Jewelry Making Outside The Box

When a Little Wonkiness Works

I love that word,  wonky.  It just says it all when it comes to so much of the stuff I try to do in my workshop.

So many of us are self-trained artisans.   We buy books, videos, we look at as much stuff online as we can.  Some of us are really great with tools; not only do we somehow have the creative skills and ingenuity to dream a new work but we have that manual dexterity thing going on and a certain special something when it comes to be able to use tools.   Using tools for some of us is really natural.  For others, not so much.

I would have to say that I am in the 'not so much' category.  I'm a very visual person; photos work for me best of all.  I might even stand directly next to you at the workbench and you might be showing me, step by step, inch by inch....and I may not still quite get it.  So I'll walk away, think about it, and one day, pick that dang tool up and insist that it work for me.  It will....after a fashion.   Some, in time, become second nature. Others....don't.

This morning I was looking back over Candie Cooper's METALWORKING 101 FOR BEADERS, a book I very much enjoy.   There is nothing *difficult*  in this book; it's just stuff you need to take some time and teach yourself.  A class would be nice and Candie does teach---but she has done an awesome job with her book and reaches out to the home student quite nicely.

On page 114 there is a project entitled ORGANIC TECHNO BANGLE.   I found this intriguing as the little stacks of funky gypsy-artisan made bangles are all the rage now and many artist-teachers have been showing projects and offering classes.  I thought, shoot, how long can this take?   I'm going down to the workshop and do this, right away.   I figured I'd be done in half an hour.

Well.

Here's the thing:  the project calls for 12 ga silver wire.  I only had some 16 and not that much, also not sure I wanted to do a project like this with my last piece.   But I did have a copious amount of 18 ga copper wire.

Knowing the effect would not be quite the same, I went for it anyway.

You know what:   my project came out NOTHING like Candie's.   And it's wonky.

I fudged around this and faked around that, used some polymer clay beads I'd made and glazed recently, and did it all in copper.   I also used some of those squiggly things I made in the video the other week:

Wire Wrapping, Making Curliques and Tendrils

Basically in the long run, I had a look at Candie's excellent project and pulled a wonky B'sue:

Let's try that again:

It's far from the original, far from perfect in any sense of the word.  And it's totally working for me.

I like wonky.

Why I Love Wire Wrapping

I love it because you can take it with you, room to room, place to place, wherever you go.

If you're just working on wire, no beads, it gets REALLY simple.   A good pair of flush cutters, a pair of nylon jaw pliers, a mandrel  (ack, you could use a dowel or a sharpie marker for that!) a roll or two of your favorite wire....and you can entertain yourself for hours!

I decided to do that just last night:

I'll be the first one to tell you, that I just do what I do.    I hardly remember how I did it.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.  I am satisfied enough with the items in the photo to share them!  For the most part, I like the little squigglies et al as random elements in compositions.

People must like it, our You Tubes on wire have the most hits of all the videos I've made, even the Steampunk ones!

But I've got a lot to learn, yet.

The wire is 18ga copper.   Copper wire is rather soft and will mark easily so unless you're going to pound it out and flatten it, then if you use standard round nose pliers, etc, it may mark unless you are super careful.  I am seeing where a better flush cutters than I have and more nylon jaw pliers will be a great thing to have...

And, as I'm going over the tools section at B'sue Boutiques  I'm thinking hard about all of that.

My pal, Barbe St. John, recommended Lindstrom 8158-80 Series Ultra Flush Cutters.   They cost over 80.00, so my guess is, given the price but also!  Barbe's astute recommendation, they must be the mother of all cutters, LOL   My guess, though, would be that if you are REALLY going to get into wrapping, it might be something you'll want to consider saving up for.

Niki Sargent Meiners recommended one by Cousin Corp. with ergo handles.  The ones I have were not dirt cheap and they have ergo's, too, but I didn't think the cuts were sharp and even as they should have been, though they cut well.  I will look into those, too.   Perhaps I will get several and do a comparison before commiting to any new stock at our website.

ON THE SUBJECT OF TOOLS:  you know, at our website I always sort of steered clear of expensive tools.   Why?

1. They are a huge investment, not only for me as a seller, but for you as an artist.

2.  So many who come to B'sue Boutiques are new to intermediate jewelry makers who have a limited budget to get started.   While I carry a bunch of jewelry wire at B'sue's, we're a mixed media/metal/brass stampings site.   I don't know....perhaps I should carry more wire!   BUT:

With a limited budget to get started, wire itself is inexpensive.  *Great* tools are not.  NEVER.

SO......I settled for stocking tools  don't break the bank, and good for beginner to intermediate.  

In the long run, when you think of any trade there is, however, besides the talent in the artisan's hands, it goes to having the right tools and knowing how to use them.   My husband's friend is a contractor, and I hear him talking about upgrading tools all the time;   I also have friends who are electricians, and I hear them speaking about upgrades, too.   I know how important great tools are to those in the building trades.....well!  We're building jewelry.

So why wouldn't great tools be important to an artist, as well?  

Later today Rob and I hope to shoot a couple of short videos, and in one I'll share how I made the squigglies and little ornaments, and I'll also share with you a rather big-opus necklace I made for my fall advertising.  It's got a bunch of them in it.

I'll also share with you a quick tip for oxidizing the bright copper, with Swellegant Darkening Patina

You can also do it with a quick dip in warm LOS solution:  http://www.bsueboutiques.com/item/Patina-Gel-Liver-of-Sulfur-9746     I may see if my Swellegant tip will work using it out of the bottle....but!  If they work equally well, I'll go w Swell anytime.   ACK, LOS *stinks*...literally.  That's the down side of using Liver of Sulfur!  (LOS)

Will post the links when the videos are up. ;-)

Meantime, will mention to you that Jacqueline Marchant of Fiddledeedee Jewelry Blog has a great book that's up for grabs:

Book Giveaway

And the book is about wire wrapping, by Janice Berkebile & Tracy Stanley,  called MAKING WIRE AND BEAD JEWELRY.  Janice Berkebile is one of my fave wire wrappers, I wanted so bad to take a class with her at Art and Soul but I couldn't make it that year. 

There are something like 500 pix in this book and drat!  *I* don't even own it yet!  So you better believe it, I signed up for Jacqueline's book giveaway, and you should, too!

 

 

An E-Book on Blogging That Will Get Your Party Started

I''ve been preaching, get a blog, get a blog, get a blog so much that I have begun to feel like my middle name is.....

GET A BLOG.

If you're selling on the Internet and you don't have a blog, it's just about next to not having any SEO.   No SEO, nobody finds you.   Okay, so you have SEO and they find you.   But no blog?   They don't KNOW you.

These days, with all the social networking going on, people don't want to buy your stuff if they don't know you.

Having a blog and writing in it regularly LETS THEM KNOW YOU, and solves that problem.

Okay, okay.  You're a jewelry designer.  You're not a writer.  I get that.   So maybe you wonder, sheesh!  What do I write about?

Lori Anderson has taken care of that for you with her new E-book full of fun ideas and photos:

 

You can download a copy via her blog, Pretty Things    Now you guys know Lori, don't you?  She's the genius that came up with Bead Soup Blog Party

You'll want to head on over to grab a copy of this E-book, it's just a nominal fee.  Lori has packaged all this great info FOR YOU!  

I promise, you'll never be without a subject to blog about, again!

And don't forget:   The Messy Workshop Blog Hop is APRIL 27.  That's a Friday, and it's about a week and a half away!

If you want to play be sure I have your name on the list!  You can contact me through the website or message Brenda Sue Lansdowne at Facebook.

I have to know by April 25 before I publish the list.  ;-)

A Cleveland Icon and a Friday Night Phenomenon

I am a lover of kitsch. 

Perhaps that's because some of my fondest memories as a kid growing up in the Greater Cleveland broadcast area were  the television shows I used to watch.  Local programming....nothing like it.

If you are of an age, as I am---a baby boomer--you remember the  days when you were doing well to get three channels with your rabbit ears on an old black and white TV.    You especially remember having pajama parties,  crowding around on Friday and Saturday nights to watch your favorite monster movies and local programming.   The shows usually included a local character dressed up in some strange manner, speaking with a weird accent,  promoting local events and contests and doing silly things.

We had Barnaby, Woodrow the Woodsman, Captain Penny....even Dorothy Fuldheim, if you liked the news and her commentary.   But there remains one more who truly stands apart.

The king of ALL such characters was this guy:

Some may remember him this way:

or this way:

He was so compelling to watch that they say crime went down by 35% on Friday late nights, when the program was broadcast---LIVE, of course.  

 So in other words, kids and teenagers and criminals!!  loved Ghoulardi, the Dictator of all things cool about Cleveland local TV (channel 8, WJW, to be exact) in the 60's.

I'm sure the cops did, too....and were glad for the break.

Ghoulardi had the lowest of low-budget kitcsch shows which aired, I believe, exactly at 11:35pm on Friday nights, after the news.   Usually he came on, face first, in the dark, shining a flashlight under his head to make himself look other-worldly.   Or ridiculous, depending on your viewpoint!

Immediately, you were drawn in.  Ghoulardi had that sort of train-wreck thing going on.   Once you began to watch, you could not tear your eyes away from him, his antics, or the ridiculously awful D-grade monster movies he aired. 

In fact, they were so bad, there was no pause in the movie for  the commercials.   They just burned through  the movie, so  when you came back from commercial, you had to figure out what happened.   Really not so hard  since the movies were all of an ilk and formulaic:  evil scientist creates monster, monster escapes, monster eats Cleveland, a hero figures out how to kill the monster.

No big deal.  Who cared!  Anybody remember the Mantis?   We used to cheer for the Mantis.

You  also stayed because you never knew what Ghoulardi would do, and you didn't want to miss it as everyone would be talking about it in school on Monday.   A Ghoulardi  fave was blowing up matchbox cars with little cherry bombs.    It worked like this:  kids would send Ghoulardi their little cars, and he would select a couple each week, call out the kid's name, and blow up the car.  

You were then the coolest kid in school for at least a week.  ;-)

Well, anyway.....today, Chelsea brought me a little gift.  Where she got it I dunno, she's 18, what does she know about Ghoulardi?   But she found this:

My husband, John, said OH NO!  Another mug.   He's become the mug nazi since he does so much of the housecleaning for me of late.   Then he saw the mug....and shut up.

You know, I'd forgotten that  the show was called Shock Theater. 

 We just called it Ghoulardi.

Whether you watched away back then or not, and whether you know it or not....you DO know Ghoulardi.  Ghoulardi was actually Ernie Anderson, a man who went on to do countless voiceovers for the major networks after the schtick of the show fell flat.  

Remember hearing, "And now....here's the Loveboat!" on ABC?

That was Ernie.   He got paid the big bucks, he made the big time, and nobody knew his name.

I treasure my Ghoulardi memorabilia.....there's not much of the original stuff around, but here's a piece that adorns our office:

If you're intrigued enough to want a better look at Ernie Anderson's Ghoulardi, there are some YouTubes....and here are some links (Warning, it's pretty dumb....but that's what we liked, back then):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e52cXCrmauc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gWAAit4WPE

There is also a book:  Ghoulardi: Inside Cleveland TV's Wildest Ride, by Tom Feran and R.D. Hendenfels

It's true, you kind of had to 'be there'.....but oh....IF YOU WERE! 

What great memories.

Stay Sick, Ernie!

Do You Have An Interest in Pinterest?

I didn't.

Not for the longest!

Several of my pals sent me invites and I thought, oh great, one more social media thing to do.....and put it on the 'someday' shelf.

My pal, Kate....you know, the tea lady?  Organic Tea by Kate   wrote me a month or two ago telling me...hey....you should do Pinterest!   It really looks hot, and it's so fast and fun!

About the same time I read a post by Timothy Adam of  Handmadeology (he's the Etsy success guru)....and IT said, hey, you should be doing Pinterest!

Not long after that....PIN IT buttons began appearing at Etsy.  THAT got my attention!

What is Pinterest ?

Well, it's sort of like the collections and treasuries many enjoy making at Etsy, except it is SOLELY for making collections and treasuries, called 'boards' at Pinterest.

To join:   you need an invite.   Probably most of your pals are on, already....ask them for one!

Then you simply follow the link that will be provided in your invitation email, and make an account for yourself.  It's fun, fast, and easy.   There are a few courteous things you should do at Pinterest, very similar to making an Etsy collection.

You can include your photos and at Pinterest, (as opposed to Etsy), you MAY include URL's----yours, and links to other sites.   You should write a nice description, and if you include someone else's photo, if at all possible, you should include their URL and an acknowledgement that it is their work.  If you can say something nice about them or their process, you should do that, too.

Your collections should NOT include only your photos and ideas, they should be a mixture of yours....and others.    More of others, than of yours.   Your boards will be all your ideas and your likes....but not all your stuff!

You can follow people at Pinterest, and you can pin other people's stuff too!   I was on Pinterest for minutes---literally MINUTES---and people were repinning my photos!   Sheesh, I get about five retweets a week, Twitter just doesn't do it for me!  But wow!   RESULTS ARE FAST with Pinterest!

So far I've made three boards:

Easy Peasy Earrings

Very Cool Bracelets You Can Make

Books That Should Be On Your Bookshelf

The first two are composed from photos of things from the B'sue Boutiques Creative Group   I don't have all your URLS because, that's a prob.....some don't have them on profiles and we can't put them on pix.   If you have a store and I know its name, I included it.   I always mention who made it!  That I DO know!

The books board is a great way to point you in the right direction of the books I love.   Each so far links to Barnes and Noble.  I don't carry many books so....it's fine to give them a plug!  And sometimes you can get the books used there and save $$$

This is a GREAT new way to get your work out there, a great new way for me to HELP YOU get your work out there, and I am THRILLED to have finally *gotten it* about Pinterest!

I'll warn you though....it's a tad bit addictive.

 

These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things....Polymer Clay Books

One of my fave things to do:  make polymer clay beads.

My fave sources of inspiration:  BOOKS.  Always books.  I've got some videos and I love them, too...but books always have and always will do it for me.  SHELVES full of books.

Yesterday we completed TWO new videos re: making your own polymer clay beads.  As I mention in the videos, I resisted that for the longest because I felt my skills weren't up to par enough to be teaching others about working with clay.

After I made the videos, though, I stepped back, watching them with a critical eye.  I realized I had plenty to share, especially for beginners who want to make something, have fun, not have to fuss too much and see results in a short period of time.

ANYBODY CAN PLAY WITH POLYMER CLAY.

Here are the video links:

Making Polymer Clay Beads in the Organic Style by B'sue

and

Polymer Clay Beads and Gilder's Paste; Making a Glazing Tray

Grab a cuppa and come on over and spend about a half an hour with me, that's how long it will take to review the videos.

Then, you might want to visit B&N or Amazon online and pick up a couple of my fave polymer clay books....all of these books have helped and influenced me.   There is so much more I want to try!

Here they are, not in any certain order:

1. Creative Ways With Polymer Clay by Dotty McMillan   mentioned in the video

2.  Ancient Modern  by Ronna Sarvas Weltman (I noted that Ronna has a nice video on You Tube that you can watch, too, and it comes up in the recommendations along with our videos)

3.  The Complete Book of Polymer Clay by Lisa Pavelka   I love Lisa's video and the book is large and FULL of great tips!

4.  Foundations in Polymer Clay Design by Barbara G. McGuire

5.  Making Jewelry from Polymer Clay by Sophie Arzalie   cool techiques in here for using Liquid Sculpey as a glaze, along w alcohol ink tint....the beads you'll make will look like ceramic, with this technique.  I gotta learn this!

6.  How To make Polymer Clay Beads by Linda Peterson

7.  The New Clay by Nan Roche   an old chestnut, but every polymer clay artist needs this volume

8.  Polymer Clay Mixed Media Jewelry by Shirley Rufener

9.  Creating with Polymer Clay by Steven Ford and Leslie Dierks

10.  Polymer Clay Inspirations by Lindly Haunani and Maggie Maggio   inspiring COLOR!!

and my new fave, 11.  Patterns in Polymer by Julie Picarello   there are some new techniques in this book that should not take a long, long time to learn, but will yield AMAZING new looks and results.   IF ONLY I could get a few days alone with this book, five good strong pots of coffee and unending jazz music on my player.....I think it **might** just take me to the next level, artistically.

That's a dream of mine, y'know.  To work things out with my pals here in the office to let them just take the reins, leave me the hey alone, and let me WORK it out in the workshop.   Just go down there and IMMERSE myself until I was on my way to a new body of work.  

That's the problem when your heart is an artist's, and your head is an accountant.  Never the twain do meet.

Ack, I hate accounting.   Gimme a ball of polymer clay!

 

Old photo....old work.   But I want to make more of these!

BTW....we now have a clay section at B'sue Boutiques   I am exploring options and suppliers and it will only grow.  There are 13 colors and white bulk along with white Ultra Light Sculpey; tools arriving early next week with more the week after.   Check it out!

http://www.bsueboutiques.com/mmp_polymer_clay.shtml

It's Only Fair! Here's My *New* Book List

You guys worked hard on sending me your faves and filling my ears with why you are so attached to certain volumes/and/or publications.

I am really greatful for your insights! And, I was surprised at how many of the titles you mentioned are already in *my* library.  In fact.....almost all of them were.

There's a book list on my website that REALLY needs updating.   I still love all those books on that list! 

  But if I'm being honest, my book list right-now-today would look like this (and not in any special order, fave to less fave---just all books I've taken down repeatedly in the last few months, or just purchased and have trouble putting away!):

1.  The Jewelry Architect  by Kate McKinnon   I reviewed this book at Jewelry Making Outside the Box.   There's a DVD with it, which is really a lot like getting a free class with Kate.   A plus.  AND:

I love her philosophy:  let's make jewelry that endures, not just for a few years, but for lifetimes...yes, lifetime(S), plural.  Kate's methods show you how.   Not sure I will ever be this precise, but it is important to review how to do things the right way.

2.  Metal Discovery Workshop by Linda and Opie O'Brien.  Learn how to do it safely and think outside the box, all at the same time.  I love these guys and they know I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing now, had I not met them.  You can get a copy of this book at their Etsy, Burnt Offerings.  It's so great, that  it's out of print.

3.  Making Connections  by Susan Lenhart Kazmer.   I love Susan, I love what she does, I love her work.   She is about jewelry making joy.....and the reason why I love ICE resin.

4.  Explore, Create, Resinate by Jen Cushman.   Ditto all the above.   If you have resin fear, get this book and get over it once and for all.

5.  Surface Treatment Workshop by Darlene Oliver McElroy and Sandra Duran Wilson.  I can't put this thing away.  It appeals to everything I was doing 20 years ago, that no one understood.   "Why are you putting glue and gesso on on that watercolor paper, Brenda?  Why are you putting resin over it?   Why are you squiggling puff paints all over that canvas, and then making lines in it with a stick, then throwing glitter, beads and seeds int0  it?"......well.   All I can say is, the answer is in this book.

6.  Making Bits and Pieces Mosaics by Marlene Marshall    no it's not about jewelry making but really quite wonderful

7.  The New Clay by Nan Roche   this book has been out forever but it turned me on to amazing possibilities......

8.   Warman's Jewelry   ALL EDITIONS.  Whether edited by Christie Romero (and I am so glad I have a signed copy, as Christie has passed, now) or Kathy Flood, the inspiration you will get for your 21st century designs can always be edified by paying attention to the great stuff of designers before us.

AMEN.

9. Miriam Haskell Jewelry  by Sheila Pamfiloff and Cathy Gordon   There is no definitive book on making cagework jewelry---yet.   Honestly, you can learn from taking pieces apart, using the brain the Good Lord gave you, and going for it.  Can you embroider?  Do you have an imagination?  Do you see what's going on these pieces?   Get the book, study it.   After that, it's a matter of a spool of 28 ga goldplated wire, some cool old beads, a great focal, and some Russian Goldplated filigree (found at B'sue Boutiques).   It's really cool to learn all about this historic jewelry design company.  YOU SHOULD.

10.   The Jewelry of Miriam Haskell by Deanna Farneti Cera  out of print but sometimes you can find a copy by  interlibrary loan, or at Ebay for sale.  If you find one at Ebay, be ready to pay.  LOL

 11.  Thomas Mann/Metal Artist   speaking of doing things the right way.....the techniques are very precise, a little tedious for someone like me who doesn't have this sort of background.   But you HAVE to admire the ability, the vision, the precision.  Eye Candy.

12.  Mixed Metal Jewelry Workshop by Mary Hettmansperger.   Mary's work never ceases to amaze me and I love her book, you should get a copy soon if you don't have one.

13. Bisuteria by Christa Nolling and Kyra Stempel   I think this is a Spanish language translation but so grateful for my Spanish language jewelry making books so NOW I know the words for the findings I sell.   It helps when you have to re-write an invoice to send to South America, LOL.

14.  The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making by Tammy Powley.   YOU NEED THIS BOOK, especially if you are newer to jewelry making.  Or not.   Just go get one.

15.   Compendium of Curiosities by Tim Holtz   I love the surface decoration techniques and the paper stuff that easily applies to metal stuff.....we carry a lot of Tim's brand at B'sue Boutiques and really pleased to.   So versatile!

16. Paper Bouquet by Susan Tierney Cockburn   Learn how to make your own paper flowers.  Soon we will be coaching you on how to RESIN them!

17.  Upcycled Jewelry by Sherri Haab.....just got this one....can't seem to make myself put it away.   Dunno if I would do this much upcycling, but it sure is fun to consider the options.   Definitely worth the money to purchase a copy.

18.   Stringing Style by Jamie Hogsett, an older volume now but one I take off the shelf over and over again.

19.  Bijoux by Deana Farneti Cera.  Eye candy.  Inspiration.  New Ideas from older pieces.  Must have it.

20.  Bead on a Wire by Sharilynn Miller.  A Classic.  'Nuff said.

21. Semiprecious Salvage by Stephanie Lee   This is a concept book as well as a teaching book, same as is Cynthia Thornton's Enchanted Treasures.  Very, very clever.   And useful, too!

22.  French General Treasured Notions by Kaari Meng.  Basicly the story of Tinsel Trading in NYC and featuring projects with stuff like they carry....which I also carry at B'sue Boutiques

23.  French Inspired Jewelry by Kaari Meng, more of the above, mostly visual inspiration...but when I look at my copy, it makes me dream....and plan.   What more could you ask from a book?

24.   The Best Little Beading Book by Wendy Simpson Connor.     I wouldn't know how to do the first thing if I hadn't bought this book a long, long time ago.   That is, with stringing beads.   Not that I know how to do so much, I just know what I know!   Then, I  read the book, learned some more and made the rest up.

And that's how it goes today.....today we DO make it up.   And it's so great that now, it's okay!

I love the naive, loose, organic, almost designer-crude style that has become so vogue right now. 

Yes, it's  a grand thing if we've  had the liberty and opportunity to attend professional jewelers' school, or the chance to travel to many classes or artist retreats....or live near a studio, and are able to visit with a teacher regularly.   The fact is, most haven't, most don't, many cannot afford it.

If that's YOU....don't think you can't do it.   Don't think, oh I will never be that good.  Cut that out RIGHT NOW.

Case in point: I know a young designer who only a few years ago, had virtually no training.  She played with paper clips, safety pins and wire.   She bent metal, put holes in it, applied paint to it.   No one taught her.   She had no idea, was it right, was it wrong?  She didn't care.  It was play to her, and the process fed her soul.   Kind of like me with the glue and the gesso and the resin, 20 years ago. 

SHE JUST DOES  IT.    It goes this way:

She sees a need for a part, she figures it out.  She hits a wall, she goes around it.   She doesn't know how, okay, so she doesn't worry.    That doesn't mean she's no good, can't do it.   She gets some books, goes to You Tube, watches the videos.   She sees a picture, she thinks, she tries, she learns.

I think that's the best way to be.

As for me, and my writing a book:   I can only tell you what it will NOT be.  It will not be more dark metal, hammering, grunging, Steampunk. 

 HEY!  I love Steampunk.  And I think it's here to stay.

 I like gears, cogs and wheels too.  Our newest plating shade is Rusty Black, sheesh.

But how about Rusty Black with PINK....shocking pink, off the wall, unexpected....like early Elsa Schiaparelli?  How about novelty charms we make ourselves that look like the old bakelite whimsy?

How about some history---American POP culture history, American ART history....with a little European thrown in the mix?   How about some funky GLAM, GLITZ....a little Boho-retro with new mixed media vibe?

It's time for something lively, free, colorful, happy.  Different.

Let's see what happens.

 

 

What A Pleasure.....the Love of Books

It was so great to hear from so many on my recent blog challenge.   I asked for commentary on your favorite books, and why....thankfully there were 35 posts and a lot of great opinions.

It seems that, across the board, some of the faves are Jean Campbell's STEAMPUNK STYLE JEWELRY, and Cynthia Thornton's ENCHANTED TREASURES.   Sharilynn Miller's BEAD ON A WIRE was also mentioned.   

Volumes on mixed metals were favored; Robert Dancik's AMULETS AND TALISMANS was recommended as well.   Stampington publications (Belle Armoire Jewelry, Jewelry Affaire) as well as Kalmbach (Bead and Button, Bead Style).     Danielle Fox and Melinda Barta's book (she is editor of STRINGING, by Interweave) was spoken of...that's one I turn to again and again.

My love of books began at the cradle and grew all throughout my young years.  I was always writing and illustrating stories with crayons and tablet paper.   In time I wrote teenage 'novels' and poetry, as many young ladies do.  I still have a small trunk full of that material....and from time to time I go back to it and have a look.  It always brings a smile.

My great love of books was truly nurtured when I got a job at the age of 17 at the Public  Library in my hometown of Warren, Ohio.   I worked there for about two years;  it was what I call my literary education.   I worked the circ desk, so I saw everything that came in, and everything that went out....and learned to read really, really fast!  I wanted to know everything!

Here's what's rich:  some of the people I worked with back then....over 36 years ago...still work there.  It's a beautiful place---as you can see from the photo---and somewhere you want to stop, if you visit Warren. 

As for me....it's time to write a book about jewelry craft.   That's why your thoughts and opinions meant so much to me.    I am in the process and that's about all I can say about it at this time....but will let you know when it all comes around.  These things typically take awhile.

Thanks for all your input.   The winner of the 100.00 MUSE PACKAGE is Vina Jane Dusatko.  I know Vina Jane will share some of her new creations made with the package at the B'sue Boutiques Facebook Fan Page

Congratulations, Vina Jane!

 

 

Bijoux by Deanna Farneti Cera...Get Ready For Another Droolfest

You guys know I am an avid collector of books about vintage costume jewelry.   I've got most of them, and those I don't have, I plan to have soon.

Back in the day, I dealt in the stuff.   I cut my teeth in the antiques business on vintage clothing, linens, and collectable costume jewelry.    Here in Ohio, twenty-odd years ago, it was plentiful.   I was so fortunate because I knew dealers who would hold the good stuff for me as well as  others who treated me right when I visited them at shows and fleas.   I had a couple of pickers who would stop by with the things they'd culled from garage sales.  I looked forward to those visits!  Good times, you betcha.

I get SUCH a thrill when I see a piece that I know was mine at some point along its journey, in one of those books!   Some of the pieces I owned---albeit briefly!---were killers, drop-dead knockouts, stop-traffic stuff.   Those pieces inspired me to become a designer, simply because there was so much energy jumping off of them.   Talk about VIBE!   Wow.

I've never owned any of the pieces in Deanna Farneti Cera's books.   Most will never SEE them outside of these volumes.   Ms. Cera chronicles the best of the best.   SOME of her books are already no longer available....THE JEWELS OF MIRIAM HASKELL, for example, is out of print.   If you can find one, expect to lay down over $350.00 for it.

Mine's not for sale.  (She says, smugly.)

Here's one that you CAN still procure....and should:

I have to say, the snake is cool but it belies the contents of the book.  Why?  Well, many manufacturers back 50-60 years ago had snake motifs, especially in the Victorian Revival period of the mid-20th century.  This  one's a Whiting and Davis.   The snake was a very popular Whiting and Davis piece; this particular snake  is a little more special than all that--because of the stone on its head.  Usually you don't  find them that with the stone, but plainer.

I guess I'm just saying the snake on the cover doesn't prepare the vintage enthusiast for the contents of the book, which are EYE CANDY, inspiring, and not things you'll likely find at the next antiques show you're attending.    Even so, some of the designs in the book are things you could adapt to today's trends and available materials, if you are designing:

For example, I'm nuts about the Frank Hess/Miriam Haskell wood beaded brooches on page 180, especially the one at the top of the page.  Why couldn't you do this with paper beads?   Just a little surface treatment would be necessary.

What about the sautoir-style necklaces on page 243?  This is what I call gypsy beading.  All you need is wire, cool beads and cool caps.

Just for the sake of drooling:  check out the sterling De Rosa parure on 287.   Looks like the Queen's Jewels!   Not adaptable for most of us...but the lines are inspiring.

Cuffs on 294-295....easily in reach for us today with vintage-style flower power findings, good quality paints and an ICE resin top.

Have a look at the Nina Ricci earrings on page 366.  Says they are 'plastified fabric'....looks like Friendly Plastic earrings I made ca. 1987-88, LOL.

Don't be put off that the book is written in Italian.  There IS an English translation for you, just flip the page.   For a bit I was struggling because I didn't see it, trying to figure out the Italian.  I came close!  ;-)

And you can get one online at Barnes and Noble for 13.84...here's a link: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Bijoux/Deanna-Farneti-Cera/e/9788871796093/?itm=1&USRI=deanna+farneti+cera

I'm quite glad I purchased my copy!

The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making by Tammy Powley

Last Saturday morning I played hooky. 

 First John and I went to breakfast, which is always alot of fun and good catch up time as we both work busy schedules all week.   Then I suggested....would you mind?   Let's go to Barnes and Noble.

An hour or two at B&N is like a mini vacation for me.   Somehow, when I walk in the double doors and the aroma of pungeant Starbuck's brew hits my nostrils, the tension goes out of my body and I enter into my element.     Somehow down inside my soul, I am a frustrated librarian.   Had my life taken the other fork in the road, that's what I would be right now.

A librarian!   John kindly obliged me; he doesn't mind a bookstore, himself.....

EGAD, I LOVE BOOKS!   Books are a forever thing.   You can never have too many, especially in the subjects you love.  I don't read contemporary novels, but I do collect classics and literally shelves full of non-fiction DIY books and books on collecting vintage jewelry.   All the shelves upstairs are full and creaking.  Now my bookshelves in the workshop are half-full....

But I digress.   I'm really here to talk to you about Tammy Powley's new book THE COMPLETE PHOTO GUIDE TO JEWELRY MAKING. 

First I have to mention:  I have always liked Tammy's approach to jewelry-making and presenting projects.    She doesn't have to wow you with what I call "big opus" projects.  Oh we love those beautiful pix of incredible one-offs, but how many of us have time for projects like those?  How many of us, if we are new to jewelry craft, feel we are going to be able to make things like those any time soon?

We want to make jewelry NOW.   We want to sit down with our new tools and in a half hour or so, make something we can wear, like a simple pair of earrings or an easy beaded bracelet.

Tammy's philosophy has shaped me in my own approach to teaching, presenting and offering supplies over the years.  I want you to be able to make jewelry NOW, too!

And that's why I can so heartily recommend this volume to you.

You will find THE COMPLETE PHOTO GUIDE really DOES contain all the info you need to get going making fashion jewelry.  It doesn't matter if you are a newbie or quite accomplished, this is a great reference book to have.   Hundreds of techniques are represented, and Tammy has included 40 projects to get those fingers moving and creating.  There are over SEVEN HUNDRED!!! big!! color photos.

Invaluable.  We ALL want to be shown, rather than simply told, don't we?

You will read about the following:

basic tools  (this really is where a newbie needs to start, with a good concept of the tools of the trade along with basic findings)

bead stringing

wirework

chain making

metal fabrication!  YES!!

metal soldering!  DOUBLE YES!!

metal clay

polymer clay

fiber.....Hilary was right!   we all need more fiber.  In jewelry, that is.

resin    You all know my choice is ICE......

mixed media   We're only just touching the top of the iceberg on mixed media.  I think the possibilities are ENDLESS and EXCITING....

There is also a jewelry gallery with great pix of cool designs by various artists, a list of participating jewelry designers and a section of supply resources.  B'sue Boutiques is listed!

I have enjoyed working with Tammy on projects at About.com in the past.   Who knows?  Maybe I will again!  It would be a pleasure!

You can get this book at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/  at a great discount price today as well:  only 16.01!   Sheesh, there's something to be said for buying online, I could have saved a ton....

But there's nothing like the ambiance of a bookstore.   No regrets!

Here's a direct link to the book at B&N: http://search.barnesandnoble.com/The-Complete-Photo-Guide-to-Jewelry-Making/Tammy-Powley/e/9781589235496/?itm=2&USRI=tammy+powley

Would you like to follow Tammy at About.com?   You should! http://jewelrymaking.about.com/b/