MELODY ARMSTRONG BLOG

PIN BACKS AND RIVETING DEMO on YouTube

9/28/2019

PIN BACKS AND RIVETING DEMO - INSTRUCTOR: MELODY ARMSTRONG

PIN BACKS AND RIVETING DEMO
NEIL BALKWILL CIVIC ARTS CENTRE
INSTRUCTOR: MELODY ARMSTRONG
VIDEOGRAPHER: TERRY JOHNSTON

Check out my website to see my finished jewellery:
https://www.melodyarmstrong.com

Materials can be purchased from Rio Grande:
https://www.riogrande.com/

My ETSY SHOP:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/melodyarmstrong
My FACEBOOK PROFILE:
https://www.facebook.com/melody.armstrong.16
My INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/melodyarmstrongjewellery/
My PINTEREST:
https://www.pinterest.ca/melodyjewellery/

I hope you enjoy this video and use it as a refresher if you have already attended my Level Two Jewellery Class!

Disclaimer
I do not own any of the audio clips used in this video. This video has content that is owned or licensed by LatinAutor, Kobalt Music Publishing, and AMRA. The legal rights belong to the legal copyright holders of said content. I have used them under the 'fair use' policy and have done so for entertainment and educational purposes only.

I used Wondershare Filmora9 to edit this video.

ART NOW 2019

9/10/2019

ART NOW
Art Now is the largest fine art fair of modern and contemporary art in Saskatchewan featuring emerging and nationally and internationally known artists from galleries across all three Canadian prairie provinces.
The fourth annual Art Now takes place
September 19–22 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

VISCERA RING $975 #sterlingsilver #14kgold #rutilatedquartz #ring #melodyarmstrongjewellery #artnow2019 #ringsofinstagram #ringoftheday #statementring #uniquering #contemporaryjewelry #artjewellery #texturedring #oxidized

Don’t miss the Opening Night Reception for the 4th annual Art Now Fine Art Fair. At 7:00pm on Thursday, September 19, at the Soundstage, in Regina, you can be one of the first to see the amazing fine art. Tickets for this premiere event are $45, $25 for self-declared artists, and are available online here, or by contacting SaskGalleries.
The reception features live music from local Saskatchewan musicians and appetizers, plus a chance to win over $3,000 in door prizes, including gift certificates to the exhibitor galleries and more.
From Friday September 21 until Sunday September 22 the Art Now Fine Art Fair offers FREE admission and is open to all. Thirteen galleries will come together in one location, with hundreds of pieces of art and they’re all for sale.
This year Art Now features a video installation to lead you in, a Craftsperson in Residence creating a piece during the fair, a TimeraiserYQR preview booth, four education sessions and eleven artist talks, and many cultural vendors. There is something for everyone.
Come and hang out with us for the weekend! Food and beverages will also be available for purchase, and if you need a break, the Creative Corner is available for art lovers of all ages.

SOUNDSTAGE
1831 College Avenue, Regina, SK

These six Rings will be Showcased at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Booth at Art Now 2019.
SMOKY RING - Sterling silver, smoky quartz. Size 7.75 $625
PERPLEX RING - Sterling silver, diamonds. Size 6 $575
TOPAZ WAVE RING - Sterling silver, topaz. Size 6.5 $365
VISCERA RING - Sterling silver, 14k gold, rutilated quartz. Size 8 $975
RUTILE RING - Sterling silver, rutilated quartz. Size 6.5 $200
ASTRUM RING - Sterling silver, 14k gold, black star sapphire. Size 6 $275

https://www.artnow.ca/
https://www.instagram.com/saskgalleries
https://www.facebook.com/SaskGalleries/

NEW BANNERS for the JEWELLERY STUDIO

9/10/2019

New banner design.
Designed using Photoshop.
2.5' x 4'
Vinyl Banners from Vistaprint.

Guest Instructor at the ARGENTUM JEWELLERY SCHOOL in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

8/23/2019

ARGENTUM JEWELLERY SCHOOL
RIVETING - MATCHING EARRINGS AND PENDANT
Instructor: Melody Armstrong
5-9pm Friday August 2, 2019
In this four hour workshop we will be fabricating a cold connection project,
creating a matching set of earrings and a pendant.
We will be texturing metal, sawing shapes, drilling and making rivets to attach
the layers of metal together. Polishing and Oxidizing will be surface treatment options.
Fabricated ear wire, links and clasps will also be addressed.
Choices of shape patterns will be provided, or students can design their own.

ARGENTUM JEWELLERY SCHOOL
METAL BEADS AND HOLLOW FORMS
Instructor: Melody Armstrong
10am - 5pm Saturday August 3, 2019
In this one day intermediate workshop, students will learn how to fabricate hollow forms and metal beads.
We will be creating simple saucer beads that can become a pair of earrings or components for a bracelet or necklace. We will also be constructing a hollow form, the shape will be determined by the student, this form will become a pendant.
Both forms will have variations of textures, soldered on elements and pierced out designs.
In this workshop we will be sawing, texturing, soldering, and employing finishing techniques.

ARGENTUM JEWELLERY SCHOOL
INTRO TO ENAMELLING WORKSHOP
Instructor: Melody Armstrong
10am - 5pm Sunday August 4, 2019
Enamelling is the art of fusing powdered glass onto metal to create colourful and imaginative jewellery designs.
In this one day workshop students will explore different enamelling applications using copper as the base metal, and incorporating these into finished jewellery pieces.
We will be sawing shapes, texturing, forming, drilling holes and preparing the copper surface.
After the enamel is sifted onto the metal it is then fired in a kiln until it is vitreous and fuses to the metal.
Students will leave the class with a wide array of colourful jewellery pieces.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Terry Johnston & Melody Armstrong

Argentum Jewellery School & Supply is a new jewellery school and supply shop located in the heart of downtown Victoria. We offer a selection of silversmithing classes and workshops for every skill level, from beginner to professional, as well as other specialty classes and workshops. When there aren't classes going on, our open-studio is available for bench rentals on an hourly or membership basis.

Coming Summer 2019... Argentum’s retail shop will feature all the tools, materials and gemstones you’ll need to set up and continue in your silversmithing endeavors!
https://www.argentumjewelleryschool.com/
https://www.instagram.com/argentum_jewellery_school/

New Zealand Trip Photo Album

7/3/2019

DIMENSIONS 2019

5/8/2019

QUANTIFIED NECKPIECE - Sterling silver, cubic zirconia.
One of the 35 pieces selected for Dimensions 2019.

Saskatchewan Craft Council is pleased to present Dimensions 2019! This year, 219 works were submitted for jurying by 135 artists, including 40 emerging artists. Our jurors Felicia Gay and Kye-Yeon Son were hard pressed to choose 35 pieces for the exhibition.

Dimensions is a well-established, biennial, juried, touring exhibition of contemporary craft organized by the Saskatchewan Craft Council for over 40 years. It is one of the few juried exhibitions where the jurors select from the physical piece, rather than photographs of the works, which allows for a nuanced and considerate selection.

Dimensions encourages Saskatchewan artists to push themselves creatively and technically. Selected works are unique, incorporating individual expression that transcends technique; works that have content as well as achieving technical and creative excellence.

Dimensions offers $12,000 worth of awards. Join us at the Awards Gala on Friday, May 31 at the Broadway Theatre as we celebrate Saskatchewan contemporary craft!

A Public Reception follows at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery, where you can view the prize winning works in person.
Get tickets here.

Dimensions Awards Gala
Friday, May 31
6 pm – Cocktails at Broadway Theatre
7 pm – Awards Presentation at Broadway Theatre
8:30 pm – Reception at Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery
Broadway Theatre, 715 Broadway Avenue, Saskatoon, SK

"This year, we are selling tickets for the Dimensions Awards Gala. They are $10 each and can be purchased in person at Broadway Theatre or at the link below.
Broadway Theatre‘s box office is open 12 to 6 pm from Monday to Friday.

"Join the Saskatchewan Craft Council in celebrating Saskatchewan contemporary craft. The Dimensions Awards Gala will introduce the craftspeople whose work have been selected for the Dimensions 2019 exhibition and will announce the winners of several awards, including the Dimensions Award for the Outstanding Entry. We will be giving out almost $13,000 in awards that evening. Join us at a reception at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery following the Awards Gala to view the exhibition."

Wood Necklace Stand made by Terry Johnston.

Quantified Neckpiece in progress:

FLIGHT OF FANCY - BEAR RIVER, NOVA SCOTIA

5/3/2019

I am happy to announce that my jewellery will be showcased at The Flight Of Fancy just in time for Spring!
Located in this quaint tidal village of 800, straddling the dynamic Bear River, the town of Bear River, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Tides rise to a maximum of 17 feet approximately twice every 24 hrs.

The Flight of Fancy
Recipient of the Atlantic Canada Craft Council’s Award for “Outstanding Art and Craft Retailer”, The Flight of Fancy is not simply a store; it is an experience. Featuring over 200 exceptional artists from Nova Scotia and the other Atlantic provinces, The Flight has enjoyed welcoming visitors from around the world for over 35 years.
Store Hours: May-October:
Monday to Saturday 10am-6pm,
Sunday 11am-5pm.
November-December: Winter hours. Please contact.
Address: 1869 Clementsvale Rd, Bear River, NS B0S 1B0
Toll Free: (866) 467.4171 Email: info@theflight.ca Website: www.theflight.ca

Trip Advisor Photos

The Earring Show 2019 - Craft Council of British Columbia

4/24/2019

I am pleased to announce that four pairs of my earrings have been selected by a jury to be part of the The Earring Show 2019 fundraiser
by the Craft Council of British Columbia.

The Craft Council of BC brings you year 6 of our annual fundraiser, packed full of creative talent and unique, handmade earrings!
The Earring Show will be held as a one-day fund-raiser where our guests can purchase any of the specially-selected earrings from artists from across North America. All funds raised from the event go towards CCBC, its programs, and to help promote contemporary crafts to BC and Canada.
Just in time for Mother's Day, what better way to treat the special lady in your life! We will have an assortment of nibbles and drinks, so make sure to bring your fellow earring aficionados with you to share a drink and the shopping experience.
Sales are on a first-come first-served basis, so don’t miss out on your chance to snag your favourite pairs on display!
Be in with a chance to WIN 20% OFF a future purchase at the CCBC Shop & Gallery by registering your RSVP and attending (not applicable for TES2019 or exhibition items)
The event is by donation at the door or through Eventbrite (suggested $5), and if you RSVP, you will receive notifications about updates and sneak peeks of the earrings for sale.
Join us for drinks, nibbles, and the best in contemporary design!
Thank you to our sponsors:
Vancouver Metal Arts Association

Lacy West Supplies
Beadworks

Co-hosted by Crafted Vancouver

Date and TimeSun, 5 May 2019
3:00 PM – 6:00 PM PDT
Add to Calendar
LocationCCBC Shop & Gallery

1386 Cartwright Street
Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8
View Map

the 2019 earring show fundraiser
It is exciting being a part of the 6thedition of this annual fundraiser – The Earring Show – packed full of creative talent and unique, handmade earrings from artists across North America! If you are in the area, please come on down to the CCBC Shop & Gallery on Granville Island on May 5 from 3-6pm and have a drink and a bite, surrounded by the best in contemporary craft and design!

SUMMER QUANTIC COLLECTION at METALWORKS

4/23/2019

Summer Quantic Collection - So Blue
In anticipation of Summertime
Celebrating
Clear Blue Skies and Aqua Waters
with
The sun sparking off the gentle waves

Lazy Days of Summer

Light Blue Spinel
Swiss Blue Topaz
Blue Zircon
London Blue Topaz
What shade of blue are you in the mood for?

RECHARGE - RELAX
HELLO SWEET SUMMER

Add GLAMOUR to your sunny days, get NOTICED!

MA65
QUANTIC CLUSTER WIDE BAND RING - sterling silver, 5mm blue zircon. Size 8.75

MA66
QUANTIC CLUSTER RING - sterling silver, 3mm light blue spinel. Size 7.

MA67
QUANTIC SOLITAIRE RING - sterling silver, 3mm light blue spinel. Size 7

MA68
QUANTIC TRIO STACK RING - sterling silver, 3mm london blue topaz. Size 8

MA69
QUANTIC CLUSTER STUD EARRINGS – sterling silver, 3mm light blue spinel.

MA70
QUANTIC CLUSTER STUD EARRINGS – sterling silver, 3mm london blue topaz.

MA71
QUANTIC CLUSTER LONG EARRINGS– sterling silver, 3mm light blue spinel. Small.

MA72
QUANTIC CLUSTER LONG EARRINGS– sterling silver, 3mm london blue topaz. Medium.

MA73
QUANTIC CLUSTER NECKLACE – sterling silver, sterling silver, 3mm london blue topaz. 18” curb chain.

MA74
QUANTIC CLUSTER NECKLACE – sterling silver, sterling silver, 3mm swiss blue topaz. 20” curb chain.

MA75
QUANTIC LONG CLUSTER NECKLACE - sterling silver, 3mm london blue topaz. 24” double rope chain.

“THE MOTH AND THE BUTTERFLY

When the sun rises over the horizon,
the butterfly emerges to dance in its brilliant light.
It flickers its colorful wings with euphoria,
To celebrate all the beauty found
in the majestic garden of life.

When the moon arrives in the darkness,
The moth appears at the disappearance of sunlight.
It flickers its pale wings as it shakes from its deep slumber,
To go search for food
To carry it through the night.

The moth prefers the moon and detests the sun,
while the butterfly loves the sun and hides from the moon.
Every living creature responds to light,
But depending on the amount of light you have inside,
Determines which lamp in the sky
Your heart will swoon.

Poetry by Suzy Kassem”

MA76
Moth Necklace - sterling silver, anodized niobium, anodized titanium. 1.5mm rolo chain, 22 inches. Purple and Pink.

MA77
Moth Necklace - sterling silver, anodized niobium, anodized titanium. 1.5mm rolo chain, 24 inches. Blue and Teal.

MA78
Moth Earrings - sterling silver, anodized titanium. Light blue.

MA79
Moth Earrings - sterling silver, anodized titanium. Medium blue with purple edges.

METALWORKS
www.metalworkskingston.com
352 King St E
Kingston, ON K7L 3B6

Located in a charming historic limestone building in the heart of the beautiful downtown Kingston, Ontario, Metalworks is a goldsmithing studio and jewellery boutique that features fine Canadian designed jewellery.
We showcase an exciting selection of artisanal jewellery created by Canadian jewellers and goldsmiths with a focus on quality craftsmanship and contemporary style.
Steve Luckwaldt, owner and master goldsmith is the designer and maker of original engagement bands, wedding rings and special occasion custom pieces.
Steve shows us how he sets a blue diamond in a custom ring:
https://youtu.be/313oA4EhMFg

New Jewellery pieces added for the Christmas season:

CollaboratioNZ 2019

4/20/2019

CollaboratioNZ 2019
March 8 to March 16, 2019

Attending the 2019 CollaboratioNZ with my partner Terry Johnston was an amazing experience full of inspiration, connection and being immersed in creativity. I connected with a lot of new artists and got reacquainted with others who were from New Zealand, Europe, Canada, Hawaii and the United States. There were about 70 international artists in total, working together in the mediums of metal, wood, glass, stone, fibre, paint, print and jewellery, collaborating and discovering new and interesting ways of approaching these mediums.

After an eight hour bus ride and a half hour shuttle ride Terry and I arrived at the camp, just in time for the opening ceremony in traditional Maori fashion with singing and speeches. We all went around in a circle introducing ourselves to each other through the hongi - performed by two people pressing their noses together, at the same time, the touching of foreheads followed by a handshake.
In the hongi, the ha (breath of life) is exchanged in a symbolic show of unity. Through the exchange of this greeting, one is no longer considered manuhiri, a visitor, but rather tangata whenua, one of the people of the land. The tradition of sharing the breath of life is considered to have come directly from the gods.

Based in Whangarei Northland, CollaboratioNZ is a biennial week-long art event held at Mcgregors Bay, Whangarei Heads at the Mt Manaia Baptist Camp. A beautiful setting under the mighty Mt Manaia and in front of the tranquil beachfront of the bay. A sister event to our Emma International Artist Collaboration, CollaboratioNZ was set-up in 1998 to provide a biennial week-long event with a venue, accommodation, catering, tools and raw materials for the collaboration of artists in order to create world class art for public exhibition and auction, and to raise public awareness for the betterment of art in New Zealand.

Everyone was super friendly and welcoming and the organizers Trish Clarke, Carlie Blanchette and Steve Haywood were amazing. We had a Public Open Day mid week to allow the public to talk to the artists and to view the works in progress. After six days of collaborating we made over 300 pieces of artwork that was then professionally photographed. All the pieces were packed up and moved to Forum North Whangarei for The Collaborationz No Reserve Art Auction. The auction raised $67,000, proceeds going towards funding the next collaboration in 2021.

My objective at this event was to be experimental and to get into the creative zone, not focusing on the final outcomes, which is a different approach to my own studio practice. One of the projects while at this event involved using old rusty bed springs from the scrap pile, and stretching these apart and using the lines they created as my starting points. I traced these onto cut out pieces of wood that I pre gessoed and had already painted with a fluorescent base coat, and then I proceeded to paint in an abstract manner. Once the paintings were complete another artist attached these bedsprings elevated above the surface by a couple inches. This gave a sculptural three dimensional quality to the paintings and the light source cast a shadow of lines on the painting to mimic the painted shapes.

I ended up combining metal and painting and now have a great idea for a new body of work that combines these two elements. My take away from these two works I completed in this manner, combined with the lush beautiful flora and fauna have inspired me to start on a new body of work. Instead of using the bedsprings as my starting points, I would use shapes and lines from the hundreds of photos I took of New Zealand plant life. I will then paint in an abstract manner, following this with manipulated wire and oxidized metal shapes mimicking the shapes I used in the painting to begin with, and affix these above the surface to create three dimensional paintings. On some select shapes I would incorporate a jewel or some aspect of jewellery.

Before I arrived in New Zealand, I did not know what form the influences of this event would take, but I am now excited and am looking forward to exploring this new idea and working on my new artistic interpretation of these two combined mediums, paint and metal. Transferring my experiences from CollaboratioNZ 2019 and focusing on achieving a new body of work, I will set aside space in my studio to devote time on processing what I have discovered and formulating these new ideas, creating an exhilarating and innovative body of work directly related to this endeavour.

I would like to thank the Saskatchewan Arts Board for their support in helping me participate in this wonderful event!
I would also like to thank the CollaboratioNZ Trust for providing me with an International Artist Scholarship - making this experience possible!
CollaboratioNZ FaceBook Page

It was a pleasure working side by side with leading artists from New Zealand and across the globe, networking, sharing knowledge of materials and techniques, and creating extraordinary artworks at the biennial CollaboratioNZ 2019.

Sharon Thompson, Bill Dorman, Jo Dorman, Lindsay Embree, Graeme Priddle, Te Rangitu Netana, Eddie Daughton.

Everyone did a puzzle piece.

KaPuia: Sculpture - macrocarpa, walnut, steel, copper, fuzed glass, braid, silver.

Artists: Todd Sheridan, Tai Lake, Kawiti Wirimu, Benoit Averly, Steve Haywood, Melody Armstrong, Terry Johnston, Anita Merina,
Irwin Seyb, Garth Dobney, Neil Ruddell, Trees Van Ruth, Joan Hiebert, Camilla Harmston, Richard Darbyshire, Graeme Priddle,
Rudy Van Der Pol, Rosie Parsonson, Jerry Harris, Beau Jack Key, Te Rangitu Netana, Richard Keir, David Taylor, Paul Olson.

'The meaning of this piece talks about working together, if there is but one stem of the toetoe it will break, but bundled together they will never break'.

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All rights reserved © 2006 - 2020 MELODY ARMSTRONG - Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
Photography: Melody Armstrong & Terry Johnston