Hadar's Class

HADAR JACOBSON'S CLASS

A couple weekends ago, I took a great PMC class from Hadar at a wonderful location in Washington state. It is called The Ranch Center for the Arts and Crafts, in Snohomish, and I highly recommend the facility. Check out their schedule of classes, wonderful teachers are booked. This is director and owner, Randi Harper on the left, and Hadar on the right.

Here are some of Hadar's wonderful pieces illustrating mixed metals. What we learned in the class is how to mix copper and bronze clays, and fire. She is a pro at this, and has amazing examples of her success. The clays are really easy to mix (her's are a powder form). What was challenging was the firing of the mixed clays. You fire for the copper, when the clays are mixed, and often the kiln was overfiring, hurting the pieces. We had that challenge because Hadar was using kilns she was unfamiliar with. Once you do heat tests in your own kiln, you can regulate the temperature better. I didn't know that, and assumed my electronic gage on my kiln was accurate...not!

Anyway, once you get the temperature figured out in your kiln, you will have more success in mixing these metals. We didn't get a chance to mix her white bronze, and steel, but I can't wait to play with those as well. FYI, Hadar has all of the firing information for these clays on her blog, so you can look this all up for detailed information.

Here's our great class, a few left early and missed the group shot. Sorry guys!

Below are some student's pieces, everyone did such a great job.

My on line class with Stephanie Lee is going so well. She is an amazing teacher. If you are interested in metalsmithing, I strongly recommend taking this class. It's a four week on line course, well worth every penny.

I'm busy potty training, and packing for the trip south soon. I left my kiln in CA this time for the summer, so it will be fun to do some creating and firing when I get back. Probably time to have one on either end, might be time to buy a top loader! Fall is in the air here in WA, time for this little snow bird to pack all her chicks and head south!

Thanks for everyone's well wishes about our new little addition Maddie, she's doing great. New pictures coming soon. She's hit 13 weeks, and is becoming independant and extremely funny!!

AT LAST....

Maddie is 12 weeks old!

What a big girl! She just got her 12 weeks shots, (which was not pleasant for anyone, especially her), and is now wearing a collar as of today. Hey, every day is a big step when you are 3.3 lbs and 12 weeks old!

Maddie 8-18-2010 from Riki Schumacher on Vimeo.

So this is what I've been doing for three weeks... potty training, finishing up the last of the summer shows, making a few custom orders between doggie naps, and taking little cat naps myself!

I can't believe summer is almost over. We'll be packing up to go south soon for the winter. Fall is in the air already here in Washington state. Maddie will be 16 weeks when we leave, and old enough to be in dog parks and meet other dogs. If you have never seen a Havanese, you have to. They are so darn adorable, good natured, and true clowns. It's great to have a puppy to remind you there is no such thing as a bad day!!

I hope everyone is enjoying the rest of their summer. I miss all of you, I've been in hiding with this little girl. I'm enjoying every minute with her, watching her grow, and WH and I are amazing how she changes each day.

Stay tuned to more pictures. And I have to post some shots of the wonderful class I took from Hadar Jacobsen this past weekend. It was great, we learned how to mix copper and bronze clay to fire. Amazing process. If you can find a class near you she is teaching, TAKE IT!

Anacortes show 2010

WHAT CAN A RAINSTORM TEACH YOU?

When it rain it pours, right? Oh boy, my biggest show of the year. The one where I can make enough money to use for those fabulous trips to Europe every now and then, and buy some fun stuff than might not otherwise be in a retiree's budget. Ah yes, summer in Washington state. It has been GORGEOUS for weeks. Truly summer. Then, time for the big summer arts festival and it is January in August!!! It poured cats and dogs (even Maddie agreed) all day on Saturday, the normally biggest day for crowds and sales. I mean poured, from 10 am to 5pm. Then stopped and was beautiful on Sunday, after the big crowds!!

So what are you gonna do?

I say, remember what's important.

Remember that I got in to a wonderful, juried show, and that a ton of my loyal customers returned and bought some pieces to add to their collection. Remember that the people that stopped by in pouring rain had to be miserably cold and wet. "Why were they there" I kept wondering. Would I have been? Hmmmm???

So thank you to all those who weathered the storm, stopped by to say hi and see my new precious Maddie. She was a show stopper by far. It was so much fun to have her light hearted, playful self, and kisses filled with sweet doggie breath. She loved meeting everyone, and wasn't stingy with the kisses.

Maddie helps to remind me that there is always a rainbow after a storm.

And to enjoy the rain, I never get that moment again. Just smile warmly, love the friends that were there to support me in the miserable weather, and don't fight mother nature. You can't win. Great lessons from a 2 1/2 pound doggie. That's why I love her. She did great in the hotel. Man, I forgot what its like to have a baby that can't go out to go potty, since they haven't had all the vaccines. Yikes! We had the floor covered in pee pads, like a quilt, moving quickly with her little body to line the bombs up! Whew, then do a show on top of that. No wonder I forgot my credit card machine!!

Thank you to all for your support. I'm ready for my next adventure, doing Stephanie Lee's on line Homesteader's Metal class. Can't wait to play with Maddie, and make new things! New pictures coming soon of the "Mad" dog Maddie, she changes everyday so much.

Birthday Girl

Today is my birthday!

And this is the sweetie that greeted me this fine birthday morning....after a good nights sleep by all! Maddie slept well through the night, waiting patiently for morning to roll round so she could get out of her pen, and give me birthday kisses.

She's begun "chewing" on ears. OUCH! We have to learn how not to bite hard. She's been exploring Chester's toy basket, and having a ball. I know he would love that.

Finally, a nap...another rare moment for a photo op!

She has spent five nights at our house. She knows her name, knows me when I walk into the room, goes potty outside, if we take her, and wees on her pad.

Is this a genius dog or what?

So happy birthday fellow Leo friends, whom there are many!!! I can't wait for some of you to meet sweet Maddie at the Anacortes Festival this coming weekend. She's got lots of kisses for you. I hope she takes lots of naps this week so I can make more jewelry, I'm soooooo behind and it is soooooooooo worth it!!

Puppies have two speeds!!!

On or off! Its been 12 years since we've had a baby bundle of fur in the house. I had forgotten how much work these little treasures are, OMG. She's been here for two nights, both with me sleeping on a blow up mattress in the living room next to her. I won't even go in to the lack of sleep the first night at the motel! To borrow a phrase from Krys, my eyes feel like they have cornflakes in them, and I'm exhausted! Yikes. And I am reminded....it is allllll worth it.

I feel whole again!!

My heart is starting to heal the empty, open wound, from the loss of sweet Chester. But WH and I know Chester would LOVE this doll. This is Maddie, doesn't she look like a Maddie? She is so dang smart at nine weeks. I am extremely impressed with the Havenese breed, even better than everyone let on. If you haven't seen one, maybe you can find a friend that owns one.

There were three rowdy boys at the house today, ages 5 to 9. Wild, playing, roughing it up. She was right in there having a ball with them, my jaw dropped in amazement.

She's taken outside to go potty every hours or so, and when she cant' make it, goes on the wee pad. Now is that a gifted girl or what?

Here is ON. Here she is with her new toy from Auntie Diana, a green froggy that squeeks. Plays with it constantly. Hard to get a picture that isn't blurry.

Here is OFF! I was attempting to look at the computer this morning and had a lot of help. Notice the list of names on the paper. I can take that off now, she's definitely a Maddie, or Madeleine (French version!).

Wish me luck tonight. Going to try to get back into my bed. My back needs it, my head needs it and boy do my eyes need it! Did I tell you she weighs 2.6 lbs. and gives sweet doggie kisses?

I'm in LOVE again.

Baby now 7 weeks

THE BABY IS 7 WEEKS OLD NOW!

I know most of us are very busy with summer trips, and activities. We haven't spent as much time on our computers, keeping in touch with each other. I miss everyone so much. But I have to share with you what we did this week, between picking up grand daughter at the airport (a four hour trip when you're on an island) and making jewelry like crazy for upcoming shows.

This is proud papa WH with the new little girl we finally got to meet. We haven't chosen a name yet, waiting for her to come home and see what she looks like.

She is a Havanese, which part Bichon, part Maltese I hear. They are the sweetest little doggies. They get to be about 12-14 lbs. Here is our wee one at 2.25 lbs. Bareley big enough to pet!

Now is this a face you could love or what?

She played with me, if you can imagine. Even at 7 weeks, they are already playing! It blows my mind how advanced they are at such an early age.

This is our grand daughter, in heaven! Her favorite thing on this earth are puppies, so she was a happy girl. We got to see about four of them, our little girl among them.

So continue having a wonderful summer, each of you. I apologize for being so absent this summer, just busy with life. We get to bring our little bundle home on Aug. 8th, I can't wait. We're getting the nursery all ready (okay, play pen and kennel). I'm reading all these dog training books like crazy, really feeling like I'm going to be a new mom! It's been so long since I've had to potty train, train, etc. Really looking forward to it! So I'll be absent awhile longer!

Take care my friends! Miss you all.

Hav one of these

To Hav or Have not?

What has Riki been up to these days? Oh its been busy! I have been traveling, visiting friends I need to catch up with since being back at the cabin in WA. I've been making jewelry like crazy, getting ready for my upcoming art festivals (listed on my blog).

AND, I've been busy shopping for a new workshop companion!

I just couldn't bring myself to get another yorkie, after Chester being the perfect doggie. So, WH and I decided to get something a little sturdier this time around. I'm having a hard time with that concept, and will miss having a yorkie, but I'm game to give it a try.

We have a deposit with a breeder, after an intense search, on this little girl Havanese. I didn't know anything about the breed, but I love what I've learned. Then I found out about every Hav on our island, and went to meet them all. They are a wonderful dog, very good temperament, great with kids, dogs, people. They love to learn, do lots of tricks, and are supposed to be terrific companion dogs. They get to be about 12-14 lbs, and about a foot high. Funny that that is a "sturdier" dog to me!

I'm hoping that if anything could steal my heart again, she could do it. She already has! We get to meet her next week, I can hardly wait. She is six weeks old here, next week seven. I'm hoping she picks us as well!

We need a name. Any suggestions???

Do you know anyone who has a Hav, stories please!

October workshop

ANNOUNCING A NEW WORKSHOP

in October!!!

October 16 & 17, 2010

Class Fee: $210

Kit fee: $40

Reservations: 805-459-3664

belladonna1351@charter.net

DIANA FREY and I have another workshop planned. It will be October 16-17, a Saturday and Sunday, at my house again. We are so excited about this one. It is a "double cuff" workshop. Diana is going to teach you how to make her "Pearls of Wisdom" cuff, published in the Spring 2010 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry. And I am going to instruct the making of the Hinged Cuff I taught at Adorn Me in Houston. This should be a fabulous workshop, involving all kinds of skills...soldering, forging a hinge, etching, cold connections, wiring and more!

The good news is we still have space left. The bad news is that this workshop is already half full, and I'm just getting the listing up. So call or email Diana now, for a reservation! We would love to have you. It's going to be soooo much fun. To see more details, click the flyer.

Hope you can make it!