Fun Day Learning Something New

Good evening,

This past weekend, I spent the day learning something new.  Christi Friesen came to Northern Virginia  and taught some of her polymer clay techniques. It was so much fun!  The class was held in a Federal Prison, no lie!  Fairfax County Virginia took a Federal Prison and converted it to a center for the arts.  They teach cooking, drama, ceramics, painting, all of the glass arts (to include glass blowing) and much more.  The classes are conducted in the old prison workhouses (that is where the prisoners did laundry, etc.)  If you would like to learn more go to http://www.workhousearts.org
It is truly a fabulous facility.

Anyway, I have included several photos of us having fun (I'm not in any of the pictures - I didn't have the smarts to have my pic taken with Christi).

 

 

 

 

A picture of a necklace that Christi made - it appears in several of her published works. It was stunning up close.

 

 

This was a piece framed on black velvet. This picture doesn't do it justice, her work is very detailed.

 

This piece is not finished, but it was her training example, again, wish I had taken a picture of the completed heart. duh!

 

 

 

Here is a picture of my first piece, I have a long way to go but it sure was fun:

 

 



Have a great evening - going to my studio to make another pair of earrings for the AJE Earring Challenge.

Toodles
Dee

Week 7 and 8 AJE Earring Challenge

Well, I almost failed to post week 7 and 8 of the AJE Challenge and honestly they are two of my favorite pairs so far!

Here you go, week 7:

 

These are made with copper elements that I purchased from Melinda Orr. She does beautiful metal embossing.  Of course I had to put my spin on them, I punched a couple additional holes and added the turquoise stones that I purchased in New Mexico.  I really like these and will wear them.

 

Here is Week 8:

 

 

 

These are made with Quick Fire Bronze Clay elements that I made (the bead caps and the little charm dangles).  I also made the lampwork beads - the photo doesn't capture the beads but as I stated in an earlier post, I plan on working on my photography.

 

I'm off to continue work on my Bead Swap project - I can't wait for you to see it!  I'm very proud of what I've done so far and pride isn't a word I use very often when describing my own work.

 

Later friends,

 

Dee