nDesigns by Nancy Lee: Handmade Metal Jewelry and Objects

Listening to NPR at the workbench the other day, I caught portions of a discussion regarding natural athletic talent versus talent gained by hard work, and the success rate of each. The premise is that anyone with the desire to work hard for a very long time can achieve great success at anything they put their minds to, even if their natural abilities do not seem to match up.

Forged Hairpiece by John Cogswell, Winter Workshop Instructor

To me, success is a ride. Select the destination and pay the ticket price. Travel on the train of doing what you love, be the “conductor” of it, and have that produce income along the way. I like the notion of being successful NOW. That’s why I went ahead and wrote “Successful Indy Artist Awarded Indiana Arts Commission Grant” as the title for this post. So, what the heck, I’ve decided to create my own success and the details of the journey are simply train-stops to be added to the itinerary.

Next stop? Grant News! Many of you followed my previous newsletter and blog post, as I wondered if I would get the Indiana Arts Commission grant. The grant announcement had been delayed due to State budget reasons. The workshop I was to take got canceled. But in the end, I got the grant – Woohoo!

Once the grant was officially awarded, I needed to find a replacement workshop that would be just the right thing: the right time, price, and content that would apply to my goal of learning more about small scale sculpture fabrication. I found it! A five-day Winter Workshop sponsored by the Florida Society of Goldsmiths that includes three days of hammering technique and two days of working with bi-metals (two metals laminated together). In January – perfect, because it will not hurt my selling season or teaching schedule. Location? Daytona Beach, Florida. Deserving to go to Daytona Beach, Florida, in January? Oh, now, that is definitely something I had to come to terms with. Worthiness. But that’s a whole other blog post…

What is your definition of success? talent? Do you just “have it” or don’t you? I’d love to know what you think, so please post a comment and let me know.

Some of you may happen to know that I applied for an Indiana Arts Commission Individual Artist Grant this year. My goal is to further develop the “Pod” small sculpture concept.

Pod I Sculpture

I had enrolled in a class at the Touchstone Center in Pennsylvania that was to take place the first week in August. I had a replacement lined up to represent me during the IDADA’s First Friday Art Tour on Aug. 6 at my studio in the Circle City Industrial Complex. I even had my newsletter completely written, with me going to the workshop!

AND – the granting organization’s funding has been delayed. Not unusual – many arts organizations are experiencing altered funding these days.

AND – the original class into which I was enrolled has been canceled. So the email newsletter that I send out was rewritten with this updated info. Which led to this blog post…

This entire series of events has helped me get really clear on what I want to create in my life, and to go for it with everything I have. Yeah, I could get a stomach ache and get crazy worried about the whole thing. Ok – I started to anyway.

But then I decided (after some great coaching and a bit of soul-searching) that I could choose how to feel. That I could get really clear on what I really wanted to be true, to the point of visualizing me cashing the grant check, experiencing the classroom, creating the works and showing them. OOOh, even selling ALL of them!

NOW I’m moving forward in trust and expecting to hear soon that the grant will be funded. I choose to believe that I will win that grant, find the perfect workshop, and hold a show next year with the resulting works. That is my intention!

Stay tuned for the next post, when I know more about the grant and the potential workshop.

What do you intend in your life? What do you want to have happen on purpose? Creative ideas or everyday, little things. Either way – post a comment. I’d love to know!

A shimmering work of art to wear fresh from your designer’s case is a thing of beauty. Catching your sparkle as you walk past a mirror…how fun is that! But how to hold on to that glow, you ask? Preventative measures and simple, quick maintenance are best bets for keeping almost any jewelry glimmering for a long time.

SIMPLE DAILY CARE FOR SILVER JEWELRY

Hammered Silver Cuff (image by Paul D'Andrea)

1.  Keep it safe when it sleeps – most jewelry can stay together in the same space, separated with some soft cloth to keep scratches at bay. Pearls, strung beads, and thin neckwires should lay flat.

2.  Keep it from breathing – store in a drawer in cloth bags impregnated with anti-tarnish agents, or plastic baggies. Don’t store items in plastic anywhere too warm, and don’t use this tip for pearls.

3.  Wash-n-Wear – Wearing your silver jewelry often is a good way to keep it from tarnishing. So does washing it once in awhile – easy! Go to the sink. Use the sink stopper. Turn on the tap. Wet hands. Squirt a little hand soap on jewelry and gently wash. Rinse under running water, and dry very well on hand towel. My mom keeps a lint-free towel near her kitchen sink for this purpose, but you can use whatever you have.

REMOVING TARNISH FROM SILVER JEWELRY

1.  Sunshine Cloth – it’s what many jewelers use, including me. Simply wipe and you’re ready to go. For chains, fold the cloth in half and pinch the chain in the fold. Draw the chain through gently using your free hand. Avoid pearls or stones.

2.  “Dips” are for dips. They are caustic, smelly, and not good for children and other living things. Before I knew better, I used one of these products and found sparkling bits of silver that had been stripped off my lovely handmade jewelry. Live and learn.

If it’s really dirty, tarnished, a family heirloom, or you’re just not sure, take it to a reputable jeweler for a good cleaning. Most will polish your piece up for no charge – as will I. It’s a good opportunity to get your item inspected and cleaned by a pro. And yes, we want you there in case you are in the mood for more sparkle and shine!

Apollo Necklace with Hematite, photo by Paul D'Andrea

My friend Pilar Lopez, owner of  The Pastry Station, came to my studio on Friday and bought herself a pair of earrings (pictured below). She asked me what I was doing over the weekend. “It’s my birthday, and I’m gonna be 50!” I said. She rested her hand on my arm and looked at me with her twinkling brown eyes and said, in her lovely Colombian accent, “welcome to the club!” We laughed, and Pilar talked about how liberating this fifth decade had been for her, how she and her friends had embraced and celebrated it. My plan exactly!

This evening, my significant other asked me what I’d learned in the past five decades. Had to laugh at that one, recalling that I’d asked my dad that same question 26 years ago when he turned 50. He said, “I learned that I don’t know anything.” Some things just stick with you.

Over the past five decades, I’ve learned slightly more than I used to know, but way less than is necessary. Since it’s my birthday, and because my S.I. asked, I came up with a few key ideas anyway, and decided that they are my new “Club Rules.” Nice part is no one has to follow these “rules” but me.

1. Trust yourself
2. Trust others – due to number 1, one can spot the difference between the angels and the devils better
3. Calmness is a choice
4. Stand on the skinny branches of life (or, take a chance, already! dream big! start that master work!)
5. Love, love, love like there is no tomorrow

And, when all else fails, repeat number 5, because all we have is today, and love is all that really matters. Live in it, revel in it, have fun with it, do what you love, be what you dream. Today, you are wished all that you want to have in your life, and the means to make it yours.

"Dawn Waves," by Nancy Lee

Sometimes, the most edge-y, scary stuff can turn to dust when tackled: Traveling alone, facing illness, co-worker conflicts, betrayals, public speaking, or learning a challenging Metalsmithing technique. The more fears are faced, the less power they have over us. But what’s the juice that keeps fear at bay? You know it and I know it, and my mysteriously insightful friend Rebecca reminds me of it every time I need to be reminded. It’s love.

Family, friends, fellow artists, and even some memorable strangers have blessed me with gallons of love over the years. And it usually works when I’ve done a good job of communicating needs. But what about all alone at 2AM, or driving over the mountains, or at the workbench tackling an operation that could spell a bit of financial disaster if melted? Who is gonna fill my empty mug then? The most direct route to tap into love is the one that takes me within, and it is absolutely the one that I forget most often. Thankfully, it gets easier with age and by intentionally gathering reminders.

Plan ahead for your next empty-cup moment by preparing love reminders. A few of my favorites:

• Snapshots that capture happy, loving times. Love yourself enough to hunt them down. Here’s one of my two sisters while we were in NYC together. We planned ahead and all wore hot pink coats! The picture and the coat bring back wonderfully loving memories.
  

  Sisters in Pink Coats

• Visual Art. Works that resonate enough in me that I purchased or traded for them hold places of honor in my home and studio. All I need to do is remember to look at them. One of my favorites, “Burst,” by Wug Laku, is pictured.
  

  Burst by Wug Laku

• Words of peace. Sayings, passages, poems, or prayers. My friend Ginger writes passages on her home studio walls. She gave me permission to do this, and now I’m giving it to you. Prayer? The mere act of memorization for later recall of anything that surrounds you with a feeling of love can be called prayer in my book. It’s what I do when absolutely nothing else will work.

Accepting that you deserve the effort of preparing for empty-cup moments is a loving act in itself. Purposefully declaring that you are worth the time to discover what it is that brings you inner peace is one loving cupful. Walks in nature? Hammering? Singing? Whatever it is, have fun with it, and let me know what you do to arm yourself with love.

If you’ve been reading my posts lately, you know that I made a lone journey from Indianapolis, Indiana to visit my lovely friend and exceptional metalsmith, Ginger Meek Allen, in North Carolina. A trip of well over 600 miles, many of them over mountains that go way up in the air. A few points:

1.       I like flat – my childhood was spent in the dirt of cornfields and prairies in central Illinois

2.       I fear heights, bridges, closed-in places, failure, success, hate, melting my work, and spiders

3.       I’m sick and tired of fear

4.       I’m turning 50 and plan to celebrate all year

5.       Love

Turning 50 this year has spawned an intention to make this year my own – create a few trips, visits and experiences that are singularly meaningful and bring joy. That’s when I thought to visit Ginger and pair a visit with a learning experience. The trip through mountains meant list items #2 and #3 were going to have to be addressed. So be it. I was sick and tired of fear clawing joy from my life. This time, I’d be creating a path through fear. Later on, I found the part Number 5 played in this journey.

Nancy Lee at West Virginia Rest Stop

So, the drive through the mountains was fine, right? Heck, naw. The steering wheel has permanent marks from the death grip it endured for hours. I pulled off the road several times to let “normal” drivers pass, and sweated through my clothes more times than could be counted. Tired and lost, my eventual arrival, safe and sound, was pretty anticlimactic. The best part was being with my friend and her family for eleven days after that!

Since I’ve returned home, things taste a little different. There’s a little more peace inside. A little more Number Five. Room has been created in which to examine thoughts for potential lessons in what it means to love and accept things as they are, and in the process, myself.

My inner peace isn’t perfect, but it’s growing every day, and to feed it, I know what I need to do. Fear, my old friend, here I come. Because when you make friends with fear, you put yourself on the path to inner peace, and inner peace is love.

I’d like to hear what you are afraid of in matters both large and small, whether you have been able to find a path through fear, and how you did it. Really.

After my last post regarding Gypsy stonesetting (also known as flush-setting), thought I’d share the steps my friend and fellow metalsmith, Ginger Meek Allen, demonstrated as I learned how to set a stone Gypsy-style.

First, you must know the anatomy of a gemstone in order to be able to decipher some of the instructions. This image was downloaded from the Gemological Institute of America’s website.

Gypsy-setting, Ginger style

1.       Select a well-cut stone, viewing with a loupe to study its cut – a straight pavilion is easier to set.

2.       Measure the depth of the stone and select metal that is deep enough hold the stone.

3.       Use a center punch to make a dent in the metal in the stone’s location. Using a drill bit smaller than the width of    the stone, drill carefully all the way through the metal using drill press or Flex-Shaft held dead level. The drilled hole should be less than ¾ the width of the stone.

4.       Flip the metal over and touch the drill bit to the hole, to remove and bits of metal and create a clean looking reverse.

5.       Select stone setting bur the width of the stone. Check this by holding the bur up to the stone to check the stone’s width against the bur.

6.       Place drill bit over the previously drilled hole, and drill down just deep enough so the girdle of the stone sits below the surface of the metal by about .5 mm, up to 1 mm. Not a lot!

7.       Place stone in setting and check fit, re-drilling bit by bit as needed for a good, level seat. A ball bur or bud bur may be used to refine the seat if the stone’s girdle has roundness to it or if the stone isn’t seating properly.

8.       Press the stone into position using a piece of brass or copper rod (or horn or bone).

9.       Use clear adhesive tape to cover stone, then masking tape to cover the metal on either side of the stone, strapping it to a tiny anvil or other appropriate metal work surface.

10.   Create a “moat” of metal around the stone: Using a tiny punch held straight down, and chasing hammer, gently tap around the stone at 12 o’clock, 6 o’clock, 9 o’clock then 3 o’clock, and the spaces in between, alternating sides as you go (as one would in cabochon setting); check progress by lifting edge of the tape from time to time to make sure things are on track.

Silver strapped to anvil with stone ready for setting

11.   The moat now needs to “flow over” the girdle of the stone to hold the stone in place: Hold the punch at a slight angle pointed towards the stone, and go all around the stone again, in the same manner as above; check progress and continue tapping gently around the stone until you are assured that the stone is hugged by the metal.

12.   Remove the tape. Burnish the rim of metal near the stone using a steel burnisher. Do not touch the steel to the stone.

Sweat Test: turn the work over and insert a toothpick into the reverse side opening and push – if the stone remains in place, you’re done setting. Clean your work and admire it! If it pops out, flip your work back over, re-secure it with tape and continue tapping and testing until your stone is secure.

Enjoy your beautiful gypsy-set work of art!

Gypsy-Set Green Sapphire

(or, what I learned during my spring vacation)

April’s vacation included my version of a creative renewal program, developed after my dear Wug received his own Lilly Endowment Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship. His included a trip to Scotland. Mine? A Ginger-cation! A visit to North Carolina to see my dear friend and fellow metalsmith Ginger Meek Allen, get some bench time, and hopefully even help Ginger out with studio-related things. When the idea was sprung upon her, she was all for it, and even invited me to stay with her family – four daughters and husband Jimmy!

Fast-forward to Wake Forest, NC, me Ginger at the bench. Besides the fact that I’m in pure heavenly bliss being at the bench with another metalsmith, Ginger is teaching me a stone setting technique that I have never had the pleasure (or time) to learn. It is called Gypsy setting, and is typically used for setting small round faceted stones into silver or gold. A “seat” is cut for the stone in the surrounding metal and wraps around it, hugging it into place. Ginger is a master at this setting!

The pendant I had created for this purpose was ready – but Ginger sagely suggested we try a “test piece” first. She then showed me Gypsy setting step-by-step. The little tips and tricks were, right then and there, worth the thirteen hour drive. I stood, transfixed, watching the master at work. Fortunately for me, she accidentally selected a non-uniform stone, so I was able to learn some tricks to overcome those circumstances.

Stone #1 was set perfectly in the test piece, and it was time to set Stone #2. My turn. I was off and running – for about two minutes. What just happened? How did she do that? Gentle Ginger patiently reminded me of what to do next, and success was mine a surprisingly short time later as Stone #2 passed the toothpick test. Which means once the stone is set, one flips over the piece and tries to dislodge the stone using a toothpick, at which point tears or cheers ensue.

I suppose the main point of this note is to share with you how easy things can be when you have someone there to show you the way. Even when that person comes up against a problem, watching them solve it provides you with an even richer learning experience. Here is where I would normally plug “take a class!” But it’s more than that. It is sitting with someone, sharing a common passion. Breathing the same air, in the same room. Talking over endless possibilities. Or not talking. Just being. Bottom line, that’s what my creative renewal was REALLY about. And I’m so much the richer for it. Thank you, Ginger.

How might you creatively renew yourself this season? Tell me. I’d love to hear from you!

The first weekend-long workshop was recently held in the Metalsmithing Classroom at Flame Art Studios. Downtown Indianapolis hasn’t seen this many women hammering since Rosie the Riveter’s time.

Mindy on the Sinusoidal Stake

Denise's Favorite Hammer

Not just hammering to beat metal into submission, no!  A hundred times no! Hammering skillfully, to place each individual blow just where it needed to go to move the metal just enough to cause the precise movement needed to create an armful of art.

Carla (right) is one happy bracelet maker!

Ok, so some practicing happened too. We talked of ergonomics, proper body positioning and not pointing your finger across the top of the hammer, ahem! And lots of laughter. But let me tell you, this was no hen party.  These were some serious-minded students out to learn! I was beyond proud – my heart was so full, and still is, every time I think if it.

Mindy's Gladiator Cuff

Fresh folded forms from Denise

At the end of it all, everyone went home with some shiny new work and some new skills. And who doesn’t dig a chick with skills? Not much else needs to be said that cannot be viewed here in these photos. Enjoy.

Denise, Mindy, Nancy, Carla

Psst: Take a class! If not from me, or if not in Indy, then SOMEWHERE! If in doubt as to your ability or creativity, read “Perfect Imperfection- An Artist’s Encouragement!”

I’ve been feeling a bit winter-weary lately, and worried that my typically vast power to create seems limited these days. Too much to do and not enough time to do it right, I thought. Then I allowed myself a few minutes to read Christine Kane’s uplifting article – I’ll stop talking now. Please read on for a wonderful lift, then pick up that hammer/paintbrush/tool you use!

By "Sage" at Newyorkamera.com

Why Becoming an Imperfectionist Makes You Successful and Happy
by Christine Kane

“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.”
~ Julia Cameron

How much stuff do you think about doing?

How many things would you love to try but stop yourself because you don’t know how to begin?

Do you avoid projects because of the pressure to do them well?

If so, feel free to join me and some of my most successful friends in our exclusive club of very special and talented people:

We call ourselves the Imperfectionists!

What’s an Imperfectionist?

• An Imperfectionist is often a recovering perfectionist.

• An Imperfectionist knows that getting something done is better than sitting back and waiting to do it perfectly.

• An Imperfectionist knows that being a Perfectionist is simply an excuse NOT to take action.

• An Imperfectionist congratulates herself for taking small steps.

• An Imperfectionist buys herself flowers when she accomplishes something – even if it’s not quite up to her ego’s high standards.

• An Imperfectionist knows that getting a scary thing done IS the reward. Not the kudos or adoration.

You Might Need to Become an Imperfectionist if…

• You tell yourself you need to get “just a little more information” before you’ll try something.

• You have a case of the “Used-to-Be’s.” (“I used to be so good at this!” Or “I used to be so thin!” Or, “I used to write everyday and now look…”)

• Your mantra to the world is: “I’m just so overwhelmed! There’s too much to do! It’s so hard to be me!”

• You call friends and co-workers to get sympathy for how hard it is to accomplish your goals and dreams. They often agree, citing how special you are because you have been given so much talent – and how it must be quite a burden.

• You spend more than one hour per day on Facebook, watching television, or not fully engaging in other addictive activities.

• At the end of every year, you wonder why you never seem to move any further towards your dreams.

• You are waiting for your POTENTIAL to finally kick in.

Why Becoming an Imperfectionist Makes You Successful and Happy

Being an Imperfectionist is an Intention.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you finally recognize your ego voice exactly for what it is: Your own personal Success Prevention Expert.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you finally realize how many Success Prevention Experts exist in the world.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you lower the bar – or better yet, remove it altogether. You can then create in the moment without any grade or standard. Ironically, this allows for such freedom and joy that you might end up doing a great job. (Or at least having a great time!)

When you become an Imperfectionist, you place your creative attention on the project or activity itself. You don’t waste it on obsessing about the outcome. (This paradoxically leads to a higher chance of greatness, and a definite outcome of happiness!)

When you become an Imperfectionist, you get things done imperfectly. You then learn that you can tweak and fix and try again. This process makes you Unstoppable.

When you become an Imperfectionist, you finally understand that there are no mistakes. Just judgments.

Becoming an Imperfectionist doesn’t mean you don’t become a master of your craft or your passion – but that’s not the starting goal.

How to Become an Imperfectionist

1 – Imperfectly pick one thing you keep telling yourself you want to do.

2 – If you read #1 and think, “I can’t possibly pick just one! There’s too many!” then do not proceed until you have picked just one.

3 – Get a timer, and set it to 55 minutes.

4 – Walk away from your computer right now and spend 55 minutes doing that very activity.

5 – Repeat #4 again tomorrow.

6 – Repeat #4 again every day after that until the item is complete.

7 – Celebrate the item’s completion with chocolate, flowers, or a manicure.

8 – Go back to #1 and start over.

An Imperfect List of Things You Can Do Imperfectly

• Imperfect Writing

• Imperfect Meditation

• Imperfect Yoga

• Imperfect Romance

• Imperfect Hiking

• Imperfect Vacations

• Imperfect Scrapbooking

• Imperfect Cooking

• Imperfect Dinner Parties

• Imperfect Bowling

Add your own items to this list as needed. Find a way to let yourself experience them without judgment. And listen to this recovering perfectionist when she tells you that your success is guaranteed when you live by this principle!

Disclaimer: The preceding article should be ignored by the following people:

Brain surgeons.
Commercial airline pilots.
Skydivers.

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEB SITE?
Please do! Just be sure to include this complete blurb with it:

Performer, songwriter, and creativity consultant Christine Kane publishes her ‘LiveCreative’ weekly ezine with more than 11,000 subscribers. If you want to be the artist of your life and create authentic and lasting success, you can sign up for a FRE*E subscription to LiveCreative at http://www.christinekane.com/.

WANT TO SEE HUNDREDS MORE ARTICLES LIKE THIS ONE?
See Christine’s blog – Be Creative. Be Conscious. Be Courageous – at ChristineKane.com/blog.

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A note about Sage’s cup: I found this on his blog. I don’t even know his last name, and am not sure about the first name! But you can see and read about his efforts in creating this utterly beautiful silver cup depicted above. An imperfectionist’s finest work! update 3/17/10 his blog is “newyorkamera.com” I apologize for the error!