Crystal Charm Swap

Robin's finished necklace

Thanks to Robin Sanchez sharing her crystal charm necklace that she made when she was in charge of a charm swap for Kim Caldwell's Moulin Rouge event last year, our small group decided we wanted to have our own swap. Our participants included Kathie, Kat, Robin, Jackie, June, Margo and myself - seven of us. We decided on the date of the gathering and to have two crystal charms for each member. So, we all had to come up with 14 crystal charms. These charms were to have bales already attached and ready to be hung from chains that we would provide for ourselves.

I don't think any of us realized how difficult it is to find and not pay a small fortune for crystal jewelry in the form of earrings, pins, necklaces, etc. Sure, for $15 to $20 you could get beautiful pieces, but who wants to pay that much per piece? Not any of us, for sure. Kathie actually got a great deal on eBay for a large package with various pieces that she could and did use.

My mom's costume jewelry frame

I lucked out in that I had all my mom's costumed rhinestone jewelry saved. I have never know what I would want to do with it. I had used some of the more common pieces to decorate a frame of my mom's photo taken on a cruise the night before she died. I had gotten the idea from Jackie, when I first met her. She had a standing frame completed in the same fashion so I went on a hunt to Home Goods looking for something similar.

First necklace I made with only my mom's jewelry

Added to the pink drop and to the top
of my center piece that I made.
Can you see the difference?

Well, *"best laid plans (sic) of mice and men". . . Kat ended up getting very, very sick; Kathie had to go back to Chicago to help manage her ill father; and June was dealing with a sick husband. So, we ended up being only four people in person but we had everyone's charms to exchange.

All the charms came in decorative opaque packaging. Margo had each person's charm package labeled since she personalized her soldered glass charms with rhinestones encased behind glass. Robin also dedicated her charms to specific persons.

Robin came bearing her charms plus her amazing wire woman that she had finished. We were also anxious to see the finished product since we had watched her start to build it at my home the last time she was here. We are hoping that she will pursue taking this project to Somerset Offices in Laguna and that she will have her "woman" featured at some point in the future. In the mean time, here is Robin's wire woman surrounded by the packages prior to opening them.

Robin's "Wire Woman" surrounded by charm packages

Close up of top of head detail Robin did

After we opened our packages, and started laying them out, we decided that if we wanted to trade with our present friends that we could and should.

Here are photos of our completed necklaces. There still might be some changes and perhaps silk ribbons or more dangles, but this is what we ended up with after lunch.

Robin wearing her necklace

Jackie displaying one of the necklaces she made today

Close up of one of Jackie's necklaces

Margo wearing her necklace

Margo's necklace up close

Von's market provided a foot long delicious sandwich plus tomato/Mozzarella slices with balsamic vinegar drizzled over the top. Margo made homemade potato salad with a delicious addition of bacon (hear that Elena?) incorporated. Yummy. Robin brought delicious mock cheese cake with sliced strawberries for dessert.

By 3:30 pm we were finished and Jackie, who had made her necklace and Junes, also volunteered to take Kat her crystal charms to her home. Robin, Margo and I took off for a short "road trip." Robin, lives about 40 minutes away and works, so while she was down this way she wished to venture to Ocean Beach and a bead store on the main drag for supplies. On the way there, we stopped at our favorite scrapbook store in Point Loma, Paper Tales. We wore our necklaces and the owner of Paper Tales, Michelle, was there and admired our charms. Since we were on the subject of jewelry, we discussed one of our favorite jewelry artists featured regularly in Somerset's magazine, JewelryAffaire Spring 2011 pg. 102, 103 - Debby Anderson who turns out to be a sister of one of our local artists extraordinaire and friend, Jane Pollack. Small world. I met Jane through Jackie. Six degrees or closer, it appears.

Sally wearing the necklace she made today

Margo Photo Shopped me and my necklace
Thank you Margo

The two previous photos of my necklace no long exist. I took it all apart and created this! More like Robin's.

Side note: See the flowers on my blouse? This was one of my most favorite t-shirts that I got a spot on that I couldn't get out. In another of Somerset's magazines I saw theses flowers made from fabric. I took the blouse to JoAnn's to look for similar color and stretchy fabric. Wella! I wrapped and stitched theses down. My friend Debi suggested I attach them off center. It really looks better in person. My little Sony camera is not taking very crisp/sharp photos theses days. I'm super happy with the results and I guess that is all that counts.

Lastly, I was so hoping the little findings I had order from Vintage Jewelry Supplies would come when everyone was here. Debby Anderson had been kind enough to share the website where she purchases her little gems that are found on her jewelry pieces. As I began this blog, "best laid plans of mice and men," they came the next day. They are wonderful. Can't wait to start using them on my pieces. Check out their site.

Margo took this photo of us and then PS'd it.

Future Crystal Jewelry Pieces being created by me:

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

*"The best laid schemes of mice and men"

Meaning: The most carefully prepared plans may go wrong.

Origin: From Robert Burn's poem To a Mouse, 1786. It tells of how he, while ploughing a field, upturned a mouse's nest. The resulting poem is an apology to the mouse:

...

But, Mousie, thou art no thy lane [you aren't alone]
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft a-gley, [often go awry]
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain,
For promised joy.
...

The poem is of course the source for the title of John Steinbeck's 1937 novel - Of Mice and Men.

Soldering with Rita Reade at Jackie's new Play House

The Night I met my natural mother

Nov 27, 1980
(date to be stamped on blank muslin above)

This weekend I decided to take a class where I would make something I already knew how to make. Crazy? I first wanted to support my wonderful friend Jackie in having a class at her newly transformed home into the most wonderful shabby chic Play House - her entire home! Plus, my great friend Suzi Blu now lives upstairs (I helped move Suzi here).

Jackie and I had learned this fabric technique from the wonderful K.C. Willis. (Please check out my previous blogs where I feature various classes, teachers and projects: Margo blogs 4/4/11, K.C. Willis blogs 7/22/10 and 2/14/11 and my Terri Brush blog on 1/24/11 ). K.C. has since stopped teaching this class and chosen to preach for Jesus. Plus, she lives in Colorado. Jackie Baxted and Rita Reade had given their wall hanging a new twist by adding soldered words.

Sample Project

(created by Jackie and Rita)

I had seen the above sample with the soldered letters "Mother" and was inspired. So on my own I had designed a project to give my Aunt Chris who lives in New Jersey for this years birthday/Mother's Day present. (I have no idea if she will think it kool or not but know she would appreciate the intentions). It is a photo of her mother and my grandmother.

Helen Malko Gorsczcyk
(nothing sewed - still playing with it)

It is a woman's prerogative to change her mind and hence the night before the class I decided I wanted to make the focal point photo using the photo of the night I met my natural mother for the first time at my full sister 's home who I had just "found" two weeks earlier. Whew, that was a long sentence which I'm sure is grammatically incorrect. I needed new stuff (fabric/canvas) stained and frayed. (See first photo on this blog for almost completely wall hanging).

Joe and Irene
(work in progress)

Prior to all that I had been working on my own for a canvas piece that features the only photo I know of with my natural mother, Irene, and natural father, Joe, clandestinely together all dressed up and on the beach at Coney Island. I decided to embroidery this piece by hand in a very free style manor and once again, the project is not quite finished. . .

New Friends

Patty at work

Patty's work in progress

Sharon at work

Sharon's work in progress

The added bonus to taking classes is always the new people you met and the old friends you hook up with once again. I sat across the table from Patty Montejo and Sharon - new people and very interesting. Sharon is a quilter and together they have their first big even on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Temecula. Lots of artists original work to purchase! Can't wait. Check out the link above to visit their website for more information.

Old Friends

Robin at work

Robin's completed tapestry
(kool hanger)

Plus, I also got to see Robin Sanchez who I had met at Terri Brush's soldering class at the Urban Barn in Temecula. I had invited her to Jackie's once a month "playday" where Margo Beatty gave a great demo of her soldering techniques. I love Robin Sanchez's shabby chic style in all her art and jewelry projects and loved what she created this day!

NOTE:
If you can't get away to take a class, please check out my dear friend Margo's amazing online soldering class through Suzi Blu's Ning site. Margo takes you step by step close-ups and holds your hand and answers all your questions. Plus there is a place to display all you have done in this class for other students to see. Truly IMHO Margo's class for a beginning soldering class is the best and you own the video for life and can down load it to your computer and it is darn cheap - $55.

Photogenic Kat at work

Kat's almost completed tapestry

Plus, my good friend, Kat Baker, was also there. Last month Kat became a grandmother two times! Darn, I'm jealous. Her daughter had a son and her step-daughter had a little girl. Kat is in 7th heaven.

Standing - Sharon, Patty, Kat and Robin
Sitting - Jackie, Rita and Sally

I had never met Jackie's friend/teacher/woodworker Rita Reade. What a well prepared teacher who provided everything for you including a soldering guns if you truly were a newbe to soldering. Knowledgeable and friendly. Liked her very much. In the photos above of Jackie's art room - the cabinets you see are Rita's handy work since she constructed them for Jackie with Jackie's found doors!

Rita also provided lunch. Delicious. Her is her recipe for her marinara sauce with the surprise ingredients - meatballs from the frozen food section at Walmart. Rita is from Sicily and goes back every other year to see her family. She currently lives in Fallbrook with her husband and and kids.

Rita's Recipe for meatballs and marinara sauce:
Soften in 1 T of Olive oil, 1 t garlic (Rita uses the Costco Garlic) and 1/4 of an onion (not a 1/4 of a cup). Add: 1 t sugar, 1 t kosher salt, 2 of the largest cans of tomato sauce (brand not important), fresh oregano and fresh basil (no amounts given). Two secret ingredients: one potato peeled and quartered and a pinch of cinnamon. Walmart's frozen meatballs Cook for 2 hrs. Rita did not put this over pasta. Had it keeping warm in giant crock pot and served with fresh bread and green salad. It was sooooo good! Thank you Rita.

Jackie, Rita and Sally

I hope you will take the time and visit all the links I have included. These talented ladies all have something different to offer in this world of altered art with all the lines are blurred. Scrapbooking, quilting, thrift shop shopping, painting, sketching - it is all over-lapping. I think this is wonderful. Support your local artists/teachers/stores but also be sure to take advantage of those coupons that Michaels' offer also. And share all that you have learned so that we might all benefit from your new finds!

Work Stations

Stuff

More Stuff

One of three sewing machines available

Teacher's products for purchase

Suzi Says So

Visit Suzi Blu's blog and see what's new.

Soldering with Suzi Blu and Margo Beatty

I can't remember for sure who first showed me how to solder. I think it was my friend Kathie or else it was Debi. But as far as formal classes go, I have only taken from two artist - Sally Jean and Terri Brush. Both these classes were taken within the past year and I have blogged about both teacher. I found both Sally Jean and Terri Brush's classes valuable to my growth and interested in soldering. But neither of the classes gave me the close up personal instruction that my friend Margo Beatty gave me in my own home with her watching carefully over me and showing me all her personal tricks of the trade that she has finessed. Margo has taught me how to attach a jump ring without fear!

About six minutes into the above video, Suzi interviews me and features some of the pieces I have made that there are also stills shown below.

NOW, you too can have this personal attention from Margo. My two wonderful friends, Margo Beatty and Suzi Blu have teamed up to help you perfect the skills you might already have or to learn how to use those tools (soldering iron) that you purchased in the past and have sat (the tool) lonely on your shelf or in your art/craft drawer. Margo is absolutely amazing. She will hold your hand and take you step by step to some beautiful finished beginner projects. Please check out her class found on Suzi Blu's online class network. Remember, when you take a class from Suzi Blu, you own the video and the PDF's forever. You download them to your computer and therefore, can go back and review them 5 years from now if you choose!

For this class Margo even prepared an EPUB (in addition to the PDF) if you have a mobile device and know how to get it into your phone, iPad or other mobile device. For the Android platform you can use a program for your PC called Calibre that will change an EPUD file to a MOBI file and now you can upload Margo's EPUB to your Kindle App. (Too much info?)

Crown base made in Terri Brush class.
Embellishments were added when I got home.

Crown made at home during a playday with Margo
See what happens when you don't use black backed copper tape?

Currently I am really not into making jewelry. I personally wanted to use my soldering knowledge and add those soldering projects someway to my art and canvases. At the end of the above video you will see some of what I have chosen to do with my soldering. I did learn how to make my initial crown from Terri Brush. But in a huge class like she taught at the Urban Barn in Escondido, CA, there was only so much one on one any teacher can do.

My second crown was done at home after Margo observed, demonstrated and assisted by explaining how I might better from the foundation. The soldering joints ended up so much neater and smaller after practice. Then I decided to include some of my Suzi Blu girls in my art pieces after resizing them in Photoshop. The two crowns I made are not large enough to fit on one's head (I wanted small crowns for "my girls") but look wonderful in my art room.


Above canvas background was made at Elena's Charity Wings retreat "Seaside Soiree" in Oceanside. Liz Hicks directed with new products that gave us this wonderful water background. I then drew my own mermaid when I got home. But, I didn't feel she was complete until I had put one of my own crowns on her.

Glass and technique to make this mermaid Shaker box pendant
was from Sally Jean's Halloween Class
I made this at home during PlayDay with Margo
using my original art

Shrine glass kit was purchased from Sally Jean
My original art Photoshopped

I just realized that my really small crowns can also be charms. Can't wait to do that next week when some of my friends meet at my home for our weekly intimate soldering "PlayDay." There are always new things to discover from all our friends. Keep you eyes and ears open and be ready to find new skills to either discover for the first time or to increase your skill level on old skills.

Above, very small crown charm "work in progress"
Less than 1 inch in width

Again, see the copper when you don't use black backed copper tape

Early soldering work before practicing and having
Margo personally supervise my soldering

Silly Sal concentrating on soldering the branches
in the photo below. What great hangers. But, they need to be blackened.

I learned from Sally Jean that you can solder just about anything!

Beveled Glass 1 inch charms done right!

The above fabric/paper/glass large wall hanging is a work in progress done in KC Willis style. I am doing all the sewing/embroidery by hand since it is a very special piece featuring the only photo that anyone has of my natural mother and father together dressed to the nines at Coney Island Park in New Jersey. When it is completed, I will post the finished project.

*Still need to take a photography class. My camera skills don't seem to be improving.

KC Willis Rides Into Town 2011

Sally's Finished Canvas waiting for her "secrets"

KC taught two classes this time when visiting San Diego. The first was on Thursday and the next was on Saturday. The following report chronicles what we worked on under KC's guidance.

THURSDAY CLASS IN DAVI'S GARAGE IN ENCINITAS

I got lucky. For some dumb reason I thought KC Willis was coming to my home and then to Davi's home on Monday and teaching on Monday in Davi's garage. If I hadn't checked, I would have missed KC's Paper Class.

Well, I was wrong. I contacted KC and said I was coming to her paper only class on Thursday at Davi's garage. What a great day. There was only 5 of us and KC. We truly only used paper that she gets from Paper Arts - ask for Cee Cee. And, local Southern California artists, KC gets her vintage trims from Gilding the Lily in Fullerton.

Sue priming her canvas

First she handed out 16x20 canvases that we lighted covered with black gesso. (you could use cheap black paint or anything that you have that was black).

Table full of every kind of paper already coffee stained
but waiting to be burnt

Photos of various artists' works in progress:

After choosing our papers we started layering them. KC her sewing machine up so could apply decorative stitches to our collaged paper.

Myself and Diane with our "in progress" canvases

Then KC's infamous paint stripping gun came out and we burnt the edges - a signature of all KC's works. Every thing was glued down with Tacky glue.

Diane's finished canvas

Now we were to create a pocket with more papers that were stitched and burnt and then glued down atop our collage background. KC had told us that this pocket was going to contain what ever we wanted to put in writing. We could tie the mini canvases up if we choose for no one else to see - our choice. KC suggested perhaps to put our dreams to paper and then to have this entire art piece where we could see it always to remind us of our dreams and our goals.

Davi and Ann with their finished canvases


Sue's finished canvas up close


Sue with her finished canvas and KC

Davi's wonderful friend, Ann, thought she would have trouble with this putting to paper her dreams and goals. After lunch Ann decided she would write the names of people for whom she is praying.

Ann's finished canvas

Close up of Ann's canvas

Me and KC and my canvas

SATURDAY CANVAS BOOK CLASS AT JACKIE'S SHABBY CHIC ART /HOME

Students gathered around work table

By 10 am on Saturday we were ready to roll at Jackie's "work in progress" shabby chic studio. Jackie has turned her entire downstairs area into a teaching studio decorated with all her shabby chic finds from over the years. Plus, she had cabinets made to fit the wonderful doors she has found (seen in the background). There were 8 of us today. KC had printed out photos that we had sent her for transfers from her favorite transfer paper from Office Max.

Ann and her photos spread out on the floor

Silly Sal (me) getting ready to sew

Davi checking out all the vintage "stuff"

KC handed us 7 already constructed 8x10 canvases already coffee stained, burnt and backed with fabric. We began ironing our transfers onto canvas and/or muslin and then stitched decorative boarders stitched using the 3 sewing machines made available by KC, Jackie and
Christine. Next we burnt the edges and glued theses to the 8x10 canvases. Embellishments were made with KC's "clumpies". Plus we have piles of coffee stained fabrics and vintage trims and "stuff" to look through and choose from to make our pages shine.

Nelda

I know we aren't suppose to have favorites. But, Nelda's book was truly unique. It told a story with pictures that she has collected - not family photos but illustrated children drawing. Plus her embellishments were so soft and beautiful. I wish I had photos of her finished book. You'll all just have to trust me as to how beautiful it was.

After our 8x10 canvases were sewed and burnt, our pages were glued to prepared canvas cloth about 10x16 that made a the bases for our book. We stitched down the middle to turn it into a book with pages 8x10.

Most everyone choose to make the book about their family and mostly about females in their family like a grandmother. I choose to make my book about my natural father and his family. It was requested by my natural father's family that I keep the family anonymous. Therefore, I have chosen to cover theses photos in Photo Shop and just show what I did to enhance the photos that I have gathered and that are precious to me while respecting my natural father's family wishes.

Sally's book pages family photos obsured

I feel I have much more to do in order to finish theses pages. More embellishments. I love making art that revolves around my family and genealogy. KC has found the black sharpie is best to write anything we wish on canvas or muslin and then attach the writing with glue again.


Here are some photos of KC's book pages:




Now some of the artist work:

Jackie (our hostess) and her book
that's not about her family

Diane Chen's book

Christine's Book always in blue and always about her beloved dogs

Ann's book

Davi showing KC her book

Sunday

On Sunday KC and I just set ourselves on cruise control - no schedule per say. On the way down to Mission Bay for a walk we took a small detour and I drove KC up to the top of Soledad Mountain to see the infamous Korean War Memorial Cross where there is a 360 degree view of the Pacific Ocean, La Jolla Shores, UTC, multitudes of mesas, downtown San Diego, the Coronado Bridge AND Mexico and it's islands off shore. Then we drove down to Mission Bay and KC and I went for a walk on one of the most perfect days we almost always have in San Diego.

KC and my shadow up on Soledad Mountain.

At 11 am Suzi Blu came by to meet KC Willis and hang out with us. We were going to go to World Famous at Pacific Beach on the strand but the wait was impossible. So, we went up three doors to The Mission for a yummy breakfast.

Suzi with new friend

We then walked around the bay so that Suzi and KC could see the quaint little beach houses for rent at outrages prices. We ooh-ed and aah-ed how cute they all were. Then back to my home. Suzi went home to tend to her babies, Gigi and Finnegan.

My friend Kathie whose husband has had major hospital visits/surgeries recently stopped by to meet KC and visit on the patio. Did I say what a beautiful day it was?

Final secrets we learned from KC: what you really want to purchase instead of cheese cloth is something called Drapery Scrim. Huge amounts can be purchased for so much less money.

Words of Wisdom from KC (she will have a book out that will contain all her deep thoughts and witticism) but here are a few:

"I send you hope
I send you wings
Either way you will fly"

"Hope deferred makes the heart sick"

"Inside every woman
A gypsy girl dances by the fire"

Pendants KC sells