Opening Night 

What fun we had on opening night of "The Fifth Element: Stories In Wearable Art"! Thanks to all of you that turned out for the champagne and goodies. It was great for me to see you meet your fellow smithys and get a peek at the student section of the show. I am so proud of all of you.
The show runs until July 31 in the Popcorn Gallery. Hours are: Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun, Noon til 6:00 pm. View the online version here .

A Simple Teardrop Chain 

This is a project that is as easy as can be but has very impressive results, and for you fusion fans you will have a "ball"! The concept can be modified by making the links larger or smaller, or using different gauge wire.

Learn how here.

This chain was used in the piece titled "Vortex".

Want to expand your skills? what are you waiting for?

Upcoming Classes
Intermediate Silversmithing:
July 28-Aug 25  Thursday evenings, 6:30-9:30pm.
This course expands on the skills learned in Beginning Silversmithing with creating bezels for faceted stones, learning charcoal casting, applique/piercing, and  fold-forming. If you have completed a Discover 1 & 2, or Beginning Silversmithing, you are eligible for this course

Upcoming Workshops
 
Discover Silversmithing 2 Workshop
July 27 & 28 Wed, Thursday 10:30-1:30
Learn more advanced techniques in silver surface texturing and bezel setting gemstones with more creative freedom in this follow-up workshop. Jewelry composition will be discussed. Must have completed Discover Silversmithing I, or a Silver Saturday. Materials fee approx. $35.
Copper Enameling Workshop
August 13 10:30-4:30
Learn the art of creating a colorful glass finish with copper enameling in this one day workshop. You will create two finished projects. No experience necessary. Materials fee $25

Monday, August 1st. 

We need help taking the show down! Although the space allows us four days to put up a show, we only get one day to bring it down. This means taking down the work as well as removing all vinyl text, and priming and repainting the walls back to white.

 

Daniel Anderson peeling vinyl.

Anyone game?

 

If you would like to play along shoot me an

email or just show up on Monday, August 1st after 10:00 am. We will provide the coffee and donuts as well as the paint rollers;-). Meet in the Popcorn Gallery.

 

 

Show Featured in The Patch!

Thanks to Natalia Pelayo for spotlighting the show in The Chevy Chase Patch .

 "Empty Nest" , Sterling Silver, Black Opal. 

Congrats!

This year's student section of the show was a great example of the creativity that is coming out of SilverWorks.

To recognize these efforts "The Purple Hammer Award" was given to two great designs. Judy Madden, for "Orbits", and Rona Eisner, for "A River Runs Through It".

Purple Hammer Award! 

Congrats to Judy for her first sale! 

 

 

Studio Spotting: Bezel Boo Boo

Ok so normally "studio spotting" is all about what you all accomplish during your open studio time. But sometimes things do go awry;-) In this instance we spotlight what would have been a beautiful execution of a bezel of a non calibrated, asymmetrical stone. The misstep? Simply flipping the bezel onto the base forgetting that it can only go one direction! Thanks so much to Doyle Raines for being willing to share his bezel boo boo.

Here we show the stone lightly set on top of the would-be backward bezel.

Backward bezel by Doyle Raines.

Blair Anderson is an artist in residence at Glen Echo Park, MD.
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