I had a really great 2022. Previously, I wrote a newsletter about saying YES to so many new opportunities this year, which led me to need to use the word NO a few times. If the pandemic has taught me (us) anything, it is the need for a little guilt-free self-care. Which means sometime I go really slow (who am I kidding, I ALWAYS go really slow) when making jewelry. Or dinner.
Bristlecone Pine Tree, image courtesy of Rad Drew Photography, copyright 2022
When I came upon a Bristlecone Pine Oolite a couple of years ago, I knew I had to have it. It was cut by a local lapidary guy who is no longer in business. Later, I received a photo of a Bristlecone pine tree image that my husband, Rad Drew, took a picture of in California. I put the two together, and knew I needed a special piece for the stone. See three progress photos, below, and below that, a video. See the necklace in my shop, HERE.
Setting fabricated, doing a test fit with dental floss so the stone doesn’t get stuck
Making the links for the chain ends
Finished necklace with patina applied
Bristlecone Pine Oolite Necklace, detail view. Nancy Lee Designs, 2022.
Are you inspired to learn something new in 2014? Or hone a nearly-forgotten skill? If you’re interested in metal and jewelry, maybe I can help. I’ve been creating jewelry for over 20 years, and have been creating metal jewelry (sterling silver, copper, brass, gold) for 15 years. I offer private and semi-private metalsmithing and jewelry making lessons in my own metals studio and will travel to your studio location teach groups of six or more students. Just today, I created a page on Thumbtack.com to spread the word a bit. I generally teach privately and semi-privately (1-4 student max in my studio space, depending on the nature of the class), and have taught at the Indianapolis Art Center and have acted as Instructor’s Assistant in a teapot fabrication workshop at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Here’s the Thumbtack.com link to my page: Nancy Lee Metalsmith and Jewelry Instruction“>Nancy Lee Metalsmith and Jewelry Instruction
You can request my services directly through me by clicking here, or through the Thumbtack website.
Here are a few photos of classes and workshops I’ve taught over the years.
Crusty Leaf Pendant Half-Day WorkshopHammered Copper Bracelet Two-Hour ClassTextured Copper Earring Two-Hour ClassSoldering Better Bezels One Day Workshop Class – Nancy LeeTwo-Day Metal Jewelry Design and Fabrication Workshop
Besides the classes listed above, I offer a solid basic metalsmithing class that is 3 hours long and teaches a lot of basic metal working skills, such as using a bench pin, piercing metal, cutting it with a jeweler’s saw, using metal shears, filing, sanding and hammering metal into shape, and heating with a torch (annealing) to soften it. If the torch work is too much, I demonstrate the technique and allow students to do the metal work after the torch work (annealing) is done. Students typically begin with copper and sterling silver.
Other course offerings are available, typically from 2 hours for a short class and up to 2 full days for a weekend workshop and lots of possibilities in between. Private, one-on-one lessons are available with a three-hour minimum beginning lesson.
Popular classes include tube setting faceted gemstones, gypsy stone setting, cabochon stone setting, fold forming basics, soldering basics, making clasps, quick earring workshops, etc. Students tell me that they learn a lot and appreciate the one-on-one attention, attention to detail, and patience they receive when taking a class from me. I love teaching and am passionate about what I do!
Contact me to get information on private lessons or on creating a workshop for you and your small group! Classes are created on an as-needed basis. I look forward to hearing from you!
There will never come a time when I forget about Sally Field’s famous acceptance speech when she won her Academy Award.
You LIKE me! You REALLY LIKE me!
She was sweet and genuine, no matter that it was a little corny and borderline needy. Haven’t we all been there? OK, I’m laughing now. Some of you have not. But I have and these are the only eyes I have with which to view the world, so. I digress.
Nancy Lee Designs Facebook Banner
“Like” has come to mean a whole new thing. In the Facebook world getting a “like” means a friend or stranger is giving your thought, image, or business a virtual thumbs up. With 845 million or so active users*, explaining a “like” seem kind of pointless, because unless you are there, you probably aren’t gonna make it over here, to my little homemade website with my slow-cooked jewelry and sculpture.
But talking about “like” is my sneaky little way to bring up the “like” subject and to ask you kindly to visit and “like” my page there.
Why did I do it? Facebook rules state that one may not change their business page name. And, because I would prefer to be known as an artist, rather than as a “business” or bricks and mortar building, I felt strongly compelled to create a whole new Facebook page as Nancy Lee Designs. What I wish to accomplish with it is to spark quick dialog between you and other lovers of handmade things, say a little about me and what goes into my work as it is happening, see progress shots and photos of finished work straight from my camera phone. I will announce shows, talk about tips, tricks, and metalsmithing techniques for those of you who are interested.
All in an effort to continue to build a bridge to you, the person who has found your way here, and about whom I care. So, I do hope you “like” it. Really “LIKE” it! (that is now 5 times I have hotlinked “like” to my new page – SHAMELESS!)
As always, seeking ways to enhance lives and share beauty.
(Check out “Simple Care for Sparking Silver Jewelry“, my first note on my new page. *http://www.zdnet.com/blog/facebook/facebook-has-over-845-million-users/8332
