Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist March 2016

WIRESOME? WIRE-MORE? WIREFUL? I’m not sure what the jewelry opposite of wireless would be, but whatever the right word, that’s the kind of jewelry making studio you want to have if metal is involved. Wire is a very handy form of metal, whether you add it to soften the edge of a cuff, make findings for earrings, or use it to develop designs or realize them in metal. In this issue, we take a look at several artists who work principally or a lot with wire. Most create three-dimensional pieces that are inspired by and suggest the natural world. Wire is essential to this work but not what first captures your attention: “Oh, my, that almost floral piece looks like it’s dancing on air, and look, they did it all in…

NEXT TIME: Baiyang Qui’s Breeze Brooch, COVER. Riff on a design feature of this piece such as color, texture, form, value, line, space, repetition, balance, contrast, unity, or variety for your sketch. Sketch a setting for this Star Trek Trillion tourmaline cut by Jim Perkins, page 40. DEADLINES: MARCH 31, 2016 Email digital scans at 300 DPI or send photocopies of no more than three sketches per challenge, indicating the design factor that is your starting point. Sketches will not be returned. WRITE TO US ANYTIME: What do you think about what you’ve seen and read in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist? SEND SKETCHES & LETTERS for possible print or online publication to: Karla. Rosenbusch@fwcommunity.com. Include your name, city, and state, and indicate “Your Turn” on the subject line. DESIGN CHALLENGES YOUR COVER RIFFS: Designs based on John F. Heusler, G.G.’s Pectolite & Pearl…

LINDSAY JARVIS’S Greta Stole From Interweave Crochet, Fall 2014 “What Do You Know!” Page 50 ROGER HALAS’S Elephant Pendant Sterling silver, diamonds, chasing, repoussé “Cybernautic Barrette” Page 46 “What Do You Know!” Page 50 NIKI GRANDICS’S Ghost VI Brooch Electroformed film positive, sterling silver, copper, enamel, glass “Stylized Nature” Page 18 BAIYANG QUI’S Pearl Earrings II 18K yellow gold, Tahitian pearls “Stylized Nature” Page 18 BETSY LEHNDORFF’S Spider Pendant Sterling silver wire, pearl “Climbing What Earrings?” Page 30 “What Do You Know!” Page 50 SARAH THOMPSON’S Hera Necklace Fine silver wire, faceted peridot “Ruffled Wire Woven Pendant” Page 24 “What Do You Know!” Page 50 JERA LODGE’S Necklace Steel wire, pearls “Stylized Nature” Page 18…

WIRESOME? WIRE-MORE? WIREFUL? I’m not sure what the jewelry opposite of wireless would be, but whatever the right word, that’s the kind of jewelry making studio you want to have if metal is involved. Wire is a very handy form of metal, whether you add it to soften the edge of a cuff, make findings for earrings, or use it to develop designs or realize them in metal. In this issue, we take a look at several artists who work principally or a lot with wire. Most create three-dimensional pieces that are inspired by and suggest the natural world. Wire is essential to this work but not what first captures your attention: “Oh, my, that almost floral piece looks like it’s dancing on air, and look, they did it all…

Sometimes the best way to approach social media is to dive in and start swimming. You can read all you want to about how to use Instagram and Pinterest for effective marketing, but if you go into them with this mindset, you may inhibit yourself from doing the very thing that’s going to make your posts and boards attractive to others: have fun and be yourself. In the world of independent creatives — as in design in general — finding your own voice and vision is your best hope for success. When I talk to people in the jewelry world known for their huge following on social media, nine times out of ten that’s what they did. They dove in and played around until they found their voice. Others responded, they…

NEXT TIME: Baiyang Qui’s Breeze Brooch, COVER. Riff on a design feature of this piece such as color, texture, form, value, line, space, repetition, balance, contrast, unity, or variety for your sketch. Sketch a setting for this Star Trek Trillion tourmaline cut by Jim Perkins, page 40. DEADLINES: MARCH 31, 2016 Email digital scans at 300 DPI or send photocopies of no more than three sketches per challenge, indicating the design factor that is your starting point. Sketches will not be returned. WRITE TO US ANYTIME: What do you think about what you’ve seen and read in Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist? SEND SKETCHES & LETTERS for possible print or online publication to: Karla. Rosenbusch@fwcommunity.com. Include your name, city, and state, and indicate “Your Turn” on the subject line. DESIGN CHALLENGES…