Food For Thought......

Eni posts that Sueduan has been banned from Jewelry lessons for her recently exposed behavior. Forgive me if I don't take anything from JL on face value anymore, so I did a search for SueDuan. Not only is she NOT banned, but her teachers' application including every bit of her personal information is now totally visible to God and Country.

Don't get me wrong, I find Sueduan's behavior reprehensible, but to broadcast her information like this? Wow - Oversight? Hmmmmm Funny that it would show up like this just now. I can't see how this is a glitch, as I was already logged in as myself, BobbiWired - I don't have admin privileges - so why is this visible? I couldn't find mine or anyone's else's information like this (though I didn't search all 30,000 of you; you might want to check that for yourself). Look closely; while I have some information blocked out in this screen shot, it is not blocked out if you look at it yourself. JL says they will never share any of your personal information - this looks like sharing to me.

One last very important point - This was her teacher's application! What this means is, Eni was fully aware she was intending to post Corra's work as a tutorial from the beginning, and she didn't question or discourage that. Respect for copyright, and protecting her community members? Hmmmmmmm

Story Teller Link Swap

Want to "swap stories"? Join the Story Teller Link Swap on JewelryLessons.com.....

Eni suggested this wonderfully fun challenge, and I jumped at the offer to host it.
Each participant would make 4 links - embellish them anyway you like. Each participant would then send them to me. As they arrive to me, I will list your names in the order the packages are post-marked. When all the links are in, I will add my 4 links, and mail them all back to the first person on the list. Each artist will take out 4 different links, and mail them on to the next person on the list enclosed. I will be last on the list.
I chose to do only 4 links to help keep the cost down, both in making the links, and the postage to send them. If there are enough participants, I will send them out in groups of 10 or 12 to a list to shorten the travel time.
When you get your links from 4 of your fellow artists, complete the bracelet with links to compliment the one's you've chosen, and show off the finished piece in the gallery.

This is a fun challenge to share and exchange links with your fellow artists. Everyone is encouraged to participate regardless of skill level or country you live in.

If you wish to participate, please read over the guidelines and post a comment to this article that you wish to join in, and I will PM you my mailing address.

LINK SWAP GUIDELINES:
*Each participant will create 4 links; you can use square or round wire in either Gold Filled, Sterling Silver, Brass, or Copper - no craft wire, or artistic wire please.

*Embellish your links using any of the tutorial suggestions below, or create your own like Rita's (Puppette3) cute little Bonsai trees.

Some element suggestions:
Snowflake Earrings with Wired Chinese Knot by Corra
Winter Wrath Earrings by Perri
Briolette Flower by Eni
Flower Power Earrings by Endearah
Beaded Flower by Eni
Butterfly Ring by Inge
Woven Imaginations by Franchezka
Orange Circular Pendant by Eni
5-Heart Pendant by BerginsJewelry
Indian Earrings by NaturalJewels
Wire Wrapped Cuff by Jodi
Vintage Briolette Cap by EarringsbyErin
Indian Bracelet by NaturalJewels
Crystal Woven Hoops by ChristinaAmador

*Please keep your link sizes 1/2 inch square, so they fit nicely with other artists links.

*Send your links no later than April 15, 2009; the sooner you send them the closer to the beginning of the list you'll be.

*Each participant is responsible for postage to the next recipient on the list; please make sure you include the list in your package before you send it on. - Priority tracking is encouraged but not required. (A list will be e-mailed to each participant...just in case)

*Each participant is encouraged to post a picture of the links they are sending in the gallery. Then update the project with the completed bracelet.

*Please take 1 link from 4 different artists, not all from the same artist.

Please come and join, and let's Swap Stories :))......

Not a member of Jewelry Lessons??? Come join us - Registration is free.......


Here's a Direct link to
the Story Teller Link Bracelet Tutorial



thank you for visiting..............
Bobbi
"As long as you're going to be thinking anyway, think big." ~Donald Trump

Imaginations and Ideas ~~ Where do they come from.........

I've been thinking alot about imagination lately, and not just because it's a big part of the name of my shop, and the jewellery adventure I'm on...... It just never ceases to amaze me, what wonderful things ideas and imaginations are. For me, jewellery ideas seem to (on occasion) come about without any real intervention on my part - I mean most times when I sit down at my workbench, there's a stone, or string of beads I've recently gotten still laid out - (I'm not really good at putting stuff away) - and I grab some wire, my favorite pliers, and look at what I have, and try to figure out, 'what it would be best suited as'.

Once the ideas start though, I can hardly keep up. I try to sketch little notes for later projects, (I can't do everything at once), and I wind up with hundreds of little sticky notes everywhere..... I have these notes in my car, my purse, on the desk in the living room, and (what was supposed to be the 'handy catchall), a little black book, filled with little sketches, and notes for projects. Sometimes, halfway through a note, it shoots off into a totally new and different idea.....I have enough of these to date, to keep me at my work bench 24/7 for quite some time. And if that was not enough, I've started to subject my friends to this.......sort of - one project leads to another, and another... - To show you what I mean - in an earlier post, I introduced you to a recently made friend - Spike - who suggested a collaboration between us, in what is a perfect marriage of arts ~ he cuts gorgeous cabs in natural stone, and I'm a skilled wire worker - simple! right? Wrong. - It took, I think, all of 2 days, before before I started bombarding him with ideas for specially cut stones I wanted for 'experimental projects' I had in mind, and to my amazement, he was all for it. And at no point has he ever said "no", (which sooner or later, he'll slap his head, and question that, but for now I'm safe.) This was the first of many pieces I've asked for (or am going too *insert sheepish grin here*). I wanted a heart shaped stone, cut in 2 - my plan was to wrap the 2 pieces so they would finish as a pendant set - his and hers - with an old prayer - "Lord, watch between me and thee, when we are absent one another" - It hasn't quite worked out that way though - the mechanics of how it needs to hang, just isn't co-operating - but someone already saw this on Spike's Flickr, and she and I have talked, and I'm confident it will become what she needs it to be - but the point, I guess of this little tale is that, it's fueled a whole host of ideas (imagination).

Now I realise I ramble a little, but you're still reading so...... Another friend I've mentioned earlier, Corra ~ well her ideas, and imagination comes from an entirely different place. Her passion for wire, is a recent one, and we 'met', when I purchased one of her tutorials, and she thought my intentions were , shall we say, less than stellar. She had recently been 'attacked' and accused of using someone else's ideas, and thought I was just another one to join the angry linchmob..... I am most happy to report that I was not. Those slinging accusations, were by the way VERY wrong in their assumptions, and although after some time, finally concluded they were wrong, never did apologize - but the point is, they backed her into a corner, and she turned around and used that to her advantage - and then some! One of the 'statements' made was that she didn't know enough about what she was trying to teach - boy did they do her a FAVOR! ~

It's funny (well it is now), I honestly believe their intention was to 'run her off", and all they succeeded in doing , was spur her on to greater things - She has since then,
incorporated something she KNOWS very well into her wire - Chinese Knots - which has produced some stunning work and designs. This piece here, is one of her newest, a pendant called 'Skylark on Coins'. (the photo is a link to this listing on Etsy if you're interested). Her 'imagination and ideas', while they didn't have the happiest of beginnings, are fueling some wonderful pieces and ideas. She has a new tutorial coming soon for a bracelet!, that I got a sneak peek at. I've asked her for permission to use the photo she sent, but I'm in USA, she's in Malaysia, the whole day ahead or day behind thing, anyway if she okays it, I'll edit this post, and show everybody what to look forward to. Just got e-mail from Corra with a couple of pics of her upcoming bracelet tutorial -

Pretty Sharp!

I read alot of listings on Etsy, and blogs from different artists, and it really does amaze me where their ideas, and inspirations come from............... Some, like Eni Oken have find their ideas and inspirations in nature - Eni has whole 'series' of pieces revolving around the ocean ~ one of my favorite pieces ~ 'Marine Relic' ~ is a perfect example.

I just love her work - would give body parts for half of her 'mad skills'.

Well I've rambled on enough for now - my roommate, reading over my shoulder, asked - "why is your work , and what 'triggers' you not in this?" - hmmmm, guess there will be a part II :) .

thanks for stopping by...............

~Bobbi

All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him. - Bhuddha