The rest of week 11

Megan Clark : Titanium, Julie Brooks : Snorkles, Suzanne Krill : Mixed metals, Lillian Jones : Enamels


Week 11







Whew, finally finished. It was a busy weekend. We had a workshop at Pullen with Kathryn Osgood, enjoyed a dinner with her at a restaurant called Jabbara. Got my new hydraulic press set up, Gave it , its first test run. Had family and friends over for dinner. Saw a fantastic Fibers show at the ncsu gregg museum, called" Traces " Mapping a journey in Texties. Also went to an art opening for painter Anna Podris at Peace College . Wow, and on top of that miraculously finished week 11 earrings.

Spring Has Sprung Week 10





This was a hard week due to the awesome spring weather. Hard to want to stay inside working, which means better not wait untill sat. to get started next time. Lillian teardrop cloisonne, Julies' earrings are called measles or mumps, enamelled with gemstone, Megans' earrings are about layering, and patterns. Suzanne is using the same shapes and exploring different ways of incorporating them in the circle/dome format. I actually posted mine right out of the pickle in order to meet the deadline. I'll clean them up this week and post another photo probably oxidized with highlights. I maintained the use of the circle and teardrop with the movement and play I had in the last weeks' pair.



























































We planted this tree in our backyard to replace a redbud that didn't make it. All the sounds and sights and smells of spring are in the air.
Today is daylight savings, I read that the earth lost some of its time due to the earthquake in Japan. Japan actually moved 13 feet due to the jolt. I grew up in Hawaii and actually remember being evacuated for threats of a tidal wave. The images on tv of that water and its power are unbeleivable, I am sad for all of the loss of life and the damage done. To be sure I just cant imagine what that must have been like.

Hydraulic Press Project

These are the class samples from the Hydraulic Press Class at Pullen that ended today. This class was taught differently this time. I read alot of jewelry books and magazines and I ran across a" how to" project in Lapidary Journal Magazine and decided to give it a try in my class . The goal was to be project oriented while exploring basic techiques of texturing, puffing , stone setting and riveting, The project was submitted and created by Nan Azlund. It proved to be challenging and sucsessful to the class. I encouraged everyone to develop this project into something that incorporated their own idea into the projects outline.

Week 9, March Multiples for me.

Finally finished this week. Ive decided to set myself a goal for March. I like this design and so this month I will stick with this design and only deviate with surface finish, and metals used. I may add gemstones in the dangle but for the most part Ill be using the almond, teardrop and circular shape and thinking about movement and texture.

I experimented with photographing in front of the window at pullens' jewelry studio still working on getting photography down. As you can see in this shot these earrings change from every direction and are fun to wear.
























Week 9 earrings Julie Brooks

Julie has great titles for her earrings These are called, "for the illusion of wealth in our time of hardship. . . (Economical) diamonds are a girls best friend"
puffed back, sterling silver with 14 k ear post.

week 9 its March

Lillian Jones, beautiful cloisonne.























Megan Clark, layering of forms. Movement repetition, nice......














Suzanne seems to have theme going here, with combining materials and use of rivets.
I havent started, usually Thursday is earring day. Im thinking March multiples. Thursday is looking like Friday now, maybe Saturday.

Julie Brooks Metals Show at Pullen

Julie's show will be at the art center through the the first week of April. We are having a workshop with Ken Bova and I wanted to have this up for that group to see. The work is electroformed, enamelled, and uses found objects. Julie teaches enamelling & jewelry classes at Pullen. We are happy to have her, stop by her work is an unusual exploration of materials and techniques. Check out her website.

Tim Lazure Ring Workshop

Tim Lazure brought his Ring workshop to Pullen Art Center. These are some of his samples. I've got rings on my mind. This month I hope to make some. Lark Books has another 500 Ring Book call for entries, the deadline is March 30, juried by Bruce Metcalf.

week 8



So far this week , Earring order Betty Mckim, Suzanne Krill, Julie Price, Megan Clark, Adrienne Grafton and Lillian Jones. Im still working. I hope to post tomorrow. I got my new equipment today so Im a little distracted with final additions to studio. This is the last week of February. I have a new plan for March. I think each of the participants in this challenge are benefiting from this earring a week commitment. Finally finished. Image is a little dark . I really like this pair so I wil try to tweek the image. This has been my favorite week so far.


studio move


The old room is empty and new one is full. It so nice having this bigger space My new jewelers bench should be here in about a week, plus a few other long awaited items. Ill shoot another picture after getting the new equipment. The old room is yet to be decided as to what it will become. Ive learned that taking one room at a time is a good idea. Still thinking about paint color for old room. Im also planning to put up peg board in new studio. Having gone through everything while moving I found an earring I had been looking for for at least a year. I also found some pieces I had made over 20 years ago. I will also get to posting and documenting them as I really enjoyed seeing them again.





week 7

Suzanne Krill






















Enamelled Earrings by Lillian Jones























"Tell em large Marge sent ya" by Julie Brooks.






















These are sterling, oxidized with citrine by me.

Weather issues in the southwest & 3 pairs from Week 6




Anyone one on the east coast waiting for supplies knows what I am talking about. It seems everything heading this way has been held up in Texas. We are actually expecting snow here again in NC. Nothing like whats happening in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. Here it is Valentines week, Ill be working all weekend trying to catch up . Metal looks like it should be delivered tomorrow. The first two pairs of the 6th week Earring Challenge are Mine and Megans. I think my pink stone and silver with hearts will be done next week. These of mine are copper oxidized. Megans are titanium and sterling silver, I think this is her scales series.Suzanne Krill uses silver,copper and brass. Check back as I will have 3 more pairs from Adrienne Grafton, Julie Price and Lillian jones.

Julie Brooks Price



Julie just joined our earring challenge. She is a new instructor at Pullen Art Center. She will be having a show in the gallery at Pullen for the month of March. Currently she is conducting a monthly enamelling open studio, so check it out if your interested. Here are her first pair of earrings, she will be catching up for the first 4 weeks she missed, I'll post them as I get them.

week 5 Here they are, finally!


Order of earrings are Megan Clark, vermeil. Lilllian Jones, Cloisonne Enamel. Suzanne Krill, steel, gold leaf and silver. Betty Mckim Sterling Silver and citrine. This week was definitely a stretch for me to get the earrings done. As posted previously I am in the midst of studio renovation. We have a newcomer to the challenge, Julie Brooks Price, look for that post later tonight. will also post the studio renovation progress.

Beginning of New Studio

















Here is the beginning of the big move. I got a little nervous when I saw the first wall of paint, pear green. Now that its done I love it. Its very happy, energizing and fresh feeling. We had to remove base boards and pull up carpet. It will be so nice to not have sawblades and little gemstones lost in burber. Next weekend we (mostly George) will put down oak pergo flooring. I will easily double my space. Hopefully Ill get rid of all the things Ive accumulated and don't really need. My current workspace is very cluttered and jam packed. Its really only suitable for one person and it pours into another room. Hopefully the move will help me reorganize and offer space for visitors.




Week 4



Well lets see, this will be the last week for January earring challenge. I'm starting to feel a new direction for a series. For February I plan on going asymmetrical with gemstone color, focusing on straight lines and whimsy, lots of negative space, no circles this time, maybe a heart or two. If I really like something Ill make two and post one of them for sale. Im hoping to put some of that charmed treasure preciousnesss into a pair of earrings without them being too heavy or contrived