RE-ARRANGING DECK CHAIRS ON THE TITANIC

This is representative of my day today.

They started out so promisingly.

Not much to show for a whole day of work.  

Well, it was one of those days where you should stay in bed or go to Starbucks and read a book all day.  It started the day with a cute idea for some simple bronze, tribal style earrings.  I cut the bronze sheet out, gave them a nice hammered texture, and finished them nicely.  I finished the first pair easily even though I haven't done any soldering since my hand surgery.  I did a fine job with the soldering (admittedly, it was a simple job) which made me happy after so long of a hiatus.  I pickled them to clean them up and lovingly polished them.  That's when I noticed that I had soldered the ear wires onto the wrong side.  ARRGH!  Ok, no problem, reheat, remove the wires, grind off the solder, pickle, rinse, make new ear wires because I mangled the first ones, flux, solder the new findings in place, clean them up.  That's when I realized that I hated how they hang in the ears.  It's amazing that I didn't throw them against the wall.  I stopped and started working out my problem in a sketch book and I think I have a good solution.  I started to disassemble them again but had to run off to an appointment.  So basically here's what I finished today in 6 hours.  Impressive, no? Just not in a good way!  I think maybe I'm a bit rusty.  I should be able to knock out several pairs of a simple thing like these in an afternoon.  I guess I'm going to have to find my groove again.  It's ok though.  I strongly believe that these kind of afternoons are the real work of what we do, a sort of way of working out the stuff we can't work out on paper.  Tomorrow is another day and I'm sure it will go much more smoothly.  Pictures of what happens next tomorrow!

MAY THE ROAD RISE TO MEET YOU

I love St. Patrick's Day.  Though it is still cold outside, it always seems like the real beginning of spring to me.  There are bulbs coming up in the yard and the birds are singing louder and there seem to be more of them lately.
It's been a busy winter, full of travel and healing.  My hand has healed nicely and I'm so grateful to my surgeon and my physical therapist.  I spent time in Albuquerque taking two workshops at Rio Grande and then on to the gem shows in Tucson.

Peter Gilroy, demonstrating the Bonny Doon Press.

A few of the things we made in Peter's class.  

My first workshop at Rio was a hydraulic forming class with Peter Gilroy.  It was nice for me as using a press was completely out of my comfort zone.  I learned a lot and mostly that I need to learn a lot more.  There is a lot I could do with a press, especially cutting out blanks.  I may have myself talked into buying a press, but they're not cheap, so I'm shopping around.  I think my best choices are the press that Rio sells (Bonny Doon) and one of the presses from Kevin Potter at Potter USA.  If anyone has any advice for me, I'd love it!

 Bill Fretz, demonstrating an anti-clastic bracelet.

 Maybe my favorite thing I learned all week, the Mobius Strip.  A Mobius Strip is a surface with only one side.  If you're interested or geeky (like my husband) check out the link to learn the origins of the Mobius Strip.

 Synclastic and anti-clastic bracelets and rings.  

This is an anti-clast that we made as the closure of a bracelet, but I'm making these as pendants with gems closed up inside. 

My second workshop was with the rock star of hammers, Bill Fretz himself.  Most of you who love tools (like me) know who this is.  Bill makes the most beautiful hammers known to man.  I picked up several more in Tucson the week after our class, but more on that next time.  Bill rarely teaches, so I knew that I had to grab my chance when it came along.  The workshop was on forming with hammers and stakes.  My experience with stakes was limited, and again they aren't cheap so I didn't own too many.  I was amazed at how much easier forming anti-clastic and synclastic shapes are to make with the right stakes.  This class was one of those rare moments that changed everything about how I work.  I loved forming before and now I'm obsessed.  I'll post some pictures of what I've made since Bill's workshop later on, as well as pictures of my Tucson treasures.

I CARRY YOUR HEART

A heart-shaped stone that I found on a beach in Cambria, California.

i carry your heart with me ~ e.e. cummings

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in

my heart)i am never without it(anywhere

i go you go,my dear;and whatever is done

by only me is your doing,my darling)

                                                      i fear

no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want

no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)

and it’s you are whatever a moon has always meant

and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows

higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)

and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

BEAD & BUTTON 2013

 Metal Clay Tube-Bead Bracelet #B130586 

 Metal Etching 101 #B130417, #B130586, #B131713
(3 different sessions)

 Metal Clay Embellished Bracelet #B130590

 Mixed-Metal Layered Acid-Etched Earrings #B130574

Etched and Riveted Metal Bracelet #B130788

It's only 144 days until the biggest jewelry spectacle on the planet.  Of course I'm talking about The Bead & Button Show held every June in Milwaukee.  Registration for classes opens January 8th at noon Central Time.  If you are planning to attend, then you've already been poring over the ample class catalog.  This years offerings look great, as always.  This will be my second year teaching at the show.  I taught last years' classes with my great friend and teaching partner Gail Lannum.  Gail and I really enjoy teaching together.  We both have different strengths and we have a lot of fun together.  Last year was so great.  The students were fun and eager and Gail and I had a blast teaching at such a venerable show.  The show was kind enough to have us back, so we're doing it all over again.  This year we're teaching 7 classes (yes, we are crazy!)  All of our classes are appropriate for beginners (one of the bonuses of having 2 teachers is that we can give students more attention) but they will be challenging enough for experienced students as well.  Students will walk away with finished pieces from all of our classes.
Our classes include a silver clay bracelet that combines lampwork with leather, 3 acid-etching 101 technique classes, a bracelet class that combines acid-etching, silver clay and riveting, an earring class that combines acid-etching and metal fabrication, and a bracelet class that combines acid-etching, riveting and metal fabrication. Wow, are we gonna be tired?  It's going to be a great week of jewelry technique and fun and we would love to see you in one or more of our classes!  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at: jewelry@cristinaleonard.com

2013

Happy New Year everyone!  I hope the new year finds you all happy and healthy.  It's been a hard year for so many people, but I suppose that's how it will always be.  I hope all who have lost so much find some peace in the upcoming days and weeks.
The year has been an interesting one for me personally.  My hand surgery taught me, I hope to be a bit more patient.  Happily, that's behind me and I'm working again. Making things with my hands is the thing besides my family and friends that brings me the most happiness in the world.  I'm taking it slow but it feels incredible to work without crippling pain in my hand.  I'm not pain free yet, but I feel sure that it's coming.
The past year included lots of travel for shows and vacations.  One of the highlights was a wonderful trip with Paul and my little sister Jamie up the California coast.  We had a spectacular time, every day was a new adventure.  Paul and I are hoping we can talk her into another trip this year.
This year I'll travel to Tucson again for the spectacle that is collectively known as the Gem Show.  I've been there several times and it never gets old.  Paul and I lived there during his internship and we really like going back. Right before that I'll be in Albuquerque for two classes at Rio Grande.  I'll also be going to Miami to see my wonderful friend Gigi sometime this winter or early spring.  In June I'll be at the Bead and Button Show teaching 7 classes and before that to hopefully take a class as well. I look forward to seeing many of you there.  That's the first half of the year, who knows what will unfold in the second half?  Lots of good times and laughs I hope.  I wish that for all of you too!

BACK TO WORK

I'm happy today, not just because it's Christmas, but that rocks too! I've finally gotten the ok from my wonderful physical therapist Laurie, to get back to doing a little work. Happy Day!!!!  The piece above is a Christmas gift for my sister Jamie.  I also made a commission piece for a lady who's been patiently (I hope) waiting for it almost 2 months.   The same day I made a couple of pairs of earrings for my other sister Cindi.  The hardest thing was the wire wrapped loops on the earrings.  My hand was sore and tired by the end but it felt so good to get back to work.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Lily Leonard

I want to take a moment to wish all of my family, friends, students, and customers a very  happy and safe holiday season.  I hope you are having a happy and bright time!