Registration is Open for artBLISS 2013!

 

I don't remember how I discovered artBLISS but I am so glad I did. If you have the interest and are able to join a wonderful group of people for a weekend of instruction, inspiration and fun then artBLISS is the place for you.

2012 was my first experience at artBLISS and I'm so glad I went. The instructors are top-notch and the classes are small enough to fully benefit from these talented people. Everyone attending was so nice and welcoming as of course were Cindy and Jeanette, the hosts of this fantastic event.

Follow the link, artBLISS, and find out more about the fantastic classes as well as learning how Cindy and Jeanette started this whole thing.

Assemblage

Last week I posted pictures of some pieces I had enameled. Here is a look at what I did with some of those pieces along with a couple other items I completed last week and before.

Techniques used besides enameling were soldering, forming, etching and handmaking tube rivets.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with how they turned out. I'm hoping to have some of these listed in my etsy shop within the next few days. Let's see if I actually accomplish that!

Tootles!

A Peek at What's Coming Up

It's about time I posted something on my blog so how about a peek at what I've been up to very recently. Enameling!

Enameling, at least my experience with it, reminds me of that saying about a boy "...when he was good he was very, very good but when he was bad he was horrid." When the color combinations, quality of enameling (no dings, pock marks, etc.) and the enamel gods are with you (e.g. the extra holes not filling up or when they do are easily corrected without ruining what you've already done and no refires necessary), the components you end up with are a thing of beauty!

Here are a couple of pictures of some of the pieces I will be incorporating into some jewelry for a show this weekend...

 I'll try to post some pictures of completed pieces later this week.

"Barenaked Ladies" in Maine?

A while ago, I got a notice from TicketMaster letting me know that the Barenaked Ladies, along with Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Blues Traveler, and Cracker would be playing in Bangor, Maine. My husband and I had seen BNL at Turning Stone Casino a couple of years ago and it was a fantastic show with many surprises (just one being that Ed from BNL sang a version of "I'm Sexy and I Know It" with Big Head Todd and proceeding to strip down to a thong - shock, horror and hysterical laughter ensued). It was just the excuse we needed to visit Maine. (There is no logic here, folks. Just play along.)

John Popper from Blues Traveler and David Lowery from Cracker perrform.

Todd Park Mohr of Big Head Todd and the Monsters

Ed Robertson, Kevin Hearn, Jim Creeggan, and Tyler Stewart (not shown) of Barenaked Ladies.

First stop, Portland, Maine. If anyone has been thinking about visiting this town, don't second guess it, do it. We all loved Portland. It's a smaller city with many quaint shops in the Old Port section of town. We found a great coffee shop, Mornings in Paris, that we visited both days we were there. We took a tour of the harbor by boat and I discovered I have no sea legs. Aside from that our time was spent eating lobster as many ways as we could and shopping.

Our next stop was to Bar Harbor for one night at a bed and breakfast. After having to share a double bed for two nights, Sean said about the two twin beds awaiting them, "Tonight, we sleep like kings." Where does he get this stuff? Yes, I was a bit worried about a 15 and 13 year old in a B&B. They were given specific instructions, that's for sure.

I was hoping to hunt for sea glass during low tide to use in some jewelry but I wasn't up to it right when we got there and I didn't want to get out of bed that early to look the next day. Next time, I guess. We walked around the harbor, poked about in the stores and had dinner. The next morning we had a delicious breakfast of blueberry and cream cheese stuffed French Toast with blueberry sauce and then it was off to Bangor for the concert.

They wouldn't let me bring home the B&B's beautiful butler's pantry...

Bar Harbor

Tea time!

Our last stop in Maine was Perkins Cove/Ogunquit. It's very popular destination and I wish we had more time to spend checking out all the little shops but after lunch we were all ready to press on home. We ate at MC Perkins Cove. I wanted to check it out as the two chef owners are on the current Top Chef Masters. We weren't disappointed. It was delicious.

Hope you're able to take a trip to Maine sometime. We're hoping we'll get back there some day.

artBLISS Workshops

Sterling Silver and Turquoise Ring made by ME!

Two weekends ago, my husband and two sons headed down to Sterling, VA so I could attend a couple of classes by artBLISS and they could sightsee in D.C.. The first class was "Who is Afraid of the Big, Bad Saw?" instructed by Martina Stein. I made myself take this class as sawing is not my favorite thing in the world. It turns out I wasn't the only one in this category. Got some great tips on how you should sit while sawing and how/where to position the material.

Richard Salley and Martina Stein

The second full day class was "Southwest Wings" instructed by Richard Salley and assisted by Martina Stein. I had been wanting to take a class like this for so long. I've played around with soldering and had made one simple ring but really wanted hands-on instruction. This class did not disappoint! Richard and Martina are so approachable and very knowledgeable. I'm so glad I was able to attend. Of course I ended up wishing I had taken more classes that were offered.

I have to say everyone who attended these classes were so nice and funny. Last but not least are the two women behind artBLISS: Jeanette Blix Ryan and Cindy Wimmer. They did such a fantastic job organizing all of the great workshops, answering questions, arranging/ordering lunch and I'm sure a whole lot more behind the scenes duties. Their hard work has helped so many advance their jewelry-making skills. I'm so appreciative that they decided to start their artBLISS venture.

Who Knew?

Who knew that a couple of the pendants I purchased recently from Jade Scott contained colors in Pantone's 2012 Color Trends? What a co-inky-dink! Not that I live and breath for what designers say is in but I'll allow myself to feel like I have some kind of [false] validation. Is that so wrong?

Final Craft Show of the Year

Getting ready for my last show of 2011. Hope to have a good showing at least tomorrow. I have a feeling that the Black Friday shoppers will be too tired to come out tonight...

If you're in the area, stop by and pop in to support the local artisans!
Happy shopping!!