Thomas Mann, Art and Soul, and the FOS

I decided that this year at Art and Soul, I would get back to my jewelry-making roots, and learn some new techniques. The first class that I took was an evening class with Thomas Mann, "Learn to Saw". I had limited experience using a jeweler's saw, and had found it very frustrating. The course description guaranteed we'd be sawing like pros by the end of the evening, and we weren't disappointed. I left feeling very proud of myself, and eager for the next day's class, Thomas Mann's Found Object Sandwich Brooch - The FOS.

I came to class prepared with an image, and some found objects, and I was ready to go. Until it was actually time to make something, and then my plan sort of fell apart.

I just had one of those days where nothing came easily to me. I lost a little piece of filigree that I'd brought with me that was a key part of my design. I left at lunchtime to set up my table for vendor night,raced back to the classroom, and got back to work, but I had missed some key information while I was gone. Luckily, I had some of the sweetest classmates in the world, who were kind enough to help me out. I left the class frustrated, with an unfinished piece.

Many of my classmates wore their gorgeous creations to vendor night. A lot of beautiful work came out of that class and it was wonderful to see the variety of FOS pins that were created.

I left my unfinished FOS in my studio, and experienced a feeling of dread every time I walked past it. Last week, I found a new piece of filigree at a local bead store, and some bead caps that looked like flowers when they were opened up. Last night I sat down and completed my piece.

I thought it would take me about 30 minutes, and it ended up taking about three hours. But I did it. I'm glad that I overcame my intimidation and finished the piece. And I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. I'll probably even use micro fasteners again in the future. But every time I look at this pin, I'll remember it as the dreaded FOS!

Back from Art & Soul Hampton Part 1

I can't believe it's been a month since I was at Art & Soul. I had such a great time, and learned so much in each of my classes. It was really fun to be with a group of people who really "get" what I do!

Vendor night was terrific as well. Thanks to all of you who bought my collage sheets and porcelain glove forms. I promise to have both on my etsy site soon.

In the meantime, here is the project that I created in Michael deMeng's Demented Toys class. If you haven't taken a class from him, I highly recommend it. He is as entertaining as he is knowledgeable. I also learn so much from the critiques that he takes the time to do at the end of each class. Here he is doing a critique under the watchful eye of the woman in the painting.

I was going for a steampunk kind of feel with my piece. She is constructed from an old roller skate, an articulated toy dinosaur tail, tiny bones, a china doll head, a christmas ornament and a vintage toy-camera pencil sharpener.
The main compartment is an old bob-bet bait box (Just half a turn and there's your worm!),
If you open the side of the bait box, there is a bone-y little surpise inside; the inner workings of the machine.

I was amazed at the variety and creativity in all of the pieces that came out of that class. It was such a fun day!