Get out of my studio, NOW!!!

Originally Published 11-17-2013

It's early on a gorgeous fall Sunday, and I just had a coffee in my new kitchen -- otherwise known as the remodel from hell. What a black hole on your time that sort of job can be! It seems so simple when you start -- just save for years, plan well, tear the old one out, and put the new one in. Wrongo.

You see, I live in an old house, and things always take 42 times longer than you expect because of that. In my idealistic, perfect-plan, pre-demolition dreams, the studio would be the temporary receiving department for maybe two weeks, and after everything was done, life would go back to normal. Yeah, right.

I expected the dirt, trash, homeless dishes, pots and pans all over the house and the cooking on a hot plate. Short-term stuff, right? But, in reality, my two week blitz-it timeframe turned into a five-month job. There has been a huge pile of cabinetry, materials, and a new refrigerator blocking my soldering station and bench for the better part of the summer. Worst of all, I didn't mentally prepare for the seemingly endless parade of strangers traipsing through my private space to measure, deliver, reschedule, hammer, drill, reschedule, plaster, wire, reschedule, plumb and build and reschedule.

I am a private person, and this part of the remodel experience was total torture. I couldn't escape at all -- there was not one normal place in the entire house where I could quietly sit and comfortably focus, think, or create anything -- and it made me a terrible person to live with. Crab. Be.

Now, the house is quiet again and the only uprooted thing left standing in my creative space is the old refrigerator, waiting to be picked up Thursday by my state's green recycle program. Life is peaceful again, it's somewhat clean, and things are basically organized and back to normal. And, good grief I really. Really. Urgently. Need to make some work. NOW.

However, I am still unsettled and distracted. I really LOVE my new kitchen, but I can't seem to be able to work. It's odd, because mentally, I just can't get back to a place where I want to work. Maybe it's fatigue, stress, sleep deprivation or some kind of crazy, kitchen-induced-the-book-is-finally-done-and-your-life-is-yours-again, post-partum-like depression or something. And worrying over it only makes it worse.

Whatever it is, I want it gone so I can get to work, and boy, am I tired of waiting for it to go away. You'd think the homemade bread baking in the oven, pumpkin soup on the stove, and really, really good coffee would get me started. But, I am still not ready to sit at my bench, and the new kitchen clock ticks. It's my audible reminder of passing time that brings me closer and closer to my deadline...

There is no try

Originally Published 9-6-2013

I just finished a fun teaching stretch at BeadFest Philadelphia for two fully loaded "Rotary Tools Demystified" classes. My students were super, and very eager learners. I think/hope they left with full brains and the courage to use their Dremel (and other) tools fearlessly. That's really all any teacher can hope for.
As a teacher, it is fun seeing your students enter somewhat cautiously at the beginning. After a class, and due to a little guided practice, I truly love seeing them swagger (tiredly, but happily) out of the room -- all fired up to use the new things they just learned in the class. Often, as a teacher, all I need to do is stand by mindfully and get someone to take action. Like Yoda said, "Try. There is no try. Do. Or not do." It's like setting a spark and watching a fire kindle and grow. Awesome. And, so gratifying.
So, thanks, students! You totally rocked it, and your courage gave me the courage to submit more teaching proposals for next year.
See you soon...
Todays tip: Is straight from my Rotary Tools Demystified handout: Next time you stay in a hotel, grab one of those thick little hard bars of soap they leave at the sink. It makes a great in-a-pinch lubricant for your steel burs.

Backstage Pass: Ploof, Cahoon and Warg video sessions

Whenever I travel for work, I make it a point to at least get out and get local for part of the trip…

Here is a shot of the rocks near Two Lights, just southeast of Portland, ME. It was a misty morning, and I could barely see the lighthouses. I apologized profusely at the airport for all the sand my shoes dragged into the rental car...

Originally Published 5-19-2013

Despite a temporary delay (due to crushing print deadlines) I have finally sorted out my notes and photos from recent studio visits in New England with metalsmith/jewelry artist (and life) partners Chris Ploof and Ann Cahoon, and the incomparable Pauline Warg, enamelist extraordinaire. It was a busy week, with IWP Video Production staffers from Colorado meeting up with me and the fantastic artist talent here on the east coast. I had forgotten just how gorgeous New England is, and I was delighted to spend some time meeting these three talented artists and assisting Garrett and Nick with the backstage and editing support during the filming of three IWP videos.

For the Massachusetts leg of our journey, we shot at the Chris Ploof/Ann Cahoon studio in Leomister. I haven't been to Massachusetts since I took a workshop at Metalwerx in 2009 (with Michael Boyd) and both Chris and Ann are instructors there as well. Chris specializes in Mokume Gane and Damascus, and is the metalsmith's metalsmith. He can form, forge, cast, solder, fabricate, make tools and also runs a thriving and busy production/manufacturing facility and business.

Watching him create a mokume gane billet and then pattern it on video was a treat for me, because I have never seen that process live. Chris is a real pro and living proof of the work hard/stay humble ethic common to many New Englanders. Chances are if you own a weighted Delrin forming mallet, it was manufactured in the Ploof facility, right alongside his incredible luxury metal rings and other jewelry objects.

The other half of this life and work partner duo, Ann Cahoon, spent the afternoon demonstrating a variety of stone settings on camera, and her exacting nature and high level of quality control is another contributing factor to the success of their business. Ann is a consummate professional, and I admire her for the difficulty she conquers every day as a stone setter: one of the most unforgiving tasks jewelry makers perform in pursuit of their craft. I truly do not know how she did it on camera with such composure and professionalism. 

Both Ann and Chris are hard-working and modest. It was a long day of filming and they both not only shot their own material for the video, but got other important work done in the studio while their partner was on camera. Both artists were in the midst of preparing a body of work for the Vegas shows, and interrupted that important production process for our filming sessions. I feel so much gratitude to both of them for allowing us into the studio during such a busy period. I picked up some great ideas for my own studio while I was there, and filled two-thirds of my notebook with information on tools, mokume gane, stone setting, sources, and all kinds of studio information which they happily shared with me. Then, after packing up, a hasty good-bye, and the promise to spend time with them in the future, it was off to I-95 and on the road to the rugged and glorious state of Maine.

Pauline Warg is a tremendous teacher, with a full-fledged shop and education storefront in Scarborough, Maine. Her video will cover Torch Fired Enamels, and she is an accomplished pro. I was so honored to spend the day with her and her husband, and I discovered at lunch that she studied with Philip Morton (author of Contemporary Jewelry, A Studio Handbook) -- one of the giants of education in our craft. Pauline herself  is the author of Making Metal Beads, and she teaches and lectures regularly at crafts centers all over the country. It was a tremendous delight to spend the day there, and I totally covet her amazing neon-color welding goggles! I took another third of a notebook of notes down, bought some enamel supplies I have been looking for, and the hunt is on for those welding goggles, btw...

At the end of my time in New England, I had a few precious hours left to explore along the rugged coast (just 4 miles from my hotel!) on the way up to the airport, and I got to indulge my inner nature geek. I filled my phone camera with shots taken along the rocky shore, and managed to find and explore three state parks and two wildlife areas in less than 6 hours.

I was delighted that I finally got to see the infamous misty Maine coast and was reminded so much of my beloved island of Espanola in Galapagos. The Maine shore is visually similar to those islands, with rugged rock cliffs, huge waves, fascinating plants and the never-ending song of the sea. Maine was the only state along the entire east coast I hadn't been to, and I have wanted to go there since I was a child.

[caption id="attachment_658" align="alignright" width="112"]2-inch PVC pipe protects those mandrels, and ductwork strapping holds them secure. Awe. Some.[/caption]

As I clamored over those rocks and listened to the lighthouse horns, I vowed I would return to Maine (with my favorite Galapaganian) and spend some time again on those shores. I had to keep looking at my watch to not lose track of time, because the coast (anywhere) is my favorite place on earth. I got damp and dirty, but I managed to pull out one remaining clean set of clothes to change in the airport bathroom and fix my bad hair day before heading home. After one last bowl of delicious chowder, I was on my way to the gate, and back at home by dinner.

Life is good.

Today's tip: Is courtesy of Chris Ploof. Check out (above, right) how he stores his many ring mandrels, keeps them handy, grabbable, and clearly labeled, just behind his bench. I intend to make a Depot run this week and use this brilliant solution. It both protects the tools, and puts them in easy reach -- what more can you ask for? Thank you Chris!

On set: Michael Boyd’s DVD

Learning from the best of the best

Here's Micheal Boyd cutting some Montana Agate at the Diamond Pacific Genie, my favorite piece of lapidary equipment. I have had mine for more than 10 years and it still runs as well as it did the day I bought it.

Originally Published 5-4-2013

Last week I was lucky enough to hang out in Colorado with my teacher, mentor, and close friend Michael Boyd during the filming of his upcoming IWP workshop video: Basic Lapidary for Jewelry Makers. It was really fun for me to finally transition to the behind-the-scenes video workshop team, rather than be in front of the camera yet again. I really am much happier when I get to wear my editor's hat at work!

The shoot went very well, and Michael's video will be a really great resource for anyone looking to add lapidary to their skill set. Truly, the best part of the experience for me (well, besides doing a good job on the work part of the week) was catching up with my pals, Ryan Gardner, Nancy Blair, Joe Korth and of course, Michael -- because I didn't make it to the CoMA Conference last year.

It took us two lunches and a dinner to catch everyone up on news, show reports, new stash additions, Tucson, gossip and all that stuff, and after having gone "underground" for nearly a year while I worked on my book, it was so much fun to be out and about with my tribe again. And, yes, the margaritas at Jorge's are still as great (and as potentially dangerous to your navigational skills) as I remember.

While I was there, I cut into some of the new "K2 Blue" material, fresh out of Pakistan via Tucson, I had a heart-to-heart with my mentor about the new body of work I am beginning, and caught up on what Michael has been up to himself -- including some gorgeous new pieces with luscious gold spirals and incredible surface textures.

Keep an eye on the IWP store for Michael's video -- due out in August 2013. There are also some sequels planned for Michael's first video, and hopefully both Joe and Nancy will be onboard for some filming and perhaps some projects for Lapidary Journal as well in the near future.

In the meantime, I will be on the road again next week to do more behind-the-scenes work for three more filming sessions in New England with three well-known metals artists. I don't want to let any corporate secrets out, so ... more on that later.

Be sure to check in at the IWP store for news and previews about the workshop videos, and I will be writing about my behind-the-scenes experiences here as the summer goes into full swing.

2014 promises to be a great year -- as far as workshop videos go.

Back to learning

Originally Published 4-9-2013

I think if I had unlimited resources I would be a perennial student. Now that my life is my own again, of course I opted for a metals workshop. This past weekend I had a great time with the fantastic Andrea and Chuck Kennington of NC Black Co. Not only did I catch up with my Pa. Goldsmiths cohorts, I spent the day learning, hammering, soldering and creating all sorts of complex and mind-boggling micro shell forms with the awesome tools NC Black has designed and manufactured for just that purpose. If you haven't seen them yet, check out the tools from NC Black -- but don't go yet...

I really can't say enough about what a great teacher Andrea is. She is talented, giving and so modest. This hard working metalsmith, jeweler and educator has spent the past few years developing and growing a thriving tool company from the ground up -- traveling a grueling schedule back and forth across the country several times and stopping at schools, studios and arts organizations all along the way to teach and spread the word about her company. She is a hero.

I loved catching up with my friends at PSG, catching up on all the news from Andrea's travels, seeing the things her students have been up to, eating takeout sushi and Wawa hoagies, and mostly, mostly remembering what "normal" is for me, plain old ordinary Helen the metals student. I have been recharged by the experience, and it has given me the energy to teach in turn this coming weekend at Bead Fest Spring. Talk about passing the torch!

So now, go check out the tools from NC Black Co. here: www.ncblack.com

And if you have the opportunity to take a class with Andrea and Chuck, jump on it.

They are the best.