Life is a circle

For 13 years I taught elementary art before I transferred to the high school level and finished out my last 22 years there.  Usually I had three elementary schools that I saw each week.  One of them was Oakland Elementary which consisted of K-6 classes.  Oakland was a rural school that sat in the middle of one of those weather centers.  There could be a major blizzard at Oakland, but in town the sun was shining (which meant that school would not be let out early.)  Often whoever had bus duty had to stay until after 5:00 because the buses couldn't get through.  Even though it made for longer days, Oakland was a wonderful school to work in.  The people I worked with were great and the students were great.

I saw about 300 children a week (and in those days I could remember every single child's name...... don't ask me about names now though.)  Surprisingly there are elementary students that I still remember.  One of them from Oakland works with my son.  In the mornings Dan use to carry boxes to all the classrooms for me (there wasn't an art room.)  Dan's wife, Angel was a student there also and I remember her crying when we got a letter back from Andrew Wyeth.  (He painted Christina's World.)

For Christmas this year, Dan wanted a necklace made for Angel that included a pearl they'd gotten at Sea World.  (The pearl was such a pretty teal color.)   How convenient that I had taken Gordon's class on a box ring with pearl.  I kept the design simple and made the necklace reversible but I had to work out a different method for setting the pearl, as it wasn't drilled.  (And I wasn't about to drill the pearl since there was only the one.)  Instead of setting the pearl on a post, I created a small dish to work as a well to hold lots of glue.   This would create more surface for maximum contact with the pearl.

This isn't something I would have done with a ring, but a necklace doesn't take the beating a ring does.  My biggest concern was getting the dish the right size for the pearl (which luckily worked out.)  I torch fired the little dish so I could check it's size and remake it if needed.  My next concern was that it would shift inside the box during firing (but it didn't.)  When Gordon fired our rings, he filled the box with vermiculite to keep them from slumping.  I wasn't able to do that since the dish enclosed the opening.  That was another concern but it all worked out.

At least for this piece, the Jewelry Gods were watching out for me.  I think they were on hiatus when I was doing my wrapped piece!

Box pendant

Last Saturday I taught a box pendant class using a combination of techniques I learned from Gordon Uyehara and from reading Kate McKinnon.

This was the piece I created in the process of demonstrating the techniques.  I had a package of tiny fine silver balls and used those along with some syringe work to embellish the area with the pearl.  (Actually the need to do embellishing came about because I miscalculated when I drilled my holes for hanging.  The pearl was a little too centered for my taste.)  Oops, another design technique exposed.

The texture was created with my tear-away, mentioned in a previous post.

New classes

Finally I'm getting around to setting up some classes.  This summer was very, very busy.  It was a good busy but busy just the same.

Upcoming classes include inlaying bronze into copper clay.  This class is using Hadar's powdered clays and a technique that Hadar uses.

It's been a long time since I've offered an intro course so it is back in a shortened version.  The class will be shorter and focus on learning how to work with the clay in a variety of ways.

The final class for the month is based on the box ring I made in Gordon Uyehara's class.  But in this class we will be making it into a pendant and exploring different options for hanging the piece.  It includes a pearl or learn how to make a faux pearl in a color.

Check out the dates and times in the right hand column of this blog.  For questions, email me or give me a call.

Box Pearl Ring

Drying box with post for pearl

Pouring in vermiculite to support the post

Rings ready for firing

My finished ring

I do love making rings and I happened to have had an empty finger to cover.  So it was very convenient that Sunday's class with Gordon was on making a box ring with a pearl.

Lora Hart once said that when she takes a class she doesn't try to be creative.  She's there to learn the technique and creativity can be her focus when she's back in her own studio.

Keeping that in mind, I kept my ring simple and just followed Gordon's lead.  (Not that I didn't draw up a design that involved carving, stippling and adding coils..........but thought twice about it.  I'm so glad I did keep it simple.)

The techniques I learned can now be expanded into so many other areas and that is why I take classes in the first place.  

Classy Turtles

One of Gordon's turtles

Gordon's second class at the Cleveland Metal Clay Retreat made fine silver turtle pendants.  Again, I wasn't able to take the class but at least I was able to ooh and aw over the finished pieces of those who did.  There was a story behind the reason for making the turtles but I did not hear what it was.

Patina Turtle belongs to Mary Lou McMullen (on the left)

Silver Turtle is Brenda Kessler's

Both turtles are just gorgeous!

(Another class I wish I'd taken!)

Just amazing

Gordon and Jan Durkin from the Western Pennsylvania Metal Clay Guild

As was mentioned in an earlier post, I headed to the Cleveland Area this past weekend to take a class with Gordon Uyehara.  He was offering three classes while he was there, but unfortunately I was only able to take one of them.  His work is simply amazing.  There is no other way to describe it.

The Cleveland guild combined with the Guild from Columbus, OH and the Western Pennsylvania Metal Clay Guild to promote the Retreat.  Cleveland organized and hosted the four day retreat at the Valley Art Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.  (What a pretty town.  I might just have to go back.)  Many thanks to Katie Hanrahan and anyone else who helped her for such an enjoyable gathering.

Gordon's first class was a bracelet making class.  Even though I wasn't able to take the class I was able to see the results of the class and they were all awesome.

The examples above were made by Gordon.  (He was very generous in letting me take pictures of his work for my blog..... such a nice guy!)

Check out his work at www.honudream.com

Time to renew the spirit!

Has your summer been as busy as mine?  I hope so and I hope not (depending on where you want to be.)

This is one of the reasons the posts this summer have been few and far between.  Hopefully you'll hang in there with me until life settles down and I can get back to work.

Keep an eye open for upcoming classes this fall.  Fall is always a good time to take classes and renew the spirit.

I plan on renewing my spirit this coming Sunday with a class with Gordon Uyehara.  Anyone in metal clay knows who Gordon is.  He does phenomenal work and you can't miss his style.

The Cleveland Guild is hosting a retreat this weekend and Gordon is one of the guest teachers.  He is offering three classes (one is a bracelet class that just didn't work into my schedule.  Darn!)  I'm taking a boxed pearl ring class with him.  (And I love, love, love making rings.)

I'll be sure to share a photo next week.  Until then I'll be hoping the rain ends so I can enjoy a week with my family.

Maybe I'll share some Grandchildren photos.  They're always good for a story!