Silver Links

I haven't posted in awhile....been busy, getting some new things ready for the Fall Art Tour and having a couple nice weekend trips. So just a quick post ...this piece has Fine Silver textured circles with fused links. They're attached to a strand of small bicone Lapus Lazuli. Dropped from the middle link is a cobalt bead with glass shards, murrini, and silver leaf. I'll be back a little later...in the meantime enjoy!

Smooth Labradorite tear drops...

One of my favorites, out of this last batch of work, were these earrings. Concave squares of Fine Silver with a touch of texture, hold smooth tear drop Labradorites. They are entwined with sterling wire and all the silver has been gently oxidised.

Make Mine Asymetrical please......

Yes.... it's supposed to be that way. I know there will be some people who will want to point out to me that one side of this necklace is not the same as the other. But hey, I've never been too much of a symmetrical person, I like things not always the same, not always predictable. For this piece, on one side I have some Dyed Silver Freshwater Pearls. They travel partially up the other side where they're met with a fused Fine Silver ring. On the other side of the ring are two different sized gun metal chains. Dropped from from the center of the necklace is a handmade Fine Silver square with two different textures separated by pounded spheres. And from the square hangs a Lampworked Glass bead with murrini, Fine Silver mesh, and glass shards to give it a bit of a Cosmic effect. It's capped in Dark Silver Plum with a leaf on each side.

A New Debut

This is one of the new pieces I debuted at the Bassett Silver & Bold Show. The Fine Silver spiral bail is handmade and travels up one side of the rubber cord. Suspended from the bail is a Lampworked glass bead with glass shards, Fine Silver mesh, murrini, and silvered ivory stringer on a steel green base. The headpin is also Fine Silver and handmade. I made a few others as well and will post them soon. Enjoy.

Just a Little Teaser...

Now that most of the work is done, I thought I would give you a little preview to tomorrow's Silver & Bold Show. This piece has a Fine Silver handmade charm with the words "Till we Meet Again". Suspended from the charm is a Lampworked bead with Silvered ivory glass shards and a Raku Murrini. The head pin is also handmade from Fine Silver. Sterling rings, copper beads dipped in silver, and Dutch Dogan rings complete the piece, which hangs on a 24" rubber cord.

These earrings are hanging from a small white creamer pitcher, from my collection. They have handmade Fine Silver wires from which a Fine silver spiral hangs. The gems in luscious colors of greens and pinks, reminding you of watermelon, are Tourmalines.

Stop by Bassett's in Minocqua, on Saturday, to see what other "little gems" will be there.

Silver & Bold Show .....Coming Soon!

Bassett Jewelers Welcomes Back “silver & bold” artists to their Showroom

Bassett Jewelers is hosting it’s second round of jewelry trunk shows featuring local designers on August 15, 22 & 29 from 10am to 4 pm. “Silver and Bold: A Northwoods Jewelry Designers Showcase” will feature artists Betty J. Christian of Lake Tomahawk, Kathy Furda of Rhinelander and Wendy Powalisz of Land O’ Lakes on three separate saturdays in the store’s showroom. Each artist will be on hand to talk to customers directly about their pieces.

The event was conceived last fall by owner Susan Bassett and marketing manager, Amy Higgason as a direct response to customer inquiries. “There have been many customer requests for locally made items. We hand selected these three ladies because their craftsmanship is first-rate. They each have their own signature styles and unique approaches to their materials”notes Susan Bassett. “The first event went over so well that we created a ‘Northwoods Boutique’ within the store to showcase these artists year-round. The reaction has been extremely positive!” adds Bassett.

“Late summer is the perfect time to bring the artists back to the showroom for another round of Silver & Bold trunk shows. It’s an opportunity for Betty, Kathy & Wendy to meet our seasonal customers that missed the shows last November & December” Higgason explains.

Artist Betty J. Christian is first up on Sat., Aug. 15. Christian began creating wire wrapped jewelry in the late 90’s. Her intricate pieces are formed one at a time using only hand tools and jigs. She works primarily with sterling silver, but also uses 14K gold-filled wire and copper wire in some designs. Most pieces incorporate gemstones or other bead materials, including pearls, glass, wood, bone, clay, and seeds. “When I work with wire it seems to take on a fluid-like quality as it willingly flows into form. Each piece is a fun journey of creation” claims Christian.

The store welcomes Kathy Furda on Sat., Aug. 22. Furda designs jewelry incorporating glass lampworked beads and fine silver pieces. She makes her beads over a torch. It involves melting glass rods over a metal rod and then reworking the glass into art forms. Furda fuses fine silver wire to some of her glass beads. She also uses fine silver clay to create silver beads that are then fired in her kiln. “I like the combination of smooth glass beads and textured silver. The range of color, style, glass and precious metals that can be utilized is unlimited. It’s a very exciting creative medium.” states Furda.

Shoppers can meet Wendy Powalisz at Bassett’s showroom on Sat., Aug 29. Powalisz lists playing with her grandma’s necklaces and big jars of buttons as an “early delight.” Her fascination grew as she learned how antique beads traveled across the globe as currency. “Imagine the stories they could tell” she remarks. Powalisz began collecting vintage glass beads from Europe, African trade beads and semi-precious stones from around the world. She combines them with fairly traded silver from Thailand. “I still play with beads and buttons, but today they end up as one-of-a-kind jewelry creations.”

"We are excited to share this fine work with our customers. It's a talented group and as a small local merchant, it's our privilege to promote these area entrepreneurs." Bassett ads. Each artist will be at the store on their day from 10 am to 4 pm. Jewelry by these artists is available year-round at Bassett Jewelers, located at the stoplights in downtown Minocqua. Please call 715-356-7272 for more information.

Creative Arts Walk ...Art in Bloom

Sandy Buss sent me this photo she took of one of my Flat Glass windows that she used for an inspiration piece for an Art in Bloom work. I was thrilled to provide her with inspiration. The photo below is a close up of her handy work. Very Beautiful Sandy! This was on display at Brown Street Studio during the Creative Arts Walk. And there's another place you should check out if you're down town . Becky Carpenter is the owner/photographer and she has a very unique eye. Her pieces are a delight. Take a look at her site here: www.brownstreetstudios.com

What a Weekend...

Well needless to say ....I was worn out by the end of the weekend! It was a busy week leading up to the Northwoods Art Tour and Creative Arts Walk and an equally busy weekend. Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of the Art Tour, things just got to busy and I didn't get the chance. I did more Demos this year than in the past, lost of interested people. We had lots of visitors who asked lots of questions and seemed to enjoy their experience at the Gallery.
The photos I have are of the Creative Art Walk in Down Town Rhinelander.
Here I am posing with all the items I
brought with me.



This is my friend, Jackie Pavlow, she is one creative person. She was demonstrating her hand felted handbags. You can see some of the beautiful handbags she has made hanging on the coat stands. Remember for a larger image, just click on the picture.



A close up of some jewelry and flat glass that I brought. There is a piece of stained glass in the background that I purposely brought to show how beautiful a single multi-colored piece can be. This was the first time I did the event . I demonstrated how to make a small flat glass window. I had a lot of interested people, who asked very good questions.

Both Jackie and I had set up at Frasier's Showplace Interiors. Here is Jackie showing Nancy Frasier just how it's done. Nancy was a very good promoter for the both of as well.

Here are two friends Rene' Carlson and her daughter Katie. They look good now , but you should have seen them after they got caught in the rain. I was glad we were inside but felt bad for those who were outside in tents, when the wind and rain came up suddenly.

It's an Art weekend...

If you want to see some of the great artwork being produced up here in the Northwoods, this is the weekend to see it! Friday, July 24th is the kickoff day for the Northwoods Art Tour. The tour runs from 10 to 5 Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Check the Links to the right and click for more information. Also on Friday is the Creative Arts Walk in Down Town Rhinelander. It starts at 4 and runs till 8. I will be at both events, starting out at the Rodd Umlauf Gallery #15 on the map. I'll have my torch set up and will be making some glass beads. Click on the link at right to check out the other artists displaying their work there.
Later on that afternoon, I'll head down to Rhinelander and will demonstrate how a small glass window is made at Frasier's Showplace Interiors. I'll have a few items for sale there as well. Here's your chance to see some beautiful art and support the arts as well. Hope to see you there.