How are you all?

Hope you all are well and safe. Just a note to let you know that I have not forgotten you. I also want to let you know what’s happening at Jewels & Fiber Art Studio. When I left the shop March 16th, due to the Stay-In-Place orders, I took home all sorts fabrics and other craft projects that I thought I was going to have great fun creating with all the time I was going to have. Only to find out I did not feel like doing anything. I did not feel creative. I was uninspired, and in a funk. My May, June, and July classes have been cancelled. Like many of you, I started Spring cleaning, (more on that later) cooking fabulous dinners and even a little gardening.

I was not even inspired with all of the mask making frenzy. I must admit I only made them for family and friends. I have to apologize to all my sew sistahs. Thanks for stepping up. I am doing fine these days in these crazy times as each day goes by. It's important that we all stay connected. You may be by yourself, but you are not alone.  I hope you all are taking advantage of this time to re-connect and stay creative.

I promised that something great was coming to Jewels & Fiber.

I am super excited to announce that Jewels & Fiber will have a new website. It seems like I've been building it all by myself. Little did I know, I was responsible for all the data entry for the whole website. So, it is taking just a little longer than I anticipated. It is going to be great! I can't wait to share it with you. The new site will offer my unique designs as well as the ability for you to sign up for in-store or social media workshops and classes.  New line of products like mixed media and surface design art materials, new and used craft books, Marcia Derse fabric, kits, gift cards, and you'll be able to even earn reward points. I'm hopeful and optimistic to be back online around the first part of June.

Please stay tuned. You will the first to know when it is live.

And finally, I am feeling inspired to work on a new line of handbags and wearable art, hopefully for next year’s art shows.  My artists events have either been rescheduled or cancelled. I will have more time to work on things. Right?

If you registered for the Metal Mania Workshop, this class will be the first class rescheduled when things get back to the new normal.

Although we are not able to connect in person right now, we're still in the midst of this. We will be back together soon.

Continue to create and stay safe everyone.

Yvonne

Spring Cleaning

So I was cleaning one of my craft rooms and look what I found. Martha Stewart Jewelry Glaze. Does anyone remember this?

When Martha Stewart Brand was heavy in the DIY crafts and scrapbook industry, she offered a line of jewelry findings, chains, charms, glaze and enamel paint with no firing or kiln. Using Martha’s enamel and brass metal blanks you could apply the enamel with a toothpick. Let it dry in fifteen minutes  and create professional looking enameled pieces. Some of the colors it came in was Martha Stewart Sea Green, Pool and Beetle Black. When I came across them all, and I have a lot, I could not believe they had not all dried up after so many years. So I decided to try them out. I painted metal tin pieces I had cut from candy tins. Here are the results. I also painted aluminum foil beads. A video about that later. 

I am happy with the results. I can't wait to share this technique with you.   

I am grateful I am able to inspire and teach what makes people happy.

I made this video to show how I make these flowers. I have been trying to keep up the Instagram #100dayproject. You are to create one craft project for 100 days.  I don't know which day it is in the project because I don't always post every day. And some of my posts have been my mixed media and tin metal earrings.  I thought I would improve my skills on the two methods I have learned but never had time to master. 

I plan to have all of the materials on my web site and in the shop. If there's a craft item, tool or technique you would like to see me demonstrate, send me a comment.

 https://youtu.be/zivF4D7wJNM