Chopstick Hammah!

Ken Bova was recently here in North Carolina and did workshop at Pullen Art Center in Raleigh. He taught how to make these adorable little homemade riveting hammers with a nail and chopstick. This is one I made. I'm currently pestering Ken to teach this more! Especially at Adorn Me, or Artfest or Bead & Button. I KNOW you folks would eat these up! And Ken is a fabulous instructor and generous, kind person... a metals rocks star!

Eh....

yep, pretty cool.....
(someone is brilliant! wish I could say it was me!)

Re-adjustments

So I'm driving Meredith around... traffic jam, gridlock we can't see what the problem is. I'm about out of gas so I make a U turn and we go a different direction, clear the other end of the county... she's slightly late to her end of year party... I have to drive home and then turn right around and come right back to get her. I have things to do! a workshop tomorrow... stressssss! Then at the next stop light I am roasting in the baking 6 o'clock NC sun, soI roll down my window. Suddenly to my left in the other lane there's a man 50's I guess? graying hair, in a beat up older elantra... he's singing. I mean really singing! as in belting out opera!
...nice, mellow, tenor voice drifting out of his rolled down windows.
wow.
traffic what traffic?

Manteo, NC!

Imagine yourself on the waterfront in Manteo, NC making art with me and my artist/metalsmith pal Kim Beller.... well make it a reality!
Join Kim and I, June 18th for a day long Book Making Journey at "Good For You" in Manteo, NC. "Good For You" is a sanctuary of calm, a yoga & massage studio and emporium of unique gifts on Sir Walter Raleigh Street. Beginning at 9 that morning, Kim and I will guide you through carving a stamp all your own and etching your stamp's design onto a copper bookplate to adorn you book. We will then delve into the delights of art journalling. We'll show you a plethora of techniques for painting, collage-ing, decorating and embellishing your own special art journal unlike any other. You will walk away with knowledge, a stamp to use over and over, memories and a fabulous keepsake book that you will enjoy for years to come. And here's the icing- you get to do all that in Manteo, NC! Walk the waterfront, visit the Elizabethan gardens, explore Sir Walter Raleigh Antiques next door, rent a bike or kayak the next day, walk the quaint streets, enjoy the brewery cafe down the street... What a weekend!
The Saturday workshop is $125.00 and includes materials and supplies, lunch, goodies to take home and an unforgettable journey!

pre-registration required (contact me for more information)
cash or checks accepted

*please bring anything personal you would like to use in your journal….
(old photos or copies, fabric, yarns, ribbons, cord, love notes, post cards, stamps, etc) the sky is the limit!

Home Stretch

So, I got back from Art & Soul Hampton Tuesday night and had to hit the ground running Wednesday as it was the last day for my Metals 1 and Metals 2 M/W/F classes. All their grades and attendance needed logging in and final submissions were due to the college. Today is the last day for the two Metals 1 T/TH classes. *sigh* ah.... it's almost over. While I love my students (and WAIT til you see what my Metals 2er's made for me while I was in VA!!!! more on that later!) I just desperately need a break.
I awoke to soft cool temperatures... what a blessing... and this! I have to share what my fabulously clever colleague Ben Billingsley so humorously wrote this morning:

"Captain's log - stardate 05052011... By 9:30 a.m. grades will close for 3 classes, by 12:15 p.m. 2 more - last one by 1:45. Final grades and online attendance - from hell's heart I stab at thee!"

I agree..... from hell's heart......
well, maybe you had to be there but I thought it HILARIOUS!

Mica Mania

I will be teaching a day workshop, or as my friend Kim Beller says "playshop", at A Place To Bead here in Wilmington, NC.

Join us on Saturday, May 14th.

I will show you how to work with sheets of mica, a natural mineral that forms right here in the mountains of NC. We will use the mica to make little window panes over tiny images with copper washers, like little portholes. I will show you how to texture, drill, and rivet. This will be a fun day making charms for beginners and veteran metalsmiths alike. Bring your own little images or use some of mine. Learn to connect your window charms to chain or earwires and have a blast browsing A Place To Bead's extensive collection to add to your jewelry.

If you'd like to see the charm samples in person, go by A Place To Bead on College Rd. next to Dick's Sporting Goods.

For more information and/or to sign up, contact A Place To Bead at 910-799-2928.