by Cindy on June 15, 2012
Have you heard? Easy Wire 2012 will be hot off the press very soon…. In fact, the digital edition is already available for download at the Interweave site!
Easy Wire 2012 is another jam-packed issue, filled with 70+ projects especially geared for the beginning wire-worker. I think you’ll find there’s a little something for everyone, no matter what your skill level may be. The bright and bold piece on the cover is fantastic – a bracelet by Cassie Donlen. It was great to see many jewelry designers from our community being featured in the 2012 issue, including my friends Kerry Bogert, Julie Anne Leggett, Lori Anderson and Heather Powers.
I enjoyed creating a few projects for this issue, including this wire link that forms a great chain. Break out your favorite design stamp or simply add texture with one of your hammers to customize the design.
If you’re just getting started with wire, here’s an opportunity to practice your briolette wrap. Before you know it, you’ll have some dangly earrings to wear this summer.
Brass wire is paired with crystal in these wire-wrapped wrapped earrings. So simple to make, that’s why they call it easy wire. 🙂
And lastly, if you can create a simple loop, you can make these two-tone earrings!
* Super Simple Giveaway: Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in a chance to win these earrings! I’ll draw a winner one day next week.
As always, I appreciate your visit! Have a great weekend ahead.
– Cindy
Colonial Williamsburg has always held such a charm for us. It’s fun to play tourist in our own state…and each time we pay the Williamsburg area a visit, like the tourists we encountered from CA and CO, we learn something new. I thought it might be nice to share some pictures, especially if you’ve never had the chance to visit this historical town. And for some of you, maybe this will bring back a few memories of your own. It was a walk down memory lane to times mentioned in the blog post here and here.
(These ginger cookies have been a favorite for well over 10 years…. they are so DRY, but for some reason we still love them!)
(ending our trip on a sweet note)
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An exciting update on Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup book –
Bead Soup is now available for pre-order on Lori’s blog! Please visit this post for all of the info, a list of the book contributors, and information on book extras. The books will ship between September and early October, 2012. I cannot wait to see Lori’s book myself!
– Cindy
What a FANTASTIC weekend – artBLISS had the honor of hosting Richard Salley for the 3rd time. We have been very fortunate. This time the icing on the cake was that his wonderful assistant, Martina Stein, also taught a class!
It felt like a reunion – meeting old friends and new. A few ladies even traveled from South Carolina and Utah to be there. A real gathering of soul sisters. Then came the workshops: Bits and Pieces, Sawing 101, Southwestern Rings and Balance Beam bangle. I know we all learned a great deal from the metal master, Richard Salley.
I’ve enjoyed seeing the many workshop photos on Facebook. Here are a few of my favorites from the weekend!
Richard Salley demonstrating in the Bits and Pieces class.
Top L to R: Martha Irish, Dia Daniels
Bottom L to R: Judy Cain, Brianna Wyatt
Student work: finished Bits and Pieces pendants. What an array!
I love how my pendant turned out, with all of the layers. I combined pieces of etched, stamped, and crimped metal. Oh, and I learned to set a little cab too!
Friday evening was a nice refresher course with Martina Stein: Who’s Afraid of the Big, Bad Saw?
Martina is an excellent teacher, very patient, and with many life experiences to share.
Top to bottom: Tracy Statler, Michelle Timms, and Sally Russick.
A random tool line-up: what a beautiful site!
Here Richard is adding flux to a ring band in the Southwestern Rings class.
Making rings, Top to Bottom: Carol Meyers, Melissa Meman, and
Laura Twiford
Martina helping Bette Brody with her ring. Everyone received one-on-one assistance when it was needed.
Time to gather for lunch and share stories! From Left to Right: Michelle Timms, Melissa Meman, Sally Russick, Laura Twiford,
Bette Brody, Carol Meyers, and Dia Daniels
Hip, Hip, Hooray! The rings are finished!
Graduates of the Southwestern Rings class with Richard Salley and Martina Stein
Richard, Martina, Jeannette and I sporting our Southwestern Rings over dinner….. all created by Richard, except for Jeanette’s! She finished her own just hours before (top right corner).
Thank you Richard and Martina for a memorable weekend!
– Cindy
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