Drawing and Jewelry 5-8-2010
When I was in high school I always felt that the paintings that my friend, Jerry Farr, did were somehow magical. I can still remember how excited I was when I learned to draw at age 30. I could actually create a likeness of anything that I could see with just a paper and pencil. I could create that same magic in black and white.
I soon began to paint and began to explore creating with color. And I do love color, to the point of exaggerating colors in my paintings. But all along I have known that I could be perfectly content creating with paper and pencil.
When I began to make jewelry I was enthralled with the beautiful colors of the beads I was using. It was so much fun going through all the bins of beads, finding just the right colors of beads to put together. It was just like having a big box of crayons or a palette of paint with the colors lined up ready to be used.
Eventually I began to explore making jewelry using primarily metals. That's when I discovered my first love again...drawing. Twisting those wires into filigree designs is simply drawing with wire. Etching is done by drawing onto a metal with a resistant material. Then immersing it into an etchant which erodes the metal that is not protected by the resist.
In the whole vast world that we call art, there is one aspect of it that I am always drawn back to...drawing.
Last Day of Class at ACC. 4-29-2010
Yesterday was the last day of classes at Alvin Community College. I left class with some sadness, not knowing if I'd be back in the fall to continue this adventure. My teacher, Diane Falkenhagen, was so creative and knowledgeable about the jewelry making process. She encouraged us to take risks rather than take the easy way. She was always willing to demonstrate and explain in detail how a technique could be accomplished. But she didn't hover over us so we had to trust ourselves to do the process. I remember the first few days of class, I had difficulty lighting the butane lighter and was scared I'd create an explosion when I turned the acetylene torch on. We were allowed to work alone on off days and use all the equipment including the torch when we had some experience. She ask me if I wanted to make use of the lab on Tuesdays. I ask, "Do you trust me?" I didn't really trust myself yet, but she said, "Sure you can do it!" I'll miss her along with the students in the class who were very inspiring and encouraging to me. They were doing a large variety of projects that I'd love to try. One thing that I learned from this class is how vast the world of jewelry making is. And I know that I have only touched the surface of the creativity possible in jewelry construction.
Here is Ms Falkenhagen's website if you'd like to find out about her classes and workshops. www.DianeFalkenhagen.com.
B. Burkett Jewelry is Moving 4-3-2010
My jewelry is moving to a new shop in Port Lavaca. I've been at Paper Moon since they opened and loved it there. But Kyle and Paula are beginning a new adventure. I've known that they minister to anyone who came in their doors, even though Paper Moon was officially a shop. But now they are going to use their building as a meeting place to minister to others...fulltime.
So... I've moved my jewelry to Labels Are Love, a new shop that just opened today. Amanda Cervantes and Dora Thompson have a great variety of accessories for girls of ALL ages, from babies to grandmas like me. I'm looking forward to joining with them. Labels of Love is at 131 N. Commerce in Port Lavaca and they'll be open 7 DAYS A WEEK!
New Appreciation for Metalsmiths 3-25-2010
For 12 weeks I've been going to class at Alvin Community College, and I'm still working on my first piece of jewelry. Although I have worked on some pieces at home where I've used techniques that I learned in class. I'm finding that it's just like building any structure; one has to be a designer, architect, engineer, and carpenter. And that takes time. The other day as I was trying to get one wall of my hollow design to be square, I remembered something I often have said in the past. "I'm not a carpenter or a mechanic." I guess I'll have to change that attitude in order to be successful at creating jewelry. Now if I can just develop a better attitude about filing and sanding, sanding and filing... Boy do I have a new appreciation for handcrafted jewelry made by metalsmiths.
Trading a Trip for a Play House 3-06-2010
I've made a big decision; I'm trading a trip to Britain and Ireland for more toys for my playhouse. I love to travel and my friend Ellen had invited me to go on this trip. I consented and was really looking forward to it. But now I'm seeing what adventures are possible as I learn more about jewelry making. If I go on the trip I'll have a wonderful time for 16 days and when it's over I'll have lots of wonderful memories and photos. But If I spend my money on equipping my Play House with tools I'll have enjoyment from that for days, months and years. So it's decided. I'm keeping a tab of what Ellen is spending on the trip and that's what I'm spending for tools and toys.
Moving to the Garden Shed 3-13-2010
My metal arts class has begun to open my eyes to how vast the jewelry world is. Diane Falkenhagen, our teacher has introduced us to so many aspects of jewelry making that I am starry eyed with all the possibilities for creating jewelry. Before beginning class I thought I'd buy a torch and a few tools and put it out in our garden shed. But I'm realizing that it takes more than a few tools (some of them are not absolutely necessary they're more like play toys). So gradually most of the gardening tools are being shoved to upper shelves because I need more room for my jewelry/toy tools. I think a garden tools and containers sale is fast approaching.
Metal Arts Class 1-24-2010
The reason I wanted to go to Metal Arts Class is that I want to learn to solder with a torch. I've discovered that creating filigree jewelry is very much like drawing, only it's done with wire. I've been securing the wire elements by wrapping them together with a binding wire. If I could learn to solder then this additional binding could be eliminated and the piece would be more secure. Today was my first attempt at soldering. That was scary, I could imagine blowing up the classroom or aiming the torch at myself or someone else and burning them. With the instruction and patient guidance of my teacher, Diane Falkenhagen, none of that happened and my practice pieces were firmly attached to each other. The biggest challenge for me was keeping the automatic lighter burning so I could light the torch!
I'm off to college 1-10-2010
The very first day I entered college as a student was in 1982. It was the same day my youngest son, Mark, began college. Today was my first day back to college in over 25 years. I am taking a Metal Arts class at Alvin Community College. I felt like a Jr. High kid going to my first shop class. I wanted everything to be just right, making sure I had all my tools, and the bag to carry them in had to be just right. And what does a Senior Adult wear to class? Not too casual and not too dressy and certainly not to Senior Adult. The class is a two hour drive from my home so I spent the night with my oldest son, Sidney and his wife Gay about a half hour drive from Alvin. Since I didn't know what the traffic would be like and I had to pay my fees I left an hour and 15 minutes before class started (I thought). But class began at 9:30 instead of 9:00, I paid fees in 15 min. and had an hour before class began. I went to McDonalds and got an Egg McMuffin and coffee and watched two couples of Senior Adults leisurely visiting and eating their breakfast. Two thoughts played in my mind. One, I could be doing something like that rather than the pressures of going to my first day of college. The other was, how fortunate I was to be able to begin this new adventure.
B.Burkett Firsts 12-27-2009
They happened during the Christmas season. My first BBurkett.com order from Canada. It was purchased by two sisters as a gift for their mother. It was a pendant with the birthstones of her seven grandchildren. Read about her response in the testimonials in the next column.
The other was a custom order for pet jewelry! A special little chihuahua received some B. Burkett jewelry for Christmas! I designed a pink Swarovski pendant for her to wear on her collar.
Exploring Filigree 10-16-09 Exploring Filigree - I began exploring filigree when I had requests for custom made chandelier earrings. I was so excited about the process that I made several more pairs featuring Swarovski crystal.
The word filigree comes from the Latin words for thread and grain. It is made from thin metal threads (wire), when they are twisted together they form a grain. These threads are used to make openwork designs, often flowers, on jewelry and other utilitarian objects like candle sticks, jewelry boxes and dresser sets. From 1700 BC filigree has survived from the Minoan culture on the island of Crete.
One of my favorite art forms is drawing, I have discovered that I love to design filigree jewelry. It is much like drawing, only with wire. Watch for new additions of filigree jewelry
The Importance of a Blog 9-20-09 I've been told that I should have a blog, a spot on Face Book, Twitter and a whole host of other sites. If I do that, when will I have time to MAKE JEWELRY, which is my passion? Next to that I love showing the works of art that I've created. In my pre-jewelry days when I was painting a lot, it was a thrill to see my paintings all dressed up in frames at an art exhibit. This internet site is a way for me to have an artisan jewelry exhibit. I hope you enjoy viewing these wearable works of art.