Imitating Nature

Filed under: Metal Work, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

How many times have you read that an artist gets inspiration from nature? If you aren’t “into” art, you’re laughing and saying “NEVER!” Yet if art and the process of making it does interest you, you’re probably thinking you’ve read or heard this many times. Whether it’s painting, sewing, making jewelry or most any other art form, the influence of nature is apparent.

One of my favorite boutique customers requested some new collage style necklaces on leather. I had fun making this type for her last Fall and it was time to add a Spring twist to things. Nature led the way for the two below.

The first piece features a dragonfly and a couple of lilies. My spouse assured me the lilies were upside down, but I hung them anyway. (Maybe they are lilies that didn’t get enough water and are hanging their heads down . . . ) I put these on a simple small S type link and then attached the leather through jump rings.

The second necklace features a smaller dragonfly, a couple of bead dangles and a pea pod. The chain allows them to have a nice little swing.   This piece has an interesting swirl bail at the top – one I don’t imagine I know how to make again. I think I have to be watching TV while I do it unconsciously!  My friend, Shannon, of Vixens Natural Jewelry showed me how to made the pea pods. I also used her design to make some earrings.  You will most certainly see the influence of nature in her work. You can check out her shop at    http://www.facebook.com/#!/TreeandMoonJewelry?sk=app_169505045786

I made a third necklace, but it hasn’t quite taken off yet. I created a little wire bird and hung her with a bird’s nest and a cage. I was calling it freedom. Unfortunately, the cage seemed out of place; so that one is back on the workbench for further consideration.  Perhaps it will fly before long.

It’s a great day in Central Texas to be out with nature; so I think I’ll get out of the studio for a while and go study outside. Do you think I can call that work?

Metal Work, Necklaces, Pendants, Wire Work comment

Questioning

Filed under: Philosophy, Teaching | Back to: Homepage

If you teach, parent or communicate, you ask a lot of questions (and probably answer a good many as well). Since my grandson now lives close to us and I’m spending more time with his family, I’ve renewed my understanding of the importance of questioning in learning. I’ve always believed that a good question can stretch the learner’s thinking. Unfortunately, my three year old grandson has figured me out and when he doesn’t know the answer to the question or simply doesn’t want to tell me he says “YOU do it, Nanaw, you do it.” In other words, since I know the answer anyway I may as well just tell him. (I’ve got to get sneakier in questioning this little one.)

As an educator I spent considerable time studying the art of questioning. I hesitate to tell you how many books there are on this single topic.  You may have fond, or not so fond, memories of learning Blooms Taxonomy of Cognitive Objectives which forms the basis for some questioning procedures. At the university level, I enjoyed helping new teachers develop their own questioning techniques and researching their progress. I enjoyed using DeBono’s Six Thinking Hats for developing questions. Now, as I teach classes in jewelry making techniques I again find myself knee deep in questioning.

Lately, as I have listened to myself and others teaching, I’m aware of the fact that we occasionally answer the question we thought we heard rather than the one someone actually asked. (It reminds me of the parent who calmly and carefully explains the physical differences in boys and girls when the young child only wanted to know if there’s a difference in boys and girls jeans.) It can be quite perplexing when a teacher misunderstands a student’s question regarding how to do something. In this case the instructor may provide a thorough (and sometimes lengthy) explanation as an answer. The student is then even more perplexed since the explanation doesn’t fit with the problem. Then the teacher is perplexed because the student doesn’t understand the answer. (what a mess!) This really slows the learning process while frustrating everyone involved.

I’m attempting to remind myself to clarify the question before providing an answer. I may begin by saying “are you asking . . . ?” Or I may start my answer with “I think I hear you asking . . . “ Then there’s the useful phrase “do you want to know . . . ?” I hope this will make me a better teacher.

As I again practice my questioning techniques for the jewelry classes, I wonder if my developing skills will help me with a three year old. Some how I have my doubts! I’m beginning to think the real question is “are you smarter than a three-year-old?”

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For the Birds

Filed under: Earrings, Philosophy, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

Working on “bird” earrings, I’ve found myself thinking “it’s for the birds.” Most people know and perhaps use this phrase, but I never thought too much about it. It is an idiom of American origin and means worthless or undesirable. Sometimes the phrase is intensified by adding “strictly” as in something is “strictly for the birds.” It seems that there is more than one reason that the phrase took hold. One is that birds eat bird seed which some think is worthless. Another has to do with the fact that they peck at other animal dropping to get seed from them. This is definitely repulsive and the next time I hear someone use the phrase, I mustn’t assume they are thinking of where the birds hunt those seeds. Yuk!

Below are some of the new bird earrings. They look pretty simple to make and certainly should be; however, my difficulty as it always is with earrings has to do with getting two birds that are the same shape.

In light of the connotation for the title, I think I’ll rename the top two pair of earrings with the phrase “shake your tail feathers”; yet, I guess that, too could have a bad connotation. Perhaps I need to just stop with the phrases while I’m ahead. However . . .

I’ll fly from this birdy post with just one last phrase . . . “Four and twenty blackbirds baked in a pie . . . “ Do you remember that nursery rhyme? Below, is the valentine chocolate pie I baked for my spouse today, but I assure you it isn’t “for the birds” and there are NO birds in it. Happy Valentines Day to You! (This day is NOT for the birds!)

Earrings, Philosophy, Wire Work comment

Spring Colors ???

Filed under: Color, Necklaces, Pendants, vendors, Wire Work | Back to: Homepage

I set out to create some “springier” colored pieces, but I can’t quite seem to get there since it is so cold outside here in Central Texas right now. It looks like I ended up with more cross over colors and that’s probably OK. The first two photos show the apricot moonstone strands and cab  (www.magpiegemstones.com). I wish you could see the sparkle in the tiny beads that tells me I’m going to need more of them!The problem for me in purchasing beads is I often buy too many of those I can’t determine how to use and too few of those that work really well. I doubt I’ll ever get that quite right.

As I mentioned in a previous entry, I’ve been playing with wire trees just a bit more and wanted to create a scene in the piece below. (Yes, my family and friends are probably saying I’ve created a “scene” before, but I’m not talking about that kind!) I created a small wire bird for it, but the winged creature was too big proportionally for the tree. Oh well, it was a nice thought – cute bird.

Finally, the double strand piece below made with turquoise, lapis and amethyst sports a new finding, shown on the right side of the photo. I’m trying to develop some new types of multi strand links and separators. I made this piece to see if one of them which takes a necklace from two strands to one would work. Thus far, I’m happy with it, but the truth is in continued wearing. It did great on its initial wear around the house last night. You can see that this piece makes its way around the neck with a chain. (I wouldn’t want to make a piece without some kind of metal on it!)

So when will the bright Spring colors show up in the designs here at Dreamcatcher? I may just have to wait for inspiration from the redbud tree in the front yard since it’s usually one of the first harbingers of Spring. I don’t think it will be much longer and I’m sure those readers in the North are wishing even more than I that the season would make a happy change. Until then, we’ll just be pleased to see the sun and know that more warm weather will soon follow.

Color, Necklaces, Pendants, vendors, Wire Work 4 comments

Jewelry Classes

Filed under: classes | Back to: Homepage

If you do not live in the San Marcos, TX area, I apologize for this advertising post. Someone asked me to put information up about my jewelry making classes and this is the only venue I have. Please skip this if you have no interest or live outside this area. If you have interest in the times and low costs for these classes, please let me know. I’m just eager to give more people a chance to learn to do what I love.

Learn to Make Your Own Jewelry

Classes from Dreamcatcher Designs

Call or Email to Sign Up

karen@dreamcatcherranch.net 512 751 7307

www.dreamcatcherranch.net/designs

Classes will be held at the Hobby Lobby classroom in San Marcos.

Class A: Introduction to Jewelry Making

2 Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10) – For Beginners

Class Includes How to . .

1. String beads & Crimp

2. Make a Wire Closed Loop

3. Make a Wire Wrapped Loop

4. Open and Close Jump Rings

5. Hammer Loops

6. Use Headpins

7. Make a Simple Wire Hook Clasp

Project: Earrings and a Necklace with Handmade Clasp 

Class B: Intermediate Wire Jewelry

2 – 2 ½ Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)

Class Includes How to . . .

1. Make Jump Rings

2. Make Ear Wires

3. Make Handmade Chain

a. “S” loops with jump rings

b. “S” loops with beaded links

4. Hammer the above

Project: Handmade wire chain necklace with beads links, matching earrings

Class C: Introduction to Wire Wrapping for Jewelry  3 Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)

Class Includes How to . . .

1. Begin and End a Wrap

2. Attach Beads to an S loop for Earrings or a Necklace

3. Make and Embellish a Wave Bracelet

Projects: S Earrings and Embellished Wave Bracelet

Prerequisite: Skills from Class A

Class D: Wrapping Cabachons, Rocks and Objects (2 Classes)

Two 3 Hour Classes

(Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 6)

Prerequisite: Basic Wire Working Skills

Project: Basic Wire Border Wrap (first class), Other Style Wire Wraps (second class)

Class E: Intermediate Wire Weaving for Jewelry (2 classes)

Class Includes How to . . .

1. Work a Zig Zag Wrap and a Two Wire Wrap

Project: Dancing Feet Earrings or Ring, Zig Zag Wrap Necklace or Earrings

Prerequisite: Skill in Beginning Wire Working Techniques

TWO 3 Hour Classes (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)

Leather Wrap Bracelet

2 Hour Class (Minimum 4 participants, Maximum 10)

classes comment