Metalsmith Studio-Diane Brakeley's Recent Class Highlights

Art Night Out-Drilled Seaglass Bracelet & Silver Spoon Necklace
Diane Brakeley is one of our talents metals teachers, specializing in altering every day items like silver spoons and beach glass into beautiful works of art. Over the past month, Diane has taught to popular Art Night Out Programs, The Drilled Seaglass Bracelet and The Silver Spoon Necklace.

The Drilled Seaglass Bracelet students learn how to drill safely through glass, ceramic and stone with specialized diamond tip drill bits. They also play with wire wrapping the drilled items to embellish with beads and attach to the finished bracelet. Although most of Diane's students were local, she had a visiting student all the way from Miami. A perfect memento from our Maine Beaches to the Florida shore.

The Silver Spoon Necklace Class has been a hit at the studio for a few years. Diane has been handcrafting these unique necklaces as a part of her own jewelry line. After lots of interest on how she created her necklaces, she began to teach a class about her technique. She has quite a stash of silver spoons, forks and more to share with the class. Sometimes students bring in their own culinary to transform into their necklace. Diane teaches them about cutting and polishing the spoon ends that create the necklace pendant. Similarly to the Seaglass Class, Diane works with the students on how to drill through the silver spoons and add jewels and beads for color and design. Diane is currently teaching one of our 6 week Artist Series for Sewing and teaching private sewing lessons at the studio. "Tie One On" ArtEscape Weekend will be coming up on the 3rd weekend in October. It will be our second time running this fantastic weekend where you will play with men's ties to create your own woven chair. What an event! www.artnightout.com

ArtEscape Weekend Review-Stained Glass Superstars

ArtEscape! Weekend- Stained Glass Student Highlight
Every third weekend of the month, we offer a 3 day artist retreat called the ArtEscape! at Artascope Studios. Gayle Raposa, our stained glass guru recently ran a fabulous Stained Glass weekend. Here are some amazing images from our recent member, Garrett, who joined the studio after taking this ArtEscape Stained Glass weekends! Her final piece was inspired by a sculpture she saw while in Spain. After many hours cutting, grinding and fitting together this intricate and very ambitious stained glass panel, the result was spectacular! Garrett had never touched stained glass before and did not consider herself all that "crafty", but she made believers out of us! Can't wait to see what's next for Garrett now that she has full access to our studios. The options are endless.

Summer Keepsake Box
Gayle was back in the studio teaching The Summer Keepsake Box class as part of our Art Night Out Series a few weeks later. Students has a chance to play with treasures from the sea that they would encapsulate into a stained glass box for all to see. What a great idea! I love thinking of staring into my little slice of summer bliss on those chilly winter nights and dreaming of the seasons to come.

Painted Floor Cloth and Folded Book Review

Simple Folded Book
Pat Knittel led a fantastic altered book class called "The Simple Folded Book". Students learned how to use decorative papers and basic folding techniques to create a personal keepsake for treasured photos, words and more. The students had a blast playing with our unique selection of craft papers and other materials for their books. Bone folders, a crafter's "need to have" folding tool, was used to create perfect folds for the project. We carry all of these paper need supplies in our store. We have kits and lots of interesting crafting items, if you get inspired to play.
Painted Floor Cloth
There is something about summer that always makes me think of colorful cottages by the beach....Willard Beach to be more specific. Filled with treasures from the shore and lots of sea themed artwork and decorations.....like hand painted floor cloths. No need to put down some drab beige rug at the sink or in the entrance of your home sweet home when you can have a colorfully designed floor cloth to invite you to step inside. Libby Barrett taught a fantastic two week Art Night Out workshop on the very subject. It was so popular that we have expanded our class offerings and she is currently teaching the painted floor cloth class as a 6 week Artist Series. Students are raving about the class and I am sure you will see it again on the ANO schedule. Check out our July and August classes.... www.artnightout.com