Welcome!

I've just sat down with a warm cup of  black tea from the Himalaya region of India to write my very first blog post.  Grab a cuppa and hang out with me for a few minutes.  I have butterflies in my stomach, but I am going to write this anyway.

I have enjoyed creating jewelry and mixed media art for over a decade, and am totally ADDICTED to making things.  It's in my DNA.  I have a huge stockpile of beads and art supplies squirrelled away in my artspace.  I do not always know exactly what I'm going to create or how to use everything that I buy either.  It doesn't matter.  I must have it anyway.

Does any of this sound familiar?

I went to the CHA Supershow over the Summer and made this Art Clay Silver pendant as a make-n-take. 

Just watching them fire the metal clay piece caused me to have a mini-anxiety attack.  I visibly moved my chair 6 inches away from the table to escape the tiny but terribly HOT little flame emanating from this mystical device called a "mini torch."   

This experience got me to thinking about an "elemental" fear of mine: Fire.  I decided right then and there that I was going to make PEACE with the Fire Gods by learning to use the mini torch to solder, fuse and patina metal and fire metal clay.  The first step toward conquering this fear for me begins Tuesday evening when I step foot into my very first Metalsmithing Basics class.

Please take my hand and let's walk this journey together.

Cheers,
Karen