Coronado Dreaming

The time went by way to quickly....

Art Retreat by the Beach 

is now a sweet, sweet memory packed away 

in this itty bitty brain of mine.
I had loads of fun with two of my fellow teachers and dear buddies,
Riki Schumacher & JoAnnA Pierotti.

I knew this one would be special.

But, they all are.
Think this one just a little more though =)

On Friday I taught one of my favorite cuff classes,

On a Wing.

(side note:  I'm teaching this class at Art Unraveled,

and it's filling up fast =) 

Here's my Friday buds.

Sally, Mary, Jan
Dawn, Joan, Marilyn, =) and Crystal
*****
Saturday was another great class day,
as I taught 

By the Sea,  
which is one of my gilding with solder classes.
I love teaching this technique, and have to tell you I never tire of it! 

What a special group of ladies on Saturday....
Marilyn, Joan, Ann
Sally, Celelesie, =) and Celeste
Here's a few of their creations.

I love the amazing attachments they brought along to place on their collars.

*****
Sunday I taught one of my torch fired enameling classes that I call
Framed.

I love teaching this class.  

But, the tiny mother of pearl belt buckles are becoming more & more difficult to find, even though I think I might have one more batch =)

*wink*

 Here's a couple of student's pendants.

Aren't they just the best, and so full of personality?

Oh, don't want to forget....

we also went on a group field trip that Saturday to The Attic, 

a sweet antique shop on the island...

all planned by our lovely hostesses

Barb & Erin.

What a great group of ladies!

*****

BTW....I have just finished a second enameling class,

and 

it will premiere at  

Art Retreat at The Prairie,

in Round Top, Texas...this Fall.

Barb is about to open up registration any day now....

Hope to see you there,

or at my next teaching gig, 

which is next month...

Art Unraveled,

in Phoenix, Arizona!

if i close my eyes tight enought i'm still there...

Coronado was way more than I expected.

I really had no idea how beautiful it actually would be...

 

The Glorietta Bay Inn was gorgeous.

The flowers vibrant.

If you add those factors along with a wonderful group of super enthusiastic students,

you know each class was a huge success!

 Marbi, =), Barb, Anne, Kim

There was so much to see, so much beauty everywhere I looked.

Not to mention some gorgeous jewelry made by some wonderful ladies...

Crystal Confetti Necklaces

Window to my Heart Cuffs

and

Heart Strings

Art Retreat by the Beach will again be in Coronado in 2013, 

but in May instead of June!

I hope you can join us....it truly is one of the BEST places in the world to take a class.

More details are coming soon....

looking forward to Coronado

Time has really been flying faster than a speeding bullet for me...

as in just 4 short days I will have already landed in

Coronado, California,

getting ready to teach three days of some of my favorite classes.

I have already packed up and shipped two boxes of supplies,

sending them off with many prayers that they'll land there safely on Tuesday!

I have enjoyed much family time this past week, but have also been happily enjoying my 

first of two summer online classes which began on June 6th.  The one that's going on now, 

Heart Strings, is the one I'll be teaching on Sunday (in person),
at Art Retreat by the Beach.

This past week I designed a Heart Strings I'll be wearing this next weekend,

called "My Grandmothers".

Another thankful nod to two ladies that gave birth to my parents, 

and taught me more than they probably ever realized.

After sharing these beauties in my previous post, I knew I had to use at least one of the three beautiful rhinestone watch bezels, so indeed I did...

in my newest Heart Strings.

Oh, now this was some fun...using that wonderful picture of my grandparents as a very young couple which I shared with you, seems like eons ago.

I also decided to use a resin bezel I had of my other grandmother, Rosa,

thus giving me the name for my piece.

I used some other great vintage pieces in this necklace,

an old tiny diary key, a vintage rosary, another vintage crucifix & religious metal, a sprinkle of vintage rhinestone buttons, a heart taken from some retro earrings, some of my favorite rhinestone connectors, oxidized rhinestone crystal rondells, and some gorgeous faceted Peruvian Opals.

I really am in love with the box chain I used in this Heart Strings...wish I had more.

But, I'm sure you know how that goes.

And, of course, I added some wonderful vintage lace, trim, tulle and some of my 

current favorite colors of recycled sari silk.  Yum.

 

Oh yes, and one of my Tiny Etched Books,

which is currently shown in the latest issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry~

along with step-out photos!

These are all fun elements we will be working on in Coronado,

in just one short week, as this class in on Sunday.

And, just so you know, you still have until the 20th to enroll in Heart Strings online,
even as we speak, at Artful Gathering.

Some great pieces are beginning to show up in the AG photo gallery...

Like this Heart Strings made by one of my students, Mary Royals.
What a great job Mary!

Maybe I'll see you in Coronado...or perhaps online.

~diane

xo

the rest of the story...

 Window to My Heart

I will be teaching this cuff class for the first time this year.  It is a special one.

Made with layers of metal...some etched, some given a pattern with fire or metal stamping, layering of mica...it is packed full of super fun techniques.

Adding the tiny windows came natural, as this is really how I live my life.

I am pretty much, say what I am feeling, kind of girl. 

These pieces just seem to document that very fact...

starting clockwise in the picture above,

dance with heart

Feet seem to take me to places I've only dreamed of going...

And then there's

Granny Schultz

the cuff on the top right,

which holds my heart in a place only my granny, Josie, could ever hold.

That's her picture when she was only about 13 or 14 years old.

And then,

Stitched

the cuff on the lower bottom,

holds a tiny picture of a distant cousin.  One of two favorite sisters.

I've been using these girls in my art for several years...

So won't you join me in

Window to My Heart

this June in Coronado?  

Art Retreat by the Beach...I can't think of a better way to spend the summer.

Can you?

(I'll be sharing the rest of the story, 

 about the other two classes I'll be teaching in Coronado, 

in the weeks to come...=)

new classes in 2012

"Impressions"

"Wind Thru the Trees"

This piece was designed using the technique I hinted about in my previous post, 

and is one I will be teaching for Vivi Magoo Presents in 2012.

VMP umbrellas the three Art Retreats hosted by my friend,

Barb Solem, one being Art Retreat at the Prairie.  

Yes!...registration will be opening very, very soon.

This class will be a two day affaire, 

allowing students to delve into more than a one day class will allow.

The other class....

"Crystal Confetti "

This one touches my heart.

Loaded with bits and baubles, vintage rhinestones, faceted aquamarine, Swarovski crystals, baroque pearls, and one long vintage crystal chandelier drop.

But, its the crowning jewel in the middle that thrills me the most!

Luscious and so much fun to design.

I will also be teaching these two classes on the west coast in June for

Art Retreat by the Beach.

Won't you join me in 2012?

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.