Our pear tree in bloom. I have never seen it with so many flowers
Greetings!
I hope this newsletter finds you well and happy.
Here in the Northeast we have been treated to a spectaular Spring. Each lilac, cherry, pear, and apple tree came into full bloom it seemed all at the same time. I believe trees that had never bloomed before did so this year. The landscape was a glorious tapestry of purples, whites, pinks and the new green of young leave; the air was scented with lilac where ever you went. It certainly has been a Spring to remember.
This month I have news about an exciting collaborative project I did, some new classes, and some new toggle pendants I am working on.
I am calling this my May newsletter even though today is June 1st because I will be back again with my June Newsletter in several weeks.
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Exciting News
This month I was invited to participate in the ART BEAD SCENE collaboration exploration. Heather Powers and I each made up three sets of identical beads. We then sent them to each other and a jewelry designer. Without knowing what each made, we all revealed our creations on the same day on our individual blogs Heather chose Lorelei Eurto, for the designer. She does lovely work which you can see on her Etsy Shop. I am showing pictures here of several of our creations. You can see more by visiting our blogs. The first necklace is a very lovely necklace by Lorelei. It features my Clover Pendant and some of Heather's long beads. Lorelei did such a wonderful job with the colors. A scrumptious piece, I think.
This second Clover Pendant piece was created by me. I used Heather's oval flower beads with some of my terra cotta and black raku beads. The dark chain is the new fiber chain from Beadalon and is almost weightless.
I surprised my self with this necklace. I really like it and certainly pushed myself to go beyond the single strand necklace I usually make.
Heather Powers of Humblebeads made the necklace below with my Thistle pendant and her lovely polymer beads. The colors go so well together. I have been so surprised and pleased by the way these two artists have used my work in their creations. This whole collaborative experience has been a creative leap for my jewelry designing skills.
You can see the rest of our creations on our blogs. I hope you will take a look: Humblebeads : Lorelei and Me.
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News From My Studio
I am working on a series of Toggle Clasps that They will be ready for the Potsdam Festival which takes place this year on Saturday, July 12th. Come and see me at my blue and white striped booth. It is always a fun occasion. I will give you a sneak peak next newsletter or you will be able to see them on my blog soon.
SoSome of my square beads in green.
Another piece from the Art Bead Collaboration Exploration. Heather Power's beads--Humblebeads-- are the disks beads and the 4 rondels. I love all these shades of brown.
If If If you want to see more about what I am doing you can check out my blog. I am writing about 3 times a week these days, so check it out. You can also get my blog posts by email. The sign up form for it by Feedblitz is on my blog now. Iis o am featuring a few new piece of jewelry this |
Classes:
My ceramic bead making class went very well. Here is an example of some of the beads that we raku fired:
You can see more pictures from the class on my blog.
Classes coming up:
Right Angle Weave Class
I will be teaching a Right Angle Weave bracelet class at the Handweaving Museum in Clayton, New York on Wednesday July 16, 2008 from 10:00 Am to 1:00PM. You can register online by clicking the above link.
In this class you will learn how to make a basic right angle weave stitch. We will work this into a bracelet filled with a variety of stones or/and pearls. You can expect to finish your bracelet during class time. The class costs $43.00 for non members of the museum and $38.00 for members. The materials are $15.00 which is a kit which includes thread, needle, stones or pearls, clasp and beads. You will have the opportunity to choose the beads, stones and clasp to fill your kit. The clasp in the picture will be available as a square also. There is also a choice in silver. My handmade raku beads in this picture will be available but for an extra cost i.e. $3.00 per bead ( special price for the class.)
Glazing Ceramic Beads Class
I will be teaching a Glazing Ceramic Beads class at the Handweaving Museum in Clayton, New York on Wednesday July 16, 2008 from 1:30PM to 4:30PM. You can register online by clicking the above link.
The Glazing Ceramic Beads class will cover glazing techniques and results in each student glazing enough bisque beads to make two bracelets or one necklace. There will also be bisque pendants to glaze. In this class you do not make the beads--you will be glazing already bisqued beads. The cost for this class for nonmembers is $43.00 and $38.00 for members. The materials fee is $30.00 which includes the glazes, the bisque beads and the firing of the beads. You will have several choices of bisque bead sizes and shapes to choose from i.e. round, square, disk, tube. If you bring your own bisqued beads with you, as I know some are planning to do, the materials fee will be reduced to $12.00.
Future Classes:
I plan on teaching a glass fusing class in my studio in the Fall and Freeform peyote stitch at the Arts Council in the fall. Please email me a mary@maryhardingjewelry.com if you are interested in either of these classes so I can find dates that will work for you. |
