can’t really remember how long it has been. I just feel like I have always been going there. It could even be 5 years. So remember to check with them in the spring for May classes and then summer classes. Come and take one with me sometime.
And now, back to my Paris fantasy:
Sunsplash on the Eiffel Tower webcam. Isn’t this a cool picture? The only thing I can think of that could be better is if they could get an action shot of the Eiffel Tower in a blur of motion. I think I am going to have to wave my camera around when I get there.
In closing this evening, (Evening! I mean morning. The internet has been down on and off for the last 3 days so I drove 10 miles to the Peet's in the next town and am parked outside uploading this.)
I wish...
that there were at least 6 more hours in each day so I could make a dent in the pile of reading material I have here beside me. But alas, it is not to be. What is an artist caught up in the flow to do?
AND I WISH THE INTERNET WOULD STAY ON AT MY HOUSE! (poof!)
See you in Portland.
