Something Sublime

Bead Soup-Be A Bad Girl

 

 So, I thought it would be a fun little diversion to participate in this Lori's annual Bead Soup Blog Party and was lucky to be included in the draw, this year. The idea is for two artists to swap materials and make something. Fun...yes?

My soup partner is the very talented glass bead artist and jewelry designer, Cassie Donlen.

When I saw her site, I was delighted to be paired up with her. I don't work with a lot of glass beads, lampwork or otherwise, but I do love a good challenge!

Friday, Cassie's package arrived and everything was wrapped so beautifully...

 I had quite a wonderful time ripping through the packages!

 Cassie sent me a lovely pile of her gorgeous lampwork beads...

 The disks on the right are handmade pmc links, done by Cassie as well. Upon opening the packages, I could see just how multitalented Cassie really is.

 Some of my favorite things in the box are Cassie's handmade etched bead caps.

 Another favorite...these lampwork head pins. I nearly swooned when I saw these!

 Another favorite...wow, there's a lot of great stuff going on here!...Cassie made this gorgeous clasp. A focal, clasp and accompanying accent beads are requirements for the swap. 

 The focals Cassie sent me are incredible.

 And really, I could use these as focals, as well; aren't they clever? Love...love, I tell you! I'm SO looking forward to working with all of these elements. 

For my part, I wasn't sure what to send Cassie so I sent her things that I would love. As I was choosing things, I was designing a piece, in my head...I couldn't help it! My materials frequently inspire me and dictate what my design will be like.

 The elements that I sent Cassie have a definite spiritual feel. I'm all about it, as you probably know. I sent Cassie this resin focal (bezel from Susan Lenart Kazmer) that features my own cemetery photo.

 I had to include a cross or crucifix. This one is from Italy. The green stones are tourmaline...I love it rough. The black stone is...??? But, it's pretty and goes with the green/cream/charcoal/black color scheme.

 I sent Cassie a vintage rhinestone clasp and some crystal roundelles. The big pearls are gorgeously wonky in shape and the small defects are fascinating, to me. Soft green new jade and rough prehnite are part of the package, along with black snowflake obsidian.

 I threw in these tiny French rosebuds...just because. They're so dang sweet!

I'm hoping Cassie loves all of these things, as much as I do. I think she'll be challenged. We'll both be busy now, designing and building our pieces. It's intriguing to me to know that Cassie is thinking through her design process at the same time I'm contemplating my own design with the things she sent. Hopefully, I can come up with something that does justice to her beautiful bead making skills.

deryn xxoo

Encouragements

 Resin Paper Wire Forms

I've been so very blessed by my students...online and in person...and you guys have come through for me in a big way, once again. My Sunday night Resin Paper Wire Forms class at Art Unraveled has sold out...thank you!

This is the first time I'll be teaching this class and I'm really excited about it. It goes hand in hand with my Bloom Bangles class (only a few seats are remaining in that one.) Fortunately, I'll be teaching the Wire Forms class a second time on Monday night. So, if you haven't registered for it yet, you have another whack at it.

 Also, I've been working on a brand new online class. My aim is to have it ready for you for spring...I'm thinking March-ish. I don't want to give away the surprise (does the above photo say too much?) but I will tell you it's going to be chock full of stuff you're going to love. I'll be posting it here on my blog and on my Jewelry Works site, once it's ready.

 One more thing...I'd like to, once more, thank those of you who encouraged me and left comments on this post...and those of you who sent me cards (so sweet.) It's been pretty quiet here, without my pal, and I so appreciate your kind consideration.

deryn xxoo

Art Retreat At The Prairie-Teaching Update

 

A Charming Reliquary

If you had plans to come to Houston this year to attend one of my very favorite teaching venues, Adorn Me, you've probably heard that it's been canceled for this year. *sad, sad face* I'm so, so disappointed about it as AM is held right in my backyard and it's such a wonderful event. I'm hoping that Linda will be able to offer it again next year but, I have a terrific alternative for you...

I'm thrilled to announce that I'll be teaching, April 26-28, at Barb Solem's brand new art venue, Art Retreat at the Prairie!

Wax On

If you've never heard of The Prairie, you're in for a treat. Let me tell you a little bit about it... It's near beautiful Round Top, Texas, and owned by the incomparable, Queen of Shabby Chic, Rachel Ashwell. Rachel is famous for her gorgeous taste in interior design. I swear, she could make a rusty post look like something special. The Prairie is a dream come true for her so, you can imagine what it's like. It's the perfect venue for an art retreat and Barb has done a fabulous job of bringing it to us, here in Texas.

I'll be teaching three different classes at The Prairie...

Wax On

Back by popular demand, is my Wax On class. I had such fun teaching this one last fall...and the students loved it. I'll show you how to create your own bezel pendant, from scratch. Then we'll fill it with a surprise + wax (as if that's not surprising enough!)

A Charming Reliquary

A Charming Reliquary is one of my new classes. This is bracelet that I've wanted to teach for about five years, now, but it just never quite came together as a class, so I'm super excited to offer it here...for the first time. I'll be covering tons of cold connection technique in this class so hold onto your cowgirl hats!

Entrada

My Entrada bracelet is also a brand new class that I'm so looking forward to teaching. For this one, I'll show you how to make an amazing, large clasp with a bezel, set with a stone. It has a stylish, dramatic look and it's as much fun to make as it is to wear.

Entrada

To celebrate her inaugural event, Barb is giving away this pretty bit of sparkle...one of her own lovely designs...click here for details:

My friend and talented jewelry designer, Diane Cook will be teaching some fabulous classes, as well, so make sure you take a look, here (scroll down to see all of our class offerings.) Also, make sure you check out Barb's other events...The Beach, The Desert...for upcoming details!

Please, tell your friends and...come.

I hope to see you in class!

Revisiting

Wrapped in Silk

I thought it would be fun to revisit a few of my favorite pieces of jewelry although, looking through my photos, it's hard to choose. Every single one of them is like a child of mine and I have deep affection for them all. Isn't it funny how attached we get to the creations that come from our hands?

Remember my Wrapped in Silk bangles? They were featured in Rice's book Destination Creativity from when I taught them at Artful Texas. I've taught this class several times and have plans to teach it in the future, as well. Also, look for these bracelets in an upcoming article (so exciting!) One of the reasons I love these little bangles is because they're so addicting to make...and so much fun to wear in multiples. Love them!

Word

There are a couple of pieces in my Etsy shop that haven't sold and I'm not sure why (I adore them!) but I'm not in a big hurry to part with them, so that's ok with me. One of those is this turquoise and sterling piece, Word. When I first did this piece, I loved it so much that I made another for myself. I think the combination of turquoise and pearl is divine. For the focal, I layered antique Bible pages between mica and vintage brass to create a little holy "book" of sorts...hence the name of the piece. It's substantial but delicate and I love the secret message of the book.

A Minor Ornamentation

You might remember this piece from a challenge I ran, here on my blog, back in October. That was a lot of fun and this piece is one of those that just seemed to come naturally during the building of it. I loved making it but hadn't actually worn it until Christmas...

...when I was surprised to find that I loved it even more, once I put it on. It makes quite a dramatic statement without being overbearing. Very pretty! I'm actually offering it, to sell, but haven't listed it in my Etsy shop. Honestly, I've not done much with my shop for a while. It's a bit cumbersome to list things and I just haven't had the time. So, there you have it.

Beach Ring

Oh, how much I love this ring! It's big...really big. Yup, it's overbearing! But, that's one of the things I love about it. The top stone is Septarian, from Utah...a very interesting and beautiful stone...and the bottom stone is a quartz cabachon. I made it while visiting my bff Ronnie, in Florida, in November. But that's another post, for another day...

Bloom Bangles

I'm a bracelet gal, I admit it. I had so much fun making these bangles (and I think they're just lovely) I thought I'd pass it on...I'll be teaching this class at Art Unraveled, this August. I can hardly wait to see what the students reaction to this class will be. I think you all will love it as much as I do!

I've got tons of photos of past and present pieces and could post so many more but I'll stop, for now. Did you know you can view some of my past pieces by clicking on my "Jewelry Portfolio" link under my blog banner? Or, click here.

I'm off to the studio to work!

deryn xxoo

Bead Soup 2012

 

 

This should be fun! It will be my first time to join Lori's Bead Soup Party...but I've heard fabulous things about it. My partner in crime will be Cassie Donlen. I don't know her but, that's part of the fun...isn't it? I've got so much stuff it makes my head spin just thinking about it so I'm looking forward to putting together an interesting mix for Cassie. Check back with me.

In the meantime, I'm working on brand new material for a brand new...brand spanking new...online class. I can hardly wait to get going on it after the long, long holiday. My guys have been home with us but are going back to school so it's back to work for me. I hope to have my class ready for the spring. I'll tell you more about it as I get more done but here's a peek...tell me what you think:

 

 

Art Unraveled-The Upcoming Extravaganza

Bloom Bangles

Gosh, I hardly know what to post. My head is swimming with all the things I've got to get done. I have a busy year ahead! I'd like to show you a few Christmas photos and some of a pre-Thanksgiving trip that I took to Florida but it will just have to wait until I can get my act together.

First, let me thank you all for the very kind and encouraging comments on my previous post. I started out answering each one, as I usually do with all comments to my blog, but I just didn't have the heart to continue. I hope you all will understand. Please know that your words went a long way toward healing, for me and I appreciate the outpouring of love and concern...more than you know.

So...what's coming up? I'm thrilled to announce three brand new classes that I'll be teaching at Art Unraveled this year! This is AU's tenth year...can you believe it? So, it's going to be an extravaganza of amazing classes and fun events. I can hardly wait!

The photos you're seeing here are of my new "Bloom" bangles class, and also my "Resin Paper Wire Forms" class. These bangles were inspired by my online BoHo Bliss class, from this last summer and are SO much fun to make.

It was all I could do not to show you the photos of them before this but I wanted it to be a sweet little surprise.

The Alchemy of Objects

The other class that I'm so excited to be teaching at AU is my Alchemy of Objects class. For those of you who have always wanted to pick my jewelry-making brain, this one's for you.

We're going to be covering lots of technique in this class with an emphasis on working with found objects...right up my alley...and probably yours. Hey...I hope you can join me in Phoenix. AU is one of those not-to-be-missed events!

xxoo deryn

Waiting

It's been a rough year end and I can hardly write this without drowning. I've lost my little friend, Maggie. She's been ill with a doggie disease that's got progressively worse and she passed, a few days ago. How can I even be writing those words? My heart is sick.

I hope and pray that she's on the other side...chasing squirrels, eating cookie cakes (yes, she ate one, once), bubble gum (she ate this too...a 6 foot piece of it) and other stuff she's not supposed to be into...and waiting for me...tail wagging at top speed.

xxoo to you, my sweet Miss Maggie.

OT&T Registration Deadline

Towers by Sharon Tomlinson

I've returned from my Christmas adventures and have been knocked down by a wicked, wicked head cold. Ugh! I came off the plane and have been sniffling in bed, ever since. So, in place of a real post (*sniff!*) this is a quick update on my Of Towers and Turrets online class. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Sharon and I have had to move the registration deadline up to Jan. 9th. The class runs through Feb. 15 so there's plenty of time to get in on the fun....and believe me, we're having some serious fun! Take a look, here.

carved stamps from OT&T class by Sharon Tomlinson

OT&T samples by Deryn Mentock and Sally Turlington

Sharon and I won't be offering this class again for quite a while. I hope you'll  join us!