Workshops in Switzerland 2019

At the end of February 2019 I'll be off to Switzerland for my annual teaching trip to Creative Glass at Volketswil just outside of Zurich. This will be the sixth time I have taught there and it is just an amazingly lovely place. The studio is very spacious with a lovely separate dining area and the whole place is filled with wonderful glass (even the sink in the toilet is amazing!! ;) lol

This year I'll be teaching four new workshops that I haven't taught in Switzerland before. There is still a little space on some of them so why not come and join in!!! 

All the details are on the Creative Glass website here.

On 23rd and 24th February I'll be teaching my Crystal pendant workshop. This covers a wonderful array of techniques including  riveting, making unique texture plates with polymer clay, adding gold foil, soldering bezel cup, stone setting and of course working with crystal wands. Oh, and let's not forget we are using silver clay too! It's a great way to expand your knowledge. There is so much to learn and you'll be able to choose from a lovely selection of crystal wands and cabochons to make your own unique piece. 

The next workshop on 25th February is Joyful Whistles. These really are a lot of fun to make and you'll end up with your very own working whistle. Maybe you'll even be able to play a little tune on yours, and if you have a dog what could be better for attracting his/her attention!! :D These are great to wear as a pendant and I wear one on a longer lanyard around my neck too. 

Yes, they really do work!!! Check out my video :D 

On 26th February it's all about rings!!! I'll be teaching my Celestial Rings with their amazing construction and a squared off ring band. The topper is set with lots of super sparkly stones!!! These really are statement pieces :)

Finally on 27th it's all about GOLD!!!!

This workshop is all about adding gold to your work and we'll be looking at various methods. We'll be adding gold by the keum boo method and also looking at various other ways including pen plating and using gold paste :D There is nothing better than a good splash of gold to take your work up a level! 

I'm so looking forward to being back in Switzerland to see old friends and make new ones. 

Don't miss out!!!

Joy x

Workshops in the USA 2016

 

I am so excited to tell you that we are now all set for my workshops in the USA!!!

 

This is the only time I'll be teaching in USA this year so don't miss out :D

 

First I'll be teaching a two day workshop on the 15th and 16th October.

This is my new Hidden Lantern workshop.

 

One side has your own unique silver texture that is enamelled and decorated with 2mm stones...

 

 

 the other side is pierced and you have the option to add keum boo inside so the gold shines out!!!

Oh, and did I mention that we have a lovely radiating carved design top???



 

This is a technique packed 2 days and not for the faint hearted ;) But hey, you know me , I love to keep everyone working...with a good sprinkling of laughter and fun included of course!! :D

 

Then to follow on why not join me for my

Joyful Spinner Rings workshop.

This is on 17th October so you can make it a long weekend of creativity!!

 

 

These are super fun!!

We'll cover making them the right size (yes I know, that can be such a hassle!!!) and you'll make everything in silver clay.

 

The outside ring is textured and yours will be uniquely you as you'll create your own design around the edges. Of course we'll make sure everything is super smooth and beautifully tactile to feel and wear too.

 

 

The inner ring will spin freely and of course it will need some colour (doesn't everything???) so we'll be adding 2mm fireable stones.

 



 

 

 

Here's a spinney video ;)

 



These are just some ideas, I've already made other rings (watch out for more photos!). This technique is so versatile!

 

So... you've made it this far through my post???

 

Where are these workshops I hear you asking!!! ;)

 

Just near Washington DC at La Ruche Davis with the most excellent Ann Davis as host!!!

Check out all the details and how to book here.

A workshop at Ann's is always a good laugh, and don't miss out on her included Saturday night GF buffet and wine social if you book the 2 day workshop. I always love this bit with super people dropping in to join us too!! :D

 

I'm looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones :D

 

Have Fun!!!

 

Joy

 

PS Feeling left out as you are in Europe?? I'll be posting about a wonderful workshop in Folkestone UK in November this year in my next blog post tomorrow! Don't miss it!!

 



20/52 Stud Earrings!!

OK, time to catch up on my challenge and my blog posts. So here we go, they all be along in time, albeit they might be in the wrong order!! ;)

Stud earrings - in the past I've never really made them!

Why? Well firstly I don't wear them myself. I used to in the dim and distant past. Before I ever started making jewellery I only ever wore stud earrings. But I also only ever wore gold back in those days as well! :)

Once I started making jewellery I changed to wearing dangles as I liked making them, and generally the ones I make are a bit larger so I feel I have more design scope. But people always ask me for studs. So recently I decided I really should start to make them.

I made a batch of silver flowers with 24k gold added by Keum Boo method, and then started on some with stones set into them. I like the more rustic stone set ones, and they seem slightly medieval to me, a style I always like!! The cabochons do glow nicely on the ones with the stones fired in place. the turquoise cabs are 3mm and are bezel set after firing. A bit on the fiddly side but I like the result!!

At my show last weekend I sold some straight off :)

So I guess I'll be making a lot more of them from now on! Time to try lots of new designs! :D

Have fun!!

Joy

Bird a week 29/52 - Nestled In

Another week, another bird :)

A rainbow birdie nestling down to roost. This is a fine silver pendant made using Art Clay Silver. The bird and the spirals are added using my Enamelled Accents technique, then I have added some 24k gold and patinated it.

The reverse is set with a 3mm CZ and, of course, my little Joy logo! I really love this texture on the back so you can expect to see this again soon :) 

And the Haiku to go with it...

Fading sunlight glow

Night time fast approaches

Nestled in to roost

 

 

Bird a Week 13/52 - Secret Green Bird

This weeks BAW is a locket. I made this while teaching a workshop in the last week. Hilary and Alli arrived with a photo of a similar locket and said we want to make these! Fair enough you might think BUT

1. I didn't know until they arrived they wanted to make this

2. I have not made a locket in this style before

AND

3. it was only the second time Alli has used silver clay and Hilary has only been using it a while longer!!!

So it was a bit of a challenge for me as well but they were more than happy for me to make one at the same time and work it out as we went along. Definitely two people who like to jump in at the deep end!! :)

We had three days so it was nice and relaxed and they also made wonderful pendants as well. They both did fantastically well and I will get their two lockets and pendants photographed when I can so you can see what a great job they did. We also had a really good laugh along the way and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Anyway back to the BAW. Once I had finished my locket I enamelled the bird inside, then the leaves on the front, added keum boo and finally patinated with Liver of Sulphur.

I have been reading a book of Japanese Haiku poems recently and really like the form of them so I wrote one for the locket.....

The bamboo dense, tall

A startled flash of green wings

My secret bird flies

I think I might write more haiku - you have been warned!!!! ;-)

Bird a Week 10/52 - Tori

My Bird a Week piece this week is made from something I have had sitting around for a while. Hilary comes to my workshops and bought a lovely notebook with her a while ago. I rolled out a bit of Art Clay Silver and took this impression directly off the front cover of the book as I thought it was so lovely.

This week I cleaned up the shape and added the hobnail decoration down the sides. Then I added a bail and decorated the back. Once the piece was fired I added some fine silver spirals and 24k keum boo. Finally I patinated it with Liver of Sulphur and gave it a light polishing.

I have called this piece Tori which is the Japanese for bird (I hope!!).

Here is the reverse which is set with a 2mm lab ruby.

It has been an exciting time for me in the last couple of weeks, I am a cover girl - TWICE!! - and at my age!!!

More on that in my next post in a day or so. ;-)

Show Time

This weekend I am in the craft marquee at Shoreham Airshow in West Sussex. I love this show. When I say I am in the marquee all things are relative, I shall be rushing outside as often as possible to see the planes!

It get kind of interesting. The craft marquee is packed with people, there is the roar of a very loud jet engine outside and suddenly there is no one left inside but us standholders so we rush out too. All great fun ;-)

Here is a photo of a few pairs of earrings waiting for finding to top up my stock a bit. You can see I have been on a bit of a Keum Boo phase with the 24k gold!!

Have a good weekend....