DonnaBarnako.com

New year, new designs!!!

I've been busy, finding a few hours here and there to make these slick fibulas.  

They're kind of fancy large safety pins, meant to be worn with a loosely woven or knit scarf or cowl.  

They're fun to make and since I have an endless supply of cool artists' beads, they're a perfect vehicle for using up, however slightly, my inventory.  

I have variously used beads of Raku pottery, vintage, kiln-fired lamp work, crystal and some fab new torched copper beads made by cottage industry in Afghanistan.  

I think they are literally made in people's cottages where they are then dipped in a gold liquid which gives them the most incredible colorations.  The fibs range from $75 to $125 depending on the combinations of beads used.
 

Have a fun and safe New Year's!

Thanks for the Memories

I've just completed an interesting commission for a very nice lady who wanted to give a commemorative Christmas gift to each of her sisters-in-law. The gifts were in memory of the two sisters' mother.

I was given two vintage watches, pearls and some wonderful old photos which had been miniaturized so that I could incorporate them in the pieces.
 
The result was two very different brooches:  one was wire-worked gold and the other was etched metal-worked copper.

The latter presented a thorny problem as it had a mesh band which I had to saw off and a large backplate which ultimately had to be epoxied onto the etched copper as there was nothing to latch onto.
 
Both brooches were design challenges, something the "one-off" artist faces every day as he or she invents and creates anew every time.
 
Maybe you have a cherished piece or artifact that you would like incorporated into a new, more contemporary piece of jewelry?  Let me know.  Email me, Donna@DonnaBarnako.com

And A Good Time Was Had by All

Yesterday, I had six hardworking ladies in my studio for a fun class on making silk and batik fabric beads.

Five of the women had had no previous experience, yet, after much painting, gluing, cutting and wire wrapping, everyone left with a unique necklace and pair of earrings of their own making.  They were very happy with their creations, and well they should be.



Speaking of classes, for anyone who had been interested in my upcoming (November 19th) class on making a "Steampunk" bracelet at Star's Beads in Vienna, but found it full, we have added a second class on Saturday, December 11, 10am-4pm, also at Star's.  Call (703) 938-7018 to register.  We had a long wait list from the first class and many of them have signed up, but there still may be space (eight person limit).

Where to Find My Jeweley

I am really pleased to announce a new venue for my jewelry, a wonderful new art gallery and studio in Great Falls called Avenue Beau Sejour. 

It is located in the space formerly occupied by French Country Living so it is quite spacious and bright. 

As a bonus, Avenue Beau Sejour is also a "coffee house" serving Starbucks coffee and fresh baked goods daily, yummy sandwiches and paninis. 

So, meet a friend for coffee and admire the more than dozen artists on display (including potters, sculptures, painters and jewelers).
 
Avenue Beau Sejour is located at 10135 Colvin Run Road in Great Falls  (Google Maps).  Owner Adrienne Kralick, a very talented portrait artist, is hosting a grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 20, 10am -5pm with live music and refreshments.  The Gallery will be open Monday to Saturday.
 
My other venue in Virginia is The Artisans in McLean in the Langley Shopping Center near The Color Wheel.  This is a great place to look for hand made gift items and cards.  Since all my pieces are one offs, each venue has its own unique selection.

Paris Flea Market Finds

My husband and I just returned from a two week Paris/Provence trip and wedding anniversary celebration. 

It's been about a half dozen years since we last visited and I can gratefully say that not much has changed EXCEPT that many of the roads and highways in Provence have been renumbered, resulting in endless confusion when trying to consult our fifteen year old maps.
 
My biggest accomplishment:  climbing the 400 steps to the top of Notre Dame.  What a glorious view of the entire city of Paris as well as a chance to get up close and personal with all those gargoyles. I also climbed the bell tower where Victor Hugo was inspired to write The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

My most fun jewelry-making foray was to the Flea Market at Porte des Vanves in Paris. It was there that I found old French franc rubber stamps, a vintage book of poems and a wonderful wooden geography puzzle of the different regions of France. 

Someday, hopefully sooner rather than later, I would like to go beyond jewelry-making and use the bits and pieces of memorabilia I've been collecting over the years (and especially at the antiques markets in Maine) and make some mixed media art such as shadow boxes or other constructs. 

Reminder: Great Falls Studios Tour soon come

When: October 16-17 (Saturday and Sunday) 10-5pm
 
Place:  My Studio!  and over 40 other venues in Great Falls.

A map and detailed information about the participating artists is now available at www.GreatFallsStudios.com.

A large colorful paper flyer is also available all over Great Falls:  At the Hardware Store, restaurants and the library.  It includes  the same artist info and map as the Web site.
 
VERY IMPORTANT:
 
Great Falls Studios is giving away $2,000 in ArtBucks All you have to do is sign in on the Web site (click Studio Tour) Last year I had the most ArtBucks winners of anyone in Great Falls Studios, by far. It is easy to win, truly.  Each winner receives $50 good for a purchase on the tour.

In other news, I will be teaching my Steampunk Class in November at Star's is full. However, there is still room in the Dandelions and Daggers class.  Further information here.

I'll be teaching new classes at Stars

Friday, October 29, 10-4pm, Dandelion and Daggers

No experience needed for this fun and easy class.  Gather all your daggers, flowers, leaves and other top-drilled beads and learn how to make this awesome macramé bracelet.

 
Friday, November 19, 10-4pm, Steampunk Style

Learn to etch, rivet, shape, texture, patinate, torch and cut out metal while making a linked bracelet or watch band.  Students will work with copper and brass sheet metal and wire which they will cut, shape and etch and then embellish with watch parts and other "steampunk" elements. 

I will have old keys, watch parts and stamps available and hopefully some goodies which I have gleaned from the flea markets in Paris and Provence which my husband and I will be visiting on Sept. 24-Oct 9 (to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary!).

Registration begins Monday, September 13, 10am.  Contact Stars Beads, (703) 938-7018.  Hope to see you there!
 

Great Falls Studios Tour, Oct. 16-17

Over 40 artists will be opening their studios (me, too!) in and around Great Falls for this once a year BIG event. 

This will likely be the only public opportunity for you to see my new work this Fall. 

Come visit in my treetop studio where I will demonstrate etching on metal at noon each day.  See also an array of gorgeous new necklaces with pearls in amazing colors and shapes.

Look for our program booklet (it's one you will want to keep for reference) with photos and descriptions of each participating artist's work  and a colorful map of Great Falls with studio locations.  The booklet will be abundantly available throughout Great Falls, including restaurants, hardware store and library, or, if you are geographically challenged, email me and I'll be happy to send you one.
 
Also, look for our Great Falls Studios 36-page insert in The Connection newspaper (Great Falls,

McLean and Reston editions) on October 6. 

As in the booklet, all the same map, photos and artist information, plus great ads from businesses in our community (including an "advertorial" by me ... but you'll have to look to see what that is all about :).

 

Maine, the Way Life Should be

The oft-repeated slogan that sums up perfectly the lifestyle and attitude of this laid back State.  I say it frequently when we have a glorious day of weather and scenery or when we have an unexpected encounter that seems far removed from our experience in the suburbs of Northern Virginia. This was the case when I recently sought to have my jewelry-making wire cutters sharpened.  They were manufactured by a company called XURON,  which just happens to be located in Saco, Maine. 

I have two pairs which have had heavy use over the last five years or so, and they've performed wonderfully.  The #2175F Maxi-Shear is especially useful in classrooms because it has a retainer which latches onto the short piece of wire that can fly across the room unless you hold your finger right next to it as you're cutting.  It will cut up to 12 gauge wire.  The other #9200 is a workhorse with tapered head and can cut up to 14 gauge wire.  Both are under $25 and THEY'RE AMERICAN MADE!

Both of my cutters were dull and nicked from use.  When I emailed the company, I was warned that they might not be able to "fix" them because of the nicks.  I sent them anyway, figuring things couldn't get worse.  When I followed up a few days later, I was told that they were beyond repair but XURON WAS GOING TO REPLACE THEM AT NO CHARGE!
 
So this is my testimonial to this excellent company and the products they make.  I recommend them to you!
 
XURON CORP. 62 Industrial Park Road, Saco, Me. 04072.  Email:  Sales@Xuron.com; www.xuron.com.  These products may be purchased from www.RioGrande.com and www.Contenti.com  among others.

Summer in Maine, so far

Our 2010 summer in Maine has started off with great weather, a Fourth of July lobster bake and exciting plans for a trunk showing of my jewelry in Wiscasset, Maine for July 22-23.  Here's a link to the press release.

I am very pleased to have completed Random Acts of Beads, a necklace five years in the making, shown in the press release (and above).  It is comprised of 18 separate beaded components which were then sewn onto a separate beaded necklace base.  It's in shades of caramel and copper with purple accents and made to sit at the base of the neck for all to see.

I have also been very busy making a half dozen unusual freshwater cultured pearl necklaces (above).  They're unusual because of the pearl shapes and incredible iridescent colors.  Shown are Jacks (they remind me of the Jacks game we used to play as kids), Merlot and Hummingbird.

For the many lovers of purple, I made a seven-strand pearl bracelet that is definitely BLING.  The custom two-inch dichroic glass and Sterling clasp is meant to be worn on the front of the wrist, the better to show it off, along with the 14 Swarovski crystal cubes alongside it.

The last photo is NightBloom (above), one of two stunning (if I do say so) bracelets that really need to be seen in person.  NightBloom features scores of beads:  vintage, glass, stones and gems in black, gray, taupe, silver, copper, lavender and teal. The closure is handmade glass in black and white stripes by David Christianson of Providence, Rhode Island.  The second bracelet (no photo) is in lime and turquoise with seahorses, shells and fish with an eye-catching ceramic toggle clasp.  This is a happy bracelet.

If you're anywhere in the midcoast Maine area on July 22-23, please stop by and see the trunk show as well as DebraElizabeth's wonderful shop, right on the banks of the Sheepscot River.  Be sure to get in line for a lobster roll at world famous Red's Eats, right at the end of the block.  Deb's phone # is 207 882 8485.
 
If I don't see you there, be sure to mark October 16-17 on your calendar for the Great Falls Studio Tour.  I'll be opening my studio once again for this event, which gets bigger and bigger each year.