Whew! This summer has flown by. So much to do, so much done. A little pile of beads waiting to be sorted.
I had the great fortune to be able to meet Erin and Lorelei a couple of weeks ago for their book signing at Ornamentea. And my very own copy of their beautiful book, Bohemian Inspired Jewelry, is signed by the both of them. Really I can't tell you just how much I love this book. Great projects but even better is that it is a wonderful spring board for new ideas. Erin and Lorelei are really good at this and if you don't have a copy you should put it high up on your wish list. Better yet, you should just go out and get one today. You don't even have to leave your home. You can order one here.
It is always lovely to meet the people behind the blogs I read. This was a real treat for me. Erin and Lorelei are two of the very first people I met when I started my own blog. To finally be able to meet them in real time is pretty much indescribable. So I won't try, except to say they are even more wonderful in person than I could ever have imagined.
But I haven't just been galavanting around to book signings and bead shops. No siree, Bob. I have been a little worker bee out in the studio. Beads, beads, beads. I think there are a gazillion of them in various states of doneness. After months of doing so very little it feels so very good to get out there in the studio and make big piles of beads.
A few glaze tests happened too. Some kind of exciting first results with these new combinations. The big kiln is firing away right now and the little one is ready to go in the morning. Progress!
Oh, and, I just got back from a metal casting workshop at Silvera Jewelry School
in Berkley. If you ever get a chance to take a class from Joe Silvera, you should do it. He's a great teacher and so very generous with his knowledge. Wax modeling may be one of his favorites but he's a great metal smith as well. You don't have to go to Berkley. He teaches around the country at bead shows too. But a trip to Berkley is pretty fun! He and his wife Anat are fantastic hosts.
No that's not my ring. That's Joe's ring. I did make a ring. But you can't see it. I didn't finish it because I was too busy making wax models. I love that stuff. Will I be casting? Don't know. It's tempting.
Life is full. Life is good!
11 comments:
It was so amazing meeting you too LeAnn!! Your smile is contagious and your spirit has resonated with me ever since we met. :)
Can't wait to see your new creations! So awesome to see you with your energy back, and doing what you love!
Those beads are so cute, and i love those pendants!!!
So happy to see you so busy! I am glad that there is a new normal for you and that you are back to creating. I can't wait to see where this new inspiration with casting takes you. I know it will be great. Just looking at all those undone beads makes me happy and looking forward to what is next! Enjoy the day. Erin
It is fabulous to hear you sound so good! You have been newly inspired I see....and it looks great!
HUgs!
Wow! You've been busy with good things! So glad to hear it. Nothing like taking a workshop to get the creative energy going. I love Lorelei's and Erin's book too. So many good ideas.
i smiled my way through this post -
so many wonderful things for you this summer - with family and friends...
so glad you got to the signing, took that amazing class and have piles of beads -
very, very great!
OOOOhhhhh! I am loving lots of the pieces waiting to be sorted. How fun to meet Lorelei and Erin. I was lucky enough to have won their book and two earring kits from Erin and I just love the book too. The ring that Joe made is gorgeous.
Have a wonderful week,
Theresa
I am another person that smiled while reading this post... so good to hear you full of energy and excitement.
Those glaze tests look fabulous - can't wait to see them in action.
And a metal casting workshop - oooohhh! Just a tiny bit of envy here... but glad to hear you are venturing on new pathways and I know the results will be fabulous.
Regarding casting, we were next to Bob Burkett, a master at wax carving and a master jeweler; he highly recommended that one make the wax models to your heart's content and have a casting shop cast them. He thinks they are two different skills and you do not have to be able to cast well to make beautiful one of kind jewelry through using wax. Just a thought. I loved the idea that we could make the shapes and designs we wanted without more expenditure of equipment and space.
Glad you are living fully and having fun again. HUgs, Joan T
I am so glad you're feeling well and going to workshops! And I can't wait to see you at artBLISS!
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