Welcome to Studio Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner. Congratulations Maneki, you won one of Cindy’s Beads.
Happy Saturday! I just returned from CREATE. It was a mixed media conference put together by Cloth, Paper, Scissors magazine. When I heard about it in the spring I sign up immediately. I love mixed media and it was a good chance to dedicate some time to trying something new.
I find that when I am in the studio, I end up working on things that needs to be done, like orders, blogging, cleaning. It’s hard for me to set aside time to play. Once I do actually set aside time, I feel overwhelmed with the choices of materials and ideas that I have. It’s hard to focus. That’s exactly why I needed time to play with a select group of materials and a plan. Ah, don’t you just love classes?
It was everything I had hoped for the week. I tried all sorts of new techniques and made lots of super cool projects. I have so many ideas now for new projects.
This leads me to the question of the week. Did you try anything new this summer? Leave me a comment and you could win one of my pendants.
Have a great last weekend of summer!
Jennifer Jangles
Alice
September 4, 2010 at 12:26 pmYour CREATE class sounds like a lot of fun! Like you, I hardly ever set aside time to just play. But this summer I took an online metalsmithing class from Stephanie Lee. It's been a load of fun, and I am sad to see it end.
Lucid Moon Studio
September 4, 2010 at 12:30 pmI have the same problem – I don't get enough time in my studio, so when I finally have time to sit down and play, I am overwhelmed by my choices and ideas!
This summer, I tried to teach myself to solder, but it didn't go so well…ruined my solder tip! I bought more though, and I'm ready to try again – this time armed with video tutorials!
Lois Moon
September 4, 2010 at 12:31 pmThis summer I tried working with resin. I had it for awhile, but didn't do anything with it because i thought it would be messy, difficult, and time consuming. I can't say I was wrong, but I did learn some things which will make it easier the next time.
I know what you mean about being overwhelmed by the choices when you sit down to create. When this happens, I pull out a magazine or pattern and work for a picture that limits my choices for me. Usually this gets me on track. But I have been experimenting with all sorts of techniques and media which does seem to increase the options. I've got loads of half finished pieces sitting around the studio.
EB Bead and Metal Works
September 4, 2010 at 1:29 pmMom and I actually tried using chain in our jewelry designs this summer. We have always just stringed our work on beading wire. We both have enjoyed how our designs look with the chain, and I think we are hooked. The only other thing new for us is a new enameling kiln in our studio. I am in love with it! We don't have to leave the garage anymore to go somewhere else to work. Everything is in one place now.
Have a great, long weekend everyone!
Imaginative Jewelry
September 4, 2010 at 1:33 pmOh Yes! I tried something new this summer. I made polymer clay heart pedants. They came out very nice, and have been going fast….
Love the pictures, I guess I would have had fun too.
Cris Peacock
September 4, 2010 at 1:53 pmCreate sounds like it was great fun! I tried my hand at glass fusing this summer…tried it on my own at home with a microwave kin….think I need a class with someone who knows what their doing showing me the ropes!
Cris
Malin de Koning
September 4, 2010 at 1:55 pmFirst of all, BIG congrats to Maneki, for winning Cindy's double dip. Lucky you! GRATTIS Kristina!
Did I try something new? Well, I guess it is kind of all new to me in a sense, jewellery making. I am very much a learner still, with all techniques, even the most basic ones. But I am getting more and more skilled over time. So I felt confident enough to open my own Etsy shop in the summer. That was something new to me.
And I also took up an old skill again. Sewing. Haven't done that for years. But how amazing it was when I sat down at the sewing machine. My hands just started moving around very professionally. I apparently know that machine like the back of my own hand. So I made a very nice skirt that I wore to a wedding.
Otherwise there wasn't anything especially new happening this summer.
Connie Eyberg Originals
September 4, 2010 at 2:41 pmIt is overwhelming sometimes trying to decide what specific thing I want to work on. Once I get started on something I'm OK. There are so many new things I would like to try. One thing I did do is create a necklace using a wasp nest. It was fun and I was very pleased with how it turned out. BTW, no wasps were hurt in the process 🙂 Have a great weekend! Connie
m.e.
September 4, 2010 at 3:28 pmmost of my week is spent making beads and pendants…little time left to to make anything else.
I gift myself each month with the FUN of creating just for the ABS challenge.
Sometimes it's nice just to play with my own beadies!
Other times I can relax try new ideas with no pressure.
Many of my "I gotta try thats"
Come for this blog .
Thanks ABS for a chance to play this summer! m.e. 🙂
abeadlady
September 4, 2010 at 3:42 pmI learned some new skills in bead embroidery and have been working with wire a bit this summer. Need lots more work there!
Arline
Eileen Bergen
September 4, 2010 at 3:55 pmMy gosh, you could have been describing me. That's exactly how I work and "play" in my craft room.
Classes and blog challenges are a terrific way to help me do what I want rather than what I feel I must.
This summer I took a watercolor class and started doodling.
Thanks for the chance to win one of your pendants!
Erin
September 4, 2010 at 4:14 pmI did try some new things this summer–mostly with metal, dapping, etc. Today I am going to try experimenting with some different patinas.
Erin S
maneki
September 4, 2010 at 4:43 pmYay, I won! Thank you, Cindy, for giving away this lovely prize! And thank you, Malin, for the congratulations.
I enjoy trying new things related some way or other to beading and jewellery making every now and then. This summer I've tried stampin on leather and I've bought special paint to create rusty surfaces. Finger knitting with beads was an interesting experiment. And I finally got around to try riveting, both using pre-made rivets and making the whole rivet myself. Plus freeform RAW (inspired by NanC Meinhardt).
And I've begun thinking about trying something else: silk ribbon embroidery. But that hasn't happened yet — and there are always making thing I want to try, but never get around to for one reason or another…
Susanm
September 4, 2010 at 4:46 pmI started making my own felt beads and bought supplies to make resin beads. I also started making `taking commissions`- making pieces for friends to give to someone else, which was really fun.
averilpam
September 4, 2010 at 5:50 pmI've been experimenting with polymer clay, learning new techniques and making jewellery. I've a long way to go but I'm enjoying the journey!
sandi collins
September 4, 2010 at 6:00 pmdd i try somthing new this summer? oh yeah, i etched metal and dabbled in enameling.yeah
Gail W.
September 4, 2010 at 6:24 pmYes,I tried several things.I made several new things with resin that I'm happy with.I tried polymer clay,again,and it's not for me.I admire those who do such excellent things with it.I tried surfing.And I tried making small terrariums,which I sold at the art fairs,along with my jewelry.
Copper Diem
September 4, 2010 at 6:29 pmI tried making glass beads. Hard work! 🙂
Raj
September 4, 2010 at 6:34 pmI am so inspired by the photo of your studio: the swirly floors, the colors, YUM! I am two short years away from having my own studio. This summer I tried something new: making rag rugs from salvaged old clothing cut into strips. It is slow going!
Sabine
September 4, 2010 at 9:49 pmI tried lampworking. Interesting and frustrating. But I hope to do it again and again to get better at it.
I have returned to some skills I learned long ago, bookbinding and knitting. I enjoy the bookbinding more than the knitting, but I can do the knitting just about anywhere!
Ann
http://www.mycriticaleye.com
Paige
September 5, 2010 at 1:41 amWhat a beautiful studio!!!
I tried many new things this summer! First was actually being organized–hahaha. That didn't work out well! 😀 Second was branching out and working with more metals-bronze, brass, copper, gunmetal, etc.
I also starting using handmade lampwork beads,and beautiful resin pendants/beads. And I made a few wire wrap rings, which didn't work as well as I'd hoped…but I'm still working on it! 😀
Sherry
September 5, 2010 at 1:58 pmI commented on facebook as well….
I finally put my hand to making jewelry this summer and made 2 pair of earrings…one I sold, one I gave as a gift. My interest is now piqued! I also tried something that I had seen on Alisa Burke's blog — I hand painted a t-shirt with water colour tie-dye and fabric markers and just totally lost myself in both forms of art…I usually collage (and just started using photoshop to do digital this summer too). I've had a very busy summer I think! What you created is gorgeous!
MoonRae
September 5, 2010 at 3:44 pmI'm not sure if this counts, but I've "tried" de-stashing….Looks like I'm going to have to "practice" this quite a bit to get the technique down. hahaha
Know anybody that wants 100 lbs worth of vintage Lapidary Journals??
Thanks for the opportunity to win one of your wonderful pendants!!!
~Sharon~
Linda Landig Contemporary Artisan Jewelry
September 5, 2010 at 4:40 pmIt really gets the creative juices flowing when we try new things. I've branched out from plain stringing to adding more wire-work, chain and asymmetry. I also started a blog.
Thank you for giving away one of your wonderful pendants!
Katie B
September 6, 2010 at 8:52 pmIs the summer over yet??? What did I miss?
The crab is wonderful!!
I'm toying with some watercolor (something I have NEVER done before) — toying? how about teetering on the edge!
and I am adventuring in to resin. Nothing big yet, but playing.
And then there is the re-vist to wire crochet (only did it once, but want to do it again) and maybe back to some kumihomo!
Jan Vermillion-Thomason
September 7, 2010 at 2:55 amWow, what a wonderful sounding retreat – have never heard of it which is so odd since i'm a mixed media artist – i thought i had heard of all of the big ones.
did i do anything new this summer?? yeah, and i'm still doing it, i'm trying to dig out from under in my studio so that i can make some magical jewelry! (and paper art:)