New Things Happening

I haven't been really good at blogging for the past year...need to get better. Humm, maybe I should have made that a resolution. Nah, probably wouldn't have worked but I can strive to be better.

Lots of changes happening. My ArtFire studio has changed from Dana's Jewelry Design to Sano Therapia but I do still have my Dana's Jewelry Design.com site. Most of the jewelry I make these days are commissions so I really didn't see the need but didn't want to give up my cheap affordable ArtFire studio so I'm changing it to incorporate a little bit of jewelry and a lot of my homemade lotions and ointments.

I'm still teaching at Shipwreck Beads at least 3 times a month so you can find me there and we have loads of fun. New classes this year is a Wire Workshop, Captured Coin and Tree of Life Pendant.

 I made a few more this past weekend in class. Very fun to do.

When you have a favorite coin that you want to preserve.

This class is great for anyone wanting to learn more about working with wire.

I will be participating in Lori Anderson's Bead Soup Blog Party. It's always so much fun getting to know other jewelry artists and swapping beads.

Having Fun With Charms

For the past several days...okay more than a few days, I've been trying to get caught up on all the art charm swaps I'm in. I am hosting a Postal swap and a Pendant swap and like a sucker I just couldn't resist signing up for 2 sets each.

The pendant swap was pretty easy as I love to play with wire. So I made several different types of wired up pendants. These first ones are all the same and I call them my crystal ball pendants as they are made out of quartz crystal.

This next set was me just playing around. It was kind of fun.

Then the hard part started.... My postal charms, oh what to make. I was not very creative at all and finally decided to make my soldered charms for my first set. I just love these. I used mostly old stamps that my husband had rejected out of his collection. Can you believe we found one in here from 1895. Yup, someone is going to receive that one in a swap.

My next set was harder to figure out and finally I just glued a ton of postage stamps to a piece of card stock as a collage and then used Diamond Glaze to affix a glass piece over the top of the pieces that I cut out. A simple coil and loop for the hanger a little more Diamond Glaze on back and there you go, postage stamp charms. Probably out of all of them, these are my favorite because they are so different.

Another swap I signed up for was the Amulets and Talisman swap. This was hard. I did lots of research and several test charms. It was hard keeping them to under 1 1/2". The bottle charm got kicked out as it was too big and I ended up not liking the triangle with the eye in the middle. So four different charms the amulet bag made out of leather and filled with various protective stones, the symbol of the moon out of silver with crystal, the wishbone in gold (not really just brass) and the protection amulet with a binding and protective stones.

So, I think I am now all caught up. Whew, that was a lot of charms. I can't wait to see what I get in return.

One more thing, I have a Bonsai Gem Tree class coming up June 30th at Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, WA, so if you have been wanting to learn how to make a gem tree, this is a great starter class. Come have fun with us.

May Already

I really can't believe how fast this year is flying by. Already it is May and I don't feel like I have accomplished anything but then again what am I to accomplish?

My last post was when we were demonstrating at the West Seattle Show and after that we took a little trip to Eastern Washington to the Spring Barrel Tasting and spent time with family. I have a couple of favorite pictures that I was able to snap while we were there.

My Brother and DH enjoying the scenery from Terra Blanca Winery.

My mother and SIL inside Terra Blanca.

I just realized that while we make the excuse to go to E. WA for this event the main reason is to be with family. We don't have to many family get togethers where we can just sit and read or share a great glass of wine and eat to our hearts content and not have to worry about going somewhere, like home in a few hours. We all converge on my brother's house, DH and I sleep in the Motorhome and the others inside. It's hard to explain the noise, peace and love that can all happen at once. It really is a special time that we wouldn't give up for the world.

This week I've been working on ArtCharms and findings. I had a couple of swaps that I wanted to finish up one was a Sewing theme and I made hook and eye closures... these were fun.

These were made for a Pendant/Focal Swap.

And if that wasn't enough I decided to develop a new class for Shipwreck Beads called Simply Findings. So I made my samples, submitted my proposal and took pictures for their web site. I am happy to announce that I'll be offering this class starting in July. I'll be sure to post more when I have the actual dates and times.

I think for now I'll be cleaning off my studio desk and get ready to do some painting. I've been missing my art for the past couple of weeks and it's time.

Have a great weekend.

Private Teaching

As some of you know I teach at Shipwreck Beads in Lacey, WA gem tree design, well as DH and I were supposed to be in Arizona for Jan.-Mar. I didn't schedule any classes until April. Unfortunately, when DH had his surgery and complications that put the cabaush on leaving which left me lots of time. So what's a person to do, well if you are asked you teach private lessons. I really didn't think I would ever teach privately in other people's homes but it has been a rewarding experience for them and me. They get 1 on 1 teaching and I get more time to discover who they are and their goals.

What did I teach? Well gem trees for one and the other was a request for wire wrap techniques. I teach gem trees all the time so this wasn't a problem but I have never taught any of my wire wrap. So I made up a few samples to figure out all the supplies needed. Normally when I do a wire wrap cabachon like this one,

I use square wire and half round wire but knowing my student to be a beginner, she wouldn't have square wire so I had to improvise and use round. Not my favorite as it doesn't lay against the stone well but it is what it is, Here are the samples that I taught that day.

She really wanted to learn how to wrap crystal pointers but to get to that point you need to have more of the basics down so we did several different stones including beads. The abalone with crystals is my favorite along with the coil wrapped bottle, humm okay I like the beach glass wrap also. Well they are all so different but once you have the process down, you can wrap just about anything.

She did a great job on all her pieces except her first try and that was fully expected. I imagine she has now taken that one apart and re-wrapped it by now with her new found skills.

If you are interested in a private class, I am available otherwise you can check out all my classes that will be starting on April 7th at Shipwreck Beads.

Back into the Swing of Things

Well my trials with finding a new computer has finally come to an end. Yesterday I talked about a new tablet that I was trying out and after playing with it for a day, realized that tablets really won't replace a computer. Just to do the blog post yesterday was stressful and the learning curve was huge. So, off to the electronics store I went again and found a wonderful little Toshiba Ultrabook. It's lightweight, 13"and really fast. All really important things when cruising the internet, blogging and playing on social media sites. Now I'm back in business and won't have to worry if my computer will boot up.

With the busy month we have had I think I am finally getting back into my normal life. DH is recovering nicely here at home, strength and appetite returning and back to his old self. So, I revisited some things that I had put on the back burner and decided to get back into it. Today I submitted a proposal to teach at a local bead show (Puget Sound Bead Festival) and finalized some paperwork for teaching at Art and Soul Portland. I'm hoping I'll be accepted at the bead festival and submitted 3 different gem tree designs for them to choose from. I will be teaching a Bonsai Gem Tree class at the Portland Art and Soul in September. Here is the info if you would like to check it out. http://www.artandsoulretreat.com/retreat-Portland2012-2394-workshop.php Art and Soul is a mixed media art retreat that offers all kinds of classes ranging from jewelry design, painting, art journaling and now my gem tree sculptures. I may have to look at taking a couple of classes myself.

Here is a look at the new classes that I will be teaching this year at Shipwreck Beads. I will continue to teach the Standard Gem Tree and the Pine Tree classes this year. Click HERE to check out the dates and times of classes.

Have a great week everyone and I'll let you know how it goes on all those other projects.

A Little Creating and Making New Friends

Today was my Demonstration and Book signing at Shipwreck Beads in Lacey. Usually these things can be pretty boring if you don't have a lot of people dropping by to check out what you are doing. I actually was able to make 3 gem trees and promote the classes that I'll be teaching there.

Other than making trees and talking to customers today was an exceptional day as I was scheduled at the same time as another author for her book signing. What fun! I was able to meet Christine Hansen, author of Mixed Media Art Charms & Jewelry. If you haven't checked out her book that she co-wrote with Peggy Krzyzewski then you need to, lots of fun charms to make.


Here is a picture of one of my trees...taken with my cell phone camera so it isn't very good.

Here is a picture of Christine making her first charm tree. If you like this tree, I have a tutorial so that you can make your own. Here is the link Jewelry/Earring Tree.

Speaking of trees, my brother made this tree with my Tree of Hope and Life instructions. He used more bead dangle charms vs. some of the ribbons I use but I love how he put it in a dish with sand and made a zen garden.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.