I’ve enjoyed the return to my studio after a long hiatus. I am having so much fun with my torch, metal and wire, and see where it takes me. No expectations. Just enjoy and create.

cup earrings

The earrings above is a new design for me.

teagan and pearl

I piggied back off the earring design and created a pendant with a freshwater pearl.

large hoop earrings 1

Hoops! Perhaps it’s the warmer weather and summer is approaching – I can stop making hoop earrings. All shapes and sizes!elongated hoops 6:4

Smaller oval hoops too.

small oval hoops

and small heart earrings

sterling silver hearts1

Some designs have been listed in my etsy shop. Thanks for stopping by:)

Jeanette Blix Ryan is a jewelry designer and instructor who teaches wire and metalworking workshops in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. She also published the Glass Art Calendar, the first glass calendar published featuring lampwork beads among the leading glass artists in the field today.

Earring Workshop

 

uncoiled

I am preparing for an earring workshop for next weekend in Northern Virginia. Pulling out class samples for the students to see the variation in designs that can be done. Here they are above with just the metal armature and dangling gemstones.
blue coiled

Above are the earrings coiled with wire..

trio

or wire-wrapped with rondelles..

pearls

and again, simply the wire form with pearl drops for a touch of elegance…On a side note, these photos were taken with the iPhone 6 camera and I can’t get over the amazing photos they take!

Jeanette Blix Ryan is a jewelry designer and instructor who teaches wire and metalworking workshops in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. She also published the Glass Art Calendar, the first glass calendar published featuring lampwork beads among the leading glass artists in the field today.

 

Knotted Jewelry Love

Recently, I have been enjoying a new jewelry technique for me, knotted jewelry. I thought it would be a nice change from wire working the beads together to knotting them with either silk or nylon cord. I must say I was hesitant about the piece standing up against the day to day wear and tear, because, well, it’s thread, not metal. But so far I have been pleasantly surprised, and I am glad, because I really do adore the knotted cord with gemstones. I did add some metal to the piece, I couldn’t help myself. I created a handmade spiral clasp as the closure and added metal chain as an extension with wire wrapped rubies. I love the way it came out and will probably be working a lot more with cording of all kinds of materials. PS. I also added a handmade leaf charm..

gemstones knotted bracelet

Jeanette Blix Ryan is a jewelry designer and instructor who teaches wire and metalworking workshops in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. She also published the Glass Art Calendar, the first glass calendar published featuring lampwork beads among the leading glass artists in the field today.

Jewelry celebrating a healthy lifestyle.

Hello everyone!

I have just launched a line of jewelry to celebrate a healthy  lifestyle. Each piece carries words designed to inspire or can be customized to reflect  your own personal vision. Choose your favorite healthy phrase or words of inspiration and put them on display with these attractive hand-made creations. This jewelry line will also fulfill a personal mission of mine, which is donating a percentage of each sale  to Dr. Joel Fuhrman’s Nutritional Research Foundation that focuses on conducting clinical research to study diet styles designed for their disease-preventing and disease-reversing properties. To visit the shop, please click on the photo below or on “shop” page above. Thank you.

celebrate health.jpg

Jeanette Blix Ryan is a jewelry designer and instructor who teaches wire and metalworking workshops in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. She also published the Glass Art Calendar, the first glass calendar published featuring lampwork beads among the leading glass artists in the field today.

artBLISS introduces a new jewelry retreat: Boots and Bliss!

artBLISS is hosting a brand new jewelry retreat with two lovely and talented ladies, Diane Cook and Deryn Mentock, called Boots and Bliss! To learn more about the event, please click on the photo below to be directed to the artBLISS workshops website. Wishing everyone a happy, healthy and creative new year!

Boots & Bliss Flyer

Jeanette Blix Ryan is a jewelry designer and instructor who teaches wire and metalworking workshops in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. She also published the Glass Art Calendar, the first glass calendar published featuring lampwork beads among the leading glass artists in the field today.

artBLISS Recap and return from absence

Screen Shot 2013-10-09 at 10.07.13 PMI am surprised that I haven’t updated my blog since my last post which was the announcement that the artBLISS registration had opened. When was that, around April? Well, artBLISS has come and gone and I must say, the retreat keeps getting better and better with each year. Next year, artBLISS will be celebrating it’s 5th anniversary and we, Cindy and I, plan on making the 2014 event very celebratory. But more on that at a later date. If you are interested in reading the recap for this years event, please visit Cindy’s blog. She did a great write-up with lots of photos.

The past several months I have taken a break from my time in the studio to spending my time with my children while they were on their summer break. That, and spending a lot of my time enjoying the outdoors, focusing on my health and eating a high raw vegan diet, including lots of exercise and reading and meeting other people who share the same lifestyle. This new lifestyle is here to stay but I still have some kinks that I am working on to really bring my health to the optimal level. It’s a new way of life and I need to remind myself to be patient and forgiving as I continue on this journey.

With that being said, I am really looking forward to getting back into the studio. I have some tutorials that NEED to be written. One’s I have promised so long ago. I just have to sit myself down and take the step-by-step photos and get it done. I thank everyone for their patience. I love sharing my ideas, but actually sitting down and getting it written is another story. But, I am going to do it.

My fingers are crossed that for my next post, it will be a completed tutorial.

Jeanette

 

 

 

Jeanette Blix Ryan is a jewelry designer and instructor who teaches wire and metalworking workshops in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. She also published the Glass Art Calendar, the first glass calendar published featuring lampwork beads among the leading glass artists in the field today. Recently, she has become a Jamberry Nail Consultant, because in addition to creating and wearing her jewelry designs, she also loves having pretty and artistic nails!

Registration for artBLISS 2013 is open!

artBLISSbluefinallg

We’re excited to announce that registration is open for
artBLISS 2013!
Please join us for 3 days of workshops and activities.
Dates and Location:
September 27 – 29, 2013
Sterling, VA

2013 Collage Vertical

We have an incredible line-up of instructors again this year. You’ll enjoy seeing some of your favorite instructors returning, and we hope you’ll join us in welcoming a couple making their artBLISS DEBUT!

Kerry Bogert
Christine Damm
Richard Salley / Jessica Papke
Stacie Florer
Stephanie Rubiano

Please visit the site to see the full range of day and evening workshops.

In addition to furthering your jewelry designing skills, new this year at artBLISS, you’ll find MIXED MEDIA workshops! We are excited to welcome Stephanie Rubiano to the artBLISS family.

Saturday Night soiree artbliss final NEW!  Join us Saturday Night at artBLISS for a fun-filled evening!

  • Shop at your own Marketplace!  This year, a limited number of tables will be available in the lobby.  Sell your supplies, art, and beads.  Consider sharing a table with a friend.  Please contact us if you are interested – a lottery will be held for these spaces.
  • Pizza and Salad night – stay in and hang out with your friends over dinner.
  • Grab a friend and take an evening class with Kerry Bogert! Learn to make a must-have herringbone weave bracelet, complete with a custom button clasp!
  • Join us for a demo with Erin Siegel!  You’ll learn how to create a pair of stunning earrings, featured in Bohemian-Inspired Jewelry.

Can you help us spread the word about artBLISS?
We have a great GIVEAWAY for you with 4 chances to win!

We will be giving away 4 prizes!  Two winners will be chosen from entries in this giveaway post, and two winners will be chosen from those who register for a workshop during the first 2 opening weeks of registration!

Here are a few of our new badges – we hope you’ll chose one for your blog!button 4 - 300x225 copy Or our new 2013 Badge artBLISSbluefinalsm2013 artBLISS logo designed by Amber Brien with embellishments by Susie Hibdon

Here are the prizes for four lucky winners. Screen Shot 2013-04-08 at 10.15.25 PM You can win a copy of “Soldering Made Simple”, a micro torch, ceramic board, quench cup, and tweezersScreen Shot 2013-04-08 at 10.17.13 PM Win a soldering iron, soldering iron stand, flux, and flux remover

Screen Shot 2013-04-08 at 10.18.17 PM Two winners will win a treasure trove of enamels in all kinds of colors

To enter the give away:

  • Leave a comment (1 entry)
  • Blog about the 2013 retreat (1 entry)
  • Add any one of the blog badges to your blog – see the various badge options here (1 entry)
  • Help spread the word on Pinterest – Pin any image directly from the artBLISS website (your favorite workshop, for example) to one of your Pinterest boards.  Please include “#artblissworkshops” to your pin description so that we can easily track the pins. (1 entry)
  • Post on Facebook or Twitter – please share the link (1 entry)
  • Register for any artBLISS 2013 workshop during the official registration opening week (April 9th through April 23rd). (1 entry)

*Giveaway closes at 11:59 p.m., EST on April 23rd.   Due to the package size, the giveaway is regrettably open to U.S. residents only.

Thank you for sharing our excitement!  Good luck & we hope to see you in September!

– Jeanette & Cindy

Jeanette Blix Ryan is a jewelry designer and instructor who teaches wire and metalworking workshops in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan area. She is the co-founder of artBLISS, hosting jewelry and mixed media workshops in the DC area. She also published the Glass Art Calendar, the first glass calendar published featuring lampwork beads among the leading glass artists in the field today. Recently, she has become a Jamberry Nail Consultant, because in addition to creating and wearing her jewelry designs, she also loves having pretty and artistic nails!

Copyright © 2015 Jeanette Blix