Torch-Fired Enamel Fun and Frivolity, Coming Soon!

My sweet friend, Barbara Lewis, just released a terrific book - "Torch-Fired Enamel Jewelry - a workshop in Painting with Fire". 

To celebrate and promote this wondrous book, she is hosting a Virtual Book Tour! 

From October 6 through October 24, 16 artists will be blogging about it!  Look at this crazy line up of folks...I am honored and amazed to have been invited by Barbara to participate in this group!  Not only will you get to see torch-fired enamel from these artists' perspectives, but there will be giveaways....lots of them! and a GRAND PRIZE at the end!!

Here's the schedule:

October 6, Mary Jane Dodd

October 7, Gaea Cannaday

October 8, Linda Larsen

October 10, Andrew Thornton

October 11, Lori Plyler

October 12, Diane Cook

October 13, Lori Anderson

October 14, LeAnn Weih

October 15, Jen Judd Velasquez

October 17, Melissa Meman (that's me! yay!)

October 18, Lisa Crone

October 19, Shannon LeVart

October 20, Cindy Wimmer

October 21, Laura Twiford

October 22, Erin Prais-Hintz

October 24, Jennifer Cameron

For more information on the virtual tour events, go visit Barbara's blog, and make sure to stay tuned for some torch-fired enamel love from me on the 17th!

Celebrate...

Thanks to those of you who sent me bolstering words after reading my post yesterday. I am trying to focus on all the good in my life today, and the days to come (and there is much!) rather than fretting about things I have no control over at this point.  I struggled with this post for some reason and in typical stubborn Melissa style, I procrastinated.  Eventually, it dawned on me that this post had to be some sort of a internal celebration of  my creative journey over the past year. 

Last November, I made a decision to move my blog from typepad and came back to blogspot...  Thanks for finding me here!  Early on, I worried about not having any followers, but you started to trickle in and as of today there are 74 of you!

In January, I participated in my 1st Bead Soup Party, hosted by Lori Anderson. This past May, I participated in my 2nd one - these swap opportunities really opened my mind to different designing possibilities

In March, I learned torch-fired enameling from Barbara Lewis...and met a few new friends...Christine, Lori, Cindy, Jeanette, Sue...and of course Barbara!  I believe if I had to choose one thing that I did this year that changed my art, this class would be it.

Then, in September, I went to ArtBliss where I had an opportunity to taked classes with Melissa Manley and Deryn Mentock (need to take pictures of my Musical Note earrings!)

and I met some more wonderful people...Shelby, Carol, Leslie, Laura to name a few, and learned some more things that would totally change my creative thought process...in a good way! 

I have had 2 pieces featured on ArtBeadScene's Monthly Challenge...

And just last month, won a contest over at Jelveh Designs for a piece I created with one of her beads...which has now winged it's way to a new home with a very special person :)

There are more things that I could mention if I were writing a book, but it's just a blogpost!  I trust that the coming year will bring with it more celebrations of new learning opportunities and creative possibilities...I would love to celebrate being published in some way, and would love to meet more of you. 

Thanks for coming along on my creative journey and  I hope you are celebrating something everyday!

Art Bead Scene - May Monthly Challenge

With only a few days left in May, I finally finished my 1st ever challenge piece for Art Bead Scene.  This month, the challenge was based on the fabulous painting, The Juggler, by Marc Chagall.   I have always loved this painting, and as soon as I saw the green and blue (one of my all time favorite color combinations), I knew I had to create something.

Months ago, I won a gorgeous bead from lampwork artist Jelveh of Jelveh Designs in one of her generous blog giveaways.  I had been saving it for something special, and I think it really fit the bill for this challenge.  I also wanted to showcase my torch-fired enamel work that I have been creating lately, so after getting the stash all together, I set to work.  The design I had in my mind's eye, kept changing as I worked, though. Here is the final result after a bit of evolution from bracelet,  to necklace, and back to bracelet again!

My inspiration from the painting came initially from the color palette, but something else kept pulling me in...an emotion was evoked that I can't verbally express, but I think I captured it!   I initially also included a tiny torch enameled bird charm to tie into the "bird-ness" of the painting, but in this last iteration, I decided it was not needed and took it off to be used in a future project.  I have named the bracelet "Keepin' the Balls in the Air" :)

Pink and Orange...

Pink dogwood just below my deck....I love dogwood...at my childhood home in Alabama, the white variety grows all through the woods.  I need to plant a white dogwood.

Orange birdies...mixed metals (copper, sterling silver, and some sort of alloy), hand-wrought earwires, and carved mother of pearl birds.  I upcycled the birds from an ancient pair of earrings I  had never worn.

Hope to do lots of gardening this weekend if the weather holds up...everything needs mulch.  Would also like to get some jewelry pieces finished...if I can tear myself away from a time waster I have re-discovered.

Let's go back to 2002-ish, my jewelry making was mostly stringing and I discovered lampworked beads.  I took a class. I loved it, bought a beginner's sample pack of glass and tools, and was about to scrape up the money to buy a torch and kiln when it dawned on me that it might not be the right time...my son was only about a year old then, there was really no space in the house for it, plus our finances were not that happening.  Packed the glass and tools up in a box. 

Fast forward to 2010...just got a torch for enameling fun, and I love it...I have some pieces that I am trying to finish up to show you.  But, wait!  Don't I have a sample pack of glass put away somewhere? and a marver? and bead release? Yes!  Think this glass will melt in this little torch?  Yes!  Think I could make an actual bead? Yes!  Hmm, no kiln...wait!  I have heated vermiculite for enameling!  Yes, I know they need to be annealed, but I am just practicing :)   Big sigh...here we go again!

Anticipation...

Continuing from my last post, one of my goals for 2010 is to take my jewelry art to a new level. I have jumped in with both feet!

I mentioned signing up for Bead Soup Party. Particpants have been paired up to "swap" a focal, a few coordinating spacers or beads, and a special clasp with another jewelry artist. Each person then creates something with those items, then posts a photo of their creation on their blog on February 10th. Then the "party" begins as we go from blog to blog to see what was made. I am paired with lampwork artist and jewelry designer Cassie Donlen...how fun! I can't wait to see what she sends. I have my little bag of treasures all ready to ship to her, although I am feeling a tad intimidated, since I don't make my own beads.

I am also very excited to have signed up for my 1st actual jewelry class ever! Other than a lampwork workshop I took several years ago, and instructional books, magazines and online tutorials, I am pretty much self-taught. On March 6, I am going to take Barbara Lewis' Painting with Fire workshop, where I will be learning to enamel beads and pendants! You've probably seen Barbara's work in several jewelry publications, such as Belle Armoire Jewelry, or read her blog Jewelry of Distinction. An added bonus is that I will be able to meet in person some new bloggy friends! Yay!

Torch-fired enamel pendant by Barbara Lewis

If this all wasn't enough to get me going, I ordered and received some new fun lampwork beads, a couple of new books, and some other fun (and a bit daunting!) materials to try some new things...watch for blog posts and photos!

Frederick Arts Market...

I will be selling (hopefully) my jewelry at the Frederick Arts Market on this Sunday, May 24 from 1-5.  The market is located at 15 W. Patrick Street in beautiful downtown Frederick.  If you live in the area or nearby, please stop by and say hello!  I would love to see you:)

From their website...The Frederick Artist Market is an indoor arts and crafts market that features the work of up to 25 local artists, including jewelry, pottery, art, photography, and other hand-crafted items.  The event, which is free to attend and open to the public, runs from 1:00-5:00 p.m..  The Frederick Artist Market happens six times per year.  For more information, including how to participate, contact the Frederick Arts Council at 301-662-4190 or via email jdobbins@frederickartscouncil.org.

Fun with Mr. Picasso Head!

Not really a self-portrait, but almost!

 

Create your own masterpiece at Mr. Picassohead...go on, it's fun!