Disappearing Act

If you've been wondering where my blog posts have been, well, I've been having a bit of a problem recently with Windows again.  A recent Windows update created havoc with my computer.  Right now, I can't upload any photos on either one of my computers.  Crazy, right?  I've tried many, different things - thanks to all the info on the web, but nothing has worked for me.  Because many of us Windows users have different computers, what may work for one may not work for another.  I've been using my iPhone to communicate with customers - which has worked ok for now. But it's not something that can go on forever.  So, it got me going in a direction I probably should have taken a while ago.  This week I began to take a serious look at the Mac desktops.  I'm going to make that purchase soon - and hopefully the transition will go smoothly.  But I'm very excited about making the switch and look forward to owning a Mac.  I'm forced to take a blogging break until this is all squared away.  But I will do my best to continue my Monday posts during the transition. 

Marvelous Monday

An inherited box of tools and her apartment location (across the street from the "Y" - where a jewelry class was being taught) was how Susan Chin got her start down the path of art jewelry.  Included in the tool box was some ebony and bone which became her early work.  It wasn't until 18 years later that these warm, compelling materials led her down this metalsmithing path again.  Her combination of materials makes for some very beautiful jewelry.  Hope you enjoy and have a marvelous Monday!

Marvelous Monday

“I hope that people will not only enjoy my art, but feel the need to learn more about these fascinating creatures. Expanding their awareness and becoming more sensitive to reptiles, bats, amphibians and our shared environment.”     

Karen Bell brings her respect for the natural world and her love of clay together to form very realistic sculptures of reptiles, amphibians, insects and bats. Her website is filled with beautiful images.  Here's a few to start your day.  Enjoy - and have a marvelous Monday!

It's in the Bag

I recently purchased something I thought I would share here.  I had seen a recommendation on the Metal Clay Yahoo group about a company that does logo stamps (or any kind of stamp actually).  I was curious as I had never heard of Jet Stamps.  I went to their website and saw that their stamps are made from a generic delrin.  I thought I would give them a shot as I also needed another stamp larger than the one I currently have.  I happened to have an Illustrator file all set so I emailed the file to them.  I heard back that day with a proof and was given a link to put it in my shopping cart.  I paid for it Thursday night and had it in my mailbox Monday afternoon.  The thing that I liked most about these stamps is that you can choose your own size and shape.  And their reasonably priced at $28.00.  Anway, here's a few photos.  I would highly recommend using them (no affiliation, just one happy customer).

Marvelous Monday

Susanne Klemm uses nature as her inexhaustable inspiration.  She captures the moments between growth and decay, covers them with a fine plastic covering (polyolefin), and brings the objects to full bloom.   Her website is full of beautiful images of her jewelry.  Be sure to look at the redlight collection where she installed a temporary workshop in a former brothel in the Red-light-district of Amsterdam.  There's also a small article here regarding a talk she did from the workspace.  Ok then . . . enjoy and have a marvelous Monday!

Goings On

Last week Carol Simmons had blogged about creating color swatches in Photoshop.  I had to give it a go.  So using a photo from my pictures file, here's what I got: 

It was SO easy and is a great tool.  Thanks Carol!  So putting those instructions to good use, I thought I'd make some swatches of the colors from this cabochon.

And here's what I got.  Now if only I could figure out how to change the eye dropper tool curser on my other computer I'll be real happy. 

Oh, and one last note - Lily did get her driver's permit last week.  So anytime we go anywhere together, she's always at the helm.  Patience, this would be a real good time to get me some!

Marvelous Monday

Lesley Strickland is a London based jewelry designer who uses cellulose acetate paired with sterling silver in her designs.  The effect has a look and feel like polymer and her colors are yummy.  Unlike polymer, the acetate is cast rather than cured in an oven.  Enjoy and have a marvelous Monday!

Out of the Studio

I thought I'd be taking some of this week to clean up my studio, but I tend to get sidetracked a bit.  I clean, I make more of a mess, etc.  I dragged out my etching supplies (tub filled with ferric chloride)  and wanted to make a few etching plates out of copper.  I had made some drawings on white paper with my Pigma markers and transferred them onto transparency.

Where you see black is what ends up being etched. I hadn't done an etching in a while so I figured I was going to have to go back through some old notes on how to transfer the drawing onto the metal.  Before I did that, I was looking through some of my other supplies from Sherri Haab's e-forming and etching kit and lo and behold I came across some UV-30 film.  I had totally forgotten about using this film to etch with.  Working with it is so easy.  I found these instructions on Sherri's website if you want to see what's involved.  It may seem like a lot, but it goes fairly quickly. But I also wanted to try drawing on the metal with marker to see how those etchings would come out.  I came across a fine tip Sharpie oil paint marker in my studio (yes!), so figured I'd give that a try. The drawback with this is obvious.  Once you do the etching, there's no back-up drawing.

                                                    "Cobblestone"

                                       
                                                        Close-Up

                                                    "Matisse Leaves"

                


                          

               

                                                          "Scrungie" (marker)

And while I was in the chemicals, I figured I'd take out a few more to make these electroformed earrings.

So, from my studio to yours - I hope you have a healthy, happy and safe new year!

                                                           

Marvelous Monday

I'm just lounging around the house today enjoying the quiet while my daughter and her friend are studying.  Lily was born on Christmas Day and Gabrielle was born on Christmas Eve.  What could two girls possibly be studying for the day after Christmas?  They're both studying to take their driver's test.  The DMV is closed today but tomorrow I may very well be celebrating yet another milestone in the Abarbanel home. 

While I was buried in the internet, I came across these beautiful simplistic designs of Katja Prins.  She's got over a decade of jewelry designs on her website to enjoy.  Have a marvelous Monday!

Pushing It

Well, things haven't quite stopped, but definitely slowed down a bit so I wanted to talk about the new book that was on the horizon and now in my inbox.  Back at Synergy in 2009 I had purchased some die sets from Tracy Holmes and Dan Cormier.  Having done die forming with the hydraulic press in my past life, I thought these new tools were genius.  Sawing through an acrylic die can be a long and arduous process - and then there's sanding of the die.  And rather than a 20-ton press, which is a hefty investment,  your fingers are your tools.  And you don't just get one die, a get a set of nine concentric shapes.   And a whole slew of shapes to choose from.  Nicely done. 

Remember these earrings? Textured, die formed and electroformed.  Backless.  I can't tell you how many times I've used that die.  Love the shape - long pebble.  Now to go read, shop and imagine.  Just another late night.  And not to mention all those blogs I NEED to catch up on!  Happy holidays!