Art Jewelry magazine Editors' Blog : Art Jewelry Magazine

Friday Highlights from the Subscriber Gallery: Round 2, Jill's choice

Jill Erickson — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:19:00 GMT

Time flies! I'm up again to choose three favorite posts from our online Subscriber Gallery. I'm going for a theme here this week that I like to call, Keep on a-Rockin' it (work that incorporates some kind of stone in its design).

From the Wire/chain mail gallery: "Basia Mille" by Aden Angier. This necklace shows off a polished drop chalcedony, and a pair of faceted blue topaz stones. Simple and elegant.

From the Metal Clay gallery: Patrik Kusek's wrapped jasper pendants. Patrik is firing the metal clay with the stones in place!

From the Metals gallery: A lovely brooch by Monika Roos. The use of mixed metals in cool and warm colors provide a striking complement to the lapis focal stone.

Keep posting your work. The gallery "doors" are always open for new submissions! Happy Friday, Jill :)

PBS series Craft in America interviews artists in their studios

Jill Erickson — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 19:20:00 GMT

I don't know about you, but I love going to artists' studios, listening to their stories, and watching them work. That's why the PBS series, Craft in America, is my favorite show right now. If you can't watch it when it airs on TV, you can check out full episodes online. Each Episode focuses on a particular theme, such as Process, Community, Landscape, and Memory. Of course I'm delighted when jewelry-makers are featured, but I like learning about the artists working in all the other disciplines too.

Episode II focuses on Landscape -- how it influences what each artist makes and why he or she makes it. In Chapter 2, metalsmith Jan Yager shares her processes and invites us into her Philadelphia studio. Her's is an urban landscape. The work she makes is informed by the objects, textures, and city-tough plants that grow within a one-block radius of her studio.

In Chapter 8, metalsmith and sculptor Kit Carson takes us on a walk among saguaro cacti in the Sonoran desert. His studio is in New River, Arizona which couldn't be more different from Philadelphia.

If you have a favorite artist from this series, I'd love to hear about it! Have a great week. Cheers, Jill

Heard about anvil shooting yet?? You've got to watch this video!

Addie Kidd — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:22:00 GMT

A quick hello here from the Art Jewelry magazine headquarters.

So I came across this video the other day, and absolutely had to share it with you. You won't believe what this guy can do with an old jeweler's anvil! The gentleman in the video, Gay Wilkinson from Missouri, is apparently a World Champion Anvil Shooter. Who knew there were such things?!?

Video: How to Shoot an Anvil 200 Feet in the Air.

To sum up the video:

Put a whole bunch of gun powder beneath a heavy (think 100 lbs [45 kilos]), traditional blacksmith's anvil.
Using a fuse, ignite the powder. When the powder explodes, the anvil launches high into the sky.
Run.

My "inner giggling adolescent" got such a kick out of this video. I think my favorite part (besides the obvious explosion), was the aftermath - I was fascinated to see how deeply the anvil's impact embedded it in the ground.

Of course, I don't recommend trying this at home. As cool as this "sport" is to watch, I'm glad I have the distance of YouTube and the internet to protect me. I may just be a bit too much of a fraidy-cat to hang out in that field while they're shooting off anvils. Even with safety gear, how exactly do you predict where a flying anvil is going to land?

And if you just can't get enough anvil shooting, here's another video link. It's an anvil-launching montage!

Take care, and have an explosive Tuesday!

~Addie~

[Via Kottke]

Friday Highlights from the Subscriber Gallery: Jill’s choice

Jill Erickson — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 18:54:00 GMT

Last Friday, Hazel got our new "editor's picks" weekly blog post rolling. We'll be aiming the spotlight on three pieces of jewelry made by our subscribers who've generously posted work in our online galleries. Today, it's my turn! Without further ado, here are my selects:

From our Alternative Materials Gallery: Long Stone Bracelet by Shelly Daly. I really like the scale and simplicity of this piece. And of course there's that whole beach stone thing going on.

From our Enamels and Glass Gallery: Juicy Earrings by Juice Glass. That cobalt blue is marvelous.

From our Metal Clay Gallery: Arbol de Vida pendant by Lorena Angulo. Lorena's interpretation of the "tree of life" motif employs hand-sculpted bronze metal clay.

Enjoy and have a great week. Keep posting your wonderful work on the Subscriber Galleries! Cheers, Jill

Make your own clasps and elevate your work

Hazel Wheaton — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 22:10:00 GMT

This week, the editorial and art staffs of Art Jewelry sat down for our monthly "New Proposals" meeting. This is the time set aside for evaluating all the new material that has been submitted to us — either for a proposed how-to project, a technical article, or Gallery. We refer to the process as "jurying," much like judges will do for a show or a competition.

By far, the greatest number of proposals come in for our Gallery — which isn't surprising at all. One of the most common observations among the staffers is, "It's nice work, but why did she/he have to use pre-bought findings?" Making your own ear wires or clasps or connections is relatively simple — and certainly it's within the skill set of the artists who make the complex and beautiful pieces that cross our desks for evaluation. It's a finishing touch that shows a level of artistry and attention that goes beyond just stringing on a set of earwires that come 10 to a bag. And yes, people do notice.

If you're looking for a how-to on making your own clasps, Art Jewelry Associate Editor Addie Kidd recently filmed a tutorial for Kalmbach's new Jewelry Classes on Demand series.The tutorial shows you how to make an S-hook clasp, two kinds of hook-and-eye clasps, a spiral hook clasp, and a toggle clasp — all using basic wireworking techniques.

Collecting stones along Agate Beach at Patrick's Point state park, California

Jill Erickson — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 17:46:00 GMT

When you think of beaches, do you imagine sandy shores? Or do you conjure up images of a coastline piled with gazillions of smooth stones and pebbles? Or maybe you picture tide pools? I like all three, but I'm a rock hound at heart, so my recent trip to California's northern coast had to include a stop at Agate Beach in Patrick's Point state park. This strip along the Pacific coast is stunning; with its super-sized ferns, beautiful redwoods, and banks of fog that roll in and out like the tides, it's downright enchanted.

As much as I enjoyed the beach for its sunshine and refreshing breeze, I was most excited about spending time looking for agates. Which seems to be about patience, luck, and perhaps a little concentration. Here's a snapshot of my favorite finds:

I also collected other smooth, flat-ish stones similar to the ones in the photo below, that I intend to drill and make into pendants. You can download Addie's tutorial on how to drill through glass and use her same technique to drill through stone. Just be sure to inspect your stones to avoid drilling through cracks or fissures.

And then of course, I wouldn't have considered my trip completely successful unless I also made a banana slug siting. Yes, there is such a creature. Check out this beauty. My friend's son spied this guy during one of our hikes. Special shout-out to Sam and Ben :)

I hope your summer has been a good one. And that you've had some time to make jewelry, visit family and friends, and enjoy moments of rest and relaxation. Cheers! Jill

Jennifer Kahn's Etsy video

Jill Erickson — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 15:31:00 GMT

Jennifer Kahn is a young, accomplished jewelry maker who works in traditional metals and metal clay. When Hazel found a snazzy video that Jennifer made, I just had to call dibs on it for blogging! Check out Jennifer's fast-paced, syncopated Etsy video that features the creation of a metal clay pendant.

For a slower paced video on how to use a handheld butane torch, go to the Art Jewelry magazine video demos!

Have a great week. Cheers, Jill :)

New online content — free videos, projects, and PDFs

Hazel Wheaton — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:56:00 GMT

::eyes calendar::

It's been a long time since we last checked in with the blog, but to make it up to you, I come bearing gifts. Our July 2009 issue made its debut just in time for the Bead & Button Show, which has occupied all our lives recently. We're awfully proud of the issue, and a quick look at the July table of contents will make it clear why.

To add extra value to the print edition, we've put a whole bunch of new content online, from videos that demonstrate particular techniques, to articles that give the basics about a particular medium, to charts that provide quick references when you're trying to pick out the right drill bit to use.

Plus, subscribers to the print magazine get an extra how-to project that directly ties in with one of the projects in the magazine.

Here's a rundown of some of the new stuff:

New subscriber-only project:

Learn how to use wireworking and wire-wrapping techniques to embellish a hook clasp in this beginner tutorial by Erin Paton. You can make a plain clasp or dress it up with a pearl — your choice!

Three new reference charts, available as free PDFs:

Ring size chart: Find standard U.S. and U.K. ring sizes plus inside diameter measurements and inside circumference measurements in this quick-reference chart. Also, learn how to calculate the length of metal sheet you'll need to make ring bands.

Metal piercing chart: Use this handy chart to determine which drill bit and saw blade to use for piercing your metal sheet.

Convert drill bit sizes to inches or millimeters: Drill bit sizes are based on a gauge system that's different from the standard wire-gauge system. Use this chart to convert between drill bit number, inches, and millimeters.

To get you all prepped for Angela Gerhard's lovely Sgraffitto enamel bracelet project, Associate Editor Jill Erickson has written an Introduction to Enamels: A glossary of terms plus safety basics.

And finally, the Art Jewelry editors unveil four brand-new instructional videos:

New video: Using a rolling mill Watch this video to learn about how to use a rolling mill to make a sheet of metal thinner.

New video: Roll-printing Metal Watch this video to learn how to impress a texture onto a sheet of metal using a rolling mill.

New video: Using a Disk Cutter Watch this video to learn how to use a disk cutter to cut circular disks from a sheet of metal.

New video: Using a Dapping Block Watch this video to learn how to use a dapping block to dome a piece of metal.

Enjoy all the new goodies!

Sneak peek behind the scenes as Art Jewelry magazine's editors tape new jewelry-making technique video tutorials for you!

Addie Kidd — Fri, 01 May 2009 21:24:00 GMT

Last week I told you about the free demonstrations of jewelry-making techniques that Art Jewelry magazine will be offering at the 2009 Bead&Button Show. Well, our online homepage poll last week showed that 73% of you guys have never even been to the show!

I hear you... traveling and workshops are expensive. So even if you can't attend the Bead&Button Show in Milwaukee, WI, you can still sit in on free demonstrations from the editors of Art Jewelry.

I'm talking about our online How To Jewelry-Making Videos. You can learn all sorts of stuff by following along as Jill and I explain various jewelry-making tips and techniques.

Plus our videos are shown in extreme close-up, which is a clearer view than you'll likely get in a class anyway. Ever tried to crowd around a teacher to see what they're doing?? Me too, and it can be frustrating when they're demonstrating a tiny little wee detail and you're the one stuck at the back of the group!

So here's a behind-the-scenes peek at how Jill and I make our videos.

Early in the morning, the camera crew of Keith, Roger, and Dave set up all the lighting around our workbench.

In this photo, Roger is using a light meter to check the lights and help us avoid any distracting shadows.

Then later, when Jill and I come in, the lighting and camera angles are checked and re-checked. You can see that we have two cameras. That way when Dave and Roger are editing the videos together after our shoot, they always have their pick of the clearest shot – you'd be amazed how often our hands get in the way!

Luckily, to help us with that, we have dual tv screens setup just off-camera, which you can see here. They help us keep track of where our hands are, and what's shown clearly within the frame of each camera's angle.

[What's tricky though, is doing a technique, while making sure that nothing (like your shoulders or stray hair) gets in the way, while watching both tv displays, AND verbally explaining what you're doing! *phew!*

That's why sometimes it's easier to just scrap the original audio, and voice-over the video later. We don't have to do that too often though, and prefer not to - it usually turns out better if we can go with the original flow of the visual and audio together.]

In this photo, you can see me pointing out the various pliers you'll need to make a wire spiral.

As I'm pointing to the tools, my eyes are fixed on those tv screens (that's my concentratin' face ;-) ). Jill took this picture from just behind the tv displays.

Shooting a bunch of videos — we taped seven that day — can be sort of hectic. After all, there are five of us in this little work room, with wires all over the floor, a tv cart, two camera stands, and lighting equipment setup everywhere!

(Did I mention how hot that tiny room gets with bright lights and a bunch of people after a few hours? Wow!)

But all in all, it's a pretty fun way to spend a day. We have a good time on our "Art Jewelry Soundstage." There's plenty of joking around, like in this shot, where I'm sharing a laugh with Keith. Maybe we should release a bloopers reel... :-P

We really love that we can offer videos to you guys — we know that there's no better way to help our readers learn new techniques that to show you ourselves. All or our jewelry-making videos are on our Web site. They're free to watch, you just need to be registered on the site first, which is also free.

FYI, We also have a selection of some of our videos on YouTube! Visit Art Jewelry magazine's YouTube channel to subscribe – you can get email updates whenever we post new videos. And you can easily share your favorite videos on social sites like facebook, myspace, twitter, stumbleupon, or by embedding the videos on your own Web site or blog. Have fun with it. :)

I'll keep you posted as to when our newest videos are finished in the editing room.
Until then, have a happy Friday!

~Addie~

Free chain mail project available for a limited time on Art Jewelry's web site

Jill Erickson — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 15:50:00 GMT

That's right, another free, popular project from the Art Jewelry magazine archives! Click here to link to this very fun project, "Don't Fret -- This Bezel is Easy!" by John Wik. John's chain mail bezel is the perfect solution for displaying a favorite guitar pick or two! (It also works to capture other flat-ish objects). Though I have to say that I'm crazy about the rockin' guitar pick. Just so happens that I played electric guitar in my youth. Still have my 70's era Fender Mustang and a snapshot to prove it!

If you're as crazy about guitars as I am, then you'll definitely want to pop over to AJ's free downloadable wallpaper link to spice up your computer's desktop. Enjoy and rock on! ;) Jill

I'm taking my first class at the 2009 Bead&Button Show: Fusing a silver bangle taught by Janice Berkebile

Kristin Sutter — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 19:34:00 GMT

So, here's my confession: I've never taken a class at the Bead&Button Show. Appalling, I know. Especially since there are great teachers from all over the world teaching more than 500 classes, all within a 15-minute drive of my home. Considering that some of you fly across the globe to attend the show, my failure to seize the opportunity is shameful — I know, I know.

For those of you who are new to Art Jewelry magazine and wonder what a bead show has to do with the media we write about — metals, wire, metal clay, polymer clay, enamel, resin, chain mail, etc. — here's the skinny: The Bead&Button Show may have started for beaders, but it's grown so large (370 vendors, more than 500 classes) that there are now many classes for anyone interested in Art Jewelry-type media. To search the list of classes, click here. Yes, there's still time to register!

Why haven't I taken a class before? Because while many of you were elbow deep in potter's clay or oil paints in your youth (or in metals, like these lucky kids), I was elbow deep in books and journals (the lined ones, not the blank-paged ones). I've identified for years on our staff as the non-maker, the litmus test for whether instructions make sense. Because if they make sense to me, they'll likely make sense to a beginner. Or to someone who is spatially gifted enough to intuitively understand, say, why you'll end up with a lentil shape rather than a sphere if you don't dap each half of a metal bead enough. (I learned about that one in the project "Fahrenheit 650: the temperature at which keum-boo fuses," right.)

But the time has come for me to learn a thing or two about what the rest of you already know from experience. So, this year I'm taking "Fusing — The Dewdrop Bangle, left," taught by Janice Berkebile. I'm going to learn how to fuse silver wire, shape it into a bangle, and embellish it with wire wrapping and balled-up wire. This particular class is sold out, but you can click here to check out the other classes Berkebile is teaching.

What classes are you taking? Let me know by adding a comment below! Or click here to visit the Bead&Button Show forum to discuss there!

I hope to see you in June!

—Kristin

How polymer clay artist Melanie West ended up living a green lifestyle off the grid and making vibrant jewelry

Kristin Sutter — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:58:00 GMT

Our May 2009 issue was exciting to put together, because it was our first-ever green issue! I was lucky enough to be assigned to interview polymer clay artist Melanie West about her solar-powered home and studio in Freedom, Maine. It was so interesting to hear Melanie explain how and why she and her partner, Tom Levesque, have continually made their homestead more eco-friendly. The green technology and practices they've adopted go way beyond solar panels (though they do have those). To find out more about their home, check out "How One Artist Walks the Green Talk" in the May 2009 issue of Art Jewelry.

The thing about magazines, though, is there's a limited number of pages. Melanie has had such an interesting life and done so many cool things, and we just couldn't fit it all in the magazine. So, we put more about her inspiration as an artist and the path that took her to where she is now in this online article, "Polymer Clay Artist Melanie West's Path to Green Living (And Many-Colored Art)." I hope you enjoy reading about her life as much as I enjoyed talking with her!

––Kristin

P.S. Melanie also contributed a fantastic project, "Craft a Seamless Polymer Cuff," to our May 2009 issue. You can find the issue on newsstands now. Or click here to order it from our top-notch customer service department.

New free fine-silver earrings project from Art Jewelry magazine, featuring water casting!

Addie Kidd — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 15:00:00 GMT

We just released Art Jewelry magazine's newest free downloadable project – in it you can learn how to make a pair of really fun mismatched Serendipity Earrings (click here to download the project). In the tutorial I walk you through all the steps necessary to solder and assemble the oxidized fine silver earrings you see at right.

I created these earrings to showcase one of my favorite (low-stress, non-fiddly, imprecise) jewelry-making techniques – water casting. I'm telling you, this technique is fool-proof! Even if you've never done a casting of any kind before, I guarantee you that you will make one-of-a-kind, artistic, and organic-looking components with water casting.

The result are instantaneous, which satisfies my instant-gratification streak. AND, if for some reason you don't like the components that you've made, you can remelt them and try again. You can't beat that!

[I added a teeny-tiny 2mm 24k solid gold accent ball to each earring. Little splashes of gold like that are a fantastic and inexpensive way to add color and panache to a jewelry piece. No seriously, this gold's not expensive: you can buy a pair of these little gold balls at Metal Clay Findings for less than 17 bucks!]

To see just how little time it takes to make a water casting, check out this video. (You need to be registered to view it, but registration is FREE!) Follow along as I pour molten fine silver into a bucket of water, and then immediately check out the results.

To learn all the particulars about water casting, read my article "Goof-Proof Water Casting" in the May 2009 issue.

And if you're mixing your own alloys to use with that water casting, you should check out our alloy calculator here. Just plug in the metal alloy you'd like to make and the calculator will instantly figure out the exact ingredient ratios for you. (Maybe it's just me, but here's a big whoo hoo for less math!)

Speaking of calculators, we also have a gold karat calculator for you too. Just plug in whatever karat of gold that you already have and the calculator will tell you what you need to add to your gold to change it to another karat (either higher or lower). How nifty is that??

If you give water casting a try, please post a comment and tell me how you like it.
I'd be surprised if it's not one of your new favorites.

Take care,

~Addie~

P.S. Click here to download our free desktop wallpaper for the month of March – a necklace by John Wik featuring a chain mail bezel around a guitar pick. How cool is that??

Small jewelry world! Finding inspiration and discovering connections

Addie Kidd — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 15:37:00 GMT

Oh, how exciting is this!

Cynthia Tinapple over at Polymer Clay Daily just posted about Bettina Welker's polymer work.
Bettina's polymer work was inspired by enamel bracelets made by Angela Gerhard.
Angela's enamel bracelets are going to be featured in our July 2009 issue – you can learn how to make one!

My fellow associate editor Jill is editing Angela's sgraffito enamel bracelet story even as I type. Check out this cool process photo from the article - in it Angela's cleaning up a finished panel of her enamel bracelet.

Isn't it wonderful when inspiration can jump across medium lines like that?! That's part of why I'm so happy that Art Jewelry has always been a multi-media jewelry-making magazine. We'll have polymer clay next to enamel, next to gold and silver, next to bronze metal clay, next to wirework. Whew!

I think it's even more amazing when artists give each other the credit that they all deserve. Sadly, too often ideas are "borrowed" without acknowledgment. But not in this case – Bettina's so excited about her source of inspiration that she even puts Angela's Flickr address in the captions of her photos. I think that her confidence must come from the fact that Bettina didn't copy Angela's work in the least. She saw something beautiful in Angela's work, and then used her own medium of choice to make that aesthetic look completely her own. Isn't art great??

So check out this little chain of inspiration connections, then look for Angela's sgraffito enamel project in our July 2009 issue. I hope you find inspiration from it to make beautiful artwork of your own.

Happy Friday,

~Addie~

Art Jewelry magazine now offers free desktop wallpaper downloads!

Addie Kidd — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 16:35:00 GMT

Hello everyone!

I don't know about you, but I could look at jewelry morning, noon, and night. No, seriously – I'm surrounded by it every day, and oftentimes jewelry even ends up in my dreams. (If you dream about jewelry too, I'd love to hear about it in the comment section below. It'd be nice to know I'm not the only one!)

There's inspiration to be found in other artist's jewelry work. Plus, well...it's just plain beautiful stuff. And I'm not alone in this art appreciation. Judging by the response we get to both our in-print Gallery and our online Gallery, you guys looooo-oooove looking at innovative and stunning jewelry.

I guess it's no coincidence that the Show Us Your Work section of our Online Reader Forums has more views than any other section!

So that got us thinking here at Art Jewelry. We've got all this beautiful imagery of equally beautiful jewelry. Hmm, what could we do with it? What...to...do?

Simple: Wallpaper!!!!

There's something for every jewelry maker in this first batch of 6 images:

Metals: silver, gold, copper, and brass
Polymer clay (metal clay to come shortly)
Gemstones
Tools and equipment
Techniques: soldering, fusing, cold-connections, hammered finish, keum-boo, chain-making, patination, and bezel- and prong-set components

These images are from articles featured in Art Jewelry magazine, and you can learn how to make each and every one of them!
(Okay, so we can't teach you how to draw a cute ilustration like in the Kiln Love image, but we can teach you all about how to operate and care for your kiln!)

Visit our wallpapers page for more details about the projects and the artists.

Top row: John Sartin, Patricia Tschetter, Jill L. Erickson
Bottom Row: Melissa Muir, article by Pam East, Kim Stephenson.

To get your own free wallpaper, head on up to the Resources tab at the top of our Web site, and click on Wallpapers link. You can download your favorite image instantly! You can also bookmark www.artjewelrymag.com/wallpapers. Then again if you're looking for ultra-convenience, sign up for our newsletter. It's free, and we'll send you link every month with the latest free wallpaper.

And if you've got a minute, head to our Web site's home page to take our new Reader Poll — we'd love to hear your opinion on our new wallpapers.

Take care everyone and have a happy Friday!!

~Addie~

P.S. If you have any favorite images from the pages of Art Jewelry, or a specific technique you'd like to see featured as wallpaper leave a comment below.