Someone Has Been A Very Busy Little Bee...

And it has not been me! Hahaha!!! I am just kidding. There are lots of things that has been keeping me away from the bench these days.

For one, I was recently invited to do a guest post on Love My Art Jewelry! Eeee...so exciting! I get to share my journey with others.
And...
two, working on organizing a workshop in Mexico!

Where in Mexico you ask?
In this really cool, old town known as San Miguel de Allende.
I am organizing this workshop with an amazing artist! Jesse Bert to be exact and his home is right there in San Miguel! It is going to be packed full of fun, adventure, and FUN!

Students will focus on the construction of belt buckles.

Similar to this one (which you might of seen already)...

Botas by Jesse Bert

and this one (which you have not seen already)...

Jesse Bert

the back side because it is just as important...

Jesse Bert

and this one...

Jesse Bert

Is that carved ebony gorgeous or what?

Those examples are just to show that there are more ways than one to construct a buckle. For more information about the workshop please go here.

Here is a new badge - we hope that you will use it for your blog and help spread the word.

Register between 7/11 - 10/26
Class size is limited.

Please join us in San Miguel de Allende. We would love to meet you south of the border this year!

Namaste
Kalaya

Comments

The Risk to Bloom

It all started with an acorn button and grew from there. In an earlier post I mentioned this button swap blog hop, that I am participating in, and how I was immediately drawn to the acorn button. Every day I would hold it in my hand, feel its essence, exam it, and then put it down. This lasted for about 2 weeks. Then I remembered I had etched an oak tree on to brass when making buttons for my partner Kylie of Lotus Out Loud . And... so begins the journey of creating something with this wonderful acorn button, which only started yesterday. Haha! Etched brass was copper riveted to a piece of oak. Merci beaucoup Papi for finding some oak! I am using what Jesse taught me in his workshop . It was the first time trying his technique. It worked beautifully! The riveted brass was then captured with a piece of pierced copper. Voila! And then the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk to bloom.

Pepe Jump Ring Maker...New Is Not Always Better...

For the follow up (2014) on jump ring makers go here . Introducing Pepe's new AND improved Jump Ring maker... When I received my new jump ring maker I knew the new model was more compact but did not expect it to be so unstable. It was precarious but I accepted it. After all I will have jump rings galore with a single swipe! The outcome outweighed the little difference and yes...I am lazy! hahaha!!! To the bench I go to test things out. Test No. 1 The first set of jump rings turned out great! I was satisfied. ☺ I then received an email saying that the top plate (cover) that came with the system was too thick and needed to be replaced. Okay. I receive the new plate but did not test it out until some friends were over and wanted a demo. Well...it was difficult to place the handpiece collar over the plate. It did not fit over the coil holding device very well. I had to finagle it to go in and when I started sawing the handpiece did not move sm

South of the border in Oaxaca, Mexico

I've been idle for too long but I have lots to share with you! Oh where to begin? Let me first say that Oaxaca is a place full of beautiful people. The city was VERY safe and the place we stayed in was absolutely wonderful. And the very best thing about it all...the plane ride was only 3.5 hours from New Orleans! Gotta love that. I don't want to bore you with all the details so I think I will stick to the art side of things. Oaxaca is known for their textiles but I didn't take any pictures of any textiles. :( Lo siento. There was this place that we stumbled upon called La Mano Magica #26 Macedonio Alcala 203, Centro . This place had a variety of high end pieces for the taking and a price. Off to the side we noticed a show going on and I immediately knew the work. It was the work of ceramicist Alfonso Castillo. One of the the great folk artist of Mexico. Eeeee!!! How exciting! FAMILIA CASTILLO Candelabro Ofrenda a mi papa Alfonso died i

Kalaya Steede

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