Sigh...I Flaked Again by Karen McGovern

Last week I swore that I was going to get back on track and post on time. LIAR!!! I am sitting in front of my computer frantically typing at 8:00 pm because I JUST REMEMBERED I AM SUPPOSE TO POST TOMORROW. Crap.

In my defense, I've been busy. I mentioned last week I HAVE A NEW STUDIO SPACE and moved my tonnage of jewelry gear to a free standing building of my very own. That has been such a dream come true, and also a slap in the face regarding ALL THE STUFF I HAVE ACCUMULATED over the years during my journey as a jewelry artist. Which has lead me to the next chapter, MY FIRST DESTASH SALE which will be held this coming Friday (Oct 2) thru Sunday (Oct 4). If you are interested in piles of cool beads, art supplies, mixed media stuff (so many glass and silver framed lockets) and finished works, then this sale is for you. I am donating proceeds to the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation (where I live and work) in support of our wildlife conservation programs. This will be a fun sale. I plan to do some GIVEAWAYS and have silly contests and stuff along with some MAJOR BARGAINS. And did I mention all sales proceeds will support WILDLIFE CONSERVATION????? Win/win for reals! 

Buy beads and art supplies to help save us!!! That's what these
baby bongo antelope are saying.....seriously.

I've never held a sale like this before. I've watched and participated in other artist's sales and marvel at how organized and well run the sales have been. Cross your fingers, folks, I'm not the most organized person. But I do like to have fun, so this will either be hilarious and successful, or go up in spectacular flame. Either way, it will be INTERESTING.

Just a fraction of the piles of stuff I have for the sale. Beads, cabochons, art supplies and finished works. 

In the meantime and on a completely different topic, many of my artist friends have been chatting away about the looming AMAZON HANDMADE site. Many of us (myself included) have been invited to open shops. Initially we all were like, "WOW! I will have a shop on AMAZON? AMAZEBALLS!" Now, reality has begun to set in in the form of a series of emails Amazon has sent out to all prospective shop owners detailing how it all works. This is AMAZON, people. The giant megalodon of online retail sales. The fine print has intimidated many artists and many have decided not to sell on the site. I am on the fence and have not made my final decision yet. Basically because I have not had enough time to freaking read all the fine print, and believe me, there is A LOT OF FINE PRINT which is in no way surprising.

From what I have been hearing many are nervous about the fact that your images and shops sort of remain on the site forever, whether your shop is live or not. In other words, just like every other website you publish images on, Amazon can use those images in perpetuity (FOREVER, GIRL) and in any way shape or form that they wish. So, you could close your shop, but Amazon can use any image you posted to continue to promote and sell other stuff on their platform. They can also direct folks that visit your shop to go to other shops that sell similar items. You know, like every other online selling platform that fills the bottom of your screen with "People who purchase this also purchased....(insert images of similar stuff being sold by other shops). 

While all of this is important to understand fully, it should in no way be surprising. Etsy does the EXACT SAME THING. All large online portals do. It's not necessarily a bad thing. Sure, we'd all love it if Amazon would embrace us as a handmade community that doesn't want to feel ripped off, taken advantage of or used but as I said before....THIS IS AMAZON. The fact that they are even considering working with independent artists is kind of mind boggling to begin with. In my humble opinion, it's a total crap shoot. I might give it a whirl. What's the worst that can happen? I close my shop and 50 years from now they are still using my photos to sell jewelry? Maybe somebody will see that photo and search me out whether I am on Amazon or not. I have done that--seen an incredible image of artwork and scoured the 'Net to find the original source. I discover artists like that quite often. So, the idea of my images being out there doesn't upset me one way or another. The Internet is forever, dears. Bottom line for me is can I sell enough to justify the fees? Isn't that everyone's real bottom line? We get a freebie trial....I'm considering going for it. I'll let you know.....I would love to hear from other artists out there that are considering joining Amazon. What's your take on all this???

Anyhoooo, sorry for the lame-ish post. Come check out my destash this weekend, Buy some beads and stuff and have fun and SUPPORT AN AMAZING WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATION! What could be better? Beads, jewelry, art supplies and saving the planet. SCORE!!!

Finally, one more shameless self-promotion...If you have a chance, grab the fall issue of Jewelry Affaire Magazine. My sugar skull pendants are featured along with a step by step tutorial explaining how to make them! Perfect for the season.

Now, go make something AMAZING!

by Staci Louise Smith

I have been wanting to do some posts like this for awhile, but like always, busy busy busy!  

I have a bunch of Sugar Skull focals in the shop, as well as some other focals similar to the sugar skulls, and I wanted to give you guys some idea of what you can do with them. 

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/store

I had a few laid out on my desk, as I am prepping for a show this weekend, not sure what to do with them.  

At first I wanted to just add chain and a dangle and keep them super simple.  But it was too simple.............so I planned to add charms to the chain.  I wasn't sure how much to do charm wise, and was sort of thinking they needed chunky charms.

I hadn't finished figuring out that part, when Linda Landig posted a necklace she had made with one of my old bronze skulls, 

(you can purchase Linda's necklace here

http://lindalandig.indiemade.com/product/sugar-skull-necklace-brass-day-dead-pendant-orange-black-purple-sari-silk-0 )

and seeing her little dangles sealed the deal for me.  That is what my plain old necklace needed.  Just some simple dangles.  It really captures the Dia de los Muertos feel I think.

So I added my double dangly charms (flower beads by Lisa Peters Art- they were the perfect match!!!)

And I added my chain, and picked out charms to accent the colors in my skull, and voila!  I love the results!

(ceramic stars by Starry Road Studio)

So here are my tips when doing a charm style necklace- not quite a tutorial, but this should help if you tend to struggle with them.

1.  pick out way more stones and beads in a variety of sizes then you will use

2.  lay them out, spacing out larger beads, and filling in the spaces between them with smaller beads

3.  when you use a cable chain, like this one, only hang charms on EVERY OTHER LINK so they lay properly.  the links alternate directions and your charms won't hang right otherwise.  Also, be sure to keep the chain from turning.  I pick it up and make sure the chain is laying correctly so the charms are always added to the bottom of the link

4.  skip a few "hangable" links for each big piece.  I like to hold the piece up to my neck and look at it each time I add a bead to make sure they hang right

5.  Fill the links you skipped with tiny beads to create movement and fill the space without them bumping into the other beads causing them to lay inccorectly.

6.  Try to use beads of a consistent thickness.  if you use beads that are tooooo round they will stick out when you wear it and roll around.

And there you have it.  A simple necklace that is not too plain, not too much!  I haven't taken this one off yet and I cannot wait to design the others on my table.

Remember, you too can make some "charming" necklaces using the components in my shop.  Lots of sugar skulls left.  I love taking the form of a skull and making it pretty.  So fun!

http://www.stacilouiseoriginals.com/store

Hi! Remember Me? by Karen McGovern

Just a heads up...this post is going to be all over the place.

It seems like forever since I've posted to the blog! I've flaked the past couple months--life getting in the way and all that. Plus, summer. Everything gets weird in the summer. Trying to juggle work, family, and cramming in a vacation if you can, plus WORK....and it's been one of the hottest summers in South Florida. Days and days of temps hovering around 100 degrees. I work and live on a 40 acre wildlife sanctuary and work out doors EVERY DAY. I wilted about a month ago and am only now beginning to feel even remotely life-like.

So, here's the highlights of the past couple months. I went to Maine with my BFF, who happens to have a family home on the island of Vinalhaven off the coast of Maine. I spent four days with her and her lovely sister STUFFING MY FACE WITH SHELLFISH and generally laying around in a coastal paradise. It was HEAVEN.

Then, a major event for me personally--I GOT MY OWN STUDIO BUILDING! That's right folks, I am moving out of the garage and into my very own space on our property!!!!!!! I am SO EXCITED. I got an all wood shed from WeatherKing Sheds. 10 x 14. It arrived after my Maine excursion and I have been working on it non-stop with my patient, understanding and heroically helpful husband. A few pics below of the process. Painting, flooring, AIR CONIDTIONING (OMG), and today we installed the shelves. I set up my soldering station an hour ago, next I move my bench. That is where the nightmare truly begins. My bench is a TOTAL MESS. Since planning for this building I have basically abandoned my work space and have been dumping A BILLION THINGS on it that I plan to somehow move. UGH. So many things. I am amazed at all the STUFF I have accumulated. I had no idea. I started several boxes of beads and findings that I plan to destash in a week. Yes, I am holding a HUGE destash sale starting on Friday the 25th if I can get myself together by then. Here is the Facebook link--I'll be offering beads, findings, finished works and whatever else I don't want to move!!! So, join me if you can. There will be some pretty amazing deals.....seriously. Until this is all done, I am not creating anything new, which is killing me. Can't wait for the fresh, shiny new space to totally wreck in a matter of weeks!!!

Prior to the building excitement, I had made a new line of pendants featuring my favorite stone of the moment, Rio Grand Rustics. This stuff so amazing--I'm obsessed. Angela Fowler cuts it and I fell hard for this organic material. I have a pile more set aside and have some ideas for bracelets as well as pendants. Can't wait to begin!!! Hopefully I'll be back at work artistically within the next two weeks....or I'll go CRAZY.

Finally, I also took a break from posting much (other than photos of monarch butterflies because I hatched and released FIFTY monarch and queen monarch butterflies on my back porch) because I was getting really burned out with all the noise I found myself in the midst of online. I am a member of and follow several arts groups on Facebook, and I have become really sad and depressed the seeming WEALTH of negativity rolling off folk's keyboards. Slamming artists left and right for every perceived slight or misspoken word, attacking people behind their backs (or not) and just general shitty behavior. I've written about this before, and I'll say it again. Don't support this online bullying. Please. Follow the THINK rule. Before you post, consider the following. Is your post thoughtful, honest, important, NECESSARY and kind? There is so much horror and sadness in the world. As artists we need to lift each other up. Art is an intimate expression, a link so someone's often private thoughts and feelings. Unless you are explicitly asked to critic this work, keep your negative thoughts and opinions to yourself. Pleaseandthankyou.

To close, I leave you with a video of an amazing artist named Riusuke Fukahori. I've seen his work before in images, but never a video of his process. He creates STUNNING three-dimensional paintings in resin of fish and other undersea creatures. IT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY. I love finding images and video like this. Art and artists that take your breath away. That is what art should do!!! 

Now, go make something AMAZING!

Hollow Metal Beads - A Tutorial and a Giveaway!

by Patti Vanderbloemen for Love My Art Jewelry Blogspot

Today, I thought I would share my technique for making hollow metal beads. I have seen tutorials for making these before, but I am including a couple of tips that help me.  In the past, I have made these in both sterling silver and copper - today's images illustrate sterling.

(As always, please be safe and wear the appropriate eye protection and a mask, as well).

The first step is to texture your metal. I like to use 20 gauge sheet.  Once the sheet is cut into discs, the metal will then be dapped.  As you hammer while dapping, the metal spreads, thus the texture will not be quite as deep in the metal as when you began.  So, I start with a heavier gauge metal and texture deeply - the example below illustrates a texture I made using the flat edge of my riveting hammer.  

The size of the beads is totally up to the maker. In the example, I am using a fairly small punch and the discs measure 9.5mm. I always place a piece of scrap metal - same gauge as my work- opposite from the hole I am cutting.  This extra step should make my disc cutter last longer.

Once all the discs have been cut, I then anneal the metal, quench in water, and pickle.

The edges from the disc cutter can be abrasive. I take a second and run a sanding pad around the edges to smooth out the roughness. These pads last a long time, and I use them daily (link here).  

When doming each disc, I use my brass hammer and usually dome 3 sizes down, starting with the largest dapping depression, down to the smallest size.  It is a personal preference how "puffy" a shape you want for your final hollow bead.

I then take my mini round needle file and make a slight impression on only 1 of the 2 discs.  I have 2 reasons for doing this: 1) I use silver solder paste, and this impression/hole provides an escape for the pressurized air when soldering; and, 2) it also makes drilling the hole in the final bead slightly easier.

This is one of my soldering stations.  I have mentioned in the past that I only use a butane torch (this one).  But, I set my fire brick (or an additional hard charcoal block) on it's side.  I then set my item to be soldered on the charcoal block - right next to the fire brick.  The heat generated from my torch bounces off the fire brick back to the item being soldered. This setup provides me with enough heat to solder 6 gauge wire with a butane torch (it takes a while, but it can be done)!

I add silver solder paste to the inside one of the domed discs. Remember - no flux is required with paste and Yes - using solder paste is messy! 

I add the second domed disc, and set it on the charcoal block next to the fire brick.  The solder paste binder will burn away (evidenced by the flame you will get when you hit this with the torch)!  When applying the heat with the torch, fan the area around the bead with the flame first, just to heat it up, then aim the flame at the bead. Watch carefully while torching - you will see a very thin line of silver - that's the key to knowing that the solder has flowed. It does not take long with the torch.  Wait about 20 seconds, quench in water, then pickle.

Drilling the holes is the most challenging part of this process.  Remember the impression I made on one side of the disc? Well, I put the bead in my ring clamp (link here) for support (a vice would probably work here also .... but that would require me to move across the room to my vice) and I swipe the same round needle file over the bead to create a rounded-flat spot (I know...my wording here is bad)!  This flat spot is where I will drill the first hole. 

With my left hand, I brace the ring clamp against my bench pin for support and drill with my flex shaft in my right hand. I will admit - that drill bit will want to bounce.  But, by bracing the ring holder in my bench pin, and my right hand with the flex shaft braced against my bench, it is do-able, I promise!

This is 20 gauge sheet - slightly on the heavy side - so the drilling will take a bit to get through the metal. I am HUGE proponent of lubricating my drill bits - I use this.  

Once the hole is drilled, I mark the other side with a sharpie (I just eyeball this mark) and repeat the steps above for drilling the second hole.

Next comes finish - and this is simply how I finish my beads. I prefer to smooth the solder seam as much as possible.  The image below (click to zoom) are the silicone and fiber discs that I use the most (all available from Rio Grande). The pumice disc (the green discs, bottom left of the picture) are truly the most used discs for this purpose.  The pumice can even be used around gemstones when cleaning up bezels - it is safe and will not scratch!  I simply place the bead back in the ring clamp and go through a series of buffing, starting with the pumice, and usually ending with the green 3M Bristle Disc silicon wheel (the grit is slight - only 1 micron). 

Ready for the tumbler!

After tumbling (no patina, yet)!

These beads look so beautiful with patina added.  Well, my mother has been begging for some earrings made with these beads - sans patina. She also prefers post earrings, so, she was quite happy to receive these!

Just two beads add a nice design element to a bracelet, I think.

Lampwork by Susan Kennedy of Sue Beads

The hollow beads below are 3/4" round.

Lampwork by Judith Billig)

The next two images feature 3 beads from the batch above - with patina - and gorgeous artisan lampwork work nuggets by GlassBeadArt.

The Giveaway

Okay - you have lasted this long...want to win these 2 hollow beads? I have already added the patina, buffed and tumbled.

Just leave a comment on this blog post - please make sure to leave your email address so that I can get in touch with the winner!  Winner will be announced by my next posting!

Thanks for joining us today - go make something wonderful!

xo

Patti

Gotta love Hoops

by MaryAnn Carroll

I have been using copper tubing for a couple of years now, so I have learned a bit about it and want to pass on that knowledge to you.

Copper tubing comes in different sizes. You can go as low as 1/4" (maybe lower) in diameter to about 1 1/2" in diameter at most local plumbing stores. I am sure you can get it a bigger, but I am talking about local sales unless you live near a place that specializes in copper.

Tubes are measured by OD (outside diameter) or ID (inside diameter). You can have a variety of sizes for different jewelry design. One of the biggest things that I have learned, however is that copper comes in a variety of thicknesses (K, L or M generally), The thicker the tube is the heavier it will be, so planning on which kind to use for jewelry making is a good idea.

What else do you need to know? Some copper can be coiled (soft) and other tubes cannot (hard). This piece is a hard temper tube which is not bendable without LOTS of annealing. Soft tubing bends easily and cleaning it is a little tricky.

Let me apologize for some of these pictures. I took them while I was hustling to get ready for last weekend's show, so there is a mess in the background.

The colors on the pipes also indicate thickness and type. I cannot remember what color represents what. When I go to the HEPP Building Supply (a plumbing supply store) I go into their warehouse and look inside the tube. If you bring your burr cleaner you could clean out the end to get a better idea. The bottom line for making hoops to hang from your ears is to look for a hard temper thin walled tube. You can then choose from a variety of diameters.
.
So, once you have the copper that you want, you need to cut it. There are different sizes of tube cutters. These can also be purchased at your local hardware stores. Although some will cut multiple sizes, if they are too small cutting larger tube can do a number on your hand. I suggest having a few different sizes on hand. Here are my main go to cutters.

To speed up the tube cleaning process, I like to use a dremel. You can use different attachments depending on what you like or, in my case, depending on what I have on hand. Make sure when you are doing this you hold the tube VERY TIGHT. Also, wear glasses or goggles AND you might want to wear a dust mask as well.

After using the dremel, you can do some final cleaning with a burr cleaner. This part is a pain in the neck, but important. I clean them until they are smooth to the touch. That little gray burr tool can be purchased for under $10. You will need to change the blade occasionally.

The cutting can get a little tricky when cutting narrow pieces. It is important to put the tube in just snug and turn the tube in the cutter rather than trying to turn the cutter around the tube. The reason being is that you need to get enough of a cut so that the tube doesn't go lopsided. Once you have a beginning cut, you can tighten up the cutter and rotate the cutter around the tube.

Once cut, the other side needs to be cleaned. If you use copper that is soft, this is almost impossible because the tube will bend. This is why I use a hard temper tube and you do not anneal before this time as it will soften the tube.

Once it is completely cleaned you can then anneal. This will soften up the copper. You might need to anneal a few times between hammering.

Now, it's time to hammer. I happened to find this chasing hammer in an antique store with a very large head. Looking for tools in antique stores is one of my favorite things to do. It's heavy, but I don't have to swing it as many times and it covers the entire tube. These are my two hammers. One is modern, They are both a little beat up, but they work fine for this kind of hammering.

And there you have it.... I typically tumble them to clean them up and use liver of sulfur to darken them. They are then ready to make some basic hoops from or you could get a little more creative and include beads, discs or anything else your heart desires!

Have fun!!

MaryAnn