Art Jewelry Community

November 29 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 13:59:00 GMT

Just a quick note. I'm visiting with family and friends and lost track of Friday. So a Saturday Jewelry Gems will have to suffice. So much to do here--in addition to this being my weekend to make projects, I've got a family gathering tonight, got together with friends last night, and, of course, have been spending time with my folks. But everyone needs a break, so take yours this weekend by perusing these links from my friends!

The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton
Magic Words – Text-based jewelry components can be a great source of inspiration. Andrew investigates these worded beads and pendants in six new designs.

Strands of Beads
Melissa is inspired by astrolabes and orreries to create a pendant from a beautiful lampworked bead.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean thinks this class with Anne Mitchell and Gail Crosman Moore would be a fabulously fun and educational experience. Make this upcoming February a truly special one! Read all about it here!

Naughty Secretary Club
See what fun baubles Jen and her collage artist buddy Traci Bautista come up with this week. Hint: there are vintage cupcake toppers, chunky plastic chain and fabric involved!

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi has rounded up a few fast and easy projects from some of her favorite suppliers.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
It's time to get started on those Holly - day projects, here's one from Jennifer.

Barbe Saint John - New Jewelry from Forgotten Artifacts
Getting know Barbe=7 random things post!

Art Jewelry Magazine
A holiday gift to you: a sale on downloadable patterns from BeadStyle, Bead&Button, and Art Jewelry magazines.

Art Bead Scene Inspired by Steam
Art Bead Scene picks for Steampunk Style.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy's drooling over the big and beautiful cloisonne beads.

Casting grains: the Thanksgiving turkey stuffing of the jewelry world.

Addie Kidd — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:07:00 GMT

So, yeah...I'll admit that headline was a bit of a stretch. But I'm excited about two things today - tomorrow's Thanksgiving, and the casting grain I just got in the mail. I had to figure out some way to reference both.

Aren't they pretty?? All tiny, sparkly, shiny, and new!
I ordered a pound of bronze (pictured at right) and a few ounces of fine silver. [If you weren't already familiar, casting grain is metal in raw form; its small size makes measuring and melting easier.]

Now, are you ready to hear about my klutz move of the day?
(Yes, I have one practically every day. I think it's in my genetic code or something.)

I wanted to melt my casting grains the second after they arrived on my desk. But I needed to get a photo or two first for the magazine. [Be on the lookout for my casting project and article in the May issue of Art Jewelry magazine!] So I reluctantly dropped the two little bags of casting grains off at our photo department.

Today, Jim Forbes, one of our staff photographers, called me down to get my opinion on the shots that he'd taken. They were beautiful, of course - much better than my little snap shot here. So I officially approved them, grabbed my casting grains, and headed back to my office.

On the way back, I decided to detour to the washroom. No problems so far, right? So I set my two little bags of casting grains on the sink counter.

Just to set the scene, the silver grains came in a tiny zip top bag, so they were safe. But the bronze grains were in this cloth bag shown here. [I think it looks like a miniature money bag that robbers in cartoons would steal from the bank. That makes me want to draw a big "$" on it!] Well, since the cloth bag only has a draw string it wasn't exactly secure.

Do you see where I'm going with this?

Before I'd realized what I'd done, the bag full of bronze casting grains shifted on the edge of the sink counter. The next sound I heard was the multiple "PINGS!" of itty-bitty casting grains spilling out and bouncing on the tile floor.

Oops.

I scooped up the bag before too much damage was done, but there were still plenty of grains rolling around. So now I'm on my hands and knees on the washroom floor, crawling around under the sink and counter, trying to retrieve every little elusive grain.

How dignified.

Luckily, only one other co-worker walked in at that moment to witness me in all my klutzy glory. She only laughed a little bit, and she even helped me spot stray grains, which was nice. I think I got most of them, though I know one bounced down the drain.

So the moral of the story is to put all your casting grains (or any other tiny thing, like gemstones) into zip top bags. And close them.
And just for safe measure, keep them away from me.

Happy Turkey Day!

~Addie~

New chain mail project by Beth Hall shows how to make a flat weave that you can use to capture a gemstone

Kristin Sutter — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 20:05:00 GMT

We at Art Jewelry love knowing that people are excited about making jewelry, whether they're subscribing to our magazine or, inexplicably, not. So, no matter what your subscriber status, read on to find out how you can get free projects!

Subscribers, you can download our new free project by Beth Hall here: It's an easy chain mail weave that you can wrap around a small gemstone. The resulting caged stone is a great component that you can use in multiple jewelry pieces. The project, of course, shows the components as earrings, but as Beth Hall suggests in the article, you could also use them in bracelets, necklaces, and as household embellishments. Check out the article to find out how she configures the components in different jewelry pieces, and to see her suggestions for other uses.

Not a subscriber? Click here to learn about the many perks of being an Art Jewelry magazine subscriber. (For example, you already know that you'd be able to download this chain mail project for free!) Among other things, you would also be able to read expert technique articles and see the contents of our must-have toolboxes in our Reference section here.

If you're a commitment-phobe, and you still want free projects, we're always putting new ones here.

And your random factoid for the day: My Forgotten English calendar word for November 20th was "bijoutry. Jewelry; the making or dealing in jewelry. —Rev. John Boag's Imperial Lexicon c. 1850." The calendar goes on to note that November 20th is also the feast day of St. Bernward, "a twelfth-century French patron of jewelers."

Happy jewelry making!

—Kristin

November 21 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:21:00 GMT

Thanksgiving is almost here and no, I still didn't get any of those things on the list accomplished last weekend either. But I visited with friends and got some other things done, so it was productive none-the-less. And this weekend I'm focusing on home and projects, honest I am. (And speaking of projects, check out this great deal on downloadable PDFs on ArtJewelryMag.com. I might have to get a few of those myself tonight.)

As for those jewelry gems, inspiration seems to be the theme for the day.

Andrew explores a few examples of where he discovers inspiration and how it relates to the jewelry he makes in Finding Inspiration on The Writing and Art of Andrew Thornton.

Melissa gets inspired by a favorite strip from "Peanuts" on Strands of Beads.

Talk about interesting inspiration. Kerry Wilkinson works with resin and...fruit? Well, ok, it's really polymer clay! Go to Jewelry & Beading to read an artist profile of Kerry.

Tammy at About.com Jewelry Making found her inspiration in the scrapbook aisle. Check out her new Gathering Leaf Project - Use a chipboard sticker and some wire to make a leaf necklace for fall or to wear at the Thanksgiving table.

On Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!, Jean could easily picture herself as the lead in the book, The Secret Garden. Come play dress up with some jewelry using Green Girl Studios components!

And now for something completely different, it's not beaded, but it's quite entertaining! Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry shares some of her other creative talents this week. That's inspirational too!

Carmi's inspired to make a name tag she'll actually wear. Check it out on Carmi's Art/Life World.

Looks like Jen's been pretty busy lately! Read how Naughty Secretary Club and Etsy teamed up for a fun bracelet how-to project and a shopping guide for kitschy cool jewelry supplies.

And speaking of Etsy, Jennifer's showing some funky sticks for your hair this week both on Etsy and on Jennifer Jangles Blog.

Join Katie as she shares trends from the upcoming CHA Winter Show.

Art Bead Scene reviews their favorite tools: This tool gets around!

And if, after all of these, you're feeling inspired about publishing a beading or jewelry-making book, Kalmbach Publishing Co. is looking for authors. Read more at Bead&Button Magazine's blog.

Huge jewelry-making project sale at Art Jewelry magazine!!

Addie Kidd — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:50:00 GMT

We know that if your piggy banks are anything like ours, they could use a little rest right now. (Especially with the holidays quickly approaching - Yikes! ). But that's NO reason to put down your hammers, pliers, or torches.

There are plenty of projects for you in our online archive. And guess what??

All projects are 50% off!!!

Yep, there's only one dollar and ninety-five cents standing between you and a new technique or design. And you can download it instantly - no shipping to pay for!

So go download that project that you've had your eye on, and then post your results in our Forums on in our Subscriber Gallery. I can't wait to see what you make.

Happy Creating!

~Addie~

P.S. We're not the only ones having a sale. Our sister magazines, Bead & Button and BeadStyle are getting in on the fun. If you're into beaded projects, or know someone who is head over there and check them out.

Exhibit: The Nature of Diamonds at the Royal Ontario Museum

Katie Streeter — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:23:00 GMT

The Royal Ontario Museum has a cool series for the 2008-2009 season called "A Season of Gems." The Nature of Diamonds is a part of this series, and the exhibit can be viewed now through March 22, 2009. For more information on the exhibit, check out this article, or visit the Royal Ontario Museum's Web site.

—Katie

2,000-year-old earring made of gold, pearl, and emerald found under Jerusalem parking lot

Kristin Sutter — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:44:00 GMT

A gold, pearl, and emerald earring (click here to see it) has been discovered at the excavation site of an ancient building near the walls of Old Jerusalem. Prior to the excavation, the ancient building had been covered by a parking lot. According to news reports, Doron Ben-Ami, a co-leader of the excavation, said that the earring would have been worn by a woman of high social status, and was likely handed down through generations. The earring has been dated to some time between the second and fourth century A.D. (Roman era), while the ancient building where it was found is more recent, dating to the fourth or fifth century A.D. (Byzantine era). Ben-Ami noted that the earring is a rare find in Jerusalem, because the city was destroyed by the Roman Empire in the first century A.D. He believes the jewelry may have been made locally, or may have come from Egypt, since it resembles pieces depicted in tombs in Fayum, Egypt, from Roman times.

To read about more ancient jewelry, click here to check out editor Hazel Wheaton's post about the reopening of the Museo de Oro (The Gold Museum) in Bogota, Columbia. Or, click here to read one of my earlier posts about jewelry from The Burnt City of ancient Persia.

Enjoy!

—Kristin

November 14 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:19:00 GMT

It's less than two weeks until Thanksgiving, somewhere between 39 and 41 days until Christmas (amazingly, that's what I found as I searched the Web, and I'm so amused by the variance that I just don't want to count for myself), and 47 days until New Years Eve (which is not a big celebration date for me personally, but I know some people get nutty about it).

For the record, though my goals were lofty last Friday and the week before that, I didn't get those projects started. However, I did get the living room rearranged, the cardmaking and stamping station set up in my living room (it had to come in from the unheated sunporch), the leaves raked, two visits to the gym logged, and evenings with my favorite little one and with a date squeezed into those two days, so I shouldn't be hard on myself. Maybe this weekend I'll make some gifties, but I'd hate to jinx it. First, there's brunch with friends in Appleton, maybe a visit with my bff Janet and her brood that afternoon, and then, of course, those gym visits.

I have to say, there is something about forking over the money for the gym membership that has motivated me to getting there. Plus, and I know this sounds cliche, I really do feel more energized and less jiggly already, so I'm going to keep it up. Counting from Saturday to Friday (today) as my first "real" week, I've been there four times and might go tonight as well. And each visit has been about an hour or so, so that's good, right?

Though there's been lots of gym progress, the lack of Christmas gift progress triggers a wee bit of anxiety about getting all of the homemade gifts I want to get done completed in time. And, as usual, there's laundry to do, produce that needs to be cooked up before it crosses over to inedible, and apples to be put up. (Yes, I got a notion to make applesauce the other day at the grocery store--what was I thinking? Oh yeah, I was thinking that I have my mom's super-cool apple peeler, corer, and slicer and her applesauce press.) But no worries. I'll figure it all out. Meanwhile, take a break from YOUR busy weekend and check out my blogging friends.

On the beads and projects front:

Melissa at Strands of Beads remembers an important trip through the (what else?) beads she collected.

Jennifer at Jennifer Jangles Blog is showing a easy brooch project.

Cyndi at Jewelry & Beading doesn't often play with clay, but she figured out how to make a really easy pendant that she really likes!

Carmi glams up some old poker chips for Carmi's Lucky Chips Necklace.

Take a tour of Art Bead Scene Editor, Lynn Davis's sticky studio! She's exploring resin.

And Naomi from BeadStyle visits Target and suggests that you can create jewelry that is as current as theirs.

With slightly more seasonal projects:

Savvy Crafter-Candie Cooper has a project to warm up your Thanksgiving table--festive fall candle holders. (Image, right.)

And check out Katie's Venetian Glass = Yummy! blog, which talks about adding Venetian Glass into the mix to create a new fall favorite.

And in beady media buzz and marketing tips:

Jean at Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done! is all kinds of entertained reviewing Jennifer Perkins' book, The Naughty Secretary Club.

And Jen at Naughty Secretary Club asks "Do you tune in to watch Mad Men each week? Ever pay attention to the jewelry the ladies in the office wear? You might just spot a Naughty Secretary Club Pencil Pusher Necklace."

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry talks about the importance of getting yourself out there!

And in Marketing Monday, Barbe gives some tips about contacting new venues to sell your work.

P.S. From the "small world" files, Katie used glass from Bella Venetian Beads in her project. I know this business well—they have an amazing selection. I happened into their shop many years ago; it's near where I grew up. And in the November 08 issue of BeadStyle magazine, Cathy Jakicic created her Sparkle and Smoke necklace and earrings (p. 48) using some of their beads.

Want to know what materials, tools, and supplies you'll need for the projects in the January 2009 issue?

Katie Streeter — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:06:00 GMT

I'm sure that you eagerly wait for each issue of Art Jewelry to arrive in your mailbox (I know I do), and that you can't wait to try out some (or even all) of the projects. Well, to help you get a jump start on gathering and shopping for the materials, tools, and supplies that you'll need for the projects in the upcoming issue, we've made a handy printable list. That way, you can shop now for the supplies you need, and then when the issue arrives, you can get cracking on those exciting projects.

Our January issue will be mailed to subscribers beginning next week, but in the meantime, you can visit our "Next Issue" page for a sneak peek at the projects in that issue. Then, go to "Contacts & Suppliers," where you'll find the printable list of the materials, tools, and supplies that you'll need for those projects.

From now on, we'll be updating our "Next Issue" page and posting the materials, tools, and supplies list about a month in advance of the subscriber mailings, so you'll have plenty of time to gather and shop before the next issue of Art Jewelry arrives in your mailbox (or before you visit your favorite Art Jewelry retailer to pick up the latest issue).

—Katie

Lost wax casting at my local studio arts center

Jill Erickson — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:28:00 GMT

The student Union at one of our local universities is home to the Studio Arts & Craft Centre, where I've been taking a very fun casting class. For six Wednesday evenings, my classmates and I are spending our time building a wax model, spruing and investing it, and then making a bronze cast using a centrifuge. Very, very cool. Our instructors, Kaarin Swan, and Frank Mueller, are art education majors at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Their team approach to teaching is a wonderful balance of patience and enthusiasm.

As an aside, Frank demonstrated a quick method for casting pewter:

I asked Kaarin and Frank what the trends are in the curriculum at the Studio Center, and they said that jewelry-making is very popular. Which is great to hear. Both as an associate editor on a jewelry magazine, and as a student eager to take more classes.

Are you looking for jewelry-making classes in your area? If you live in the U.S., you can search our handy database for a school, community college or craft center near you. And if you live outside of the U.S., help us expand our listing to include international entries by clicking the 'Add My Class' link at the bottom of the left navigation bar.

November 7 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 20:06:00 GMT

What I thought might be a creative weekend last weekend turned into an eventful weekend, and creative in a different way--I went from being a straight-haired blonde to a curly redhead. And though I did get to test-drive that quilting machine (which was very cool), I didn't get any of the cards or jewelry made. But this weekend looks pretty wide open except for some leaf-raking, so there's hope.

Meanwhile, the Gems have been hard at work, so let's share what they've been up to.

About.com Jewelry Making
Looking for some early holiday jewelry ideas? Start now with these simple projects that will appeal to a range of fashion tastes.

Art Bead Scene
Ribbon Isn't Just for Wrapping Presents!

Art Jewelry Magazine
A reader tests Art Jewelry's acid-free etching technique

Barbe Saint John - New Treasures from Forgotten Artifacts
Barbe is giving a way a copy of "Get Your Sparkle On', find out how to win it!

Get ready for the holidays with Katie's great gift ideas
Check out three of Katie's favorite gifts to give (and create!) this holiday season!

Jewelry & Beading
Using multiple techniques, Cyndi has made an autumn necklace that warms her heart now that the days are cold!

Naughty Secretary Club
Jen invites collage artist Traci Bautista to Austin for a little paint meets jewelry adventure.

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
The day before the election, Jean urged us all to vote, which we did! On a jewelry note, she mentioned her fun article concerning gift ideas for the upcoming holidays which she wrote for Soft Flex!

Strands of Beads
Melissa ponders ethical issues involving some vintage beads

Vacation Necklace
Carmi thinks nature provides pre-drilled shells just for her.

Think about visiting Tucson for the gem and mineral (and jewelry, tools, metals, wire...) shows! The Art Jewelry editors are.

Kristin Sutter — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:55:00 GMT

It's November, and here in the Art Jewelry offices, our thoughts are turning to the Southwest — not because our Wisconsin locale means we've already got snow in the forecast, but because in February, the city of Tucson, Ariz., is inundated with countless vendors from every facet of the jewelry world. Every year, we make the trip to scout for new products, new discoveries, new contacts, and new friends. If you've never heard of the phenomenon that is Tucson, check out "How to Tackle Tucson." The article, written by editor and veteran Tucson-goer Hazel L. Wheaton, is a practical guide to what "Tucson" is, why you should go, and how to enjoy the experience.

For dates of the 2009 Tucson shows, go to www.visittucson.org. If you can't make it to Tucson, you can look for shows near you in our Events Calendar. You can also discuss shows, including Tucson, in Going to a Show? on our forum.

Enjoy!

—Kristin

The Pendant Show at Velvet da Vinci Gallery is going on now

Katie Streeter — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 21:39:00 GMT

I love hearing about new jewelry exhibits at galleries and museums, and when I hear about a really good one, I have to pass along the information.

Velvet da Vinci, a San Francisco-based gallery that features art jewelry, sculpture, and other contemporary crafts, is currently exhibiting pendants made by more than 125 jewelers from 25 countries. The exhibit, titled "The Pendant Show" celebrates the new book, 500 Pendants & Lockets. According to the gallery, "The Pendant Show is a testament to the vitality and diversity of contemporary jewelry. Whether manifestations of joy, courage, whimsy, outrage, longing, or loss, these pendants delight and inspire you."

If you'll be in San Francisco any time between now and November 30, you'll want to check out the exhibit. (And if you're lucky enough to go see the exhibit, let us know what you thought of it.) For more information, click here.

If you hear of any great upcoming jewelry exhibits or shows, let us know. If you're looking for shows to attend, check out the Events Calendar on our Web site.

—Katie

A reader tests our technique for acid-free etching

Hazel Wheaton — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:20:00 GMT

One of our readers, Wendy Lee Hearn, was particularly inspired by the saltwater etching process that Ron Pascho shared in the November 2008 issue of Art Jewelry. She documented her experimentation in her blog, Guru Creations, and included photographs of the process.

It's always great to know that readers are taking our published projects and running with them, so to speak. We're always curious to see what people are doing with the techniques that we and our authors share — to hear what worked, what didn't, how different artisans tweaked the process or the designs to make something different. So please, I encourage all our readers to send us photos, links, or letters to let us know what worked for you! Subscribers can post photos of their work in our online galleries.

P.S. Check out this tip about working with PnP paper.

My Dad just bought a Kindle (with a nice discount a la Oprah)

Jill Erickson — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:15:00 GMT

My Dad embraces new technology with a zeal that I envy. No fear, that one. His latest gizmo is a Kindle, or wireless reading device. You've probably heard about this Amazon product. Oprah is all over the Kindle. So much so that the Kindle was her recent studio audience give-away bonus. (Her home viewers were invited to take advantage of a limited offer discount on the product.)

I haven't seen this device in person yet, but I've checked out some reviews on the Net. My Dad thinks the Kindle is very nifty and practical -- no need to schlepp books around. And the built-in dictionary is quite practical too. In addition to books and newspapers, you can download some magazines.

So, what do you think about using wireless reading devices? Is this where we're headed? Will paper books become antiques?

So much for my Monday musings. Have a wonderful week. Cheers, ;) Jill

October 31 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 16:27:00 GMT

Happy Halloween, blog readers! It's been a busy week for me, blog-wise. Since yesterday was Ornament Thursday, I posted my Gratitude Project, and today, the Gems do a little trick-or-treating! So don that costume (or not) and go knock on their virtual doors for a treat . And while you're at it, give them a treat that's better than candy (okay, maybe at least as good as)--comment on their blog post. Just takes a second!

1000 Jewelry Inspirations Book Review
Barbe gets run over with inspiration from this book.

Art Bead Scene
Art Bead Scene Gives a Primer on Jewelry Displays, just in time for your Holiday Show!

Carmi's Art/Life World
Carmi salutes the sock monkey with a fun-to-wear necklace. (Shown above---you've GOT to see the finished project!)

Get Your Bead On!
Check out Katie's latest news and notes!

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Holiday or Anytime Ornament Project

Jewelry & Beading
Take a look at the beautiful way artist Beth Cummings has combined photography and jewelry!

Katie from Art Jewelry magazine and studio safety
Read about safe studio practices during this busy jewelry-making season

Snap out of it, Jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean intervews Sara Hardin of Soft Flex Company for her wonderful Links collection of interview stars!

Strands of Beads
Melissa reads a little Sylvia Plath for inspiration this week

Halloween vampire ring on Etsy

Jill Erickson — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:13:00 GMT

If you're a bit of a Halloween fanatic, you'll probably appreciate this polymer clay ring posted on a seller's Etsy site. Knowing how much I enjoy the ghoulish holiday, Addie forwarded me the link. I love getting personal email notices with links to stuff I like. And I like to reciprocate when I come across a site that I know will resonate with a certain friend or someone in my family. Back in the day, we used to send snail mail post cards or newspaper/magazine clippings. Now we can keep in touch "across the miles" as those old greeting cards used to say...with the tap of our keyboards.
Happy Halloween!
>..< (that's supposed to be a bat!) Cheers, Jill

October 25 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 17:48:00 GMT

Sorry I missed catching you all up last week. I was out in Salt Lake City for a little site seeing and a board meeting. (See photos of the lake and the mountains, right.) It was a lovely trip, filled with a lot of laughter, a lot of looking forward, and a little bit of shopping (or whatever you'd call eight quilt shops in seven hours of shopping...). Everyone was wonderful out there--I even got to attend a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, which was an experience I wouldn't trade for the world.

So to bring you all up to date, so much has been going on. So let's catch up with the jewelry gems this week.

About.com Jewelry Making
Tammy has gathered up a load of jewelry making links from all over the web covering related news, contests, and more

Art Bead Scene
Catherine Witherell Visits Art Bead Scene!

Bead&Button Magazine
Check out Tea's blog about BeadAndButton.com/15 and their 15th anniversary content!

Carmi's Art/Life
Carmi makes a fabric skeleton pin to wear trick or treating.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter unveils some new designs for Fall!

Check out Katie's cute halloween decor!
Katie's festive pumpkin captures the the feeling of fall.

Jennifer Jangles Blog
Holly Jolly Christmas Designs

Jewelry & Beading
Cyndi's taking a look this week at all the informations she's gathered on steampunk style jewelry.

Savvy Crafter
It was a dark and not so scary craft night....

Strands of Beads
Melissa thinks about snakes and circle links

Jewelry studio safety — safety glasses

Katie Streeter — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 16:09:00 GMT

I think that October should be "Jewelry-Studio Safety Month." While jewelers are going into overdrive to bulk up their stock for the holidays, they need to keep studio safety in mind. Wearing nonflammable clothing and safety glasses, working in a well-ventilated area, and using tools as directed by the manufacturer are essential for a safe jewelry-making environment.

A recent post on the Art Jewelry forum served as a good reminder of why it's so important to wear safety glasses while working with metal. The post, which you can read here, was from a forum member who recently needed an MRI done. MRI, or Magnetic Resonance Imaging, uses a strong magnetic field to scan the body. Any metal, including tiny particles caught in the eye, can move due to the magnetic field during MRI scans, causing injury to the eye. Wearing eye protection while working with metal will prevent metal dust and particles from getting in your eyes, keeping them healthy and clear longer — think of it as job security. Read more about MRI and eye safety at RadiologyInfo.

For more safety tips to take to your studio, check out our safety basics. A safe and happy holiday season begins in the jewelry studio!

—Katie

The world's finest collection of gold jewelry and objects

Hazel Wheaton — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:17:00 GMT

I had an oh-so-pleasant surprise waiting in my inbox yesterday morning: a news update about the imminent reopening of the Museo de Oro (trans.: The Gold Museum) in Bogota, Columbia. The museum has been in existence for nearly 70 years, and houses what is arguably the world's largest and most important collection of gold pieces, including statuary, vessels, ritual objects, and jewelry. For several years, the museum has been undergoing renovations, so that they could exhibit more than the tiny fraction of their collection (with numbers in the tens of thousands of pieces).

On November 2, the museum will open the doors of its new facilities, allowing awestruck visitors to see a truly staggering collection of gold objects, displaying exquisite craftsmanship. Here's a taste, the most famous piece in the museum's collection, called the "El Dorado Raft."

The raft, only 19.5 cm in length, was found in 1969 in Pasca, south of Bogotá, and was quickly acquired by the museum — it has never left Colombia. Pre-Hispanic societies in the Americas showed a high degree of social and economic organization, leading to the growth of specialist craftsmen, including goldsmiths. Starting in Peru, metallurgy spread through much of the Americas, and the work of Colombian craftsmen is astonishing in its artistic invention and technical expertise. The El Dorado raft is testament to that expertise; it was cast in one piece using lost-wax casting in a clay mold, some time between 1200 and 1500.

Here's a link to the AP news report; CNN has some footage of more pieces from the collection, filmed without a voiceover. For more luscious photos and information, go to the Museum's Web site. Be sure to check out the link at the top tagged "Masterpieces" — that's where you'll find the goodies. The following pieces are some of my favorites:

Hammered nose ornament; A.D. 1250; 13.2 x 15.9 cm

Statue of a man wearing the mask of a bat and surrounded by spirals and figures of birds; 900–1600 A.D.; 10.6 x 11.3 cm

Gold bottle cap; 0–600 A.D.; 11 x 9.5 cm

Gold bracelet; 150–900 A.D.; 5.4 x 8 cm. Made of hammered gold sheets connected with tabs.

Cast gold cat, 350 A.D.; 7.5 x 12.2 cm.

15th Annual Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair (SOFA): Chicago 2008

Jill Erickson — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 20:58:00 GMT

The leaves are falling here in the Midwest. We're gearing up for shorter days and longer nights. The change in season also means that the annual SOFA show in the Windy City is only a few weeks away. The Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fair is returning to Navy Pier on November 6-9, 2008. A few of us here at AJ will be heading down to SOFA to check out the array of fine art being shown by 100 galleries from 16 countries. We'll be talking with artists, keeping our eyes open for trends, and zeroing in on the jewelry being exhibited at this year's show. I really like this event because of the variety of media that the artists work in. Everything from glass, metals, textiles, ceramics, wood, and more. Even though I do get a case of sensory overload when I visit this show, I always come away rejuvenated and ready to get in the studio and experiment! I hope you're able to take a field trip soon to recharge your creative batteries. Have a great week. ;) Jill

New Free Project: Image-Transfer Technique for Metal

Katie Streeter — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:49:00 GMT

Are you looking for a new jewelry technique to try out this weekend? We just posted a new project by Sherri Haab on how to use image-transfer solution to add photocopies to metal jewelry. The project is free to registered users, so check it out! Download the free project here.

Have a great weekend!

—Katie

In times of economic crisis, we learn just how interconnected we all are -- and the jewelry scene has it's own international landing spot.

Jill Erickson — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:08:00 GMT

With the stock markets doing the limbo lately, I'm reminded that the economy is truly a global deal. Which in turn got me thinking about how the Internet has made it so easy to be an international armchair traveler (and consumer). One way that I like to experience other places is to hop on a Web site that features the work of jewelry artists from all over the world. If you like to do a little armchair traveling too, check out the klimt site. And for ideas about how you can sell your work online, be sure to read the Business Savvy article in the upcoming January 2009 issue of AJ. Have a great week, Jill

October 10 Jewelry Gems of the Web

Linda Augsburg — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:52:00 GMT

Wow did this week fly by! I barely had time to think (words which might concern my employers, but rest assured, it's hyperbole). But I did make time to catch a few movies while I was hibernating this weekend, and I did a little Web surfing while watching West Wing on DVD (yes, it's become an addiction). So why don't you catch up with my Gems this week too? (and PS Jean, thanks for the book review!)

Art Bead Scene
It's a dark and stormy night at Art Bead Scene

BeadStyleMag.com
Did you see Sara Snow's Living Green video on CNN.com?

Carmi's Art/Life Blog
Inspired by a tree pendant, Carmi creates new buttons.

Carter Seibels for Divali Glass Jewelry
Carter takes a walk down Divali Glass Jewelry Memory Lane

Jewelry & Beading
A special group of friends is showing off the work inspired by Cindy McCornack, and raising money for the American Lung Association at the same time.

Savvy Crafter-Candie Cooper
Tic-Toc, Candie shows a sweet beaded clock...

Snap out of it, jean! There's beading to be done!
Jean becomes an armchair traveler and lets a book take her away to exotic places when she reviews Bead Journey...!!!

Strands of Beads
Melissa creates a word bead based on T.S. Eliot's "The Naming of Cats"

Templates for hollow-form lily brooch and Arts & Crafts metal clay necklace

Kristin Sutter — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:53:00 GMT

If you're interested in re-creating the lily brooch project or the Arts & Crafts metal clay necklace project from the November 2008 issue of Art Jewelry, having the templates might make your life a bit easier.

To find the template for the hollow-form lily brooch ("From Flat to Flower"), click here.

To find the template for the metal clay necklace ("Construct an Arts & Crafts Necklace"), click here. Remember, you can use the blank panel template to draw your own designs.

Enjoy!

—Kristin