A Passel of Profession Rings

Saturday's J101 class just finished a fantastic set of profession rings. Everything from a teacher to a heart surgeon. Yay soldering! We've just begun the final project - wire link bracelets. Check back for more student projects soon.

J101 Fall 2010 edition

And so ends another session of J101. Our happy little group was 4 members strong and what a group. We had every experience level from total novice on up and everyone was very enthusiastic. It was a great time and they did some fantastic work. See their finished projects below....

You can see more students' previous pieces here.

J101 Final Project

This session of Jewelry 101 ends with both pleasure and sadness. We had a fantastic, creative hardworking group of students that made some stunning pieces of jewelry. I look foward to seeing them all again (I hope!) in J102 this Fall.

Here are some photos of their final project, a wire bracelet. You may notice I was a bit more...hmmm...flexible with the parameters of the 'wire' part of the bracelet this go around.


Teri blended her handmade glass beads and funky floral aesthetics in this fun summer-y bracelet. The back is just as decorative as the front and a textured leaf clasp completes the piece.


Amber's final piece incorporated dark lusterous pearls paired with natural patina'd and dapped copper. Her bracelet is finished off with a retro looking clasp.

[kristin's bracelet goes here]

I forgot to get a picture of Kristin's piece but will make sure to get one soon.

Hannah just returned from her European Jaunt and is working hard to catch up! Bracelet photo to be added soon.

Profession Rings

My current J101 class did a fantastic job on their second project - soldered rings. Some of the designs morphed and changed as we worked on them but I think everyone was pretty happy with the final results. They had a chance to show them off at ArtFest Midwest while assisting me last weekend. I think they impressed many prospective students. :D

Teri chose to commemorate the textile industry by weaving silver strands to decorate her ring

Amber created a fun and funky retro vibe ring based on the idea of skee-ball

And Kristin's ring is an abstract representation of a fountain in a zen garden

All in all, great rings that anyone would be proud to wear. I am really looking forward to our final wire bracelet assignment and seeing what these creative chickies come up with.

Whimsical Pendants

I've been a brutal task master and had my students saw and file til their little fingers fell off for our first project. Here are the fruits of their labor.

Teri based her pendant on her whimsical homelife in this smart geometric design. She also created each of the glass beads to represent her and her family members, including the black and white schnauzers!

Kristin was inspired by the curly vines she and her mother observed on a walk in the Greenbelt. The chain and bead really pull the piece together and help to express 'nature'.

Hannah's love for baking might not be readily apparent in this abstract pendant but look closer and the swoops and swirls. Is anyone else hungry for cupcakes?

Amber used a photo she had taken of some octopi and reinterpreted their tentacles in her asymmetrical copper pendant. The sinuous curves, warm hue, and balanced 'suction cups' say sealife.

I think my students did a fantastic job on this first project and I'm eager to see what they come up with for the next assignment! Watch out, world, we're soldering!!!

School's IN for Summer!!!

(hard at work)

The third official Jewelry 101 (hereafter referred to as J101) began this past Tuesday with a practically full class. My students are off to a great start on their first project. I'll have images of the finished pieces soon. Until then enjoy these photos from my last class...

(project #2 - J101 Winter 09)

(project #3 - J101 Winter 09)