Inside the Studio with Ema Kilroy

Welcome to Inside the Studio!

Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

Congratulations Susanm! 

You have won a pair of handwoven bead earrings handmade by Rebecca of Songbead and The Curious Bead Shop.

Please email Rebecca with your contact information and your color selection.

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Hello Art Bead Scene Friends. It seems like it's been quite some time since I've had a chance to visit with you. There have been some changes in my life that have been keeping me busy. I'll cut straight to the heart of it and tell you that I got a job! A job outside the studio. A job that pays weekly (yes I'm liking that!).

I am excited about getting out of the studio and back to work with other people. I had a challenging summer. You could hear the cricketts chirping in my workspace. My ideas dried up with the summer heat and I felt artistically tired. After a lot of thinking about my life and my direction I decided it was a good time for me to look for a job outside the studio. There are many folks that work hard and successfully create a niche for themselves in this art bead world we all love. Personally I find marketing my work to be daunting. Keeping up with trends and the ever changing desires of magazines and such is a chore for me. A chore that doesn't resonate with my style. I'm pretty laid back and prefer to take life slow. I have a style and I'm not one who chases after too many trends. I stop often to listen to the birds and to smell the roses. I don't care to rush about to meet deadlines for shows and magazines. I think some folks are cut out for this type of lifestyle. I don't think I'm one of them. I love to create but a marketing guru I am not.

 I've gone back to my accounting roots and taken a job as a bookkeeper for a large company that has a second location not far from my home. I'll be handling all the accounting tasks in this location. I'm really enjoying it so far. I think this job will be perfect for me. The job is supposed to be part time but for the last 4 weeks I've been working close to full time. I see the light at the end of the tunnel and hope to be working on a part time basis next week. That's where I want to be. I'm hoping the part time hours will allow me to have free time to create and spend more time with my family. I feel that creating without relying on it for my income will free up my creative spirit. I have to say that I like getting that regular paycheck. If you've relied on your art and craft for an income you know exactly what I'm talkin' about.

Soooo....as far as what's happening inside my studio, it's been a bit quiet. I did manage to create some pieces inspired by the onset of Fall. It was down right cold in my part of the world this past week. We might even get a frost tonight. Yikes! It's too early for that! Inspired by thoughts of Fall I got out some leaves I had collected, dried and pressed last year; before I ever had a thought about creating the Natural Impressions line. This means there are a limited number of these pieces available. When they're gone they're gone (until next year). As the Fall season gets into full swing I'll definitely be on the hunt for fantastic leaves to press this year.

I thought these pieces would be fun in an Autumnal jewelry design.

I have little more cleaning up and polishing to do in order to get these pieces ready for sale. I'll be listing them on  Sunday Friday. I'll be sharing new listings on my FB page. 

In the meantime you could win this lovely lampwork bead set. Silvered glass encased in a layer of clear glass, handmade by me.

Leave your comment answering this question for a chance to win. 

Are you creating a special piece of jewelry inspired by the beauty of the Fall season? 

Thanks for visiting ABS today.

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog

Inside the Studio with Ema Kilroy of Ema K Designs

Welcome to Inside the Studio!

Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related question of our readers and hope you'll leave comments! As an incentive we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.

Congratulations Colleen! You have won three beautiful, beaded beads from Rebecca at The Curious Bead Shop. Please send Rebecca an email with your information.

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Hi Friends.

Recently I needed to summarize my creative process for some pieces I was creating for a special project. You'll have to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about where these pieces are heading and why I documented the process. I love to know how an artist works and I thought you might be interested too. So I thought I'd share my creative process with you in today's Inside the Studio post.

I begin with metal scraps. Thus far all of the copper I use has been salvaged and upcycled from the construction industry. Here's a look at the raw metal before being turned into pieces worthy of jewelry designs.

The copper is annealed (heated with a flame until it is glowing red) to soften the metal, pickled and then cleaned.

Patterns are added. The metal is cut using metal shears or disc cutters.

I then use a grinding stone to round off any sharp, pointy edges.

Now comes the fun part.....

I have collected and dried an assortment of flowers. I'm so excited that Spring is here as I continue to add to this collection everyday. I then apply the dried flowers to the component. Individually placing the flowers sometimes placing one little stem or flower to harmonzie with the shape of the component. 

In the step above I created a sandwich of paper, copper, flowers and paper. The sandwich is run through the rolling mill, impressing the dried flower into the metal, thus creating an image on the copper.

After the images have been impressed into the metal, pieces are tumbled to remove any construction grime and work harden the softened metal.

Fresh out of the tumbler. It makes all the difference. The pieces are so nice and shiney. Finally starting to look like something to be used in a piece of jewelry.

Liver of sulfer patina is applied. 

The pieces are hand sanded and dipped into liver of sulfer multiple times until I'm satisfied with the end result.

Renaissance wax is applied to finish each piece.

All these pieces have been sent to Chris Thommen at The Art of the Bead and will be for sale at Bead & Button June 6 -8, 2014. You can read the back story over at my blog over at Ema K designs. So if you're going to be in Milwaukee, WI and attending the Bead & Button show stop by booth #1200 to pick up your favorite.

A personal note:  Here in the US Memorial Day Weekend begins tonight, a time to celebrate and remember those who have served our country and lost their lives doing so. A special time to honor those who have fallen. Personally, I honor those who have served in any capacity. I would be amiss if I didn't give a shout out to all our military branches for the incredible job their doing! One my best girlfriends has been in the US Army for 20 years! I'm so proud of my friend Marilyn! 

I'm going to giveaway a copper pendant impressed with baby breathe, 1.25 inches round (impressed image may vary from picture). Answer the question below in your comment for your chance to win. 

Next week I'm planning to write a post about tools. Since I work in two different mediums I could go a  couple of different ways with this. I'd like to hear from you. What would you be most interested in? Do you want to see an overview of metal working tools or lampworking tools? As always, thanks for visiting ABS today!

Ema Kilroy is a lampworker and metalsmith living and working in Central Massachusetts. 

Facebook at Ema K Designs

Ema K Designs on Etsy

Ema's Blog

Tutorial Tuesday: A Layered Bracelet Design

As promised I have a tutorial to share with you, a bracelet tutorial. With the warmer weather comes bare arms and the chance to show off gorgeous bracelets. I like bracelets that have the stacked look built into them so I designed this bracelet with layered strands to work with the focal toggle clasps from my Natural Impressions line. I am having so much fun designing around the toggle as a focal. I'm also finding a new love in Czech glass beads. Just look at those scrumptious rondelles and leaves!

Natural Sparkles Bracelet

Materials:
Copper Focal Clasp from Ema's Natural Impressions Line
8 - 12 mmCzech glass rondelles
7 - 10 mm Czech glass leaves
31- 4 mm Czech glass rondelles
22 - 4 mm copper rounds
13 - 5 mm copper rounds
17 - 8/0 Miyuki glass seed beads
6 - 2x2 copper tube crimps
Stringing wire
Jewelry making pliers
tape measure
Optional:
6 - 3.5 inch lengths of 22 or 24 guage wire

The measurements in this tutorial create a 7 and 1/2 inch bracelet. If you're creating a different size bracelet adjustments to materials will have to be made. I'd also like to mention that I am a big fan of Soft Flex beading wires. I've had problems with other stringing wires slipping out of the crimp tubes rather easily. I never have that problem with Soft Flex. This is a just my personal opinion so please feel free to use the stringing wire you prefer.

So let's get started by gathering your supplies.

Cut three lengths of your stringing wire, 9.5 to 10 inches. Add one strand of the stringing wire to the focal portion (I'm using a 1.5 inch round focal clasp for this tutorial) of the clasp, use a crimp tube and crimping pliers to secure the wire to the jumpring. Repeat for the other two stringing wires. 

On the first wire, string one 5mm copper round, 12 mm glass rondelle, 4 mm copper round, 8 mm glass rondelle, 4 mm copper round. Continue the pattern from the 12 mm rondelle.

Continue stringing until your desired length is reached. Finish with a 5 mm copper round. Add a crimp tube. String on the toggle portion of the clasp and bring the stringing wire back through the crimp tube (and a couple of the other beads if you can). 

*(Don't be confused by the measurements on the tape...I use a scrap piece of measuring tape that has been cut up. I'm not making a 48 inch bracelet.)*

Crimp the tube to finish this strand.

Trim the excess stringing wire as close as you can to the beads.

Begin your second strand with a 5 mm copper round. Add 3 - 8 mm glass rondelles, 5 mm copper round, 3 - 8 mm glass rondelles, 5 mm copper round, 3 - 8 mm glass rondelles. Continue the pattern for the desired length of the wire.

Add a crimp tube, string wire through the toggle portion of the clasp. Using the same jumpring the first strand is going through. String around the jumpring, back into crimp tube and through a couple of beads if you can. Use crimping pliers to crimp the tube. Trim the excess wire.

Here's what your piece should look like so far. Two strands done. One to go.

For the third and final strand we're going to string on a 5 mm copper round. Followed by a 4 mm copper round, 2 - 8/0 seed beads, a czech glass leaf (aren't these just precious?), 1 seed bead, 1 - 4 mm copper round, 1 seed bead, continuing the pattern with the czech glass leaf bead for the length.

Finish the end of the third strand in the same manner as the other two strands. I tried to begin and end each strand with a 5 mm copper round if I could manage it.

And drum roll please.... 

Your piece is finished. That is if you want to be finished.

You can add crimp covers to cover the crimp beads if you wish or you could continue on with the optional portion of this tutorial. I have taken to adding wrapped wire to the ends of my pieces. I like the look it gives to the piece.

I find that adding wrapped wire to the crimp covers tend to tighten the stringing wire, making the strands a bit stiff. Almost as if I had used actual wire to string the beads. Just something you should keep in mind if you are going to try this. It may also shorten your bracelet up a tad. So if you're bracelet is fitting you perfectly you may want to skip this step.

Bend the end of the 3.5 inch copper wire up about a half inch.

Put the crimped tube into the crook of the bent wire. Starting at the end of the copper round bead. Hold the wire tail with a pair of pliers and begin wrapping the wire around the crimp. I tend to wrap around the crimp in a neat fashion and then wrap back to where I started the wrap.

Trim the excess wires.

Tuck the cut ends neatly so they bury under the wrap. I start and end at the copper round to give the cut ends a place to hide. 

You'll have to complete this process six times. One time for each crimp tube.

The finished layers and those delicious czech glass beads.

A final look at the finished piece. 

Natural Sparkles Bracelet

Additional options:

I used a large, 1.5 inch clasp from my Etsy shop. You can easily use a smaller clasp and/or make less strands to suite your own personal taste.

I purchased my Czech glass beads from my local bead shop. If you can't find the exact beads in the materials list you can peruse, our own, Rebecca Anderson's Etsy shop, The Curious Bead shop. Rebecca has a lovely assortment of Czech glass beads.

Thanks for visiting with me today. I hope you've enjoyed the tutorial and I look forward to seeing your creations.