ad libitum

BRINGING IT HOME

I still don't have all my tools put away from my week at Houston. I still haven't gone through my mail or phone messages. But, last night, I started working on a wandering, free form necklace, using what I learned in my class with Beverly Ash Gilbert. After running errands and a very pleasant visit with Catherine, I finished the necklace late this afternoon. I really did pay attention to the Kenote speach at Adorn Me: to make time for the creative inspiration and the skills we acquired at art retreats.

ADORN ME DAY, DAY 4

Oh my! My class today was "Papering Over It: Collaging the Found Object" with Keith Lo Bue. He's witty and full of very useful information. We learned about using DAP clear caulk for archival adhering papers to metal, glass,wood, etc. Like most of my classmates, I covered my tool handles with antique papers. And, we learned how to rub off the backside print of vintage books (before 1906) to make translucent papers with print. We also used re-bar tie wire to construct paper enveloped/covered objects designed to have bits of rusts emerge. I chose to construct my very own geode instead of the really cool array of found objects that the rest of the class used (found objects is not my strong point).

After class, Andi, Kathy, Beth, Sue and I went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner - it was delicious and fun. We then returned to Embassy Suites for Vendor Night (cool tools, elements, and jewelry; needless to say, I made some purchases).

THIRD DAY AT ADORN ME

It's still all wonderful! Today's class was metal beads with Janice Berkebile, another great teacher at Adorn Me. I finished my Crown Jewel bead (I decided up was down and turned mine the other way from everyone else's). I didn't finish my pocket beads, but am all set to.

 

 

SECOND DAY AT ADORN ME

I'm posting this on Thursday morning instead of Wednesday night because I had too much fun for too long to get to blogging last night.

Wednesday's class was "Wandering with Flair" with Beverly Ash Gilbert. This was a beading class. I learned bead netting, which is a technique I've never done before. Beverly is an organized, knowledgeable and gracious teacher. She had us all doing a 3 bead weave almost immediately; and then told us we were to forget what we just learned and go free form. After seeing her beautiful samples, we were raring to go.

Beverly taught us how to integrate fibers and large "jewels" into our necklaces.I was so focused on working on my necklace, I barely took time for lunch. I wish I had taken photos of everyone's work (too busy beading); they were all beautiful. 

Here is a photo of my necklace. I should tell you that the directions were for a tightly woven weave and I chose not to do a tight weave (I really do try to follow instructions, but some times I get an idea for something slightly different). Beverly was very gracious about me not following directions exactly (an indication of a good teacher).

 

After class, Kathy, Andi and I went down to Happy Hour and waited for Sue and Beth to arrive. They rented a car and had to drive through Houston's rush hour traffic (aaarrrghhhh!), but they made it. We all had a delightful dinner in the hotel.

After dinner, we went to Andi and Kathy's room and chatted and exchanged Diva gifts (great loot). And talked and laughed a lot.

It was a long and delightful day.

FIRST DAY OF CLASSES AT ADORN ME

I am in Houston Texas at what I hope is the first of a long run of an annual jewelry making art retreat called Adorn me. My friends Andi Hinkle and Kathy McElroy arrived Sunday afternoon and we had a good time catching up with each other. Tomorrow, Beth Bricker and Sue Trump will join us.

Last night was the beginning of the event with a Key Note speach about staying creative after you get home from a retreat; there was also a get to know the teachers gathering (the teachers brought samples and I wish I could figure out how to take more than one class at a time because the samples were all intriguing).

And what a great first day today was! I took Richard Salley's class, "Caught in a Trap." He's an organized and generous teacher and I already want to take what I've learned home and play with folding metal and making non-soldered bezels. I'm thinking of ways to integrate these pieces into fabric pieces, but may decide to turn them into pendents. The cabochons are garnets and they show a light catching shimmer in real life that doesn't show up in the photos.