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This month’s theme for the Art Bead Scene Blog Carnival is Renewal.
Back in the spring, I wrote what is, for me, an usually long and personal post on just that subject:
I hope that’s not cheating! But it’s a good post, and I can’t top it at the moment.
The Barn at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
In a historic decision, the Board of Governors of the Arrowmont
School of Arts and Crafts has voted to keep the nationally renowned
center for contemporary craft education at its current location in
Gatlinburg, TN. Gatlinburg has been the home of the school since its
founding as Pi Beta Phi Settlement School in 1912. Arrowmont offered
its first craft workshops in 1945.Over the past two years the organization has been considering
options for the future following a decision by the owners of the land
to sell the property currently occupied by the school in Gatlinburg,
TN. A special task force was formed to evaluate options and possible
new locations for the school and through their work the choices were
narrowed to a site in Greeneville, TN or remaining in the current
Gatlinburg location. Since then, the Arrowmont Board has been working
with officials from Gatlinburg and Greeneville to finalize proposals
presented by both communities.In making the announcement, Arrowmont Board of Governors President
Mary Ann Hruska said, “After reviewing the proposals from
Greeneville and Gatlinburg as well as numerous meetings with local
officials, the Board decided that Arrowmont should remain in its
place of founding. We look forward to working more closely with the
local community regarding our future.”
Read the full press release here: http://www.arrowmont.org/MR-ArrowmonttoRemain.pdf
I’m thrilled that they’re staying put. I’ve been there twice and it’s a wonderful place, it’s hard to imagine picking it up, moving it somewhere else and starting over.
Lora Hart has a great “eye candy” photo montage up on tools here: http://lorahartjewels.blogspot.com.
Cosmic Folklore is having a Facebook auction of a handmade bracelet:
http://www.facebook.com/Cosmic-Folklore-Studios
Cindy Edelstein announces an entrepreneur’s launch contest at Daily Candy
http://jewelrybusinessguru.typepad.com
Try Handmade has highlighted the photographic collage works of Mathew Parker, which I love. He combines images at the same place from different seasons, and more. Very cool.
http://tryhandmade.com
Kelly Dragon has posted a really nice slide show of the progression of a piece of torch fired enamels.
http://s810.photobucket.com
0 comments Elaine | Bronze & Copper Clay, Calls for Entry & Contests, Free Tutorials and Videos
Here’s an interesting bit on Craft zine about zero waste design in the fashion industry, which got me thinking about eco-issues in the jewelry industry. Do you try to work in a waste-free or low waste way in your studio?
Do you advertise it?
What about packaging, do you use packaging made from recycled materials?
Post a comment!
Nancy Howland’s manual on making silver beads, “Doming Silver Beads”, is now available as a free PDF download from her website, www.psi-design.com. Nancy passed away last December and the second printing of her book is almost sold out so her family has decided to make her book available free to members of Orchid. (This PDF file is 96 pages long and is 1138 KB.)
http://www.psi-design.com/doming-silver-beads.pdf
If you’ve ever dreamed of making perfect silver beads every time, then this manual is just what you are looking for since Nancy shows you step-by-step with illustrations how to do it. Nancy’s family hope you will check out her book, “Doming Silver Beads“.
from Lois Phillips, Nancy’s sister
Here’s what the book covers, (from the website):
You will learn how silver beads are made and how to:
· Select the best silver gauge sheet metal
· Determine the disc size using easy formulas
· Cut and prepare discs for forming
· Add textures and designs
· Form matching domes
· Solder perfect seams
· Sand and polish flawlessly
Here’s a book I’ve been waiting for for 20 years! It says it’s
“the first comprehensive survey of modern craft in the United States. Makers follows the development of studio craft–objects in fiber, clay, glass, wood, and metal–from its roots in nineteenth-century reform movements to the rich diversity of expression at the end of the twentieth century.”
Makers: A History of American is by Janet Koplos and Bruce Metcalf. I almost minored in art history in college, and took more in my brief stint in graduate school. I always wanted to take a history of craft class, but there never was one. Okay, there was one on paper, but no one ever actually taught it.
And guess what? This book can also be used as a textbook. See the book’s website for additional info. and features.
The book project has been underway since 2002 and was supported by The Center for Craft, Creativity and Design.
If you’re an instructor, note the Instructor Log in feature at the website for more good stuff.
I am really excited about this book and can’t wait to get a copy!
The Jool Tool in action.
The most compact polishing motor ever has got to be the JoolTool, demo’d in the vendor room by Rio Grande.
You hold the work under the abrasive or polishing wheel. Could take some getting used to if you’re used to the traditional type of polishing motor.
The primary advantages seem to be the incredibly small footprint and that you can hook it up to a shop vac. (Just get those ear plugs first…)
Check it out at the company’s website: http://www.jooltool.com Available from Rio Grande.
Next up is the Integrated Findings and Bails Template from Cool Tools and highlighted by Holly Gage in her presentation on Innovation. Simple and clever! Here’s the video:
And one more time saving gadget for you, the Rivet Piercing and Setting Tool from Metal Clay Findings. Now, I come from a metalsmithing background, so when I first saw this, I said, I don’t need that. I can drill and saw the old fashioned way. I have a tube/wire cutting jig, why would I need another tool.
Well, having seen the tool in the Vendor Room and in the Demos, I can see that it sure would save a lot of time. I’m all about maximizing how much jewelry I can make in the time I have available, and if this can help, well, then I’m all for it.
They sell pre-cut rivets, so you’ll save time there as well. And word in the Demo room was that they’re coming out with interchangable dies, so that you can use multiple sizes of holes and rivets with the purchase of just one of the tools. Did I mention it can even punch through steel?
There you have it, three time and or space saving tools seen at the PMC Conference. What did you see at the conference that you can’t wait to try?
All Things Metal Clay