[Orchid Blogs] New topics on the Orchid Blogs network

Jewelry Discussion
561

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

object fetish Fridays : Jacqueline Cullen
by k.o’brien jewelry

I am loving this work I just discovered from Jacqueline Cullen.
Though I could only get a vague idea of the material from a
thumbnail photo on the front page of object fetish, I knew I was
going to love every inch of her pieces. Jacqueline’s fun and unusual
materials is Whiby Jet. Traditionally used in Victorian mourning
jewelry, it is the fossilized remains of a Monkey Puzzle Tree. I
love how Cullen works with the natural “defects” in her materials.
To…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/10/

…

Why would anyone buy my work?
by Sam Patania

This is the question I start with when I think about marketing. I
hate marketing, it is very difficult for me. Marketing is relentless
and using my income as a judge, I am lousy at it. As you may have
suspected I will now try to answer my question with out seeming too
self serving. That is why marketing is so difficult for me, I don’t
want to SEEM to be self serving. I want to be above that…

View full article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/09/

…

Tigereye Goldfilled Wire Wrapped Ring
by Lava Jewelry

I made this ring using a brown tigereye stone and goldfilled wire. I
wove the goldfilled wire around the stone in a herringbone weave.
This ring is a size 6…

View full article…
http://lavajewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/08/

…

Photo of the week: frost
by Elaine Luther

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/08/

…

Celebrity Jewel: Angelina in Procop Collaboration
by Robyn Hawk

Angelina Jolie never ceases to amaze and delight…found some great
shots from “The Tourist” premiere in NYC on the JustJared site!
These earrings are FABULOUS!..

View full article…
http://dailyjewel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/08/

562

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

Sex Trafficking Survivors Prove Their Metal
by Robyn Hawk

According to United States State Department data, an "estimated
600,000 to 820,000 men, women, and children [are] trafficked across
international borders each year, approximately 70 percent are women
and girls and up to 50 percent are minors…

View full article…
http://dailyjewel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/18/

…

Green Jade, Red Agate, and Carnelian Flower Bracelet
by Lava Jewelry

This cute bracelet has seven dark orange (almost red in color)
carnelian flowers, each framing a single orange-colored agate bead.
Each flower measures approximately 7/8 inch (2cm) across…

View full article…
http://lavajewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/18/

…

lovely and local : Meghan Burch
by k.o’brien jewelry

There wasn’t all that much time to be browsing Bazaar Bizarre a few
weeks ago while I was vending there. Though, I did take some time to
look at Meghan Burch’s table. Her color palette is what caught my
eye, making her table stand out from the rest. This along with her
simple aesthetic.Meghan has the knack for making everyday objects
more enjoyable to use. She expertly mixes finely contoured lines
with bold colors setting her printed fabrics aside from the
ordinary. Meghan’s…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/16/

…

Call for Entry: Recontextualizing the Found Object
by Elaine Luther

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/17/

…

Tourmaline Pendant and Mobile Bench Stuff
by hansmeevis

View full article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/17/

…

Social Media and the Artisan
by Robyn Hawk

Whether you make jewelry, cut stones or sell minerals Social Media
is currently the hottest and most affordable option to get your
product in front of new faces.With over 500 million users on
Facebook and Twitter reporting 175 million registered users, it is a
market that you can’t afford to ignore.But we (Artisans) have been
using Social Media for years before Twitter launched…through
various Craft, Lapidary and Jewelry Forums, Yahoo Groups and
more.So… for the next month, we will be…

View full article…
http://businessofcraft.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/15/

…

You have to stay on top of these things
by Laurie Jane Kern

I have spent most of today catching up on photographing my work. I
find that I take pictures as I work but I don’t take “good” pictures
when I am done. What do I consider a good picture? 1) High
Resolution: Preferably in Camera Raw so it can be cleaned up later
but you have all the data to begin with. 2) In my mini-photobooth:
So I have a consistant color background in all my good pictures.
3)… You can…

View full article…
http://lauriejanekern.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/12/

…

A Newbie Learns to be Successful Soldering Argentium Silver
by Cynthia Eid

I’m feeling pleased as a teacher----I sent my handout for soldering
Argentium Silver to Ros, who posted her questions on Orchid, and she
send this photo to me to show what she is now able to do…

View full article…
http://ceid.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/12/

563

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

Mid-Course Correction
by Laurie Jane Kern

Last weekend was another “2nd Saturday” with Deb. I took down my
silver dish to solder the base on to it and to work on a piece with
curves. Before we got started, I showed Deb the smashed vessel from
the “Put The Hammer Down…” event. We discussed what I was
doing… Read the rest over at The Adventurous Silversmith…

View full article…
http://lauriejanekern.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/19/

564

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

Ivanka’s Season For Giving…Back
by Robyn Hawk

Ivanka Trump has designed a sweet bracelet to benefit Girl Up!One
bracelet. Six lives changed forever. From her blog: Now, I’d like to
share a special way you can send girls to school while giving a
great gift to your BFF, mom, sister, or another fabulous girl in
your life.This holiday, when you purchase my Ivanka Trump Fine
Jewelry signature Girl Up bracelet, you will help send six girls to
school. Six! This is truly the gift that gives back…

View full article…
http://dailyjewel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/20/

…

Mid-Course Correction
by Laurie Jane Kern

Last weekend was another “2nd Saturday” with Deb. I took down my
silver dish to solder the base on to it and to work on a piece with
curves. Before we got started, I showed Deb the smashed vessel from
the “Put The Hammer Down…” event. We discussed what I was
doing… Read the rest over at The Adventurous Silversmith…

View full article…
http://lauriejanekern.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/19/

…

Lovely and local : Meghan Burch
by k.o’brien jewelry

There wasn’t all that much time to be browsing Bazaar Bizarre a few
weeks ago while I was vending there. Though, I did take some time to
look at Meghan Burch’s table. Her color palette is what caught my
eye, making her table stand out from the rest. This along with her
simple aesthetic. Meghan has the knack for making everyday objects
more enjoyable to use. She expertly mixes finely contoured lines
with bold colors setting her printed fabrics aside…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/16/

…

Green Jade, Red Agate, and Carnelian Flower Bracelet
by Lava Jewelry

This cute bracelet has seven dark orange (almost red in color)
carnelian flowers, each framing a single orange-colored agate bead.
Each flower measures approximately 7/8 inch (2cm) across. Each
flower is separated by a single green jade bead…

View full article…
http://lavajewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/18/

565

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

close to home but still a vacation
by k.o’brien jewelry

In the early days of summer husband and I took a trip to Boston to
check out the new SoWa location. The trip may have been business
inspired but it turned into a getaway. We did a little meandering
through the South End to see the neighborhood around Washington
Street. Once I start the open market season it seems that I never
get to see past the parking lot I am selling in, so we took it all
in. After,…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/20/

…

Industry: PGI Welcomes FTC Guidance
by Robyn Hawk

The Platinum Guild International-USA (“PGI USA”) welcomes the
Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC” or “Commission”) publication of
final amendments to the Commission’s Jewelry Guides for the
marketing of platinum jewelry. In its final amendments, the FTC
requires marketers of platinum/base metal alloys (which are products
consisting of 50-85 percent platinum along with other non-precious
base metals) to clearly disclose the content of these products, and
explicitly prohibits…

View full article…
http://dailyjewel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/21/

…

Jewelry Arts Institute’s Student of the Week- Richard Ross
by jeanettecaines

Congratulations to our latest Student of the Week-Richard Ross. This
amazing chainmail bracelet is an exercise in precision soldering.
Let’s discuss some of the "dos’ and “don’ts”. First you must make
all your links with well-annealed wire and pull it very tightly so
the links will be identical. To get the best results in sawing it is
ofter helpful to tumble your coils of wire before sawing. When using
the softer…

View full article…
http://jewelryartsinstitute.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/21/

…

How Food Network Challenge can get you into more shows
by Elaine Luther

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/21/

566

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

supermarket saturdays : Alisha Louise Designs
by k.o’brien jewelry

Alisha Louise’s jewelry has been a long time love of mine on
supermarket. Her piercing ability is impeccable. As is her planning
of design. On the piece above lines intersect and overlap appearing
to be formed ironwork. On the one below the design gradually
increases in size, effortlessly. I am growing quite fond of her
pierced pieces with vibrant colors. Especially the one above, orange
and blue are just meant to be together, especially on a grand scale.
Alisha Louise…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/25/

…

Blog Year in Review 2010
by Elaine Luther

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/27/

…

Fascination with Fold Forming
by Laurie Jane Kern

A year ago, I took a class where we did some fold forming and
learned to use a hydraulic press. The folding forming was a basic
T-fold and then we used the press to deform the T-fold. We used the
folded metal with a semi-circular die, to spread the fold open and
to create depth for our finished piece. I had not planned on taking
that class but because I cancelled another one, I took this class
instead only to…

View full article…
http://lauriejanekern.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/27/

…

Smoky Quartz Sterling Silver Necklace
by Lava Jewelry

There is definitely something to be said about simplicity. This
necklace is made of sterling silver curved link chain with a single
faceted coin-shaped smoky quartz gemstone between each link.

View full article…
http://lavajewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/26/

…

Yahoo Groups…Social?
by Robyn Hawk

When talking to people I find it interesting to see where they have
come from and their journey to selling their goods.An astounding
number of those people tell me they started beading, metal work,
lapidary as a hobby and in an effort to improve sought the
assistance of people with a little more experience. Some went
searching on Magazine Forums, but the majority that I talk to come
from Yahoo Groups. For those of you who didn’t come by that…

View full article…
http://businessofcraft.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/22/

567

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

Missing Rio Grande’s Catalog In Motion!
by Robyn Hawk

Probably the saddest change to my Tucson Gem Show Schedule this year
is the loss of the Catalog In Motion Show from Rio Grande!One of the
things I do to get ready for the upcoming trek to the desert, is to
organize photos from the previous year and set up albums for the
coming year. While organizing I came across these photos.I have have
many happy memories of the Catalog In Motion Show and the classes I
took from the…

View full article…
http://tucsongemshow.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/28/

…

Composite Stone and Reflector Aqua Cab.
by hansmeevis

This is my latest composite gemstone. I like the colour of amethyst
and so I cut a small slice of amethyst and polished one side…

View full article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/28/

…

monday’s muse
by k.o’brien jewelry

I am still thumbing through the same art nouveau book. This gouache
by Margaret Macdonald inspires me for a few reasons.It is
celebrating daily life, making a menu into something grand and
elegant. This piece is knowing that art has a place anywhere and
everywhere. It is beautiful, powerful and subtle all at once. The
other thing I love about this painting is that it was created by a
woman who may have been more influential than we realize. Upon…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/27/

568

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

welcome winter!
by k.o’brien jewelry

did winter ever come to this little state.this is a little jaunt
into the woods after we got just a bit of snow.before the blizzard.
but after the first decent snow fall. this little patch of woods in
the city was the perfect place to visit after a dusting of snow. i
didn’t need my winter weed guide to know that these are queen anne’s
lace.i love how mystical the background looks in this picture, like
emerald city.now these weeds i need to…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/29/
…

Why Buy My Work II
by Sam Patania

In my last entry I tried to answer my own question about marketing
and got good replies for what I had written. My girlfriend, Brenna,
immediately noticed that what I had written was very dry and
emotionless. I had to agree with her so here is another attempt to
answer the question in a evocative light. Usually my work centers
around a technique I want to try, a stone I want to feature or look
I’m trying to achieve. As far as technique,…

View full article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/29/

569

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

A Special Gift for a Veteran
by James L. Sweaney, CGA, FGA. GG

We recently completed this great looking setting for a dog-tag. Our
client’s husband rarely wears jewelry, but she heard him remark
about a dog-tag he saw David Hasselhoff wearing on TV. She brought
us his original dog-tag from his military service days and asked us
to make a nice piece of jewelry that he would wear…

View full article…
http://tinyurl.com/38xmay3

570

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

January 2011: Gem Shows
by Robyn Hawk

View full article…
http://gemshows.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/01/

…

Genevieve Flynn Studio Workshops/Classes/Visiting Artists 2011
by genevieve

Genevieve Flynn Studio - Kansas City, MO Beginning Silversmithing
January 20-22, 2011 Genevieve Flynn, Instructor Genevieve Flynn
Studio Workshop in PMC Precious Metal Clay: Introduction January 23,
2011 Dana Dollins, Instructor Genevieve Flynn Studio Workshop in PMC
Precious Metal Clay: All About Beads February 05, 2011 Dana Dollins,
Instructor Genevieve Flynn Studio - Kansas City, MO Intro to Faceted
Stone Setting/Prong and Gypsy Setting February 10-12, 2011 Genevieve
Flynn, Instructor Visiting Artist Class - Genevieve Flynn Studio -
Kansas City,…

View full article…
http://genevieve.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/01/

…

Need a little Artistic License? Buy one!
by Elaine Luther

Here’s one from the archives, originally posted back in 2008: Check
out this awesome custom, laminated Artistic License here. You can
get one of your own for $20.00. via boing boing…

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/01/

…

Happy New Year
by teresamasters

It is 11:40 PM December 31, 2010 here in Oceanside, California. I am
alone in the house. Just abut 7 PM, my eyes aching, I went to bed
and sleep. I have had over the years lots of active welcome the New
Year at midnight events, and bed beckoned. Four plus hours later,
clearly finished sleeping for a while, I came forward to the
computer awakening only Squeeak the male members of my familiy Plano
Texas born cat. She very…

View full article…
http://teresamasters.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/01/

…

object fetish fridays : Asa Lockner
by k.o’brien jewelry

There is something imminently gorgeous about Asa Lockner’s jewelry.
The pieces shown here leave the viewer wondering how the piece
finishes. Does it end up shiny or matte? Which color stones are
still to be added. Instead of answering these questions for us Asa
lets us fill in the blanks. We create the piece along with her.
Personally, I find Asa to be a brave metalsmith. She is sending
work out into the world “unfinished” in the eyes of many…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/31/

…

Bench Sweep Refining Experiment
by hansmeevis

Often I work in titanium and white gold and yellow gold all at once.
So if you filing a triple laminate to shape, say, there is no point
trying to save the filings. The go into my bench sweeps bottle. Now
the thing that has always hassled me into sending it to the refiners
was that the titanium filings and palladium in my white gold is
inert to nitric acid…

View full article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2010/12/31/

571

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

monday’s muse
by k.o’brien jewelry

After all of the bustling to prepare for this holiday season, I want
to start giving myself time to take things in. Just like the day I
spent at a cafe’ in Paris with husband so many years ago. I believe
it will be time well spent. Ideas will come and a fresh outlook will
follow. I’ll be inspired and ready to start anew. A place just like
this would be perfect to open a sketchbook and let ideas out
onto…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/03/

…

A Diamond Pendant and more work to the Mobile Workbench
by hansmeevis

I made a nice white gold pendant on commission. Set with a 2.05
diamond it all came out to about 2.75ct…

View full article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/04/

…

Demystifying Websites for Jewelers
by Robyn Hawk

We are lucky enough to have one of the writers I admire most in this
Industry, Diana Jarrett, GG RMV, share this special interview she
conducted with Marlene Murphy of Jewelry Website Designers. So if
your New Year Resolution was to update your website…

View full article…
http://dailyjewel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/04/

…

NAJA Presents A.C.E. It - Tucson Style!
by Robyn Hawk

NAJA’s ACE(c) It Educational Conferences are geared to the
professional gem and jewelry appraiser, but would be excellent
and networking for other professionals in the Industry.
With seminars covering issues facing all facets of the Industry from
Assessing Value in Designer Cut Gemstones…

View full article…
http://tucsongemshow.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/04/

…

Model Shots II
by Sam Patania

I ran across more model shots and wanted to share them. I have been
able to work with several beautiful women over the years who are
willing to model my jewelry for me. Learing photography has been
fun, I sometimes realize I know nothing of photography and have
forgotten what little I did know. Even my light box shots go awry
sometimes…

View full article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/03/

…

Challenges for 2011 – how about a Ring a Week?
by Elaine Luther

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/02/

…

Looking Back - Looking Forward
by Laurie Jane Kern

Let me start by looking backwards. In 2010 I… ?..refined my
sinking skills and sunk 8 bowls. ?..learned how to raise vessels
and raised 6 of them. ?..learned how to add curves to the walls of
raised vessels and completed one, smashed one, and another is still
in progress. ?..Read the rest, well you know where ;=) Note: I have
turned commenting off here but you can still post comments over at
The Adventurous Silversmith…

View full article…
http://lauriejanekern.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/02/

572

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

The big studio move!
by Elaine Luther

As promised, here are some pictures of my new studio. I’d call these
“during,” as opposed to after pictures, as there’s still a lot of
putting-away to do. You see my kiln and my hydraulic press there.
The jack is Bonny Doon but the press is custom welded…

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/06/

…

Rock Review: Labrodorite
by laynefreedline

As you may have guessed from my new series of blog posts “Rock
Review” I’m a bit of a nerd! I LOVE to know history and fun details
about the materials I work with. It makes creating and designing
with these incredible, naturally forming materials even more
exciting! So, from time-to-time, I plan to enlighten myself (and
hopefully my readers) with a bit of detailed research about
ROCKS…

View full article…
http://laynedesigns.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/06/

…

Zircon Rings
by John Rasmussen

Finished two rings with 2 carat round brilliant orange Zircons as the
focal stones. One has zircon accents and the other marcasite accents.
The focal stones were originally cut to use as a pair in ear rings. I
just loved their color with these castings. The metal is Sterling
silver and they are beautiful…

View full article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/06/

573

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

My Web Site
by Sam Patania

patanias.com I have been working on getting my website up and
running. My site is less an online store than an online portfolio.
Of course I hope that anyone looking at the site would be inspired
to work with me to make a jewelry piece. Getting and maintaining a
website is quite a challenge for any small business, I talk to many
small business owners and we are all in some type of process to get
our sites up and running. I…

View full article…
http://patania-jewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/10/

…

1st Ring-a-Week!
by Elaine Luther

Here they are! My first rings for Ring-a-Week! I have some warm-up
rings and then my “real” rings. Disclaimer: they’re done, but not
polished all the way, just a quick tumble. I’ll post them again when
they’re really finished, in terms of the polish. This is actually a
leftover bracelet link, but I looked at it and thought, hey, that
could be a ring. It’s the kind of thing I might use in a pinch for
Ring-a-Day. But since this…

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/10/

…

supermarket saturdays : swallowfield
by k.o’brien jewelry

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/08/

…

From Looking to Moving Forward
by Laurie Jane Kern

After a nice break between Christmas and New Years with lots of
reflection and pondering it is now time to actually do something.
First, I hope to clear out a backlog of work before starting
anything new. Here is my To Do list:…Read the rest over at the
adventurous silversmith and of course you can leave a comment there
too…

View full article…
http://lauriejanekern.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/09/

574

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

lovely and local : modern printed matter
by k.o’brien jewelry

I love when I discover that handmade goodies I love are made
locally. While I knew Modern Printed Matter was a store in Warren I
just hadn’t put together that the cards people loved so much in the
Craftland show came from the same place. I happily clicked through
many items in Modern Printed Matter’s etsy shop and included one of
her cards in my recent treasury. Anna has a great aesthetic, simple
yet bold. Her images are clean and…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/15/

…

Rock Review: GARNET
by laynefreedline

View full article…
http://laynedesigns.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/13/

…

Lampwork Glass, Green Garnet, Brown Snowflake Jasper, and Sterling
Silver Bracelet -
by Lava Jewelry

I’ve brought my favorite colors together in this bracelet. I used
lampwork glass beads in two shapes (big marquis and small squares),
chunks of green garnet (grossular), and round brown snowflake jasper
in two sizes. These wonderful beads are accented by small sterling
silver beads…

View full article…
http://lavajewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/13/

…

METAL Inclinations2 is getting lots of traffic
by midwestmetalsmiths

Just to let you know, the snow and ice is not keeping anyone away
from METAL Inclinations2. An online exhibition doesn’t have to
depend on people traveling great distances to see the work. It
doesn’t have to sit idle in an empty gallery while the snow and wind
rages outside…

View full article…
http://midwestmetalsmiths.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/12/

…

Social Media and the Artisan: Blogs (How)
by Robyn Hawk

So what makes blogs work - the basic code behind a blog that makes
it able to be “subscribed” to is the RSS Feed. Readers are able to
subscribe in a Reader (I use Google Reader) or by email! This great
little video does a great job of explaining how RSS works:…

View full article…
http://businessofcraft.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/12/

…

Jewelry Arts Institute’s Student of the Week-Laurie Grossman
by jeanettecaines

Congratulations to our latest Student of the Week-Laurie Grossman.
Her ring is sterling silver and 22k gold and her stone is rutilated
quartz. There was a bit of a challenge in setting the stone so I
thought we might discuss some of the elements of setting cabochons.
Cabachons are generally considered easy to set but that doesn’t mean
there aren’t a few pitfalls. A 1/3 to…

View full article…
http://jewelryartsinstitute.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/11/

575

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

Crows
by catherinecrowe

When I was a child I was not happy to have Crowe as my surname. It
gave the other kids fodder for teasing. “Go fly south, crow-bird”
they’d holler. It didn’t matter how often I explained that crows
didn’t fly south. The that they were one of the most
intelligent birds did not help either. But like most children I
survived the childhood trauma and grew into loving my association
with crows Being naturally curious I continued to investigate…

View full article…
http://imagocorvi.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/15/crows/

…

Tips for keeping your digital photos a lifetime and beyond!
by rutamurphy

This past weekend I attended a class to learn about taking photos
with my DSLR camera which I bought a few weeks ago. It’s been a
couple of decades since I used an SLR camera and wanted to take a
class to refresh my memory and see what the main differences were
between film SLR and digital SLR cameras. I was amazed at the amount
of the instructor shared with us – and thought there
were be some…

View full article…
http://rutamurphy.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/15/

…

lovely and local : modern printed matter
by k.o’brien jewelry

I love when I discover that handmade goodies I love are made
locally. While I knew Modern Printed Matter was a store in Warren I
just hadn’t put together that the cards people loved so much in the
Craftland show came from the same place. I happily clicked through
many items in Modern Printed Matter’s etsy shop and included one of
her cards in my recent treasury. Anna has a great aesthetic, simple
yet bold. Her images are clean and…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/15/

576

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

2nd Ring-a-Week plus book review Sculptural Metal Clay
by Elaine Luther

Layered Leaf Ring by Elaine Luther (c) 2010 I see on flickr that
most of the RAW folks are numbering their rings RAW 1, RAW 2. So
I’ll start numbering mine that way too. I’ll count all four from
last week, and start with RAW 5 this week. (I’ll still make a ring
every week, I’ll just make more than 52, but I decided to count all
of them.) First of all, let me say that an unexpected benefit of…

View full article…
http://allthingsmetalclay.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/16/

…

Large Bead Project
by John Rasmussen

A bit ago, I read in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist about a method
to take a slab of material and form a large bead. I selected a nice
looking slab of agate and laid out the four slabs that would be
combined to form the large bead.After bonding the four slabs
together (super glue) to form a rectangular solid, I started cutting
the bead on my lap. At this point the bead is round and measures 29
mm long and…

View full article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/15/

577

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

monday’s muse
by k.o’brien jewelry

A few years ago my sister in law sent me a book for my birthday.
Knowing me all to well, she got the last copy of hnoss depended. It
consists of a collection of jewelry pieces which were on display at
the Galleri Hnoss in Go"teborg, Sweden. The work spans in time from
1997 to 2007, the first ten years of the gallery’s existence. This
piece is from Nel Linssen, a maker of paper jewelry from the
Netherlands. Click on…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/18/

…

Jewelry Arts Institute’s Student of the Week- Melissa Caraway
by jeanettecaines

Congratulations to our latest Student of the Week- Melissa Caraway.
This beautiful ring is a student project modeled on an ancient ring
from Rome. As a learning project, it emphasizes soldering and stone
setting. Melissa did a wonderful job of mastering both lesson. I
though we would go over some of the construction steps…

View full article…
http://jewelryartsinstitute.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/18/

…

Large Bead Completed
by John Rasmussen

After trimming the ends of the composite stone. Ends made
perpendicular to long axis. Then I pierced copper discs of 15 mm
from a sheet of 23 ga copper. These were made into half domes using
my dapping block and punches. Attaching these to the ends of the
stone made a bead that is 36 x 15 mm. Now to design something to use
the bead. Click on the thumbnail to see a full size picture.
John…

View full article…
http://rasmussengems.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/18/

…

A Ring, a Stone and a Prize
by hansmeevis

This is my latest Aqua ring. I like carving beryl. It polishes easy
and if the colour is good, as in this one, it resembles flowing
water. Also, the nice part is that they sell well, ahem…

View full article…
http://meevis.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/17/

…

Manufacturing Hammered Sheet
by Jamie Hall

One of the key products for any metalworker is sheet metal. It can
be used for forming, raising and spinning; it can be decorated by
chasing and repousse’, or by etching, engraving and piercing. It can
also be converted into other products - further thinning can be done
to turn it into foil (see below right) or leaf, or the sheet can be
cut into strips for cloisonne’ enamelling, or for strip-drawn and
strip-twisted wire. Without access to sheet, the…

View full article…
http://primitive.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/17/

578

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

welcome winter, a trip to the farm
by k.o’brien jewelry

We finally did it. We bought a kitchen table. First, we took a
little trip to the farm to borrow a vehicle for the trip. While we
were shopping, Callie stayed to visit with grandma.There were some
old tools in the garage. And this girl can’t resist inspecting tools.
I am in love with the handles. Not only are they stylish but they
look comfortable too. I always love seeing the turbines in motion.It
is quite the amazing structure.The silo looks perfectly
patinated…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/19/

…

What Influences Me…
by Robyn Hawk

James Miller - the master at work from Orchid Galleries. I am always
getting the question - where do you find all this great inspiration?
How do you find something new to write? Aside from being on every
mailing list in the Industry…these are the Influencers in my life
and my go - to websites…for the Jewelry Designer and Learner in
me: Ganoksin - this is so much more than the Ganoksin Library of
Archived Design Articles. Their…

View full article…
http://dailyjewel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/19/what-influences-me/

…

Call for Entries: 500 Rings from Lark
by Elaine Luther

Lark Jewelry is publishing an exciting new jewelry book in our “500”
series, and we would like you to submit images for
consideration…

View full article…
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/larks500

579

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

object fetish fridays : Elke Mitscha
by k.o’brien jewelry

I have been thinking a lot about roses lately with the upcoming
holiday. It isn’t that I like roses, I don’t at all. See, I use to
work in a florist where all we did this time of year was take orders
for dozens upon dozens of red roses, with babies breath of course.
The man ordering the roses always seemed so impressed with himself,
like he was giving the greatest gift as I rolled my eyes at the
lack…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/21/

…

An Aquamethyst and a Drilled Diamond
by hansmeevis

Here is a composite stone I made out of aquamarine and amethyst.
coming in at 3.6 carats. Blue and purple make indigo and this stone
certainly reflects that when it is viewed in natural light…

View full article…
http://www.ganoksin.com/gnkurl/meevisaquamethys

580

…

If you have been considering your own Blog, but haven’t yet, the

…

supermarket saturdays : The Opulent Project
by k.o’brien jewelry

These Day/Night earrings by The Opulent Project are brilliant. The
design, color and materials are all just, well, brilliant. I love
their versatility which forces direct interaction with the wearer.
Most earrings just require you to put them on. With these you have
decisions to make. Elegant night time wear or simpler business
attire. As far as I am concerned, they will always be perfect. Now
can someone pass these along to husband and let him know I would
love to…

View full article…
http://kobrienjewelry.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/22/

…

Procrastination or Inspiration?
by noelyovovich

I’ve been working with renewed vigor on my art, lately, since I
finally have a bit of time that isn’t all chopped up by the odds and
ends of daily life. That’s good news, right? I’ve been looking
forward to this for a very long time. The thing is, what I’m doing
is not what I planned. I really want—and need—to do some
ambitious metal work. I need, in particular, to finish the very
intricate teapot piece I started back…

View full article…
http://noel.ganoksin.com/blogs/2011/01/23/