the girls

If you didn't get to skip over to
Love My Art Jewelry
yesterday to read my guest post,
I thought I'd share it with you here today.

*******

I could never had predicted how important this torn cabinet card would become in the years to come in my artistic journey.

A picture of two sisters, who actually are distant cousins of mine.

Found in a dresser drawer of my grandparent's home, both long gone, 

the most precious treasure, worth more to me than silver and gold.

Stacks of family cabinet cards, given to my grandparents, 

that seam to reveal a close knit family full of sharing.

I was blessed to inherit the 1920 farmhouse from my bachelor uncle,  

an older brother of my father,

who before that had inherited it from his parents and my grandparents.

Dear Lord, Let me always dance with heart....

*******

I originally shared the story above almost three years ago in the fall 2009 issue of
Somerset Memories, 

called Cabinet Card Sisters.

I had made a couple of soldered jewelry pendants, one using this very same picture.

They eventually made their way into my marketing, as one day sitting at my computer,

I pulled up this very picture in one of my editing programs.  

I hit crop and when I did...the idea was born.

I first began using a black and white version of this picture on the front of my class handouts.

But later that year, I had a designer, Susie Hibdon, 

use it to design my business cards, postcards and as a banner for my shows.

Next, I placed them in resin filled bezels.

"Art Sistas"

With many more bezels in the waiting...

I've used the sisters together.  I've used them one at a time.

Obviously I've used only their hands.

But, I have found that I love to use only their feet!

 

"dance with heart"

Window to My Heart Class

(I will be teaching at Spring Beads on May 12, 2012, in Spring, Texas)

And, just their faces too!

I've used them in larger soldered pendants.

"happy and blest"

Believe Soldered Pendant Necklace Class

(I will be teaching at Art Unraveled 2012, in Phoenix, Arizona)

And covered them with mica.

These necklaces were just featured in the winter 2011 issue of 

Belle Armoire Jewelry.

"sisters"

Framed 

(I will be teaching at Art Unraveled 2012, in Phoenix, Arizona)

Recently I used one of the little girls as my blog favicon.

 And last, but certainly not least,

I put together a group of images for a group of Moo stickers,

which I have been using as the closure on my class kit bags.  

The message, one I had written, 

rings strong and true as I travel this artistic road I have chosen.  

It has proven to be never dull, ever winding, and worth every minute.

oh my! it's 2012

"give me wings"

The end of December was a blur.
A huge family Christmas Eve party at our home,
was followed by my husband developing pneumonia. 

He didn't hesitate to go to the doctor the day after Christmas, 

but even then he was quite sick for almost two weeks.

We did travel down to the deer camp for several days,
which carried us thru New Years; something we've done for the past 15 years.

Since returning home I have been developing the classes I will be teaching at

The Prairie.
One of which (class samples) is shown above,
using a new technique I think you just might like.

 And, again at the
Art Retreat by the Beach.

Barb plans on having the registration open for The Prairie by the middle of this month,
so be sure and follow the above blog link so you won't miss a single detail.
Next, I will once again focus on the two classes I will be teaching online this summer for Artful Gathering.
More details and links about these classes are found on my sidebar under Teaching.
One important note....
we will be having an instructor Blog Hop promoting 
Artful Gathering starting this Saturday, January 7th.
It begins with the talented Jodi Ohl.
At the end of the hop, will be $$ prizes $$ from our sponsors,

so you might want to follow along =)

"dance with heart"
I found out that once again I will be traveling to Art Unraveled this August. 
I'll teach two classes, one of which being Framed.
Which, by the way, was featured in the latest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry.

The other class is my

Believe Soldered Pendant.
Whew!  I think that just about covers it.  For now.
I heard a quote on The Ellen Show today, which I really love.
Said by one of the children to an amazing school principal of an impoverished school
in Las Vegas. 
"I dream of dreams like this".
I cried during this segment.

Heart Strings

"Heart Strings"

:True Heart:

~are what I call sleepers.

They were first published in the Spring 2011 Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine.

I taught this class at the Art Guild in Fayetteville, then again (just the 

tassel) at ArtBLISS.

I will be teaching this class at Adorn Me! 2012, 

and again online this summer for 

Artful Gathering.

 I love the options that await when designing them.

I added one of my tiny etched books to :True Heart:

These two new Heart Strings went to MimiBellas

today.

"Heart Strings"

:Sweet Bird:

I love to make the little "nesties" found in this one.

 I will teach you how to make one for your

"Heart Strings"~

Along with a few other tips and tricks =)

virtual book tour stops here

~The House~

"Framed Series"

I am stop number six (mentioned here) 
on the Virtual Book Tour celebrating the new book 
torch-fired enamel jewelry

a workshop in painting with fire 
written by the talented,
Barbara Lewis. 

(Thank you Barbara for asking me to share my work on your tour!)

One of the techniques I teach in my "Framed" class, (yes! a simple one),
of torch firing enamel onto a piece of base metal.  

In this case, 24 gauge copper sheet metal.

I love the vivid opaque colors, and this one is my favorite,

Robin's Egg Blue.

~Family~

"Framed Series"

This piece was the second I designed in the series.

Again, using a piece of copper sheet metal as the base, 

I chose to use the color, Spruce.

Yes, I love the blues and green blues!

~Dance with Heart~

"Framed Series"

My latest "Framed" piece, was basically the same as the first two,
but still slightly different, not counting the clever dangle =)

This time, if you look really close, 

you will notice the subtle difference in the texture of the enameled base layer.

I didn't heat the enamel quite as long, 

removing the torch just before it fully liquified. 

This resulted in an "orange-peel-like" texture.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Now, as promised, I'd like to share some of the pendants my students made in the 

"Framed" class I taught in Austin last month.
Great work ladies!

Back row:  Cindy, Angela, Janise

Second row:  Pat, Rita, Sue

Third row:  Konnie (on the far right behind me)

Front row:  Charlene, Charlotte, =)

p.s. watch for my "framed" article in the winter 2011 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry,

due out December 1st. 

a collaboration

I wasn't at home when I received my complimentary issue of 

Belle Armoire Jewelry.   

I was happily touring around California, and the magazine was at home in my mailbox. 

I kept thinking about it, as I had become so anxious to see how an article 

I'd had a hand in putting together, 

along with a few close friends, had turned out.

 Cindy, Diana, Julie, Maire, Molly, Riki and I

would finally get to see an article we'd been working on since last October.  

I was thrilled to have these wonderful ladies & artists, 

come along with me on a fun little project I called

With One Finding.

I don't want to give away too much of the article, 

but here are the pieces my fellow artists designed for the challenge, 

all beginning with one specific finding.  

In this case, a vintage inspired piece of brass filigree called "marianne" from 

Brass Bouquet.

It is a great piece.

 Cindy Wimmer

Diana Frey

Julie Pishny

Maire Dodd

(Her piece was actually mislabeled in the magazine as being Riki's... 

so sorry for that MJ)

Molly Alexander

Riki Schumacher

 (Her piece was actually mislabeled in the magazine as being Maire's... 

so sorry for that Riki)

"The Girls"

is mine.

You can also see each of these beautiful pieces on my flicker page here.

This was such a fun collaboration.  

Again, thank you ladies.

You were just the best to work with!!

diane

xo

dreaming of dancing

When I was a little girl I watched the Carol Burnett Show religiously.

It was one of the best variety shows wasn't it?

What I loved most about it were the dancers!

Remember, all the shows had them back when.

I confess, I wanted to be one of them. 

The Ernie Flatt Dancers!

Really, was that their name??  Yes, I had to look it up =)

They would effortlessly spin together light as air on the dance floor.

I dreamed of twirling around and dancing with my partner on a stage like that!

To be part of a dance troupe on TV.

Oh, what funny dreams I had.

I guess Dancing with the Stars fills that empty gap today.

Not for me, as it is certainly not the same.

I have been working on finished a couple new classes this week,

this being one.

This cuff was cut and etched out of a gorgeous piece of red brass 

I had etched almost 2 years ago.

It sports a forged, stamped & oxidized nickel silver heart,

with a tiny window letting you see into "my heart".

One that longed to dance on a TV stage!

Yes, I dance.  But, not like they danced.  

I have danced since I was 6, when I began tagging along with my mother & father

to country dances in old German dance halls.  You must dance if you are from Texas!

Especially the part of Texas I was born & raised.

Today I still feel a deep stir inside my soul when I hear a beautiful waltz, 

AND even a polka.  

I probably always will....

 Just let me dance.

And when I do, let it be with heart ~ diane =)

ArtBLISS 2011

I am so excited to share with you this great bit of news!

I'll be teaching three classes in the Washington DC Metro area this September.

I can hardly believe it!!

I am so excited that Cindy & Jeanette invited me to come to the east coast, 

along with six other extremely talented teachers; 

who are btw, teaching many new classes!

I will be in the company of Robert Dancik, Deryn Mentock, Richard Salley,  

Jane Salley, Kerry Bogert and Christine Damm. 

On Saturday, September 24th,

Etched & Layered Cuffs.

That evening I'll be teaching 

Heart Strings.

....the fun tassel part of the necklace.

The same Heart Strings I had published in the latest issue of 

Belle Armoire Jewelry, and the ones I talked about here.

Then on Sunday, September 25th,

I will be teaching a new class...

"Believe" Soldered Pendant Necklace.

 This class will be chocked full of my "primitive style" of soldering 

and fun techniques.

I hope I see you there!

Registration begins here tomorrow morning 7AM EST.

AM! Vendor Night

Vendor night was fun & furious, as I had taken a class earlier in the day with 

Richard Sally.

I actually had time to visit with Deryn and Sally!

Deryn's soothing color palette of goodies made my soul hummmm.

Stephanie stopped by my table wearing the piece she designed in Richard's class, 

the same one I took earlier in the day, Mixed Metal Milagros.

Richard is a great teacher.  I learned several new techniques, 

which I will add to my bag of tricks.

 One, of which....playing more with enamels and Faux Bone TM.

Each of the vendors donated a piece to be given out for the hourly door prizes.

Here's a picture of the happy attendee who won the necklace I donated. 

Lore took this picture, as we were across the isle from each other.   

She taught her class, Queen of Hearts, on Saturday.  

Her PMC work is absolutely gorgeous!

I was still smiling here, so it must have been pretty early in the evening =)

Because by 10 o'clock I was pooped!