somerset memories

If only I could hold my sister's hands once more,
and love them and they me, I would.
diane

The latest edition of Somerset Memories made its way to my home just before October 1st. This is one of the very special perks of being published, I must say, is that Stampington sends a complimentary copy right to your door!
I was blessed by Jana Holstein, managing editor of the magazine, as she contacted me last June to be a part of the next issue.
Cabinet Card Sisters
was born on a day I was thumbing through a large stack of my family cabinet cards. What I began to see, were cards which included two little sisters in each picture.
How could I not be mesmerized by eyes like these?Or these?
I loved studying the details of their expressions. The dainty necklaces that hung around their necks. The types of lace on their socks and on their tiny dresses.
Even the bows in their hair intrigued me.I wonder did they have the same dreams as me?
If you want to know more, you must get the magazine. It is there I tell a little more of my story. And, how to create the soldered charms I made using these
precious family cabinet cards.As I blinked my eyes, and looked again, I realized we are all dreamers.
Some of us are just wide awake.

diane

layering and annual trips

Finishing the Visual Poetry Online Workshop with Susan Tuttle is like getting to the end of an ice cream cone, and wanting more.

The final week covered texture, including TtV, which stands for "Through the Viewfinder". I had much fun with it. Adding texture. Layering images. This class has indeed peeled back another part of the PSE world for me to see.

"on holiday"
In May of 1996 my daughter and I began taking what we call our annual trip. It has given us the opportunity to travel, and to go on several really fun trips~together. Some have been near. Some far. This one also included my mother, who came along with us to visit her sister and brother-in-law who live in Tampa, Florida.
My cousin was a gracious host at the beginning of the trip, taking us down to one of the many beaches in the Tampa Bay area. As she and I looked for shells, my daughter relaxed and read.
Later that week we went to Disney, and I must testify that Walt Disney really does know how to make all your dreams come true.
I don't care how old you are!

Textures credit: Susan Tuttle and les brumes.

"my man"
This layered project began with a picture I snapped earlier this year as he stood outside of my booth on this cold blustery day in March, at Art in the Park in Orange, Texas. In the background stands the W.H. Stark House, found in Stark Park where we set up.
I applied a layer using one of the many sunset pictures I've taken in South Texas on our wild game lease. I did a slight adjustment, but not much more. These two pictures worked perfectly together.
You can see more completed projects from Week 4 below.

"red buds in Ft. Davis"

"remembering granny"

"behind the settee"

This old settee stands behind The Brenham House B&B where my daughter and I stayed on this year's annual trip together. I live close enough to the antique festival to not stay in a nearby hotel or B&B like many people do who attend the festival. But, this was our trip for the year, and I am so glad we did. We loved it. The home was beautiful, the food delicious (served on fine china & crystal), and Susan and James Lopez were wonderful gracious hosts. I highly recommend it.
I promise I will share some of my festival pictures real soon.....

may your road rise up

Two things I have learned.
1. Wonderful old suitcases make for a good show.

2. Special pieces make their way home with special people.
My fourth year at the St. John Vianney Bazaar was a huge success!
Thanks to you my faithful family and friends.
I leave you with my favorite Irish blessing.
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Remember the Give Away?

Another picture I took in Warrenton under an open air pavilion. Dolls seemed to be the subject of many of my photos this year. Oh, so sweet....yet somewhat haunting.
I will have more to share with you as I continue to work in Photoshop with Susan Tuttle.
See our class photos in the VisualPoetry Online Workshop flickr group here.
Texture used above from one of my favorites: les brumes.

Thanks for sharing Susan!

(Meg....please contact me with your address).

EX-CESS Field

The festival was more than fun this year, as I had two extra days of it. In a row.
And, with my daughter beside me!
I don't remember the first year I went to Round Top-probably about 16 years ago. I was naive about it all. I didn't even know about the booths in Warrenton. But, many years of experience has taught me what to do, where to go, what to wear (& definitely what not to wear), the best time to go and way more than I can tell you here. But, with all that said, I still have much to learn and know about what is called Antique Week(s) that occurs in/around Round Top & Warrenton, Texas twice a year.
Yes, it is like everything else in Texas. Huge!CLUTTER

What a cool store. Very chic. Very nicely done. I took many pictures there. I have been using several in my now second week of Susan Tuttle's online Visual Poetry class.

I must say, it is without a doubt, one of the best investments I've made this year! I am thoroughly enjoying the projects. Susan has done an exceptional job in designing this class, beginning with the very usable instructions for each project, to step-out pictures, great examples, videos, an art bar where we can meet online, comments galore, AND the Visual Poetry Online Workshops flickr group. If you are thinking about taking her next class, don't hesitate. It will fill up quickly, and rightly so.

I just love this stack of vintage blankets. I took this picture at Clutter.
I used the Diffused Light Technique Susan taught us Week 2 Project 2.

I used the technique again on this picture I took of a huge vintage card catalogue that was sitting in an open air building just the other side of the area they call EX-CESS Field. Another must stop. In this field, of course, is a large store call EX-CESS. It is an area full of various dealers in stalls, loaded down with all kinds of goodies.

One stall had a group of vintage crowns. Breathtakingly beautiful. This one was priced at $$$. I took a picture instead!

I used the Diffused Light Technique for this Week 2 Project 1. However, it was done differently than Project 2. And, after I finished, I decided to add texture~thus the second photo. Love it!

With all these great pictures and techniques I'm learning in Susan's class, I also found out via my friend Catherine Witherell, that LK Ludwig was beginning an online Point & Shoot Journaling class. Now I have a way to keep my technique pictures from Susan's class, by using them in a journal class taught by LK. All online. GREAT!

I met so many wonderful people at the festival this year. I have so much more to tell you. But that will have to be another day!

I Am Thine

*Vintage sheet music I tucked and glued inside the top of my daughter's memory box*
***********************
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." - Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss)
Quote taken from a fellow artist, Nina's inspiring blog.
What a beautiful quote ~ really! What a "freeing" quote ~ really!
I have been living life. Busy with my jewelry. Busy with my full-time job in downtown Houston. Busy designing/re-working my studio/office.
(Thank you my dh for such a wonderful birthday present!)
I have a full life. It is a good life. And, for that, I am thankful.
This past Monday I began the online workshop, Visual Poetry, with the talented Susan Tuttle.
I have had Photoshop Elements 6 on our home computer for 2 years come Christmas. I knew it was time. Time to learn more, and from who else but Susan?
Each week we have 3 projects, and will so for 4 more weeks. I am basking in the possibilities of what will come of this. Jewelry pictures ~ yes. I have many. Life pictures ~ many more! Of course, I will be sharing. Your comments mean so much to me. More than you know.
So, if you are out there, lurking, not commenting OR commenting....well, here is your opportunity to let yourself be known (to me). I am having a small give-away. The gift will be a surprise. Yes, you won't find out what you win until you do......
(Drawing will be October 7th at 7 pm CST).
Note: I am on my way to Warrenton tomorrow. I have posted about it here many times. I will be there for 3 days~straight! And, with my dd.
Heaven for sure.
******************
More photos from the Visual Poetry group are here. I am thrilled to share!

And, oh yes, I have been designing some new pieces.
"Tulip Treasurers"
"Rhinestones & Crystals"

There's Always More

My plate was running over with excitement, as I prepared another class to add to the series I will be teaching at Round Top in the next four months. See the new icon just below the Feather Your Nest 101 class

I'll be teaching on October 24th?

"My Heart"
Resolutions of the Heart is another great class to learn basic wire wrapping, various wire connecting links, how to incorporate vintage rhinestone jewelry into your jewelry designs, how to patina and ETCHING! Yes, we will etch. So, I must say it now, if you have been itching to etch (LOL), this is your opportunity to try it under supervised conditions.

The pictures above were taken on Monday for the class flyer, but on Wednesday I received an envelope full of new Etsy finds. I decided to add the gorgeous little religious metals I bought from one of my favorite Etsy sellers, so now...........I think it is complete.

Adorn Me! 2010

It finally happened! An national art retreat in coming to Houston!

Adorn Me! 2010

Linda Young, of ART Unraveled, has put together an exciting jewelry event, with the most diverse group of jewelry/mixed-media artists.

When? March 2-7, 2010

I am so blessed to be one of the instructors, teaching two classes. My first class on Tuesday, March 2nd, is called Crystal Princess: Using Vintage Crystals in Your Jewelry Designs.

I have a huge stash of vintage crystals just waiting for both old and new jewelry friends to use....your choice!

Linda used one of my Princess pictures in the event banner! Sweeet!! Do you have any idea how much fun you can have designing this Princess? What a glorious mix of elements. Your imagination will soar with endless possibilities!

Or, how about this one? I have been wearing this Crystal Princess almost non-stop since I designed it for the class proposal. I just love the mix of vintage rhinestones with oxidized sterling silver and bronze wire. The vintage brass beads I found on Etsy are just beautiful, as they have the most luscious patina that only time can give them!
The second class, Rhinestone Dreams, will be on the last day, Sunday, March 7th! I love that I have all the days in between the two classes I teach. It gives me the opportunity to take a couple myself from one, two, or maybe three of the other 25 artists teaching at the retreat, such as Diana Frey, Riki Schumacher, Deryn Mentock, Ruth Rae, Richard Salley, Jane Salley, Amy Hanna, Thomas Mann, Sherri Haab, Stephanie Rubiano, and Keith Lo Beu...just to name a few.
Rhinestone Dreams will teach you how to incorporate a vintage rhinestone brooch, dress or shoe clip, into your next favorite piece of jewelry. But, you will learn much more than that....just look at the class description for all the details.
Don't forget to sign up for the artunraveled Yahoo Group so you can keep track of the latest news, information and ideas flowing to and from the teachers and fellow students.
Please contact me if you have any questions! Registration is now open, so don't delay.
I look forward to seeing you there!

Feather Your Nest 101

I have been asked to teach a class in Round Top, Texas!

I am excited, not only for the opportunity to beginning teaching; but for the setting in which the class will be held. Round Top is home to one of the country's largest Antique Festivals held twice a year. I have spoken about it more times than not, just how great this event really is, not only for die-hard antiquers, but for mixed media artists. If you are looking for it, it is there. If you can't find it in Round Top, just drive down the road a little until you come to Carmine, Warrenton, or Shelby, or maybe Fayetteville, Smithville, or La Bahia! This festival has spread to cover more miles than you can cover in a day, or quite possibly, a week.

"Feathered Nest"

Original design by Diane Cook

A mixed media piece of art jewelry you will enjoy wearing every day!

***************

Laura Sgovio, a talented jewelry designer herself, is the owner of SGOVIO, an inviting boutique, located on Bybee Square in downtown Round Top. Just this past Saturday, Laura had a Grand Opening inviting customers to enjoy her shop's expansion, which now includes women's apparel, accessories and luxurious skin care; not to mention jewelry designs from several Texas artists (including myself).

presents

a Jewelry Workshop

with Mixed Media Jewelry Artist

Diane Cook Taught in the historic Haw Creek Church

on Henkel Square in

Round Top, Texas.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

9:30 am - 5 pm

*************************

"Feather Your Nest 101"

This will be the first in a series of classes I will be teaching, each one different and unique.

Please contact me as soon as possible if you are interested in attending, as this is a quaint venue, allowing a total of only 10 students. I will send you more details, which will include the cost of the class, class description, teacher and student's supply list, cancellation policy, area accommodations and directions to the event.

This part of Texas is absolutely beautiful. Coming here in the Fall is just a bonus!

Summer Colors

The latest reader's challenge given by Objects And Elements threw me into a tail spin. The theme: Show us your Summer Color. How do you incorporate turquoise, lime green, hot pink and luscious popsicle-cool color into your handmade jewelry pieces?

I knew I had to use some of the gorgeous recycled silk sari ribbon offered in their shop. It is quite alluring and easy to incorporate into my designs.

"Flying South"

.....was born out of an etched copper pendant I designed. I added dimension using one of my etched scissortails; along with Susan's long nuts & screws and copper tubing, which I oxidized.

Yes, scissortails. You may call yours a swallow. They are scissortails to me, as this bird was always present in my childhood. I remember them so vividly sitting on top of the high wires in the part of Texas I call home.

I used platinum with orient nugget freshwater pearls. Here you will see more O&E pieces. See the tiny nuts and screws below the pearls? These were generously included in the class supplies given to us by Susan in a class I took with her earlier this year in Santa Fe. But, if you visit her shop, you will find all kinds of objects and elements, just like these!
The bronze bezel was definitely a fun piece to use as my nest. I took more of the silk, winding it up and lovingly filled the bezel, just as a mother bird would do making her own nest.
How many times have you seen a bird's nest with fiber woven thru it? Mother birds are quite the engineers. They do as we do, use what they have and don't waste a single thread!
Do you remember the vintage mother of pearl buttons I found at Uncommon Objects? I used one here as the toggle for my silk loop. It matched perfectly with the pearls.
Now fly away and make your own summer color pieces....
.......before the end of summer catches you!

Aubergine

"Princess Emma"

I must admit, I had never heard of the regal hue, aubergine, until Stampington recently issued a call to artists to use this rich hue of purple in a mixed media or paper project for an upcoming issue of Somerset Studio. They asked artists to dig deep into their color palettes to use the color that has inspired royalty through the ages. We might call it eggplant, mulberry, plum, violet, or maybe grape. I call it gorgeous. They submit aubergine to be the queen of the color wheel. Maybe so, but you have to be a

princess before you become the Queen! I am a hard core Etsy buyer. It all began quite innocently. I do occasionally shop on eBay, but Etsy just has more of a draw to me. No bidding....just click and buy.

I began Emma by oxidizing a piece of vintage etched chain. I used 600 grit sandpaper to bring out the highlights in the etching.

I knew I wanted to use the brass pieces I had bought from several Etsy shops, beginning with a connector from Brass Bouquet, as the centerpiece of the necklace. This was also my inspiration for its name, as it was called the Emma filigree connector. Jill's 100% brass is all hand-finished AND made in the USA. This is a huge plus for me~being made in the USA! I decided to oxidize it just a tad more, again using my sandpaper to highlight the high points. I attached it to the top of the chain using two small oxidized jump rings, and just love how it rests there so easily.

Next, I simply began using all of my aubergine colored Swarovski crystals and Czech glass beads. The tulips are marbled glass amethyst beads bought from a new Etsy friend, Gypsy Spirit Studio.

I also added a sprinkle of amethyst nuggets bought from another Etsy favorite, UBB. Her fine gemstones are exquisite.

I did add a few vintage raw brass flower charms, which I also oxidized, from thatsmycharm. A couple of Vintaj natural brass findings bought at a bead shop in Kerrville, and a few Swarovski crystal rondells, which I oxidized.

But, lastly, I have to tell you, Emma truly began with the locket. My friend, Daryl, saw a previous post where I included a picture of the "princess" locket I had added to a necklace for a class proposal. She said she had many chains, and wanted a Princess locket. Yes, Daryl is a Princess!
This gorgeous Trinity Brass Company locket can be bought from Sharon at
Gypsy Spirit Studio. Doesn't it have the most beautiful aged patina? I did not even think about touching or altering it in any way. It is perfect just as is.

But, look inside. A little princess!

I actually had bought a large framed vintage photo of her with thoughts of using it in my class with Stephanie Rubiano. But, I just couldn't take the original frame apart, as it was well bound and I knew I could get a photo of her without dismantling the entire picture anyway....which I did.

I put her inside using The Ultimate Glue, and then gently covered her with a thin covering of mica.

I think I am in love with mica. And, oh yes....aubergine.
p.s. The vintage love letter used above, dated 1935, was purchased thru
Altered Paradise at Regina's Studio.