New Work 11•2009

Here are a couple of images of recent pieces, a pin entitled "Leaf Forest" (sterling, titanium, 18k, sapphire) and a not-so-good image of a champagne flute entitled "Land of Plenty", currently on exhibit at Gallery I/O in New Orleans. The head is called "dream On", and the "dream" is a pin/pendant, shown in the detail.

Saul Bell Award Finalist

I have received word that the bracelet below has been named a finalist for a Saul Bell Design Award, in the silver category. Naturally, I am very pleased to have been accorded this honor. The awards are given in May at JCK in Las Vegas.

My Recent Ambitious Piece

Here is the piece that is on the cover of the July 2008 issue of Art Jewelry Magazine-- a fully reversible bracelet of sterling and titanium.

Upcoming Classes

Later in the year, I will be teaching a one and a half-day workshop on draped and hammered wire jewelry, followed by another day and a half making the "They Won't Believe You Made It Ring" described in a post below. These will be at the Peninsula Art Center (https://www.peninsulaartschool.com/), Door County, Wisconsin (a very lovely area to visit in any case. These will be on November 13-15.

I will also be teaching two sessions of a workshop entitled "Getting Started in Metal Clay" at the Evanston Art Center. The one on October 18 & 25 is full, but there are spaces in the second one, November 1 & 8. WWW.Evanstonartcenter.org, 847 475-5300.

You can take classes from me at the Bead Fest Wire in King of Prussia, PA, May 1-3, 2009.http://www.beadfest.com/beadfest/wire.cfm

I will be demonstrating Soldering on Metal Clay at the Metal Clay Conference in Indian Lakes Resort in Bloomingdale, IL, July 16-18 2009.

Upcoming classes

As of now (September 2008), I am offering three classes weekly at the Evanston Art Center. This session begins next week (September 9, 2008) and runs 12 weeks. The details are available at http://www.evanstonartcenter.org/

Upcoming Classes

Students have asked me to provide a list of my upcoming classes, so I will try to keep such a list current.

I will be teaching a three-day workshop at the Peninsula Art Center in Door County, Wisconsin (https://www.peninsulaartschool.com/)on July 28-30. Here is the class description:

Casting in a Flash

Imagine creating finished cast pieces in unique organic shapes in record time! That’s just what you can do in this exploration of casting methods both ancient and modern, with no carving, no previous skill necessary—and almost no time! Sand casting, water casting and broom straw casting are among the fun, fast, easy and inexpensive methods you will try in this three-day class. Use leftover silver scrap from previous projects! Silver will also be available for purchase from the instructor. You may bring small hard objects such as twigs to duplicate with sand casting. Finishing and adding bails and findings will also be covered.

Want to learn to silver solder, but can't get to a class?

I have just put the finishing touches on a new kit that is just for you. I'm very proud of it. It is listed in a post below-- the Lively Loopy Ring. Here's the thing, though. I've written it in minute detail, intended for someone who has never soldered at all. The kit includes powder to mix up flux and powder to mix up pickle-- and text that explains what to do with those things. There are 17 close-up color photographs.

There is a fair amount of "stuff" involved in metalsmithing.Here is the first page of the instructions, telling you what you get and what else you need. The kit is $50.

Lively Loopy Ring
By Noël Yovovich Noelyovo@yahoo.com
Copyright 2008 Noël Yovovich: Do not copy or reproduce without permission

Kit contains:
1’ copper practice wire
1’ sterling silver wire
*1” "easy" grade wire solder
*boric acid powder to mix with denatured alcohol as flux
*citric acid powder to mix with water for pickle
detailed instructions and photographs
ring blank sizing chart furnished by Contenti Jewelry Making Supplies

You will also need:
Steel ring mandrel
Wire cutters
Chain nose pliers
File, preferably a 6”-8” half-round #2 cut
Torch (can be butane hand-held)
Soldering pad or other fireproof surface
Solder pick
*Bowl of water for quenching hot metal or tools
Mallet (leather, nylon or wood) or a 10” length of lumber
Hammer with rounded, polished face (steel)
Steel block (not strictly necessary)
*Tumbler, polishing lathe, rotary tool with buffing wheel, or polishing cloth

* If you are receiving this kit as supplied in a class, these items will be available in the classroom

SAFETY CONCERNS
This project involves the use of a torch with open flame and high heat. It is essential to work on a flameproof surface, away from all flammable materials, including on the floor of the work area. Hair should be tied back. Natural fabrics should be worn. No loose, dangling hair, clothing or other objects should be worn or nearby while working with heat or power tools such as polishing equipment. Use tweezers or other tools to handle potentially hot metal. It is also important to work in an area with very good ventilation, as soldering and pickling produce fumes that are not good to breathe. These warnings cannot, of course, be comprehensive, so if you are in any doubt, seek professional instruction.

• For best results, read all the instructions before you begin.

They-Won't-Believe-You-Made-It Ring

I just have to make a plug for this class, offered this year at the Bead & Button Show in Milwaukee.

This ring is a real stunner, an 18k gold tube setting with a sparkly 3mm stone on a wide hammered sterling silver band. And it is so much easier to make (with my help, of course) than you would ever dream! It has two solder seams in it, and I will guide you through them, personally, one at a time. That's why the class is very limited in size.

Most of the students who have made this one with me wear their rings every day.

And if there is a special color of stone you want, I'll try to accommodate you. I already have a couple dozen tourmalines in shades of green, blue, pink and orange; some yellow sapphires; amethysts, and others. You choose!

And if you are planning to attend one of the other beading/wire/jewelry events I will be teaching at, and you wish YOU could make this fabulous ring, let the management know-- maybe we can get it arranged for next year!

Can't get to a class you want?

If you just can't get to a class you had your eye on, I offer kits for some of them. These include detailed, step-by-step instructions just like the articles I write for Art Jewelry Magazine, complete with close-up color photos, and all the materials you need, including copper practice wire and specialized tools. General tools such as hammers, ring mandrels and pliers are not included.

The kits available at this time are Etruscan Style Ring & Chain, $68; Sinuous Silver Bracelet (aka Flowing Hammered Wire Bracelet)$87; Knit Wire Bangle (aka Bead-filled Bangle, but the kit does NOT contain beads),$87; and Lively Loopy Ring,$50. This last one requires soldering; instructions give all the details, but it is always easiest to learn soldering directly from a human being.

Contact me at Noelyovo-aj@yahoo.com for more details.

Welcome, 2008 students

Greetings to anyone accessing this blog, and especially to my bead event students. Please feel free to email me with any concerns or questions-- noelyovo-aj@yahoo.com. Please be aware that I am teaching at 6 different events this year, so be sure to tell me where you will be taking my classes.

Once again this year, I am offering to take orders for my favorite hammer. You will need a hammer with a rounded, polished face for the Lively Loopy Ring, Sinuous Silver Bracelet and They-Won't-Believe-You-Made-It Ring. It does not have to be this one! I just like this one, and students find it convenient to have me bring a box of hammers to class for them. The details and a picture can be found by scrolling down to last year's entries. The difference is, not surprisingly, prices have gone up. I can bring you a hammer for $35. I also have some simple bench pins for $8, for those of you taking Magic Metal Menagerie.

If you are taking either Magic Metal Menagerie or the Charm of Color, it would be great if you can bring a handheld butane torch and a soldering surface or firebrick, and/or a Dremel tool with a 3/32" collet. Other collets may also be useful. A jeweler's saw and 2/0 or 3/0 blades will also come in handy. I will have tools there for you to use, but there will be much less waiting and resultant frustration if you can bring your own.

At events other than Bead & Button, an extension cord is a good idea. A task lamp can be a big help as well.

I hate to admit it, but there may be other needed tools I forgot to put on the official lists, so try to check back here for additional information as class draws nearer.