tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49761090683616479462024-02-06T20:09:26.761-06:00Cristina Leonard Artisan JewelryCristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.comBlogger387125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-69611487834674742332017-01-03T12:56:00.000-06:002017-01-03T12:56:13.811-06:00SIGN-UP BEGINS TODAY!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0OahLjI6G6ipEk_B5GqpbY-CQxpIh_nsAfQYMJJuoykOQKJwxA-JUUETMaqWCWbRtdH-W2cXaFyEuL1It8Ji_h1gceWDFtUGNCUQpOBqOCNBPYkp0MRC5wAfWBjOZ3nt38eHtm4zbhA/s1600/Buttercup+Earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0OahLjI6G6ipEk_B5GqpbY-CQxpIh_nsAfQYMJJuoykOQKJwxA-JUUETMaqWCWbRtdH-W2cXaFyEuL1It8Ji_h1gceWDFtUGNCUQpOBqOCNBPYkp0MRC5wAfWBjOZ3nt38eHtm4zbhA/s320/Buttercup+Earrings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Want to give soldering a go? This ones for you! #B170742</div>
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Sign-ups begin today for classes at the 2017 Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee in June. </div>
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Have you always wanted to give metal work a try? My co-teacher Gail and I are offering several classes this year to help you do just that. We will have classes featuring soldering, fabrication, forging and metal clay. Whether you're a beginner or further a long please give our classes a look. Check them out<a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/store?date=&time=&techniques=&skillLevel=&teacher=T792&price=&classType=&q="> here</a>. We'd love to see you in June!<a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/store?date=&time=&techniques=&skillLevel=&teacher=T792&price=&classType=&q="> www.beadandbuttonshow.com</a></div>
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-89343222331014593072016-12-20T11:00:00.000-06:002016-12-20T11:01:52.753-06:00CLASSES<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Buttercup Earrings in Silver and Bronze (B170742) </div>
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Dangling Bead Earrings (B170751)</div>
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PMC Fine Silver Bracelet (B170678)</div>
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Fine-Silver Shadow Box Pendant (B170704)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8kur2Xlh1sybXR7gHMfdrXb3ZC6o2tnO_zPiUsGS5oSgNV2P-NwqBYfi_N9pnLU4nzRH2tyQr0ilQ24hgRWj04yOzI1jT5nzEB5vz2zhQC7wYi8z4s_iZpPQ_OTwySd3_D7hz433QNY/s1600/Scratch+Foam+Earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8kur2Xlh1sybXR7gHMfdrXb3ZC6o2tnO_zPiUsGS5oSgNV2P-NwqBYfi_N9pnLU4nzRH2tyQr0ilQ24hgRWj04yOzI1jT5nzEB5vz2zhQC7wYi8z4s_iZpPQ_OTwySd3_D7hz433QNY/s320/Scratch+Foam+Earrings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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PMC Fine Silver Earrings with Scratch Foam (B170688)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTyuQ6XJSBlDjwPFLRgGsEX4QpTIbqeHdVmNy-SYO8aAXFQ1FhjEhejY4aam1MuVtI8ftPJU3Lp-0WxnhRdgsymHLD8IzuQQ-5EnbovluUAdg6eBPsexPNbpY3Kl82rrSl2IsO0wN8PA/s1600/Twisted+Bracelets.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTyuQ6XJSBlDjwPFLRgGsEX4QpTIbqeHdVmNy-SYO8aAXFQ1FhjEhejY4aam1MuVtI8ftPJU3Lp-0WxnhRdgsymHLD8IzuQQ-5EnbovluUAdg6eBPsexPNbpY3Kl82rrSl2IsO0wN8PA/s320/Twisted+Bracelets.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Twisted Bronze Bracelets (B170850)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8b91doJp6A76j3SOeW8e0OD-GLoZnmesFcUqalInXl2xxsg1KKuEiyU_mt1frJOqOW6JX0aNXDpjCy9hx6h276qYI904cvv3Xrkp6GyYGP1UoJ6bwNEezkJkLqMbTXLeaacN7xPkEkE/s1600/Bronze+Silver+Earrings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS8b91doJp6A76j3SOeW8e0OD-GLoZnmesFcUqalInXl2xxsg1KKuEiyU_mt1frJOqOW6JX0aNXDpjCy9hx6h276qYI904cvv3Xrkp6GyYGP1UoJ6bwNEezkJkLqMbTXLeaacN7xPkEkE/s320/Bronze+Silver+Earrings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Boho-Chic Disc Earrings ( B170927)</div>
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It's that time again! Today online browsing for the 2017 <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/">Bead &Button Show </a>opens. This means that you can see the photos and class descriptions online, where more complete information than what's in the catalog is located. My teaching partner and friend, <a href="http://gaillannum.blogspot.com/">Gail Lannum </a>and I are back this year with some brand new classes and a couple of past favorites. Online registration opens January 3rd at noon central time. You'll have until then to peruse the catalog or delve more deeply into the class descriptions online. If you have any questions regarding our classes, please feel free to contact me for more information. We hope to see you in Milwaukee!</div>
Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-59585371229488441512016-11-23T01:22:00.001-06:002016-11-23T01:22:39.901-06:00THANKFUL<div>
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I haven't been here in a long while but got a nice surprise that I thought I'd share. I was away last weekend and when I checked my Facebook feed I found that the Society of North American Goldsmiths chose me for their maker profile of the week. When you work alone, as so many of us do, it's easy to think that no one appreciates your work or even sees it. This was a nice way to start a week that's focus is being thankful. <div>
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See my profile here: <a href="http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/members/cpleon/">Cristina Leonard SNAG Maker Profile</a><a href="https://www.blogger.com/%3Ciframe%20src=%22https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpermalink.php%3Fstory_fbid%3D1258411234201855%26id%3D186022181440771%26substory_index%3D0&width=500%22%20width=%22500%22%20height=%22504%22%20style=%22border:none;overflow:hidden%22%20scrolling=%22no%22%20frameborder=%220%22%20allowTransparency=%22true%22%3E%3C/iframe%3E"> </a><br /><div>
See the latest SNAG Newsletter here: <a href="http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?m=1101615137555&ca=bf566ca3-c85f-41f1-9741-6d72d98f60f9">Riveting News</a></div>
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-88924518020479948682016-01-03T22:53:00.001-06:002016-01-03T23:02:20.705-06:002016 CLASS SIGN-UP!It's that time again. Although June seems so far away, it will be here before we know it. Tuesday, January 5th at noon central sign-ups for the 2016 Bead & Button Show begin. I'm so pleased to be teaching again with my teaching partner and friend, <a href="http://gaillannum.blogspot.com/">Gail Lannum</a>. This year we're teaching four classes that we're really excited about. Please have a look and feel free to contact me with any questions you might have. I can be reached here at the blog comments or at <a href="mailto:jewelry@cristinaleonard.com">jewelry@cristinaleonard.com</a>.<br />
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Monday, June 6th-Treasure Necklace</div>
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This class combines metal clay techniques such as carving, scratch foam, molding, etc. with design and assembly. Students will have a great opportunity to work with PMC 960 (a high karat silver that is a combination of PMC3 and PMC Sterling),beads, wire and chain and leave with a finished necklace. </div>
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To learn more about this class click <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/store/class/b160397">here</a>.</div>
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Tuesday, June 7th-Shadow Box Pendant</div>
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This is one of my favorite metal clay projects. Again we'll be using 960 for its superior strength and beauty. Students will have 50 grams of silver to work with and will leave with at least one completed pendant. </div>
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For more information on this class click <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/store/class/b160395">here</a>. </div>
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Wednesday, June 8th-Twisted Bronze Bow Tie Bangle</div>
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This is a new take on one of my all-time favorite pieces of jewelry to make and wear. Students will have ample time to make multiple bracelets, which is great because they are so much fun to wear. In this class we'll learn to make the hot twisted wire for the bracelets and well as forming, fabricating, and riveting. This is one not to be missed!</div>
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For information on this class click<a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/store/class/b160403"> here</a>.</div>
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Thursday, June 9th-Scratch Foam Charms</div>
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Scratch Foam is a type of sheet Styrofoam often used for print-making and other art applications. It's cheap and easy to use as a mold making medium for metal clay charms. Students will have 25 grams of PMC 3 which will make many, many charms, pendants and earring or bracelet components. There will be plenty of time to assemble our charms into finished pieces.</div>
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For more information click <a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshow.com/store/class/b160399">here</a>.</div>
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-4053833527353312582015-04-16T00:24:00.002-05:002015-04-16T00:25:35.215-05:00OUT OF FOCUS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Springtime. I have a lot to do and I can't seem to focus. I need to get new work done for upcoming shows and my shop. I need to get out into the yard and clean up the beds. II need to spring clean my house. I did at least get my heirloom tomatoes planted last week, all 72 of them. If anyone needs plants in a few weeks let me know :-)<br />
I've been working on new ideas that I'm excited about and revisiting and reworking older ideas, like the bracelets above. The bracelets are a mix of brass, sterling (a lot of it!), and argentium silver. I'm quite fond of them as they are very comfortable to wear and I love the imagery of the dragonfly. I'm making matching earrings and pendants and all of it will be in my shop soon.<br />
Photos of more new work soon.Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-17016342268252223652015-02-27T18:39:00.000-06:002015-02-27T18:39:09.060-06:00LLAP<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's strange when a celebrity dies. We didn't know them, but we sometimes felt as if we did. This morning when I heard that Leonard Nimoy had passed away, I, like so many others was left mourning someone that I had never met. Leonard Nimoy was a very artistic person who aside from being an actor was a director, a poet, photographer, and a musician among many other things. Of course most of us remember him as Mr. Spock. I remember being very young and sitting with my Dad and my older sister watching Star Trek and then later racing home to watch the reruns with her and also my little sister. I was just a young kid, but I knew, even then that they were trying to send me a larger message with those episodes. The show was a basic good versus evil drama cloaked in the shroud of space travel, but it was so much more. Besides the idea that we could travel out beyond the confines of our own atmosphere looking for new places and lifeforms, there was the notion that it was done not with the idea of conquering worlds but in the name of science and knowledge. There was the idea that everyone was valuable no matter what color they were (green, purple, tentacles, it didn't matter). Women were officers on the ship and their opinions were valuable (even though Mr. Roddenberry preferred them in really short dresses). Star Trek suggested a future where disease, civil war, and money were vestiges of society's troubled past. The people in Star Trek were flawed, brash (think Captain Kirk) and often lead by their emotions (yes, even Mr. Spock). Each crew member had their weaknesses and strengths. Still, they sought to do the right thing and mostly, it worked out in the end.<br />
This afternoon, Paul and I were talking about Nimoy's death. Paul, who grew up loving Star Trek and in particular Mr. Spock, told me about when he was a kid and would practice in his room raising his eyebrow like Mr. Spock until he could do it perfectly (he still can). More importantly, he told me that Star Trek was one of the reasons that he wanted to (and did) become a scientist. I wonder how many other kids were similarly inspired? Many, I'm sure. Not a bad legacy for a short running show and a handful of actors. I hope that knowledge made the years of wearing the funny haircut and pointy ears well worth it. Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-68089994820586489092015-02-25T01:19:00.000-06:002015-02-25T01:27:25.078-06:00WINTERIt's been a busy six months. In that time Paul and I had an amazing trip to Paris and London (I've been meaning to post photos of that trip, but have been daunted by the sheer scope of the amount of photos I must sift through. I will do it soon), then the holidays and then off to Albuquerque for a workshop and then on to Tucson for the gem shows (I will also post pictures of my time in Tucson soon as well).<br />
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It's almost March and I don't know where the winter has gone. It's been a pretty brutal season for the eastern U.S. and I hope the worst is over for them. I know a lot of people don't like it, but I've always had a love for winter. I love the snow and though I sometimes dislike the lingering cold I try to embrace it as just part of this wonderful place that I'm lucky to live in (Full disclosure: I haven't as much patience for the hottest days of summer. Just ask my family!). When the weather is nice enough I love to put on my Yak Tracks and get out and walk the trails and take pictures of the beauty that is all around us.<br />
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My sisters and I were lucky enough to have had parents that taught us to appreciate and love the natural world around us. One of the things I love in the winter is the return of the Bald Eagle to much of the Midwest. I had never seen a Bald Eagle until I was in my late 20's. When I was a kid Bald Eagles were on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and the use of DDT which caused the thinning of bird of prey's eggshells, causing their populations to severely decline. Since the ban on the use of DDT in the 1970's, eagle populations are on the rise to the point that the Bald eagle has been removed from the Endangered Species List. Now, in this one spot there are dozens of them that stay the winter.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Today, I walked to a spot where the eagles congregate along the Iowa River. They seem to like this area, probably because fish are plentiful there near the dam. They're beautiful and majestic, but actually funny too. They engage with each other and sometimes seem to be playing games of tag in the sky. I never tire of watching them. I could have stayed for hours but the wind finally chased me away. </span><br />
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-38547248610249687952015-01-09T12:05:00.000-06:002015-01-09T12:05:12.969-06:00MY FUNNY VALENTINE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A small sampling of heart-themed jewelry from my shop</div>
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I can't believe Christmas has come and gone. I was pretty busy with the lead up to Christmas (making, listing and sending of gifts for the lovely people who bought things from me) plus having fun with my family. Does the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas get shorter every year, or is it my imagination? I think there should be a new rule that we move Christmas to about the 2nd week of January. Yeah, maybe not. That kind of talk could get me into all kinds of trouble with multiple religious groups.<br />
On to Valentine's Day. I'm trying to be on the ball this year and get as many heart themed necklaces, pendants, earrings and charms listed as I can in for anyone wishing to buy a gift for their sweetheart. I usually get around to this the first week of February, so I'm trying to be ahead of the game. I know, shocking. If you are in need of something special for your main squeeze or yourself, please check out my shop <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/cristinaleonard">here</a>. ❤<br />
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<a href="http://www.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/b153014.html">Forged and Twisted Bronze Bracelets, Earrings and Rings</a></div>
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Registration for classes at the 2015 Bead & Button Show opens at noon Central Time on Tuesday, January 6th. My friend and teaching partner<a href="http://gaillannum.blogspot.com/"> Gail Lannum </a>and I are excited to be offering 3 classes and one workshop this year. Gail and I really enjoy teaching and we always have a lot of fun in our classes, plus, we present a lot of technique. We will be teaching a mixture of fabrication and metal clay classes. We'd love to have you come join us! To view our class listings please click on the links below each picture or <a href="http://search.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/beadandbuttonshow/default.aspx?searchtext=Cristina+Leonard&mode=search">here</a> to view our class schedule by day. </div>
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-85760546031113509972014-12-24T00:14:00.000-06:002014-12-27T17:03:51.862-06:00PEACE, LOVE AND ABUNDANCE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/b1qb-p05EBM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1qb-p05EBM">Click here to play on mobile device</a></div>
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I sincerely hope that the anvil wasn't a present for any of my metalsmithing friends or they're going to be a bit disappointed. <br />
I hope the holidays find you all happy and safe and warm. I wish you all peace, love and abundance throughout the coming year!<br />
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The life so short, the craft so long to learn</div>
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I have this quote by Geoffrey Chaucer carved onto the front of a workbench in my workshop. I've always liked the quote. I first saw it years ago carved on a piece of Arts and Crafts Roycroft furniture and it immediately resonated with me. The quote's origins are even older than Chaucer's usage though, as it was widely used by Roman and Greek writers as early as the 3rd Century B.C. The original Latin quote is translated as "art is long, life is short". I've always thought of it as a kind of 'carpe diem' for crafts people. </div>
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Someone posted this quote on Facebook today and it started me thinking about time. Sometimes I worry that time is flying by and I'll never be able to find the time to learn all of the things and skills that I want to. That's, I suppose a negative interpretation of the thought carved onto my bench. That kind of thinking doesn't really do much (for me anyway) except for paralysing me, as in "why bother, there's not enough time anyway". I prefer to think of it as you can't do anything unless you do something. It's not easy sometimes to feel creative on a schedule, but sitting in your workspace and doing something, even a repetitive task leads to bigger ideas. So, on the days where I don't feel a creative muse, I get my butt in the chair and I do something, after all, life is short and there's a lot to learn.</div>
Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-12195510173401183802014-08-20T00:30:00.000-05:002014-08-20T00:30:05.708-05:00BRUCEMORE GARDEN AND ART SHOW 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Above are photos of just a few of the new things I'll have at the Brucemore Garden and Art Show this Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Brucemore is a National Trust property whose 26 acre gardens and 19th century mansion house are open to the public. It's really a special place and if you are local and you haven't visited, you really should. The annual Garden and Art Show is this Saturday, August 23rd, from 9am-4pm. There will be over 60 artist vendors (including myself), lots of garden themed educational talks and demonstrations, guided tours of the gardens and the house and lots of great food. I love doing this show. It's a highlight of my year. Please stop by and see me (and my handsome helper, Paul). I'll be located near the visitors center right across from the food vendor (yay!)<br />
For more information and directions to Brucemore, please click<a href="https://www.brucemore.org/events/calendar/2014/08/23/brucemore-garden-art-show"> here</a>.<br />
<a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 231px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2492px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/" style="background-image: url(data:image/png; border: none; cursor: pointer; display: none; height: 20px; left: 231px; line-height: 0; min-height: 20px; min-width: 40px; opacity: 0.85; position: absolute; top: 2492px; width: 40px; z-index: 8675309;"></a>Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-50808371084257682892014-04-19T22:13:00.000-05:002014-04-19T22:13:06.919-05:00HAPPY EASTER TO MY PEEPS! (see what I did there?)<br />
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Happy Easter to all! I hope you spend it with family and friends. Spring seems to be finally here. There are pretties coming up in the yard. I'm itching to get out there, but I've been working hard in the studio. I think I've earned so time outside next week. Sad that my reward for hard work is more work! Now, hopefully the weather will be fine!Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-40249215685788449482014-04-02T16:22:00.002-05:002014-04-02T20:10:37.779-05:00SPRING AND ALL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a while since I've posted. Not sure how that happened! Anyway, I stopped by to wish you all Happy Spring! Now, I know that today is not the first day of spring. That happened about ten days ago.<br />
Today, for some reason, it finally feels like spring to me. The air smells different, there are things coming up in the yard. Also, today is the day that I start my seeds for my vegetable garden. Some people start them a bit earlier, but I find that the seedlings do better if they aren't left under the artificial lights too long. They get kind of leggy. Funny how they know that the light that they are growing under isn't really the sun. Just like we all hunger for the feeling of the sunlight on our skin so do they.<br />
So today I'm taking a break from making jewelry to get my hands dirty, in a different way than I usually do. Often in the fall, after all of the work is done and the snow begins to fall, I feel like maybe the garden is too much work, that maybe I just wont do it next year. Then spring comes around. This day, April 2nd is the day that was my Dad's birthday. On this day (and on every other) I think about my Dad and my Mom, who loved being outside probably above almost anything else. I know that's why I do too. So, on this early spring day any of those thoughts from November blow away with a gust of spring wind. Strange how that happens. :-)Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-48524565352922559342014-01-13T20:33:00.000-06:002014-01-16T01:22:31.542-06:00TOOLS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I found this little treasure on eBay recently. It arrived today. It's a mallet with what I think is a hickory handle and a cow horn. They've fallen out of favor in the last few decades in favor of rawhide and Delrin mallets that are common on the market. These hammers have been made since Paleolithic times and were probably used much like a chasing hammer in that they were used to strike a tool and not the object being worked. Hammers like the one above are great for getting into small spaces to form annealed metals and to gently form bezels on a mandrel. I was excited to find such a relic on eBay but I really would like to try my hand at making one. I found these cool instructions on<a href="http://www.alberic.net/Toolbox_Index/page28/page28.html"> Brian Meek's website</a>. Check out his beautiful jewelry while you're there.<br />
I love antique tools. I have a pair of my Dad's pliers that belonged to my Grandpa and then to Dad, several old jewelry hammers that I've found at actions, an old Archimedes drill found on eBay, some old watch makers tools from a garage sale, an antique awl with pearl handle given to me by my friend Karen, to mention a few. I like to think of the people who owned these tools and the things they made. I like to think about who they might have been and what they thought about while they were working. I wonder if someone will think about me someday when they're using my tools. Not for a long time I hope :-)<br />
<br />Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-80368600941695522332014-01-06T21:51:00.001-06:002014-01-06T21:52:26.132-06:00BEAD & BUTTON SHOW SIGN UP TIME!<br />
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If you'll be attending the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee this June I hope you'll check out the classes that <a href="http://gaillannum.blogspot.com/">Gail Lannum</a> and I will be teaching. Class signups begin tomorrow (January 7th) at noon central time. If you're a jewelry maker or a jewelry lover and you haven't been to this amazing show it's something I hope you get to do.</div>
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Please check out our class listings <a href="http://search.beadandbuttonshowstore.com/beadandbuttonshow/default.aspx?searchtext=cristina+leonard&mode=search">here</a>.</div>
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-51068783775358880602013-12-31T13:03:00.000-06:002013-12-31T13:03:58.781-06:00HAPPY NEW YEAR<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Photo by the Cassini Spacecraft 2013 (NASA)</div>
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On the cusp of the new year, here's something to ponder. We're alone out here floating in the darkness of our corner of the Universe. Anyone else who may be out here is very far away. So for now, at least, we're all there is. Please take a few minutes to watch Carl Sagan say this far better than anyone else in the Universe could. Happy New Year everyone!</div>
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<a href="http://www.npr.org/blogs/13.7/2013/12/31/258451027/take-four-minutes-to-reflect-on-your-place-in-the-cosmos">Four Minutes To Reflect On Your Place In The Universe</a></div>
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<br />Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-65580117836915952022013-12-30T00:45:00.000-06:002013-12-30T00:48:16.912-06:00TOOL MAKING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before and after</div>
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I got a bunch of old 5 1/2 inch square cut nails a while back at a junk sale. I had to buy them because they were cool and pretty cheap. They're so enormous, that I can't even imagine what these were originally used for, fences or barn beams, I suppose. At any rate, they're pretty awesome. I've been interested in tool making for a long time now. A couple of years ago I took a forging workshop with Tim McCreight (who makes a lot of his own tools) and I had the opportunity to sit down with him an ask him a few questions about tool steel and how to harden it, etc. I bought some tool steel but haven't taken the time to work with it. I ran across these nails the other day while I was reorganizing my studio space (still not done, by the way). I was looking for a reason to procrastinate the job, so I had the idea to see if I could make a tool out of one of the nails. It worked really well. It turns out that, at least to my untrained eye, that these old babies are made from really good steel. I thought I'd make a scribe first as the fabrication is pretty straight forward, in that the goal is to make it as pointy as possible. It took a lot of heat and force to make it malleable enough to twist, so I got a good workout. Since I don't know exactly what type of steel it is, I didn't know exactly how to temper it. After I finished the forging, filing and finishing, I heated it back up, not quite as hot as I initially did when forging it. Again, since I'm using an old piece of steel, I wasn't sure whether to quench in oil or in water. From what I could learn from blacksmithing articles on the Internet, it seems like unknown steel is most safely quenched in oil, so that's what I did. I cleaned the scribe back up and used it tonight to mark a sheet of bronze for sawing. It worked great! The tip stayed intact with no chipping, so I'm assuming that I tempered correctly. If anyone reading this has any experience with old steel that they'd be willing to share with me I'd really appreciate it. The nail makes a very nice scribe that's the perfect weight and length, at least for me. I tried to place the twist so that it'd make the tool easy and secure to grip. plus, it's pretty and I think tools should be nice looking if possible. Next, I'm going to try to make a curved burnishing tool, but only AFTER the studio reorganization is done. I got a new piece of equipment for Christmas that I'm dying to try out and I have to make some room for it. More on that later!Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-72394637859749211612013-12-24T01:56:00.000-06:002013-12-24T01:56:05.489-06:00HAPPY HOLIDAYS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I got in my car last night while we were running last minute errands for Christmas. It was so cold that there was frost on the inside of the windows. As I was waiting impatiently for the defroster to kick in I glanced up and saw this beautiful heart-shaped bit of snow on the outside of my windshield. It gave me pause. It reminded me of how important it is to stop and notice things, because they don't last. There is beauty all around us, all the time. We're all so busy, so focused on what we have to do, on our first-world problems that sometimes it's hard to see it. But it's there, if we choose to see it.<br />
I wish you all, near and far the happiest of holidays. I hope you all will take the time for yourselves to find the beauty in everyday. I know I will.Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-52717216346006500112013-10-29T23:52:00.002-05:002015-04-25T01:30:23.984-05:00ORGANIZE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The finished product. Look at all the room I have for more tools!</div>
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My lovely drawing. </div>
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At the lumber store. We chose Poplar for the cart, which the kid working there kept calling "Popular". I had little confidence in his skill set. </div>
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Paul cutting the wood for my project. He may or may not have been afraid that I'd cut my hand off with the circular saw. He was too nice to say so, however.</div>
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One side done.</div>
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The other side.</div>
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All done, ready to be sanded and stained.</div>
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One coat down, one to go!</div>
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One last rub with steel wool and it was ready to load up.</div>
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Finally, a way to organize that's worthy of my collection of hammers!</div>
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Organize, a verb, according to Webster that is defined as "to arrange into a structured whole; order". This is an elusive concept, at least for me in the workshop, that is. I suppose it's an elusive concept for any of us that create for a living. Especially when what you create involves lots of small bits and parts and lots of tools. Lately I have heard lots of chatter on Facebook on this subject of organization. It might be that autumn makes us think of getting organized for the winter months, a nesting of sorts. I always feel a sense of anticipation this time of year that teeters towards anxiety involving getting things ready for winter.<br />
I decided after my last show at the end of August that my next project would be to once and for all figure out a way to better organize my space. I bought some great metal cabinets for organizing stones and beads. Not only are they functional, they're an awesome shade of lime green that matches the light fixtures that hang over my work table. I'll show you those later on after I get them a bit better organized. I'm getting rid of books and magazines that I no longer need (this one is hard for me!). I'm organizing my bench and tools into a better working state, also a difficult task, but I'm getting there. All of my tools for student use are packed up into a bin so I know where they are when I need them. I have even sorted all of my metals into new bins by type and gauge. The one thing I couldn't buy was some kind of organizer for my hammers. For non-jewelry types I'm sure this sounds funny, as in "why not just toss 'em in a tool box?". Hammers made for metalsmithing have polished faces that need to stay that way if you don't want to transfer dings onto you your work. Plus, many of them are just so pretty that you just can't let them get banged around. I've never found any kind of commercial holder or rack that really served my purpose. I decided the only thing to do was to build my own. I lurked around on Pinterest checking out how other people store their tools and I found a few ideas.<br />
I don't have much experience building things so this was a real challenge for me. I spent some time deciding on size, dimensions and exactly what I wanted to store on it. I did a crude drawing, and I do mean crude! My drafting teacher in college would be so disappointed in me. Paul helped me figure out the dimensions of the lumber I'd need and he also pointed out some flaws in my design that would have made my cart tippy, like the fact that the casters needed to extend beyond the body of the cart. Then off the hardware store we went. Paul cut most of the wood out for me and I built it in about 3 days with applying the finish. I was pretty slow, but at least I didn't make any mistakes. I'm really happy with how it turned out. It's going to make finding the tool I need much easier, plus they look so darn pretty displayed like that!Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-4503163842245982252013-10-06T19:45:00.000-05:002013-10-06T22:02:37.516-05:00COLORS OF EARLY FALL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oak leaf Hydrangea</div>
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Autumn Joy Sedum</div>
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Miscanthus</div>
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Tomatoes</div>
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Today the weather was cold and rainy. It felt like fall is really here. Something different in the air. I love fall, but these early days always make me a little melancholy. I suppose it feels like the end of something instead of the beginning of something. Soon, the sky will be blue, the air will be crisp and hopefully we'll have a really long Indian summer. That's fall in the Midwest. I wish everyone could experience fall the way we do in places where the seasonal change is obvious. The smell of the air, sweaters, pumpkins, apples, the gold of harvested fields against a crystal blue sky. All of these things are a beautiful part of the place that I grew up.<br />
Today I picked what may be the last of the produce from the garden. All that was left were lcouple of eggplant, the rest of the basil and a bunch of tomatoes. Maybe it'll stay warm enough for a few more tomatoes. That would be a bonus.<br />
<br />Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-46236820501099354302013-09-11T00:16:00.000-05:002013-09-11T00:25:56.697-05:00BEAD & BUTTON 2014 PROJECTS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Carved wood and silver pendant and earrings</div>
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Bronze clay necklace</div>
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Metal clay tube bead bracelet</div>
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Hot forged twisted bronze bracelet</div>
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Metal clay embellished bracelet</div>
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Mixed metal layered acid etched earrings</div>
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My great friend and teaching partner, <a href="http://gaillannum.blogspot.com/">Gail Lannum</a> and I are excited about the classes that we submitted for the 2014 Bead & Button Show. Now that they have been accepted I thought I'd post the project photos. We have four brand new classes and two others that were popular from last year. Our classes will be full of hot and cold forging, cold connections, acid etching, metal clay and design. It's going to be a full week and we can't wait!</div>
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-48147270294774168682013-08-21T22:49:00.004-05:002013-09-11T00:26:37.697-05:00BRUCEMORE GARDEN AND ART SHOW<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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BRUCEMORE</div>
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I hope all of my eastern Iowa friends will stop by and see me this Saturday from 9-4 at the Brucemore Garden and Art Show. The show is held annually on the grounds of the beautiful National Trust estate in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. If you've never visited the estate before Saturday would be a great chance to do so. The weather will be fine, the flowers will be in bloom and the will be plenty of art and great food to enjoy. I hope to see you there. For more information on the show or the estate click<a href="http://www.brucemore.org/events/calendar/2013/08/24/brucemore-garden-art-show"> here</a>.</div>
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Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-15248395476120771942013-08-11T23:50:00.001-05:002013-08-11T23:50:23.315-05:00WHAT I DID ON MY SUMMER VACATION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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SCOUT</div>
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Summer has flown by, and wow, has this blog suffered. The Bead and Button Show came and went (and was awesome!) and then teaching partner Gail Lannum and I were on to next years Bead and Button submissions. We are excited about what we came up with and hope the show will be too.<br />
Paul and I added a new kitten to our family this summer. Her name is Scout and she's now 4 months old. She's a real sweetheart too. Best of all Lily gets along well with her, so that's a good thing.<br />
I'm on to designing new work and trying to make that happen in real life. In the days to come I'll post some pics of that as well as images of a couple of new classes I'll be teaching in my studio in Iowa City hopefully in September. For some of you gals that have asked me in the past, yes there will be soldering!<br />
I hope your summer has been great so far!Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4976109068361647946.post-37638656965854927852013-04-26T00:52:00.001-05:002013-04-26T00:52:29.496-05:00FINALLY, SPRING.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Bronze and sterling.</div>
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Bronze, Nickel, Sterling.</div>
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Copper and sterling.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DdzQJgCjDLlCMxH0EAoyezYPaEcb8OZXMbhGoehNPTkexi8uI8_TZeIwmigkIGJhQCiWQ67MttYF6HxjkZ8AF7BSHLQ_w1UUWFgpzTsLGRwgP9fHc8HVFnHqQtjNI5Xk6fnX15xOvg4/s1600/IMG_7305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DdzQJgCjDLlCMxH0EAoyezYPaEcb8OZXMbhGoehNPTkexi8uI8_TZeIwmigkIGJhQCiWQ67MttYF6HxjkZ8AF7BSHLQ_w1UUWFgpzTsLGRwgP9fHc8HVFnHqQtjNI5Xk6fnX15xOvg4/s320/IMG_7305.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Bronze and sterling.</div>
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It looks like spring has finally sprung, though I guess I shouldn't speak too soon. Lots to do in the yard and spring cleaning too. I don't know how 2 people accumulate so much stuff. I feel the load lightening already, with every object that gets carted to Goodwill or the trash. Anyway, today I actually got some jewelry work done and that felt good too. </div>
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More work soon!</div>
Cristina Leonardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09255809453371870496noreply@blogger.com2