All Entries in the "Tutorials" Category

kahn and fago launch apprenticementor.com

A comment on Saturday’s post about my search for an apprenticeship on the East Coast sent me skipping to Apprenticementor.com, a non profit website where mentors and apprentices can find each other. The new venture was launched last week by apprentice Jennifer Kahn, and artist Celie Fago, a team for almost nine years.

Celie, a jewelry artist, writer, and much sought after teacher, met Jennifer when Kahn was in college working at a gallery that sold Fago’s jewelry.  After attending classes taught by her, Kahn became a live-in apprentice and teaching assistant to the artist, and she continues in those roles today while making and selling her own line of jewelry.

Here’s a snippet of what the duo says about apprenticeships:

“Mentors have the potential to not only pass on their skills but to give those who could never have the time or the money or the know-how, the ability to invest in their passion. They can ensure that crafts stay alive and vibrant for future generations.

There are all levels of potential apprenticeships out there.  Some as extensive as the traditional 7 years and some simply lasting for a given event. For example, a potter looking for help selling their work at a craft show in exchange for teaching about how to sell at craft shows. It could be a live-in situation; an apprentice could work for their mentor for a number of days a week in exchange for room and board. Or it could be more casual, meeting once a week for a few hours. Simply go to the directory to peruse or create a listing. You decide what you are looking for or what you want to put out there.”

Celie Fago and Jennifer Kahn

The website is brand new, so there aren’t many people registered yet, but my guess is that will change soon as word gets out about this great service. Keep your eye on Apprenticementor – they have a Facebook page to make it easy for you to do that. I’m on my way over there to register right now – it’s free. Coming?

Many thanks to Angela Crispin for letting us know!

jeffrey rudell’s papercuts don’t hurt a bit

Last month accomplished paper artist and CraftStylish contributor Jeffrey Rudell posted a how-to for this cut paper thank you note.  I don’t think I’ll be trying it any time soon, but the process is fascinating, isn’t it?

Rudell’s work is extraordinary.  I was convinced that the portrait below was a drawing. The closeup shots reveal that this finely detailed work is another of Rudell’s cut paper masterpieces. The portrait, 5 feet tall and 4 feet wide, is carved from a single sheet of black paper.  Wow.  Ready to try it yourself?

spin your own news

Last October we looked at an artist who was recycling newspapers in an unusual way.  Now greenUPGRADER shows you how to spin your own newspaper yarn with this tutorial. Cool.

Spinning the news

Newspaper yarn

salt-ine update

remember my post a couple of months ago about cristalline’s salt beads? well, last week i received a lovely email from cristalline letting me know that she translated her tutorial for the beads into english. you can find it right here. i know gwen gibson pioneered the shaving cream and dye technique, but does anyone remember if she used salt on her beads? i don’t know…

many thanks to christalline for translating this great little tutorial.

simple really is sublime

a picture is worth a thousand words. and a few pictures? priceless.

paper punch + metal leaf + polymer clay bead = WoNdeRful technique! has this been done before? did i miss this in a book or an article? i love it!

sashetta wrote an informative post on polymerclayfimo. i just wish i knew what it said. because i can’t translate the post, i do not know if she mentions learning this from someone and so if i should be crediting anyone else in addition to sashetta, please let me know. use the pictures in the tutorial as a starting point. you can take this in several different  directions.

fimo gel floating flowers

look what christina dembinski did with her fimo flowers!

she experimented until she came up with a way to encase them using fimo gel, and small bezel cups.

maybe if we ask nicely, she’ll tell us how she did it. pretty please?