I returned Monday from Milwaukee from the annual Bead and Button Show sponsored by Kalmbach publishing. This is the 4th year in a row I’ve been at the show and my first time teaching. It was really quite incredible to have my own table at the Meet the Teachers night, a big event where all of the students purchase tickets to see and purchase work from the large cadre of instructors. To be in their ranks was, indeed, an honor. I had butterflies in my stomach as I was setting up my table and putting out all of my published jewelry samples, along with some of my work for sale and my books and DVD. My work elicited some of the best comments and I was walking on air at the end of the evening. I also got to meet in real life Jo Jones, better known as JoMama, a fab artist on our ICE Resin Creative Team this year. She is a hoot!

The ICE Resin booth was handled this year by our incredible associates — Carol LaValley, Misty Grosse and Cindy Moss. These ladies worked their fannies off for four solid days. Cindy and Misty did two make ‘n takes with Iced Enamels and Misty rocked the booth demos of them out of the park. I was just so proud of our team! My workshops were awesome and so much fun. I particularly loved my Cold Enameled Cuffs class because there were a couple of students who’ve done a ton of traditional enamel work and were blown away by the grace and ease of Iced Enamels on the curved cuff form. Susan’s two workshops were completely filled and I heard lots and lots of fun and laughter coming from her students.

I got a little time the last day of the show to walk the floor and buy a few goodies to use in my work. I had to see Green Girl Studios and ogle their great charms. I also ran by Heather Powers from Humblebeads to see her gorgeous handmade beads. The pic above are some of her gorgeous handmade peacock headpins that I absolutely had to purchase so I could make a pair of earrings for myself. The star of these earrings, of course, are Heather’s clay beads. It was simple to add some crystal rondelles and blue faceted crystals and wire them up really quick. The moment I put the sterling silver French ear hooks on them, they went into my ears and have been happily hanging out ever since.

I’ve had a few days to rest and unpack. Tomorrow I’m off again for Southern California where I’m teaching a couple of metalworking classes at the brand new Charity Wings Art Center. Next week, I’m home for about 5 weeks before I have to head off to Summer CHA in Las Vegas. I have plans to do some fun family things with my kids for the summer break, as well as get some samples made for next year’s classes.

I sincerely hope you’ve been able to eek out some creative time in your studios or art rooms. And for all you parents out there who find it much more difficult to make work during the summer months, just know I’m right there with you. As soon as I get a chance to clean my studio a bit, my daughter and I will be back to spending some art mornings together painting and drawing.

Here’s wishing you a truly Artful week!

Here’s the info on how to sign up for my brand new class “Art Flies Free” bracelet. The price is really quite a deal for all you will learn in an evening.

And if you’re around that Sunday, I’m also teaching some fold forming similar to what’s in my book Making Metal Jewelry. Take a peek at this super cute heart necklace.

I’m so proud of my dear friend Elena Lai Etcheverry for opening the Charity Wings Art Center. It’s a huge undertaking and a giant realized dream. I’m thrilled to be able to support charity and art and Elena and all her wonderful peeps in any way that I can!

Come on down. Learn with me, support a great cause and let’s have some metalworking fun!

Me and Christen Olivarez, Director of Publishing (aka the Big Dog) of Stampington & Co.

I arrived in California Tuesday morning by 7:30 a.m. because I spent the day at the Stampington offices shooting my step out photos for my upcoming feature in Somerset Workshop. I’m so thrilled to be one of the four Workshop artists this year. The issue comes out in October so the editors are working hard on it right now. I will be doing mixed media jewelry, of course.

I taught 4 workshops Wednesday and Thursday. I had Friday day off, which I spent at a gorgeous little tea house called Paris in the city of Orange with my art friends Ruth Rae, Elena Lai Etcheverry and Kari McKnight Holbrook. Our fourth in the group, Kristen Robinson, was teaching her upcycled journal workshop so she didn’t get to join in the fun, but I did bring her Rosewater Macroons and Paris green tea from the store as an afternoon snack before the Artist Faire evening.

Me and the uber talented Kari McKnight Holbrook full and happy from our tea house lunch.

The workshops were a whirlwind of activity and instruction, so I wasn’t able to get very many pics during my teaching. I always want to give my students 100% of me, so I don’t really get any picture taking or social media time. I did manage to snap a photograph of the lovely couple Becky and John. These two are an amazing art team. Despite Becky being in a wheelchair, there is nothing this woman can’t do. She is a living, breathing example of the saying if you can dream it, you can do it. They were in my mixed-media journal class and you should have seen Becky make the most amazing collaged resin paper. John did the hammering and metalwork, but other than that he was simply there for support.

becky and John, husband and wife team. This couple is so wonderful, inspiring and talented!

As much as I enjoy every class I teach, I think the extra special one this time at CREATE was my Cold Enameled Heart necklace class because there were just so many techniques and tips and art experimentation packed into these six hours. Everyone loved our new Iced Enamels and had a blast playing with color on metal and then sealing it with ICE Resin. We did layering with ICE and the results were stunning.

I came home on Saturday and immediately spent some time snuggling and playing with my daughter. I was so happy when nap time came and we settled down for a nice long rest together. Bliss! Sunday was washing my clothes so I can iron them and repack them and then also grocery shopping and making a couple of casseroles so my family has meals when I’m in Milwaukee this week. I leave Wednesday morning at 6 a.m. for the Bead and Button Show, more workshops and out ICE Resin booth. This show isn’t quite as jam packed with the schedule so be sure to find me on Facebook for some pics of the week.

Me and the fab Terri O! She is so darn adorable.

As you might know, I was invited to be on ABC Channel 15 Sonoran Living by the incredible and crafty Terri Ouelette. When she emailed me, she asked if I could come on her show and “be fabulous.” (NOTE: Click the tv link above to watch the segment). Sure, no pressure. I had about 36 hours to make some new art samples and design a stepped out craft project. No worries!

Thursday was a late night — up until midnight getting it done — but the end result was so worth it. Last thing I did before bed was brush on a sealer layer of ICE Resin® for my cold enameling and then 6 hours later woke up to my charms being dry and ready for attachment with some jump rings or ribbon.

My two books, some art samples and Karen Lackey’s handmade bust displaying some jewelry. The table got too crowded for my DVD and magazines too. LOL. You can’t throw it all in.

I arrived on the set by 8 a.m. to set up my little 6-ft display table, listened to bits and pieces of the 15-minute staff meeting where Terri and her camera crew were going over the show, did a few minutes of social media on Facebook and Twitter and then lights, camera, action the segment was live. I followed her lead, answered questions and just tried to enjoy the moment as much as possible.

Iced Enamels™ and Spellbinders® Media Mixage™ with Susan Lenart Kazmer™ blanks that I used to make a charm bracelet an also a cold enameled cuff. I adore this cuff. The design is exactly me – mixed media, colorful and quirky! I’ll be teaching this cuff at the new Charity Wings Art Center in San Marcos in a few weeks.

I had fun making jewelry and home decor samples using the Spellbinders® Media Mixage™ with Susan Lenart Kazmer™ line of blanks, available at Joann Fabric and Crafts, along with some cold enameling techniques. I also brought with me another little friend that’s been sitting in my studio since last summer; an adorable burlap mannequin designed and created by my friend Karen Lackey in Phoenix. These babies are awesome for displaying and photographing your jewelry. She sells them in her Etsy shop and also during vendor day at Art Unraveled. The poor girl has been waiting for me to get her over to the Stampington offices in Southern California, where I’ll be next week. However, I thought she needed a little moment in the spotlight before she leaves me.

Here’s a little wearable journal I made using cold enameling, ICE Resin® and ICE Resin® paper. This design is one of Susan’s originals. Earlier in the year, I needed to step in and teach a class for her where the students made this piece and this is my inspired-by-Susan piece. The wire framework is 100% SLK.

I can honestly tell you that I went into print journalism over television news a long time ago because I just don’t think I have quite what it takes to be a television personality. But you know what? I’m starting to get used to seeing and hearing myself on video and it’s not as bad as I thought.  As a matter of fact, it’s downright entertaining.

Here’s a closer look of the set display.

Life is good! I’ve been invited to get crafty once again with the supercalifraglious Terri Ouelette on her Arizona morning show Sonoran Living. I’m going to show how to make some fun metal mixed-media charms in minutes. I’ll also be showing how to add some color and texture to metal. These charms can be used for jewelry, home decor, as embellishments for scrapbooks and cards or any myriad of handcrafted goodness. Of course, since the appearance is less than 72 hours away, I’m in my studio right now making samples. But here’s a butterfly charm where I used Iced Enamels so you can get an idea of what I’m talking about.

If you’re an Arizonan, please take a moment to set your DVR for Sonoran Living Live this Friday, May 17th at 9 .m. For those of you who follow me from other parts of the country, the station is really good about getting links up on their website within hours of the show broadcast. I’ll be sure to post a URL when I have one.

Here’s wishing you a truly Artful day!

There was a little glitch with the Interweave store over the weekend and sign ups for my webinar this Thursday were not available. The good news is that it’s been fixed and the link is working. If you have some time Thursday, May 16th at 2 p.m. EST to take my online workshop/webinar on found objects, mold making and casting, I’d love to have you join me. Remember, even if you’re working and not able to join, you can still sign up and watch the webinar at your leisure. Here’s the link: http://www.interweavestore.com/on-the-hunt-for-found-objects-how-to-create-new-and-eclectic-molds

A student of mine went to my new website the other day and then sent me an email. She wanted to know why I have all jewelry and none of my collage and assemblage on it. It’s a good question. I think it’s because I was feeling the pressure to update my website right before my book came out in January, as well as the  Belle Armoire Jewelry profile in March. Both of these are focused on mixed-media jewelry exclusively, so that’s what drove my website makeover earlier in the year.

She does bring up a good point. I work pretty consistently — and have for many years — in mixed media. To me, there is not a lot of difference in what I do. I use different substrates for different purposes. Collage if I want to hang it on a wall. Assemblage if I want to put it into a niche or have it be a three-dimensional piece that can sit anywhere. Of course, jewelry if I want to wear it.

I feel like my style, no matter the medium, is pretty clear. I can see my “voice” in everything I do and I think others are able to tell just by looking at a picture when I make something. That feels so good! It’s taken years of being an artist for this to fully emerge.

Today’s Work in Progress is a sneak peek of an art journal I’ve been working on and off for the past month for an upcoming Somerset Memories article. I can’t show any more than this (and am really not supposed to be showing any of it) but here’s one completed page. This journal is about two of the most important elements in my work; texture and color. You will see me exploring and pushing this much further in my work. It’s what I’m most excited about right now and what drives me when I’m in my studio.

In case you’re wondering, the flowers are recycled plastic from a bag of organic baby squash from Trader Joe’s. I cut organic circles and carefully singed the edges with my blowtorch. Yes, it’s a little overkill and I would suggest NOT using a blowtorch unless you’re a professional, but I was moving fast and couldn’t find my trusty candle that I usually use for this technique. If it’s something you wish to try, light a candle and then very carefully and slowly singe the edges. This works with lace and paper and resin paper too. It provides a gorgeous texture to your work! Again, if you give this one a try please take the utmost of care!

Here’s wishing you a truly Artful day!

Do you have plans next Thursday –May 16th — at 11 a.m. (MST)? I’d love for you to join me for my live webinar with Cloth, Paper, Scissors online editor Cate Prato. We’ll be talking about one of my most favorite subjects — found objects for collage, assemblage and mixed-media jewelry. I’ve been working hard on the powerpoint presentation for this online class. In addition to making a new collage that I’m teaching step-by-step how to create, I’ve been having a blast taking some crazy fun pictures of the all the odd bits and pieces I’ve collected throughout the years for mold making and casting. The webinar will give a small peek into my studio where I show the displays I have of my lovely vintage treasures.

I know I’ve said this before, but I adore casting found objects. My favorite medium for it is a two-part molding putty. Despite the fact that I’m not much into representational art, I really enjoy casting found objects in ICE Resin and then do all kinds of lovely surface designs to recreate the objects so convincingly that it takes a good eye to see the difference between the real object an its reproduction.

As much as I can go on and on about found object, making molds and casting, I must stop right now and save some information for next week. Here is the link to sign up for my webinar Found Objects; Searching For Texture, Style and Relief.

For those of you who work during the day, I’m pretty sure you can sign up for this webinar and get a link to listen to it  later. Also, Interweave is including a discount coupon for my new DVD Breaking Out of the Mold if you purchase the webinar.

Hope to see you there. Have an Artful Day!

I’m teaching 4 workshops — 2 all day ones and then 2 evening classes. Like always, I’ve packed a lot of instruction into them. We always end the day with a completed project, but I structure my workshops so we begin with basic techniques and build on them as the minutes and hours progress. We work up to things logically, but so quickly, that my students will often say halfway through “Wow, I had no idea we’d be doing so much!” I love it when that happens.

So for all you West Coasters with a little bit of time on your hands and who want to make art, check out the CREATE website and all the incredible class offerings. Not just mine, but also my dear friends Kristen Robinson, Ruth Rae, Elena Lai Etcheverry, Pam Carriker, Kari McKnight Holbrook, and Joanne Sharpe. You can see all their bios here. Remember if you are looking for unique art supplies, handmade art from some of your favorite instructors and unique mixed-media jewelry to wear, the Artist Faire is free and open to the public. I’m working on some pieces from my book to sell, specifically metalwork bangles, rings and earrings.

Here are pics of my classes:

Resin clay, painting, texture, hand building, fiber jewelry, cold connection attachment, making clasps and findings

Cold enamels, texturizing, forging, dapping, doming, disc cutter, cold connection – lots of fundamental metalwork.

Heart’s Desire journal. Resin, resin paper, fabric flowers, doodling, stamping, surface texture, forged wirework. Lots of technique packed into one workshop!

Cold-Enameled Heart Necklace class. Learn all new enameling techniques for adding color to metal and also advanced resin techniques as well, plus metalworking of making forged neck collars and handmade findings.

This week I’m pulling together my powerpoint presentation (artwork, photos and text) for my upcoming May 16th webinar with Interweave called “Found Objects: Searching for Texture, Style & Relief”  – More deets on this soon! The webinar inspired me to dig around in my plastic bins filled with found objects. I started picking from my collection of vintage hardware and found oodles of inspiration in this particular drawer pull. I still have to finish off my transformed necklace by making some chain and closures but here’s my Work in Progress pic for now. If you want to see the finished piece, sign up for my webinar. (How’s that for a tease??!)