by 15 people |
Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.
--David Frost
Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes.
Art is knowing which ones to keep.
--Scott Adams
Trends
What's new or on the way
I've been here in the City of Lights since July, and I got to go to the jewelry show at Eclat de Mode at the beginning of September, where I got to see what will be making waves in Paris - and New York - this fall and winter. The handcrafted style is in, in, in, which is great news if you wear it; not so good if you make it, because now in addition to the millions of other truly handcrafted jewelry artists to compete with, the big department stores are jumping onto the bandwagon and cluttering up the market with lots of cheap stuff they have made in China. I especially feel for peyote bead artists, because I saw a lot of cuff bracelets going cheap, and I know a lot of time and effort goes into something beaders who sell them already have to take a hit on. All I can say is that if you're a fan of handcrafted jewelry, please continue to support small business owners and artists who truly make their stuff by hand with care and attention to each piece. It costs more, but it costs more because it's better made and worth more.
As far as style goes, it's back to the 80's with a vengeance: lots of baroque styles, big, gothic crosses, black, white, red, and gold. I seriously felt like I must have just graduated high school yesterday. Clunky and chunky are also still in, so keep your litchi nut necklaces and chunks of turquoise and conches just yet.
The trend is also in longer necklaces and layers, with several different mediums in a single piece. I like the mixed mediums, but I'm not a big fan of necklace overload. I think one or two strands is fine; if you set off the metal detector at the airport, I really think you need to rethink your jewelry. But clearly, that's just me.
So that's it from Paris at the moment, my lovelies. See you in LA in November!
Trade Alert
Cost of precious metal leveled out
Spotted on the Web
Online Tutorials
Feed Your Inner Muse
- Glass Bead Makers Forum
- Lampworking
- The Melting Pot - Where All Glass Addicts Melt Together
- The Glass Lampworkers Discussion Group is a forum dedicated sharing knowledge, skills and techniques geared toward the progression of an ancient art form. From sherlocks to goblets, and beads to bubblers, we discuss the latest techniques and critique the latest trends.
- Cauldron Creations
- Tutorials for lampwork from all over the web, with many thanks to Melinda Melanson. (You can now hire Melinda for the day. Please see Cauldron Creations for details.)
- Ganoksin - Jewelry Making - The complete Gem and Jewelry Making Information Resource.
- Informational site on jewelry and related fields, offers a substantial library of articles and technical data, mailing list, galleries and trade tools. If you need to know how to do it, someone on Ganoksin can tell you.
- The Bead Bugle, an on-line magazine all about beads
- Online beadwork publication
- Jewelry making lessons, hand made animal silver jewelry by Eni Oken - ENIOKEN.COM
- Learn how to make fantastic wire wrapped jewelry with artist Eni Oken. No solder or glue, just silver wire, beads and simple tools! Online tutorials and lessons -- free instructions available.
Tarnish & How to Remove It
Place a piece of aluminum foil in the bottom of a shallow dish. (I use a glass baking dish.) Set the tarnished item directly on the aluminum foil; it has to be in contact with the aluminum.
Heat a quart of water to boiling in a saucepan, then set it in the sink and slowly add 1/4 cup baking soda. Be careful, because it might fizz up and spill over, which is why you add the baking soda slowly & in the sink. Stir until the baking soda is dissolved.
Pour the water into the dish until the tarnished item is immersed. Slightly tarnished pieces will return to silver almost instantly; badly tarnished items will take longer.
You can also use this for flatware or silver/silverplated dishes. Very badly tarnished pieces will look ruined and scare the living heck out of you. All you have to do is get a little baking soda on a soft, 100% cotton pad, and *gently* buff the silver. The dull grey and residual black will fall away, and the silver will be nice and shiny again, though it may have some "water spots" or "pits" from the tarnish. Tarnish is destructive and eats into the silver, just like rust is destructive and eats into steel.
Why does it work?
Tarnish is composed of silver sulfide, a mix of silver and any sulfur it comes into contact with thru contact with the air and other objects. It basically eats away the surface of the silver. Most removal methods involve removing the tarnish AND the silver that has been destroyed by it. Instead of doing that, this method converts the tarnish back into silver thru an electrochemical reaction. Sulfur more easily attaches to aluminum than it does to silver. The baking soda and hot water are the catalysts for the chemical reaction that causes the silver sulfide atoms to react with the aluminum. Give it a push with a tiny electrical charge (generated between the silver and the aluminum), and the sulfur atoms let go of the silver to go bond with the aluminum instead. Think of it as a choice between one bite of chocolate cake and the whole piece...which would you go for? Apparently, sulfur atoms are no different than you or I. And that, in a simplified nutshell, is why this works and is less damaging to your sterling silver pieces than dips or polishes!
Lampwork Spotted on the Web
Intense at Glass and Splinters Jewelry 101
Support your inner geek.
Semi-Precious Stones
My own growing list of stones used in jewelry-making today; origins, traditional meanings, where they're found, and other facts meant to help the consumer avoid getting ripped off.
Anniversary & Birthstones Charts
Lists of birthstones, from traditional to mystical and Ayurvedic, which stones to choose for an anniversary, and a breakdown of semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals by color.
Handcrafted-Jewelry.net
Informative articles about jewelry, as well as links to jewelry artists, suppliers, tutorials, and more articles.
Greek Jewellery
Essay on the last 5,000 years of evolution in gold jewelry, with a focus on Greek influence. Interesting, with great photos.
The History of Art Glass
Digest version of an article by Jennifer Frehling Zamboli & Robert A. Mickelsen
Glass Beadmaking
Wikipedia
History of Murano Glass
History of Venice glassmaking, by Michele Zampedri.
History of the Glass Bead
By Lady Sveva Lucciola
Spotted On the Web
Carnivale Petite Earrings at Nesting With Style Buy Indie
Handcrafted jewelry and shops I love
Nesting With Style
Handcrafted treasures for the home and garden
Lizzy Wishes
Jewelry, accessories, bath & babies, as well as Little Black Boxes - samples to die for!
Dragonfly Design
Wire-wrapped semi-precious jewelry and pendulums by Jenie Clark
Silver Parrot Designs
Wirewrap jewelry by Kelly Osborne featuring peyote tubes and furnace glass
Patricia Miller Art Jewelry
Patricia Miller's fire-borne art glass jewelry
Novel Approach
Kari Bryde's new & repurposed jewelry
Bark & Sparkle
Swarovski dog collars and people bracelets by Laurie Vien
Linda Trent Jewelry
Individual pieces by Northern California jewelry artist Linda Trent
Touchwood Rings
Artisan-crafted wood rings custom-made to order by David and Nicola Finch
Great Stuff on Amazon
How-To's and books on the history of jewelry
Copper Art Jewelry: A Different Luster
One of very few books concentrating solely on copper jewelry
Amazon Price: $32.97 (as of 07/14/2009) 
Necklace
History of the necklace, concentrating primarily from 1700 to present day
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Art Deco Jewelry
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
305 Authentic Art Nouveau Jewelry Designs
If you love Art Nouveau, jewelry design or maybe even just Paris, this is a great book for you.
Though it is small, at only 48 pages, fully half the books is dedicated to great illustrations.
Amazon Price: $9.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
A History of Jewellery 1100-1870
Amazon Price: $18.21 (as of 07/14/2009)
Earrings: From Antiquity to the Present
The last 5000 years in the evolutiion of earrings, by two Sotheby's experts
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Stone Power
Smallish, straightforward explanation of the history of stone superstitions and healing attributes,
good for New Age newbies and anyone interested in the historical superstitions and uses of stones.
Amazon Price: $15.29 (as of 07/14/2009)
Gems in Myth Legend and Lore
In-depth study of the historical uses and superstitions behind stones.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Love is in the Earth: A Kaleidoscope of Crystals - The Reference Book Describing the Metaphysical Properties of the Mineral Kingdom
Possibly the most popular word on the metaphysical aspects of minerals, this book is not my favorite source for the historical meanings and uses of metals and stones, but it does cover just about every mineral pulled from the ground.
Amazon Price: $16.52 (as of 07/14/2009)
The Art of Polymer Clay: Designs and Techniques for Making Jewelry, Pottery, and Decorative Artwork
Amazon Price: $16.47 (as of 07/14/2009)
Creative Clay Jewelry: Extraordinary, Colorful, Fun Designs To Make From Polymer Clay
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 07/14/2009)
The Encyclopedia of Jewelry-Making Techniques: A Comprehensive Visual Guide to Traditional and Contemporary Techniques
Amazon Price: $21.24 (as of 07/14/2009)
The Complete Book of Jewelry Making: A Full-Color Introduction To The Jeweler's Art
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Making Glass Beads (Beadwork Books)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Passing the Flame: A Beadmaker's Guide to Detail and Design
Lampwork artisan and teacher Corina Tettinger makes gorgeous lampwork beads and her classes are always full. You may also enjoy her website, CorinaBeads.com.
Amazon Price: (as of 07/14/2009)
Making Wire Jewelry: 60 Easy Projects in Silver, Copper & Brass
Amazon Price: $12.89 (as of 07/14/2009)
All Wired Up: Wire Techniques for the Beadworker and Jewelry Maker (Beadwork How-To series)
Findings, "finishings," and how to make them - includes designs
Amazon Price: $14.93 (as of 07/14/2009)
Making Silver Chains: Simple Techniques, Beautiful Designs
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/14/2009)
Baubles, Dangles, & Beads: Stained Glass Jewelry Book
Stained glass craftsman Kay B. Weiner's book combines the art of stained glass with that of jewelry design
Amazon Price: $15.95 (as of 07/14/2009)
Great Wire Jewelry: Projects & Techniques
How to make no-solder woven/braided and chainmail-type jewelry & designs - best for beginning to intermediate craftsmen
Amazon Price: $10.17 (as of 07/14/2009)
Reader Feedback
Tell me what you'd like to see and what you want to know, and I'll do my best to find it. Or just say hi and let me know how you like the lens. :)
(No adverts, please. All spam comments will be summarily deleted, so please don't waste my time or yours.)
erinlilies wrote...
Really great lens. I have many of those books you've listed and they are awesome. Fantastic resource books!
Posted December 20, 2007
Janet wrote
Hello from Australia. I was googling for info on current trends in Paris and came across your blog. Congrats on a terrific blog. Plenty of information delivered in a very personal and entertaining style, good on you for a great effort...thanks! Cheers, Janet
Posted December 07, 2007
impulsive wrote...
Very nice lens - it is so true that educating the public about the value of an artisan's time and effort is an uphill battle!
Posted August 03, 2007
