The JEWELERS’ Palette, 12/15/2024
https://www.patreon.com/posts/jewelers-palette-117630161
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From Warren and
Land of Odds
Use December’s Discount Code For Extra 25% Off @Land of Odds:
DECEMBER25
www.landofodds.com
December 15, 2024
Hi everyone,
Some Updates and Things Happening.
(Please share this newsletter)1. Heartache and Helpers in Western North Carolina After Hurricane Helene (by Ashley Callahan, Ornament Magazine, Nov 25, 2024)
“Asheville and its surrounding area in Western North Carolina boast a strong history with the arts. Penland School of Craft was founded in 1929, the Southern Highland Craft Guild started in 1930, Black Mountain College thrived from 1933 to 1957, and the Asheville Art Museum opened in 1948. More recently, Asheville’s River Arts District (RAD) began to develop in the 1990s, growing dramatically in the 2010s. Until late September 2024, it comprised more than two dozen old brick buildings and warehouses — mostly remnants of its time as an industrial hub — painted with bright murals and filled with vibrant studios, galleries, restaurants, and bars. With this rich artistic presence (which had a $3 billion economic contribution to Buncombe County in 2023), it is not surprising that, even amidst the shocking destruction and loss of life caused by Hurricane Helene, the impact on the arts community is keenly felt and widely acknowledged, even by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. “
“I think the artists will suffer a lot of economic uncertainty. But on the other side of that I think a lot of art inspiration will come out of something so deeply felt by the artists.” — Jessica Blissett
“I feel like a small river pebble being worn round by a constant current of change. And I’m so beyond grateful for all the hugs, and prayers and folks putting in orders on my shop even though I don’t have a studio right now.” — Alice Scott
“While the waters and winds of Hurricane Helene ravaged studios and stalled practices that artists have spent their entire careers building, the tight social networks and a sense of hope remain. Artists have set up online fundraisers and raffles for friends, served meals through the World Central Kitchen (Deb Karash has helped serve tens of thousands of hot meals in downtown Asheville), and shoveled a lot of dirt and debris out of art spaces. Many are expressing optimism and sharing heart-warming experiences of fellow artists supporting one another. Blissett, for example, observed, “Those less affected at their homes donned hazmat suits and threw themselves into the cleanup. Those who lost so much still kept at the tasks at hand.” Foundation Studios conveyed the pervasive feeling of loss mixed with promise, posting on social media, “In the grand scheme of things we are lucky. This is an art gallery & studios, not a home (though it felt like it). These are things, not lives (though souls were put into them). If there’s one thing artists will do, it’s make more art!” “
How You Can Help:
CERF+ (Craft Emergency Relief Fund): www.cerfplus.org
RADA Foundation (River Arts District Artists Foundation): www.riverartsdistrict.com (app.thefield.org/home/donation/general/638093/0)
Curve Studios: www.gofundme.com/f/curvestudios
Craft Futures Fund from the Center for Craft: www.centerforcraft.org/grants-and-fellowships/craft-futures-fund
ArtsAVL, aid for artists in Buncombe County: artsavl.org/aid
Lamplight AVL, working to secure space for artists: lamplightavl.org
Toe River Arts, for artists in the Toe River Valley, in both Mitchell and Yancey Counties: toeriverarts.org (secure.givelively.org/donate/toe-river-arts-council-inc/toe-river-arts-disaster-recovery-fund-for-mitchell-and-yancey-artists)
Treats Studios in Spruce Pine provides a list of artists affected with links to make direct donations or support through direct sales: www.treatsstudios.org/artist-support-helene
2. Continuing Notes on Instagram Marketing…
Instagram is trying to phase out the use of hashtags.
Artist, social media influencer, and faculty expert Dina Brodsky recommends not focusing too much time on hashtags when you post.
“Honestly, they’re not really a thing anymore and it’s something that Instagram is trying to phase out.”
Unless it is a branded hashtag (when you specifically want a publication, gallery, or brand to see you), or you’re using your own: it doesn’t really matter.
3. Meet the world’s rarest mineral. It was only found once!
A single gemstone from Myanmar holds the title of Earth’s rarest mineral, kyawthuite.
“The kyawthuite crystal was discovered in 2010 by sapphire hunters in the Chaung Gyi Valley, near Mogok, Myanmar. Initially mistaken for an ordinary gem, it was later identified as unique by Dr. Kyaw Thu, a prominent mineralogist. After extensive analysis, the International Mineralogical Association (IMA) officially recognized kyawthuite as a new mineral in 2015. Today, the sole specimen resides in the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where it is safeguarded as a geological treasure.”
4. Pewter. A Most Misunderstood Metal by Ana LopezFrom an article in Metalsmith Magazine 44(3):
“Now that pewter alloys are lead-free, a surprising number of artists are revisiting pewter’s unique qualities and complex history. Pewter is a tin-based alloy. Since tin is brittle, it is combined with other metals to improve its durability and working properties. And because it alloys easily and has a very low melting temperature, it can form a eutectic mixture with other metals, reducing the melting temperatures of each component. For metalsmiths, the nightmare scenario is heating silver that unbeknownst to them has been in contact with pewter, which leads to a meltdown in every sense.”
“Conversely, fans of pewter rave about its accessibility and forgiving nature. For example, welded pewter joints provide a seamless construction without being brittle. Pewter can be formed with wood tools, and can be melted with just a small butane torch. Since no amount of hammering, rolling, or forming will cause it to stiffen, there is no need to stop and anneal the metal. And since it’s a poor conductor, pewtersmiths can hold elements in place with masking tape while soldering with a torch. It can be liqueified in a saucepan on a hotplate and cast into a silicone mold. Scrap metal can be endlessly melted down for reuse, so nothing goes to waste. Finally, it is food safe — and considerably less expensive than silver.”
You can read the full article here on Klimt02 for free without having to subscribe to Metalsmith Magazine.
5. At the shop, I went through 3 pearl knotting instructors, and was never satisfied. Not only could their students not do a consistently good job, particularly when they tried to repeat what they learned after their classes, but also these instructors could not do a consistently good job themselves. So, after a lot of research, I wrote this book: PEARL KNOTTING…Warren’s Way.
188pp, many images and diagrams
Kindle or Ebook or Print
Classic Elegance! Timeless! Architectural Perfection!
Learn a simple Pearl Knotting technique anyone can do.
No special tools. Beautiful. Durable. Wearable.
PEARL KNOTTING Doesn’t Need To Be Hard
In this very detailed book, with thoroughly-explained instructions and pictures, you are taught a non-traditional Pearl Knotting technique which is very easy for anyone to learn and do. Does not use special tools. Goes slowly step-by-step. Presents a simple way to tie knots and position the knots to securely abut the bead. Anticipates both appeal and functionality. Shows clearly how to attach your clasp and finish off your cords. And achieves that timeless, architectural perfection we want in our pearl knotted pieces.
Most traditional techniques are very frustrating. These can get overly complicated and awkward. They rely on tools for making and positioning the knots. When attempting to follow traditional techniques, people often find they cannot tie the knots, make good knots, get the knots close enough to the beads, nor centered between them. How to attach the piece to the clasp gets simplified or glossed over. Fortunately, Pearl Knotting doesn’t need to be this hard.
Pearl Knotting…Warren’s Way teaches you how to:
• Hand-knot without tools
• Select stringing materials
• Begin and finish pieces by
(1) attaching directly to the clasp,
(2) using French wire bullion,
(3), using clam shell bead tips, or,
(4) making a continuous piece without a clasp
• Add cord
• Buy pearls, care for them, string and restring them, store them
By the end of this book, you will have mastered hand-knotting pearls.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. PEARL KNOTTING IS FOR YOU: An Introduction
2. MATERIALS, TOOLS AND YOUR WORK SPACE
3. ALL ABOUT PEARLS
4. ALL ABOUT HAND-KNOTTING PEARLS
5. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
6. MEASUREMENTS
7. SELECTING AND TESTING BEAD CORD
8a. VARIATION #1: ATTACHING DIRECTLY TO THE CLASP
8b. VARIATION #2: USING FRENCH WIRE BULLION
8c. VARIATION #3: USING CLAM SHELL BEAD TIPS
8d. VARIATION #4: CONTINUOUS PIECE WITHOUT CLASP
8e. A NOTE ABOUT ADDING MORE CORD
9. HANDLING CONTINGENCIES
10. FINISHING TOUCHES
6. About Showing Prices OnLine
Not comfortable showing prices online? Publish a private page.
Create a website page that is only accessible via private link,
in which you feature the prices of the pieces you have on sale.
Next to your product information and image, add an INQUIRE Button.
Whenever an interested buyer asks about the prices of certain pieces,
send them the private/exclusive link so they can see the works.
Also, include them immediately in your email database. Flag them as more
likely to be interested in your work, because they have taken the effort
to click on the INQUIRE button.
7. In our jewelry designers’ hub, I post questions students and customers have related to jewelry design, either the techniques, the materials, or the business. Here’s one of the latest. Please share your responses on the hub.
8. FLUENCY IN JEWELRY DESIGN: The Journey Begins
I was burnt out in my job as Director of a non-profit, health care organization when I met Jayden at a local bar. I was so bored in my job. Bored with the people I worked with. Bored with the tasks. Bored with the goals. I felt so disconnected from the field of health care. I wanted to stop the world and jump off. But into what, I had no idea.
I so much yearned for some creative spark. Some creative excitement. Something that challenged me, was artistic, was fun. And someone to do these things with. And, in 1987, I met Jayden. Jayden epitomizes creativity.
Soon after we met, Jayden moved to Nashville. But she was having difficulty finding a job. There was a recession going on at the time. At one point, I asked her what she could do, and she said that she could make jewelry. I thought we could build a business around that.
And so we did. Land of Odds was born.
Initially the business was oriented around Jayden’s design work. She made all kinds of jewelry from beads to wire to silver fabrication to lampwork. And at first, I had little interest in actually making or designing jewelry. But gradually, very gradually, I began learning the various techniques and the different kinds of materials and components. We took in a lot of repairs. I found it intellectually challenging to figure out why something broke — construction, technique, something about the wearing. I began to formalize some ideas and hypotheses into rules and principles.
Around 1998, Jayden and I wanted to offer jewelry making classes in our shop. But we did not want to repeat and replicate the types of classes already offered at other craft and bead shops in town. We did not want to do the Step-by-Step paint-by-number approach to jewelry making. We wanted to integrate architectural considerations with those of art. While we recognize that all jewelry making has some aspect of craft to it, we wanted to inspire our students to go beyond this. Jewelry beyond craft.
Over the next couple of years, with the help and guidance from many local artisans and craft teachers, we developed an educational curriculum embedded within what is called the Design Perspective. That is, our classes would teach students how to manage both beauty and functionality, and how to make the necessary tradeoffs between these within their finished pieces. Our classes would guide students in developing a literacy and fluency in jewelry design.
Eventually Jayden retired and our business began to revolve around my own designs and my developing understanding of the Design Perspective. After 35+ years in the business, I came away with some strong beliefs about what jewelry designers should be taught and how they should be taught. I’ve encapsulated all this within this text So You Want To Be A Jewelry Designer and its companion book Conquering The Creative Marketplace.
588pp, many images and diagrams Ebook , Kindle or Print formats
Read more about FLUENCY IN DESIGN on our Jewelry Designers’ Hub
And don’t forget to use this 25% discount code
throughout December at Land of Odds!!
Use December’s Discount Code
For Extra 25% Off @Land of Odds:
DECEMBER25
www.landofodds.com
SOME POSTS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:
INSTAGRAM SERIES: (10a) Connecting With Other Jewelry Designers
DON’T BE THE TEACHER KNOWN FOR BAD INSTRUCTIONS! SOME POINTERS.
The Musings Of A Jewelry Designer: RACE
THE JEWELRY DESIGNER’S ORIENTATION TO STRINGING MATERIALS
Feature your jewelry
Here next week
In This Newsletter,
as well as,
on our Jewelry Designer’s Hub!
Email a post (text and/or image) to warren@warrenfeldjewelry.com.
Promote your current projects, promotional copy, News & Views, videos, reels, tutorials, instructions, social media posts online in this newsletter and on our jewelry designers’ Patreon hub.
No deadlines! Opportunity available all the time. No fees.
But don’t wait to take advantage of this opportunity.
This copyrighted material is published here with permission of the author(s) as noted, or with Land of Odds or Warren Feld Jewelry. All rights reserved.
Repairs Stumping You?
Let Me Take A Look
I take in a lot of jewelry repairs. People either bring them to me in Columbia, TN, or, I pick them up and deliver them back in Nashville. I am in Nashville at least once a week. It’s been convenient for most people to meet me at Green Hills Mall. But if not, I can come to your workplace or your home. This is perfectly fine for me. My turnaround time typically is 3–4 weeks.
I do most repairs, but I do not do any soldering. I also do not repair watches. These are the kinds of repairs I do:
o Beaded jewelry
o Pearl knotting, hand knotting
o Size/Length adjustment
o Re-stringing
o Wire work/weave/wrap
o Micro macrame
o Broken clasp replacfement
o Earring repair
o Replace lost rhinestones or gemstones
o Stone setting
o Stretchy bracelet
o Metal working which does not involve soldering
o Bead woven jewelry and purses
o Beaded clothing
o Custom jewelry design
View my How-To-Repair-Jewelry videos on our Jewelry Designers’ Hub.
My most recent how-to: Converting 3-Strand Stretchy Bracelet to Cable Wire W/ Clasp
WARREN FELD JEWELRY (www.warrenfeldjewelry.com)
Custom Design, Workshops, Video Tutorials, Webinars, Coaching, Kits, Group Activities, Repairs
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Be part of a community of jewelry designers who recognize that we have a different way of thinking and doing than other types of crafters or artists.
One free downloadable Mini-Lesson of your choice for all new members!
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Thanks for being here. I look forward to sharing more resources, tips,
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