a wrapturous blog

Registration for Haliburton Classes August 2010 Begins!

Registration for my classes at Haliburton School of the Arts is now open!

I’m very excited to be heading back for my third year teaching at Haliburton!  I will be teaching two classes, Wire Jewellery I (August 2-6, 2010) and Wire Jewellery II (August 9-13, 2010).

The school is nestled in the heart of Ontario’s Cottage Country near the shores of Head Lake.  Come for a peaceful and relaxing week, and have fun making jewellery!

See my classes page for course descriptions and a link to register!

Scenes of Haliburton, Ontario

Some photos taken during my stay in Haliburton.

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George Brown College – 2009-10 Class Schedule

The 2009-2010 classes for Wire Jewellery at George Brown College have now been posted!  Here’s the schedule (quoted from the GBC website):

Wire Art Jewellery 1

October 18-November 8, 2009
Course Number:   JEWL 9038, CRN# F10447

February 21-March 14, 2010
Course Number:  JEWL 9038, CRN# W45521

Learn the foundational skills needed to make wire jewellery. Make chains, earrings and findings using cold-joining techniques. Learn to manipulate different gauges of wire. Complete three bracelets, one necklace and four pairs of earrings. Create a piece based on a design of your own.

Note: A project kit of basic tools and wire will be supplied in the first class, but you must provide beads. The supplies required will be discussed in the first class.

Cost:  $412, plus cost of beads
Location:  Casa Loma
Hours: 20
Day/Time:  Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 pm.

Click here to register.

Wire Art Jewellery 2

April 11-May 2, 2010
Course Number:  JEWL 9050, CRN# W45608

Refine your ability to control wire by creating bracelets, pendants and rings using multiple wires, twisted wires and binding techniques. Learn how to calculate the price of a finished piece of jewellery.

Note: A project kit of basic tools and wire will be supplied in the first class.

Cost:  $450
Location:  Casa Loma
Hours: 20
Day/Time:  Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 pm.

Click here to register.

New Classes – Haliburton School of the Arts

I’m happy to be teaching at Haliburton School of the Arts again this summer!

Two courses are offered this year:  Wire Jewellery (July 13-17, 2009) and Wire Jewellery II (July 20-24, 2009).  Course descriptions and registration links are available on my Classes page.  Check out the Student Work from last year’s class as well!

YOJ09-02 Standard Form Ring

Standard Form Ring (2009)
Sterling silver, carnelian
Size 10

I wasn’t intending to post this as my second entry for the YOJ, but it’s now Sunday, the due date for this week, and the piece I actually wanted to post isn’t finished.  I’m “tweaking”.  It feels very much like I’m doing a science experiment.

So… in the meantime…

I’m going to be teaching at Haliburton again this summer, and I have a bunch of tutorials I need to write in preparation for the class.  Last fall I proposed a second level wire jewelry course, which was accepted.  One of the projects is going to be the Standard Form Ring, aka Pharaoh’s Ring.  (Why it’s called the “Pharaoh’s Ring” is a mystery:  I haven’t been able to find any historical examples using wire.  References to cast versions, yes, wire, no…).  It’s called the “Standard Form Ring” because it’s one of the all-time classic wireworking ring patterns.  A version of this ring was published in Moods in Wire by Ellsworth Sinclair, Beginning Wirecraft by Jessie Donnan, and in the Wire Artist Jeweller Magazine (June 2003).  It’s a substantial ring, usually worn by men.  I started writing my version this week, in between printing off “printing sheets” for Number 2 Son, who likes to do “homework”.

(Edit Jun. 25/09:  Thanks to some excellent detective work by Helen Goga, a historical reference for the Standard Form Ring has been found!  Mr. Thomas Vincent Phelan received a patent for the ring design (US Des. 150,726) in August 1948.  The patent lasted for 14 years, and the design went into the public domain in 1962.)

My own personal artistic proclivities don’t lean towards classical wirework, so I haven’t made this type of ring before.  I followed the WAJ instructions for my first two attempts.  I often tell my students that they shouldn’t worry about what their first attempt looks like:  usually with the first one, you’re just trying to get your head around the steps, so clumsiness is part of the process.  It’s no different for me.  This ring was attempt number 3… and I’ll likely make at least two more in the process of refining, writing and photographing the steps for the instructions.

There are useful wireworking skills to be learned from doing this project.  There are definitely some “tricks” to getting it to look nice.  Notes are being scribbled…

Some other views:

A week at Haliburton

I’ve just returned from a week of teaching at the Haliburton School of the Arts. What a wonderful experience!

There were 15 enthusiastic ladies in my wire jewellery class. “Lively” would hardly begin to describe the vibe this group generated. Although I threw a lot of information at them, they were eager to apply the techniques and were soon off and running, creating jewellery with their own unique twists.

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Haliburton Class – July 21-25, 2008

JUST CONFIRMED!

I will be teaching the Wire Jewellery Course at the Haliburton School of the Arts, July 21-25, 2008. Here’s the course description from the Fleming College website:

Wire Jewellery

July 21, 2008

Course Number: ARTS0676

Section Number: 41

Please note: This course requires extensive use of hand tools (wire cutters, pliers) and a healthy level of manual dexterity. Start with the basics and learn to create and design your own jewellery using wire. Go from traditional wire wrapping techniques to original, free-form methods, or something in between. Emphasis will be based on creating pieces that reflect your individuality and personal tastes. No soldering is required and you will have the opportunity to incorporate beads, stones, and found objects to make your own unique designs. Basic hand tools and the use of some interesting tricks will enable you to continue upon completion of the course. Personal style and creativity will be encouraged in a relaxed atmosphere.

Please Note: There will be a $65 material fee payable to the instructor.

• Welcome & Material List

Cost: $252.70

Hours: 47.50

Location: HALIBURTON

Starts: July 21, 2008

Duration: 47.50 hours

Day/Time: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday (09:00AM – 04:30PM)