tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74696577285034507512024-03-13T08:36:14.333-07:00BeadfuddledFine Silver and Polymer Clay BeadsKelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-90240995967867061932011-04-23T15:17:00.000-07:002011-04-23T17:08:02.293-07:00Finally finished....well, maybe!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFeroe6w16E/TbNo9sSN-xI/AAAAAAAAArY/vY8aszZVirY/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yFeroe6w16E/TbNo9sSN-xI/AAAAAAAAArY/vY8aszZVirY/s320/IMG_2452.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598934170820541202" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sHSkoKyQIlU/TbNo9ZRJjFI/AAAAAAAAArQ/CZvaxaCpm0g/s1600/IMG_2456.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sHSkoKyQIlU/TbNo9ZRJjFI/AAAAAAAAArQ/CZvaxaCpm0g/s320/IMG_2456.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598934165715782738" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AX1jPEZ9gb0/TbNo9HaJJtI/AAAAAAAAArI/YkK6BJl0RW4/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AX1jPEZ9gb0/TbNo9HaJJtI/AAAAAAAAArI/YkK6BJl0RW4/s320/IMG_2455.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598934160921667282" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I thought I would show you the finished purse. Although, I am thinking of adding a liner and maybe some little sprinkles of beads near the beaded bezel....but since I want to think about that before I add them (if I do), I am declaring it done! I really had a great time doing this....it combines a lot of my favorite things....fabric, thread, beads, polymer, PMC and glass. I am going to wear it to the Art and Soul Retreat that I am going to next week. I am going to take a weeks worth of classes....some to actually learn something I don't know and some just for fun (those would be the Zentangle classes!). Although, I don't know how to transfer those Zentangle designs to fabric which I am looking forward to. I am hoping I will be albe to transfer them to fabric that I can then work into the nuno felt. Let the games begin!!! I am also taking a class with Chad Alice Hagen...she makes some wild felted pieces and I have seen her work at the ACC shows for years! We are going to learn how to dye the felt in all sorts of different ways! I used to dye fabric and do shibori and Katazome silk painting, so I am excited to see how I can transfer these ideas to felt for my purses....!!!!! </div><div> For those of you who are following my rings on the Flickr RAW project...don't give up on me...I have been working on some new rings and will get back to the project when I get back from the retreat. I have 4 or 5 laid out....one has a polymer bezel with the stone laid into the surface and is four fingers long.....one may become a pendant, but we'll see. I am still trying to use little bits and pieces to make these rings so I can try to out wait the cost of silver. I may have to turn in my 5lbs of scrap so I can buy a kiln to do bronze clay in. Who doesn't need four kilns!!? Maybe I should get one for glass and porcelain too!! No, that's just crazy!! One at a time!!! </div><div> I may not post while I am at the retreat....depends on how tired I get....I am taking 8 or 9 class in 6 days.....a bit crazy, but I want to get all I can out of the experience! So, I hope you will all have fun in your studios while I am gone....I will try to post, but I am not promising....Kelly</div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. The photos, in order are, the front of the purse, the second is a close up of some of my polymer and PMC beads and the last photo is the back of the purse showing the bead I used as the closure. Hope you like it......K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-71172713734265583002011-04-14T15:40:00.000-07:002011-04-14T16:16:51.186-07:00Show News.....<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjeSFoCfPuI/Tad_1j2tfzI/AAAAAAAAArA/SkYmTP_hHe8/s1600/IMG_2446.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OjeSFoCfPuI/Tad_1j2tfzI/AAAAAAAAArA/SkYmTP_hHe8/s320/IMG_2446.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595581620165639986" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6r2tCqA0nQ/Tad_1Y4uBfI/AAAAAAAAAq4/0gqtYvVmAIY/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R6r2tCqA0nQ/Tad_1Y4uBfI/AAAAAAAAAq4/0gqtYvVmAIY/s320/IMG_2240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595581617221273074" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dhb1mXXWF4/Tad_01qLg6I/AAAAAAAAAqw/7YTBDoZOwV0/s1600/IMG_2244.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3Dhb1mXXWF4/Tad_01qLg6I/AAAAAAAAAqw/7YTBDoZOwV0/s320/IMG_2244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595581607765050274" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> Well, I just posted my show news onto the Metal Clay Magazine blogspot and hopefully, Jeanette won't kill me for that, since I didn't yack about metal clay. Oh, well, what are you going to do?? So, I will now tell you all about the work of the last couple of weeks.....I was waiting to go back into the studio after the the kitchen flooded....had to wait for the light to dry out and while I was waiting, I got a call from Darlene to ask if I wanted to share the booth at the show in Philly. I had enough beads and polymer cabs to go with but I wanted something new to have to attach beads to....how many necklaces does a person actually need? So, I decided to make some nuno felt. I had learned how to make nuno felt down at Carol Hamilton's back in Feb and thought that might be a great background to sew beads to. So, I did a lot of research and got a lot of silk tops and wool roving and went to work! My dining room became a make-shift workroom along with the kitchen and I now have multi-colored silk and wool dust bunnies of various sizes all over the house! But I do also have some great looking felted pieces! I was really happy with the response they got! I picked out three pieces for myself to use as samples and then put the rest out for sale. They were like honey to the bees...everyone wanted to come over to the booth and touch them! I started sewing some beads onto one of the sample pieces so I could show everyone what I was thinking what I had mad the felt for. I am making mine into a small cell phone purse, which is funny, since I don't have a cell phone! My friends are hoping that after I am done, I will love my purse so much that I will buy a cell phone! Not! I am doing all the beadwork first and then I will sew up the back seam with some decorative threads or silk ribbons and some sari silk ribbons for the straps with some of my polymer beads as accents. I may put in a liner and a tassel at the bottom, or maybe not.....I will post photos as the work progresses. </div><div> On another front, I just wanted to tell everyone that I will be teaching a class with Debbie Taylor and Carol Hamilton at the polymer retreat that is taking place in July in Chicago right before the Metal Clay World Conference. The class is three days long with a day each for metal clay, torch firing enamels and polymer clay. Carol will be teaching the metal clay and Debbie will be doing the enamel bit and I will be doing the polymer clay pod bit. There will be a good bit of experimenting in this class. Let me know if you are interested or have any questions. </div><div> Have fun in your studios.....Kelly </div><div><br /></div><div>The first photo is the piece of felt opened with the beadwork on the part that will be the front. If you click on the photo, you will be able to see more detail. The second and third photos are the class project sample. Comments welcome, Kelly</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-67582202371635102412011-03-28T14:02:00.000-07:002011-03-28T14:24:41.945-07:00Just a quick note....<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlkkAtIpNqk/TZD8jcpnenI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/Z1RGb12LGpI/s1600/IMG_2416.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vlkkAtIpNqk/TZD8jcpnenI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/Z1RGb12LGpI/s320/IMG_2416.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589244823483153010" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvmYFrro8wg/TZD8izU1VMI/AAAAAAAAAqI/jGK48GYMd-Q/s1600/IMG_2424.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wvmYFrro8wg/TZD8izU1VMI/AAAAAAAAAqI/jGK48GYMd-Q/s320/IMG_2424.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5589244812390126786" /></a><br />Hi again....<div> WOW! twice in two days....but this is just a quick note...I thought I would show you a few of the beads I am bringing to the show in Philly on some of my felt....which I think I may have incorrectly labeled as nuno felt....it may be just regular felt with fabric on top. I don't care which it is since I like the look and the fun I have making it. But, I don't want to be saying I am making one thing if I am not, so, there you are....</div><div> Anyway, I am hoping you will stop by and see some of my new things...here is a photo of two...see you soon, have fun in your studio...Kelly</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-64072406888435861342011-03-27T14:47:00.000-07:002011-03-27T16:07:47.014-07:00Well, what's new????<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H1ugE-l3uYc/TY_CgMkC9tI/AAAAAAAAApw/Ao15otWUIg8/s1600/IMG_2410.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H1ugE-l3uYc/TY_CgMkC9tI/AAAAAAAAApw/Ao15otWUIg8/s320/IMG_2410.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588899520974091986" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ns2SpSGMspI/TY_Cfk909cI/AAAAAAAAApo/-gxxAEhpQ6Y/s1600/IMG_2412.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ns2SpSGMspI/TY_Cfk909cI/AAAAAAAAApo/-gxxAEhpQ6Y/s320/IMG_2412.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588899510344807874" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1uqZNNWK0Q/TY_CfIwX0oI/AAAAAAAAApg/304gE8Afsq8/s1600/IMG_2407.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1uqZNNWK0Q/TY_CfIwX0oI/AAAAAAAAApg/304gE8Afsq8/s320/IMG_2407.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5588899502772179586" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I thought I would show you what I have been up to! I was working on my RAW project and was planning on going into the studio the next day too finish my ring when my kitchen pipes decided they had had enough time working at our house....I got a bit stressed when I saw water all over the kitchen floor! Had to shut off the water main and wait for Ed to come home to fix everything....good thing he knows how to do all that! I got a new sink and faucet...yea!!! I hate stainless steel sinks!!! I now have a bigger sink, nice white cast iron, and shepherd's crook faucet...I am so loving it! I didn't care for the water pouring through the studio ceiling and wrecking my ring mandrel and dapping block and various other tools....replaceable, so live and learn. I couldn't go and work in the studio since there was water in the light fixture and we had to let that drain so we wouldn't have problems with the electrical.....so I decided to get going on some new projects for a show in April that I am doing with my good friend, Darlene.</div><div> I am trying to continue to work in PMC even though the cost has gone through the roof! So, I have started thinking about making smaller charms and one-sided centerpieces that I could use with bead embroidery. I had also played at Carol's house with her Babylock Embellisher and had some ideas about combining the felt I made with the PMC charms. I have now made three sheets of nuno felt and love the process...I have two pieces drying as I write! I am planning on cutting some of the sheets into pieces big enough to make cell phone purses that customers can pick and choose their fabric, maybe add a charm or two or a centerpiece and then some fabric for the straps. They can add embroidery stitches and some beads and personalize their phone purses. Since I don't a cell phone, I am using mine for business cards, credit cards and keys.... have I am hoping to make some up before the show....(which is the Philly Wire Fest show at Valley Forge Convention Center), I am also making some polymer cabs for bead embroidery and to use on the purses....as soon as I finish one up, I will post a photo. By the way, I will be in the booth next to Twisted Sistah with Darlene of D7 Studios...hope some of you can stop by and say hello. I will be making more felt for the next couple of weeks but I will get back to the rings after the show. </div><div><br /></div><div> I have saved the good news for last.....I was asked to be one of the jurors for the PMC Annual!!! I was so happy to be asked....Thanks, Tim!! I am in the company of three other people...Celie Fago, my first teacher, Robert Ebendorf and Lorena Angelo. I am excited to see all the photos...I hope I do a good job. </div><div><br /></div><div> I hope you are all having fun creating....I am going back to the machine....Kelly</div><div><br /><div> </div></div><div><br /></div><div>the photos are as follows.....the first one is before it was felted and the second photo has been felted and the third photo is the same piece before felting.....I think they will look a bit lighter when they dry and the silk shows up a little better, but I love how soft the colors look!! </div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-33780871140084647922011-03-10T13:36:00.000-08:002011-03-10T14:20:25.408-08:00New number 10...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83dxpFCJE-M/TXlOmL7ZUHI/AAAAAAAAApA/A391nCGYQe8/s1600/IMG_2389.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-83dxpFCJE-M/TXlOmL7ZUHI/AAAAAAAAApA/A391nCGYQe8/s320/IMG_2389.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582579631046348914" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzD-xvGzTtg/TXlOl2Grc5I/AAAAAAAAAo4/TK7aEblybNY/s1600/IMG_2392.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fzD-xvGzTtg/TXlOl2Grc5I/AAAAAAAAAo4/TK7aEblybNY/s320/IMG_2392.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582579625188094866" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Nctn3-nQpo/TXlOljpCnXI/AAAAAAAAAow/_GHf4leImJI/s1600/IMG_2391.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0Nctn3-nQpo/TXlOljpCnXI/AAAAAAAAAow/_GHf4leImJI/s320/IMG_2391.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582579620231945586" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> Well, I am sitting here with my latest ring on typing this out. It was supposed to be a entirely different ring but.....So, to start with, I will tell you what it was supposed to be and how it changed. Originally, it was to have one of my epoxy cones (with red metal flakes) coming up through the copper faceplate. The copper was supposed to be about 1/16th above the silver band, so you could see that the copper faceplate was what was holding the cone in place. </div><div> So, then the problems started...first the sterling ring was too big, so that had to be cut down and then when I tried to rivet the faceplate to the sterling band, the faceplate broke after the first one was set. Then the ring didn't have enough tension to hold the cone in and then another piece broke off....finally, I laid it to one side to think over possibilities. So, a month later, this is the result....</div><div> I decided I was going to do something with this ring if it killed me....but it didn't! I put on some old world type music and I think that inspired me....I ditched the cone idea (for now) and really looked at the ring. I liked that there was still this space between the sterling band and copper faceplate, so, I looked through some of the PMC pieces that I have (already fired) and found one that was large enough to fill the hole in the faceplate. I was happy that the faceplate was still going to be the part holding the center of interest in place...just not a cone. The disc had a hand imprinted on it and already had two little holes and I was planning on riveting the whole thing in place, so I got some thread out to hold it all together and decided I liked that look better than the rivets. So, I got some pretty turquoise blue silk thread and tied the whole thing up. I wanted the ring to look like it had been broken several times and fixed on the spot rather than being discarded. It was pretty shiny when I was done so I decided that instead of using LOS, I would use paint for the patina. I went over the whole ring and then wiped it down, thread and all!! I then went back and highlighted the thread with a little colored pencil to brighten it up again. I like that it looks dirty. Even with the thread and different edges inside, it is very comfortable to wear. </div><div> I have also been trying to design some classes and have been pretty happy with what I have come up with, so we will see how that works out. Some of them may become step by step projects or kits.....so, keep having fun in your studios...and I will too, Kelly</div><div><br /></div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-54991957995592643152011-02-25T13:00:00.000-08:002011-02-25T14:01:47.750-08:00and now, number 7!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UWhLAARlp0w/TWgmn9JppbI/AAAAAAAAAoY/yscRYWUcYm0/s1600/IMG_2347.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UWhLAARlp0w/TWgmn9JppbI/AAAAAAAAAoY/yscRYWUcYm0/s320/IMG_2347.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577750606370153906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBb_jAONdK8/TWgmnS7LR7I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/STdoFr_b03k/s1600/IMG_2380.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RBb_jAONdK8/TWgmnS7LR7I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/STdoFr_b03k/s320/IMG_2380.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577750595035154354" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93w03OHEVhE/TWgmnIDa2JI/AAAAAAAAAoI/3UKcRHiRWeg/s1600/IMG_2363.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-93w03OHEVhE/TWgmnIDa2JI/AAAAAAAAAoI/3UKcRHiRWeg/s320/IMG_2363.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577750592116938898" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> It has been a busy couple of weeks....after I got back from Carol's I had to get ready for my two day class with Jeff Devers. We were going to making boxes with lids....Jeff does some of the most amazing boxes out of polymer clay. We started by making a box out of card stock and then covering them with clay and baked them. We used these as our interior molds. We built up our boxes in layers with a lot of baking and sanding in between (good thing we had a day off to catch up on our "homework"). We then learned how to make two different kinds of fitted lids. It was interesting to see how Jeff works and how he pays so much attention to detail. I would show you a photo of mine but I loaned it to my gal, Gloria, so she could work on her next step.....when I get it back I will put on a decorative layer, bake and sand again...then I will post a photo of the finished piece! Something to look forward to!</div><div> In between getting ready for the workshop and the couple of days after, I have been busy in the studio when I haven't been in bed with the flu. I finished off 4 rings that I had in various stages of being finished, and 1 completely new one, so now I am not behind on my RAW!! So, I will start with the new one.....really simple...I had a wonderful piece of copper metal clay that I had textured in Gordon's class with the tearaway method last Feb. I antiqued the surface with acrylic paint and then heat set it before sanding the surface lightly with sandpaper to bring out the details of the little angel. I also had some little bits of already fired metal clay and one of them was a #7 and was just the right size to use on the surface, so I antiqued that with the same colors of acrylic paint. If you look closely, you will see that the little angel looks like he is holding the big ball with one hand and throwing a little ball up in the air with his other hand. The little ball is actually the rivet that holds part of the ring together. Since I don't solder, I needed to figure out how to attach the shank to the band. I decided to use the holes in the #7 disc and the upper right hand corner, which worked out to look like he was tossing a ball in to the air. I liked the way a bit of the band peeked out of the far edge and decided to keep it and then added a little amethyst stone to the sterling band. The little tab also holds the ring in place and keeps it from spinning. It is quite comfortable to wear even though it is off center. </div><div> So, for ring number 8, I had a ring cut out from a Faux Bone blank and had experimented with coloring the surface last summer. It has been sitting on my worktable just waiting for the right little something. When I had found my little number 7 disc, I had also found some of the long fragments that I used to make for earrings. I also had a large disc...I hammered that into a bowl so I could set one of those rivoli stones into it and I had a purple one that worked with the surface of the already dyed faux bone ring, so I started assembling the ring. I used two long fragments on the sides and used some sterling headpins to attach everything together. I then found a smaller fragment that fit in between the two that worked out well. When those were attached, I drilled a hole in the faux bone with a round tip bur and set the bowl into it after doming the center section in a smaller divot to conform the bottom of the bowl. I then set the rivoli in and chemically bonded the whole thing together. Yes, I know, it is the easy way out, but have you ever tried to rivet on a ring band? It is hard to flip the ring and hammer on the inside of the band....and since I had to use epoxy to glue the rivoli into the bowl, I really didn't mind.</div><div> So, while all the epoxy was drying, I pulled out some rings I had made in a class with Tim McCrieght. I liked the idea of the rings but they were too big, even for me, so I thought about what I could do to shrink the interiors so they would fit. I had made a polymer sheet that looked like slabs of wood and it ended up being the right thickness to close up the interior so the rings fit nicely. I love the natural patina on the two rings. The third was in a plastic bag, so no patina as of now. I am still playing with the idea of setting some small white topaz in a couple of the rings. Well, that is all for now...hope you like some of the rings....let me know if you can...I would love to hear from you...have fun in your studios....Kelly</div><div> </div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-49702351850753315312011-02-15T14:36:00.000-08:002011-02-15T15:19:55.154-08:00Number 6 on board!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OryMJNJgjFs/TVsJlbgvw0I/AAAAAAAAAnw/4r2qZM0tacc/s1600/IMG_2340.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OryMJNJgjFs/TVsJlbgvw0I/AAAAAAAAAnw/4r2qZM0tacc/s320/IMG_2340.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574059502446035778" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dcmb_Gx2r9I/TVsJkqpDpUI/AAAAAAAAAno/NTBfcbe8Jxs/s1600/IMG_2339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dcmb_Gx2r9I/TVsJkqpDpUI/AAAAAAAAAno/NTBfcbe8Jxs/s320/IMG_2339.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574059489327555906" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wl4gtGCbVgo/TVsJkavzHQI/AAAAAAAAAng/r_KSI9LWnuE/s1600/IMG_2334.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wl4gtGCbVgo/TVsJkavzHQI/AAAAAAAAAng/r_KSI9LWnuE/s320/IMG_2334.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574059485060865282" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> It has been a busy week and a half! I went down to Va last week and cooked and partied and made a silk felted scarf, which I can't show you since I left it in Va (I think Carol's doggies wanted me to stay and one of them stole it out of my pile of things to be loaded into the car...the little stinker! I bet it was Marly!) </div><div> I started the weekend out at my little groupie, Terresa's house for her big birthday party! I helped her cook some of the buffet...made my paprika chicken with saffron rice! YUM!! Stayed up til 3:30 partying with the guests....and then we went to a international market on Sunday and got some steaks for dinner (yeah, the pioneer women recipes!) steak bites with mashers, YUM again!</div><div> On Monday, I went over to Carol Hamilton's house so we could play with her embellisher.....Terresa joined us and we ended up going to Alexanderia to the Fibre Space store for silk and wool roving. I also got some beautiful silk yarns to do kumihimo with. We also hit another international market..(that's what happens when Terresa is driving....) got some rose water and orange blossom water for some Moroccan recipes that I have been wanting to try. Lucked out and found some ginger cookies with lemon filling.....and YUM again! Great weekend so far!! </div><div> We all went back to Carol's and started our felting with the embellisher. It has 10 needles and no feed-dog so you can free sew with it. We worked for several hours working the roving onto the silk chiffon so we could then put it in the felting machine to felt. I got to wear mine to the local PMC guild meeting. Finally got home on Thursday and started work on my RAW for the week...</div><div> So...started one ring and everything was going fine until....dom, dom, dommmmm, the top piece broke into three pieces.....frustrating.....time to start a different ring....started that on Saturday....incorporated three of my favorite mediums...silver sheet, epoxy and polymer clay....my idea of stacking rings....I haven't written in silver so that was a experience that I need to practice, but I do like that it looks hand written...went through 3 drill bits and 5 saw blades. I realized that I should have written everything out with a smaller marker so my lines would have be more spot on and Bur Life would have helped, but all in all, not too bad... I was just going to use a polymer clay sheet that looks like flames but I decided to slide in a sheet of epoxy that had some gold glitter and red ink as a tint. It added a little bit of sparkle behind the openings in the letters. I then fit the polymer sheet so it shows the epoxy sheet as a border. I chemically bonded the whole thing together and then filed down the edges and applied 24kt gold leaf to the polymer edges. I buffed the polymer and I love the way the pattern looks 3-dimensional. I am going to try to finish another ring in the next couple of days since I have a 2-day class with Jeff Devers. My girl Gloria is taking the class too...we are going to have sooooo much fun!! It has been a while since I last saw her...she has been playing in Tucson for a month or so. Anyway, hope you like the ring....and that you are having fun in your studios...Kelly </div><div><br /></div><div>P.S. I thought I would show you the photo Morgan took with my camera on Saturday morning before I started my second ring...I didn't find them until I downloaded my ring photos...I love the way the sunrise matches my ring colors....too funny, huh? K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-83586328639926984612011-02-04T13:08:00.000-08:002011-02-04T14:06:29.578-08:00Here we are again....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUx4T0wnuYI/AAAAAAAAAnI/ckDsUvInRLo/s1600/IMG_2330.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUx4T0wnuYI/AAAAAAAAAnI/ckDsUvInRLo/s320/IMG_2330.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569959121125882242" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUx4TlgOxLI/AAAAAAAAAnA/tgbErlAxPio/s1600/IMG_2327.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUx4TlgOxLI/AAAAAAAAAnA/tgbErlAxPio/s320/IMG_2327.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569959117030606002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUx4Tc-5vnI/AAAAAAAAAm4/N_0KhjFgng4/s1600/IMG_2329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUx4Tc-5vnI/AAAAAAAAAm4/N_0KhjFgng4/s320/IMG_2329.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569959114743332466" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I hope you are all keeping warm and having fun in your studios! I have....and now you can see what I have been doing....</div><div> I am still playing with these epoxy cones...this time I decided to use the bottom half. I wanted to set one of those fancy rivoli stones that the bead workers are using in their latest pieces and I do love the sparkle! Major bling! So, I thought that by using the bottom, I could make a bezel that the rivoli would fit into and live up to the color of the rivoli. Well, the best laid plans of mice and men....after I had cut out the cone shaped opening, I decided to change my design...again...I had these lovely pearls from my friend, Carol Hamilton, and I decided to use one in the center of the bowl. That was when I decided to use some of the 24ft gold sheet inside the cone. I love the way it makes a halo of light around the pearl. I had planned on using just the cone for the ring...but...it looked so lonely by itself, so I dug around for something I might use to bump up the idea of a raised bezel. I had some small metal clay discs and I domed them and then decided to slide in a epoxy disc in between them. I think it looks like a Dr. Suess stack of plates and bowls (think green eggs and ham)....</div><div> I don't solder so I am always looking for creative ways to attach things together. I didn't want to use a wide band but in my scrap, I did find a gold band that a friend had given me when he went out of business about 12 years ago. Did you know that if you smack the crap out of a size 5 gold band with a chasing hammer, you can bring it down to a size 9 with a bit of work?! By beating it so hard, I cracked off the solder and concentrating on the heavier area where the bezels where, I was able to move some major metal. I then made one big spike type rivet out of 16g sterling and used that to hold everything together. I did have to chemically bond the pearl since a 16g piece of wire isn't going into a pearl without a lot of trouble. </div><div> I had a lot of fun making this ring. I love when the light shines through the resin and makes the gold glow! I must have smacked the gold band a bit too much because it is a bit too big and sways back and forth on my finger, although, that could also be because it is top heavy!! </div><div> And as a last comment...wait until you see what I did with my other epoxy bits....I guess you will have to come back next week to see! I will be hanging out with my friends down in Va for a couple of days....playing in a couple of different studios...making some bronze clay sheets, some felted silk bits....maybe some silk paper for some future rings....just thinking....trying to be open to all the possibilities! Hope you are being open too! Have fun and stay warm! Kelly</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-89998839789696431942011-01-27T13:00:00.000-08:002011-01-27T13:51:36.828-08:00TAAADDDAAAA! Number 4!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUHo0XFmi4I/AAAAAAAAAmU/GDzMaWUS7h4/s1600/IMG_2324.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUHo0XFmi4I/AAAAAAAAAmU/GDzMaWUS7h4/s320/IMG_2324.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566986600654998402" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUHo0OJphYI/AAAAAAAAAmM/yQ-rvRZmloM/s1600/IMG_2321.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUHo0OJphYI/AAAAAAAAAmM/yQ-rvRZmloM/s320/IMG_2321.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566986598256051586" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUHoz7FE6FI/AAAAAAAAAmE/bZr10JzQtfI/s1600/IMG_2320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TUHoz7FE6FI/AAAAAAAAAmE/bZr10JzQtfI/s320/IMG_2320.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5566986593136601170" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> Here we are again...wondering what is happening! Well, my latest ring also had a mind of its own and decided what it wanted to be and nothing I could say would change its mind...maybe it was my muse and not the ring, hmmmm......anyway, I was still looking for that etched metal sheet I told you about last week and still haven't been able to find it, but have found alot of fun things to play with in the future! So, I had to come up with a idea that would translate into a cool ring! </div><div> I have been playing with some epoxy ideas....coated some rose petals to stack, made some cones that didn't work, made some that did....I had gotten so excited about the way they looked while I was making them, that they tended to grow bigger! At first the cones were only about 1/2 of a inch tall and then I started to make the molds longer and longer!!! I then had fun with all the different things I could add into the epoxy after pouring it into the molds! I think my favorite is the flake glitter! Thank you, Martha Stewart! I chose the green for this project but I have all sorts of other colored cones waiting in the wings! So, after waiting two days for all these epoxy experiments to cure (one batch didn't make it) I had some do-dads to play with!</div><div> I had thought to use a smaller cone and turn it upside down and then drill out a cone shaped hole so I could chemically set a large CZ into the epoxy, but since in my excitement, I made the cones so large, I didn't have any stones that would fit (need to get those big stones from Barbara Becker Simon!! Well, maybe not that big!!!) Anyway, I had to come up with another way to show off the epoxy cone. It was my son, Morgan, who finally saved the day! He laid the cone down flat on his finger and said I should make a girlie ray-gun for making slow drivers get out of my way! I am sure you will all want one!! Making the blowing up sound not included!!</div><div> So, I got out some sheet metal and made the band with overlapping ends to hold the entire kit and kaboddle. I then scrounged up some metal clay discs that I had made last year and used them as a way to add some metal accents but still show off the cone. I bent the discs to fit the cone and then drilled the hole in the cone for the rivet. Everything is held together by the one rivet.....I drilled the hole smaller than my wire and then filed the wire to fit to make sure it was nice and tight. Getting a really long rivet into a smaller circular band is a pain but it worked out in the end. I decided to add the end accent at the last minute and am glad I did....it just finished everything off and holds the whole design together. For the end piece, I just drilled a small hole in the cone and doubled over a head pin and after placing a teeny bit of glue in the hole, I placed the disc on the end and stuck in the doubled head pin which then sprung on a little bit to hold everything securely in place. Done! And comfortable to wear!! I love that the whole ring is held together with one rivet...how cool is that? Anyway, I hope you like it....I am going down to the studio to play with my other cones and epoxied bits...have fun in your studios...Kelly</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-73856173485710318562011-01-21T12:41:00.001-08:002011-01-21T13:17:04.275-08:00The latest experiment!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTn3u-nWieI/AAAAAAAAAlM/DoWSKvrgcl4/s1600/IMG_2312.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTn3u-nWieI/AAAAAAAAAlM/DoWSKvrgcl4/s320/IMG_2312.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564751201047054818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTn3ujaD7lI/AAAAAAAAAlE/dmfB32KTeDY/s1600/IMG_2315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTn3ujaD7lI/AAAAAAAAAlE/dmfB32KTeDY/s320/IMG_2315.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564751193743552082" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTn3uAiFALI/AAAAAAAAAk8/mwnNaWmzsn4/s1600/IMG_2316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTn3uAiFALI/AAAAAAAAAk8/mwnNaWmzsn4/s320/IMG_2316.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564751184381935794" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> Well, I have had a very productive week!! Actually designed some rings for the RAW challenge and went down to the studio to make the one I choose, but couldn't find the etched silver I wanted to use. I had put them away for "safe-keeping". Of course I couldn't find them (3 lovely sheets with a lace pattern etched into them from 13 0r 14 years ago when I attended a class at Penland) and thought the necklace I had designed for them was too kitschy....it was the beginning of my metal experiments...I also found out that I wasn't crazy about soldering....which is probably why I love metal clay!</div><div> Anyway, I ended up cleaning the studio trying to find the sheets and ended up against the deadline....so I looked around to see what I could do. I had just suggested to a friend about doing a epoxy ring with rivets but she wanted to use her own idea (although my idea got her started)...a couple of hours later, I called her and told her if she wasn't going to use my idea, I was.....so I did...with a few changes! </div><div> I have sheets of epoxy just lying around, so I chose the most flexible one and then I went looking for some cute little brass tube rivets that I have...and, guess what...couldn't find those either, but found these cute nuts and bolts that I have been saving for a project that would show them off...I think they are so cool! So I decided to use them. Since they are black, I looked through my stock for something to put between the two layers of epoxy for a bit of interest. I have these cool rub-ons that were small enough to use and of course, curlie-cues...so, I had to use them. They are in between the layers of epoxy so they won't get rubbed off. I then worked to put the nuts and bolts into the ring...which ended up being tricky since the epoxy wanted to heal almost as soon as I put the hole into it. It ended up being a race between how fast I could poke the bolt through before the hole closed up tight....I won! Three times! Actually one of the fastest rings I have ever made and I think it is pretty cool too! And is comfortable to wear, believe it or not! </div><div> So, I am going back to the studio to look for those etched sheets again to work on next weeks ring. Probably end up cleaning some more of the studio, which could be a problem, since I can never find anything afterwards...which is why I am still looking for those dam---d metal sheets! Oh, well, I will just plug in some great music and dance my way through it!! Have fun in your studio....hope you like my ring....Kelly</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-54186515682530306052011-01-14T14:17:00.000-08:002011-01-14T15:08:03.163-08:00Next Experiment....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTDXNZcKSgI/AAAAAAAAAkY/q3Cy-ii5cVo/s1600/IMG_2301.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTDXNZcKSgI/AAAAAAAAAkY/q3Cy-ii5cVo/s320/IMG_2301.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562182164969835010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTDXMj3kc3I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/NzxgHg2jYAU/s1600/IMG_2306.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTDXMj3kc3I/AAAAAAAAAkQ/NzxgHg2jYAU/s320/IMG_2306.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562182150589281138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTDXMMLriQI/AAAAAAAAAkI/y93xVHIi0jU/s1600/IMG_2308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TTDXMMLriQI/AAAAAAAAAkI/y93xVHIi0jU/s320/IMG_2308.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562182144231180546" /></a><br />Hi everyone....<div> This has been a week full of experiments! And most of them turned out well. Several of my friends told me about a great site, The Pioneer Woman, and she has great recipes! We decided to try out her steak bites and potatoes au gratin....made a double batch of those...yum! Going to make them again tonight! I strongly suggest a look at her recipes....you may find some you like! </div><div> I also experimented in the studio...my second Ring A Week was due...I have been wanting to make some more hollow polymer beads. I also wanted to use some tearaway sheets with inlaid color. So, I decided to make a "stone" to set in a ring. I also wanted who ever was looking at or wearing the ring to be able to see the back of the "stone". As I was working on the stone, I felt it looked like lace and decided to put a molded face into the stone surface. I inlaid the tearaway texture with purple and teal and blended the colors where they overlapped. After I had built the top and sides, I cut out the opening and made a mold of a face and pressed it into the opening to fit. After the face was baked, I put it in the opening and then fit the back into place. </div><div> While I was working on the "stone", I wired up the shank. I used 16g sterling and wired it up with some 30g purple wire to hold the shank together. Once the shank fit my finger, I wrapped the purple wire around the top where the six ends met to hold them together. I then bent up the arms and fit them to the "stone" as prongs. Before I bent them around the stone, I hammered them out so they would be thin and not compete with the stone. I then bent them to hold the stone in place. I am pleased with how it turned out. It is very lightweight, even though it is about 1 and 1/2 inches high and it sits high enough off my finger so I don't have a problem using my hands while I wear it. I already have my design for next weeks ring.....woohoo!</div><div> Anyway, I hope you like the ring....and I hope you are having fun in your studios...Kelly</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-73855139380864349862011-01-06T14:09:00.000-08:002011-01-06T15:00:32.511-08:00Look at what I did this week!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TSZIhm-VUUI/AAAAAAAAAkA/MsYz6EPSPPE/s1600/IMG_2284.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TSZIhm-VUUI/AAAAAAAAAkA/MsYz6EPSPPE/s320/IMG_2284.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559210532270330178" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TSZIhe-aIlI/AAAAAAAAAj4/4x3RbuMGqaM/s1600/IMG_2291.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TSZIhe-aIlI/AAAAAAAAAj4/4x3RbuMGqaM/s320/IMG_2291.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559210530123162194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TSZIhCo0FgI/AAAAAAAAAjw/4tK3yKA19w8/s1600/IMG_2279.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TSZIhCo0FgI/AAAAAAAAAjw/4tK3yKA19w8/s320/IMG_2279.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559210522516395522" /></a><br />Hi everyone, <div> Well, it has been a busy week.....I decided to give myself a goal that I had to produce for. You know, instead of a project to be made sometime in the future, I joined the RAW (ring a week) group on Flickr. So, I have a week to produce a ring of some kind and to post the photos....otherwise, I am out. I think this is a good way to try out all the little experiments I have been wanting to work on. </div><div> This week, I focused on epoxy set into a frame of some sort. I had some metal clay sheets with tearaway images of earth spirits on them that I thought would be great for the front and back of the ring. I also wanted there to be a tree reference for the earth spirits to be connected to. </div><div> I had this rod of molded plastic that I ordered last year and it is a lovely ivory color and I can cut it as thick or thin as I want to. It takes a bit of time to cut it...it is too big to go under the blade of the bandsaw, and I would lose too much material if I use the power mitre saw, so I had to do it with my jewelers saw and a big spiral blade. So, I cut it (it took about a half hour) and then sanded it a bit so I could draw my pattern on the surface, drill my holes and then cut out all the leaves and the hole for my finger. </div><div> I decided to use some of the copper metal clay sheets that I had made in Gordon's class last Feb as the outer sides with the "french ivory" sandwiched in between. I cut the sides out and filed the edges. </div><div> I then fit the "tree" frame to the sides so I could cut out the outside edges. I then sanded everything and put packing tape on the one side and went on to mix up my epoxy and ink to get my leaf color. I used one drop of a pea green and 5 drops of a blue to get the color I did. I was trying to make the epoxy color work with the paint patina I had demo-ed on the metal sheets (at the PMC Conference this past July). I filled the spaces with the epoxy...some were over-filled and some had a little less than needed, so on one side of the ring, the leaves look thick and thin and on the other side, they are all the same level and sanded to a matte finish. I then riveted all three pieces together. Not my best riveting, but I haven't done any in about a year, so I am not going to cry over it. </div><div> It is a comfortable ring to wear even though it is quite tall...about 2" and about 1&1/2" wide at the leaf edge. It is a little thicker than a quarter so just about right. I can't wear wide bands. </div><div> I learned a lot on this ring....it was the first time I had worked with the "french ivory" and was happy with the way it was easy to cut and carve, but after I saw the spaces with the epoxy in them, I saw where I could have been a bit more careful at the points of some of the leaves. I also should have waited to cut the sides of the "french ivory" until after I had riveted everything together. </div><div> I am already to start my next ring....toooo many ideas and not enough time....I am thinking about using this shape ring for all my rings to see if I can work myself out of a corner.....well, maybe not all.....Hope you like the ring and please, post some comments so I know what you think works and what may not have...it is the only way to learn....thanks, and have fun, Kelly</div><div><br /></div><div>the photos are....1. a close up of the "Flora" side with the sun shining through the epoxy.</div><div> 2. a close up of the "Earth Spirit" side and you can see the difference in the leaves.</div><div> 3. a over all view of the ring, "Flora's" side.</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-65551728218416408012010-12-31T23:54:00.000-08:002011-01-01T00:20:57.810-08:00Happy New Years!!!!Hi everyone,<div> Well, I am finally back! Hopefully you will forgive my absence. I have a good reason..and a doctor's note. I have been really tired and dizzy this past year and added to that is hearing my blood rush in my right ear(24/7) and boy, does that become annoying! Anyway, this fall I started getting really bad, constant headaches so I went in to the doctors and finally got a good one! With the military medical services, you have to hope the luck of the draw gets you a good doctor that you see more than once. Luck was with me as this doctor actually listened to what was ailing me. So, I went and got my blood taken and had a CAT scan done....mixed results...brain still there (mind may be gone!) and no extra bits inside the skull but the blood tests had more exciting results. Seems I almost gave myself a heart attack by having my iron and potassium so low. I was actually having spells of arrhythmia, which is when your heart actually stops working for a couple of beats and then starts up again. My low iron also explained my headaches and love of naps! I have been on my new meds for a month and a half now and now I don't have any headaches (unless I earn it) and I am sleeping better and have lots more energy! I even lost 20 pounds this fall for the simple fact I didn't do anything but sleep! So, getting squared away has made a huge difference in my outlook and I think my work will reflect that. </div><div> I have already started my first project of the year....it is a surprise....I will tell you when I am allowed to. I am thinking about doing RAW on Flickr....is anyone else doing this? I found out about RAD too late to do that and I think my naps would have gotten in the way! I think I could do the Ring A Week without too much trouble. </div><div> I am planning on making up a schedule for pieces I want to make just to get back into the swing of things. I have some experiments from this fall that I want to expand on and some new projects that I want to start....hopefully you will still be here to watch what I make. I will post some photos next time since I don't have any new ones to show....I did take some of the lunar eclipse but they aren't that great....so, please bear with me while I get my feet back on the ground.</div><div> I hope everyone had a great holiday season (you know what yours are) and will have a great New Year! Have fun in the studio and I will work on getting something done to show you all....Kelly</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-17768398488970117352010-10-27T14:57:00.000-07:002010-10-27T15:35:57.189-07:00Belated Happy Birthday to me!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TMinwacP1lI/AAAAAAAAAjk/ZLtfaAIcMYw/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TMinwacP1lI/AAAAAAAAAjk/ZLtfaAIcMYw/s320/IMG_2240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532856592398014034" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TMinv532ysI/AAAAAAAAAjc/1OusDASp8MI/s1600/IMG_2229.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TMinv532ysI/AAAAAAAAAjc/1OusDASp8MI/s320/IMG_2229.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532856583655443138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TMinvflftoI/AAAAAAAAAjU/6pxC8Gy1PzA/s1600/IMG_2267.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TMinvflftoI/AAAAAAAAAjU/6pxC8Gy1PzA/s320/IMG_2267.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5532856576599111298" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I know I haven't posted lately but I haven't been doing anything that would be exciting to anyone......I have been trying to organize my studio and my thoughts! To that end, I have designed a project planner for myself that I can add photos and color samples and texture ideas to along with cost and time quotes. I can then fold up the planner to go in a file box until I am ready to work on that project. I even found some plastic cases that will hold all the supplies and beads that are needed for the projects and keep them all together. Normally when I design, I work on 20 to 30 ideas at a time, since one idea leads to another....then I wait for a few days and look at them again...the strongest ones are the ones that get made. I am hoping that I won't feel like I am working in a tornado.....although fun, I am sure I can get more done if I organize myself! </div><div> I am wishing my self a Happy Birthday so those of you who don't follow Facebook will understand what I am talking about when you look at the photos I posted.....they are some of the lovelies that I got yesterday when I went out to celebrate my birthday with Debbie and Carol....we went to a huge antique mall and then when we were shopped out there, we went across the street to Savage Mill. It is kind of like the Torpedo Factory in Alexandria, Va. but with more than just art studios. There are antique shops there and french bakeries and hair salons and clothing boutiques and of course, The Queen's ink, a fabulous rubber stamp store....lots of great stuff. I did a lot of damage to my wallet in the antiques shops and Debbie did hers in the Queen's and Carol did hers in the antique shops too....although, to be honest, she was looking for a dining room table set....I think she won! I got some great old postcards for resin work and of course, some great spoons.....if I could play the spoons, then maybe I could understand my obsession, but I don't......although, I am planning some fun small box beads to use them with, so maybe that is the obsession. So, I will be playing in the studio some more....</div><div> I still have more celebrating to do....my son, Brandon is coming up from DC for dinner tomorrow and then I am going out with Gloria and Terresa sometime next week and I am also going to be seeing some friends at the bead show in Newark(Delaware) this weekend for dinner ....and there will be cake! Morgan and I have been having Moroccan food a lot this month...all good...one pot cooking, easy and flavorful! how can you go wrong...I am having couscous tonight made with the broth from the tagine we had this weekend....yum! Ok..well, that's enough about me...how about some about you? comments, photos of your work....hello's......anyway, take care and have fun in the studio, Kelly</div><div><br /></div><div> Just a quick note....Carol, Debbie and I will be teaching a three day class at the polymer clay retreat next summer that happens prior to the MCWC in Chicago. The first photo is the project we will be teaching....Carol will be teaching how to do the metal clay frame, Debbie will be teaching how to do the enamel work and I will be teaching the polymer part and showing everyone how to put it all together. </div><div> The second photo is a idea I am playing around with.....I made the copper sheet in Gordon's class back in Feb....</div><div> And the last photo are some of my new birthday toys.....aren't they lovely??? I did get more but I shouldn't show you everything, should I???? Anyway, have fun, K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-71871585990222223662010-10-13T15:05:00.000-07:002010-10-13T15:56:48.057-07:00some new stuff.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TLY4iOAltuI/AAAAAAAAAjM/k8Th88FEudo/s1600/IMG_2252.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TLY4iOAltuI/AAAAAAAAAjM/k8Th88FEudo/s320/IMG_2252.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527667753171138274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TLY4hzglnxI/AAAAAAAAAjE/n_ow4jRegfs/s1600/IMG_2253.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TLY4hzglnxI/AAAAAAAAAjE/n_ow4jRegfs/s320/IMG_2253.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527667746057592594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TLY4hUgAWiI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Xq-0MaNpIJo/s1600/IMG_2255.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TLY4hUgAWiI/AAAAAAAAAi8/Xq-0MaNpIJo/s320/IMG_2255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5527667737733650978" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I am still in the hiding mode but I am playing with a few things.....some polymer ideas I have been thinking about and wanting to see if I could make them work. I saw some beautiful gold brocade fabric that I thought would be beautiful as a polymer plate. Well, I am still experimenting to get that look.....what I thought would work ....didn't! and I was kind of surprised at that! So, I thought about it some more and changed directions a bit, but I still didn't get the look I want....and number three and four didn't work any better.....but I think I may have a winner with idea number five (although, I thought I had a winner with idea number one!), so we will see..... </div><div> </div><div> I also wanted to make something fun out of PMC just for myself to wear. I don't normally make anything for myself but I got these great stones at Bead and Button and the PMC Conference so I decided to use some.....and I got a beautiful tiny spoon on the way to the conference when I was driving with Debbie and Carol. I wanted to make a little steampunk kind of piece...I love the look....Victoria's swirls and frou-frou with scientific lines....kind of like experimental artwork for the body....at first, I was just going to make a sweet little charm type box bead with the bullet stone rising up from the center but when that didn't quite have the feeling I wanted, I started doodling and came up with a frame for around the frou-frou part. I was going to cut out the back of the frame to make a skeletal type frame with the curvy part suspended in the center but I was afraid it would buckle in the kiln so I left the back in tack. I was thinking about cutting out the back(after firing) in a fancy type design and filling it in with resin so it would appear light and glass like. I decided against all of those in favor of the beautiful butterfly wing I found in the studio. I sealed the wings in resin and set the stones...a total of 9 layers of resin and drying times.....I am still trying to decide if I should lightly sand the resin behind the curvy part.....I wonder if it is too shiny....I think I may be trying out this bead in different ways to work out some of these questions....working in a series again, always useful.</div><div> </div><div> I hope everyone is having fun in their studios whether they are hiding or not....Kelly </div><div><br /></div><div> P.S. the first photo is the front of my steampunked piece and the second is the back with the opal. The third photo is one of the polymer experiments I tried and didn't work. It is kind of cool, just not what I was working towards....time for more playing with polymer.....hope you like them...K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-32571328661855547392010-09-29T13:03:00.000-07:002010-09-29T13:57:22.413-07:00it has been a long month....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TKOmoo3vFgI/AAAAAAAAAi0/io3xfSsZmSU/s1600/IMG_2218.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TKOmoo3vFgI/AAAAAAAAAi0/io3xfSsZmSU/s320/IMG_2218.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522440785182529026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TKOmoPRlniI/AAAAAAAAAis/5Txhq0eVXRM/s1600/IMG_2244.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TKOmoPRlniI/AAAAAAAAAis/5Txhq0eVXRM/s320/IMG_2244.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522440778311638562" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TKOmn5tFxrI/AAAAAAAAAik/D0XQLIV4nNs/s1600/IMG_2240.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TKOmn5tFxrI/AAAAAAAAAik/D0XQLIV4nNs/s320/IMG_2240.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522440772521412274" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I hope this finds you all doing well.....I have been working thru the the passing of 6 people that have been in my life in one way or another. That is tooo many for one month! I will be glad to see the backside of September. I feel for all my friends that are dealing with their loses and it is hard to know what to say to help. So all I can do is be there when they need me. </div><div> I have been in Virginia helping my friend, Carol Hamilton, with the loss of her mother. She had a big show to get ready for and then we had a class proposal to put together with our friend Debbie Taylor to do. We got our proposal done....metal clay, polymer clay and torch fired enamel in one project. We have some more little bugs to work out but it is looking good. I will post a photo soon. I had also made a small keepsake for Carol to carry a tiny bit of her mothers ashes but her sisters wouldn't let her keep any ashes so I will be adjusting her keepsake. Carol and I are thinking maybe some of the dried flowers from the memorial service. I will post photos of that later too.....</div><div> Since I have been home from Va. (I was there for three weeks out of the four)....I have been working on some ideas of my own. Right now I am waiting for the resin to cure on one of the pieces. I have set real butterfly wings into the open panels on my pendant. I still have to set the three stones and put on the front medallion. For a pendant that isn't but a inch and a half at best, it has taken a lot of work to make. I am also redoing some sweet little angels that I made about ten years ago. </div><div> On a side note...I did get a wonderful surprise the other day....I had been talking to my dad and normally it is about a 15 minute chat about how we are and what we have cooked lately. We try to out do each other in the ideas of what to make for dinner. My dad is a great cook, but there are a lot of ingredients that I would push to the side.....anyway, I was telling him that I didn't have a mixer anymore and he bought a KitchenAid mixer and sent it to me as a surprise!!! He also got the attachment to grate down potatoes to make your own hash browns for Morgan. Time to have fun in the kitchen! </div><div> I am going down into the studio now to add yet a bit more resin to my pendant....and starting a couple of new pieces....I am trying to take my time to get back to my real style and making pieces I love instead of what I think may sell. I hope you will like them as well. So, have fun in your studios.....Take care, Kelly </div><div><br /></div><div> The photos are (from top to bottom)...one of my little angels...to be made of metal clay and it will be a little tinier and a bit more detail in the wings and dress. The second photo is the bottom of the class proposal piece that Debbie, Carol and I are working on. The design has polymer clay pressed into the opening for a slightly raised feel. And last, the third photo is the class proposal piece with the polymer clay "seed pod" set into the bezel and the torch fired enamel leaf set next to it....in the class we will be attaching the leaf before setting the polymer but since I had set the polymer by mistake, before attaching the leaf, I now have to make another leaf and figure out how to attach them. The fun of creating!! Hope you like them, K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-87453587925141864892010-09-07T16:14:00.000-07:002010-09-07T18:16:09.857-07:00I am back...finally!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TIbjRpBlsnI/AAAAAAAAAic/jZdyi0qSKFU/s1600/IMG_2194.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TIbjRpBlsnI/AAAAAAAAAic/jZdyi0qSKFU/s320/IMG_2194.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514344685971550834" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TIbjQ9c450I/AAAAAAAAAiU/59J8oGuraKA/s1600/IMG_2162.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TIbjQ9c450I/AAAAAAAAAiU/59J8oGuraKA/s320/IMG_2162.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514344674274895682" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TIbjQaiyOjI/AAAAAAAAAiM/ZNNS_OTfT6s/s1600/IMG_2161.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TIbjQaiyOjI/AAAAAAAAAiM/ZNNS_OTfT6s/s320/IMG_2161.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5514344664904383026" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> So sorry I haven't written in a while....it has been crazy! Last time I wrote, I was getting ready to have dinner with Joyce Scott, Kate Fowle Meleney and my good friend, the famous, Gloria Askin! We went to a fab restaurant in Baltimore and had a 4 hour dinner....I think the chef's and the dessert guy should be on Top Chef! Everything was great! It was nice to catch up with everyone, and we even had a show and tell....that was a fun bit to see what everyone was up to! </div><div> Then I had to make a bunch of new beads for the BeadFest Show up in Philly....I was sharing a booth with my good friend, Darlene. One of my friends from Mississippi came to see me while I was there. She moved up to Wilmington after Hurricane Katrina tore Bay St. Louis and Waveland off the map!! I used to go to her antique book shop and buy lovely little odds and ends to use in my work. I even helped her re-design her house...and then it was sucked up into the bay with the storm waters. It was so fun to see her again (it's been ten years since I had last visited with her) and I was really pleased to see her. Darlene and I had a fun time....we are trying to figure out some kits to do together...some kumihimo with teeny crystals and seed beads with PMC bead caps and a focal point....or something like that ...or a couple of bracelets...or.....any suggestions would help! Anything you would be wanting to take a class for??? Resin? Riveting? Faux Bone? PMC? or bead work of some kind? Inquiring minds want to know.....</div><div> While I was at the show, I had a call from my friend, Carol, whose mother had passed away unexpectedly. So, the following week, I went to Va. to help her get ready for her show that opens this weekend at the prison. Stayed for four days and came home and got sick enough to have my lymph nodes pop out on my neck like I was a baby Frankenstein! Three days of sleep pretty much took care of it and I have been moving ever since. </div><div> I was going to work on something for the Saul Bell Award but I couldn't decide which idea I liked best for it....so, maybe next year....or maybe not.....I was thinking that the cost of creativity piece I wanted to do might be a little too much of a joke to be considered seriously. I am still going to make it though....it is a arm, a leg and a left nut! I am going to torch fire the arm and the leg and the left nut is going to be Kuem-bo'ed and have directions written on it on how to loosen the stress....("turn to the left to loosen") and having all the parts hanging by either a chain or a thread....I am still on the fence about that bit. Anyway, between working on that and the teaching proposals, I have been working on some polymer beads....the kind I used to do about 5-6 years ago. It has been nice to work with some of my old bits and pieces and make them into something new. I took some photos to show you....surprise, surprise! </div><div> I hope you like the photos....I found out that I did take some while I was at the conference...no people, just building bits and a few flowers...but I did find out where the hotels wash the guests from 6 to 12, and then where they store them afterwards....maybe to dry???.....it was a pretty fancy hotel! Have fun in your studios.....Kelly</div><div><br /></div><div>the beads are in the middle stages of being finished...some need the fancy border and then some need to be antiqued....I like that there is a image on both sides....K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-33333806870823662282010-08-11T15:15:00.002-07:002010-08-11T16:45:11.854-07:00same title, actual words to read....Hi everyone,<div> Well, you see what happens to me when I am away too long....forget which buttons to push. A lot has happened since I last wrote....so, here goes...hope you don't get too bored. Last time I wrote, I was getting ready for my adventure with Carol Hamilton and Debbie Taylor....riding in a car for 12 hours to go to Purdue for the PMC Conference. I started on Monday and we left together on Tuesday (Carol and I), to pick up Debbie in West Virginia for the rest of the ride. As we got close to Debbie's, we passed a "lovely", "gentleman's club"...you know, the kind where they do lap dancing....and under the sign for the club, they were offering a lunch special of....CRAB LEGS! Too funny! I almost wet my pants laughing! What a way to start a road trip!</div><div> We had a fun time laughing and talking and took a break in Columbus, Ohio for the night. Carol gets some really great upgrades at Hilton and we lucked out with a suite to work in to finish the "Charms for Charity" for the raffle. The next day as we were finishing the drive, we swung into a small town to go antiquing as a break....we did some damage as I taught Carol what to look for in antiques. Debbie bought a beautiful little Santos and Carol got some fun texture bits and bobs and I got some great pieces to make molds from. Once we had spent our money and made alot of strangers laugh, we continued on to Purdue. </div><div> We started by setting up the display booth and Carol was selling more tickets for the raffle and then around 2, the keynote speech was delivered by Linda Darty. I had the good fortune to take a three day class with Linda a couple of years ago....very good teacher and nice person. It was interesting to see how she took her inspiration of a tree house and her children's drawings and transform them into enameled little jewels. Then it was on...three days of going, going, going! I only got to one of the early morning lectures...early morning is hard on night owls! But I did make it to my own demo in time...whew! I think it went well...I heard a couple of comments later by people in the audience who said they are going to try my antiquing with paint idea....didn't get to show all that I wanted too, but it was a start. I went to Mary and Chris's demo...that was fun...Mary is a no holds barred kind of girl...probably why I like her. I have known her since the 90's when we were both into fiber....and she is still the same girl...nice! I got to a couple of the lectures...Patrik's was fun...I love it when the person doing the talk starts by throwing chocolate around the room! How can you go wrong? And a talk about thinking outside the box! Perfect! </div><div> We had a fun time at the raffle drawing. Tim and Nettie had arranged for a room with cocktails and nibbles for before hand like a big social. Too bad only about 10 people won anything...everyone else who won, wasn't there! 39 bracelets and one necklace....but they all got shipped out...alot of people pitched in for the postage since all the money raised for the bracelets went to the charities. Thanks to all of you would did! </div><div> Then it was time for the dinner that Rio put on...Carmen on stilts was the headliner! The food was pretty good and the company was great! A group of us ended up closing the place down...Tim politely kicked us out (and you should have seen them trying to get those huge balloons onto the shuttle bus! They wouldn't fit thru the door and they were beating up the poor bus driver with the bounce back!) and then some of the girls wanted to go bar hopping....we could hear the bar a block away! That was when my friend Gloria and I gave up! I was so happy to be going back to the hotel to put my feet up! You should have seen Gloria with her balloon though...two or more could have flown her back to Baltimore with a good wind behind her! Wish I had a photo of that! </div><div> Then it was time to go....we left Sunday after the brunch....and went back to our suite in Columbus for the nite. We ate at Spageddies and you should have seen the meal they brought out! Huge! Three people could have dined out on what they brought just to me! Of course, the next day, on the way home...we stopped at another antiques shop and stayed for a couple of hours! and we only got halfway through! did pretty good there too! They had a huge bin of antique silverware for a dollar a piece....good thing I have studied silver....I went through it one piece at a time till I had about 50 really great designs. Alot of Art Nouveau and Victorian designs....to go with all the fab stones I got at the Conference! </div><div> And I got some nice drusy's and faceted stones....non-fireable, so we will see how good I can get at stone setting! I also got the kits for enameling that Yolanda had made up. She did a lot of research on the copper clays and it looks like fun! Debbie also got the kits and we are going to take a couple of days to work with them and see what we get....should be fun! Yolanda's examples were beautiful! </div><div> Everyone who went to the Conference got a package of Bill's new FastFire Bronze clay....I am looking forward to trying it out.</div><div> We were doing good by then although I had hit my hand on the car door and it was so swollen by the time we got to Carols that I thought I had broken something! Can you believe by the next day, it wasn't swollen and I didn't even get a bruise?! </div><div> We had some fun as we were nearing the end of our ride...right on the border of West Virginia, a car passed us...three guys and a blow up doll...who waved to us! You should have seen Carol and Debbie scrambling for their I-phone cameras! Debbie got a photo of them...and then a van passed us with two guys and a plastic owl! The owl looked out the window as they passed and then as we passed them again, it was doing a little dance....I bet those guys (all of them) were having great trips...can you imagine the stories? Then as we were waiting for the light to turn, four guys got out of their car and played musical chairs...twice...it was a long light! Although, I do worry about the guys in Maryland and West Virginia! I spent the night at Carol's again and went home on Tuesday! What a long week! And I have only told you a little bit.....</div><div> So, after I got home from all that excitement...I wanted to get to work on some proposals for teaching at Bead and Button for next year...but you know Murphy's Law...what ever can go wrong, will...and it did...maybe I will write them up as step by steps. </div><div> I have been working on some fun polymer and metal clay beads for the BeadFest show in PA...August 18-22...I am sharing a booth with Darlene...hope you will come by and say hi! I am revisiting some of my older designs and combining the two mediums helps keep the cost of the beads down...and hopefully, you will like them. I am having fun working in the studio on them....may have to keep a couple for myself! I will try to post some photos tomorrow since it is too dark outside to get a good photo right now....talk to you tomorrow...or the next day...I just got invited to go to dinner with Gloria, Joyce Scott and Kate Fowle Meleny....a night of polymer, lampworked glass and beads...should be fun! Have fun in your studios til then, Kelly</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-78747839435145863882010-08-11T15:15:00.001-07:002010-08-11T15:15:41.539-07:00Back in the land of the living.....Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-75895687675085291482010-07-23T15:24:00.001-07:002010-07-23T15:54:33.501-07:00I can't believe it!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TEodUf8DimI/AAAAAAAAAh8/jXpV1sDVX5o/s1600/IMG_2156.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TEodUf8DimI/AAAAAAAAAh8/jXpV1sDVX5o/s320/IMG_2156.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497238533167090274" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TEodTnc3kVI/AAAAAAAAAh0/3nJjUlW2N0g/s1600/IMG_2157.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TEodTnc3kVI/AAAAAAAAAh0/3nJjUlW2N0g/s320/IMG_2157.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497238518003896658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TEodTJzpspI/AAAAAAAAAhs/T1lyycuR6ZM/s1600/IMG_2158.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TEodTJzpspI/AAAAAAAAAhs/T1lyycuR6ZM/s320/IMG_2158.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5497238510046392978" /></a><br />Hi everyone...<div> I can't believe I just did that again! I thought I was doing so good with the computer.....maybe I should stick to metal and polymer clay! Anyway, I was going to show you what I have been up to before I pack it all up to go to Purdue and the PMC Conference.</div><div> I have been good about cleaning the studio, so I thought I would reward myself and play with my DREAM Machine.....yeah! To just sit down and actually play without having to make anything for anybody....just the best thing in the world! I started by making some tearaways and then experimenting with the plates and some things I have had on my mind lately. I think they have possibilities! </div><div> The plates have been inlaid with a number of different things and then the BIG "jewel" is a tearaway that I hand colored and poured resin on and then embellished with copper foil. I think I may have to break down and get that electro-forming set up to do fun things to the tape. Easier than painting on the design. I like doing experiments so I can see what works and what doesn't. I found out that I need to use a heavier hand with the color pencils so they don't disappear when the resin is poured onto the surface. And to maybe make the "jewels" a bit smaller...if I put this "jewel" into a necklace, that would be something else...not sure what. Although, maybe a necklace of a bunch of huge jewels...that may work too....may have to try it out and see...sometimes you don't know until it is all sitting right there in front of you! </div><div> The other thing I have been working on is the display for the "Charms for Charity" bracelets and my demo for "surface techniques"....I am going to demo some fun techniques on all the metals ....bronze, copper and silver....(well, maybe not all the metals....not gold or steel or white bronze...). I hope to see you there....come say hi, travel safe, Kelly</div><div> </div><div> </div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-16481613857033342122010-07-23T15:23:00.000-07:002010-07-23T15:24:00.112-07:00Something new.....Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-50826420689745992852010-07-15T11:25:00.000-07:002010-07-15T12:36:36.296-07:00Where have I been????<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TD9iAHWgeGI/AAAAAAAAAhk/YRnAztLuaEo/s1600/IMG_0737.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TD9iAHWgeGI/AAAAAAAAAhk/YRnAztLuaEo/s320/IMG_0737.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494217824528267362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TD9h_dItAzI/AAAAAAAAAhc/VYWg5wMAHCg/s1600/IMG_2113.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TD9h_dItAzI/AAAAAAAAAhc/VYWg5wMAHCg/s320/IMG_2113.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494217813196079922" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I didn't realize how long it has been since I last wrote a post....sorry about that! I went to Pa. with Carol Hamilton, Debbie and Terresa to make up the bracelets for "Charms for Charity" at Holly Gage's house. Carol has gotten a new RV so she and Debbie can travel around and teach classes, so we were the trail run! She and the girls drove up to Baltimore and picked me up and then we drove up to Pa. (4 hours) for bracelet making and dinner! Carol got us all traveling sunglasses that she made us wear when we rang the bell at Holly's! Too funny! We had a fun time. We got to meet Holly's daughter, Megan and her son Ryan, and some of us had already met Chris. Chris was cooking a great pork and tomato sauce to go over the pasta and it smelled (and tasted!) great! Then it was done to business....Carol started passing out charms and paper for the names of the artists who sent in their charms, and we all set to working....and talking, and laughing. There were some grapes involved...red and white....then Holly called in a substitute and then sat back and watched. We made about 25 to 30 bracelets...I will be taking photos. I am also in charge of making up the display for the conference for them. Have to get some fat black foam core to hang them on....want them to look stunning! I was amazed at the variety and quality of the charms! Really nice! </div><div> Then I had a private class with my friend, Darlene,....all polymer and resin! Did some fun designs with Robert Dancik's Faux Bone ring blanks. We also played with some special techniques in polymer. I have talked about polymer for years to Darlene while we have shared booths at bead shows....now she knows why I like it so much! She said her brain is still swimming with all the possibilities. She was in the studio for 10 hours...and we didn't get half done! Her resin piece came out great, considering that she kept sticking her finger in the resin to "check and see if it was done?" I finally had to make her step away from the resin! </div><div> It was the first time I had been in the studio with "new eyes" and I realized how much I needed to clean it up....so that is what I have been doing since then...and, boy, does it feel good! I was smart this time and I bought storage boxes that are clear so I can see were I will have hid everything. I normally hate cleaning since I can't find what I have put away! Now, I will be able to find most everything! Yeah! Labels are going on everything else.... 5 tables clean and 4 to go....Morgan has been helping and keeping me company, last night we went down to the studio at 11:30 and then came back up around 2:00....not a bad night's work....</div><div> So, there is your update....I am going back down to the studio to do a couple of tables and then I have to start working on my presentation pieces for the conference. Barbara is probably done with hers....maybe I will wait and work on mine on the drive out to Perdue....don't want to do anything to soon! (That's a joke, Barbara!) I hope everyone is having a good time in their studios and keeping cool....Kelly</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>The photos....the first one is one of the pieces for the Conference presentation and the second is the girls and I.....with our funny sunglasses....mine are chili peppers, Terresa's are "princess" glasses (bling included!), Carol's have a purple flocked cheetah pattern, and Debbie's are cactus, since she wants to move to the wild, wild, west! I have a feeling Carol will make us wear them all the way to Perdue! Lots of fun travel with the "girls".....see some of you soon, K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-34130258997418114032010-06-28T13:02:00.000-07:002010-06-28T13:51:50.736-07:00The lull before the storm....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TCkKkOpHnfI/AAAAAAAAAhU/xgTbi1WWUCk/s1600/IMG_2071.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TCkKkOpHnfI/AAAAAAAAAhU/xgTbi1WWUCk/s320/IMG_2071.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487929238449790450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TCkKju-9aHI/AAAAAAAAAhM/mTi8RkifEmk/s1600/IMG_1609.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TCkKju-9aHI/AAAAAAAAAhM/mTi8RkifEmk/s320/IMG_1609.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487929229951461490" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TCkKibDX_SI/AAAAAAAAAhE/qeDbBl9QeeI/s1600/IMG_1960.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TCkKibDX_SI/AAAAAAAAAhE/qeDbBl9QeeI/s320/IMG_1960.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487929207421402402" /></a><br />Hi everyone,<div> I have taken a couple of days to do nothing....and it felt so good!! I actually bought some new novels by Elizabeth Peters (I think they were suggested by Barbara Becker Simon at the last conference) and they are nice little holidays for me as a armchair traveler! No airports, no shots, just relaxing.....</div><div> In between reading, I have been working on a new set of classes that when all the classes are strung together, they make a great necklace/bracelet set! I need to track down some strange supplies but I think it will be worth it.I am excited about making up the prototypes. I may offer up a couple of practice classes for the pieces to see how many days they each take. I think they will be great classes! </div><div> I have been also thinking about moving the studio around ....I thought I had a system that worked but it doesn't....so it may be going back to what it was before.....damn, it is a lot of work to move everything around.....but it does help to find things I have lost in there...I know I have a bag of rings somewhere in there that I haven't found in the two years I have been looking. I know it is in there somewhere! I have some new ideas for a series of rings that I have been thinking about since B&B, and it would be nice to see them against the older rings. I guess that is a new goal to reach for! </div><div> So, I am off to Target for boxes to store stuff in....maybe I will get organized before I die.....although I doubt it! and maybe I will stop by Lowe's for a torch or two.....woohoo! I hope you days in the studio are as fun for you as mine are.....or better..send some photos of your studios....maybe I will see something that would work for me! Have fun, Kelly</div><div><br /></div><div> P.S. One of these photos is the inspiration for one of the new bead classes....can you guess which one??? and how??? and don't you love the storm cloud from the other night? the color was just beautiful!......have a great day! K.</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-85486289487867474482010-06-21T12:49:00.000-07:002010-06-21T13:54:33.656-07:00Sketching and planning....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TB_Q88A37tI/AAAAAAAAAg8/zxW0QIzWSxw/s1600/IMG_2055.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TB_Q88A37tI/AAAAAAAAAg8/zxW0QIzWSxw/s320/IMG_2055.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485332616481074898" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TB_Q8DKwxaI/AAAAAAAAAg0/sbE-sGsJyy4/s1600/IMG_2049.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TB_Q8DKwxaI/AAAAAAAAAg0/sbE-sGsJyy4/s320/IMG_2049.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485332601221727650" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TB_Q7sbZ8fI/AAAAAAAAAgs/3H8XNmqEsbw/s1600/IMG_2048.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TB_Q7sbZ8fI/AAAAAAAAAgs/3H8XNmqEsbw/s320/IMG_2048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485332595117519346" /></a><br />Hi everyone, <div> Well, I have been trying to get all of my ideas from Bead and Button down on paper and deciding what I am doing next.... I know I have to clean the studio and make room for my little photo studio and my Dream Machine (actually I have some new experiments I want to try).....in polymer and PMC. I am also wanting to get back to working on my Master's registry projects. </div><div> I will be writing a couple of articles for Art Jewelry...another cool ring project and one on surface decorations. I will let everyone know when they go to press. Probably next year sometime....it always takes so long....</div><div> So, since you have been waiting...I thought I would post the rest of the photos from my Bead and Button trip. On Sunday night I had taken a class with Leslee Frumin and wasn't feeling up to snuff, so I got the class kit and the instructions and left early ( I have never done that in a class and luckily, I had two other classes with Leslee later that week so she forgave me!). Then jumping forward to Wednesday, I had a class with Vickie Hallmark....learning how to paint on glass and then to fire it into a pmc box bead/pendant. We learned to paint in the morning...and I think we all would have been happy doing that all day. We made our box like surrounds after the glass had been fired to secure the paint to the glass. It was too bad there were problems with the kiln...some pieces fired fine and some didn't....mine was one of the ones that didn't! That will teach me to concentrate on trying to finish a project! I usually just concentrate on the process! Lesson learned! My box got crystallized but not fired completely to size. Time for some design opportunities! The little paintings came out well though and I got to sit next to Mr. Gordon Uyehara and not out in the hall! And he snuck in a photo of me...(maybe it makes up for the sleeping photo I got of him)....although, he hints that it isn't! It was a fun class! Vickie is a very good teacher! </div><div> On Thursday, I took a class on fusing fine silver with the fun Anne Mitchell....with this class and the torch firing class of Susan, I may be over my fear of torches! I made a really fun bracelet...I was just concentrating on the process and ended up with a bunch of fused rings and just started to join them together. Voila! A bracelet! Then I made a "J" hook...the first one I melted (I think I was the only person to swear out loud in class) but I tried again and made one with no melted bits. It sounds like a belly dancers bracelet...like that part a lot. I bought some sweet little lampworked roses from Dolly Ares to hang off the bracelet. I think it will be quite fun to wear.</div><div> On Friday, I took I took Sherri Haab's class on putting images on metal clay and faux bone. It was a fun class even though I just watched. Sherri was nice and excused me from class until after lunch so I could shop. The class was working on making their bracelet parts out of metal clay and firing them. I came back for the important bit. The process works really well. She also had her books there and it was nice to see my photos in them. A little bit of "oh, wow" is always nice to hear from people who don't know what you do. Then a quick bit of dinner and then it was off to a another evening class...this one with Donna Kallnor and we did transfers on to fabric. We got to actually color photos with crayons...best fun on a Friday night! and a ice cream for dinner before and a Brie LT afterwards. Donna was a fun teacher and very informative. I can see ways to use this technique. </div><div> Saturday and Sunday were classes with Leslee Frumin....Saturday was a necklace class, very smart technique and both days projects were so lovely, that I bought all of her instruction books. Trying to catch up on all these techniques is tiring. Anyway, I hope you like the photos of what I made....I haven't done much of the bead work but I am looking forward to it. Evening work...</div><div> Well, the photos are backwards again....Leslee's class from Saturday is first, then Vickie's class and then the bracelet from Anne's class....enjoy and have fun in your studios, Kelly</div><div> </div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7469657728503450751.post-87756125206154785992010-06-17T14:08:00.000-07:002010-06-17T14:53:43.427-07:00Photos that were promised.....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TBqYyT45K3I/AAAAAAAAAgk/6rq7pclag0g/s1600/IMG_2059.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TBqYyT45K3I/AAAAAAAAAgk/6rq7pclag0g/s320/IMG_2059.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483863486376782706" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TBqYxtE2_2I/AAAAAAAAAgc/TvqahQa91rY/s1600/IMG_2045.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TBqYxtE2_2I/AAAAAAAAAgc/TvqahQa91rY/s320/IMG_2045.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483863475957989218" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TBqYw3osM5I/AAAAAAAAAgU/EO7pDQKEtS8/s1600/IMG_2044.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_IzR1xDsdvJs/TBqYw3osM5I/AAAAAAAAAgU/EO7pDQKEtS8/s320/IMG_2044.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5483863461612762002" /></a><br />Hi again everyone,<div> Here are some of the photos of the pieces I made at the Bead and Button show....starting with the beginning of the week...we have the glass casting with Susan and Shari (or is it Cheri?) Kazmer.....the pink heart petite four was done by caring our design into/out of a plaster mold and then learning how to break a billet of glass to fit. These were then all fired and while they were being fired, we made a shape out of polymer or earth clay and then poured our plaster over it and when it hardened, we removed the shape and filled the plaster mold with glass powder and frit. While everything was being fired, we worked on our metal backings for our cast billets. That was a fun two day class.....then I got to take another one day class with the girls...torch firing on copper. I did some pink flowers and some wrapped wires covered with liquid enamel. Tooo Much Fun! There were a couple of women who didn't understanding the concept of sharing and keep the enamel areas clean but a few words and they still didn't get it.....oh, well...what are you going to do?? I have decided that I am going to have to get myself a torch and tank....anyway, hope you like this set of photos....I will post the rest later on.....Kelly</div><div><br /></div><div>PS...of course, with my great computer skills, I posted the photos backwards.....just flip them around as you read the descriptions.....K</div>Kelly Russellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03467702644392615135noreply@blogger.com3