tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72720772056237122902024-03-13T11:23:36.221-04:00Willow and Memiscellaneous musings by both of usLisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-25811099740517237962014-11-07T12:28:00.000-05:002014-11-07T12:28:37.350-05:00Upcoming Events and Classes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9T5-fVsIU6k5UXSum2cbPkoq8kBbXUpLX5DphTp8t20X_Wg2EPMieI-cCYSxteVEvyQt_oUtXLTY4J5ZwPioqnlCUav7j56RZ7Ypn9xCFLe_O_hcnG4uOF93gLNUyF-kJ6VDz7CBRA/s1600/PB193815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz9T5-fVsIU6k5UXSum2cbPkoq8kBbXUpLX5DphTp8t20X_Wg2EPMieI-cCYSxteVEvyQt_oUtXLTY4J5ZwPioqnlCUav7j56RZ7Ypn9xCFLe_O_hcnG4uOF93gLNUyF-kJ6VDz7CBRA/s1600/PB193815.JPG" height="154" width="200" /></a><b>Saturday, November 22, 2014 - 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.</b><br />
<b>The Boma Day Spa Open House, 130 Oak Street, Suite 7, Ellsworth, Maine</b><br />
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I will be on hand to show and sell my jewelry and to talk about metal clay and metal clay classes. The Day Spa has events and sales as well. After the open house, the Boma Day Spa will continue to have a display of my jewelry for sale.</div>
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<b>Thursday, December 4, 2014 - 3:00 - 8:00 p.m.</b></div>
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<b>Art Show and Sale, Schoodic Arts for All Schoolhouse, 23 Harbor Road, Winter Harbor, Maine</b></div>
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Held in conjunction with Winter Harbor Downtown Shopping Night. For more information, visit: <a href="https://schoodicartsforall.org/events/special-events/winter-art-show-sale-2014/" target="_blank">https://schoodicartsforall.org/events/special-events/winter-art-show-sale-2014/</a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Saturdays, January 24 and 31, 2015 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Copper Clay Play Days, 130 Oak Street, Suite 1, Ellsworth Maine</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwnhhx2eaGQvsXBHhRRjH4Fu6B4BKvZqMTag_2xnYGvrIRigaoma1t-KyCIBstQm9Pc2b_lR-9DHoBeUs1HndC2PB6-HwAyxuIaR7Lm0I2v0FieP5mLn-Vgc4jolLexbXqL5nfeHRHA/s1600/P9183627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwnhhx2eaGQvsXBHhRRjH4Fu6B4BKvZqMTag_2xnYGvrIRigaoma1t-KyCIBstQm9Pc2b_lR-9DHoBeUs1HndC2PB6-HwAyxuIaR7Lm0I2v0FieP5mLn-Vgc4jolLexbXqL5nfeHRHA/s1600/P9183627.JPG" height="128" width="200" /></a>Suitable for all levels, this two-day workshop will give students the opportunity to try out and experiment with CopprClay by Metal Clay Adventures. The first class will be dedicated to making pieces and preparing them for firing. All pieces will be fired in the week intervening and the second class will be dedicated to post-firing finishing. This class is being offered through Ellsworth Adult Education. To register, visit their website: <a href="http://ellsworth.maineadulted.org/">http://ellsworth.maineadulted.org</a>. Note: As of this posting, the class has not been added to their website, but I am told it should be soon. Please continue to check back on their site.</blockquote>
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<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-80882916598182753592013-11-22T19:18:00.001-05:002013-11-22T19:18:48.430-05:00Pre-Holiday Art Show and FairCome see me and other artists at the<a href="http://schoodicartsforall.org/events/art-sale-winter-harbor-downtown-shopping/" target="_blank"> Art Sale and Show </a>during Winter Harbor Downtown Shopping Night. It will be a great chance to shop for holiday gifts. There will be lots going on in Winter Harbor that evening, including a craft fair.<br />
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Thursday, December 5, 3:00 to 8:00 at the Former Town Hall, 23 Harbor Road, Winter Harbor, Maine.<br />
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This will be my only show this holiday season, so I hope to see you there. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HFZWf0O10hfTJ9LnUaIEKkcC7W69dXj7EEKNjkbbBkEA2pn2p6NfCbUIMc6ldondEop-jKwQhu5cSp8-B1QFvsBUAVjVthuV_W3-KyYqYQA78m9NSQ1JhCfRN2YGkltgrZt47ukqIA/s1600/PB203843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2HFZWf0O10hfTJ9LnUaIEKkcC7W69dXj7EEKNjkbbBkEA2pn2p6NfCbUIMc6ldondEop-jKwQhu5cSp8-B1QFvsBUAVjVthuV_W3-KyYqYQA78m9NSQ1JhCfRN2YGkltgrZt47ukqIA/s200/PB203843.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmRj7edojUgtqnlb5EQGTxSM7oIjcjKkm-0LS-56eXE6oXcPellVKt5MQyYJo0ZeKyIZp3sYgbyBd1nSNS8BgMaNcuujvJhIohmroImLoX-KkpASU_iiphxqB8i-6m-bl18arqCXozw/s1600/lapis+(7+of+9).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmRj7edojUgtqnlb5EQGTxSM7oIjcjKkm-0LS-56eXE6oXcPellVKt5MQyYJo0ZeKyIZp3sYgbyBd1nSNS8BgMaNcuujvJhIohmroImLoX-KkpASU_iiphxqB8i-6m-bl18arqCXozw/s200/lapis+(7+of+9).jpg" width="195" /></a>For more information, click <a href="http://schoodicartsforall.org/events/art-sale-winter-harbor-downtown-shopping/" target="_blank">here</a>. <br />
<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-84823984755577227782013-08-30T18:01:00.003-04:002013-08-30T18:01:57.687-04:00What I did this summer: My Day Job<div style="text-align: justify;">
I took this summer off from jewelry making to take care of some personal matters and also because it is the busiest time of the year for my day job. I work at <a href="http://www.woodlawnmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Woodlawn Museum</a>, a small historic house museum in my town. The house is full of wonderful pieces and I fell in love with it as soon as I started working there. After I had been there a few months, I wrote a <a href="http://www.metalclayheads.blogspot.com/2012/04/inspiration.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> for my <a href="http://www.metalclayheads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Metal Clay Heads Team</a> about the inspiration I get from some of the pieces in the museum. I have made a few pieces and have a few more in the works, but didn't get much time this summer to work on them.</div>
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Our biggest event of the year at Woodlawn is the <a href="http://woodlawnmuseum.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18&Itemid=25" target="_blank">Ellsworth Antiques Show</a>. There are 27 antique dealers from all over the country with everything from books and jewelry to furniture for sale. The evening before the show starts, there is a Opening Night Cocktail Party and Dinner. This year I think we had more than 200 people in attendance on Opening Night. As you can imagine, with four year-round employees and two seasonal ones, a lot of work goes into the show each year. In fact, I will soon begin the preparations for next year's show. Last year was my first show and I decided it was just too stressful to try and manage doing jewelry and craft shows and get ready for the Antiques Show as well, which is one of the reasons I took this summer off.</div>
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The 2013 Antiques Show is now past us and it was a great success, in my opinion. Attendance was up, we had wonderful weather, and because I had one show under my belt, I knew what to expect and wasn't quite as stressed out. I even scored some beautiful vintage jewelry. I don't usually buy jewelry, but I do love vintage/antique jewelry and these pieces appeared to be handcrafted and, I assume because they were not by big name jewelry designers, they were quite affordable. So I bought myself some early birthday presents.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2-ZlbkwgmH41BaDXUehu4cn8FTbN6ZBXhvJ1A7Qk9ZD78rIuwi0Wr-x2SN3cS8l1ebDBUWc5OIPUw6D5n84_ZGDTWCc41mW8gwK7ldf_-6-Y8S9rV85GuO4dL8lf33jvPsjA91Cxlw/s1600/Antique+jewelry+(4+of+6).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM2-ZlbkwgmH41BaDXUehu4cn8FTbN6ZBXhvJ1A7Qk9ZD78rIuwi0Wr-x2SN3cS8l1ebDBUWc5OIPUw6D5n84_ZGDTWCc41mW8gwK7ldf_-6-Y8S9rV85GuO4dL8lf33jvPsjA91Cxlw/s320/Antique+jewelry+(4+of+6).jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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This bracelet was the first piece to catch my eye. It is sterling silver and I loved the way the pierced pieces were also domed so the flowers stand up above the borders.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9yi6wQcbqahMG4obFtFWl2nvCkNzDad7fzHoKXkj2HKYLF-SnN5b8mJii_OVQc5_srP1ZB3hto5qpFT6vp8QM41I6wCGn04Y0vXgbywiDYgaCGE2W2NBZqyZ8f_9QYm-hHciBojqKw/s1600/Antique+jewelry+%25286+of+6%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja9yi6wQcbqahMG4obFtFWl2nvCkNzDad7fzHoKXkj2HKYLF-SnN5b8mJii_OVQc5_srP1ZB3hto5qpFT6vp8QM41I6wCGn04Y0vXgbywiDYgaCGE2W2NBZqyZ8f_9QYm-hHciBojqKw/s320/Antique+jewelry+%25286+of+6%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wUcKldabxKTKpRTjb6F1tQ_OrksjxArc2lNeH2iC3CWC-hwmCW0IeEwHxsuaN1j9Hn0ApN5joSBHPR1Df4P_Nz9xX8OgsBi_Vtajl1HJ5wXHrpxybK_RjWZ4O9Amh4GdHwIlPRZuug/s1600/Antique+jewelry+%25285+of+6%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_wUcKldabxKTKpRTjb6F1tQ_OrksjxArc2lNeH2iC3CWC-hwmCW0IeEwHxsuaN1j9Hn0ApN5joSBHPR1Df4P_Nz9xX8OgsBi_Vtajl1HJ5wXHrpxybK_RjWZ4O9Amh4GdHwIlPRZuug/s320/Antique+jewelry+%25285+of+6%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I was also intrigued by the way the links were attached (and will remember this technique for future reference) and love the way, once clasped, you can't tell (without looking carefully) exactly where the clasp is since it looks just like the links. </div>
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The other two pieces are filigree. I love filigree and have dabbled in it so I have a good idea of how difficult it can be to do well. I was pleasantly surprised that these pieces were also within my price range. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgVAYFghexPMNLBzR9xdEdKeptIiFwBdZfCMAKPjukoFf-Oj1prW4-T3YfDyJjoNH4w9Z5__ABOrww5Ne1u7sH5t-J2wksOD9hg78vHqBEKk16EYg_oW1EVcmEMI7-CHV_tBgGzpjbQ/s1600/Antique+jewelry+%25283+of+6%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkgVAYFghexPMNLBzR9xdEdKeptIiFwBdZfCMAKPjukoFf-Oj1prW4-T3YfDyJjoNH4w9Z5__ABOrww5Ne1u7sH5t-J2wksOD9hg78vHqBEKk16EYg_oW1EVcmEMI7-CHV_tBgGzpjbQ/s320/Antique+jewelry+%25283+of+6%2529.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">This is a very delicate locket that does open. You can see through the filigree so I am thinking of putting a piece of black fabric or a black stone to accentuate the filigree pattern.</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubNAXWXYTRusA787X_7xEU9QLqQuyQV1tAMjOLLcqAs86aA_gRhDAIGH9Sr1epQwxJnBbTDGR9ovC3wPUYryZZfCENAiwora5Zu_kmu2vmKktptyB84gzWVl-85dmwQQRNDFFYMAQjw/s1600/Antique+jewelry+%25281+of+6%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubNAXWXYTRusA787X_7xEU9QLqQuyQV1tAMjOLLcqAs86aA_gRhDAIGH9Sr1epQwxJnBbTDGR9ovC3wPUYryZZfCENAiwora5Zu_kmu2vmKktptyB84gzWVl-85dmwQQRNDFFYMAQjw/s320/Antique+jewelry+%25281+of+6%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I am amazed by the filigree in this butterfly. It's a large piece, almost two inches across, and is marked "Peru" on the back. I was told all three pieces came from an estate and date to the 1920s. </div>
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During my break from jewelry making, I still had to quench my artistic thirst and so I took up calligraphy because there is a gift I want to make for a friend. I'm not good yet, but it's very relaxing to practice and is a bit more portable so I don't have to go into my studio to do it. n Unfortunately, it has given me another obsession: Pens and ink, especially fountain and dip pens. I purchased on Ebay a fountain pen and inkwell desk set from the 1940s which I do intend to use. Right now my collection of calligraphy pens are fairly low quality. Someday, when I get better, I would love to get some better nibs, maybe even some old ones.</div>
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I am, however, looking forward to getting my hands dirty with clay though. For those of you who are local and have visited my studio, I will be starting Open Studio nights again on Tuesdays from 3:30 to 7:30. If you like to work in the company of other metal clay-ers and have some fun, come along! If you want more information, please feel free to email me at info@willowandme.com.</div>
Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-72838850662184420502013-03-03T17:46:00.000-05:002013-03-03T17:46:23.135-05:00New(ish) Logo, New WebsiteA while ago I decided I was tired of the font on my logo so I played around with some new fonts and came up with something I think is a little more sophisticated. Of course, that meant I had to change my <a href="http://www.willowandme.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a> banner, which I did. I also added the banner to this blog. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New(ish) Logo</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Old logo</td></tr>
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I have never really liked my website all that much and it was a pain to update, so I decided to change that up, too. My hope is that it is more streamlined and a little bit more sophisticated without being too complicated. It's very bare bones, which is easy for me to maintain. A lot has changed in my life and with jewelry that I have been thinking an update is in order. You can check out the new site at: <a href="http://www.willowandme.com/">www.willowandme.com</a>.<br />
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I have gone over it a bazillion times but I still could have missed something. Please let me know if you encounter any problems. If you have been to my website before, you may have to refresh your browser to see my new one.<br />
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<br /><br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-86506786317771890822012-12-27T11:29:00.001-05:002012-12-27T11:29:19.903-05:002013Since the world didn't end, Christmas has passed, and I have a few precious days off, it's a good time to talk about my plans for next year. 2012 was an incredibly busy year for me. I started a new job (and they have put up with me for almost a whole year now!) and between classes, shops and shows, Willow and Me Jewelry has been busier for me than ever. I'm not complaining, but I do feel like I was pulled in too many directions this past year. I have not felt comfortable with the level of service I have given the shops that carry my pieces, sometimes taking several weeks to get things to them.<br />
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And so after a lot of soul searching, I have decided to dial it back a bit in 2013. I have decided not to do any shows and will only be teaching classes in the winter/early spring. The summer and fall are just too busy with work.<br />
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I will still be making jewelry, and I have a couple of big projects in the planning stages. As I indicated above, however, I will not be doing any shows in 2013. You will still be able to purchase on my <a href="http://www.willowandme.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy site</a> and as of this moment, my jewelry is also sold at <a href="http://archipelago.nrostores.com/" target="_blank">Archipelago</a> in Rockland, primarily ocean-themed items. I will be confirming with them in early 2013 their plans for the next season as well as other shops that have carried my jewelry in the past.<br />
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I will also be teaching two classes through <a href="http://rsu24.maineadulted.org/" target="_blank">RSU 24 Adult Education</a>. Both are Mixed Levels Precious Metal Clay, with times to accommodate different schedules. My intention with the class is to have something for all levels of experience with PMC, from beginner on up. I will be teaching specific subjects, but will also encourage students to plan their own pieces and I will be there to help them troubleshoot and make their vision a reality. The dates and times will be Fridays from 5:30 to 9:00 on February 8 and 15 and March 1 and 8 or Saturdays 10:00 to 3:30 on March 23 and 30 and April 6. The RSU will have pricing information on their website and in their catalog. Contact them to register.<br />
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These are the only PMC classes I will be teaching in 2013, so if you are interested, I would suggest signing up for whichever alternative works for your schedule.<br />
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I have really enjoyed my work at the <a href="http://www.woodlawnmuseum.org/" target="_blank">Woodlawn Museum</a> and look forward to 2013. I do miss working with metal clay full time, but financially that was just not feasible for me. I hope that these changes in schedule will help me feel less as if I am spread too thin and enable me to enjoy everything a bit more, as well as to take some time for myself. I also hope to focus more on quality than quantity in my jewelry pieces. <br />
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Keep an eye out here and on my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/willowandme?ref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook page</a> for new pieces and other news. Let's hope for a happy 2013. For now I will leave you with some pictures of my favorite pieces from 2012.<br />
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<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-37787870631829680332012-09-27T19:40:00.001-04:002012-09-27T19:40:46.208-04:00Time FliesI can't believe it's already almost October! So many things that seemed so far away have come and gone: Our busy season at the museum, my metal clay adventure/vacation (at which I learned that four days isn't nearly enough time to spend working on clay with friends) and the beginning of school (I can't believe my youngest is a senior this year), among them.<br />
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I have been working furiously to get some pieces made and sent to Archipelago after my biggest month of sales there (yay). Much of it is on my bench waiting to be finished but I do have a few small things left to fire.<br />
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Before time gets away from me again, I wanted to list what is coming up for me this fall as far as shows and classes go. At the beginning of this year, because of my new job, I decided to only do two shows. The first was the Fourth of July and it was very successful. <br />
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The other will be the <a href="http://www.giftedhandshow.com/show.htm" target="_blank">Gifted Hand Show</a> on Friday, November 9 (11:00 to 7:00) and Saturday, November 10 (9:00 to 4:00) at the Ramada Inn in Ellsworth. This is always an awesome show. Christina Heiniger does a wonderful job of assembling a wide variety of very gifted artisans and I am honored to be among them again this year. If you have never been, it is definitely worth a look and a great place to do Christmas shopping.<br />
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I have three metal clay classes scheduled this fall through RSU 24 Adult Ed. They will all be held at my studio at 130 Oak Street, Suite 1, Ellsworth.<br />
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<b>Beginner's PMC: Saturday, October 13, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.</b><br />
Class Fee: $50; Suppies Fee: $50 payable to me at the first class<br />
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You will learn about the different types of PMC as well as the basics of working with it by making a necklace and earring set. Bring a bag lunch.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u2GZCPRxYliFDDH9Hr4m5gw4kCVd7EGD-9PoPe6gOFRTFSBMRKNlgbTKqqw7_c4tZ9Rxn5ugMPT523saORq-n1QhEf9oabkRg_gQATxTKe58kGwMlqMUo2_RxCTUMJ2oL-i-NolDXA/s1600/P9066628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1u2GZCPRxYliFDDH9Hr4m5gw4kCVd7EGD-9PoPe6gOFRTFSBMRKNlgbTKqqw7_c4tZ9Rxn5ugMPT523saORq-n1QhEf9oabkRg_gQATxTKe58kGwMlqMUo2_RxCTUMJ2oL-i-NolDXA/s200/P9066628.JPG" width="199" /></a><b>PMC Peekaboo Pendant: Saturday, November 17, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.</b><br />
Class Fee: $50; Supplies Fee: $50 payable to me at the first class<br />
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This is an intermediate level class and some PMC experience class is necessary. You will make a hollow lentil shaped bead with a "peekaboo" hole in which a small stone or bead shows through. This is a piece made in several steps, which are demonstrated and explained. You will learn about other hollow forms as well and the skills learned in this class can be used for many types of projects. The pendant pictured is the first Peekaboo pendant I made, while I was at Haystack. I still wear it and it never fails to get compliments. Bring a bag lunch.<br />
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<b>PMC: Beyond the Basics, Saturdays, December 1 and 8, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.</b><br />
Class Fee: $100; Supplies Fee: $60, payable to me at the first class<br />
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For those who have worked in PMC and would like to expand their skills, this class will cover making your own textures (mold making, photopolymer plates and scratch foam), setting fireable stones and 3D construction. This will be a very fast moving class and basic metal clay skills are necessary. Students should bring a bag lunch.<br />
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The RSU is offering these classes at incredible prices. To sign up for these classes, contact <a href="http://www.rsu24.maineadulted.org/" target="_blank">RSU 24 Adult Ed</a> by clicking this link or by calling 667-6499. Feel free to contact me at info@willowandme.com for more information about them.<br />
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Coming up very soon (unless time gets away from me again) will be photos of my most recent work and some new items in my <a href="http://www.willowandme.etsy.com/" target="_blank">Etsy shop</a>.Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-24666249475178300432012-07-07T08:28:00.000-04:002012-07-07T08:28:10.583-04:00I'm in Metal Clay Artist Magazine!I just got my digital copy of<a href="http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/" target="_blank"> Metal Clay Artist Magazine</a> and I'm in it! I had been told by a fellow <a href="http://www.metalclayheads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Metal Clay Head</a> that I was, but it's nice to actually see it.<br />
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My Luna Moth Pendant is on Page 32 in the Gallery Section, which is devoted to some of the people who entered pieces into the magazine's Metal Clay Plus contest. I am honored to have made the cut to have my picture in the magazine (there were about 200 entries, I guess) and to be alongside some very well-known and talented artists. <br />
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I was in the magazine once before with my <a href="http://willowandme.blogspot.com/2011/07/metal-clay-artist-magazine.html" target="_blank">Peekaboo Pendant</a> about this time last year. It was in the second anniversary edition of the magazine and the Luna Moth is in the third anniversary edition. Plus, both of them were made at workshops at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts. <br />
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Unfortunately, there are no metal workshops at Haystack this year, but I am excited to be getting together during that same week with three other Haystack friends. We are going to work on clay at the home and studio of one of the lovely ladies I met my first year (and again last year) near Toronto. I am so excited and hope that I will be as inspired as I was at Haystack. I will be traveling with a good friend I also met in my first year, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/erinelizabeth" target="_blank">Erin</a>. With my new job, I have had less time to work on clay so I doubly pleased to have a few days to do nothing but.<br />
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The Luna Moth Pendant in the magazine was made at last year's workshop with <a href="http://www.woodlandchic.net/" target="_blank">Patrik Kusek</a>. He is an awesome and inspiring teacher and I learned so much from him. Some of it was little "Why didn't I think of that?" things and I think I told him I loved him more than once. I felt a bit like a groupie with him and <a href="http://www.lisacain.co.uk/" target="_blank">Lisa Cain</a>.<br />
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We did a lot of work with found objects and I wrote a <a href="http://willowandme.blogspot.com/2011/09/haystack-wrapup.html" target="_blank">blog post </a>about it with photos of my pieces. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reverse of the Luna Moth Pendant</td></tr>
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<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-33450640934919640152012-06-20T20:00:00.000-04:002012-06-20T20:43:08.163-04:00The Dreaded Threaded Vessel ChallengeOnce every three months, my <a href="http://www.metalclayheads.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Etsy Metal Clay Heads</a> team holds a challenge. I haven't entered many of them, for various reasons, but decided to this time around. The challenges have two parts: a style part and a technical part. This challenge called for some sort of a vessel with a threaded top with a 1920s-1930s look.<br />
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I've done threaded pieces before with success, so I thought this would be a great challenge for me to do. As practice for working towards the Metal Clay Master's Registry, I made a threaded vessel a couple of years ago, and I was quite happy with it.<br />
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So I figured the challenge wouldn't be too hard, but I wasn't counting on the unpredictability of bronze clay. I didn't want to make a round piece and drew out a texture on scratch foam for the sides that had an Art Deco feel. I planned on a four-sided piece.<br />
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But, I also didn't plan on how difficult it would be to construct a four sided piece around a round thread. I wanted the threads to be set on the inside of the bottle and have the stopper screw down into it, which is the exact opposite of what most bottles are, I realized after looking at many.<br />
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The first piece looked pretty good before I fired it but I fired it on its side and it warped. I also fired the stopper separate from the bottle, which was the same technique I used for the silver vessel. Unfortunately, once the bottle warped, there was no way I could get the stopper in and it was too hard to bend it back into shape. <br />
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So back to the drawing board I went, this time with a bit of knowledge under my belt. This time I chose copper clay instead of bronze. I've had better luck with it. I constructed the piece a bit differently as well. It's still four-sided with the same design, but I added upside down triangles to fill in the gaps instead of untextured clay. I also took the bottom tips of the design to decorate the top. Lastly, I fired the stopper in place this time, after having coated it with paper clay powder.<br />
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In the first firing, the bottle sintered and the top seemed okay, but when I went to unscrew it, it simply came off and left the threaded part inside the bottle. Keeping my fingers crossed, I re-attached the top to the part that was still in the bottle with some thick slip and refired. This time it worked and the top stayed together when I removed it. It still didn't feel fully sintered in the middle (I made it hollow) so I fired just the top one more time.<br />
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I'm pleased to say it worked and I finally have a piece that is fully sintered and doesn't look too bad. It's just under an inch an a half tall and about a half-inch wide.<br />
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You can find a few more pictures of it, as well as pictures of it before it was fired <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/willowandme/sets/72157630199938030/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Even taking the pictures was a challenge. I must have taken well over 300 pictures and managed to winnow them down to less than a dozen that were clear enough to use. And the bottle looks much more like bronze than copper in the pictures but nothing I have tried seems to get the color true. I guess there is a reason why they are called challenges.Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-21745967601337824012012-04-23T21:02:00.003-04:002012-04-23T21:02:42.809-04:00The Birth (and Naming) of a New Collection<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I recently wrote a <a href="http://metalclayheads.blogspot.com/2012/04/inspiration.html" target="_blank">blog post</a> for my Metal Clay Heads Etsy Team. In it, I discussed my newest sources for inspiration: Some antique buttons from a client and textures and designs I have found in various pieces of furniture and other items in the <a href="http://www.woodlawnmuseum.org/" target="_blank">small museum</a> where I work. <br />
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Working on new designs based on these things is a departure from the nature-based pieces I have made in the past, and I want to mark this by naming the new line. After a lot of thought, I have settled on <i>The Nouvelle Collection.</i><br />
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The name has many meanings for me. First, <i>nouvelle </i>and <i>nouveau</i> both mean "new" in French. The obvious is that this is a new line, but it is also a play on the term <i>Art Nouveau</i>. I love designs from that period and my new pieces will be based, in part, on art from that era (and others). This also marks a new phase in my life, since I have recently taken a new job, after staying home with my children for more than 10 years.<br />
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During the last few years as my children have needed me at home less, I have spent more time working on my jewelry as well as teaching metal clay. Since I will now have less time to devote to working with metal clay, I would like to focus on pieces that challenge me. I will be drawing and designing more of my own textures and using more advanced techniques in some of my pieces.<br />
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Having said that, my first pieces for the <i>Nouvelle Collection</i> are simple post earrings made using some of the antique and vintage buttons I recently received. My next piece will be a brooch based on a drawer pull on a dresser in the museum. I hope to chronicle the making of that piece from design to finish and will publish that on the Metal Clay Heads blog.<br />
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<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-52050344939606145102012-03-29T08:55:00.000-04:002012-03-29T20:22:36.759-04:00Something UnexpectedThis is the second version of this post I have written. The first strangely disappeared. Remind me never to go to Blogger on my iPad again.<br />
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Last night I had a wonderful surprise from a customer. Last week we had talked about making molds from old buttons. I bought a few recently, which is what I made my button rings with.<br />
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So she brought me a whole tin of buttons that she had gotten from her grandmother. I think she said that her grandmother had inherited some of them from <i>her</i> grandmother. I'm not an expert at dating old buttons, but I do know these are very cool. The designs and textures are exquisite. There are some metal ones, what I think is Bakelite, and some black glass ones. I researched those last night and I learned that black glass buttons became popular after Prince Albert died in the 1860s and Queen Victoria went into mourning. She wore jet buttons, apparently, but those were too expensive for most people, so less expensive ones were made from glass.<br />
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Lately I have been struggling with whatever the metal clay version of writer's block is. And wondering whether I should continue making jewelry. My wish for a while has been to make my jewelry and teaching into a full-time job, but the economy hasn't cooperated, and I have taken a job. I really do like it, but adding it to the mix of obligations has given me very little time or energy to create. Hence the block or lack of inspiration or whatever.<br />
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But the buttons have given me inspiration. I have been fascinated with the Victorian and Edwardian eras for a very long time and, using the molds I have made from my own buttons as well as my those of my customer, I will begin a new line inspired by those periods.<br />
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I'm itching to start.Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-38696998637700793222012-02-03T19:32:00.003-05:002012-02-03T19:32:42.470-05:00Six Rings - Part Two I had a partially successful firing of the first three rings. A successful firing, to me, is something I don't have to do anything to after except for polishing. Unfortunately, this wasn't quite the case.<br />
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Everything sintered just fine, so in that way it was successful. The problem was with the shrinkage. It seems that shrinkage in sterling clay isn't quite as simple as I thought. In the last post, I said that the clay didn't shrink as much as the package said it would. I would like to rephrase that. The ring shanks don't seem to shrink 25 percent. The settings for the stones, however, do. The settings shrunk enough to pop out the stones on two of the rings. One was pretty simple to fix, but the other took a bit more work. In the end I did get both stones set. <br />
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The second set, with the small stones was a bit easier knowing what to expect as far as the shrinkage went. </div>
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All six came
out of the carbon with a small bit of yellowish coating that was easy
to remove with a scratch brush. About an hour in the tumbler was enough to brighten them up. They seem to be much stronger than the same rings in fine silver would be. I cannot bend the bands. <br />
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I loved making these rings. My favorite setting is the one with just the four corners, with the channel on just two sides running a close second. I will continue to work with sterling clay, and I want to explore the shrinkage issues a bit more.Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-838152187607201142012-01-20T15:46:00.002-05:002012-01-20T15:54:42.748-05:00Six Rings - Part One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A while back I made a couple of rings with square stones. They weren't exactly alike, but similar enough that they went well together stacked. A customer bought them and asked me to make another, similar but not the same, so she would have three to stack. When she picked up the set, she asked if I could make three more. She wanted a total of six, three with smaller stones, three with larger.<br />
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When I made the first three, sterling silver clay was not yet available, so they are fine silver. I made them thick enough so they would be fairly strong, but I knew the two colors of silver wouldn't match perfectly. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to make all six out of the new sterling silver. They would be stronger and all six would match in color.<br />
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I made a prototype ring. I came out great, but didn't shrink as much as I thought it would. But now I have a good idea of ring shrinkage on sterling, which doesn't seem to be anywhere near the 25% shrinkage rate I have read.<br />
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So accounting for the new shrinkage factor, I started making the rings. For thin rings like this, I use a method I developed so that the ring shank is seamless (rather than cutting a strip and wrapping it around a mandrel and joining it). I started writing a blog post about the process a long time ago, but never got around to publishing it. I will give a step by step tutorial at some point, but right now I will just go over the highlights of making this particular set of rings.<br />
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I cut all the ring shanks out of sterling silver clay and left them on brass tubes so they would keep their shape while drying. It also gives you something to hold onto when working with the shanks. I usually only do a rough shape in the wet clay and do most of my work in the dry clay state.<br />
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Because I made a mistake when ordering the stones, I only had the larger stones, so I set aside three of the shanks for later and roughly set the three stones in clay. The colors are hard to see in this picture but they are deep purple, sapphire blue and ruby red. The stones are absolutely gorgeous. I may have to make something for myself with the ones I have left.<br />
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I then start filing the ring shanks so they are an even thickness all the way around. You can see in this picture that I don't cut them completely round because I want to have the top of the ring have some kind of a shape.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN1Yz3bIRRCa3ihdCqSMhyphenhyphen9mqC_RlIOy94jPQpX00ymH6FS74DNN72z4Ft2Cz37JyrrkJnR53D92v0EMfSbMmseehAcglUzJLGZcMwnn0ZqsXPbx7LVqMgHaeSGI0qaRLEByxayepUA/s1600/P1181208.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixN1Yz3bIRRCa3ihdCqSMhyphenhyphen9mqC_RlIOy94jPQpX00ymH6FS74DNN72z4Ft2Cz37JyrrkJnR53D92v0EMfSbMmseehAcglUzJLGZcMwnn0ZqsXPbx7LVqMgHaeSGI0qaRLEByxayepUA/s320/P1181208.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I put them all on the same tube so I could file them together and be sure the sizes and shapes of the shanks matched.<br />
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After I do some rough shaping of the shank, I will also roughly shape the stone setting and then attach it to the shank with slip.<br />
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In the photo below, you can see all three drying. On a couple of them, you can see marks where I have drawn out the shape in Sharpie.<br />
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After they are dry, I fill in the gaps with clay and build up areas that might need it. Once that is all done, I start on the refining of the shape. On the ring below, I wanted the stone to be held on just two sides and so I carved away the clay where I wanted it to be open. You can't see it very well in the photo because of the angle, but the opening goes under the stone and right through to the other side. Once this ring is fired, the shrinkage will hold the stone in place securely.<br />
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I also wanted to carve a little design on the sides of each ring as something special that only the wearer can really see. You can see that I have sketched it out in pencil and below shows my favorite tool for carving like this. It's just an awl with a shortened shaft. It has a nice sharp point and gives a pretty good impression.<br />
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Finally, after sanding, shaping and refining the surface on each ring, I carved a design on each. The very last thing I do before firing is to thoroughly clean the surface of the ring so that there is no dust left on it. Also cleaning the stone with alcohol is necessary because any dust left over from sanding will fuse to the stone during firing.<br />
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Here are the three rings ready to be fired. Sterling clay requires a two-part firing, which I will discuss in my next post.<br />
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<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-86265290221276354812011-12-08T09:44:00.001-05:002011-12-08T10:23:54.928-05:00Upcoming Class ScheduleThis winter/spring I will be teaching some classes through the RSU 24 Adult Education. I have listed them below. They will all be held at my studio, located at 130 Oak Street, Suite One (bottom floor), Ellsworth, Maine. To register, you can visit <a href="http://rsu24.maineadulted.org/">http://rsu24.maineadulted.org</a>. Feel free to email me with any questions at <a href="mailto:info@willowandme.com">info@willowandme.com</a>.<br />
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COPPER CLAY<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUFH_CABO4dsg068lALWSjFiJcE7X1f71pjCyCGkqAGTnIHv_UpEVdFTIrWmOJeKy7R8vhUQJumXAdgj3g709YWylEF8DlR0qjf-_ZUlE0sCzfZD1zwq3V5UuuWpNxum5Doxvv_mGmg/s1600/P4069236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYUFH_CABO4dsg068lALWSjFiJcE7X1f71pjCyCGkqAGTnIHv_UpEVdFTIrWmOJeKy7R8vhUQJumXAdgj3g709YWylEF8DlR0qjf-_ZUlE0sCzfZD1zwq3V5UuuWpNxum5Doxvv_mGmg/s200/P4069236.JPG" width="200" /></a>Mondays, January 23 and 30 and February 6 and 13, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrspP7wISofxAPV8SRA5CBJPLONqeG4pm-d24YcSGr9qLiSM1w8qP-wAY2XiidoKvXWeYxA-7qWm9NbpO7S5C3kqpqljs_VUfeoG84xrLyZBn1M6jOohZ2sAE38NctQbi6ff9N4WlH9g/s1600/P7260033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrspP7wISofxAPV8SRA5CBJPLONqeG4pm-d24YcSGr9qLiSM1w8qP-wAY2XiidoKvXWeYxA-7qWm9NbpO7S5C3kqpqljs_VUfeoG84xrLyZBn1M6jOohZ2sAE38NctQbi6ff9N4WlH9g/s200/P7260033.JPG" width="200" /></a>With the rising cost of silver, many people are turning to alternative metals to make jewelry. In this class we will explore copper clay using Metal Clay Adventures' COPPRClay and Art Clay Copper. This class will be suitable for beginners or for those who have used other metal clays and would like to try copper clay. We will discuss the differences between the brands of copper clay as well as how they differ from other metal clays. We will learn techniques for making several pieces of jewelry. The instructor will have tools available for use in class and tool kits are available for purchase ($40). A supplies fee of $50 will be payable to the instructor on the first class, which will include a 50 gram packages of each kind of clay and other necessary supplies. <br />
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Metal clays are mediums in which metal is suspended in an organic binder which can be worked much like modeling clay. It can be shaped and molded. When fired at a high temperature the binder burns off, leaving a pure metal piece. Metal clays come in many varieties including silver, bronze and copper.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9H6EAFxtBWH_PsKaEVYfU3xIAO1dIfI_GzooZqLVbVk3dyR6Jco1Th3F-Pif89BfuZ0iEBXJdu4rVySyAH6MqOMcQSYhqAKCwaCKtEbshyphenhyphenIRaFZh3c2ojBRC7K_7_9LS6jZD1g99Pg/s1600/P7266262.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9H6EAFxtBWH_PsKaEVYfU3xIAO1dIfI_GzooZqLVbVk3dyR6Jco1Th3F-Pif89BfuZ0iEBXJdu4rVySyAH6MqOMcQSYhqAKCwaCKtEbshyphenhyphenIRaFZh3c2ojBRC7K_7_9LS6jZD1g99Pg/s200/P7266262.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
PMC FOR BEGINNERS<br />
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Saturday, March 24, 2012, 9:00 to 3:30<br />
Bring a bag lunch (a refrigerator and microwave are available)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM6pjP2ZoZHmQyatrqhW65xRsmok9Hd0IxGhzMbZxBxA6oBh2T_RJWmhn7dcHzUdqLNC5zWow-uZmnLQHPk_xe2Z57NiUvuNMA7HCKeA1l6giDDeVz8KYBVhcDPDh_Z4TkwFb9KmYWw/s1600/292e+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNM6pjP2ZoZHmQyatrqhW65xRsmok9Hd0IxGhzMbZxBxA6oBh2T_RJWmhn7dcHzUdqLNC5zWow-uZmnLQHPk_xe2Z57NiUvuNMA7HCKeA1l6giDDeVz8KYBVhcDPDh_Z4TkwFb9KmYWw/s200/292e+%25284%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a>Learn to make your own fine silver jewelry with Precious Metal Clay. PMC is a clay with fine silver particles in an organic binder that can be worked much like any other clay, and when fired at a high temperature, the binder burns away, leaving a pure silver piece. Students will work the clay in all forms, from wet clay through the firing process. Many techniques will be covered, with plenty of time for experimentation and questions. At the end of the course, you will have, at a minimum a finished necklace and pair of earrings, as well as the skills and knowledge to work with PMC on your own. A tool kit and supplies will be available for purchase from the instructor. The cost for the tool kit, which includes everything you will need to work with PMC, a 16 gram package of PMC, and the findings to finish a necklace and a pair of earrings is $75.00. Additional PMC will be available for purchase.<br />
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BRONZE CLAY</div>
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Mondays, April 23 and 30 and May 7 and 14, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF51xchMxiDmspP10ubeChvvn0qNQlTCeXPDddkGkbrxe4MoeRDv5lP7g3GeIU7IHn5rCtt6dZYL0LdjRCjwcANrOoDZuy9t_6OIBBQY5-vMJGXzssBQLkJd_gJbboDO6Y6MQ7G1jNkA/s1600/P9300414.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF51xchMxiDmspP10ubeChvvn0qNQlTCeXPDddkGkbrxe4MoeRDv5lP7g3GeIU7IHn5rCtt6dZYL0LdjRCjwcANrOoDZuy9t_6OIBBQY5-vMJGXzssBQLkJd_gJbboDO6Y6MQ7G1jNkA/s200/P9300414.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVpNaF14aqDFF1lWo4sMOgLhb4a-p1exH7s_VsUlpKzus2z1Chcu-V3H-hFkSXY7etrdR5LmOCxlPFsZg93nBX3Bd3IXZAUbjxYe9rPbsz3zkRUTYptuNRzyV0S4WQyL9GKuD1Aq2Hg/s1600/361b+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVpNaF14aqDFF1lWo4sMOgLhb4a-p1exH7s_VsUlpKzus2z1Chcu-V3H-hFkSXY7etrdR5LmOCxlPFsZg93nBX3Bd3IXZAUbjxYe9rPbsz3zkRUTYptuNRzyV0S4WQyL9GKuD1Aq2Hg/s200/361b+%25284%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a>With the rising cost of silver, many people are turning to alternative metals to make jewelry. In this class we will explore bronze clay using Metal Clay Adventures' Fast Fire BronzClay. This class will be suitable for beginners or for those who have used other metal clays and would like to try bronze clay. We will discuss the differences between bronze clay and other metal clays and learn techniques for making several pieces of jewelry. The instructor will have tools available for use in class and tool kits are available for purchase ($40). A supplies fee of $40 will be payable to the instructor on the first class, which will include a 100 gram package of Fast Fire BronzClay and other necessary supplies. <br />
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Metal clays are mediums in which metal is suspended in an organic binder which can be worked much like modeling clay. It can be shaped and molded. When fired at a high temperature the binder burns off, leaving a pure metal piece. Metal clays come in many varieties including silver, bronze and copper.<br />
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OPEN STUDIOS: For those accustomed to coming in for Open Studios on Monday nights, on weeks that there are classes, Open Studios will be held on Tuesdays from 4:30 to 8:30. Non-class weeks will have Open Studios on Mondays as usual.<br />
<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-792982554104140162011-10-04T11:13:00.000-04:002011-10-04T11:24:58.137-04:00New Classes for Fall are Up!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Now that it's October (I still can't believe time is going so fast!), I have finalized my list of classes for the rest of the year. For those of you who have taken my classes before, you will be familiar with the format, for everyone else: I have mixed level classes every Monday night from 5:30 to 8:30, each evening with a different subject relating to metal clay. Students are welcome to come into the studio any time after 4:00 to work independently until the class starts. Others who wish to work on their own but do not wish to participate in the class are also welcome. One thing that is different is that each class is priced separately, depending on the subject matter. Some classes go more than one week.<br />
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I have had a lot of requests for bronze and copper clay classes, since the price of silver keeps rising, so my first two classes will be quick "tastes" of bronze and copper clay. Because of the nature of firing these clays, classes must be split into two evenings. This class will be appropriate for those who have used silver clay before and want to try the bronze and copper clays, as well as for those who have never used clay before.<br />
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I will also have classes on making your own textures with some new techniques I learned when I was at Haystack as well as hollow forms and one evening dedicated to working with dry clay in which I will have lots of tips, tricks and demonstrations, including how to reconstitute clay. This is a great thing to know if you tend to accumulate a lot of shavings and leftovers.<br />
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Two Saturday workshops are also scheduled. They are geared towards beginners but any levels are welcome to participate.<br />
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I have worked hard to make it easy for you to register for classes. You can register right through my website and pay with PayPal or credit card or reserve a space and indicate you will be paying by cash or check. One thing to note is that deadline for registration for a class is one week prior to the beginning of class to be sure we have enough supplies for everyone.<br />
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You can see full descriptions of these classes as well as register at <a href="http://www.willowandme.com/register">www.willowandme.com/register</a>. Each is also on my calendar, which you can find at <a href="http://www.willowand.com/showschedule">www.willowand.com/showschedule</a>. I will also be adding these as events to my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/willowandme?ref=ts">Facebook Page</a>, which you can check often for updates. That will be the best place to check for cancellations as well. I am very excited about these classes. I hope to see you there.<br />
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<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0130 Oak St #1, Ellsworth, ME 04605, USA44.549403 -68.4258344.547988499999995 -68.4282975 44.5508175 -68.42336250000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-62940643885859085542011-09-12T16:41:00.002-04:002011-12-29T19:39:08.612-05:00Sterling Silver ClayOne of the things I have been dying to try ever since the article came out in <a href="http://www.metalclayartistmag.com/"><i>Metal Clay Artist Magazine</i></a> is Lisa Cain's recipe for <a href="http://www.mcsj.co.uk/newsite/sterling-silver-clay-article">sterling silver clay</a>. But I didn't have any PMC Pro and I didn't have an extruder.<br />
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Then I went to Haystack and met Lisa and she talked about the sterling silver clay, which, again, made me want to try it. I did have the PMC Pro, as it was one of the suggested items for the Haystack class, but still no extruder.<br />
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Ever the problem solver, I remembered a comment Lisa made during her discussion saying it was too bad there wasn't a mini bread kneader machine we could use instead of the extruder. Then a light bulb went off! Of course! I had made many a pie crust and similar items in my food processor. And it so happened I had a mini food processor/chopper that I never used. So I dug it out and gave the recipe a whirl, so to speak. I followed everything in Lisa's instructions, with the exception of the extruder. Instead, I sprayed the processor bowl and blade with some Cool Slip and broke the piece of clay into small bits and ran it through the food processor until the bits balled up together. And then I broke it up into pieces and ran it through again. I'm not sure how many times I did this, but at least 10 times. Then I wrapped the clay up and let it rest overnight.<br />
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The next day the clay was a joy to work with. It had a very creamy feel and didn't seem to dry out quickly at all. I made a test slab, two cards thick, and a ring mini-mosaic ring. The base of the ring was three cards thick with little mosaic pieces (two cards thick) attached with slip. The ring sanded wonderfully, but it broke. I think this was less the fault of the clay and more a matter of me squeezing a bit too hard on the ring. It broke cleanly, though, and I repaired it with slip.<br />
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I fired it according to Lisa's directions, which is a two-part firing. I didn't let the piece cool much after the second firing because I was too excited to see how it came out. So I dug it out of the carbon with my long-handled tweezers and quenched it. It looked much like fine silver PMC does right out of the kiln, but it was grayer in color. It brass brushed well. I tumbled the ring for about an hour and the photos show the result. I have not yet patinaed it. I have tried to pull the ring apart to test the joins I made when it broke. I can't get it to pull apart with my fingers.<br />
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The test piece bent well and didn't crack or break, unlike the PMC Pro I used earlier, which was very brittle and easy to break (and I followed the firing directions to a T).<br />
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I am very happy with the results. I didn't measure the ring pre-firing. I made it very big, keeping in mind that Lisa's article says the shrinkage on rings varies widely. It shrunk about five sizes, I would estimate, judging from the mandrel I formed it on (which is larger than any ring sizer I have). I have always worried about rings and their durability in PMC. Now I can make them in sterling. Other than rings and cuffs, I would probably stick to regular PMC because it does take quite a while to make the clay.<br />
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Thank you so much to Lisa Cain for the hard work she put into this recipe and all the testing. Her directions are very clear and easy to follow and it's thanks to her that the ring came out so well!<br />
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<br />Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-29683516853510176232011-09-06T15:52:00.003-04:002011-09-06T16:28:45.339-04:00Haystack Wrapup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Wow! The summer has gone by in a flash and so did my week at<a href="http://www.haystack-mtn.org/"> Haystack.</a> Even Hurricane Irene, which ended up being mostly just wind in that part of the state, couldn't keep me away. Unfortunately, some people did get held up due to the hurricane.</div>
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This year we had a wonderful teacher, <a href="http://www.patriksstudio.com/">Patrik Kusek</a>, and our TA was <a href="http://www.lisacain.co.uk/">Lisa Cain</a>. I have admired their work for years and it was like meeting a couple of rock stars for me! Patrik's teaching style was such that I immediately felt comfortable. Our focus was to be on our artistic voice, which is a challenge for me, not having come from an artistic background. We did several exercises to bring out our artistic voice and help foster creativity. It made me feel much better when Patrik said that he didn't used to consider himself artistic and when I found out Lisa creates many of her pieces without first drawing them out, as I often do.</div>
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We learned a lot of dry construction techniques, and even with those I have used before I found new and easier ways to work. We also used found objects, something I do very little of. I tried to push myself to do things differently than I normally would and the pieces I made are a bit different than my usual work, I think.</div>
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We worked on shadow boxes to practice dry construction techniques and as a way to showcase things important to us. This piece is called "Haystack 2011". The texture on the front is carved into the dry clay and is meant to look like the wood boards that are used on the interior of all the buildings at Haystack. The "window" is the shape of the buildings. The back is made with a texture that I thought looked like rough waves. I thought that was appropriate considering we arrived during Hurricane Irene (which really wasn't much in that neck of the woods - just a lot of wind). In the window, I embedded a tiny piece of green sea glass I found on the beach the morning after the hurricane.</div>
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We also made rings - something in which I need practice. My first ring is also my favorite piece of the bunch. Patrik showed us a mosaic ring he made out of many different bits of textured clay. This is my version of it, set with a very large cubic zirconia. I love this technique and I think I will do more.</div>
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The other ring I made is called "Trash and Treasure" and was inspired by another walk on the beach. I was picking up bits of broken shell, sea glass and other things I thought were pretty when it crossed my mind that those things I considered "treasures" were or had been trash to someone else. If you enlarge the picture you will see have embedded sea glass, tiny shells and bits of sea urchin shell in resin. On the bottom are bits of a piece of partially burned newspaper that I found in the woods on the same walk.</div>
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I also made a pair of earrings with the same theme. </div>
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Continuing with the found objects theme, I decided to use a piece of mica given to me by one of my classmates to encase a luna moth wing I found earlier this summer and have been keeping in my flower press ever since.</div>
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This piece is large - nearly three inches across. It looks simple, but a lot of work went into the shape and size of the frame, as well as the consideration of the best way to showcase the wing. The mica was split in half with a layer under the wing and a layer over, sandwiched in between the frame and the backing and then all layers were riveted together. It holds the wing nicely and the mica gives it a sort of sepia look.</div>
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Haystack is such a beautiful place. I don't think anyone could go there and not be creative. I hope I stretched my artistic wings a bit. I know I will use many of the brainstorming techniques I learned from Patrik! We also made a mobile with words to describe our artistic vision. I will keep mine right on my work table to remind me of Haystack and the themes I want to keep in my pieces. </div>
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One more year until the next class!</div>
Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-10342552444874088772011-08-05T13:25:00.001-04:002011-08-05T13:27:02.013-04:00Customers' Favorite<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAtFdAMP60uyaTtz8o1UIHs2vWePZDFlvNi346eoicYe1blIElPI22nb_6o-6xbmS1hfBaxTNE3Q8W50p0nGZSMHl-DyzZjxD4BCP58obw-Or4RrQLjcp_FKsxw8HJxkKwMP9Sj2w5A/s1600/P6079651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXAtFdAMP60uyaTtz8o1UIHs2vWePZDFlvNi346eoicYe1blIElPI22nb_6o-6xbmS1hfBaxTNE3Q8W50p0nGZSMHl-DyzZjxD4BCP58obw-Or4RrQLjcp_FKsxw8HJxkKwMP9Sj2w5A/s320/P6079651.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Make a Wish Brooch</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Earlier this summer, I submitted two brooches to <a href="http://www.finemainecrafts.com/">Alone Moose Gallery</a> in Bar Harbor. It was a part of their "36 Brooches by 36 Artists" exhibit to celebrate their 36th year of business. I was glad to have the chance to make a couple of brooches because I don't make them very often.<br />
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A couple of weeks ago, I got a call from Sherry Rasmussen, the owner of the gallery, that my "Make a Wish" brooch had won "Customers' Favorite". I didn't know that the exhibit also included customers voting on their favorite, so I was pleasantly surprised to hear I had won. And my piece sold as well!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Detail of Dandelion</td></tr>
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This is the first time one of my pieces has won anything. It's very exciting and flattering, especially since there were several artists in the exhibit whose work I admire.<br />
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The dandelion and puffs are raised and have a sort of rough feel to them. I used resin and embossing powders to get the puffy sort of look I wanted.<br />
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I originally thought that the piece that won was the other brooch I submitted, called "Fiddlehead". It is a reversible brooch with my fiddlehead design on one side and a curly stylized tree on the other. It is still on display at the gallery.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Front of Fiddlehead Brooch</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-44124660149887153692011-07-22T11:47:00.000-04:002011-07-22T11:47:03.030-04:00Metal Clay Artist MagazineLast summer I spent a week at <a href="http://www.haystack-mtn.org/">Haystack Mountain School of Crafts</a>. It was a wonderful week working with PMC with no limits or restrictions. One of the pieces that came out of that workshop, which explored hidden objects and containers, was my first "Peekaboo Pendant". I wear it nearly every day and it's still one of my most favorite pieces. <br />
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I've made others and they are always very popular. Last winter I taught a workshop in making them and my students made some gorgeous versions. I would have to say that, except for my Willow pendants, the Peekaboo Pendant has been my most popular design.<br />
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I have never submitted photos of my work to any publication before, but took the leap a while back and sent a few photos to <i>Metal Clay Artist Magazine</i>. Within a very short period of time, I received an email from the editor about my Peekaboo Pendant, wanting a one sentence description as she thought she might use it in their next issue. I excitedly held my breath, but tried not to get my hopes up too much that it would actually be used. <br />
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Last week I got my copy of the magazine - a special second anniversary issue - and quickly turned to the gallery section. There is was, right beside some really fantastic pieces by artists whose work I have admired! <br />
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<span id="goog_1369843863"></span><span id="goog_1369843864"></span>Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-30417044526187193902011-07-22T11:10:00.000-04:002011-07-22T11:10:18.883-04:00Wegener's UpdateEvery so often I get comments on my blog or emails about my entries about my struggle with Wegener's Granulomatosis. I don't write about it very often because, truthfully, I don't like to think about it too much. By that I mean that I don't want it to be the be-all and end-all of my existence. Yes, I'm a person with an autoimmune disease, but I don't want that to be my entire identity. It's always there, but it's only a small part of me. If I focus on it too much then I tend to become consumed with it, which, for me, is counterproductive. This is not to say that I don't take the disease seriously. I do. But I can't let it take over my life.<br />
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Having said that, I do feel I owe it to those who have read my Wegener's entries to give updates every so often. It's still there and requires me to ration my energy. I can pretty much do everything I always did, except I sleep more, or I pay for it. Sometimes it takes me a bit longer to recover from a big event (such as a weekend craft show). I do have trouble remembering to get my bloodwork done every other month, though. As long as I take my medicine the arthritis part of the disease (which is the symptom that affects my life the most) is manageable. I do have flares every so often and I have learned to work through them with extra pain meds, hot baths and rest. (Massages also help.) When things do get bad during a flare, I have gotten pretty good about asking for help from my family and friends. <br />
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Having a rare disease such as Wegener's can be lonely at times. Those who don't have it can't relate to some of the issues that come up. However, in this technological age, there are so many online groups that have other Wegener's sufferers who are always happy to give advice or a kind word. I personally don't know anyone else who has Wegener's, except for those I've met online, but I have received a lot of support from a couple of people I know who have Rheumatoid Arthritis. It's not the same thing, but they have similar symptoms with their joints and are on the same medications. I suppose in some ways all autoimmune diseases are the same.<br />
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So what I would like to say to anyone who reads this and is having problems is: keep your chin up. It does get better. Maybe not back to the way you were before Wegener's, but it will be a new normal that isn't so bad most of the time. And thank you all for your comments and emails. They mean a lot to me and I hope my (infrequent) posts about Wegener's help.Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-61038982645722341892011-07-05T16:36:00.000-04:002011-07-05T16:36:12.000-04:00Arts in the Park this Weekend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV36-_PsNfg5V0mfBrkf1z7RMORmTKc76L0W7S97RCBmqoNsrfZIBOdx8yDnD0x4iJuSU746b7ApEXcNIb8XlXXvRFuRbjyYO2FwFWVFADeEqjVgVkzj38D3jJ7LXAJ0_HbXgXkpW29A/s200/arts+in+the+park.jpg" width="129" /></div><br />
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I'm in top gear getting a bunch of new pieces ready for<a href="http://www.artsintheparkbelfast.org/home.html"> Arts in the Park</a> this weekend (July 9 and 10). It's an awesome show on the waterfront in Belfast. Come see me and all the talented artists from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Here's a sneak preview of some of the things I will have there.<br />
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I got the enameling bug and these earrings are some of the results.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Below is a closeup of one of a pair of earrings I have been working on for quite a while. They are enameled with the <i>plique-รก-jour</i> technique, in which the enamel is wet packed into cells in the metal with no backing so the light can shine through. This was my first attempt and is my take on a lupine.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also will have several new bronze pieces, as well as many in silver.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwB9quEsChiIUqizTBkRj6ogaNXhBrYRIbHxsuXlVdM3RYKSMOnFnNB0o58hgICE-s4uB9S4hAw8qfCi9AhF_hhTcxHVKoa7BEsTwDK-qD7eJs1-juk7as4VM1NMPDkcG2xqbiq5q5Xg/s1600/P7059927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwB9quEsChiIUqizTBkRj6ogaNXhBrYRIbHxsuXlVdM3RYKSMOnFnNB0o58hgICE-s4uB9S4hAw8qfCi9AhF_hhTcxHVKoa7BEsTwDK-qD7eJs1-juk7as4VM1NMPDkcG2xqbiq5q5Xg/s320/P7059927.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljJAreEZARzcZVv8yrFT8ETKWEZ3EYs2p81K22pxXuwLjdN18TtycI5ggFpbGNU85AZElVIriKmt-2f32G0Za_FQzFJqzur0jLYM3vEL8PBIhi5eyoA65mRw84xpkojf7OIkvrE99Jw/s1600/P7059928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjljJAreEZARzcZVv8yrFT8ETKWEZ3EYs2p81K22pxXuwLjdN18TtycI5ggFpbGNU85AZElVIriKmt-2f32G0Za_FQzFJqzur0jLYM3vEL8PBIhi5eyoA65mRw84xpkojf7OIkvrE99Jw/s320/P7059928.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Next week I will start my stint at the <a href="http://www.downtownbangor.com/index.php?id=2&sub_id=122">Bangor Outdoor Market</a>. It is a fun market in downtown Bangor on Thursdays from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. There is live music every week. It's really worth checking out.Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-55599559284625974022011-06-14T09:48:00.002-04:002011-06-14T09:51:17.571-04:00I've moved!Not far,though!<br />
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I always knew my little studio/teaching space was temporary, and now it's officially someone else's (well, I still have a few more things to clean up). So I've moved downstairs in my husband's office. The good news is there will be more room for classes and I have access to a larger, better sink. (Those of you who have taken my classes know that I hated using the little bathroom sink.)<br />
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I will still be teaching and at my studio with the same schedule as always, which is on my <a href="http://www.willowandme.com/showschedule.html">calendar</a>. You can now find my studio at:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">130 Oak Street, Suite 1</div><div style="text-align: center;">(ground floor - on the State Street side of the building)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(With Herrick & Salsbury, Inc.)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ellsworth, Maine</div>Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-72744049319672696692011-06-12T10:28:00.000-04:002011-06-12T10:28:15.924-04:00Right in My Own BackyardI usually write something about my business or jewelry making for my blog, but I had such a wonderful experience yesterday and I really would like to share some pictures.<br />
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My husband and I went kayaking on the Union River which runs practically right behind our house. We have been wanting to do this for a few weeks, but the tide schedule and our personal schedules have not cooperated until yesterday. We put in a the Ellsworth "harbor". I put that in parenthesis because it's not so much a harbor as a dock and a little boat ramp. Ellsworth's not a very big town but the landing is on a fairly well traveled road and there was lots of traffic. But once we put our kayaks in and got out into the river, it was so much different. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_ovgHyc-g-C8fcx3DxNAiHQt9nEe596QA5X5Z4Q4eqRPZf-iIfMeqC26LfOaySp1rPbyvUXcJg3BY-zeF6QEOm1VmYYeBsOAktdLfr0-E98OFnRUkC537eEdfVTGobCX3VmOUAVTuQ/s1600/P6119846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK_ovgHyc-g-C8fcx3DxNAiHQt9nEe596QA5X5Z4Q4eqRPZf-iIfMeqC26LfOaySp1rPbyvUXcJg3BY-zeF6QEOm1VmYYeBsOAktdLfr0-E98OFnRUkC537eEdfVTGobCX3VmOUAVTuQ/s320/P6119846.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>We see lots of different birds in that area, including hawks and bald eagles, many times while sitting on the bridge waiting in traffic. I saw a huge bird land in a tree, but it didn't have a white head, so I paddled over to get a closer look. I took a bunch of pictures and after enlarging them on my computer, I confirmed what I had hoped on the river: It was a juvenile bald eagle. It was pretty ragged looking, so it might have been molting. He wasn't too happy with us watching him and eventually flew away.<br />
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We also saw so many seals, I lost count. I have a lot of pictures of water where the seals were before the went back under the water, but I did get a couple of them watching us. They are quiet and you never know where they are going to pop up. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdE2A7ODMUWoNKK-xMssx8WhDlXW8Mm82Hilbi-F3Jlv4gQcv8TeoysMHCQfJ6hBy0fYntScDZcannTzNZakZjsFwssS-9AjuelnkomgJlHJMRjdg8-nb2l1T8kLCSYIOpv-TK43xYw/s1600/P6119852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifdE2A7ODMUWoNKK-xMssx8WhDlXW8Mm82Hilbi-F3Jlv4gQcv8TeoysMHCQfJ6hBy0fYntScDZcannTzNZakZjsFwssS-9AjuelnkomgJlHJMRjdg8-nb2l1T8kLCSYIOpv-TK43xYw/s320/P6119852.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabv2caDUkvwAQsF4kOHW8tvzKufVRwnZdEmWSZ6hItSPasXOX5hajURS_lQMWPKi-ecpFkwLIGHRkVXrv3Hv0p-tENPmCU5kvXrxejiHjrkzz4e0THJKZqF0Q179k8ccsG1lYhbopfw/s1600/P6119856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabv2caDUkvwAQsF4kOHW8tvzKufVRwnZdEmWSZ6hItSPasXOX5hajURS_lQMWPKi-ecpFkwLIGHRkVXrv3Hv0p-tENPmCU5kvXrxejiHjrkzz4e0THJKZqF0Q179k8ccsG1lYhbopfw/s1600/P6119856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabv2caDUkvwAQsF4kOHW8tvzKufVRwnZdEmWSZ6hItSPasXOX5hajURS_lQMWPKi-ecpFkwLIGHRkVXrv3Hv0p-tENPmCU5kvXrxejiHjrkzz4e0THJKZqF0Q179k8ccsG1lYhbopfw/s320/P6119856.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhabv2caDUkvwAQsF4kOHW8tvzKufVRwnZdEmWSZ6hItSPasXOX5hajURS_lQMWPKi-ecpFkwLIGHRkVXrv3Hv0p-tENPmCU5kvXrxejiHjrkzz4e0THJKZqF0Q179k8ccsG1lYhbopfw/s1600/P6119856.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the three seals swimming quickly upstream, jumping in and out of the water, like dolphins do (I'm sure there is a word for that, but I don't know what it is). They were so close that I actually got splashed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Further downstream there were no more seals, but it was so quiet and peaceful, you wouldn't know that you were right in the middle of a town, except for seeing the occasional house and the one person mowing their lawn. I didn't get to see any otters, as I hoped I might, but we did see a peregrine falcon high up in a tree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWTE326vZ30LU00gqf3WPPiYVup0wOD5ssTP0mAHQk5YS6_N84wBX-XkHU1GurcsufDacvHkKG-DE7_fqdPp4pWz3p_16m-TArNXPXFZXnepNpyc-j8Kf0VXrwl2RGU4LwOHTBfwWWg/s1600/P6119860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWTE326vZ30LU00gqf3WPPiYVup0wOD5ssTP0mAHQk5YS6_N84wBX-XkHU1GurcsufDacvHkKG-DE7_fqdPp4pWz3p_16m-TArNXPXFZXnepNpyc-j8Kf0VXrwl2RGU4LwOHTBfwWWg/s320/P6119860.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were also two loons chasing each other in what Steve thought was probably some sort of mating ritual. They were too fast for me to get a picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was blessed and honored to see these beautiful animals, especially so close to humans. It's amazing what you can see right in your own back yard. </div>Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com2Ellsworth, ME, USA44.5434095 -68.41946410000002744.4465495 -68.547646600000022 44.6402695 -68.291281600000033tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-46968803127046725012011-06-07T13:09:00.000-04:002011-06-07T13:09:54.580-04:00Custom PiecesI've got stuff all over the place and in every stage of completion, as well as a bunch of pieces that were finished ages ago, but I haven't yet listed. Well, today is the day I took pictures of a bunch and will be listing them in my <a href="http://www.willowandme.etsy.com/">Etsy Shop</a> over the next few days. There are also some that won't make it to my shop because they are custom orders, but I still want to share those.<br />
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I was very pleased and honored to be asked to make earrings for a bride to wear in her wedding in July. She wanted a certain color stone and I couldn't match it exactly. She and her mom saw me enameling and decided to use a color I happened to be enameling with, which was a perfect match. I rounded up the enameling so that it would look like a cabochon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSfWPmCOHbvsbi4YBpV6TO7U-JSXsaFsGxExSXWXfmYgfbazx1mRaLceRMVvkNKpRfDzsnorFVlOzPWOUK3_mSsD3t7DCrvkQ8tetBfr3AtBIj9bNOrcOW7-q-HeTLsRV8XRvwj9kuQ/s1600/P6029566.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSfWPmCOHbvsbi4YBpV6TO7U-JSXsaFsGxExSXWXfmYgfbazx1mRaLceRMVvkNKpRfDzsnorFVlOzPWOUK3_mSsD3t7DCrvkQ8tetBfr3AtBIj9bNOrcOW7-q-HeTLsRV8XRvwj9kuQ/s320/P6029566.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv02r7WCYJZSShChSUR-aFP2bwBV3zINtmNGAXUPBpgxt-KOF2Nk4TapMVrg_WngGcblijtk0a7oGXL20vUY47rjJnW9Idu3-nQo2gtvCFOLC6MQnTdoi0cbCsl7fhXqC-O8bRkzagQ/s1600/P6029564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv02r7WCYJZSShChSUR-aFP2bwBV3zINtmNGAXUPBpgxt-KOF2Nk4TapMVrg_WngGcblijtk0a7oGXL20vUY47rjJnW9Idu3-nQo2gtvCFOLC6MQnTdoi0cbCsl7fhXqC-O8bRkzagQ/s320/P6029564.JPG" width="230" /></a></div><br />
I have also made a couple of brooches for a shop in Bar Harbor that is doing a special brooch exhibit. Both are made with texture sheets, using my own drawings. The first is called "Make a Wish". The fuzzies on the dandelion are slightly raised and secured with resin.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs71oea1m7JjoU3VtEOIWdkseXJ4X5XVZ0nq_8P7c5fdJdmOBKl6GP4VXzrp8Pgqx5yyjqNac5H9tIkf3whpqFOjBtakwHpThEvXgZG54b38V3QTPCaSgq_cKOcaFpvnUf9IyONho0w/s1600/P6079650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKs71oea1m7JjoU3VtEOIWdkseXJ4X5XVZ0nq_8P7c5fdJdmOBKl6GP4VXzrp8Pgqx5yyjqNac5H9tIkf3whpqFOjBtakwHpThEvXgZG54b38V3QTPCaSgq_cKOcaFpvnUf9IyONho0w/s320/P6079650.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUg9-dw673i2pbjrJjLhdHSiifFDLLaFVU70Iba9tiplf-NExJRM4Vse3Wmr2lhvGNE4X-HArlHq5OktUE9J0xXdT1-JMZNxesa0CcK4TtE9SJsNbrNWFV__TBZ53evMTzA4jYbBcog/s1600/P6079649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVUg9-dw673i2pbjrJjLhdHSiifFDLLaFVU70Iba9tiplf-NExJRM4Vse3Wmr2lhvGNE4X-HArlHq5OktUE9J0xXdT1-JMZNxesa0CcK4TtE9SJsNbrNWFV__TBZ53evMTzA4jYbBcog/s320/P6079649.JPG" width="276" /></a></div><br />
The second is a reversible pin. The dangle part has a swirly tree design on one side and a stylized fiddlehead on the other. That part can be removed and turned over to hang on the pin portion. I suppose it could also be worn on a chain.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjXi6DY8nCsXoQG4cAM09sxOo9gkCsnc34mbsxVEpO2dgajikB1U3GAS1HCbWCK31BxrYeZd8zN8p9LSyLOSQ7FmetGVf2uqXYeXt_prAHKvEz6HE9aCn3QSBMdGyYytS7ZSOTdFAgA/s1600/P6079634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjXi6DY8nCsXoQG4cAM09sxOo9gkCsnc34mbsxVEpO2dgajikB1U3GAS1HCbWCK31BxrYeZd8zN8p9LSyLOSQ7FmetGVf2uqXYeXt_prAHKvEz6HE9aCn3QSBMdGyYytS7ZSOTdFAgA/s320/P6079634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85ckye0tApbxt0_iE3nIgq_ASRP3TjnXE1lB-ljcc0YRLmLaYCtuWkGLdQdE9WLVvpdRW1qONyA4pZs0EGqjvrfAaifz0GWmNGXTB9UYiBoUV85guojbF4egSi-oAdDeitU9wPHR8ZA/s1600/P6079640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85ckye0tApbxt0_iE3nIgq_ASRP3TjnXE1lB-ljcc0YRLmLaYCtuWkGLdQdE9WLVvpdRW1qONyA4pZs0EGqjvrfAaifz0GWmNGXTB9UYiBoUV85guojbF4egSi-oAdDeitU9wPHR8ZA/s320/P6079640.JPG" width="311" /></a></div><br />
I used a jewelry lacquer to seal the patina for the first time on this piece. I've been afraid to because every other thing I tried ended up changing the color of the patina. This one didn't, though. I didn't spray it, but actually sprayed a pool of the lacquer onto a piece of plastic and "painted" it into the depression where the lacquer is.<br />
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If you would like to see more photos of the two pins, you can see those <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/willowandme/sets/72157626783361381/">here</a>.Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-82760575320264899322011-06-01T14:28:00.000-04:002011-06-01T14:28:55.132-04:00Higher Grounds Artisan & Vintage Market<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrdxmdP0ZeFRVq_KdId5v_CrXzcmtm80bHUnX19gz6C2v3ctQYNZOvA3hjU4MStl0l7k9Zj565U-67J6q1Z0eNBt7Qq0L3TsotgWWmaUmkr1QgcZ1qfgJVhOcxh8jpbnt-REOCUnSZg/s1600/hg-show-button-june.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWrdxmdP0ZeFRVq_KdId5v_CrXzcmtm80bHUnX19gz6C2v3ctQYNZOvA3hjU4MStl0l7k9Zj565U-67J6q1Z0eNBt7Qq0L3TsotgWWmaUmkr1QgcZ1qfgJVhOcxh8jpbnt-REOCUnSZg/s1600/hg-show-button-june.jpg" /></a></div>I know summer has started when I announce my first show of the year. I'm looking forward to this one, which sounds like a lot of fun.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Higher Grounds Artisan & Vintage Market</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sunday, June 19th</div><div style="text-align: center;">10:00 am to 3:00 pm</div><div style="text-align: center;">119 Water Street, Hallowell</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">For more information visit: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149676535104975" title="blocked::http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149676535104975">http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=149676535104975</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
Hope to see you there!</div>Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7272077205623712290.post-63296742182378061352011-04-28T19:29:00.000-04:002011-04-28T19:29:51.404-04:00Serendipity and More Adventures in Bronze and Copper Clay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My last experiment combining copper and bronze clay didn't go very well, but I tried again and this time I had success! And I learned some things along the way. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First, I'll share a piece that's just bronze clay. When I take them out of the kiln, they have some fire scale and are a pinkish color. I have been polishing them with my flex shaft and some 3M Radial Disks. I decided to leave a bit of the pinkish color in the texture on this piece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-a5YXa4N7CfqOjHt1zxeBQl6gp0Hxy_tCktyNDG93CbRHW0tj2WzoysLL3FjH_ztWQwSmr0-JJOhDZnFjYM3pgl3cM983oZf872p96k79Zh5OBgYPWWgXzGiM1e6keqe_kVMAoHmCQ/s1600/P4289404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-a5YXa4N7CfqOjHt1zxeBQl6gp0Hxy_tCktyNDG93CbRHW0tj2WzoysLL3FjH_ztWQwSmr0-JJOhDZnFjYM3pgl3cM983oZf872p96k79Zh5OBgYPWWgXzGiM1e6keqe_kVMAoHmCQ/s320/P4289404.JPG" width="225" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihytqc_spO2GpPlFp-TowvTVifQwEpRwepsqOUmIIVMvxd5gtxb8suht_9aiFJtPOvrld6wvoiCqmGjqCrc9RddHdGEFPdZ0-SYSy62malGn5tuXKJDYmFHUVUtk-Gi1eBroHfeuxl5A/s1600/P4289406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihytqc_spO2GpPlFp-TowvTVifQwEpRwepsqOUmIIVMvxd5gtxb8suht_9aiFJtPOvrld6wvoiCqmGjqCrc9RddHdGEFPdZ0-SYSy62malGn5tuXKJDYmFHUVUtk-Gi1eBroHfeuxl5A/s320/P4289406.JPG" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These pieces are to be earrings for myself. I wanted to make something that had all three metals I've been using, so I used one of my favorite textures (a shell with worm holes in it) and cut circles of the same size. I wanted to show the difference in shrinkage of the clays. It's kind of hard to see here, but the copper is considerably smaller. BronzClay only shrinks about 10 percent while CopprClay shrinks 15 to 20 percent. I had misread and thought they both shrunk only 10 percent, which may have been part of the problem in my last firing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIv3aBf8HDxoHHhjl6gYheS_0bAniw0sAx9ZjUUuwljGF8nHp9BY4AJZiBRcYb0CopxzXaZwfiGAW6DY6VyWqGzNLGhk3i0qgT3nnDiKbfxq7IDXT2i0WpwBEN9Q-vXqoi3764zmBWQ/s320/P4289413.JPG" width="320" /> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This piece is all bronze, but it I wanted to show what happened to it. I had it sitting on top of the plaid flower pendant I showed in my last post and it picked up a cool orangy patina. I decided to polish off the dragonfly and leave the rest. The picture doesn't show that there are some blues in the patina, too. I will apply a lacquer to preserve this patina.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAGQhyphenhyphenV359epVNYOIGWh23ibtPgMZ8wLkveIui8tVGvLTPQFwLGAag7p5S4b98Rp6CtVDoBUjdr6j1nU43JqdVVzfLr9Fspg3bQbI7NkQefFDuIgFzIYzNduFnTHYDPFCvXRnOVmEHg/s1600/P4289403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwAGQhyphenhyphenV359epVNYOIGWh23ibtPgMZ8wLkveIui8tVGvLTPQFwLGAag7p5S4b98Rp6CtVDoBUjdr6j1nU43JqdVVzfLr9Fspg3bQbI7NkQefFDuIgFzIYzNduFnTHYDPFCvXRnOVmEHg/s320/P4289403.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here is another version of the dragonfly pendant, which is made with a mold I got at Cool Tools. Here is my first bronze/copper combination. I filled the dragonfly depressions in the mold with copper and let it dry. It took a while to clean up around the dragonfly so there was no other copper in the mold. I then pressed in a thick slab of copper clay and let that dry. It came out pretty good, I think, except for a couple of cracks in the wings. You can see the difference in the colors fairly well in this photo. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuNJHTs9ee4SsidEhv9IujT_x5lEOlPJi4dReiMpbfxhRLc3BxBYJXNV9EJYy6t_qzC869C6B3S24irSYNs1V1UX6IqDVJjGqXUgydoLuCk2QldiDddprmzZgcP0e4VAENmJIIsgOtw/s1600/P4289398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEuNJHTs9ee4SsidEhv9IujT_x5lEOlPJi4dReiMpbfxhRLc3BxBYJXNV9EJYy6t_qzC869C6B3S24irSYNs1V1UX6IqDVJjGqXUgydoLuCk2QldiDddprmzZgcP0e4VAENmJIIsgOtw/s320/P4289398.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This next set is to be a necklace, bracelet and earrings. It's hard to see the color difference, but it's there. Here I made bronze pieces with this design that is vaguely Japanese to me. I let those dry and then pressed them into thick slabs of copper clay and cut out frames. When I made these, I still thought that copper and bronze shrunk at the same rate. Another bit of serendipity here: The copper shrunk more, but instead of cracking, it domed the pieces, something that's a bit hard to see here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQBjR9zepw54KkwaUAWMGkEC1YuGk78wKQytZmJCmVydofB6jPtfsuL6SklqeYXJIlRClEbPyweWkwG5yhitx47MdyyMpZZyr811Sie2eBFctSdRC6aaq-yEL-uRS0zOeYI2znxwVVA/s1600/P4289400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQBjR9zepw54KkwaUAWMGkEC1YuGk78wKQytZmJCmVydofB6jPtfsuL6SklqeYXJIlRClEbPyweWkwG5yhitx47MdyyMpZZyr811Sie2eBFctSdRC6aaq-yEL-uRS0zOeYI2znxwVVA/s320/P4289400.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I had some bits of both clays left and decided to see what would happen if I combined them. I made a flat piece of each, put one on top of the other, rolled them up, sliced the rolls and rolled out the pieces. It gave the clay a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mokume-gane">Mokume Gane </a>kind of look. It worked and does show up on the fired pieces, except not as much as I would have liked, so I patinaed them with Baldwin's Patina, so the copper shows up a bit more. I will try this technique again now that I know a bit more about it and that it works. One of the keys is not to mix the clays too much or you lose the marbling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qsRxNXxS_gTp75DBldQK1aKEM5oPTBqIxy2jWDOVJfgis-TSSm2n9qtK5FKQjP_JKr2e30GLc-VjAdmSGSo_q2MFwTaDJxjHXnPd4BkgxtXMfeWccuRY3rxJAvQyi-UQcPVRoXxs0Q/s1600/P4289409.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qsRxNXxS_gTp75DBldQK1aKEM5oPTBqIxy2jWDOVJfgis-TSSm2n9qtK5FKQjP_JKr2e30GLc-VjAdmSGSo_q2MFwTaDJxjHXnPd4BkgxtXMfeWccuRY3rxJAvQyi-UQcPVRoXxs0Q/s320/P4289409.JPG" width="320" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lastly, I will leave you with a photo of the necklace I made with the flower and plaid piece that I turned green with Baldwin's Patina. I was lucky to find these frosted glass beads that matched perfectly.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq0r2tjpaVClVBNVP5FmgfM0dkz0EMfZW8hafz87oq3v401YV9mpqt9JRPYBH1FWJyPEYWEgk6svf0XLVp7vmyXXYdgWJqWBaGgP0KgZi5-HF-3gembNl80ygmLvxOAfl8Pp88lZzdA/s1600/P4289417.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDq0r2tjpaVClVBNVP5FmgfM0dkz0EMfZW8hafz87oq3v401YV9mpqt9JRPYBH1FWJyPEYWEgk6svf0XLVp7vmyXXYdgWJqWBaGgP0KgZi5-HF-3gembNl80ygmLvxOAfl8Pp88lZzdA/s320/P4289417.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Lisa and Willowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01254192620652617374noreply@blogger.com5