Spellbound - Pasadena, CA 2014

Did you hear the good news?

I'm was invited to take part in the Spellbound event this 

November 6-9 in Pasadena, hosted by Debbie and Shea, 

from A Gilded Life!! So exciting.

The bad news is that one of my workshops is already full!! 

Please sign up asap if you are coming, would love to see you in one of my workshops!

Here is the link for the event!!

Spellbound Event

I hope to see you there!!

ARTFUL GATHERING 2014 - kits flying out

WORKSHOPS FOR 

ARTFUL GATHERING 2014

Just a quick note to let you know that the kits are selling out fast for both these workshops, happening this summer, on line with Artful Gathering!

If you are planning to get a kit, please do it quickly. I won't be listing more, this is the second batch I'm thrilled to say. 

(Sorry, all kits are sold out)

Downton Heirloom Bracelets  - starts June 6th

and

Stackable Boho Bangles - starts July 16

Here is the link to my Etsy store.

Thanks so much for you support, I'm over the moon excited about both workshops. And even if you are in a remote part of the world, you can take a six week workshop with me

this summer!! Yeah!

Thanks so much,

Riki

Make Art in LA workshop, 2014

Three words describe this workshop at Make Art in LA, in La Brea, CA.

FUN, FUN FUN!

They came for some fun and to learn a few things,

and I think that happened!!

 You ladies were incredible!!

 We had a lot to learn and get through, and they did it all!

 There were many who had never held a butane torch in their hand, and they did so well, I was incredibly impressed.

 There was a little cutting, filing, and soldering

Then hand finished with a touch of pantina added.

 It was a sold out workshop, and we can't wait to get back there again next year.

It's already on the calendar, March 21-22.

Love the intensity and concentration!

And a lot of laughing as well.

What more could an instructor hope for?

Chocolate, ha ha. Mel took care of that!

Thanks Mel.

 Here is me and sweet Barb Buckles. Thank you Barb, such a great time everyone had.

Can't wait until next year.

Queen's Lace was so much fun, and everyone work turned out scrumptious!

 Most everyone is here. Many, many thanks to

Carol A, Theresa, Ally, Julia, Kim, Janett, Kathie, Caroline, Becky, Diane, Lora, Melanie,

Susan C, Renee and especially Barb. 

Becky, hope you are feeling better, and hope to see you next time!

I loved every minute of it. And got to have my sister there to help out, that was wonderful. Thank you Kami for all your help. You are the best.

lots of love, and until next time!

Riki

Artful Gathering Treasure Hunt

Play along in the 

Artful Gathering Treasure Hunt!

We are having a treasure hunt and it is really simple to play along. This is the first week of the clues. It is described in the box just here below.  Find the secret Big Red Square somewhere on my blog to get your first secret word! It is a red block, on my side bar, that has a crown in it!

Then go to www.artfulgathering.com to read all about the rules and prizes.

Most of we artists have donated really wonderful prizes for you to win. There is a bit of everything!

 Here's what I donated!!

Fun huh?

 And here are a few pictures of my workshops that will be on 

www.ArtfulGathering.com this summer.

Downton Heirloom Bracelets

June 7- July 17

Both segments are about making bracelets from antique napkin rings!

This is a picture of the two kinds of bracelets we will me making.  

One part the Soldered Bracelets and

the second part making Encrusted Bracelets around frames.

So much fun, I'm really exited to show you how to make these beauties.

Stackable Boho Bracelets

July 16 - August 26

Get your bellbottoms out of the closet, strap on a head band and get ready to make some fun Stackable Boho Bangles!  These are so much fun to make, and incredibly entertaining to wear.  I can't wait for you to learn about all the techniques I packed in to this workshop as well.  Wear them one at a time, or layer them.  They are lightweight and jingle with enthusiasm!!   

 Both workshops are really great for all levels.  I will be available to help and give feedback for the entire six weeks of each class.  The feedback I get about AG while teaching at in-person workshops is remarkable.  People love the classes. 

So I hope you will play along with the Treasure Hunt, as well as join us in the 

wonderful array of workshops being offered by an extensive list of talented instructors

this summer!

PRE-REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN, 

AND YOU MAY SELECT YOUR WORKSHOPS ON MAY 1, 2014.

I will have a limited supply of kits available in my Etsy store for each session.

SEE YOU THERE!

Riki

Artful Gathering 2014 Promo

What I'm teaching this summer

with ARTFUL GATHERING!

June-August 2014

Downton Heirloom Bracelets

Stackable Boho Bangles

I hope you enjoy the video.  

Let's start playing and keep creating!
(to make full screen, click the box in the corner)

I hope to see you in one of my workshops on line or in person in 2014!

Art Retreat in the Desert - Vivi Magoo

Oh my gosh, the Vivi Magoo 

art retreat in the desert 

was over the top fun!

Where can I begin? 

Friday's class was full of lots of challenge.  The students made lockets from scratch.  This was really a wonderful exercise of cutting out metal, filing and making hinges from scratch.  There were a few head scratching moments, but they all did such a wonderful job.  I didn't get everyone's photo, a few weren't feeling too hot, and split.  But to those who were able to hang in there, you guys did a fantastic job!!! 

Aren't the lockets they made amazing?

Then on to Saturday....

More smiles as they hammered away on making cuffs with etched bullet casings and hammered bronze wire.  This project was so much fun.  Lots of hammering in that room, so some went outside in the Tucson sun to hammer away.  Great job students!!! You did an amazing job with your bracelets.

Then came Sunday!

And it was a smaller and slower class, which was great.

They made wired heart cages for this workshop, La Cage.

They took off with these, and had a ball. I love how each one turned out differently.  And everyone wired treasures inside, giving each a wonderfully romantic and unique look.

Fabulous job ladies!!!

This is a picture of the class in the hotel lobby.

Jackie, SueAnn, me, Karen, Melanie and Wendy!

So wonderful to meet all of you, it was a ball.

Sweet Joanna Pierotti dropped by to say hi for our lunch break. Sorry Jessica, caught you with chewing on some steak! You two are darling.

What a thrill to meet fellow instructor Pamela Huntington!!

She dropped by as well, she and Lorri Scott were teaching at a different show. But they came by to see all of us, and I got to see who that darling face is behind the amazing Artful Gathering workshops.

The Tucson trip wouldn't be complete without a last night dinner out!

So Barb Solem joined us, and we had too much fun. Maybe one too many margaritas, but what the heck!  They were well deserved for a well done job. Many thanks to you Barb, and Erin, for a fabulous art retreat, it was one of the best ever. Can't wait until next year.

This is Karen on the far left, Deryn's sister in law, and our sweet Rita with Barb.

And of course, Deryn Mentock, her friend and now mine, Ronnie, and my wonderful roomie and friend Diane Cook.  Look at those smiles!!

 I can't wait until next year!! We did some shopping, ok too much, made new friends, and got to laugh and play with old ones.  It was too much fun.

I hope you can join us next year. Save the dates!! It will be around the same time, Feb 9-11, 2014. Come take some workshops, make some new friends, and shop the shows, it is such a wonderful and fun experience.

lots of love,

Riki

Winner of Stephanie L Drawing

AND THE WINNER 

of the Stephanie Lee's 

Homesteader's Metalsmithing workshop is....

Shaiha

of Shaiha's Ramblings!!

Hey Stephanie, she is a fellow Northwesterner living in WA! How about that?

Congratulations Shaiha.

I will give Stephanie your email address, and you will be invited in to her workshop.

Enjoy. And a very special thank you to everyone who entered the drawing, I truly appreciate it and wish all of you could have won.

Lots of hugs,

Riki

Stephanie Lee Homesteader's contest

Stephanie Lee

Every now and then you get to meet an angel.  I did five years ago.  Stephanie offered a three day workshop, a compressive workshop, at a  home in Los Angeles.  Not only did I get to learn a few basics about soldering with a torch (which I was new at), and so much more, but I got to spend three days getting to know her as a person, a teacher and loves to have fun.  I had worn out her wonderful book, making her projects front to back, self-teaching. So it was a truly a dream come true to get to take a three day course from the master in person.  I formed some wonderful friendships in that workshop.  I met Diane Cook, who came all the way from Texas, and Diana Frey, now both incredible instructors and extremely talented.

I have never told Steph what an amazing life changer she was for me.  Oh come to think of it, I've told her so many times she must be sick of hearing it!  When she asked if I would like to give a way a couple of her revamped Homesteader's Metalsmithing Online Classes, I was honored.  I would love for you to have the nearest experience you can to what we enjoyed back in 2009.  You don't get to hang out with her, and enjoy her warm and helping personality, and have a ton of laughs, but you do get to learn a ton of amazing methods, techniques and tricks of the trade. And this is a FOUR week course! 

She packs a ton of information in to EVERY thing she teaches.  I have taken this workshop, and it is awesome.  You will learn so many wonderful things. 

a sample of her amazing work

Here is a list of what you will learn:

~four weeks of indepth instruction

~weekly high quality (HD) video tutorials (5+ each week)

~troubleshooting help and Q&A sessions

~indepth exploration in understanding your materials to be able to manipulate them how you want

~tools coaching and selection guidance
~fabrication of wire forms, foundations, and flourishes

~bezel creation from various materials and in many forms

~solder manipulation and texturing

~inventive, original and non-tedious chain-making

~solder casting
~altering and modifying natural elements
~resin exploration and alternatives~bead crochet
~fabric + metal combining in various, unique ways
~image creation in metal and fabric

~much much much more!

Check out Stephanie's website for more info on the list of techniques she is sharing.  It is a long list.

HOMESTEADER'S

METALSMITHING

The workshop starts this coming Monday, January 20, so the contest runs until January 19.  I will draw a name from the comments listed her on that day.

Go check it out and jump on it!!

SO if you are interested in winning one of these workshops, please leave a comment, and your email so I can do a random drawing!! Good luck!

hugs,

Riki