Reaching goals

Making a book takes a lot of time and an entire cast of expert contributors

This is Jim Lawson at work on some of the photos for the first few parts of my book.

Originally Published 1-30-2013

Progress on the production of  The Jewelry Maker’s Field Guide: Tools and Essential Techniques goes well; my editorial colleagues in the book division and photographer Jim Lawson have been cranking non-stop right along with me since the new year began. Creating a book with such complex subject matter and so many moving parts is a huge undertaking: I often vacillate between unbridled enthusiasm for this thing I am taking part in the making of, and abject despair over my own stupidity thinking I would have the time and energy to get it done.
But this post is about my friend, photographer Jim Lawson. He is an ace, super talented, soft-spoken and rock solid. He must be an earth sign, because unlike me, I never see him overflow or fly off (water and air, scary combo) and, Jim is so reliable that knowing he is shooting my stuff has removed 88% of the stress I was feeling way back at the start of this whole process. Like several of my content-producing colleagues at the office, he too has created DVD content of tremendous use to anybody trying to market/sell/get exposure for/exhibit their artwork on that wild frontier known as the internet.

The other cool thing about this entire bookmaking process is that the two of us have clocked so much time in each others studios that we could (and should) collaborate on something else. We have discussed and toyed with a few notions as we've been working, so more on that later. Right now, I'm going to start reciprocating Jim's hard work on my behalf by unabashedly plugging his work. If you have the slightest interest in making photos of your jewelry work (or of anything for that matter) go check out his instructional videos, Instagram feed and Website. He. Totally. Rocks.

Jewelry making on an (almost) desert island

Originally Published 12-27-2012

Yes, it is possible to make jewelry on a Pacific island. I just found a goldsmith here on Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos, and plan to speak to her in depth later in the week. Especially about how she keeps her beautiful rolling mill pristine and rust free during the rainy season, when I can't do that without lots and lots of work -- in the temperate zone!
More to come soon. Keep your fingers crossed everybody -- maybe I can get my boss interested in a story about the trials and tribulations of metalsmithing in paradise. Hmmm...

Head above the water

Originally Published 11-11-2012

This weekend is the first one I have had free -- relatively speaking -- since mid-May. It is amazing to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you have been in it for so long you forget what daylight is like. I am 2 objects away from done on the book, I've got most of my teacher proposals and paperwork in the can for 2013, and all of my Cool Tools & Hip Tips columns for this year and most of next year have been either written, filed or settled on. Can somebody say, "Whew?"

I haven't seen my friends or family except for absolute dire necessities for almost 9 months. No dance classes, no workshops, no gym, no vacation, no fun, no nothing but work for 24/7. Boy am I tired! But now that there is light streaming into the tunnel, I can finally reflect on what I have finished this year, and all I can say is I have no clue how I managed to get it all done.

So here is the scoop on the fruits of all this labor: The Jewelry Maker's Field Guide: Tools and Essential Techniques book is in the design/photography/editing phase and is scheduled to be out around this time next year. I will be filming my 6th Metalsmith Essentials DVD: Spirals, Tubes and Serpentine Forms in late April, and I am already scheduled to teach at workshops in Tucson, Arizona in February, and Pennsylvania in April and probably August. My Cool Tools & Hip Tipscolumns promise to get you involved creating content too in 2013, so stand by.

I will post more here as I know more, and thanks for hanging in there with me.

PS: You know, there is something to be said for a long weekend of bad junk food and crappy, tacky 1960s horror movies after a long, long, long hard period of seemingly endless work...

Cats out of bags…

Originally Published 10-3-2012

OK. Quick hit blog. I am so sorry I haven't written in months.

I have a legitimate excuse -- I have been writing a book on metalsmithing for nearly a year and the manuscript has been mostly delivered. At the current time, I am fabricating sample objects like a fiend, and readying the studio for the arrival of my brilliantly talented colleague Jim Lawson, who will be shooting the photos.

Keep checking here. I didn't bail on you, I have just been too, too overscheduled. I wanted to make a book I can be proud of. So far, so good....

When it rains, it pours

Originally Published 5-3-2012

I am always amazed at the ebb and flow of work. Why is it you are either so busy you want to tear your hair out or so busy you almost want to tear your hair out? So, whatever happened to "down time?" I often wish I had a few open days to reflect on something I have just completed before the next onslaught arrives, but these days it is a constant deluge of work, stuff, life.

Last weekend, I taught a fun workshop on Textures and Patinas for the 20th anniversary conference of the Enamel Guild's Northeast chapter at the beautiful Newark Museum arts workshop metals studio. I have been creating samples, demos and handouts for weeks to expand and clearly document the information I briefly covered during the filming of my third DVD on the same topic. We all had a great time, it was an incredible conference, and I am honored to have been invited to teach. For the past few days I have been following up with extra information, paperwork and correspondence with my students and the new friends I made, in addition to the regular workload of my day job. I am inspired to make something new -- but I don't have any time at the moment.

I was just assigned a really fun story to cover in the November issue, I have several ongoing monthly writing assignments, this blog, Facebook contacts, a Twitter feed, and a June workshop to plan for. There is also my son's end-of-term performance to attend, the garden is screaming for attention, and I have 2 things on the bench I really want to be done with so I can make some new work. And, I also have a complex, long term, very important and dear to my heart project -- which is on my mind and consuming every waking moment. I can't let go of it for even a second or it will break my concentration.

If I expect to teach next year, I had better whip out a few pieces, have them photographed and write and submit my proposals in the next week or two or I will miss the window of opportunity. There are kits to prep, pickups to make and tools to test for the work and classes I am scheduled to do and teach on the near horizon. And if I don't sit down and write out bills soon I will be in deep doo doo.

Ay jai jai.

I'd love to have a week off to think about what I have just accomplished, but I can't have that now. I have to wait for it. But I am certain when I do get my vacation it will be oh, so sweet. Until then, pass the umbrella, please -- because it is a monsoon!