artBLISS 2013

The final countdown is here!  

In a little over a week we’ll be packing our tools and heading to artBLISS  for a weekend full of workshops and socializing – enjoying the camaraderie of being among like-minded artists.  Does this sound good to you?  You’re in luck because there are a few seats left in several of the workshops!  By now you probably know your schedule for the weekend of Sept. 27th – 28th….and if it looks like you’ll have a day free, please come and join us!

See all of the artBLISS workshops here

Today I’m interviewing one of our artBLISS instructors, Christine Damm.  Christine will be traveling down from New England to teach a couple of workshops you do not want to miss!   If you want to make your own custom jewelry components, Colorful Landscapes is a class for you.  You’ll learn what to do with inks, chalk and paint as you create layers and texture on polymer clay elements.  In Worlds of Color, Christine will teach you how to make your own beads, pendants and more. This class is packed with tips and techniques, and you’ll be sure to leave full of new-found inspiration.

What are some of your basic tools and supplies?

The most essential tools to bring to class are your brain, your creativity and your curiosity! Seriously, the tool and supply list is on the artBLISS website, at the end of the class description. Don’t stress if you can’t get something–I have plenty of tools to loan. I’m bringing dozens of texture plates and molds but bring your favorite ones as well. And please—no alcohol inks! We have tons of beautiful pigments and crayons and pencils so come prepared to discover something new.

Layered Heart by Christine Damm

What is one of your favorite techniques that will be covered in class?

One of my favorite techniques that we’ll cover in class:  my new pigment discovery (obsession!) – the Pan Pastel line of pastels. If you’ve ever used chalk before, this will knock your socks off– not your mother’s pastels! The colors can be applied to be bold or subtle and they blend beautifully. If you don’t like it– just sand it off and start again! Couldn’t be easier to apply but the effects are stunning. And we’ll be using these  with clay to create a faux porcelain look for your beads and elements– I call it “Polyporcelain”.

Coral Reef earrings by Christine Damm

Coral Reef by Christine Damm

Is there anything surprising that students will learn in class?

One surprising thing we’ll learn in class: How many things can you do with one technique?  In the Colorful Landscapes class, I’ve come up with over 17 projects that you can do with just one simple technique. Add all the ways you can color your creation and you have one technique that could keep you going for months.

And a few more examples of Christine’s fine work.  I can’t wait to see these brand new pieces up close and in person at artBLISS!

Down the Rabbit Hole by Christine Damm

Untitled by Christine Damm, featuring her signature wavy beads       www.artblissworkshops.com

Thank you for sharing, Christine!  If you have ever taken a class before with Christine, you’ll know she is very generous with information and her enthusiasm for her art is contagious.   Attendees at artBLISS will have the rare opportunity to learn from Christine Damm, an artist in the forefront of the polymer clay field.

Highlights for artBLISS 2013:

We hope to see you there!

artbliss 2013

 

 

Cindy Wimmer, jewelry designer

Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design.   She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her wire jewelry design book , The Missing Link, will be released in the Fall of 2013.

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Coastal Collection

by Cindy on September 3, 2013


Coastal Collection

I’ll admit I’m a collector of many different things.  If you’ve stopped by this blog on more than a few occasions, you probably already knew that. I know many of you have that collector gene as well, and I hope you’ll enjoy this post.  The great outdoors can be the best place to look for treasures.  We collected many wonderful things this summer…..and I’m tucking away special memories to go with each collection.

 

Collecting graduating clamshells

 Stacking graduating clam shells is fun to do!

Tiny shells

 The tiniest treasures all found one afternoon on the beach.

Sea Glass

 Sea glass wasn’t so easy to find….we played around and got competitive looking for it on a few beaches in Massachusetts and Maine (New England photos to come soon).

 

Flat rocks from Scarborough, ME

 Flat rocks from Scarborough beach.  If only we could carry more…but rocks can get so heavy!

Summer driftwood collection

 Driftwood – mostly from Scarborough beach.

Heart-shaped rocks

Heart-shaped rocks collected all summer long.   They are irrisistible to look for, and we found many more not pictured.  I had fun setting up little competitions with the kids; we found most along the sidewalk that leads to the beach in Ocean City.

 

Seashell collection

 Shells on parade!

 Did you collect anything over the summer?  Do tell! 🙂

Cindy xoxo

 

 

Cindy Wimmer, jewelry designer

Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design.   She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her wire jewelry design book , The Missing Link, will be released in the Fall of 2013.

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California Dreamin’

by Cindy on August 29, 2013

The end of summer is upon us (say it isn’t so!).   I was faced with this unfortunate realization today when I was out shopping:  pumpkin-themed kid’s shirts were on the racks, and I actually spotted a man buying fall decorations – a scarecrow.   I believe summer deserves a proper send-off, so I spent some time editing pictures from our recent travels.  It was a full summer, and I have a heap of memories from the East Coast to the West Coast.

We went to California – and in a way it was like going home.  I have lived in CA 3 different times in my life.  Our first home as newlyweds was while my husband was attending Naval Postgraduate School.  It was great to go back and show the kids around – our old house, favorite restaurants (and they still make the Snickerbar pie at Rosine’s!), favorite spots.  We got to introduce them to a few “old” friends, and it felt like we never left.  I even got the chance to meet my longtime Beading Sister of the West, Carol, and her sweet daughter.  We’ve been friends for several years now, keeping in touch by writing.  She doesn’t have a blog, but her designs are featured frequently in jewelry magazines.  I appreciate the opportunities like this,  when the world seems like a smaller, more personal place.

I hope you enjoy the pictures – maybe they’ll bring back some memories for you too if you’ve ever been to San Francisco, Monterey, or Carmel.  And if you’ve never been there, maybe you’ll be convinced that you’ll have to go one day too!  I know we never wanted to leave.

Hello, California!

Coit Tower, San Francisco

San Francisco, CA

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco

Boudin's sour dough bread - San Francisco

Painted Ladies, San Francisco

Ghirardelli Square

Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco

Japan Town, San Francisco

China Town, San Francisco

Santa Cruz, California

Monterey Bay

Monterey sea otters and sea lion

Monterey, CA

Cannery Row, Monterey CA

Carmel, CA

Carmel Beach

Mission San Carlos, CA

Pebble Beach, CA

California Cacti

San Luis Obispo, CA

Oh how I wanna go back!  ….just one more trip to Japantown for that freshly made mochi!

Til next time –

– Cindy xoxo

 

 

 

Cindy Wimmer, jewelry designer

Cindy Wimmer is a jewelry designer with a passion for combining vintage elements with modern wire design.   She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. Her wire jewelry design book, The Missing Link, will be released in the Fall of 2013.

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