2 WEEKS TO GO!

Mixed-Metal Layered Acid Etched Pendant 

#B121356

 Riveting: A Keepsake Pendant

#B121468

Metal Etching 101

#B121469 and #B122554

Ok, it's really a little bit more than 2 weeks, but not much.  Gail and I have all of our supplies and tools ready to go and we couldn't be more excited to teach our 4 classes.  I'm looking forward to meeting lots of old and new friends.  Both Gail and I are taking the Master Class with Tim McCreight.  I'm particularly excited about this.  The focus is on forging, something that I do a lot of, but definitely want to learn more about.  We'll be casting an ingot and forging that as well.  So exciting!  

NEW WORK

Poppy Jasper

                    

   Kambaba Jasper

The back of the Kambaba Jasper piece.

I decided recently that it was time to start setting some of the amazing stones that I have acquired over the years from the amazing Gary Wilson.  It's a little scary how many of his cabs I own.  I know I'm not alone (you know who you are, Gail and Anne).  As I have gushed before, Gary is a very fine lapidary artist from Tucson, Arizona and there is something really special about his work.  The shear amount of it is enough to take your breath away.  Anyway, I have found it difficult to actually use many of his pieces, setting them aside on the bench until some later, unspecified time when my skills might be worthy of such fine work.  Plus, if I make something with them, I probably should try to sell it, but letting go is hard. I made a ring last year from a spectacular piece of Lapis that I sold at the first show I took it to.  The lovely lady who bought it was very happy, but I still sort of wish I had kept it.  But life is short, and so I have decided to go for it.  Why not, right?  So, Art Jewelry Magazine recently put out a call for photos of the backs of people's work  (which I think is a very cool idea) and I sent in a photo of the Kambaba pendant.  I really liked the back of the Poppy Jasper pendant, but it has a small soldering flaw, so I guess I'll have to keep it : )

HAMMERHEAD'S TOOL SHOP

Chasing Hammer

I finally got my new tools shop up and running yesterday.  I've been procrastinating for about a month now, but at least it's up now.  I will adding lots of new tools in the coming weeks so please check back now and then if there is anything you need.  I plan on offering many of the tools that I use on a daily basis in my own work and in my classes.  I will have metal fabricating tools, supplies, and metal clay tools as well. Dad would yell at us,"why don't you little hammerheads be quiet!? I thought Dad would like the name. Please check out my store here.
Speaking of procrastination, I've been so bad about updating this blog this spring.  I've been on three trips this year already(shows and teaching).  It really takes it out of me.  I honestly don't know how some of my friends who do much more traveling do it.  I'm home now and not headed anywhere until the Bead & Button Show, so I have no excuse.  I realized as I was writing this that I haven't blogged about all the wonderful things I saw in Tucson this year, Santa Fe or my wonderful trip to California and to Cleveland.  Let alone all of the new things I've been working on. I'll try to get some of those pictures up soon.

HAPPY EASTER

I hope that every one of you are spending this beautiful spring day with friends and family.  Happy Easter and happy spring to you all!

BEAD FEST SANTA FE

Long time away from the blog.  Sorry about that.  I've been super busy getting ready for the Bead Fest Santa Fe show in Santa Fe (where else?).  I have tons of new forged bronze and copper, twisty bracelets, new riveted earrings and tons of clasps, buttons and charms.  I just wanted to take a minute to offer this free pass to anyone out there who may be headed out west to the show.  It's courtesy of the show and it's a great deal as it saves you 12 dollars.  If you do come to the show, please stop by and say hi.  I will be in space #15 which is next to the entryway just outside of the main show floor.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Happy Valentine's Day!

Came home from Tucson to a little snow.  It made me happy to experience two ends of the spectrum in one day.  We had a really fun, frenetic and productive time.  I got lots of wonderful new goodies and tools that I can't wait to use (I'll post about all that soon).  I met lots of new people who will be in my memory for a long time.  Paul and I met 2 men from California who are jade divers at Big Sur.  I spent a long time talking to Dana Suess a computer engineer who creates apps for smart phones that make keyboards easier to use.  Dana is the son of Miland Suess, who makes some of the best jewelry tools around.  I met a man from Morocco who imports giant slabs of fossils to be used as counter tops for kitchens.  I talked with a man from Haiti who sells beautiful metal wall art made from discarded oil drums.  I watched geodes being cracked open to the delight of the young and old at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Society Show.  I had a long talk with a guy who sells meteorites from all over the world (and bought a couple from Siberia).  Who knew there was so much to know about meteorites?  I met an American, living in Bali who in search of a simpler life, now makes jewelry from things he collects on the beaches there. I went to the GJX show just to buy stones from Gary Wilson, who cuts cabochons in the most interesting, distinctive way that I've seen.  Ask Gary about a specific stone, and he always has a wealth of information about it.  I've learned so much from him. I went to another show to see Ebrima Sillah, who I know from the Bead and Button show.  My friend Gail introduced me to Ebrima and his wife Ruth a few years ago.  Ruth has a wonderful bead store in Oberlin, Ohio called Bead Paradise. Ebrima sells beautiful, old African beads and is eager to share what he knows.  On my last day in Tucson, a few miles south of all of the sparkly things at all of the shows, I saw people living a much slower and simpler life on the Tohono O'odham Nation.  Afterwards, we stood alone in the desert, listening to the silent, ancient saguaro cacti and looking up at the clear, blue sky.

TOOL SHOP

After I return from Tucson, I'll be opening a new Etsy store (in addition to my jewelry and findings shop).  It will be a tool shop.  You all know how much I love tools!  I will have many of the tools that I use everyday.  Many of the tools that I commonly use in my classes will be available in my new shop, including riveting hammers, chasing hammers, saws, bench pins, French shears, bench blocks and much more.   I'll post here again when it's up and running.