Something Sublime

The Build Zone-Here We Go

I can't believe it's almost time to begin our build. I'm so excited for Saturday to come!! Yes, peeps...Saturday is the first day of my online jewelry making class The Build Zone.

I love, love, love this workshop.

I think it's because my students see such an improvement in their work after taking this class. Sometimes they come in not knowing why they can't master a technique and they leave SO excited, and equipped to rock their jewelry making world! That's it...the excitement. It's exciting to see an improvement in your work...to advance in something you love to do. For many students, before this class they just weren't sure what the problem was with their work. After the BZ, the quality of their work was so much higher. It's a thrill for them but just as much for me. 

So, yes...I love this class...love my students! xxoo

Saturday is day one! If you're not yet registered, you can get all the info here.

I'm doing something a little different, this time. Usually, I post the videos over the course of the first several weeks. This time, I'm posting them all on the first day. So, right from the git-go, you'll be able to watch them all. You can sit there, in your underwear, and watch hours and hours of jewelry making, if you so desire. Doesn't that sound like fun?

Also, I'm still missing one of my Create Mixed Media drawing winners for a free spot in the workshop:

Pklaproth

...if you're out there, email me pronto. If I don't hear from you by tonight, the Create folks have told me they'll draw another name.

See you in class! 

xxoo deryn

Create Mixed Media-The Build Zone Winners!

I've got winners! Three, to be exact. From the drawing that the folks at Create Mixed Media so graciously hosted. We had a terrific response and three names were drawn, totally randomly...of course. Here we go with the winners:

Pklaproth

indigoheart

Dfritz

You can see the Create post with the winners, here.

So, here's the deal...these are your sign in names. I don't have your real names but I've contacted you by email. However....two of the emails bounced back to me. Yikes! I want to get you into the classroom so please contact me with your names and emails in the next few days. Otherwise, we'll have to draw a few more names.

Congratulations!

Tastes Like Chicken

Wife Whisperer makes the world's best chocolate chip cookies. My thighs are here to prove it. I don't know what he does that's different...maybe it's that extra little bit of husbandly love he stirs into the dough.

Maybe it's the two sticks of butter.

This is about the only thing he cooks...besides the occasional breakfast food or grilled steak.

He spoiled me last weekend by whipping up a batch. I think he felt sorry for me that my guys had come to visit and gone back to their college apartment early. Here's how he served them to me...

I'm on the couch, in the dark, watching Kate Plus 8 or some other equally engrossing and intelligent programming, and WW approaches with a spatula. There's something on it but, much to my consternation, my eyes ain't what they used to be and I can't really see what he has there. Dad gum old eyes. But, I know it's warm cookie goodness, fresh from the oven.

WW says, "Here you go, darlin'!"

I take a tiny cookie, no bigger than 1/2 inch, from the end of the spatula and pop it into my mouth. It's a tiny taste of buttery heaven. My thighs are grateful but the rest of me is wishing for a full size cookie.

He thinks he's really funny. He heads back into the kitchen as I say "Oh, thanks!"

In another minute, here comes the spatula again. This time, I think I'm getting the real thing. No. Another minuscule speck...smaller than the last one, melts in my mouth.

Amusing.

The next time the spatula comes my way I take the little crumb..."good grief!"...and bite down. Only, it's not soft, warm and chocolatey. It's a hard little chunk. Just as I realize this, WW exclaims, in a dismayed tone, "It's dog food! I didn't think you'd eat it!"

Well, heck honey, I couldn't see it!

That's who Wife Whisperer is. Chef. Humorist. Husband extraordinaire.

But, he redeems himself. Always. Here's one of the many ways he's earned his nickname:  he knows I like my cookies frozen (freaky, I know) so he put half the batch in the freezer. Just for me.

Now, that's some serious whispering.

The Build Zone-Free Class!

Tomorrow is your very last chance to win a freebie spot in the fall session of my Build Zone online class. The folks at Create Mixed Media are kindly hosting a drawing for three free spots in my class.

Something I always did to get my guys talking, when they were younger (believe it or not, guys aren't big talkers!) was to ask them "what was the best thing/what was the worst thing" questions. So, allow me to give you my "best thing/worst thing" take on this class:

Best thing: There are so many best things about this workshop but I've narrowed it down to two...the students and the many techniques we cram into class. The students who played with me the first time around in the Build Zone, were incredible, creative, talented and inquisitive souls and it was my pleasure getting to know each one. If you pop over to my Jewelry Works site and scroll through past posts, you'll see what amazing things my students have created. Which brings me to my second point...tons of technique. We twisted, wrapped, snipped, torched and shaped our way through it all. And it was FUN!

Worst thing: Are you kidding? There is no worst thing! Ok, ok...if pressed... I wish I had the chance to see the lovely faces of my students and meet them in person. But, having said that, there was plenty of back and forth conversation and opportunity to get acquainted in our group forums. Again, lots of fun.

So, if you haven't signed up for the drawing yet, head over to the Create Mixed Media site and leave a comment on this post. They'll be drawing three names, in a totally random fashion (I promise!) and announcing the winners. Beyond that, registration remains open until Oct. 1st.

Good luck!

The Build Zone-Win A Spot!

Hey friends!

I've been so blessed by the wonderful students of my online classes, I thought I'd spread the love around, a bit. If you read my blog, you probably know that I'm gearing up to begin my popular Build Zone online class, Oct. 1st. To celebrate, I'm giving away...not one...not two...but three...count 'em, THREE!...free spots in the class to a few lucky winners!

(Please click here to see the details of the class.)

Here's what you gotta do:

Pop over to the Create Mixed Media site where you'll find this post about my giveaway. Leave a comment on that post, to win.  

While you're more than welcome to leave a comment here, only the comments left on the Create Mixed Media site will qualify to enter into the drawing.

Please leave one comment, per person, only.

Comments may be left Sept. 19 through the 23rd. 

Best of luck and....

thank you!

xxoo deryn

ArtBliss Registration Deadline

Fyi, dear peeps! Registration for Artbliss is closing, Sept. 20th. I'm getting ready for an incredible retreat there. I hope you are too!

Also....I have a terrific surprise for you all on Monday. Tune in then to see.

Have a blessed weekend!

deryn xxoo

Five Ways To Make Better Mixed Media Jewelry

The Build Zone

I've been in the studio a lot lately, getting ready for teaching at ArtBliss (have you checked out their site yet?) I've been writing class handouts and proposals. I've been taking jewelry photos (in triple digit heat, at times, sweating into my viewfinder) and editing, naming, organizing.

Writing, writing, writing. 

Pondering.

What makes a good piece of jewelry?

This is one of the things I'm offering in my Build Zone online class but let me show you some examples, right here.

student work by Rainy Hannah

1. Technique: Make sure your skills are impeccable. The techniques you use should be carried out as close to perfectly as possible. Practice, practice, practice!

student work by Roben Marie Smith

2. Texture: Texture adds interest to jewelry. Fabric, leather, mixed stones, rhinestones, rubber cord, are all ways to tantalize the viewer to touch. Even if you're not a mixed media jewelry maker, texture can be added by using textured metals or stones (think reticulated silver or drusy quartz.)

student work by Amy Knutkowski

3. Balance: Whether your piece is symmetrical or asymmetrical, make sure that the eye is easily drawn around it in a way that makes sense. For instance, in the piece above, the eye is drawn to the focal immediately then is lead up to the purple beads and s-links, then finally around the remainder of the piece by the clear beads.

student work by Lisa Bommarito

4. Color: Use color to your advantage. If you're using a colored focal, incorporate some of that color into the rest of the piece. Check your color wheel to find out which colors to use together. Best color advice: don't get carried away! Stick to two or three colors.

student work by Beth Fisher

5. Be unique: Hunt down special pieces, beads or stones to use in your jewelry then use them in unique ways. This will truly make your jewelry one-of-a-kind.

This is the kind of thing I LOVE to talk about. If you love it too, and you'd like to improve your mixed media jewelry making skills, I hope you'll check out my Build Zone class. Registration is happening right this very minute...you can see the details by clicking here.

Have a creative day, friends!

deryn xxoo

Texas Fires

This was the Riley Road fire in Magnolia, Tx as we drove out of town for the weekend on Friday. I was shocked at the size of the smoke plume. But, good news! When we came back on Sunday, the plume was nowhere to be seen. I was surprised to learn that the fire had burned 22,000 acres (as opposed to the 11,000 number I'd heard Thursday) but, thank the Lord, the fire is mostly contained.

The Bastrop fire is still only 50% contained and continues to burn so please, continue to keep Texas in your thoughts. My heart goes out to those finally returning to their homes to find...who knows what?

Thank you for your prayers.

Ten Years Of Septembers

Remember September

9/11/2001

Texas Wildfires

Good morning friends!

The weather has finally broken in my part of the world, and it's cooled considerably, but not soon enough. It's been months without any real rain, here in Texas...which is bizarre for us, here in the Houston area. We spent the last month living in triple digit temperatures almost every day. The result of all of this is...we're burning up. Literally!

The photos above are of the Riley Road fire...about 30 miles north of my house. Most reports are saying that about 11,000 acres have been destroyed by this fire and about 75 homes, so far. Here's what one resident said:

“We got our photos, important documents ready, some jewelry. … We were more prepared than most,” Toler said. “All the sudden, there were police officers shouting, almost chanting like a mantra, telling us to get out. There were sirens, dogs barking and horses screaming. … It was very much like a scene from a disaster movie.” (excerpted from this article)

Can you even imagine what this would feel like? Having to grab the little bits of your life that you can fit into your car, and make a mad dash for a safer place, knowing full and well that the home and possessions you spent a lifetime gathering and caring for may burn up? It reminds me of when we evacuated for hurricane Rita. It was awful.

This is a photo of the Bastrop fire. It's burned more than 34,000 acres and destroyed over 1300 homes. It's only 30% contained.

 

Bastrop State Park has been almost completely burned. We've camped there and heard the toads at night.

At my house, we've been in the path of the smoke plume. Ash has been falling out of the sky. 

And so....we're coveting your prayers, here in Texas. Rain would be good....