Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Inspired by Reading Book Club October: My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me Edited By Kate Bernheimer

Inspired by Reading Book Club October 2013 selection

Bats, a black cat, a full moon, mournful howling sounds and a young newly wed bride fill out this Hansel and Gretel inspired story by Francine Prose, who in turn inspired me to make my necklace for this month's blog hop.  A necklace I have titled The Messenger.


The Messenger  Necklace by Mary Harding

For Andrew Thornton's  Inspired by Reading Book Club October selection we read from My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me edited by Kate Berheimenr.  What a treat!!   And I surely would have missed it if I had not been part of this reading group.  Thank you Andrew!!  I don't usually like short fiction but reading modern Fairy Tales is very different from reading  modern short stories I found out: mind blowing and uplifting rather than grim and depressing.(over generalization, I am sure.)  From the first story, titled Baba Iaga and the Pelican Child by Joy Williams, I knew I was in a new and wonderful world.
Of  the stories I have read so far, I liked Tim Shepard's  Pleasure Boating in Lituya Bay , based on Italo Calvino's Fairy Tale Jump Into My Sack, the best but I could not get any ideas of a something I would want to create.
It wasn't until I tried out Hansel and Gretel by Francine Prose, a favorite author of mine, that I got some images and ideas for a piece.  That story seemed to march right into my imagination and tell me what to do. Lots of reasons for that, the setting is the hills of Vermont,  the narrator is 21 and after 10 days already unhappily married,  visiting a possible evil witch,she thinks, who is the mother of her new husband's  past "love of his life" .  She wonders if this is what it would be like if Hansel and the witch are in cahoots  when they are served a dinner of wild mushrooms and kid around about watching to see if she shows signs of being poisoned before they begin eating.

I got my idea for the title of this necklace from the 20 years later part of the story.  I decided that it would be a kindness to poor Polly if she could know, at least on some level, that things would turn out all right and that she would not be be subjected to such emotional cruelty by her husband for too long and that she would go on to lead a very full and productive life.  I hid messages to Polly within the necklace in the long copper tube beads.  They are stamped into the metal but disguised as beads-- which fits in with the other theme in the story.

             closeup of necklace showing the long hidden message tubes, disguised as beads


The skirt shaped pendant is made from polymer clay and was completed in part in Christine Damm's Art on
Farm Intensive workshop earlier this month.
                                               close up of the skirt pendant by Mary Harding

 I did the coloring when I got home, added the wire wrapped stones, the bail and then made the metal message beads just this week. I used one of  Cindy Wimmer's tutorials in her new book, The Missing Link  to construct  the wire wrapped link, called Whirligig, to suggest the large eyes of fear our Gretel must have had that night they spent in the barn with the spooky sounds of bats and a black cat.  Halloween come early!!

All in all, story by story, and bead by bead I had a wonderful time with My Mother She Killed Me, My Father He Ate Me.  My thanks to Andrew Thornton for introducing us to this marvelous book and to Kate Bernheimer for collecting the stories under a single cover so that we could read them.

I hope you will check the other participants.  Here is the list of blog hop participants!!

Ptaszynski Diana . Vintage blue studio
http://vintagebluestudio.typepad.com/vintage_blue_studio/2013/10/inspired-by-reading-book-club-october-reveal.html
Andrew Thornton  Our host!

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Frederic Duclos - Sterling and Gemstone


 Sculptural pieces of beautiful simplicity. 
Above earrings of sterling with gold plate and blue topaz gemstones. They have a brushed finish and are wrapped in a sterling wire.  $259

To the right is the lovely matching pendant. $198

Holiday sparkle!
Below are a sterling and druzy ensemble. Great together or worn separately.
The bracelet  $359
 The necklace $289


Frederic Duclos is originally from Southeastern France, where for several generations, his family has been designing accessories. His upbringing cultivated an admiration for art and sculpture. In his mind, sculpture was limitless, but controlling size and balance to create individual jewelry pieces became his passion.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Tanzanite Delight







Icy Blue Tanzanite & Diamond Ring, just one of the many new Gemstone Rings now available at Facet Foundry Jewelry Studio.



 Pretty from all angles this 18k white gold 2.3ct Tanzanite ring
has two peek-a-boo diamonds on the gallery as well as delicate filigree work in yellow gold. It's all about the details!




$4995.  -  Financing Available with terms to fit your budget.


 
 



Monday, October 21, 2013






Pottery that makes a wonderful gift.





The season for giving is fast approaching, and Facet Foundry Jewelry Studio wants to let you know that we have hand crafted gifts as well as jewelry.  These pieces of pottery are made by Charles Chrisco of Little River, SC.  He specializes in Raku, a process that was originated in the 16th Century Japan by a Korean immigrant who settled in Kyoto and married a Jampanese woman.  Translated, "raku" means "felicity" or great happiness, a title bestowed upon the earliest raku wares by the reigning ruler of Japan.  Each unique piece is hand crafted and makes a beautiful one of a kind gift.
Charles pottery starts at $44.95.  Come by and see the entire collection.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Art on the Farm: A Calling to Explore and Create



I have just been home one full day since I attended Christine Damm's Stories They Tell Intensive workshop.
I felt called to Art On the Farm by Christine's vibrant, creative and distinctly original art work which I have been following for some time.  She is a strong voice.  I wanted to spend time learning from her.

And so I packed up and went to Central Vermont at the peak of the Fall LeaF season and had a wonderful experience.



Christine arranged for us to stay in this lovely 1830's home.




View of the landscape in  Full Fall Color in Vermont

Christine's medium is polymer clay. Mine is ceramic clay.  I had never had any experience with polymer before I entered the doors of her classroom.  It was my thought and Christine's too that her teachings can be transferred across many mediums.  

We learned about FORM


work created by me in Christine Damm's workshop

Form in polymer is much more spontaneous than in ceramic clay due to the fact that the curing is so fast and the ability to add on is so easy.

AND COLOR


pendant colored by me in Christine Damm's workshop

Polymer is a color lover like myself's heaven
All these colors were added to the surface of the polymer. 

supplies table at Christine Damm's workshop

Christine demonstrating color applications to polymer
at her Art On the Farm Intensive Polymer Clay workshop

AND Assembling

Polymer is so easy to add on to that it really appeals to my way of thinking.   None of what is here in the picture was pre-planned.  I added on the loop to hang to the pendant by affixing it to the back after it had been cured and colored.  I then decided it needed the flower in the center so I made that and added it by drilling a little hole and affixing it with a balled end head pin I had brought along to the class.  The bead and tassle at the bottom, also an afterthought, as well as the colorful silk tie.  I liked the fact that I could build on and change directions at almost any point in the process.

How do I plan to transfer all this new knowledge to my ceramic clay work?  I am not sure.  Am I going to switch mediums and give up ceramic clay?  Not that I know of.  But  I do know that this workshop has been a very freeing, eye opening experience;  that I see ceramic clay differently than beforehand; and that I am artistically richer for having  been in Christine Damm's Intensive Polymer Workshop. 
Christine encouraged us to keep a journal of ideas and I know that I have been busily writing down and drawing out new ideas spawned by the workshop. I am excited to try them out soon.

When the workshop was over, we spent some time hanging out.  We visited  a charming cafe in the old train depot for breakfast where we could have talked for days and then went to some of Christine's favorite antiquing spots.
             
I love this wall of rust at one of the places 



And then it was time to say  "Goodbye."

Thank you Christine for everything!!!!


I highly recommend Christine's tutorial in Cynthia  Tinapple's Polymer Clay Global Perspectives.  Her work is cutting edge!!





















Thursday, October 10, 2013

A Passion for Purple - More Estate Event Items




 Gorgeous Amethyst Necklace.  Art Nouveau
in style this 14k yellow gold .50 points on the diamonds and 50 carats on the on the Amethyst.  It can be used as a pendant or as a pin.  $4,850.

 To the right is a beautiful 14k yellow and white gold bangle bracelet adorned with 1.2 carats total weight in diamonds and featuring a Amethyst stone in the center.   $3,500

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Is your favorite color pink? :)

Favorite Pink Bracelet
Measures 7" Gold-Plated
14k Gold-filled DSK Jewelry Tag
Swarovski Crystals, Swarovski Pearls
$30

Estate Event this Thursday Friday and Saturday - October 10th,11th, and 12th.




Here are just a few of the many beautiful gem
bracelets in 14k Gold.  The colors are brilliant and the prices are great! Don't have the money right now......remember we have 12 months without interest financing and when you see these pieces it is going to be difficult to decide on which one.




This Gold Bracelet sports a locket.
This Aquamarine Ring is se in 14k gold and embelished with diamonds in a 1950's mount.






This shimmering  1 carat pear shaped diamond is enhanced by 14  round diamonds and topped with a emerald cut.  Together it makes a stunning piece, wonderful gift for a special occasion. 

Only three days so come by and have some fun!  Try on a few pieces and fill out a just a little hint card.  Prices to fit everyone's taste.  See you then.

Monday, October 7, 2013

Designer David Wysor visits Facet Foundry Jewelry Studio Oct. 17th




Designer David Wysor is coming to Facet Foundry Jewelry Store for one afternoon, bringing with him his new additions to the line.  David Wysor is classically modern, with rich heavy sterling designs accented with 18k gold and gemstones. Jewelry that will stand the test of time and enhance all looks from casual chic to night out on the town wow!

David's classic bracelet above sells for $759.00
but during his visit we are giving 10% off.

The beautiful sterling and 18k gold earrings to the right are $479.00 and also available for 10% off during David's visit with us.

When is he visiting you say?  Glad you asked!
David will be here on October 17th from 2:00 until 5:00.  So mark you calendars and while your in the store take time to fill out a "just a little hint card".  Facet Foundry Jewelry Studio's way of making it a little easier on your Santa this year.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Sale 15% off to Welcome in First Friday Art Walk for October


New copper clay pendants in my Etsy Shop today to kick off  The Art Walk Etsy Team First Friday Weekend. I am having a 15% off sale with coupon code ARTWALK15 to be used at checkout to get the discount.  Many of the Art Walk Etsy Team will also be having specials.  You can check them out HERE.
Coupon Code good until Sunday October 6 at Midnight.

                                             Copper Clay Pendant  Red and Iridescent leaves

                             I also have some new ceramic pendants, beads and cabs in my shop:

Ceramic Cabochon

Large ceramic cabochon with Ultrasuede backing 

Fall  Colors  Tree Leaf Pendant


Daisy Pendant Bold and Bright


NEW 2 hole beads


Fern Frond Pendant

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Special Feature beginning October10th - Signed pieces of Turquoise Jewelry by nationally recognized artists

 Special feature during our Estate Event this year October 10th, 11th, & 12th.
Turquoise Jewelry signed by nationally recognized artists will be available. 
View the short film for examples of some of the Jewelry.  

As always we will have many period pieces during our Estate Event, including but not limited to
Georgian, Victorian, Edwardian, Art Deco, Retro and Cocktail periods.  
There will also be contemporary treasures, exotic gems and signed pieces.
Mark your calendars for October 10th, 11th, & 12th.
See you then!

New this Week! Shipment of Rebecca Hook Jewelry in cases today!



New this week 

There is always something new at Facet Foundry Jewelry Studio and this week is no exception.  We are introducing new pieces from our Rebecca Hook Collection, as well as bringing back one or two favorites.  Here are just a few, come in and enjoy them all.