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:

What I Learned From Quilting

I hope that’s not cheating! But it’s a good post, and I can’t top it at the moment.

http://noel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/08/30/if-pigs-had-wings

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

Do you advertise it?

What about packaging, do you use packaging made from recycled materials?

Post a comment!

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?

Metalsmith Brigitte Martin has joined up with Schiffer Publishing to develop a book about the role humor plays in contemporary craft, and they welcome your submissions in image, text, audio, and video.

What’s so funny?

People of all ages and cultures respondto humor enthusiastically and
craft artwork definitely can be very funny !

Often, the work exudes a sense of the absurd due to exaggerated size
or by being executed in unusual materials. Craft artwork can be
highly ironic, political, sarcastic, or just plain amusing, and it
comes in a variety of media, such as metals, wood, fibers, ceramics,
glass, mixed media etc. Brigitte Martin has joined up with Schiffer
Publishing to develop a book about the role humor plays in
contemporary craft, and we welcome your submissions in image, text,
audio, and video!

They are looking for the following contributions:

– images of humorous artwork,
-texts/essays by the contributing artists, commenting about humorous
aspects in their artwork,
– audio art
– video art (the book will contain a CD of audio/video art depending
on qualifying submissions)
– essays by writers about the role of humor and fun in craft.

Can you show us humor in all its shades expressed through craft
artwork and text ? Who decides what’s funny and what isn’t ? What
topics are off-limits ? Is irony funny ? Sarcasm ? Are politics
funny ? Religion ? This book aims to provide the viewer with
entertainment, commentary, and of course, many fine craft pieces by
makers from all over the world. Humorb has no borders. Or does it ?
It might be interesting to learn how a piece will be hilarious in
China, but only garner mild astonishment in Sweden andvice versa.

This call is open to craft artists working in all craft media.
crafthaus membership is not required. International entries are
particularly welcome and encouraged ! The book is scheduled to be on
the market in 2012.

This is a rolling call: THE SOONER YOU SEND IN YOUR ENTRY the greater your chance to be considered ! Final deadline: March 1, 2011.

Artists:

To submit your work for initial consideration, please email: humorincraft (at) (our good friends) yahoo com

– low res image(s),

– information regarding media, measurements,

– brief blurb about your work and your views on the topic of “humor
in craft”

– Audio/Video artists: Please email an excerpt of your piece or
direct me to a website where your work can be heard/seen.

Once selected, you will receive detailed information about the image
requirements for printing, as well as other pertinent information
and a deadline for final submission.

Image requirements for eventual inclusion in book:

Be prepared to submit your photos at 300 dpi and sized 15 x 10
inches !
Format: tiff or jpg

AdobeRGB1998 preferred but not necessary
Pixel count for a 9 x 7 image is: 3500 x 2800 pixels

Writers:

Please submit a brief outline on your proposed essay topic, as well
as some information about you to (the same email as above.)

Metal Clay Magic, the online magazine, has a call for entries in their latest contest, Mixed Media Magic Challenge.

The editors write: You are challenged to create a piece of art that is at least 50% metal clay and any other medium such as polymer, sheet metal, glass or fabric.

Prizes are:
First Prize a selection of Rings from McDuck Creations
Second Place Glass cabochons and
Third place Linda’s Lid

See more details here: http://metalclaytoday.com