Search results matching tag '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

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!

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.

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

Article Idea

delinquent beader — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 00:37:48 GMT

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

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)