Designing Women

   I just got out of bed this afternoon at 3:16. (Too many late nights.  No not out drinking.... out PMCing.)   It has been a whirlwind weekend that was soooo much fun.  Several friends of mine from TN, came up this weekend to work in metal clay at my new studio.   I met them a year ago when we all came together from different areas to take a Level I Certification class in PMC.  There were five of us in that class and we all hit it off so well that we rented a cottage together and went back to class last June to take our Level 2 Certification and an enameling class.  We are going to come together again this spring to do the PMC retreat at Arrowmont.  

    Two 0f the girls wanted to learn about designing their own jewelry, instead of just following directions to make something someone else designed.   We discussed the elements and principles of design and a variety of techniques for use in generating ideas.  Then I gave them a list of assignments they could try out.  

   Time was short, but we burned the midnight oil and created several pieces of jewelry.  The major piece for both of them were pendants.   They both used magazine photos for design inspiration in their pieces.  

   Donna found a picture of a spiral staircase in a Smithsonian magazine for her inspiration and Nancy found hers in an advertisement for Charmin.  (It was the cute little puppies that drew her attention first.)  They drew up designs, tried variations on them and finalized their ideas with a drawing of what they wanted their piece to look like.  Most of this process was done well into the morning hours on Saturday morning.  After a couple hours of sleep (literally) we headed to the studio to bring their designs into being.  When we got home from the studio, it just kept on going as they learned how to make a Photopolymer plate.  Another late night ensued.  (I'm too old for this late night stuff..... but it sure was fun!)

    These designing women learned how to create a piece of metal clay jewelry from inception to completion.  In the words of Candace Olson "How divine!"