The artsy blog of Lisa Whipkey and shop news from Tree By Sea Jewelry and Art

Nice to be Featured

2009-03-18T08:06:00.001-07:00

Hi there, Long time no blog. Just a quick little braggy blip to say "thanks" to some sites that have featured Tree By Sea items lately.

My "Lovely Leaves" earrings were Jewelry of the Day, March 16 on JewelryoftheDay.net.

Foundhandmade.com featured "Belle Blossoms" (middle, 2nd row from bottom) on their blog on March 9th.

The Seasonal Cottage included The Love Dove in their Saturday feature "Wonderful Whimsical Gallery of Etsy Art" on Feb. 7th

Plus a few features in Etsy Treasuries. So nice. I really do appreciate it. Thanks!

Props to my Nephew-in-law!

2009-01-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

Just a little blip to share how proud I am of my nephew-in-laws high end contruction and remodelling skills. He does awesome work around the Chicago area. So much so, one of his projects was recently featured in Architectural Digest Magazine Feb 2009 issue. Go Chris!!

Originally constructed in 1953. 6000 SF! Dang! Full article, slide show and photo credits available at the link above.

Talk about the weather

2009-01-20T22:53:00.000-08:00

Hi ya'll. Well I have not been posting much lately because this is an art blog and I have not been artsy. I have been working in my novel mostly and I am not ready to share any of that yet. So what to share? What to share?

OK. When people don't have anything to talk about, they talk about the weather. So how 'bout some pictures of weather? In the Seattle area we have had freakish snow and flooding. Here's a few recent pix.

This is Snoqualmie Falls which is usually about 1/4 this wide and never this murky looking. The power of the water was amazing. If you were anywhere near it, you got soaked from spray. I had to cover my camera in plastic - shoot - and run!

Speaking of spray, this is a picture of a tree quite a ways away from the water. It was not a rainy day, but all the trees were dripping like a rain forest. It was actually my favorite part of the scenery.

See the mist? Hard to judge scale in this pic but the water is a long ways down there and I was getting soaked. I loved it. I'm weird like that. I love rain, storms and fog. Especially fog.

This was the first day of the snow. We ended up with well over a foot. Several people had 2 feet. This is really really rare for around here. We were stranded in our house for one week. There was no way to get around. Seattle is very hilly and it was a sheet of ice. Pretty and icky.

Hope you are staying cozy wherever you are.

Featured in another Etsy Treasury

2009-01-18T10:06:00.000-08:00

Hi, KnotChaCha was kind enough to feature one of my pieces, Pretty in Purple, in an Etsy Treasury collection today. To view it, click here. Note, it's only available until 01/20 3:45pm.

Back with some Beads

2009-01-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

Hey there. It's been far too long since I blogged. Crazy with holidays and buried in snow for the last few weeks like most people around the USA I think. I have also been working on a novel feverishly because I got inspired by the snow (which is sort of almost a key character in the book) and that has been all-consuming.

Now it's Jan 2009 and time for me to get back into the groove. I was lucky enough to sell quite a few pieces of silver and beads over the last month or so, in part, due to the magazine article (see prior blog) so I need to get busy and restock the stores!

I've added some new beads to my bead shop and there are more coming soon.

Speaking of beads, one of my bead store customers who is a wonderful jewelry designer, kindly sent me a photo of a finished necklace she made using two of my antiqued silver dotted chunky sphere beads. I just love it. Be sure to check out her store L3G Originals.

Humbug? Just a lil' bit....

2008-12-14T14:40:00.000-08:00

I love the Christmas season, so I am usually ready and raring to put up decorations right after T-day turkey leftovers have made there last go-around in the microwave. But this year, not so much... It's already Dec. 14th and my gifts are not wrapped or shipped... in fact, I still have quite a bit of shopping to do yet and I have not put up ONE decoration or a single twinkling light.

I think the stress of whats going on in our world, nation and in my own little universe has knocked some of the wind out of my sails (and sales) this year. However, I am sure I will be bummed if I let this season pass without putting some of the 'icing on the cake' though. I know the decorations are not even close to being the true reason for the season, but it is still one of my favorite parts, so I am hoping my inner elf kicks in soon!

At least I can say my Scrooginess has not extended to crafting. I did make quite a few Christmas themed decorations and jewelry pieces for my online stores and the craft bazaar I did at my office last month. Here's one of the posters I did for it:

It was very casual. We each just had one little folding table set up in a hallway. Unfortunately, we had several participants cancel at the last minute so the selection was not too great. Also, it was right during one of the scariest financial times and just after some jobs and departments were eliminated, so people were not exactly in the shopping mood and they said so as they just walked on by. But it was still a good experience overall and I donated a small amount to charity as a result of sales. Next year will hopefully be better.

On a more upbeat note, check out the sneak peak in my Etsy store 2 showing in the left margin to see some of the ho-ho-holiday items posted recently. Click 'em to see the listing! Thanks!

More Twilight twinkles...

2008-12-09T20:06:00.000-08:00

Well since I am now a full blown fan (to put it lightly) of the Twilight novels and the movie myself, like others, I have been inspired to create some art based one some of the surrounding described in the books. Living in Washington and being a tree lover, it's only natural that the scenes that talk about flying through the woods and the vine maples that form arches around the edge of a meadow hit me with intense visuals. Here are a couple of the pieces that I have recently added to my store.

Cullen's Woods

Woodcrest

To make these pendants, I carved a relief in a large rubber eraser, pressed precious metal clay into the mold and when it was at the leather hard stage, I used a needle tool to make tiny holes in the area I wanted to be darker so that the antiquing medium would pool in them. I guess that would be pointilism in the literal sense. The pieces have been kiln fired, tumbled, antiqued then hand polished.

Yay! It's finally out! And still out of my hands...

2008-12-03T21:09:00.000-08:00

I have been waiting and waiting for the Winter 2009 edition of the Belle Armoire Jewelry quarterly magazine to come out and it's finally available!

The reason I am excited is because it contains a feature on my silver tree jewelry. Sadly, none of my local stores have it in yet but they should in the next week or so. In the meantime, it is availabe on the Somerset Studio (Publisher) website here.

A few months ago the editor contacted me because she saw my work on a website and liked it. She asked me to write an article and submit 3 pieces along with instructions and photos of the work in progress.

Below there is a tiny sneak peak per the proof I received from the editor showing my article, my hands at work and their photography of my pieces.

For a full size readable version, please pickup a copy of the magazine!! Michaels and Ben Franklin craft stores and other large chains sell the magazine. Also many bead stores and larger magazine stands. Barnes and Noble and Borders have it sometimes too.

I received an email from the editor today asking me to submit another article for their next issue by Jan. 15th! I better get to work! I have an idea in mind for what to write about, but it's a secret. Neener, neener. =oP

'Tis Officially the Season

2008-11-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is over and now we are on to Christmas. Ho, Ho, Ho!! I am working on getting in to the holiday mood by creating some holiday jewelry and decorations. This year I decided to make some soldered glass ephemera collage ornaments with some beautiful angel and St. Nick images I have been saving for something special. I used scalloped tape around the edges and high quality solder with a touch of real silver in it. I used twisted and plain silver tone wire to hand form the hooks and filigree hangers. Many have genuine chandelier crystals and other beads attached. They were fun to make. I hope people like them. I have started adding them to my store today. More coming in the next couple of days!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-26T04:30:00.000-08:00

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving with those you love.

Photos copyright Lisa Whipkey, Kamera Kat Studio

Twilight and the Twinkling it Inspires

2008-11-24T04:54:00.000-08:00

The Twilight series of books by author Stephenie Meyer is talked about EVERYWHERE these days in case you have not noticed. And now that the movie is coming out, the planet has a bit of vampire mania.

I have always loved vampire stuff and might even be a closet goth somewhere down deep and since the book and movie is set in my home state of Washington, I am really falling under the spell of Stephenie's work myself and I cannot wait to see the movie.

I was "window shopping" around Etsy and noticed that some of my fellow artists have been inspired by to create twilight-ish art. Here's a sample of the stuff I found:

An altered Art Charm Bracelet by poetsummer

Edward quote pendant in a matching tin from shadesong

A set of four scrabble tile pendants from CandyTilesLove this star quote pendant from storytales
And last but not least, check out this Edward dream quote pendant from bluembrownlee

2008-11-23T04:43:00.000-08:00

It's always an honor to be featured in someones Treasury on Etsy. Thank you DCHStudio for picking my "Drangonfly Dame" pendant for yours. To see it live, go here before it expires on 11/24/2008.

Wire that Wows!

2008-11-22T06:07:00.000-08:00

As any jewelry lovin' artsy craftsy gal knows, there's about a million ways to make jewelry - metal clay, beads, shrink plastic, polymer clay, soldered glass, fused glass, metalsmithing, nuts and bolts & bubble gum. OK. Maybe not the gum, but you get the idea that there's lotsa ways to make bling.

Just about all of the aforementioned methods for making jewelry call for incorporating some form of wire work on occasion, either to enhance the appearance or for function. It may be as simple as making a loopy bail, earring hooks or wrapping a stone, but wire has always been an important element of jewelry making. Wire even stands on it's own as a primary jewelry making medium. Take a look around your local craft store and you will find there are many kinds of wire and tools to make it do something funky.

OK. I do about every craft known to woman so why have I not got in to wire more? Well, because a lot of what I have been exposed to in craft and bead stores, while fun, is also semi gaudy or seems to be geared towards kids or casual looks that's just not me. However, I have stumbled on some truly inspiring wire work from a fellow Etsy artist that is elegant and creative. I just have to share some of this awesome work with you.

Here are some pieces from juliadesigns. Please visit her online store to be wowed further. She even offers tutorials so you can create some pieces for yourself:

You heart me.... You really heart me.... ::Sniff::

2008-11-18T06:28:00.000-08:00

Aw shucks. Ya'll are making me blush. Thanks for all the "hearts". You see, on Etsy.com, people can bookmark their favorite products or sellers and that is called "hearting". On my main store http://www.treebysea.etsy.com/, I just got hearted for the 300th time. Thanks everyone. You are so kind. =o)

2008-11-12T18:42:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about being an online shop keeper, blogger, and all around web geek is that I get to meet and interact with talented and interesting people that I may never cross paths with in my 'real world'. (However - be careful who you meet! I met my hubby on line. What a freak! ... Just kidding Honey).

One of my jewelry customers who is a former Elite International model, produced a really cool documentary on body image and self esteem and how what we see in magazines and the runway really has an impact on kids in particular. If you are an indie film fest person, please support Nicole Clark and her film Cover Girl Culture if it plays near you. It was recently a selection for the Womens International Film Festival.

Incidentally, she said she might be wearing one of my necklaces in the film or interviews she has done. I'm almost famous maybe! ;o) LOL.

Thanks Nicole for telling me about your project. I wish you much success.

Vintage Vines Bead Featured in Etsy Treasury

2008-11-10T05:09:00.000-08:00

Fellow Etsy seller LesTroisGrenouilles has featured my "Vintage Vines" bead in an Etsy Treasury as a collection of "A few of my favorites". A very nice honor. Thank you LTG. To see the treasury in real time, click the title of this post (only available until 11/11/08 9:18am).

Steampunk? What the Heck is That?

2008-11-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

All over Etsy there are shops selling steampunk jewelry and fashions and there are pictures on flickr with groups just for steamy stuff. All of the sudden I started seeing this "steampunk" term every where and I had no idea what it meant, but it seemed artsy so I wanted to know!

Wikipedia says, "Steampunk is a sub genre of fantasy and speculative that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. "

Well, I guess we've all seen fantasy/sci-fi movies seem to take place in the past but with modern tools and fictional modes of transportation at hand. For example, here are some recent movies in the steampunk genre ... Sleepy Hollow, Wild Wild West, Hellboy 2: The Golden Army, Around the World in 80 Days, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Lemony Snicket, Van Helsing.

As I researched steampunk, I found there is a subculture of people who are really into it as a lifestyle with role playing, magazines, etc. It's sort of like how trekkies, renaissance faire lovers and S.C.A. members have their own little parallel world where just for a moment, they can be someone else living in a different time and place.

OK. So how does that translate to fashion, art and jewelry? Well, pretty interestingly actually. Gears, cogs, clock parts, Victorian lace, old leather bomber jackets, aviator goggles, monocles, antique brass filigree, corsets, computer parts, etc. are brought together to make things that are a mix of old and new with a semi-dark whimsy.

Here's an example of steampunk jewerly I saw on Etsy that got me interested in finding out what it was all about... See Mad Art Jewelry

Also see Mad Art Jewelry on flickr and check out 19 Moons on flickr too. (Note: The Winged necklace at the top of the page is by this artist)

There are many Etsy (and Ebay) sellers who specialize in the steampunk look too like COGnitive Creations, E.D.M. designs, Ruby Ann Designs, 19Moons, etc.

If you are interested in making some of your own steampunk jewerly, just search on 'steampunk' or cogs on Ebay. Also check Etsy Suppliers. Earthenwood Studio offers ceramic steamy stuff. Brass filigree seems to be a key component too and there are many sources. Vintaj is kind of pricey but they have aweseome stuff. Try Trinity Brass Co. Go to Search Etsy & Ebay Stores like B'Sue Boutique too. Ooo... And pretty blogs are all around for inspiration. Look at this post from Star of the East and Earthenwood Studios.

In the end, I don't think the steampunk look or lifestyle is for me personally, but it is visually interesting and so creative. I am in awe of the wearable art the featured designers have made.

Boo!

2008-10-30T04:30:00.000-07:00

Have a Spooktacular Halloween! I was ego surfing (Googling my name and my business names) and I found this Halloween photoshop illustration that I did on someone's Halloween blog post from last year. Wish I knew what it said! LOL!

Pretties from the Past

2008-10-28T04:30:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned in previous posts, I love Fall. I am usually out there in the midst of it with camera in hand snapping pictures of leaves like I have never seen them before. But this year, I have not had one single day of Fall photography frolicking. Too busy, too tired, too sick (had e-coli). So, I will just have to settle for some pix from previous seasons for now...

Precious Metal Clay Over Porcelain

2008-10-26T09:33:00.000-07:00

Hi. I recently had a fun collaborative project proposed to me from a fellow Etsy member, marlasmud. She is a porcelain bisque artist who offered to send me some samples in exchange for some photos of the finished work that she could use for advertising to PMC artists on her website.

PMC-ers like myself can lay pure fine silver paste, clay and syringe clay over bisque forms and fire in a kiln to make pieces that have the look of chunky silver, withouth the weight and cost of it. (See the instructions in my previous post for making beads with this method.) I still have a few more pieces to complete when the inspiration hits me, but this is what I have done so far. Most of these will be posted in my Bead & Findings Store soon.

I Was A Poet and Didn't Know It

2008-10-25T04:30:00.000-07:00

Well, maybe I'm a poet - maybe not... the jury is still out, but I try on my poetic hat on occassion. There is a new magazine called Life Images by Somerset that is part of the family of artsy publications by Stampington and Company. It features 99% reader submitted content. They are looking for emotive photos with accompanying poetry, short stories or journalling. I decided to give it a try.

Now I know that not all poetry has to rhyme and that there are certain patterns (meter) or stanzaic rules I probably did not follow, but I had fun. Here's what I have submitted so far:

Sweet lonely child of stone and moss;
Anyone can sense your loss.
Your broken wing, your broken heart;
The sense of mourning you impart.
You guard a grave so small & deep;
As the shepherd guards His sheep.
Now safely in His loving care;
The soul you guard’s no longer there.
~Lisa Whipkey

Lines connecting - intersecting.
Yet divided - still two sided.
Parallel and paradigm,
As evening is to morn in time.
~Lisa Whipkey

So just what are the various forms of proper poetry anyway? Good new for me... there are LOTS, so my style is sure to be covered in there somewhere. AND more good news... puctuation rules are out the window when it comes to poetry. It's true. It is up to the writers discression whether to use a period, comma, semi-colon, dash or no punctuation at all. The one consideration is that poetry should be written with recitation in mind, so if you want the reader to pause, you better punctuate accordingly. This site illustrates how "Every poem you write has the possibility of being a new poem with the addition (or deletion) of just a few punctuation marks." which is kinda fun to play with.

While doing a quick research on writing poetry, I found this fun exercise that got my poetic juices flowing. In the end you end up with a poem written in the "Constructivist " form.

On the first line write a noun of your choice

On the second line write two adjectives joined by "and" to describe this noun

On the third line write a verb and an adverb to describe this noun in action

Start the fourth line with "like" or as followed by a comparison

Start the final line with "if only" followed by a wish

Rose
Gentle and Soft
Smelling Sweetly
like a baby's breath
If only your thorns were as endearing

Give it a try! It's pretty fun and kind of addiciting.

Oo la la Lingerie!

2008-10-24T03:50:00.000-07:00

Hi there... Just posted a couple of new original art pieces in my TBS2 store. They are part of my "BOUDOIR BEAUTY" series of mini artfully framed lingerie collages that I have been making for fun. Hopefully shoppers will think they are cute for shower gifts or for their girlie BFF's birthday. They come packaged in embellished boxes that coordinate with the art. I have more on the way if these do OK.

Pubished! ..... Almost

2008-10-17T06:35:00.000-07:00

What this?
It's a little sneak peak of the article that will be coming out in the Winter 08 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine featuring an article & a photo tutorial by yours truly. I am very excited! This week the editor sent me a draft copy of the layout for review. They photographed the 3 pieces of silver that I submitted for the article and edited the text a bit. It was fun to see what they did with what I sent. I'll post more about this article and how it came to be when it hits the shelves!

Do My Soldered Glass Tape Measure Earrings Measure Up?

2008-10-15T21:22:00.000-07:00

Today I was honored to have another piece of jewelry featured in someone's Treasury collection on Etsy. It's a fun treasury featuring art made from rulers, tape measures and the like. Thanks 5erg for selecting my soldered glass earrings titled "Merry Measure". To see the actual Treasury full size, click the title of this post. Note, it will only be available until 10/18/08.

Feelin' Fine about Fall! Inspired to create!

2008-10-15T12:59:00.000-07:00

OK. Now I feel it. It's really here... The crisp fall air. The scent of winter just around the corner. The last bits of sun fight to peak through the clouds. It is Fall. I love it. I think it is the time of year when God breaks out his giant box of Crayolas (Deluxe box with 64 colors) and has a blast coloring leaves and skies. His creativity has once again inspired me to create too. Here's a few new pieces I just added to my shop. Happy Fall ya'll!

How to Make Your Own French Hook Earwire Findings

2008-10-12T09:37:00.000-07:00

I make fine silver jewelry. Fine silver is .999% pure silver. Sterling is .925. In the stores, pretty much all you can find is Sterling Silver findings. Since I want the metal content of my jewelry to remain pure as much as possible, I taught myself how to make my own findings including S hook clasps, toggle clasps, bails, jumprings, headpins, and earring wires. Eventually I started making larger quantities and wholesaling them to a local bead store. I also sell fine silver findings via my online bead store when I have enough.

I think making findings is pretty fun so I would like to share one way to make french hook earring wires so you can have fun too. Now some of you might be thinking, "If you want to sell these, why would you tell people how to make them?" Well, I am banking on my theory that creative "do-ers" will always find a way to make something vs. buy it whether I tell 'em or not. And people who find this kind of thing tedious will continue to exercise the convenience of just buying what they need, and hopefully they will buy it from me sometimes. =o)

How to make "Q-end" French Hook Earring Wires

Materials and Supplies
20 Gauge Wire (copper, fine silver, sterling silver-dead soft or half hard)
Flush Cutters
Large & Small Round Nose Pliers (Looping pliers)
2 smooth surface pliers
Cup Bur (for rounding the end of the wire)
Steel Bench Block
Chasing Hammer
Hearing Protection
3/4" Wooden dowel or Foam Brush Handle (used as a mandrel to shape the hooks)
Candy that's yummy

Steps
1. Cut pair(s) of 2 1/4" pieces of wire with flush cutters.
2. Secure each end of a piece of wire in smooth surface pliers and pull to stretch until strait.
3. Hammer the one end (1/4" or so) of each wire flat on the steel block.
4. Use the smallest end of the small round nose pliers to curl the flattened end into a loop.

5. Now switch to large round nose pliers. Grip the wire with the small loop on top of the pliers, facing you. Curl the strait end of the wire back, and up until it touches the little curl.

6. Pound the hook you just formed flat at the point that is farthest from the little curl. Eat some candy to celebrate your progress! You are 1/2 way done.

7. Hold two wires together with the loops facing you, right next to each other. Use your thumb to press the wire to the dowel or wooden handle of the foam brush, holding them just above the curls.
Push the straight wires around the dowel/handle until they almost come around and touch the curls.

8. Use the flush cutters to even out the strait tails of the hooks. Ideally the back should be longer than the front curls. (I do 4 at a time)

9. Use the cup bur to round and smooth the end of the wires so they won't injure the wearer. Eat some candy to reward yourself for being a considerate jeweler!

10. Use the large round nose pliers to grasp the straight part of the wire about even with where the curl is on the other side. Curl the end to put in a gentle curve that will help the wearer put the earring on easily.

11. To give the wire more strength to hold it's shape, you will need to flatten the curve of the hook just before and after the part that will rest in the ear. Do NOT flatten the part that will be in the ear or it will become sharp which is dangerous and uncomfortable to wear.

You are done! Eat some candy! For extra shine you can tumble the ear wires, or for a vintage look, antique them with patina. There are many shapes, sizes and varieties of earring wires you can make. This is just a really fun and easy one that looks great!

Not a Trick! It's a Treat! ...Handmade Fall Stuff

2008-10-09T06:56:00.001-07:00

October is probably my favorite month because it is filled with the scent of Fall which I adore. The changing of the leaves, the blustery wind, the surprise sunny but crisp cold days sprinkled in here and there.... I love it all.

This is my first fall since starting the jewelry business so I am excited to come up with some pretty designs for the season. I have several pieces in the works which I will be posting here and in my store soon.

In the mean time, I wanted to share some pretties made by other folks that I have spotted around the web. Happy Fall Ya'll!!

The halloween garland above is made by SoCharmedImSure.

Here's a cute set of soldered pendants from Make Mine Primitive.

Now this is cute for kiddies... Made by KarlenKnits

Candy corn lip balm??!! Yum! By Haunt

Do It Myself Business Cards

2008-10-05T23:28:00.000-07:00

Uh oh. I've almost ran out of my business cards. It's hard to believe I have handed out 250 of those suckers already. When I first designed them, I guessed what my company colors were going to be, but I did not have a logo in mind yet, so I just used the colors in a striped background and as textures. Now I have a logo that I have been using on my jewelry cards and websites, so I am using that on my new business card so everything will match finally.
Here is the old design:

Here is the new design:

I hope the colors come out well when printed. It is so hard to tell. My two monitors, test print, web, windows image viewer, etc. all show something different, so it will be a surprise to see if they match my shirt & packaging. I already know the color of the water is a bit different from what I have elsewhere. There's a bit of a robins egg tone vs. the dutch blue as used on this blog. I just wanted it to pop a bit more. The original cards were a bit more 'grown up' looking I guess which may have been a good thing, but my jewelry and my art is a bit whimsical so I decided to let my folk art self go and this is the outcome. Since I do my own design and have a really good and inexpensive pro printer, it's not too great of a loss if they don't turn out perfect. I can always redo them. The posibilities are endless.

Here are my existing business cards for my photography:

I really enjoy designing cards and have done some design for other companies as well which is fun and challenging. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. One of my flickr friends started a group that is devoted to fun indi card designers and designs. Check it out Creative Calling Cards

Torch Soldering vs. Soldering Iron

2008-10-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

There are several posts on my blog regarding making soldered glass slide and pebble jewelry. That application calls for using a soldering iron, like those used for connecting pieces of stained glass. The basic elements of that method of soldering apply to torch soldering as well.... metal-to-metal contact, the use of flux to flow the solder, the use of solder & a heating tool that reaches the temperature that is necessary to melt the solder. But the methods are not necessarily interchangeable. For example, you cannot use torch soldering to make the glass slide pendants. The heated area is too broad and too hot. The copper tape & paper artwork would melt and the glass would shatter. But the torch method is the best choice for heat connecting precious metals like silver. A soldering iron tip must be touching the solder to melt it and therefore, it would get in the way when trying to make the small unnoticeable connections that are desired for finer jewelry, whereas the torch only needs to be in proximity to the area of connection to form a heat source that will melt the solder and draw the molten liquid to it. The torch is hot enough to melt solder with a higher precious metal content than the soldering iron generally, so for that reason it is preferred for fine jewelry as well.

There are a few pre and post solder steps that are required when torch soldering silver. When silver (other than pure fine silver or argentium silver) is exposed to high heat, it gets something that is called "Fire Scale" which totally discolors the silver and it is very difficult to remove because it goes deep into the metal. This happens because of the copper content that is alloyed in sterling silver. For this reason, I work with fine silver only, but sometimes the strength of sterling is necessary.

To avoid fire scale, you can prepare the pieces of silver by soaking them in a prep solution designed specifically to address fire scale. Also, some people lay the silver on a chunk of natural charcoal (not BBQ charcoal!) when soldering to help absorb oxygen which is in part to blame for fire scale.

I found this information in the Art Jewelry Mag forum by "bleugurl" but I have not personally verified it:
"To prevent fire scale, stop oxygen from getting in contact with the metal. Fire scale is formed whenever silver and sterling is heated above about 1000 degrees F. Oxygen combines with copper to form cuprous oxide which exhibits as firescale.

Prips Flux, denatured alcohol/borax solution, Cupronil…any of these products will work. You might try coating the whole piece in flux before soldering. Be generous with the flux. To properly apply anti-firescale-fluxes, the metal must be heated slightly. Paint, dip the piece or spray on the anti-fs-flux. A mist atomizer bottle works well here. If the metal temperature is correct a white grainy coating will form. Quickly play a flame across the wet fluxed metal to dry it. This will evaporate the alcohol, leaving a white coating of tiny borax crystals."

After soldering, the piece must be pickled to clean all of the residue and flux from it.

This video created by http://www.cooltools.us/ demonstrates how to coat your pieces with prep solution and some handy tricks for soldering small parts like jump rings with a torch. Check it out. I hope it helps you as much as it helped me.

Here is another video demonstrating another method for coating with flux & torch soldering on a piece of charcoal:

Happy soldering!

Featured in more Etsy Treasuries this week...Thanks!

2008-09-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Hello, Just learned that some of my work has been featured in a few Etsy treasuries again. A treasury is a collection of like items that are pulled together by an Etsy member and featured as a group. Sometimes they get selected for the front page of Etsy, which is great publicity and a nice honor. I keep my fingers crossed that I will be lucky enough to be on page one some day.

Thanks for selecing me PoliticalPooches. My pendant is the one on the lime green polkadot background below. See the full shot here http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=11046

And here is another one by Floralia. Mine is the crow in goggles... 2nd treasury it has been in this week. Thanks Floralia! See the full shot here http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=11517

Always a nice surprise to be picked by someone! =o) Thanks again.

Precious Metal Clay and Polymer - A new line is born

2008-09-17T13:58:00.000-07:00

Today I released the first few pieces of the new "Rustic Roots" collection which combines fine silver metal clay bezels and hand carved faux bone & ivory polymer clay centers. They are nice an neutral and can be dressed up or down. A little bit whimsical. A little bit folksy. A little bit different than I have seen out there. I had fun creating them and will be doing more soon.

New Stuff - Fine Silver Beads and Jewelry Added to the Store!

2008-09-16T03:58:00.000-07:00

What a blessing! I've had a few large wholesale orders lately, but they pretty much depleated my shops!

It's taking me a while to get some stock built back up. I have recently added a few new things... check 'em out! There's a sneak peak in the left column of this blog, or visit the stores.

Fine Silver Jewelry http://www.treebysea.etsy.com/

Fine Silver Beads and Findings http://www.treebysea3.etsy.com/

Thanks for looking!

Life is Just A Fantasclay!

2008-09-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

As I have been poking around the internet trying to learn more about polymer clay used as faux bone and ivory, I have come upon some wonderful artists and I would like to share some of their stuff.

This is 1/2 of a chess set by claywizard. Visit the Shop. I love it:

This is one of the best polymer ivory roses I have ever seen. So beautiful. Made by theluckyrose. Visit the Shop.

This is a cool light switch plate cover by mosaico. Visit the Shop.

and there are many many more wonderful things out there... to many to blog about! These will do for today!

My FANTASTREE Featured in Etsy Treasury

2008-09-09T22:38:00.000-07:00

Nice to be featured in someone Etsy treasury again. I'm honored my FANTASTREE pendant is in good company with the other items "StormCloudHills" selected to showcase as some of her favorite trees and green things that can be found in Etsy stores.

Click on the image to see the whole treasury.

Thanks StormCloudHills for featuring my work!

Faux Ivory Vessels

2008-09-08T23:35:00.000-07:00

Hi, I just wanted to share something I spotted on a blog that I really love and hope to be able to emulate some day. It is a faux ivory box made of polymer clay. I think it is wonderful and really looks like old petrified bone or ivory.

I have always loved ivory carvings, but I don't like the thought of accidentally supporting some cruel or greedy practice of collecting it, though I think most ivory comes by more honorable methods these days. With polymer, I hope to create the look sans guilt.

Found it here: my oldies but goodies . While you are at it, check out this sites entire collection of polymer clay related posts. Some interesting finds in there!

Precious Metal Clay Beads

2008-09-07T09:22:00.000-07:00

Nope. This is not a picture of some alien form of plant life, or a scientific model of a Universe of oddly shaped planets. It's one of the things I have been working on lately... fine silver precious metal clay over porcelain beads.

There are 3 kinds of beads that I make using the fine silver of Art Clay Silver or PMC ~

*Hollow Silver Beads

*Solid Silver Beads

*Silver Overlay Beads

Hollow Fine Silver Beads

Hollow beads are made by putting silver over a core material that will burn out during firing in the kiln. (You should not try this with a torch.). There are many possible materials you can use. The most common are paper clay, cork clay, cereal. Yep, that's right.... breakfast cereal like Cheerios & Kix make great cores for beads, though it is pretty fragile to work with. Paper clay is a bit of a pain in my opinion because it does not completely burn away. You must chip it out of the center of the bead after firing. For me, cork clay is the perfect core medium. It is easy to form and it completely turns to fine ash when fired. This is how I do it...

Form the desired shape in the cork clay and let it dry for at least a day. Insert a wood toothpick into the cork where one of the bead holes will be. Don't put it all the way through, just insert deep enough to secure it in the cork. Break another toothpick in 1/2 and coat it with a non stick medium like "Slik". Stick this on the other side where the hole will be. This one will be removed before the bead is fired to allow a place for the ash to fall out of. Prepare a 'mandrel stand' by sticking a chunk of polymer clay to a plastic lid. Use the long toothpick as a mandrel to hold the bead while you work on it. Coat the cork in melted wax or a thick layer of water soluble glue, stick the toothpick end into the polymer mandrel stand and let the coating dry completely. The wax or glue will burn out faster than the cork, allowing a little wiggle room to accommodate the shrinkage of the silver clay & it keeps silver from flowing into the porus core surface. After the coating is dry, cover the bead in a thin rolled sheet of silver clay, syringe clay or use a paintbrush to paint the bead with silver clay paste. If using the paste method, you must use at least 5 layers of paste, letting each layer dry before adding the next. Once you have your silver base, decorate using syringe clay, paper clay, etc. Let it dry. Remove the short toothpick. Place the bead open hole side down, on a bed of fire blanket or vermiculite. Fire per manufacturers instructions. I fire my low fire ACS at 1270 for 30 minutes. The cork burns out around 700'. Until that point, you must leave the top vent of the kiln open. You will smell the cork burning and see a puff of smoke. (Be sure not to breath it. Work with plenty of ventilation.) Plug the vent hole after this occurs. After the beads are cooled, finish as you would any metal clay pieces.... burnish, tumble, antique, polish, etc.

Solid Silver Beads

This type of bead is pretty self-explanatory. Form metal clay into the desired shape, put a hole in it, fire and voila! You have a solid silver bead! Some ideas... After forming the desired shape, stick a wood toothpick all the way through to form the holes & keep them open during firing. In the kiln, they will simply burn away. Or you can use professional bead mandrels made especially for this purpose. You can form large hole beads or tube beads by wrapping a sheet of clay around a drinking straw. Remove the straw from the dried clay before firing.

Silver Overlay Beads

This type of bead involved putting a layer of silver over a core that does NOT burn out during firing. The core remains he center support for the outer silver surface. I have heard that brass and steel can be used for a core, but I have no personal experience with that. My favorite core material to overlay is porcelain. I prefer this method to the two bead styles mentioned above because the overlay beads use less silver, weigh less than solid beads and cannot be crushed like hollow beads. How I do it...

Form a mandrel from a drinking straw by cutting a slit about 3/4" long on one end of the straw, then cut a small slit perpendicular to that at the end of the first slit.

Roll the cut end of the straw into a tighter tube and insert into the bead. The tension from the straw should be strong enough to hold the bead on it securely so that you can work on the bead while holding on to the straw. Coat the bead in at least 5 layers of paste clay, letting each layer dry thoroughly. Decorate with syringe clay, sheet clay or stamped clay, etc... When it is dry, fire per manufacturers instructions. Burnish, tumble, antique, etc...

Visit my shop www.treebysea3.etsy.com . Many new beads & fine silver findings to be added to the store soon!

It's starting to take shape... I'm officially a "fimo-er" again

2008-09-03T14:40:00.000-07:00

I used to love to create with polymer clay. I think any one would. Who wouldn't like to re-live their childhood days where Play-doh was life and you could simply squish your mistakes and roll them into a ball and start again?

Somewhere a long the line I stopped using this medium. I think it is because though it made me feel like a youngin' on the inside, it physically exhausted my carpal tunnel syndromy hands to no end. Plus, how many plasticesque knickknacks can one have sitting around or pawn off on friends and family?

This summer while visiting my inlaw's I was re-introduced to polymer clay. We conditioned it to a nice soft form using a pasta machine. Back in the days when I was into polymer, my hands were the pasta machine. This tool made working with the clay a million times easier and more fun. A magazine article recently reminded of one of the things I really did love to create with polymer, and that is faux ivory and bone. I started thinking how great it would be to incorporate a little bit of a primitive look to my rustic silver work.

A few $$$ later, I now own a pasta machine, clay oven, and much clay. I have made several silver bezels. Now I am working on the 'ivory' carvings. I may also do a few boxes like the one pictured in this post that I made for my sister several years ago and maybe some buttons too. Look for the new primitives line coming soon!

"I am orange today. Loud and messy like finger paints..."

2008-08-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

I am guessing if you live in the U.S. you have probably heard the 'colors' song referenced above in the recent Dell laptop commercial that came out. You might have even found yourself singing along. I did. Finally I had to go find the song and download it from iTunes. Its' called "Colors" by Kira Wiley and I just love the song because I feel in colors too and that is the premise of the song.

I especially love the line "I am orange today. Loud and messy like finger paints..." I am SO in the mood to paint. And paint MESSY! But, I have not had the time to do it like I like to do it. I like to give in and let it take me away. Let the brush and paint and water flow in unplanned directions. A little drip here. A little splatter there. All distressed and lumpy with finger marks and sandpaper scratches. I like to use colors that don't seem like they should be used together and accidental 'mud' is always welcome too.

Until I have time to get down and dirty with some colorful tubes of goodness, I will have to live vicariously through YouTube art videos like those of artist Lisa Cole (She has a great first name I think... tee hee). She paints messy and whimsical too. It must be a "Lisa" thing. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/user/lisacole690

New Tree By Sea 3 Fine Silver Beads and Findings Store is now OPEN!

2008-08-27T21:15:00.000-07:00

To go along with the Fine Silver (.999 % pure) metal clay pendants and earrings I have been making for a while now, I decided to start making some of my own pure silver findings and beads to complement them. I seemed silly to make something out of pure silver and then use sterling silver findings & beads with it.

My guess was that other PMC/Metal Clay artist were thinking the same thing. Turns out there is actually a bit of a market by fellow metal clay artists for the pure silver findings for use with their own creations.

There are also many people who are alergic to the copper and alloys used in Sterling silver that find fine silver is more hypoallergenic who are interested in things like the pure silver earwires. As an added bonus, it's said that pure silver tarnishes slower than sterling. That's cool!

So, I decided to go ahead and market the findings. I'm just getting started but have sold several findings to a local bead store and a few findings and beads on line too.

I will be adding a lot more soon and updating my website to feature the beads and findings, so if this is something you are interested in, please check out the store today and come back again later to see even more of a selection. Thanks!

http://www.treebysea3.etsy.com/

OK - Diamonds [glaze] are NOT this girls best friend

2008-08-15T12:10:00.000-07:00

So I finally got the diamond glaze via mail order and tried it out. Um.... I'm not liking the diamond glaze I was so excited about in my previous post. Everyone recommends this stuff? Really? Maybe its me?

I made 3 pendants with papers from diff manufactures. I popped all the gazillions of bubbles caused by a bad applicator design. However the next day after it was dry there were a million bubbles that appeared overnight. Grrrrr.

The next day after that the glaze interacted with the metal of the bezel and the embedded charm and much of the glaze turned teal green. The metal did not... just the glaze. A couple of days later the entire surface of all 3 charms had tiny ripples & checks in it. Today I took another look and the glaze is yellow and cloudy. Not happy!!

I think I will stick with what I have always used. Crystal 3-D glaze or Rangers Glossy Accents. The later is much thicker than the diamond glaze and I never have ANY bubbles with the better tip design. Also, the tip does not clog. AND I have yet to see it discolor or react with anything.

Ranger Inks glossy accents ...http://www.rangerink.com/products/prod_inkssentials_glossy.htm

The other thing I use is Easy Cast Resin if the well of the bezel is very deep. Good stuff.

Disappointed... I am SO glad I did not sell these pendants to someone. I almost did and I would have felt terrible.

New "Uniforms"

2008-08-11T14:36:00.001-07:00

Tee hee.... I mean, T-shirt. I just designed a tee with my company logo on it. It was fun. Not sure why it took me so long to do. It's great free advertising on the go as I walk around with it and if I do a craft show, it would be fun to wear my company "uniform" so people can tell me appart from a meandering shopper.

I plan to have a whole line of t-shirts targeting crafters coming out one of these days. And maybe even shoes! Yes, shoes! Like canvas Ked types with custom printing. Check back for those!!

An "Oops" Turned Around - Rescuing Precious Metal Clay from Boo Boos at Any Stage

2008-08-06T07:10:00.000-07:00

Funny story... the brown stone you see here is actually blue tanzanite. I made this pure silver pendant with a blue stone and the words "blue moon" stamped at the bottom. However, the stone is more heat sensitive than I realized...when I fired it in the kiln, it turned brown. Luckily it is a gorgeous brown stone with red & gold fire (the picture does not do it justice), but it was obviously out of place with the words "blue moon", so I thought hard about how I could salvage this pendant that I really liked and came up with the idea to cover "blue moon" with "eclipse' because the moon looks brown during an eclipse, right? So the pendant ended up being something completely different than I planned, and the "oops" turned into something that is kinda cool and different I think.

So far there is nothing that I have done with metal clay that has not been salvagable no matter how hard I try to screw it up!

Before the clay is fired...

In the wet stage, you can always ball it up and start over or augment with more clay.
If the clay starts to get dry before you are done forming, spritz with water.
In the dry greenware state it can be turned right back into clay by spritzing generously with water and sealing in plastic or an airtight container for a day or so.
If at any time you make it too wet, expose to the air until it is the right consistancy.
If you break a piece in the leatherhard or greenware state, you can use the metal clay paste to glue things back together.
You can refine edges and smooth flaws with a wet paintbrush or with sand paper. (If you sand the greenware, be sure to salvage the 'dust' from you sanding and add it to your paste jar. The moisture will turn the dust into more paste or slip so there is no waste.)
If cracks form while drying, you can 'spackle' them with silver paste.

After the clay is fired...

You can repair breaks using silver OIL paste and re-fire (Kiln only), then sand and polish until the seam is not visible.
You can add another element made from metal clay and use paste to adhere it to the original piece then refire.
You can enamel, paint, or collage over mistakes (as I did in the eclipse pendant) to turn the item into a mixed media piece.
You can file off small mistakes using metal files and different grits of sand paper or if you have metalsmithing tools, you can saw off boo boos or drill, etc.
If all else fails, the item is .999 silver and can be melted and poured into a mold or can be sold to a precious metal buyer for the going rate for pure silver.

I just love a hobby with built in safety net!!

Collaging Freely with Constraints - Collage with Freedom of Expression While Using Instructions

2008-07-26T06:11:00.001-07:00

When I boil it down, the most constant thing about the art I produce, buy or drool over is that it all contains elements of collage, and usually incorporates text or handwriting. For years I have made cards and gift tags using pretty papers in layers then rubber stamped with multiple designs and distressed and aged them with paints and inks. Then I always like to add a dimensional embellishment or two. When I make my fine silver jewelry using metal clay, I treat it almost as I do paper by layering multiple rubber stamped images, text and textures behind an element that has dimension. I often embellish with a sparkly stone and distress & antique it. This is collage, but my 'paper' is silver clay. My soldered microscope glass pendants & several of the other pieces I offer are obviously just collage art sandwiched between glass. Even in my fine art paintings and photography... there is always text, texture, layers, antiquing, and distressing going on. Heck, I think I love Photoshop because it allows me to collage digitally.

FREEEE-DOM!!! (Shouted like Mel Gibson in Braveheart) The best thing about collage is it is so free!! There is no right or wrong way to do it. Also, there's no true planning or pattern needed unless you want to do it that way. Never one for reading instructions or recipes, I love to just dive in and see what happens. Collage is always a surprise in the end.

There are some people who appreciate collage but find it difficult to do collage because it is so free. Some feel more comfortable having a set of instructions to go by. A lot of people are perfectionist and like things aligned perfectly, etc. For those folks, here's a technique to try that will having you collaging freely while providing the comfort of following instructions at the same time:

Little Squares Collage
Materials:
8x10" or larger piece of water color paper, canvas or board for base
Matte Decoupage Medium
Small foam brush, paint brush, old tooth brush
Acrylic paint in white and 2 colors (any colors but black or white - close your eyes and pick)
Permanent black ink pad (Like "Stays-On" brand)
Pencil
Old magazines or books
Masking tape, Staples, needle & thread or eyelets for non-glue connection
2 or more pieces of patterned scrap booking paper that match your 2 paint colors
2x2" paper punch or scissors and ruler
2x2 piece of solid color textured fabric (burlap, velvet, denim, fake fur, felt, lace) in matching color

Instructions to follow (or not):
1. Paint your base with one of your paint colors. Before it dries, use a medium brush to paint 4 quick & dirty circles as big as will fit on the base side by side with the other color of paint. Smears and accidental paint blending is good! When the paint is dry, quickly pounce & swipe your black ink pad here and there on the background then lightly daub it all around the outer edge of the base.
2. Use paper punch or scissors to cut out 2x2" size:
3 squares of paper that are more than 70% black text on white from a book or magazine. Try to get a variety of text size and fonts.
*6 squares from your scrap booking paper
*1 square that contains a human element such as an eye, hand, foot or face.
*1 square filled with a natural element image (sky & clouds, water, a leaf)
*1 square of fabric
3. Run the edges of all of the papers across the black ink pad quickly. Don't be too careful.
4. Use the foam brush to paint a thin layer of decoupage medium to adhere squares to the base in this manner:
*Place squares in rows - 3 squares x 4 squares like tiles leaving a space between the squares. (You can be as careful or carefree as you want while spacing these out.)
*In each of the rows containing 4 squares, place one of the text squares, 2 scrap booking paper squares and one of the single squares (human element, nature element, fabric*) in any order.
*For fabric, the rule is you must connect it in any way other than glue and the connection method must show. You can staple, stitch, use eyelets, use masking tape to tape around the edges, etc.
5. Use a pencil to write the following in cursive any scrapbook paper square:

*Any verb
*Any noun
*Any adjective

6. Cut out words or letters from book/magazine to form a 3 word sentence about any human emotion, action or trait (examples: "I was dreaming", "Then she smiled.", "I cried out.", "I crave popcorn.", "He was strong.", "She hates Paris.") and decoupage it to a scrap booking square.
7. Mix a blob of white paint with water on a plate so that it is about as thick and 1/2 and 1/2 creamer. Dip a dry toothbrush in the paint. Point the end of the toothbrush at your collage keeping it around 4 inches away, then rake the bristles towards you with your finger or the end of another brush. This should cause little speckles of paint to flick on to the collage. Move the brush to another area and repeat 2-3 times.
8. When the specks are dry, sign the piece with permanent ink pen then brush the whole collage (except for the fabric) with decoupage medium using criss-cross strokes. If the pencil or magazine blurs or there's bubbles, it's OK!
9. When the medium is dry, crinkle up a paper towel or sheet of paper and dampen it slightly. Then dab it on the black ink pad. Lightly swipe it across the surface of the collage randomly to antique portions of the top coat.

Voila! You just made a piece of collage art!

If you like the look of warm, nostalgic & antique-ish art, just change the above instructions as follows:

Select honey gold and chocolate brown paint.
Use Walnut brown ink instead of black
Spatter and swipe with creamy ecru paint instead of white
Use vintage sepia photos, text from old yellowed books and vintage ad print instead of modern magazine clips
Use vintage motif scrapbook papers or old maps.

Here's a couple of examples of cool collages found on flickr using a somewhat similar technique. (Click on the links to visit the artist's page):

Bits & Piece Collage swap
Originally uploaded by artcreations

bits and pieces rec'd from dawn
Originally uploaded by Everyday Cookies at Sweet Woodruff Acres

Collage Received
Originally uploaded by sixaguilars

Diamonds? No. Diamond Glaze is a Girls Best Friend

2008-07-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

***** SEE AUG 15 20080 UPDATE TO THIS POST*****It finally slapped me in the face today that "Diamond Glaze" by Judikins is recommended just about everytime I read instructions for a jewelry and paper related product in any magazine, book or blog. I know it has been around for a while, but none of my local stores seem to carry it so I had not tried it myself until a month or so ago when visiting my crafty mother-in-law. I tried it. I liked it. I tried to find it and buy it, but to no avail. Today I decided to find it online. I Googled "Diamond Glaze" and also checked Etsy supplies and was amazed at all of the rave reviews and usage ideas that came popping off the page.

Maybe Marilyn had it wrong... it's not "Diamonds are a girls best friend". It's DIAMOND GLAZE. This stuff is amazing.

Here's what other people are saying:

"I LOVE this stuff! I use it on almost every layout! You can use it as an adhesive, or as an enhancer to any item - paper or not. I've used it to fill in conchos to make typewriter keys. I've used it on flowers to simulate dew. On water to simulate movement. You can mix it with a few drops of refill ink to do stained windows. It ROCKS~! " (www.scrapjazz.com/reviews by "PrincessDallas")

"I love this stuff. It's great as a glue, especially for see-through items like watch crystals and works as a great glaze too. Follow the instructions and you won't be disappointed." (www.scrapjazz/reviews by "Dreamweaver")

"Judikins Diamond Glaze is a dimensional adhesive that dries to a clear glass-like finish. Why buy five when one will do? Dimond Glaze is an adhesive, glaze, medium, paint, and lacquer all in one: Judikins Diamond Glaze securely holds Vellum, Embossable Window Plastic, glass beads, glitter and many other mediums! Unlike other clear adhesives, Diamond Glaze is mixable with dye-based inks, watercolor, and pearlescent pigments. Use this liquid lacquer directly over artwork, chalking, or embellishments for a raised glass-like finish. Thin with water for a lacquer-like finish. This is one of the best adhesive for gluing glitter, beads, glass, plastic and vellum" (www.scrapbook.com store)

Check out this long review including a few tips on Ebay Reviews. And there's many, many more rave reviews and uses mentioned out there.

So what is this stuff? It is...

Acid Free
Perminant when dry, but easy soap & water clean up for brushes.
Medium for dye inks, pigments, micro powders, chalk, pearlescents
Top Coat sealer
Adhesive for many things including paper, glass, glitter
Light resin for thick glassy coatings
Paper embelishment. Make certain parts look 3-D by topping with a shiny coating
Decopage medium for clear objects

It is not....

Waterproof
Scratchproof
Non Yellowing when applied thick
Good for use on fabric
A heavy duty adhesive. Best for paper and light items.
Fast drying. Times depend on thickness.
Bubble free. Never shake the bottle. Pop bubbles with a dry paint brush.

Cool little project using Diamond Glaze that demonstrates how to pop the bubbles too!

Here's some resources for the little frame charms like the ones used in the video.

http://brightlingsbeads.com/picture-frame-charms.html

http://www.rubbernation.com/servlet/the-CHARMS-cln-Photo-Frame/Categories

http://www.smallstudioproductions.com/Emporium/bibelots.html

http://www.artchixstudio.com/mall/abimage.asp

Here's a resource for some fun shaped LARGE frames you can collage in:

http://www.hhhenterprises.com/ezines/07-18-2008/home.html

You can find Diamond Glaze here:
or try before you buy...Judi Kins offers FREE SAMPLES!!!http://www.diamondglaze.com/sample.html

Have Fun! I know I will. =o) Happy crafting.

New Flickr Group - Big Beautiful Bling! Handmade Plus Size Jewelry

2008-07-14T20:31:00.000-07:00

Hi, Just popping in to say that I just started a new group on flickr photo sharing yesterday and we already have 14 members! Yea! The group is called "Handmade Plus Size Jewelry & Fashion Stuff -Big Beautiful Bling" and it is a place for creative types to show off the stuff they make that is especially for us folks of size who like to add a little sparkle and pizazz in what we wear.

Why is it that the worlds population is now made up of a larger percentage of plus size people than ever (a rapidly increasing percentage), but most of the clothes, jewelry, belts, purse straps, shoes, etc. are still made for our tiny friends?

The group will showcase the artisans who are kind enough to accommodate a wider range of sizes. And it is a place for Big Beautiful people to post pictures of themselves wearing handmade plus size accessories too. I have posted a few of my large size rings and necklaces there and there are other pretty items posted already and will be more soon!

If you are a BBW, please come check it out. Many of the artist have online shops too, so if you are interested, look in their profiles or email them to find out how you can get their products.

www.flickr.com/groups/bigbeautifulbling

"Beauty in Boldness - Bracelet" Originally uploaded by ocbaby

plus size apron
Originally uploaded by OriginalsbyLauren

Learn Photoshop for Free

2008-07-13T23:58:00.000-07:00

Hello, Photoshop CS or Elements & Lightroom are pretty much industry standard software for working with photos these days. If you are a digital photo pro or graphics person, scrapbooker, etc. you pretty much have to know PS or an equivelent (which in my opinion, there are none, but that is only because I know PS best).

There are classes offered at any self respecting art or vocational school and most community collages, but they can be pricey and time consuming. Don't forget there is a lot you can learn from library books and online resources for free. I just added a resource on this blog offering some tips on PS that you might find helpful. Please check it out in the side bar.

How to Create Soldered Glass Slide Jewelry, Part 4 - Tips & Troubleshooting

2008-07-13T11:00:00.000-07:00

Over the last few months I have blogged about creating soldered glass slide jewelry using the techniques learned in the Simply Swank soldering class that I took and some things that I had learned elsewhere. A few months down the road, and I still cannot claim to be an expert on the subject, but I have learned a thing or two and improved my technique I think, so I want to share in case it might help someone.

Most of the things I am about to say will cause you to say, "Duh!" because they seem obvious, but it's easy to get so in to the art part that you forget the common sense part. At least it is for me. =o)
This assumes you have already read my previous soldering blogs parts 1, 2 & 3... If not, ya might want to check 'em out.

Tips
1. Don't solder naked! A. Because it's just not pretty and B. Because solder & flux can splatter and drip. Make sure you solder over a heat resistant surface. Make sure your hands are higher than the molten solder at all times so you cannot get burned if it runs and drips. Wear shoes. Wear safety glasses. Wear a mask. Wear a smile.

2. Gravity applies to molten solder. Pay attention to the angle of the piece when you are soldering. It's natural to want to tilt the piece back to get a better view of the solder you are trying to add to the front, but don't be surprised when the solder runs to the back. You can use gravity to your advantage to manipulate where the solder goes. You can also use it to remove excess solder. Melt extra solder and push it off the end that is pointed towards your heat resistant work surface.

3. Always keep your soldering tip silvered and keep a spare soldering iron tip on hand. Wipe the solder tip on a wet sponge often while in use to keep it clean and from overheating. Don't leave the iron idol just cooking away. Unplug it if you are not going to use it right away. They do wear out because of the extreme heat. Tips can become pitted and can quit working right in the middle of a project. If the tip no longer appears silver, it will not work properly. See the troubleshooting section below for more information.

4. Don't mix ammonia with blackening agent. If you will be using a patina, it most likely contains an acid that is very toxic and corrosive. Most become extra nasty if combined with ammonia. Guess what is in your average glass cleaner that you probably use to clean your slides? That's right... ammonia. Do NOT mix. Use gloves, eye protection and major ventilation and follow all of the manufacturers cautions to a T when using patina. Dispose of leftovers appropriately. I recommend not pouring this stuff into a cup to use it, but sit the bottle in a big non-tipsy bowl, open it, and use a long wood handle Qtip (like the doctors use to swap a throat) to dip into the bottle. Pull the swab out, then immediately seal the bottle and apply the patina to the solder. This way there is minimum exposure and little waste to dispose of. Wear gloves. The stuff can burn skin.

5. Smoke goes up. Duh, right? But solder smoke in particular likes to rise strait up quickly in little bursts. If you are leaning over the item you are working on, it will go straight in your face & up your nose. This smoke is unhealthly at the very least even when it says "non-toxic solder". Certain solder fumes can cause lung disease over a long exposure. Do NOT breath the smoke. Wear a mask with the proper filtration rating, use fans and good ventilation. Don't hover over the item you are working on.

6. Gravity applies to hot soldering irons. Most soldering irons have heavy duty stiff cords that may actually weigh more than the iron itself. If the cord dangles off the side of your work surface, it may actually pull your soldering iron over the edge too which would be really bad if it is hot. Use a soldering iron stand with a heavy base, and/or use a piece of duct tape to tape the stand base and the base of the cord to the work surface.

7. Remove all flux from glass and solder immediately after it cools. Flux is an acid and it will continue working and could etch the glass and discolor the solder. You can then patina the solder or polish it to a shiny silver using a solder polishing compount. To maintain the color of the solder, seal with wax. You can get the patinas, compounds and wax at any stained glass supplier.

Troubleshooting
Here are a few common problems and some likely causes why they might occur.

The copper tape lifted off the glass during soldering or after - The tape had a spot of poor adhesive, or it was not burnished to the glass thoroughly before applying flux and the flux got under it. This can be even more of an issue if you use multiple strips of tape vs. one continuous piece.

The copper tape got a hole in it while soldering or stuck to the iron - The soldering iron was held in one place for too long or you went over and over the same area trying to smooth the solder. If you can, try pealing it off or covering with new tape, flux and solder again.

There are tiny pinholes or bubbles in the solder - Your copper tape is not good quality or it was not adhered well and the glue melted up through the solder when it was heated. Or you used too much flux and it boiled and made bubbles.

The soldered edge is skinny on one side and fat on the other - This is most likely because the copper tape was not centered on the glass edge. Or it could be that the glass was tilted during soldering so more solder flowed to one side than the other.

The soldered frame is crooked - Most likely caused by not putting the tape on straight. If the tape is crooked, you can use an exacto knife to trim before you solder or remove and put a new piece on.

The glass broke - A single area of the glass got too hot during the soldering process because the iron was held in one place too long. Or, the items sandwiched between the glass were too lumpy. Lumpy items must be balanced with other lumpy items of equal height between the glass so the glass cannot teeter-totter and get stressed enough to break.

There is fog or moisture under the glass - The items between the glass were moist, probably from glue that was not yet dry. The heat of the soldering iron created steam. Or, after soldering, cleaning solution or other liquid ran under the solder. Solder does not make a watertight seal. Items should not be worn in the shower or even in heavy rain.

My soldering iron will no longer melt the solder - Or the solder gets stuck to the tip. Verify that the melting point of the solder you are using is low enough to be melted by your iron and that your iron is fully heated. Check the iron tip. If the tip of the iron no longer appears silver even after wiping on a damp sponge, try sanding it with sanding paper (while it is cool) to re-expose the silvered tip. Heat and resilver the tip. If that does not work, you can try a Sal Ammoniac* block. This stuff is nasty and toxic. Do NOT breath the fumes. Here are some great instructions from Volcano Arts on cleaning your soldering iron tip. If cleaning does not work, replace the tip when the iron is cool. It is easy... There are usually one or two tension screws to loosen and the tip should come right out. If it is stuck, try tapping it lightly or twisting with plyers. If all the above does not work, it may be the iron itself or the electrical outlet.

*Note, this is ammonia... as mentioned above do not EVER mix patina solution and ammonia. Store these items faw away from each other.

My solder is lumpy - Practice makes perfect. Use one fluid motion like a long painting stroke to float the solder along the tape with the iron barely touching to make the smoothest bead. Be sure to hold the tip so you are using the wide, flat edge. Also, it helps to have a good iron that keeps a constant temperature. Most importantly, flux well and often. Solder cannot flow without flux. Make sure you coat the whole section to be worked with flux but don't try to do too big of an area at once. If you flux and don't immediately solder, reapply flux.

Don't let the above intimidate you from trying soldering yourself. Yes, there are a few issues and some safety things to think about, but anyone can do it and you can produce really pretty piece that you and others will love very quickly and economically. Happy creating!

Love, Peace & Squiggles! and a Dove Rescue!

2008-07-08T19:28:00.000-07:00

Today a kind fellow Etsy member selected my "Love, Peace and Squiggles" Pendant to be featured in a "treasury". I was honored to have my piece selected, but I admit I did not know what a treasury was in this context. I checked the Etsy Help and learned it is a member curated collection of other Etsy artists items that they publish as a small, temporary gallery for any reason they choose. Occasionally, the Etsy team selects a treasury to be featured on the front page which is a nice opportunity.

The treasury is called

"For Frankie" by "crookedlittlestudio" and is a collection of dove related art.

CLS writes "Frankie is an unlikely name for a dove, but after he survived the first night (he had fallen out of his nest and had been abandoned), I named him after St. Francis, patron saint of animals. He ate, flourished, and learned to fly. Yesterday he flew away. I miss him."

Sounds like behind the "crooked little studio" a tender hearted soul who is probably much loved by Frankie the dove. Check out her wonderful artwork at the studio link above.

SEEKING THE RAINBOW New Fine Art Print Released Today

2008-07-03T16:02:00.000-07:00

Hello, I have just released a new art print today called "SEEKING THE RAINBOW". It is a digital painting made from 2 of my photographs worked together in Photoshop CS3. It is available as a fine art print with or without custom framing in my ImageKind Gallery (under my photography name "Kamera Kat").

(Note - It's difficult to see the rain in this small image. You can zoom in on the print on the ImageKind site.)

I would love to hear what you see in the picture. Leave a comment! =o)

This is what I see... When the storms of life rain down, delight in the promise of finding a new rainbow at the storms edge. Then, realizing that the rainbow did not exist until this storm created it, we can be thankful for the storm even while we are still in it.

"And God said, "...Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life." Gen. 9:14

New Soldered Glass Jewelry Just Added to the Store!

2008-07-02T18:36:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note about soldered glass jewelry... 1. I just released some new pieces today and there are more coming soon! 2. I am working on "How to create soldered glass slide jewelry, Part 4 - Tips & Troubleshooting.

Like anything else, there is a learning curve to making the soldered jewelry and I have already learned a few things in the short time I have been doing it. I will share what I have learned and give some advise on how to avoid and fix boo-boos. I am pretty sure I might be an expert on that now because I am quite boo-boo prone. Hopefully I can help someone else avoid them.

Anywhoo... here's a peak of some of the new pieces that are in the store or will be soon.

P.S. - I am sort of excited about the chokers because I had fun making handmade jumprings, the S-Hook closure and bale out of wire and soldering it all. It was cool using the soldering iron for something besides pendant edges.

A Rose By Another Other Name... Would still be featured in a zillion photographs and peoms.

2008-06-30T06:30:00.000-07:00

Last week I mentioned I was on a bird kick and had created a lot of art featuring the little chirpers. I just realized I have a second recent obsession too...roses.

I have just released 3 new rose prints in my ImageKind gallery. I also have greated several pieces of jewelry featuring this romantic flower.

Though roses have been featured over and over in just about every medium imaginable, we never seem to get tired of their beauty and the romance they represent. At least that's true for us chicks. ;o)

The rose has always been the inspiration for artist, song writers and poets. Maybe because it is so intricate but just simply beautiful too. I guess there is a lot you can say about something that is complex and simple at the same time.

"You love the roses - so do I. I wishThe sky would rain down roses, as they rain from off the shaken bush. Why will it not? Then all the valley would be pink and white and soft to tread on. They would fall as light as feathers, smelling sweet; and it would be like sleeping and like waking, all at once! " ~ Roses by George Eliot

Cool! Free Publicity! I'll take it!

2008-06-29T11:13:00.001-07:00

Well this post is about 1 month overdue, but I'm posting it anyway because I am exicted. A fellow ImageKind member emailed to tell me that a daily art review blog called "Art Sweet" featured me as the artist of the day May 26, 2008. What a nice surprise!

Quote: "Today’s featured artist is Lisa Whipkey. Lisa is a wonderful multimedia artist. Her use of color, texture and layering is simply fantastic! My favorites are “Love Grows”, “Opium” and “Venice Vase”. - ArtSweet"

I have been blessed to have my work featured on many blogs in the last couple of years (love that free publicity!) and I have had a few kind art reviews, such as this one from the "Naked Genius", but I am always excited every time I am ego surfing (google myself) and find that someone liked my work enough to give it some special attention. I believe every artists work speaks to someone and we all like that affirmation that someone out there "gets" what we do. So thanks Art Sweet for making my day!

My new favorite folk artist inspires people in more ways than one

2008-06-25T00:29:00.000-07:00

Be True
Originally uploaded by Paulette Insall

Modern Folk Art at its finest. That's what I see when I look at the art work of Paulette Insall (http://www.pauletteinsall.com/). I have seen her art on flickr and for sale in her Etsy shop and oogled (is that a word?) over it for more than a moment. I love the simplicity of it at first glance, but then I love it's complexity that becomes apparent the more you look at the work. Maybe I also love it because it is inspiring me to want to paint folk art again. It has been several years since I did anything other than abstract painting and I'm wondering why now because I really enjoy folk art painting even more.

The angel door topper is something I painted for my sister back in 1999. I have not painted anything like that since, but now I think I am ready to give it another try thanks to Paulette's inspiring work.

Paulette not only inspires with her paintings, but she is a Christian artist who is open about her faith and witnesses with her work and websites. She makes wonderful YouTube videos about her art that are backed with contemporary Christian music and I just love it.

I am so glad to have found her on the web!

Please check out her store, blogs & vlogs via her site www.pauletteinsall.com.

Birdies, Birdies Everywhere!

2008-06-22T10:24:00.000-07:00

Hi. Hope you are having a 'tweet' day! I know I am. That's because for some unknown reason (maybe its because I wake daily to a gazzilion birds chirping at the feeder in my back yard) I have gone crazy for cute little birds lately and have incorporated them into my living room decor and also created a whole bunch of new jewelry featuring bird illustrations collaged over vintage ephemera. I am pleased to say my fondness for feathered friends must be shared by others because I have had a positive response to the jewelry. On some of the reversible glass pendants I have encased a real feather under the glass which I think is kind of fun! I have not tried this with the soldered pendants yet. I am curious to see how the feather handles the heat of the soldering iron. It's fun trying new things. Have a tweet day yourself!

Introducing our new line of vintage inspired jewelry!!

2008-06-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hello, Well it has been too long since I have blogged (again I neglect you my poor ol' blog) but I have another good excuse... I have been busy working on a new line of jewelry for TreeBySea.com. Until now we have only carried fine silver jewelry. (http://www.treebysea.etsy.com/).

Just yesterday I launched a second store featuring soldered glass slide pendants, collaged ephemera pendants, and romantic victorian jewelry with swarovski crystals and antique metal.

Please visit the new store on Etsy!! http://www.treebysea2.etsy.com/. Thanks for visiting! Wish me luck!

How to Create Soldered Glass Slide Jewelry, Part 3

2008-05-17T07:29:00.000-07:00

OK. Well, I FINALLY am going to wrap up my blogging 3-parter on soldering glass for jewelry, and with some good news! I thought I was solder challenged but it turns out I just had bum supplies. I am the proud new owner of a functioning soldering system now and armed with some real live class instruction from Lisa Blum of Simply Swank. "SS" offers a full line of soldering products and a book. I purchased the kit and several packets of glass shapes to have some fun creating beyond the 1x3 slide. Check out their website http://www.simplyswank.net/. They teach classes all over the country so look for them in a location near you in the U.S.. I recommend the class. It was very fun and had a nice relaxed "you can do this" atmosphere.

Turns out soldering is really pretty doggone easy with their kit that functions well together. In addition to the kit, I recommend the "third hand" clamp tool they sell on their site and the heat resistant surface sheet. I also got some of the wavy foil. I really like the way it looks. Something to note about foiling... use one continuous piece if possible & burnish it to the glass well or it may lift from the heat during soldering.

After wraping your glass edges in copper foil tape & burnishing it, plug in your iron. On the iron stand in the kit, there is a sponge that you should wet too. The iron gets hot pretty fast. Don't leave it sitting idol and cooking away for a long time. When it's hot and sizzles on the wet sponge, go for it. The first time you use it the blue protective coating will burn of the tip. Wipe it off on the sponge. Then roll out a few inches of solder and touch the end to the tip of the iron on both sides until a tiny bit melts to cover the tip, then wipe a few times on the sponge, leaving just a thin silver layer on the tip. This is like "seasoning" the iron. Do it every time you start it up and again before you put it away.

Put your glass in a clamp so it can sit hands free on your heat resist surface with a foiled edge up. (I recommend starting with a square piece of glass the first time as it is a bit easier.) Brush flux just on the foiled edge pointing up. Now place your iron just slightly above the far left corner of the foiled edge and press the tip of the solder on to the top side of the flat tip until a bead forms and rolls off the tip and on to the foil. Now use the tip of the iron top smoothly "paint" the solder blob from left to right with the tip just barely touching. Don't press hard or you can burn through the foil. The solder should flow like melting butter over the fluxed area. Use tweezers to reposition the glass in the clamp, flux the next side, and do the same process with the solder. Continue until all sides are soldered. You may choose to go over it again to build up a thicker bead of solder.

When you are done, you will probably want to add a bail at the top center to put a necklace through. You can use a jump ring or a metal bead with a large hole. (Note, pewter and aluminum will not work.) Don't flux this time. Just make a mound or blob of solder on the top center and let it cool. Grab the bail with plyers and position just over the top of the mound. Now touch the tip of the iron to the top of the mound. As soon as you feel it give way/melt, move the iron and push the bail into the molten solder and hold it there until the solder sets (a few seconds). If it's crooked, melt it off with the iron and start over.

You can now use a fingernail file & sand paper to smooth the solder. Then use solder polish to bring it to a shine or patina to change it to black or copper. Polish is available through "SS". Patina is available from stained glass suppliers. (Note, the patinas are pretty harsh chemicals so not for the faint of heart. Use caution.)

Pretty simple & fun stuff! Granted, to get a really nice plump and smooth bead takes practice, but you can make a perfectly wearable piece of art jewelry on your first try with the right tools and instructions! Go for it!

My New Handmade Jewelry Cards

2008-05-04T01:14:00.000-07:00

Please forgive me for I have not crafty blogged for while which is a no no in bloggerland I know, but I am happy to report that the reason I been absent is because I have been too busy being crafty. My jewelry business (http://www.treebysea.com/) is doing pretty well and I have been working hard to get a bit of stuff made up so I have more stock on hand to be prepared for some future craft shows and some wholesale marketing I plan to do.

I have just developed my new packaging. (shown above) What do you think? So far I have had possitive feedback. Since I am a graphic designer at heart, I enjoyed creating my own cards via Photoshop CS. I printed them with my inkjet on cream colored speckled acid free recycled paper from PaperZone. I found some cool 2" reach paper punches that let me punch in the middle of the card. They are made by McGill (http://www.mcgillinc.com/shop/). They work great and make the cards look professionally die cut.

I have small circles for hanging earrings and a punch that is two 1/4 inch parallel lines that are perfect for feeding ribbon through to tie my pendant to the packaging. I also found a great resource for self-adhesive flap clear covers that really add a lot as well as protect the cards and the jewelry. Go to http://www.clearbags.com/. Great prices, customer service & quality. They come in just about EVERY size you can imagine.

I also found an easy tidy way to hang the necklaces. It's not an original idea... I have seen many manufacturers use the same technique, but it is good to know I can mimic the technique and it works. I punched two small holes about 1" from the top of the card and 3/4" from both sides of the card. Then with sissors I cut from about 1/2 inch from the top of the card at a diagonal towards the hole on both sides. I slide the necklace in the slits to the holes and it holds it perfectly.

I will be writing again soon. Part 2 of the Soldering Slide Pendants is coming. I took a class today conducting by one of the Simply Swank owners, Lisa Bluhm and it was great. (Lisa, if you are reading this - Hi. Nice to meet you. Thanks again.) Both of the owners are dolls and their products rock. More on this soon! Caio 4 now.

Art to Drool Over - Creative Cupcakes on Martha Stewart

2008-04-05T23:12:00.000-07:00

Yea! Local girl hits the big time! And she made her fortune and fame with some fancy vanilla, a spatula, artistry & a torch (and someother incredients + business sense).

If you watched the Martha Stewart Show this Friday, April 4, 2008, you saw the local girl I am refering to... Jennifer Shea of Seattle's Trophy Cupcakes and Party. She is a registered dietician, trained as a baker who worked in some of Seattle's best eateries. About 1 year ago she and her husband opened Trophy Cupcakes in an old schoolhouse building filled with retail shops in Seattle's historical Wallingford neightborhood. My husband and I discovered this magical place a while back and we are not alone. There are quite a few addicts that go there on a regular basis. On the Martha show, she said they sell 1000 cupcakes per day. At 2.99-3.50 each, that's... well you do the math. Not to shabby, eh?

Click HERE to get the recipe for the cupcake featured on Martha. Click HERE to see a photo show of some beautiful cupcake art.

By me.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/punkjr/2084869307/
Originally uploaded by PunkJr

Beside the obvious yum factor, what makes this place so special? For me it is all about presentation. I see why Martha went gaga for them as the shop and the work they do totally reminds of Martha Stewart. The cupcakes and the shop are little works of art with exquisite taste and attention to datail. Everything is in shades of aqua and cocao brown with a slight 1940/50's nostalgic spin. Cupcake and espresso are served on pretty aqua fiesta ware. Cupcakes are frosted prettily to look like roses, or with festive sugar springles, etc. And the party decorations they sell are intentially selected to go along with the vintage style. They do special boxed cupcakes tied with ribbon as wedding favors with handmade custom paper picks (to insert into the cupcake) that are as pretty as the packaging itself.

Legalized frostitution
Originally uploaded by * Minette

Seattle loves cupcakes. We have another famous sweet shop that has it's own charm, called Cupcake Royale. If Trophy is the "Classical Music" of cupcakes, then I would say Cupcake Royale might be the "Rock and Roll". They have some really fun flavors and even more fun names for their wares like "Legalize Frostitution", "Mo Fro" and Orange U Glad" for example. They are also known for their community involvement, donating approx. 2000 cupcakes per month to schools & non-profits.

Cupcake Pr0n
Originally uploaded by PunkJr

How to Make Microscope Slide Pendants, Part 1.5

2008-04-03T21:15:00.000-07:00

OK. So I promised a "Part 2" post about making glass slide pendants. It has taken me a while because I have been doing a little research so I can offer the best advise and resources out there on this blog for you as a reader, but selfishly, for my own sake too.

I have two soldering irons, flux and solder from hardware stores that I or my husband bought and they just don't work for me. They are too large and not the right temp, and for all I know, the flux & solder are not right for humans to wear on their skin. The more I read, the more I realize just how dangerous it is to solder with the wrong compounds and in an area that is not well ventilated. PLEASE read all warnings on the packaging if you try this hobby.

When purchasing solder, BE SURE that it contain no lead and no antimony which is commonly used in hardware grade lead-free solders and is toxic. The jewelry you make should not make you or the wearer sick! That would be terrible!

I have made slide ornaments (thankfully none as jewelry with harmful solder), but I admit I am not as good at soldering as I would like to be and have wasted many projects that I started because I messed up. I appear to be "Solder Challenged", so, OK, I give! I am talking a soldering class next month at a local craft store and I can hardly wait.

I think it was meant to be... I was just thinking about looking for a new soldering iron set up when I saw a whole section of soldering, slides, books, etc. at my local Ben Franklin store. Right above it was a class announcement. The teacher is Lisa Bluhm, who wrote a book called "Simply Soldered Jewelry & Accessories" (see Amazon link below) and designed many products specifically for slide jewelry crafting under the trade name "Simply Swank". I almost purchased a whole kit (Around $55.00) of her stuff and the book on the spot, but I decided to wait to see how the class goes. Maybe I truly am solder challenged for life, but if that Lisa can teach this Lisa to solder better, then I will gladly buy all of her wares.

I will let you know how it goes in Part 2 of this blog saga after the class in May!

In the mean time, check out these books about soldering jewelry using glass and collage:

TreeBySea.com - It's Alive!!

2008-04-03T16:50:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note. Yea! It's a done deal... I know have a .com as well as my etsy store representing the silver jewelry that I have been making using art clay and my beloved kiln. Please pop in when you get a chance - www.treebysea.com. It's a pretty short and sweet site with just one page, but that's all I need for now I think.

Check back soon for more crafty how to blogs.

Light is a Crafters Best Friend - The Benefits of Full Spectrum Light

2008-03-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

"And God said, let there be light and there was light. God saw the light and it was good." Gen. 1:3-4

Light is good. Our bodies are built to use light... We obtain essential vitamins from the light of the sun. People who live in darker climates tend to have a higher percentage of vitamin D deficiency and become depressed and are sometimes diagnosed with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder). Our eyes need light to focus. People who work in low light conditions consistently over time experience eye strain and tend to loose their eyesight at a faster rate than average.

For the artist and crafter, light has great importance too. Needlework, beading, and other detailed handywork requires good eyesight and precision movements to obtain the best result. It may seem obvious, but the essential tool for the aforementioned, is LIGHT.

Light is also a necessity to the artist because it produces shadow and contrast that are necessary for dimension. Also, light impacts our perception of color. All color is simply the absence or presence of color that is carried to our eyes receptors by the light reflecting off an object.

There are all kinds of light and they all impact color perception greatly. The best light for artwork mimics natural daylight which is "full spectrum light". Full spectrum light is the most accurate. Most indoor light can have a very yellow or blue cast. Florescents give a green or purple cast. Full spectrum light appears as pure white light.

The OTT-LITE is one brand of full spectrum light that seems to target towards us crafty folks. They even have models with built in magnifying glass for detail work. I have seen rave reviews in many articles & blogs I have read. They are eco-friendly products & scientifically tested per this article. There are many styles available that seem to accommodate any kind of craft room or work area. They are pretty pricey, so, until this sale, I have not ordered one. 40% off is awesome! Bulbs on sale too! Use this link to go straight to Joann and order one if you are interested. The sale ends 3/29/08. Plus FREE shipping for orders over $35 with this code SAD090 through the end of March. I think there is another sale in April too. Check back if you miss this one!

Buy Handmade from Etsy - What's an "Etsy"?

2008-03-26T06:08:00.000-07:00

In case you did not know it, there is a revolution going on. The movement to buy handmade is growing. People are sick of the mass produced low quality items they see in stores. Thousands are literally making a public commitment to buy handmade. There are many blogs and sites devoted to promoting this trend and I think it is great. Viva la revolucion!

In fact, a new buzz word has been coined as a result of the movement - "Craftivism".

The reasons people give for buying handmade from indie artisans are many, but here's a few that I have seen:

Better for the environment - No factories, etc.
Does not promote bad labor practices/slave labor
Can get better quality items
Like one-of-kind, unique things
Keeps crafting and hand work from becomeing a dying art
Promotes "Made in America"/country pride
Supports a new generation of crafters
Better value - Get more for your money
Promotes the "little guy"
Crafts are a true reflection of a culture throughout history

Etsy ("Pronounced ett-see") is definately on the forefront of the movement. "What's an 'Etsy'?" you ask. Well, Etsy is a wonderful online community/store/street fair/swap meet/meet & greet where crafty and artistic people from around the world sell their handmand items to people who truly recognize & appreciate the work of an atisan when they see it. A huge number of people sell via etsy including me - My store.

Here's a video talking about how it started. This is now a really big deal. They pretty much set the bar for buying and selling handmade on line. Recently, the founder was featured on Martha Stewart show and I have seen Etsy mentioned in many, many magazines.

Here are some other members of the handmade consortuim:

Craftster.org
indiepublic.com
Craft:

Please buy handmade! Thanks!

How to Make Jewelry from Glass Microscope Slides & Solder

2008-03-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

Japanese Cherry Blossom Pendant
Originally uploaded by ashe-villain

If you are into handcrafted jewelry, then you may have already seen or heard of jewelry made by using 2 glass microscope slides to sandwich flat items, which are then soldered around the edge to make a solid piece. Loops are soldered to the top and/or bottom to act as connection points. These are mini framed pieces of art that are as much fun (with practice) to make as they are to look at and wear.

Sample pic is from flickr user "Ashe-villain" who allowed the blogging option (thanks). Visit her store.

What do you need to create this fun art you can wear?
Microscope Slides or other polished edge small uniformly shaped glass piece
Glass cutting tools (optional - only if you want to do a size other than your pre-cut glass)
Stuff for inside the "glass sandwich"
1/8" Copper tape - the type used for stained glass
Burnishing tool
Shiny silver jewelry grade Lead-free solder and compatible flux that matches temp of soldering iron
Small disposable non-plastic paint brush to apply flux
Wire or jump rings
Pliers
Damp Sponge
Glass cleaner and lint free towel
Soldering Iron & sturdy stand
High heat resistant work surface
Well ventilated space
Clamps or "third hand" tool to hold the slide in place while soldering
Safety goggles
Instructions

What can you put inside the slide sandwich?
The possibilities for what you can put inside is limited only by the fact that it must be pretty thin flat, and able to stand the heat of the soldering iron near it. I have seen paper collage, feathers, lace, photos, pressed flowers, glitter, confetti, snips of hair, poems, postage stamps, fabric & fiber, food labels, sheet music, on and on... One thing to note, make sure objects do not contain any moisture, as in wet glue, when you solder. The heat may cause steam to get trapped in side and will ruin your project. Don't get anything that melts or burns easy close to the edge of the project so the heat will not harm it.

End of Part 1.

Go start collecting stuff to put in your slide sandwich and check back here soon for part 2!! Part two will feature more instructions, samples and resources for where you can get the supplies mentioned above.

Open For Business - Tree By Sea Jewelry and Gifts

2008-03-19T22:39:00.000-07:00

It's official. My jewelry shop Tree By Sea is now open for business. Only 11 items in there so far, but more coming soon!

Here's a peak:

Keep checking back for new items!

Thanks!

Paper-o-holics & Card Makers-Impress Your Friends and Yourself with Pretty Dalia Folding!

2008-03-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

If you you are a rubber stamper, scrapbooker or paper-o-holic like I am, you probably already have a ton of pretty papers just waiting to be turned into something wonderful! How 'bout something dimensional that will pop off the background of a card and grab the viewers attention? Sound good?

There are several paper folding methods out there that are simple to learn which turn out great results that usually really impress the heck out of card recipients. I think most of the folds are generally refered to by the umbrella term "Tea Bag Folding". "What's that?" you say...

tea bag folding
Originally uploaded by taavina

Well, according to various web sources, Tea Bag Folding (AKA miniture kaleidoscopic origami) was created in Holland by a lady who got creative with some colorful square tea bag envelopes she had sitting on her table. She folded each one and then combined them in a way that when they interlocked, they created a symmetrical medallion design. This has evolved into a big thing with many fold and connection patterns & specialy papers now available offering endless possibilities.

Here is a site with many links to patterns and resources for traditional folding with square piece of paper or teabags: TEA BAG FOLDING

My friend Sharon Mott recently introduced me to the "Dalia Fold" which is similar to teabag folding but uses circles instead of squares. I think her cards are really beautiful. Don't you agree?

Try it...

What you will need:

Pretty double-sided paper for the dahlia
Coordinating paper for the background
1.5" circle punch or circle cuter
Paper Glue Stick (I recommend UHU)
Button or rhinestone for the center
Bone folder (optional, but helps make crisp folds)
Premade card blank & envelope
Illustrated instructions

I hope you try this fun project. If you do, please pop back by and leave a comment and link me to a pic of your work. I would love to see it! HAVE FUN!!

Silver For Sale in My New Jewelry Store... Opening Soon (I hope)

2008-03-16T23:19:00.001-07:00

Happy Weekend! Too bad it's almost over. Well at least I finally had some time to start taking some photos of my work for my online jewelry store that I will be opening soon. I will be selling my pure fine silver metal clay jewelry, charms & beads as well as beaded & glass jewelry under the name "Tree by Sea" (I think) on Etsy.com.

In the interim, if you see something here you are interested in, please contact me direct for pricing & purchase information. Lisa@kamerakat.com THANKS!!

I will send announcements when the store is officially up and running!

Here's my store header:

Here's a few sample shots. Hope they look OK.

Metalsmith With Natural Found Objects

2008-03-15T20:43:00.001-07:00

Hello,

Just a quick post for now...

Here is a video that is a short introduction to jewelry artist Laura Crawford of "Tangerine Tree House" that I found featured on Etsy.com. It is showing how she became inspired to move beyond bead stringing into something that she felt allowed her to be more creative...metal smithing. I like the video because it is well done and because I can sort of relate. I recently found that I was ready to move beyond regular beading into something a little different too. For me, I selected silver metal clay as a new form to explore.

Laura is inspired by found objects and nature. I am inspired by nature as well, so again, I related to her story.

Yay! My work is now part of a corporate art collect

2008-03-12T22:22:00.000-07:00

Hey! Just a quick self back-pat. I'm very excited that a northwest company purchased some of my artwork for their home office corporate art collection. It is a 3 piece set titled "Moutisse 1, 2 & 3".

Here it is:

The fine art giclee is available as a one print tryptic or as 3 separate prints with optional custom framing in my ImageKind Gallery.

Here it is in the space:

How to Take Better Photos for Scrapbooking, Part 2

2008-03-06T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hey there photo phriend! In yesterday's "How to Take Better Photos ....Part 1", I talked about 8 tips to improve the photos you will be scrap booking. I have a few more tips that will surely help most of us take "photos" rather than "snapshots".

FYI - though the focus of the articles is for scrap booking pix, the truth is these tips apply to anyone for all photos for pretty much any situation, whether the photo will be scrap booked or not.

Please review the steps in "Part 1" and then let's pick up where we left off... Here we go!

9. Pay attention to the background. Try to position the subject or your body and the camera so that the background that will show in the picture is not distracting. Try to avoid extra clutter in the picture that could detract from the subject. If you are able to adjust the aperture on your camera, use a very wide aperture (low number) to turn the background into a nice silky blur.

10. Use the flash outdoors when taking people pix. I know in a previous step I said to avoid using the harsh light of the flash, but outdoors the light is dispersed enough so that it just fills in the shadows on nicely. Also, if you are somewhat close to the subject, a flash can stop motion blur. For example, take a pic of a flower blowing in the wind using the flash to freeze the image for a split second.

11. Focus on focus. I know that it seems obvious. Of course you have to focus! Right? But, sometimes we get so excited to capture a picture we don't pay attention to which part of the picture the camera is focused on, then when we see the resulting pics we are disappointed to find that a unimportant part of the photo is tack sharp while the subject is blurry.

12. Be aware of shadows. They can be an interesting feature or ruin a picture. It's cool to capture the elongated shadows of trees & people when the sun is low in the sky. It is usually not cool to have an unintentional shadow covering 1/2 of the subjects face. In situations where there is a partial shadow that cannot be avoided, use the fill-flash (item 10 above)

13. When possible, use leading lines to draw the viewer in to the photo. Lines that start near the lower corner of a picture, continue to the subject or diminish in to the distance help to pull the eye into the photo.

14. Use a tripod, especially when there is low ambient light. The lower the light, the slower the shutter which means if your hand shakes at all the picture will be blurry. Built in anti-shake features found in cameras and lenses help, but there is no substitute for a tripod in low light.

15. Love your camera. Hug it, learn it, keep it clean. After all, it's THE tool required to take good pix, ya know? Learn how and when to use all the settings and features of your camera. Read the manual and play around to see what the settings do. Maintain the camera by keeping it dry and store in a stable temperature. Carry in a padded camera bag. Keep batteries charged and store them outside of the camera if you will not be using it for a while. Protect LCD's with clear protective stick-on covers. Be really careful not to get dust or scratches on the lens. Clean it carefully and often with a cloth or tool designed especially for cleaning lenses. Never clean with tissue, paper towel, etc. All of this is pretty basic, but it is important so worth mentioning.

Here's a few pictures that are good examples of what is covered in this blog and Part 1:

Why it's good: LEADING LINES & OFF CENTER SUBJECT

leading line
Originally uploaded by audi_insperation

Why its good: INTERESTING USE OF SELECTIVE FOCUS

"B" is for Bokeh
Originally uploaded by Steve Pearce

Why it's good: UNCLUTTERED BACKGROUND, OFF-CENTER, UNPOSED PICTURE, GOOD SIDE LIGHT

Argenit's First Portrait
Originally uploaded by azem

Why it's good: RULE OF THIRDS APPLIED. (Subject is placed at one of the four intersections where the lines meet.)

Rule of thirds
Originally uploaded by Pablo Montesdeoca

Why it's good: INTERESTING CROP + FUN COLOR/FILTER APPLIED IN PHOTO EDITOR

Rockstar
Originally uploaded by maureenwilson

How to Take Better Pictures for Scrapbooking, Part 1

2008-03-05T22:02:00.000-08:00

What makes a page POP!?

If you are in to scrap booking or thinking about scrapping to do something cool with that giant box-o-pics you have at the bottom of your closet, then you have probably spent some time looking at other peoples scrapbook pages for ideas and inspiration. I'm sure you have admired the colorful papers and embellishments, and journaling, but I am willing to bet that the pages that truly 'grabbed' your heart the most were the ones with one or two quality photos where the photos were the star of the page. Right?

So now let's think about this.... What makes a quality "photo" vs. a snapshot?

Here are some really high-level, simple rules that will immediately improve most photos:

1. Fill the frame with the main subject. Get close or zoom in.
2. Take candid shots instead of rigidly posed shots.
3. Take the photo at a fun angle. Don't take a picture standing with the camera straight on every time. Tilt the camera, hold it high and have the subject look up, hold it low and angle up to the subject. Get down on the ground with kids and pets.
4. Don't force a smile. The most moving images are when the person has a natural expression.
5. Catch mid-giggle pics of kids.
6. Make sure there is lots of natural light. Avoid the harsh light of the flash whenever possible. Daylight with the subject near a window works great or outdoors on overcast days or at sunrise/sunset when the light gives the subject a warm glow.
7. Don't center the subject in every shot. Move the camera so that the main subject is off to one side. Also, don't center horizon lines when taking outdoor shots. Follow the "Rule of Thirds".
8. Use interesting crops to show just a portion of the photo, like maybe the whole body without the head in the frame, or just show the hands or feet.

and more...

Please check back to this blog for photography tips on how to take better photos part 2 coming soon.

Here is an example of some pages found on flickr that I think exemplify some of the tips mentioned above(permission to blog granted by the owners):

Sweet Tender Moments Digital Scrapbook Page by Christine Smith
Originally uploaded by Christine_Smith

Cute Digital Scrapbook Page by Christine Smith
Originally uploaded by Christine_Smith

Kitty 6"x6" scrapbook page
Originally uploaded by smiling.jessica

The pages above, IMHO, are embellished in a way to bring the photo more attention vs. draw attention from it. The memory is the foremost subject of the page, and that is what tugs at our hearts, makes us smile, or gives us warm fuzzies!

More tips coming soon! Subscribe to get automatic updates!

Super Smart Unmounted Rubber Stamps Storage!

2008-03-03T23:02:00.000-08:00

All of us diehard stamp-o-holics tend to accumulate an abundance of unmounted rubber art stamps as we progress deeper and deeper into our stamping obsession. We all start out buying one or two mounted stamps, and before long we have large storage bins or shelves full. Then we move on to the "hard stuff"... Unmounted rubber stamps.

At first you say, "I'll just buy one". Then you say, "Well, they cost so much less than mounted, I can get two for the price of one, so I will get two." The next thing you know you are up to buying whole sheets at a time.

One day you will stop and take a long hard look around you and discover you are up to your ears in unmounted rubber stamps and that it is a real pain to dig through the pile to find just the one you want. What to do? What to do?

Well, I found this wonderful YouTube video from pinkcatstudio that has storage solutions that are pure genius!

Check it out:

Note regarding the CD jewel cases...A responder to the video post wrote, "This is a well made well presented video. One word of caution CD cases and similar storage methods are highly acidic. Over a number of years this could cause your stamps to deteriorate."

I cannot say for sure if this is true, but it might be. A possible solution might be to use heave archival paper to line the case??? I am not sure, but for a temp solution, it sounds great to me.

I think I'm gonna dig this metal clay stuff...

2008-03-01T07:37:00.000-08:00

I have made beaded jewelry & mixed media jewelry for years, but what I really wanted to make is what I really like to wear - Silver Jewelry. I have looked into metalsmithing classes and working with Sterling silver, but it all seemed to overwhelming and time consuming, and I already am running low on time most days. So, I thought silver was out of the question.

Then a few years ago I started hearing about this stuff called "Precious Metal Clay" or "PMC". I heard you formed it just like clay & then fired it in a kiln and it turned in to 99.9% pure silver. Say what?! No metalsmithing classes required? No scary jewelers saws and bench-vises needed? No smelting & pouring of molten hot liquids? Yahoo!!

The I started checking in to it and it seemed like such a big investment to try a hobby I didn't know that I would be good at... $700 kiln, $300 for a 1-day class at my local bead store or college, $80 tumbler, $200 in misc tools, shapers & files, and then the ongoing expense of the clay in it's various forms... It's not that cheap - It is silver, ya know? And, on top of that, I heard the jewelry was really soft & semi-fragile and the clay shrunk un-predictably when firing so rings were not recommended, which is of course, what I wanted to make the most.

Another couple of years past before I took a second look at this media. There was now more choices. There was another manufacturer "Art Clay", and there was "Low-Fire clay" that cintered (became solid silver) at a temperture & speed that allowed it to be fired easily by a $40 torch vs. $800 kiln. On top of that, the shrinkage was lower and predictable. The resulting fired metal was stronger. And there was "Slow-Dry clay" that allowed more working time to make things that are more time consuming such as rings. YAHOO for real this time!

So I bought a book called "The Art of Metal Clay" by Sherri Haab. The next thing I knew, I had ordered a starter kit. And I made my first pieces. OK, not perfect, but it was silver, it was made by me, and I was hooked.

Fast forward to now... I now have invested in that $700 Paragon kiln and the aforementioned tools & tumbler because working with these items expands what I am able to do with the media & is frankly faster & easiler on the carpal-tunnel so I can make more pieces.

Little by little I am learning how to read the material and keep the moisture of the clay just right & how to work it in the fragile 'greenware' stage. I have learned what stones & types of glass can be fired in the kiln with the clay. And I am learning how to antique with Liver of Sulfer patina and bring the silver to a shine with polishing.

I really am beggining to love this media with only a few negatives...

There is a learning curve if you want to make quality, detailed pieces.
It is a bit costly and as the cost of silver rises, it will only get worse.
It is not metalsmithing, but it helps to learn some basic metalsmithing techniques.
It is takes quite a bit of time to make a highly detailed & polished piece.
It a bit dusty and dirty. You should wear a high-quality dust mask and goggles and work in a well ventalated area.
It's addicting

So far I have only made pieces for myself and family to learn this new skill, but am now working on some pendants that will be for sale through my Etsy store soon. Please keep an eye out! Thanks!

So that is my story regarding silver clay. If you would like to give it a try, all of the supplies listed above in BOLD and more are available from the links and "I recommend" shopping widget on the sidebar of this blog.

They say the first one is the hardest...

2008-02-29T20:58:00.000-08:00

Hi. This is my first blog entry here. What to say? What to say? Um, well... maybe I'll just share a bit about me and my plans for this space and go from there, 'K?

I'm Lisa and I do art n' stuff in my home studio. Yes, my 'studio' is sometimes my dining room as you can tell from the picture.

I'm a long-time art lover living near Seattle with my husband and four furry kids (cats). I have a "real job" from 9 to 5 and then I have a "semi-real" job running my own art business, www.kamerakat.com. I say "semi-real" because I am still a newbie business owner and still working out the kinks and because the work is all fun stuff, so how can it be a 'job", ya know?

This blog will feature blips & tips about the things I love, like...

Cats
Beads
Drawing
Painting
Photoshop
Writing Music
Scrapbooking
Graphic Design
Rubberstamping
Art Clay Silver/Precious Metal Clay Jewelry
Knitting (OK. I admit it. I cheat and use looms)
and whatever else strikes my fancy at the moment

Anyone who know's me is saying "But, what about photography?" after reading the list above. Well, that is so much a part of what I do, it get's it own blog, Kamera Kat Studio Photoblogography .

Thanks for reading my intro. I will be adding some cool stuff soon. Please subscribe to get automatic updates when the content changes! Ciao 4 now!