Discuss the current issue of Art Jewelry

Joan Tenenbaum

Bentiron — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:48:26 GMT

Gee, I think it would have been nice to have had one of her pieces on the cover, maybe Foggy Woman or Whose Woods are These. This is a wonderful set of jewelry but it would have been nice to have had a link to get the myth behind each piece especially Birch Forest Woman, I find her a little disturbing look disemboweled like that without explanation. Having a gallery of her work was nice too. She is a complete opposite of Judith Kinghorn who seems to never make a sketch or record of what she does, Joan Tenebaum documents everything about the piece. She appears to have a love of her environment and the people in it and it shows in her work.

John A. Sartin

Bentiron — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 22:17:38 GMT

I enjoy his projects. They are always interesting, well planed and usually have a forged element in them and I like forging. The cost of gold keeps me for going whole hog and adding all the bell and whistles to the projects but that's OK. The problem however is having his projects back to back in two different magazines. I would be nice if the respective editors would coordinate with the limited number of project authors so that their projects are spread out more over the year. I like both magazines very much but I don't need back to back projects by the same author no matter how good he is.

Tube-cutting jig from bamboo pendant

Milinka — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 03:46:54 GMT

The picture of the tube-cutting jig in the instructions for the bamboo pendant in the November 2009 issue seems to be much larger than anything I've been able to find anywhere. Does anyone have any idea if it can accommodate bigger tubes than this: http://www.contenti.com/products/saws/400-135.html ? I want to cut smaller pieces of larger-diameter tubes, and this and the standard plumber tube cutter do not work for this. I'd appreciate any information. Thanks!

Adie's download for silver earrings

alfeze — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:33:45 GMT

My adobe cant read the pdf document that is available for download for this lovely earring project... any ideas?

thanks

Anne

Blackening steel

henriettewhite — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:19:38 GMT

I just love the combination of blacked steel with gold, coral, copper or otehr metals and stones. The locket by Sarah Graham in the gallery is just beautiful! How does one blacken steel? Is there a easy way or can it only be done by boiling all sorts of dangerous chemicals?

september 2009 Polymer & metal clay

Oopa — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 18:10:04 GMT

Hello,

I am a recent subscriber from the Netherlands. I love the magazine! The polymer clay & metal clay project in this last issue (september 2009) really fired my enthusiasm. I have ordered mica powder from the USA, and now am searching the internet for the mentioned 'acrylic medium' Cindy Silas used to add the mica powder color to the polymer clay. I cannot find any! It probably is a generic name for something, which is unknown to me and my local store. Could you help me out? Also, Cindy uses a silicon spray as a release agent, could this just be any regular spray? Again, no one here can help me with these questions....too specific I'm afraid.

Thank you for your help, and thank you for your wonderful magazine.

Regards,

Marjan (Nuenen, the Netherlands)

March 2009 article Dichro Slide paper on enamel

oneshining — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 03:26:22 GMT

I read very carefully the article in the March 2009 issue of Art Jewelry Magazine, about how to use Dichro Slide with enamels. My first peice turned out well, I only have microscopic crazelines on the surface of the slide. It's completely attached, only an alundum stone or sand blaster could get it off.

The color is great, but it is just sitting on the surface of the enamel kind of like a sticker in appearance, I'm not sure I like that appearance.

I didn't see it written in the article to put a layer of enamel (flux or any other color) over the dichro slide, but is that what should be done? I couldn't tell by the photos in the article or by any of the photos on the authors website.

What is the difference between dichro slide paper and the luster decal paper?

Has anyone else tried this?

The pop-up window to subscribe to Art Jewelry Magazine

oneshining — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 09:42:28 GMT

Normal 0

I'm really getting tired of seeing it I am a subscriber. But won't be for long, if I keep getting that window; and if the magazine doesn't get more challenging. Maybe there should be a separate magazine for beginners. Like the difference between Bead Style and Bead and Button?

Note: Burned out on Hollow Forms - March AJ article

gagedesigns — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 15:25:58 GMT

Hello, I have an article in the new issue of Art Jewelry. I usually don't announce such things, but there were a couple Editorial liberties taken and I'd like to clarify a few points about this process and provide the pointers I consistently present to my students when I teach this technique: (Of course these comments only make sense if you add them as notes to the article.) * I recommend that you ramp your kiln to 1650°F for 2 hours. In my experience, this ensures that the clay is fully sintered and results in more durable jewelry especially needed for open space or fiigree work as in this technique. * Although one method for joining wet-to-wet metal clay components is to use water to active the binder and pressure, I suggest using metal clay paste in addition, which I've found provides a more reliable bond. * It's possible that a thin film of fired metal clay will form from the dust remaining on the surface or in the pores of the combustible clay parts of your design. Don't worry; you can use a needle tool to "pick out" these bits of fired clay to reveal the negative spaces of your design." There is also a follow up project on how to make a lentil bead on here on the web site. http://tinyurl.com/b94y29 Be sure you read the magazine article first which gives you the basics and is required reading in order to do the project on their site. Please, Please post or send me pictures for those that try the technique. I will be presenting this technique over the year in several formats and I'd love to share the work of others, not just my work. Happy Creating, Holly

At your request...

Katie Streeter — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:24:47 GMT

We had several requests for a new category where forum members can discuss projects from Art Jewelry and ask questions if they need help. Well, here it is!

––Katie

Victoria Lansford's Woven Cuff

beadsrit — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:46:29 GMT

I was just wondering if there is a trick to getting the fine silver wire straight when you roll it thru the rolling mill. I thought I would try this bracelet and have bought the bezel wire but I wanted to play first with copper before I ruin the silver. I rolled a piece of copper wire thru the rolling mill and it was not straight at all when I finished. If anyone has any ideas I would be interested. Thanks

Joyce

More Enamel!

Bentiron — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:48:05 GMT

I thought the previous article on enamel was interesting this one toped it. I have tried polymer clay and it just didn't do much for me and I have though about PMC but I just can't seem to get a fire going for it but enamel may be the next thing I try. If only I lived closer to Edmund!

Enamel

Bentiron — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 00:12:46 GMT

After reading through the article on enamel work, twice, I have a whole new appreciation for the art of enameling. It ain't that easy! All that scrubbing, fluxing, firing, scrubbing, stoning, applying the enamel powder it is a time consuming labour intensive process just to get a small pendent. Not a quick nor easy process. You that do enameling have my admiration.

Woven Cuff

Bentiron — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:56:35 GMT

Well one more figurative iron is in the fire, I tried the woven cuff only a smaller scale. I have a small scape of 24 ga. sheet and have made a small medallion out of it with rolled wire. Looks kind of OK, not great but I defiantly need more practice. This is not something one gets right the first time through.

Overwrap Technique

dressagewoman — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 00:58:07 GMT

I decided to try the overwrap technique in the latest issue (the cover piece) on the mane of my newest horse pendant. It worked pretty well, but I got to wondering if it wouldn't be better to work the two sets of wires simultaneously...alternating as needed to keep the wraps tight and neat and sequential. Has anyone tried something similar?

Judith Kinghorn

Bentiron — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 23:40:57 GMT

This was a funny, stimulating interview. My wife got a real chuckle out of her being not very 'left brained' and then she had the nerve to say 'just like you'. Well if it takes being like Ms. Kinghorn to make great jewelery I'm all for it. In another publication it almost makes one wrong for not making sketches before starting work on a piece. It is refreshing to read an interview of someone else that just picks up a stone and makes a spontaneous piece of jewelery, of course hers look a lot better.

Art metal Clay cover and article

DebbieMoyer — Fri, 08 May 2009 03:03:57 GMT

I was tickled when I received the latest issue of the magazine. I recognized the work right away. Gordon is a friend of mine on another forum & has been very forthcoming with information to help fledgling and intermediate metal clay artists. In fact he has inspired me to try using the medium - just got some clay and am going to give it a try.

He is an extremely talented artisan - I was thrilled to see him getting recognized for his fine contribution to the art jewelry community.

Debbie

Nancy Blair's Work

Bentiron — Thu, 15 May 2008 01:22:59 GMT

I don't know about the rest of you but I could have used about two more pages of the interview with Nancy Blair and photos of her work. I found it invigorating to see the textures and the stones were very unusual as well. I like texture! I have grown weary of the super polished work of traditional fine jewelry and it was nice to see the texture of the tool as well as that of the texture plates. Now all I have to do is find a texture that is uniquely my own as well as a stone that is not all that common. Beautiful work.

may 2009

Elfu — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:33:41 GMT

Hello there AJM,

I have just recived may issue and I first thing I saw was ... lower paper quality... I am disappointed about it because quality of magazine will be lower from now, but price is still the same.. Just take current issue and eg. november 2006... And you will see huge differance in papre quality... This means life of future magazines will be shorter ...But content in this issue is good as always. That is all I wanted to say...

Mark

Robert Dancik's Post-it note

Bentiron — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:59:21 GMT

I really enjoyed Robert's little exercise in the post-it note at the beginning of his article, made me stop an think about things, clear my mind and get on with my art. It was inspirational on my annual pilgrimage to Tucumcari, New Mexico for the Iron Pour held at Mesalands Community College. D'Jean Jawrunner is the hostess of the week long workshop in sculpture culminating in an iron pour. Robert Danick's exercises helped me to get on with making good art. Thank you Robert.

Exciting Bronze Clay!

Koimum — Sat, 31 May 2008 16:39:11 GMT

I was thrilled to read Art Jewelry Magazine's article on the new bronze clay! I hope it becomes available soon. I can't wait to "play"!

JoAnn

Flower Pendent

Bentiron — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 02:46:25 GMT

OK, So I'm working on the flower pendent and looking at the picture and the leaves have this pattern on them. It is mottled, now is that reflected light or fire-scale or just what?

I have made a few changes. Instead of half round wire I made some tube for the stem and I am using a half round red coral cab for the flower. Out of the base of the tube I am making forged roots.

Salt Etching

Bentiron — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 00:00:01 GMT

I was very happy to see an article on etching that didn't involve an exotic chemical that I need to buy at a jewelers supply house. This one I can just go the super market and pick it up. I think that I will now be trying some small projects. I have seen some etching on the knife making forums but have never read them till now and found this one that is very similar to this months article http://www.navaching.com/forge/etching.html. This fellow has some interesting things.

Sterling Silver (spring hard). Locating and description

happyww15 — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:41:08 GMT

Hello All,

I am having an issue locating the Sterling Silver (spring hard) which I believe to be "8 numbers" hard. Does anyone know where this obtainable?

Best Regards,

Becareful of Dangerous Suggestions you read...

Robert — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:06:02 GMT

Today I read in the January 2009 issue on page 32 one of worst suggestions I have ever seen. In fact it is an irresponsible one at that. The idea that you should make a chasing tool out of a screwdriver is not only a bad idea, but it's bloody dangerous as well. Screwdrivers are not meant to be hammered. There are some fools who will but it's a sure fired way to injury.

I recall a few months ago there was a proper sidebar on making chasing tools and it's not difficult or expensive at all. If all else fails you can make them from cut down steel allen wrenches. However please, don't do a screwdriver that just asking for trouble.

What we do, with jewelry making can be a dangerous process be it from chemicals, tools or other hazards. I personally make a lot of my own tools and I love to hear of good improvisation of all sorts, however it needs to tempered by common sense. Over the years I have broken a lot of screwdrivers just using them as screwdrivers, I shudder to think on taking a hammer to one regularly, which a chasing tool will require.

I suppose some will consider this a viable option, but it's far better to make one from tool steel, which is neither hard to get or expensive than to follow this advise. Then again considering you folks never corrected that sidebar a few months ago on Victoria Lansfords Stamp Making article with the incorrect instructions on heat treating I probably shouldn't be surprised. Truthfully I doubt I will renew my subscription if these are going to be your editorial choices.