EXECUTIVE BOARD Mary Kernahan - President mckernahan@yahoo.com Julie Sanford - Vice President juliesanford@charter.net
DECEMBER 2017 NEWS
Lori Brauer - Vice President lorib@mi.rr.com Ericia Los - Treasurer ericiab@yahoo.com Christine Bossler - Past President christine.bossler@gmail.com Charlotte Allen—Art Fair clincomp@comcast.net Danielle Blanchard - Newsletter daniellesings@comcast.net Nedra DeGraffenreid—Membership nlcd8@aol.com Sondra Hoffman - At Large shweaver1@comcast.net Katie MacDonald - Secretary katie.macdonald@wayne.edu John Myer—Webmaster john_myer@yahoo.com Chloe Lewis—Publicity erbabellaverde@gmail.com Eric Okon - Publicity ericokon@gmail.com Ralph Paruszkiewicz - Sponsors rparus2000@yahoo.com Tina Sayer—Historian tsayer@comcast.net Tom Madden– At Large tmadden@ collegeforcreativestudies.edu
From the President Dear Members,
Michigan Silversmiths Guild – our 70th anniversary. What in 1948 began as a Thanks to all who came out for the small and elite selection of juried artist annual meeting in September. Turnout has evolved into the ever-changing was great, enthusiasm high and the ideas organization we know today. As such, to free flowing. Join me in welcoming new honor this milestone we are organizing a board members Charlotte Allen (at very full year of special events including large), Nedra Degraffenreid (membership the launch of our new website, a robust chair), and Tom Madden (at large). We workshop schedule, exhibitions, tours, an are excited to have you and the expertise extraordinary holiday party and an you bring to our board. Thanks to anniversary event of member led mini returning board members Ericia Bartels workshops in addition to our regular (treasurer), Danielle Blanchard events. (newsletter), Christine Bossler (past president), Lori Brauer (vice president), As always, we will keep you informed of Sondra Hoffman (at large), Chloe Lewis all of these events as they develop via all (publicity), Katie MacDonald (secretary), our usual methods (email, our website, John Myer (web master), Eric Okon Facebook and US Mail). Many thanks to (publicity also), Ralph Paruszkiewicz all that make these events possible and (sponsorship), Julie Sanford (vice to those who participate in them. president) and Tina Sayer (historian). Retiring from the board were Happy Holidays to you and yours, Janice Degen, Jennifer Marcson and Lyn whichever you choose to celebrate! Wagner-Ditzhazy. Your contributions and hard work were greatly appreciated Sincerely, and we thank you. Mary Kernahan MSG President 2018 brings an exciting milestone for the
UPCOMING MSG MEMBER EVENTS MSG has two upcoming events in the works. The first is a tour of the Village Workshop, a maker space in Northville. An early March weekend date is anticipated, and details will be coming soon.
The second event is our annual holiday party, beginning with a tour of the European armor and decorative arts at the Detroit Institute of Arts, led by curator Yao Fen. It will be followed by a food and fellowship get together. We are exploring and early April weekend date, which will be finalized soon. 1 Create PDF files with PDF Writer for Windows 10. This is an evaluation copy. Buy full version now.
Upcoming MSG Workshops 3D Design Software For Jewelers Join Michael Nashef at Bowling Green State University as he walks us through lecture and demonstration of Rhino 5.0 Software (Introduction to 3D Design Software).
BE ON THE LOOKOUT IN 2018: Marissa Saneholtz will be doing a one day Enameling workshop on March 31st at Bowling Green State University. More information to follow. Registration for this workshop will become available in January.
Introductory and Intermediate commands will be covered in this workshop, techniques and applications for the use of Rhino as a creative studio for jewelry design and product design. Participants will be introduced to the basics of Rhino software and how to articulate their designs in 3D. Basic computer skills are needed. Seats will fill quickly! Fill out registration form (see link) and mail to address noted. http://misilversmith.org/documents/ Michael_Nashef__Rhino_workshop_flyer.pdf
Need to renew your membership? http://misilversmith.org/documents/ MembershipForm.pdf
James Zelinske will be holding a two day Engraving workshop May 4 & 5 at Macomb Community College. Registration will be become available in March. Another wonderful two day workshop will be all about Stone Settings – multiple techniques by JJ Masuda at Country Day. Date to be determined.
MISCELLANEOUS & NOTEWORTHY Sue Szabo’s work appears in the brand new book Narrative Jewelry by Mark Fenn, just out in November. NEEDED—Members, please be on the lookout for venues where we may hold a holiday market at various times of the year. If you know of a place that might coordinate with us free or very low cost, please pass info and contact info on to Charlotte Allen MSG and the Art Fair Committee are going to be looking into procuring lighting for our art fair booths and I'm thinking it would be helpful to put a blurb in the newsletter asking for input on what others have used and liked, what worked well, what didn't work well, and where to look. Also, how much they've spent. They could send their thoughts to Charlotte @ clincomp@comcast.net and Lorraine @ Lorrainekolasa@gmail.com. The Hot Spot Metals Studio will be making a move to a new location. We will eventually be looking into a little crowdfunding to make the space into a working metals studio for my members. Still in the works with the loan process but at least it will be nice to announce that we will have a building of our own in 2
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ANOTHER MOKUME GANE SUCCESS WITH JAMES VISTE James Viste put on a great Mokame Gane workshop that was recently held at Wayne State University in early November. The students were able to make multiple billets during this two day workshop
WORKSHOPS at ARMSTRONG Basic Soldering with Lesley Dipiazza: Wed. Jan. 10, 6-9 p.m. OR Wed., Feb. 7, 69 p.m. OR Wed., Mar. 14, 6-9 p.m. $65 plus supplies (approx. $5)
Intro to Chasing & Repousse with Christine Bossler: Wed., Jan. 31, 6-9 p.m. OR Wed., Mar. 21, 6-9 p.m. $60 plus supplies (Pitch & Bowl avail for purchase)
Tube Set Soldered Pendant with Mary Kernahan: Sat., Jan. 13, 10 a.m.—1 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $12)
Delft Clay Casting with Mary Kernahan: Sat., Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $60 plus supplies (based on choices)
Basic Metalsmithing with Christine Bossler: Wed., Jan. 17, 6-9 p.m. $55 plus supplies (approx. $5)
Frame Setting with Mary Kernahan: Sat., Feb. 10, 10 a.m.– 1p.m. $60 plus supplies 9approx. $150
Sprite Chainmaille Bracelet with Mary Kernahan: Sat., Jan. 20, 10 a.m.-1 p.. $45 plus supplies (approx. $10 in copper)
Intro to Rivets with Christine Bossler: Wed., Feb. 21, 6-9 p.m. $60 plus supplies 9approx. $6)
Twisted Wire Cage pendant with Mary Kernahan: Wed., Jan. 24, 609 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $7) Fused Fine Silver Loop in Loop Chain with Molly Cipielewski: Sat., Jan. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $25) Freeform Bezels with Lesley Dipiazza: Sat., Jan. 27, 2-6 p.m. $65 plus supplies ($5-$20, based on choices)
Forged &Twisted Bracelets w/ Lesley DiPiazza: Sat., Feb. 24, 1-5:00 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $10) Sawing Intensive with Christine Bossler: Wed., Feb. 28, 6-9 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $8) Making Basket Settings for Stones with Molly Cipielewski: Wed., Mar. 7, 6-9 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $10)
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NEW YEAR — NEW WEBSITE 2018 will bring changes to the MI Silversmith Guild website. We are moving to a new host and platform, which we hope will make our website more visually interesting and easier to navigate. The site will provide the same functionality as the current site with a few additional features when going live. One new feature you may notice immediately are the links to social media. Giving visitors one click access to our Facebook and Instagram pages and allow visitors and guild members to link news, events and classes to their social media pages. The site will be broken into three areas: 1.) Public (Main) Menu displayed across the top of the website, accessible by anyone with access to a browser; 2.) Member Menu displayed down the left side of the website, accessible by all current guild members and 3.) Board Menu displayed down the right side of the website, accessible by current guild board members. There are several new features in the works that will be implemented in a phased approach as time permits. Some possible future enhancements will allow new members to apply online, current members to renew online, sponsors to apply and renew online, and the addition of a swag page where items would be viewed and purchased. Please send your ideas and any constructive criticism to john_myer@yahoo.com
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CLASSES AT ARMSTRONG (cont.d) Gridlock Bracelet with Mary Kernahan: Sat., Mar. 10, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. $$45 plus supplies (approx. $15 in copper) Stake Forming with Mini Stakes with Mary Kernahan: Sat., Mar. 17, 9:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $6) Intro to Fold Forming with Lesley DiPiazza: Sat., Mar. 24, 104 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $10) Intermediate Riveting with Christina Bossler: Wed., Mar. 28, 6-9 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $6) Marriage of Metals (Puzzle Piece Inlay) with Molly Cipielewski: Sat., Mar. 31, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $80 plus supplies (approx. $10) Saltwater Etching with Mary Kernahan: Wed., April 11, 6-9 p.m. $60 plus supplies (approx. $10) Flex Shaft Boot Camp with Mary Kernahan: Sat., April 21, 9:30 a.m.—1:30 p.m. $60 (approx. $15 for recommended kit)
www.armstrongtoolsupply.com (248) 474-1600
SEND your tips, ideas, creative observations, product reviews, pictorials to DanielleSings@comcast.net Already looking for content for February deadline. Good Turnout at Annual Meeting
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HOW GOODE IT IS Members Dan Wroblewski, Teri Ritter and Mary Kernahan attended a four day anticlastic forming workshop with Michael Good at his studio in Rockport, Maine in October. It was Teri’s first time studying with Michael for Teri, but it marked a return to the studio for Dan and Mary who are veterans of Michael’s classes. After an intensive four days of hammering the workshop was capped off by a lobster dinner at Michael’s home. Michael was presented with a new MSG T-shirt (designed by Chloe Lewis), and was last seen rocking it. After his initial MSG workshop in 2016, Michael is eager to return to Detroit for another. We've reserved a spot in his schedule, but the date is yet to be determined.
CLASSES AT STUDIO JSD Torch Fired Enameling with Rosemary Cheslock: Sat., Jan. 6, 1-3 p.m. $55
Drilling Stone, Glass & Found Objects with Sookyung Jun: Sat., Jan. 20, 2-4 p.m. $45
Dragon Snort Chainmaille Bracelet with Randy Bennett: Sat., Jan. 13, 10 a.m.—1 p.m. $65
Lapidary Class with Sookyung Jun: Thur., Jan. 25, 6-8:30 p.m. $%%
Stretch Chainmaille Bracelet with Randy Bennett: Sat., Jan. 13, 2-4:30 p.m. $55
Bead Loom Waving with Jo Miller: Sat., Jan. 27, 10 a.m.—1 p.m. $75
Spinner Ring Class with Sookyung Jun: Thur., Jan. 18, 609 p.m. $65
Check Website for Future Classes in between Newsletters www.StudioJSD.com 6
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The FORDITE Man Hurbert Whittaker is Fordite Man. At a small lakeside show in Michigan, he wears a huge Fordite cabochon around his neck as he and his wife, Kim, sell the colorful hunks of paint non-stop. Fordite, which goes by a host of other names, is recycled from Detroit’s auto industry. Most of it was created around the 1950s to the 1970s when car bodies were painted with colorful spray enamels as they passed by on assembly plant rails. Every time factory equipment got gunked up with hundreds of layers of hard, heat-treated paint, workers would chip it off and throw it away. Those with lapidary experience took some of the stuff home and cut it into cabs for jewelry. Others stockpiled it in their basements and forgot about it. No matter where it’s stashed these days, Hurbert has a talent for finding generous quantities of it. Three years ago, he bought a 50-gallon drum of the material for $20,000 from a retired factory worker. “It’s a part of history, and people tell us their grandparents worked in one of the plants,” he says. As for those chunks forgotten in the basement, descendants often throw it away. Or they approach him with questions. “We’ve been helping people to find out what they have,” Hurbert says, noting that he pays a fair price for the material, and recently bought a 10-pound chunk from a woman. At their home in Charlevoix, Hurbert and Kim cut and cab the glossy material and sell it to jewelers. (Hurbert says he learned how to do it from his father, the Rev. Marshall Collins.) They also do a thriving business making Petoskey stone items. Then, the day after Christmas they head for Quartzsite, AZ where they sell more of their merchandise. The Whittakers price their rough at $2 a gram; finished cabs go for $20 to $40, and unlike most dealers, they have a lot of it. Meanwhile, Hurbert is looking for vintage paint material created by Harley Davidson plants in Milwaukee and the Detroit tank factories of World War II. “If I could get my hands on that I think it would be more valuable, because Harley is a big name,” he says.
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The Whittakers do not operate a web site. For more information, call them at 231-392-5246, or send them an email at hkwhittaker@aol.com. If you have a problem getting in touch with him, contact me at betsylehndorff@gmail.com. Check out the April 2017 issue of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist to learn more about Fordite. Betsy Lehndorff has been writing for Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist since 2010. Her story on Colorado diamonds appears in the September-October issue and she will be writing about her experience in Kate Wolf’s class in 2018 along with her grant writing adventures as a silversmith. You can reach her at betsylehndorff@gmail.com. 7
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FOR SALE BY GUILD The guild is looking to sell a display wall/frame that's been sitting unused in the Art Fair storage unit. It stands approximately 11' x 11' when fully expanded, and collapses down to approximately 31" x 9" x 9". It comes with four black carpeted panels (approximately 11' long x 15" wide) that can be used for hanging/displaying work. The price is $50 or best offer, and anyone interested can contact me (Lorraine Kolasa) at lorrainekolasa@gmail.com
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Member Anastasia Oravec Shares Results of Her Recent Casting Workshop I took a succulent casting workshop at Fritz and Friends taught by Christine Leader and Holly Strawbridge. It was an incredibly fun class and I love the results. Here are some before and after pictures. I love all casting: wax, natural materials, plastic shapes, broom and water casting, etc. I am always looking for fun things to cast and this was definitely something I want to do again sometime. After 2 million other things I want to try first!
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