Angels Garden Art Show September 16th, 17th and 18th 2011

What: 16th Annual Angel’s Garden Art Show, a benefit for Favor House of Pensacola,  sponsored by Angels Garden.
Where:  Located in East Hill on the corner of 12th Avenue and Gonzalez in Pensacola, FL (across from the old Sacred Heart Hospital Building)
When: September 16th (4 p.m. to sunset), 17th 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and 18th 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

It’s been a while since I last posted so I thought I would pop in to share some of my latest creations that you can find at the 16th annual Angels Garden Arts Show this weekend.  I’ve been busy in the studio preparing for the fall show season and I have lots of new treasures to help you prepare for the holiday season ahead.  One thing you will see a lot of in my fall designs is beautiful, natural leather!  I have really enjoyed working in this medium and you’ll be seeing a lot more of it from me in the year ahead.  Here’s my first leather and pearl bracelet, which I call my cowgirl wrist-wrap!

Following that inspiration, more leather and pearl bracelets sprang from my workbench!  It was almost impossible to stop myself!

I became obsessed with the soft, supple leather and the sensual feel of the pearls.  Pearls warm to your own skin temperature as you work with or wear them.  They are absolutely the most sensual of all natural beads.

And still more leather and pearls poured from me as I slaved over my bench in August.  It was a lusty summer.  I procduced simple, no fuss leather and pearl bracelets;

Matching bracelet and earrings sets;

Leather and pearl earrings that did or did not match anything at all!

This was my favorite pair of leather and pearl earrings

I combined leather and pearls with fossils such as ammolite to create a lovely necklace;

And Crinoid fossil too!

I combined leather and pearl with some of my favorite metals, such as beautiful rosy bronze;

But don’t fret!  Wire wrap still remains my first love and I’ve created plenty of new items in my preferred medium as well.  There are hoop earrings;

And dangle earrings;

My favorite earring and cuff design ‘Solitude’ which is always a best seller;

Motivated by my featured artists gallery show entitiled ‘Jazzed: An Artistic Showing of Jewelry I created a few pieces with musical themes;

Beautiful green turquoise and oxidized copper are always a winning combination;

Amazing fiery labradorite herringbone earrings;

I’ve enjoyed experimenting with the ancient viking knit weave, and in this case even stuffed it with beads to match the amazing turquoise focal!  I have to say, it’ looks even better since I antiqued the bronze.

There is so much more than I haven’t even begun to photograph yet!  I have been and will be creating furiously at the bench to create wonderful new treasures to share with you.  Please come out and see me.  You know I am always happy to see a friendly face in the crowd!  Mention this blogpost and get 10% off of any purchase (not good on special BOGO offers).  I hope to see you there!

UWF Course: Introduction to Wire Wrap Jewelry Begins September 6th, 2011

I will be presenting Introduction to Wire Wrap Jewelry at the University of West Florida beginning Tuesday, September 6th. This course is designed to take a beginners skills to the next level.  No prior experience is required for this course.  Students will learn a variety of traditional wire wrapping techniques and enjoy a variety of beginners projects that will lead them on to more advanced intermediate projects.   Students will gain a foundation of basics that must be mastered before moving on to more advanced projects.  Learn stone setting, two styles of pendants, how to make your own findings (ear wires, head pins, jump rings, toggle clasps, various styles of hook clasps, etc.), five different rings, basic forging techniques, multiple bracelet/bangle styles and more in this four week course!  Students who advance quickly will receive bonus projects as time allows.  Individual expression will be encouraged and students will have the opportunity to incorporate beads, cabochons and found objects from their personal collection.  See some of the skills that students will master in this course below;

Herringbone weave, hammered toggles

Border Wrap Pendant with Sculpted Bail

Border Wrap with Dangles

Nested Ring

Forging Basics

Custom Toggles made to match your Focals

Forged Crosses

Bi-Metal Twist Ring

Fibula style pins/brooches

     These are just a few examples of what students can expect to learn.   I will be on hand and available by phone and private forum outside of class time for assistance.  The skills learned in this course are valued at over $350 if taken as individual classes, but are offered at the deeply discounted value of only $175 for a four week course that meets in eight two and a half hour sessions.  Classes meet Tuesday and Thursday from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.

Questions?  Email: Instructor@DeliaStone.com

UWF Introduction to Wire Wrapped Jewelry scheduled to begin in September

It’s official.   My Introduction to Wire Wrapped Jewelry at the University of West Florida is scheduled to begin September 6th.  Classes will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.  I am presently developing a website to work as a virtual companion for students to aid in the distribution of information and serve as a guide when students are away from the classroom.  More details will be posted as soon as I have time to spend more than 10 minutes in front of the computer.  Stay Tuned!

FREE Mother’s Day Workshop, May 4th

Simple Forged Earrings

  

FREE Workshop for ages 12 and up!

 

When: May 4th

Time: 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Location: Blue Morning Gallery at the NEW LOCATION: 21 South Palafox Street in Pensacola, FL.  Approximately 1/4 block south of Garden Street next to New York Nicks and the Global Grill.  Call 429-9100 for directions.

Cost: FREE!

     I don’t care who you are, you’re never too old to make something for your
mom to let her know that you love and appreciate her on her special day!  Ages
twelve and up are invited to take advantage of this free workshop to create a
pair of hand forged earrings for Mother’s Day.  No prior jewelry making
experience is necessary.  Beginners welcomed.  Please note: Materials are
provided.  While there is no instruction fee for this class a small materials
fee of $5 will be payable at the workshop. 
 
    Seats are limited so please be sure to call ahead and reserve you seat
today!  This is necessary so that the instructor has enough materials on hand
for all participants.  
 
     Delia will take you through a few simple forging techniques using a hammer
and steel bench block.  You will shape, forge texture and patina a pair of
copper earrings to be gifted to your mother on her special day! 

    This workshop is being held during evening hours to make it more convenient for both school aged children and adults to attend.  
 
      Please note:  Preregistration is REQUIRED.   Reserve your seat by sending an R.S.V.P. email to MomsDayWS@deliastone.com or calling Blue Morning Gallery at 429-9100 today.   If you reserve a seat and are unable to make it, please give a courtesy call to cancel so that we can open that space up to another participant.

Introduction to Metal Etching for Jewelry April 23rd

 

$45 MOST MATERIALS INCLUDED! Beads are not included in materials.

Date: April 23rd, 2011

Time: 11:00 – 2:00

Location: A Bead and Crystal House, 711 West Garden St. Pensacola, FL 32526 850-432-3400

Tools required: Round nose pliers, needle nose pliers and clippers. All materials provided for etching process. If you choose to use beads in the process of converting your etchings to jewlery you will need to provide them yourself.

Student Requirements: This project is suitable for beginners. No experience necessary.

Learn to etch copper sheet metal to create your own unique designs. In this workshop you will create a pendant and matching earring set or your own half cuff bracelet as shown. The design is up to you! Delia will teach you how to add your design using a resist, etch and then finish a completed piece of jewelry using this fun and easy technique. This technique is suited to a beginner!

Because of the nature of this workshop, many supplies will be included in the cost of the workshop. All you will need to bring with you is your imagination and basic wire wrap tools (round nose, flush cutters, needle nose). If you wish to add beads to your project you are responsible for providing them.

Because materials must be ordered in advance for this project preregistration is required and seats will be limited. Please reserve your seat by calling A Bead and Crystal House at 850-432-3400 or by email: workshop@deliastone.com. Leave your name and telephone number.

Please note that it is not recommended that you wear old clothes to this class. This etchant can ruin clothes if it manages to get on them. While this is not likely to happen if participants are careful, it is possible that accidents might happen and by participating in this workshop you assume all responsibility for any accidents. Neither Delia Stone nor A Bead and Crystal House will be responsible for any personal injury or damage to personal property.

Guess who’s Teaching at the University of West Florida?

    I just received notice that my course proposal, Introduction to Wire Wrap Jewelry, was accepted by the University of West Florida.  It’s official.  I’m a *real* instructor.  lol  I think I’ll have a glass of Jay’s homemade wine to celebrate.

More information will be forthcoming.  Classes will not start until May.  Stay tuned for more information.

IMPORTANT UPDATE 4/4/2011
   I recently discovered that I have had a misunderstanding with the Universitys Continuing Education Department. They accepted a single presentation workshop that I will be doing for the Leisure Learning Society in the Continuing Education Department, not the Intro to Wire Wrapped Jewelry – at least not yet! I am still trying to negotiate that course proposal. I will let you know how that pans out.

The Year Of Jewlery Project 2011

Some of you may be familiar with the Year of Jewelry project while others have never heard of it before. I was fortunate enough to get in on the ground floor of this project way back in 2004 when it began. In the YOJ project international participants commit to make one piece of jewelry per week with the goal of honing their skills and feeding their creativity. Optional themes are offered for each of the 52 weeks, which I rarely followed but always loved seeing the product of the many other jewelry artists who did follow themes. Not only was it a booster shot for your personal jewelry making skills, but the gallery served as a wonderland of inspirational images. I credit the YOJ project with much of my growth as an artist and I feel certain any other committed participants feel the same. For more on the history of the YOJ project, click here: Year of Jewelry Project

I participated from 2004 to 2008 but then fell under the impression that the project had wound down, ultimately ceasing to exist. That is why I have not participated for the last two years. Just last week I was thinking about the YOJ and what a shame it was that it no longer existed. Then, out of the blue I found out that not only was the project still very much alive but that the information came to me in enough time for me to sign back on and participate in this project once again.

If you’d like to participate, and if you’re a jewelry maker be it absolute novice to respected wire guru I HIGHLY recommend participation in this project. Registration is free and open until January 7th. Your first project is due on the 8th. To register go here and fill out the contact form by January 7th. You will receive an email with a password and further instructions from one of the organizers.

I would love to see some of my artist friends out there joining in the YOJ project. The more talent we have the greater our inspiration as a group is. However, if you choose not to join in this go round or found this post too late you can sign up for the next quarter. See the Official YOJ 2011 site for details. I do recommend that even if you aren’t participating that you bookmark the page and follow the weekly entries. You will find yourself quite inspired by the wonderful offerings each week.

My New Bio

Realizing that my bio needed a good bit of revising and knowing that I am certainly no word smith, I turned to the best word smith that I know, Jay Moody.  I asked him to write a bio for me and I have to say that when he was done I was even impressed with myself!  He really did a fabulous job.   I decided to publish it here on my blog to show everyone what a fantastic job he did (and what a great bio I now have!). 

********Delia Stone’s Bio by: Jay Moody********

            Delia Stone is one of Pensacola, Florida’s top jewelry artists.  Winner of multiple awards and published six times in the national jewelry maker’s magazine Step by Step Wire, Delia’s techniques are adapted from the styles developed in ancient Egypt, Phoenicia, and Peru.  Delia explains that contrary to popular misconception, wire work is indeed an art.  It has just been a lost art for thousands of years and is finally re-emerging to take its place amongst the world’s aesthetics once again. 

 Along with the ancient and timeless techniques of history’s greatest civilizations, Delia’s signature Victorian era Needle-lace work, which she helped popularize amongst today’s jewelry artists, is characteristic of her great attention to detail.  Her Green Corn stitch, inspired by her experiences in a traditional Muskogee Creek Stomp Dance society is especially popular amongst Native American style artists.  Delia likes to work with precious and semi-precious stones; labradorite, ammonite fossils and carved bone.  He work is bound exclusively with precious metals by cold-connection techniques, without glue or solder.  These diverse influences and natural flowing techniques give Delia Stone’s work a timeless character that is both classical and modern.

 A lover of nature, Delia first began making wire jewelry in 1991 by wrapping polished stones for friends and family.  Initially she made her pieces to give away as gifts as she developed her unique style.  Knowledge of her work grew and Delia subsequently began receiving orders from people eager to commission and purchase her work.  Being self-taught, Delia had to seek out and conceptually deconstruct the many styles and techniques she has since made a natural part of her art.  As her talents developed she quickly began receiving requests for hands on jewelry lessons which inspired a line of Delia Stone original tutorials and a series of formal classes.  She looks forward to teaching others what she struggled on her own to learn, giving her students something she never had; a professional foundation and instruction on basic to advanced techniques, encouraging the continuance of her craft for the future.  She has taught wire-wrap jewelry classes all over the Southeast, and currently resides in Pensacola, Florida where she offers group classes and individual instruction by appointment.  Delia firmly believes that to become a professional artist, one only need take their work seriously and understand the value of bringing a vision to life.

 Awards:  Current as of November 2010
Troyfest 2004 – Merit Award
Troyfest 2005 – Merit Award
Greater Gulf Coast Arts Festival Heritage Arts  2008 – Award of Excellence
Festival on the Green 2010 – Third Place
Troyfest 2010 – Seven Purchase Awards
Williams Stations Day 2010 – Merit Award and two Purchase Awards
Great Gulf Coast Arts Festival Heritage Arts 2010 – Award of Excellence

 Publications:  Current as of November 2010
Step by Step Wire Magazine 2005 – Wire Works Gallery Pages
Step by Step Wire Magazine 2007 – Wire Works Gallery Pages
Step by Step Wire Jewelry 2008 (Summer Issue) – Featured Tutorial: Needlelace Caged Pendant
Step by Step Wire Jewelry 2010 (Spring Issue) – Wire Works Gallery Pages
Step by Step Wire Jewelry 2010 (Summer Issue)- Wire Works Gallery Pages
Step by Step Wire Jewelry’s special issue: Best of Wire 2010 Featured Tutorial:  Needlelace Caged Pendant

Find My Work at Blue Morning Gallery!

  I have had many of you ask where to find my work between shows in the past.  I am happy to announce that you can now find my work in Blue Morning Gallery in the heart of historic downtown Pensacola, Florida next to the Seanger Theater.  If you’re shopping for something special, check out my offerings at the gallery. 

You can also find my new bio on the ‘meet the artist’ pages of the Blue Morning Gallery website: http://www.bluemorninggallery.com/members/stone.htm 
Jay Moody wrote my new bio for me and he did a fantastic job of making me sound uber-important!  :::flips hair:::  Thanks Jay! 🙂

Blue Morning Gallery – click for map, location, phone number and gallery hours.

 

Jewelry Artists Delia Stone and Joy Oxley of Blue Morning Gallery

Published in The Best of Step by Step Wire Jewelry 2010!

     I was just browsing the net and went to renew my subscription to my favorite magazine, Step by Step Wire Jewlery (Interweave Press), when I saw that they now have their Best of 2010 special publication available.  As I read over the content I realized that they have included my needlelace caged pendant in this issue!  It’s always exciting to be published in any form.  I even get excited over reprints, ad features, and gallery page inclusions. 🙂 

     If you haven’t already purchased my needlelace caged pendant (think netted wire work techniques) then this is the opportunity for you to pick it up, along with a virtual plethora of 34 other excellent jewelry making projects all for one low price: $14.99  This really is a fantasic deal, and I’m not just saying that because I’m in it! 🙂

     If you’re interested, check out their website  to view more of the projects included in this issue and for more information on how to get your copy!  Click Here.