Hello friends
Thank you for stopping by. Today I’m going to tell you a little about the class that I took at The Inaugural Event. I was as happy as can be to finally have the chance to sit in Deryn Mentock’s classroom! I had hoped for this for years actually, as I’ve been a faithful Something Sublime blog follower since my early days of creating jewelry. Truth be told, wanting to take a class with Deryn was a huge part of my wanting to be a part of bringing nationally-recognized artists to the DC area. Finally having this opportunity was one of those little jewelry-dreams come true. 🙂
Classmates Maureen Baranov and Anne Savage
In Crowned Gems, Deryn demonstrated a wide range of techniques. She taught everything from cold connections to working with annealed steel wire. We worked with brass filigree, drilled, heat patinated and created metal staples (not as easy as they look!). At the core of the class though were the precious tintype pictures. As an avid antique and all-things-vintage collector, this really intrigued me.
Deryn provided everyone with a small, postage-sized gem tintype. We all eagerly opened our kits to see if we received a man or a woman. By the way, tintypes were made on a sheet of iron, not tin as one might think. For my project, I used a larger tintype that I brought with me, as the stately woman in the picture really moved me. I’ll admit I’ve been somewhat hesitant to alter old photographs for jewelry design…. I’ve had mixed feelings about adding whimsical elements to them. I have this feeling of wanting to be sure respect the person in the photograph, long gone and now unknown, remembering that this was someone’s child, mother, or loved one. At the same time, I love that these pictures are no longer forgotten in a cigar box and are unearthed and treasured. In Crowned Gems, I’m happy to report that all of the unearthed tintypes will now be loved anew.
Exploring design ideas with Pam Keravuori. Photo by Kerry Bogert
Working on the layout. Photo by Kerry Bogert
Look at that smile! Amy Powers tries on her finished Crowned Gem. Photo by Kerry Bogert
A round-up of student pieces. Photo by Kerry Bogert
This concludes my week of recalling the ArtBLISS Inaugural Event. Thank you for joining me !
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{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
What an awesome class! Thanks for sharing these lovely pictures here. Have you received your necklace back from BaB yet? I do hope so. They usually take a wee while to get sent back but I have never had any problems. Are you due to have any more pieces in there? I just love your style!
Wow ! Happy girl you are Cindy, a class with Deryn ! Thanks for sharing those amazing creations. Is the last one your’s ? It is Sublime…
What an amazing class! I’ve been seeing these tintypes around the web in some creations and became interested in using them in my own. So far I haven’t had luck finding them at area antique stores, and the ones on the internet seem pretty steeply priced.
Thanks for sharing all the lovely photos!!!
Awesome, Cindy! Love the way yours turned out and also love the necklace you created for it. Seriously envious of you taking a class with Deryn. Lucky, lucky girl.
everything looks great – and your finished necklace is so you! the pics are great… you know what one i really love? the working hands – i love when mine look like that…
The class sounded great! I love all the finished pieces…all unique with each person’s individual style.
WOW CINDY, YOU WERE VERY LUCKY TO TAKE A CLASS LIKE THIS. I LOVE THE IDEA OF BRINGING ANTIQUE INTO JEWELRY. I LOVE GOING TO ANTIQUE STORES AND FINDING THE TIN PICS. I CAN SIT FOR HOURS LOOKING AT THEM WONDERING WHO THEY WERE. WHAT THEIR LIFE WAS AND JUST THE THOUGHTS OF THE PERSON BEHIND THESE OLD TREASURES. GREAT JOB ON YOUR PIECE. CINDY
Thanks for such a great post. I too am a great admirer and folower of Deryn’s blog and work. Wonderful to have a look into this class. Thanks so much for sharing them with us.
Hey Cindy, your piece came out lovely. Darn, I look back now and wish I had fit in a class. Next time around:)
Jeanette
Your piece is awesome, Cindy. I’d love to take a class with Deryn someday. I love what she does with that steel wire and her pieces are really creative.
Lovely! This is right up your alley! I’m so glad you got to take a class with her!
Your necklace is fabulous Cindy! I do love the woman in your tin type and the size is nice. It was a real treat to meet Deryn. I’d loved to have taken one of her class but too many good ones.
That had to of been just so Wonderful!! Lovely work!!
I cant wait for Adorn me this spring! She will be there YeY!!
I love this piece you’ve made!! It is gorgeous, and I love the vintage look…it is my favorite! So glad you got to meet Deryn and experience her class!
As artistic as you are, I’m not surprised that you came up with something so beautiful and really did justice to the subject of the photo! Thanks for the vicarious joy of working with Deryn! Thanks to Kerry too for the great shots– almost like being there– except for the tinted fingertips–ha!
Cindy, your piece turned out so beautifully. You must be very happy with it! Love the working shots…Kerry is great with that camera. Oh, and so are you. What wonderful shots you got in DC!
Cindy, that’s really different with the tintype photos! Frank and I have a tintype picture of us done more than 20 years ago at Greenfield Village in their old tintype studio. They don’t always have someone there who knows how to do it so we treasure ours! Continue to savour the moments! “Life is short–eat dessert first!”
What a great looking necklace. I know you had a blast at that class. Lucky you to be able to attend. Thanks for sharing.
Debbie
Tickled to have been “exploring design ideas” with you in Deryn’s class :)! And what a beautiful finished piece you made. I’ll be home from Munich in a couple days and then eager to finish my necklace, too. Yes, let’s get together to explore some more!!
This is gorgeous! I have felt the very same way about using vintage things in my work. But when you do, you truly give the item a new life, a new adventure and deepen an already rich history.
I am so glad that one of your dreams came true and that you were able to take a class with the wonderful Deryn. She is an awesome teacher and I am jealous! hee hee. 🙂
I adore the links on your piece. great work.
Beautiful work Cindy =) I know you had a great time….it shows!