Chain workshop samples on display at Em-mi Beads

If the pix in the blog posts about the chainmaking workshops don't give you a good idea of what the chains you complete will look like, samples of all of them will be on display at Em-mi Beads in Clinton starting this week.

Stop in and visit this lovely bead shop -- I promise you will be thrilled! Kim Schweitzer, Dana Saylor, Karen Buttonschon and everyone involved with Em-mi are always happy to help and will be glad to show you the chain samples for these workshops. There will also be brochures for the Kirkland Art Center right there, so you can get more info and give the art center a call to sign up right away. Forgot your cell phone? That's OK, the art center is just a few doors down from Emmi, right on the village green in Clinton. An easy, pretty walk.

See, how could we make it easier for you to sign up for a chainmaking workshop, get a feel for what metalwork is all about, and come away with a great new piece of jewelry and a hot new resource for all of your bead buying needs!?

Making the Queen's Chain

Last but not least in the Saturday afternoon chainmaking workshop series is the Queen's chain, pictured at right. This chain will be offered on Saturday November 15, from 2 - 5 p.m.


When you sign up for this workshop, your materials and use of tools in the Kirkland studio are included. You will receive a kit of pre-cut and tumble-polished sterling silver jump rings and a clasp sufficient to make an 8" bracelet length of the chain. You will also receive written instructions and a handy chart to help you out if you want to make that chain again in the future.


Kirkland is currently taking registrations for these workshops, so give them a call at 853-8871 if you have any questions or want to sign up. These chains make a great treat for yourself, or a wonderful gift for that someone special on your holiday list!

Making Flat Chain Mail

This picture is of Flat Chain mail, which I will be teaching in a workshop at Kirkland Art Center on Saturday afternoon, November 8, from 2 - 5 p.m.

This is part of my Saturday afternoon series of chainmaking workshops that I am offering at Kirkland this fall. See other blog entries to get a look at the other offerings, the Double Flower, the Byzantine and the Queen's chain.

When you sign up for one of these workshops, the cost of your workshop includes materials and use of tools in the jewelry studio at Kirkland. You will receive a kit of pre-cut and tumble-polished sterling silver rings and a clasp sufficient to make an 8" bracelet of the featured chain. You also receive written instructions to make that chain and a handy chart which will help you know what to buy in the future if you want to make the chain again.

Kirkland is currently taking registrations for the workshops, so give them a call at 853-8871 if you are interested. These chains make great holiday gifts, or are a good way to pamper yourself if you've been working entirely too hard and need a pretty boost!

Making the Byzantine Chain

In the photo to the right, you see the Byzantine chain, sometimes known as the King's chain. I will be offering a workshop in making this chain as part of my Saturday afternoon chainmaking workshop series at Kirkland Art Center this fall. This chain will be offered on Saturday October 18, from 2 - 5 p.m.


Each workshop includes materials and instructions in the price. You will receive a kit of pre-cut and tumble-polished sterling silver rings sufficient to make an 8" bracelet length of the featured chain, and a clasp to finish it. Tools are made available for your use during the workshop and you also receive written instructions on how to make the chain and a handy chart which can help you know what kind of rings to order if you want to make the chain again in the future.

Kirkland Art Center is currently taking registrations for these workshops, so give them a call at 853-8871 if you are interested. Space is limited, so call soon!

Making the Double Flower Chain

This fall, I will again offer the Saturday afternoon chainmaking workshops that proved so popular last year. The first one will be Making the Double Flower Chain, offered on Saturday October 4th, from 2 - 5 p.m. at the Kirkland Art Center in Clinton.

In each workshop, we will construct a bracelet length of the featured chain. When you sign up for one of the chain workshops, everything is included in the price. You will receive a kit of pre-cut and
tumble-polished sterling silver jump rings and a clasp for your bracelet, and tools are made available for your use during the class. Each kit provides enough material to make an 8 inch bracelet. You also receive written instructions for the chain and a chart that, if you want to make more chains in the future, will help you figure out what size jump ring you need to order for the gauge of wire you are using.

The picture to the right is the Double Flower chain. It is a classic chain pattern that looks complicated, but is actually quite easy to construct. You will be happy to wear it yourself, or, it makes a truly impressive gift. Never too early to start thinking of those holiday gift lists, right?

KAC is currently taking registrations for the chain workshops. Give them a call at 853-8871 to sign up. Hope to see you there!

Exciting New Class Coming Up!!

I will be co-teaching a new class held at Mohawk Valley Community College this fall, with my two dear friends, Denise Sachs-Mishalanie of Whirled Peas Jewelry and Kim Schweitzer of Em-mi Beads in Clinton.

The class is called "In the Loop -- Making Jewelry using the Wrapped Loop Technique." In this class, you will learn how to use a very common jewelry technique, the wrapped loop, to make 3 projects. The wrapped loop is often used in making earrings or attaching pendants and/or charms to jewelry and those are just the kind of projects we will do in this class. You will leave the class with a beautiful pair of earrings, a focal bead pendant and a bracelet with many beautiful beads embellishing a leather cord. The retail value of these projects, if you purchased them from the artist outside of class is $250 - $300.

All of your materials are paid for with your class fee and include handmade lampworked glass beads from Denise, Swarovski crystals and sterling silver clasps, pins and earwires from Em-mi Beads. Tools will be made available for your use during class as well. The fee for the class is $160. A great way to make some beautiful jewelry for yourself or for gifts, at a substantial discount! Plus, you get to say, "I made this!"

The class is held Monday and Wednesday, October 6 and 15; and again Monday and Wednesday, November 10 and 12. Contact the Corporate and Community Education Office at MVCC at 792-5472 for more details and to sign up.

Hope to see you there!

The Bead that Climbed Mt. Rainier!

When Hamilton's own Ellen Kraly and her son Jimmy recently climbed Mt. Rainier in Washington to raise money for the Fred C. Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, this Kissing Dog Designs bead went with them. As you have read in previous blog entries, I have designed a special collection, the Mt. Rainier collection, to honor Ellen's fund-raising efforts. Eighty percent of the proceeds of the sales from Mt. Rainier will go to The Hutchinson Center.

When Ellen left for Washington to make her climb, I asked her to take this handmade sterling bead with her. That is why the bead is on a clip, so that it could ride along on a pack or jacket zipper. The bead is made of sterling, printed with the support ribbon design found on the backs of the Mt. Rainier pendants, and has applied 24K gold decoration. It has been chemically darkened, to bring out the ribbons pattern.

I will soon be posting this bead on ebay, and the proceeds from the auction will also go to the Hutchinson Center. I will blog when the bead goes up for auction -- bid early and bid often for the best chance to own this little bead that climbed a big mountain for a good cause!!

Fall classes already taking registrations!

Registration is already underway at both Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute and Kirkland Art Center for fall classes in jewelry and metals.

At Munson: call 797-8260 to register

New! Try It workshop: This 3 hour workshop allows students to try out a metals project and finish a piece of jewelry before committing to a full semester class. $25 includes the cost of materials.
Tuesday August 26, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

Beginning Jewelry and Metal Arts - 2 sections
Tuesday September 2 through Tuesday December 9
1 - 4 p.m. AND 6:30 - 9:30 p.m.

At Kirkland Art Center in Clinton: call 853-8871 to register

Beginning Metalsmithing for Jewelry -
10 weeks beginning Monday September 8, 6 - 9 p.m.

Intermediate Metalsmithing for Jewelry -
10 weeks beginning Wednesday September 10, 6 - 9 p.m.

Also at KAC this fall:

“Holiday Gifting” Chain Workshops

Be a Holiday star! Get your shopping done early and present your special recipients with something beautiful you made yourself; a sterling silver chain bracelet.

In each 3 hour workshop, you will receive materials to construct a bracelet length of the featured chain, information and instructions on how and where to order more wire if you’d like to continue chain-making, and a copy of the instructions for the featured chain. NO previous jewelry or metal working experience is required. Tools are provided for use during the workshop. Retail value of the pieces made is $100+.

Check with the KAC for cost per workshop, which will include materials.

Chain workshops, Fall 2008:

1. Christmas Gifting: Making the Double Flower chain October 4 2-5 p.m.

2. Christmas Gifting: Making the Byzantine chain October 18 2-5 p.m.

3. Christmas Gifting: Making Flat chain mail November 8 2-5 p.m.

4. Christmas Gifting: Making the Queen’s chain November 15 2-5 p.m.

I hope to see you in class!

Kissing Dog for the Cure

I have recently introduced a new collection of jewelry, called the Mt. Rainier collection, to help a friend raise money for breast cancer research. The friend is Ellen Kraly, of Colgate University. On this August 13-15, Ellen and her son Jimmy will be climbing Mt. Rainier to raise funds for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, WA. For more on Ellen and Jimmy's climb, see www.radiofreehamilton.com.

As a woman who lost her mother to breast cancer, I support Ellen and Jimmy's quest. As such, I have designed this special collection, the Mt. Rainier collection, which will be for sale at Evergreen Gallery, 11 Lebanon St., Hamilton NY. Eighty percent of the proceeds of the sales of this jewelry will go to Ellen's cause. The pendant shown is quite representative, and sells for $35. It is handmade of sterling and fine silver, with tiny glass beads in either pink or silver and tinted resin in pink in the center. On the back is embossed a design of the support ribbon for breast cancer, drawn especially for these pieces by Denise Sachs-Mishalanie of Whirled Peas Jewelry. The pieces hang on hand-dyed silks in varying shades of pink, and are adjustable with a silver slider bead.

If you can't get to Evergreen Gallery and you'd like to help support Ellen's cause by purchasing a piece from the Mt. Rainier collection, contact me at kissdog@twcny.rr.com.

Kissing Dog now has an Etsy shop

Kissing Dog Designs now has an Etsy shop! I hope you will pay a visit. I've started out small, but have big plans for expansion. While you're at it, start out by visiting my website, www.kissingdog.com, to see the new layout and the new jewelry designs. You will be able to jump to the Etsy shop from live links on the website, or you can visit directly by going to www.kissingdogdesigns.etsy.com.


This will be my primary method of selling online from now on, but don't forget to visit the website regularly to see new work that may not be intended for Etsy sales.

Thanks, I'll be looking for you on Etsy.

Spring session classes beginning at Munson-Williams-Proctor

Here are the details on my spring session classes at Munson-Williams-Proctor Arts Institute inUtica:

Beginning Jewelry and Metal Arts:

Tuesday, 1-4 p.m., January 15 through April 22
and
Tuesday, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., January 15 through April 22
Tuition is $220 and lab fee is $60 for this 14 week class.

Call Munson's School of Art at 797-8260 to register. Registration is currently going on.

Winter/Spring sessions classes to begin at KAC

Now that the holiday buzz is about to wrap up, I am thinking of my new session of classes about to begin! Here are the details:

Kirkland Art Center

Beginning Metalsmithing for Jewelry, Mondays 6 - 9 p.m., January 7 - March 10. This is now a 10 week class. Member fee is $127, non-member fee is $149. All students pay a $15 lab fee.

Intermediate Metalsmithing for Jewelry, Wednesdays 6 - 9 p.m., January 9 - March 12. Also 10 weeks, and same costs as above.

New! Independent Metals Studio, 4 week rolling sessions, beginning Monday, January 7, 1 - 4 p.m. This is open studio time for people who have taken Beginning Metalsmithing and want time to work on their own projects. Students must supply their own materials. I am available for consultation and assistance. A four week session is $67 for KAC members, $75 for non-members. A $20 lab fee covers expendable studio supplies such as saw blades, drill bits, chemicals, etc.

Chain bracelet workshops:

Making the Queen's Chain, Saturday, February 2, 2 - 5 p.m.

Making the Love Knot (double flower) Chain. Saturday, February 9, 2 - 5 p.m.

Making the Byzantine Chain, Saturday, March 8, 2-5 p.m.

Member fee $55, non-member fee $64 per workshop. Fees include enough sterling rings to make an 8" chain and a sterling clasp. Tools are provided. Perhaps you would like to bring your own magnification and additional lighting if you need these to help you work. We will have some additional small lights available.
Call Kirkland Art Center at 853-8871 to register for all classes and workshops, registration beginning January 2.

More Atomic '50s

The time is fast approaching for the preview reception for my new Atomic '50s collection. If you haven't been given, or received an invitation in the mail, rest assured that if you are interested enough in my work to visit my website and/or read my blog, you are certainly invited!

The reception will be held on October 28, 2 - 4 p.m. at Evergreen Gallery on 11 Lebanon St. in Hamilton. We will have light refreshments to make your travels worthwhile. Wear your favorite '50s inspired outfit -- after all, it will go best with whatever jewelry you buy!

This necklace features the vintage Lucite cabochon that inspired the whole collection for me in the first place. I just love how midcentury modern it is. It absolutely screams its era, but still looks fresh to me. I set it in sterling & fine silver. The two adjoining elements are composed of sterling & fine silver, glass and tinted resin. All are hanging from a handmade sterling chain.

This is gonna look great with your button-up-the-back sweater and your penny loafers!

YOU are invited

It's an event! And, YOU are invited!

There will be a preview reception of my new collection, "Atomic '50s" at Evergreen Gallery, 11 Lebanon St. in Hamilton on Sunday, October 28, 2 - 4 p.m. This blog entry is in case I don't get a chance to hand a personal invitation to everyone who might be interested. Come anyway, don't be shy!

Of course, the Atomic '50s collection will be featured, but don't forget that you will also get to see what a unique and fabulous shop Evergreen Gallery is. There is truly something for everyone there, with a price range to suit even my budget, and it all reflects the excellent taste of the gallery's owner, Lauri Tomberlin. You can buy cards, jewelry, decorative items for your home and even vintage clothing and accessories. A great way to spend a Sunday afternoon and possibly get some ideas for your holiday gift list as well.

Where else can you have so much fun? Hope to see you there and meanwhile, don't forget to duck and cover!