Metalsmithing

Fall of 2008 I had the opportunity to take a Begining Metalsmithing class at Univeristy of Alaska Fairbanks. My professor was Jack Finch who was not only awesome teacher but also was a great photographer of the Aurora Borealis. He inspired me to take my glass to a different level by incorporating metals.

I thoroughly enjoyed his class and was excited to be picked for the UAF Art Show. Both the pieces I turned in made it and it was nice to see my creations sitting in a glass case to be seen by others.

Here is my little show and tell of my metalsmithing projects.

Leaf Imprint Pendants




Dragonfly Wings Necklace






Necklaces











Earrings






Rings





My husband's new wedding ring made with sterling silver that is hammered and mokume.




Shell ring...it is casted seashell in sterling silver, sterling silver band and hematite in the middle.


Cuffs





Our last project was to make a container. So I made one out of copper and silver and casted real shells in sterling silver to make the decorations on my container. The pictures do not do this piece any justice. The copper was torched until the right coloration from the heat of the flame took its shape.

Casted Shells


My shell container.





The two pieces that made the Art Show.

"Ancient Meandering"


"Longing for the Sea"


2008 University of Alaska Fairbanks Student Art Show








Other pieces at the show from very gifted artists.










I am very grateful for the opportunity not only to learn a new skill and medium in my art. Happy also to be taught by the best professors and classmates that push me to do better on my creations and taught me that my imagination has no limits.

All About Hearts...

It has been quite a while since I have been on here. I apologize for my absence but life just gets hectic at times in this household and my priorities have to come into perspective.

A little update on the family. My husband is constantly working. 12 hour shifts do not make for any creative time. But when he has his days off and is not bothered he goes ahead and disappears in the garage into his own glass world.

The boys are busy as usual. Jared is finally done with his wrestling season at Tanana Middle School but 3 nights a week both boys go to a local high school for freestyle wrestling. Then Nick is staying after school for his track practices. Since there is still snow on the ground they run and practice inside the school.

As for me besides being a busy Mom I accomplished one of my main goals since we moved here and that was taking a metalsmithing class at the university. I enjoyed the work, the time to meet new people and of course excited over learning a new skill. I will share with you later my projects from that class. To my delight I was selected to show 2 of my pieces off at the semester Art Show and on final day I received an A for all my projects.

I am wanting to incorporate metals mostly silver and copper with my works. But shipping big tools to Alaska has been an issue when you think of the shipping prices. So for now I am settling with working with simple tools like hammers and also will embark on learning another new skill which is Precious Metal Clay.

Going on the subject of glass we have re-stocked our inventory at a local boutique called The Stash. The Stash
I have new fused pendants of spring colors both full fused and tack fused and hair pins with fused glass. Then Bo has a new line of hearts.

Hearts are not just for February and Valentines day but for anytime of the year. March to me meant more for the hearts because so many events and moments in my life made me realize how love and care really does hold relationships together. My birthday this year was a special one and I felt so loved by my family and friends. Bo must have thought the same and experimented with different glass and techniques to make his hearts. He doesn't go off a mold he free forms the glass into the shape of the heart himself.
So here are some of the new pieces we have that you can be able to find downtown at the Stash.





A custom order bracelet for a friend in California




More heart pendants and necklaces.





New fused pieces..

Hair pins


New Pendants.





A few earrings.



New Cell Phone Charms


Besides my glass works I have been working on some collages and a new painting for my living room. Also running around trying to take pictures of the local events here like the Ice Sculptures and Mushing Races. I am hoping not only to make a scrapbook on our experiences here in Alaska but also publish a coffee table book for our family of our Alaskan Experiences.

Once again I apologize for not being good at keeping up here. I will be here most of the time now to share new creations with you all.

Precious Metal Clay is on my list and I would love to share my progression through that medium.

I hope you are all having a great week and month. Hopefully spring comes soon to the Interior.

Ispiration from snow to the sea

Walking into the Stash one day opened up another opportunity for us. Making custom pendants for Janie's daughters. We were asked to make Flower girl pendants to match the white delicate dresses they were to wear to a wedding. We took on the challenged and brainstormed what little girls can wear that they can still grow into and yet be dainty enough for a wedding.

We came up with snowballs beads. I was to turn these into pendants for 3 flower girls.



Here are the results. White beads with bumps embelished with Swarovski crystals, sterling silver heart charms and findings daitily hanging on a satin necklace.





The pendants were a hit!Janie was so kind to send pictures of the girls wearing it. It looked so dainty against the beautiful white dresses.




In the middle of creating these little snowball pendants...Bo made a set inspired by the ocean water that we miss so much. This turned into a sea life bracelet for a friend in California who loves the ocean and misses her trips to Hawaii.

Ocean Inspired Beads





Sea Life Bracelet







After sharing the pictures with family and friends I am now in the process of a custom order for one of my favorite cousins for another ocean inspired bracelet. Hers will depict the waters of Hawaii and so Bo took his inspiration from a shell we had at home and made her set. I am ordering her charms and will be putting the bracelet together for her soon. But I had to share the beads and the inspiration.







Fall has come in full swing here in Fairbanks and although I know what that means...I am enjoying the beautiful foliage that nature loves to share with us.

















Have a great day!

Fall Creations Mid September

I have been busy creating glass jewelry and also taking a metalsmithing class at our local University. Here are some of my newest work.
Beads Bo made with a swirl

Pendants made with the beads




Fall Colors




Mocha Browns




More pendants



This pendant was for a friend for her 40th Birthday

This bracelet was a re-string. The beads were made for me by Bo in 2006 when he left me for 5 months. I turned it into a bracelet and wore it everyday he was gone.
The purple and green colors were to remind me of my favorite flowers the Irises. Here is the bracelet restrung.








Hope you enjoyed some glass "eye candy".

Just a quick shout out....

My days are going by so fast I have to run to keep up with the time! LOL! I will be updating soon and hopefully sharing some pictures.

Football is about to end with 2 more weeks left. My boys team is undefeated for the season and will have their first play off game this Saturday.

I have been busy with the action pictures I take of the team and resizing them for web and also getting them ready for parents. I upload them to my Flickr site for parents to view. That has been rewarding but tedious.

I also enrolled in a metalsmithing class at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and I am enjoying every minute of it! Everytime a project is started I spend so much time in the planning because I want my style incorporated into each piece. There is still a lot to learn like not being intimidated by drills and torches....LOL!

I hope that you are enjoying a beautiful fall season. The leave have sure changed around here.

Have a great day or night............will be back soon to update with pictures.