Mona Designs

Classes in Jewelry Design with Mona Hair

2011-07-27T02:45:00.000-07:00

I just signed up for something new today! It's a directory for artists of wearable art that would like to teach lessons! I love this idea and while I don't have lots and lots of free time to teach, it would be great to connect with a few students on a regular basis! I have frequently been asked about classes for French Beaded Jewelry of the type that I am well known for! I work in wire wrapping and many other types of jewelry design styles, so feel that I have a lot to offer someone attempting to learn jewelry design! Basic construction of jewelry components and small jewelry pieces all the way up through complex designs! I love teaching! We'll see how it goes!

Bellaire Beading And Jewelry Making Teacher

Meet Guest Artist Vanessa Walilko LIVE!

2011-07-07T17:17:00.000-07:00

Vanessa Walilko is an extraordinary designer of wearable art. Vanessa's muse is expressed not only in expected types of wearable art such as jewelry pieces, but also in jewelry for the body as her vision works in more expansive spaces! Major eye candy in beautiful wearable art. An interview and exhibition of work not to be missed! This is an online event. NO TRAVEL REQUIRED. Our show is as accessible as your own PC! There will be an open question and answer session at the end of the exhibition! If you wish to participate in the live text chat area of the program you will need a user ID. It takes about 30 seconds to grab over at www.ustream.com. No user ID is required to watch the show passively!
Date: July 10, 2011
Where: http://www.jewelryconnection.tv/
Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm Europe, 8pm UK, 4am Japan
Vanessa Walilko
Kali Butterfly
http://www.kalibutterfly.com/

Micro Mosaic Jewelry ------Then and Now

2011-05-22T10:56:00.000-07:00

Join Mona Hair for a presentation of the history of Micro Mosaic Jewelry and what's happening today in this fine wearable art! How historical jewelry may influence contemporary artists!
Location:
http://www.jewelryconnection.tv/
when: Sunday 5-22-2011
what time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 8pm UK, 9 pm Europe, 4am Japan, 6am Australia

2011-05-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Today 5-15-2011 Mona will be presenting some history on the subject of the Victorian Era of Jewelry with lots of pictures...timelines...and a springboard for an educated attempt at creating Victorian Inspired Jewelry! Join us for a presentation of history through pictures of this expansive history of jewelry design!

Location: www.jewelryconnection.tv

Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 8pm in UK 9pm in Europe, 4 am in Japan

This is an on-line internet event. No travel is required and it's free! Join us!

Meet Guest Artist Kazuhiko Ichikawa of Japan

2011-04-28T07:43:00.000-07:00

Time	Sunday, May 1 · 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Location	http://www.jewelryconnection.tv

Created By	The Jewelry Connection

More Info	Join me in a live interview with Kazuhiko Ichikawa of Japan! We will enjoy a review of his work and a question answer session to follow! You may visit his website here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/KAZism Date: 5-1-2011 Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK, and 4am in Japan ... Here is a brief introduction for Kazuhiko! "I design & make jewelries. I'm interested in antique jewelries especially in art nouveau & art deco. I graduated Kyoto Institute of Technology in 1979. I majored industrial design. After the graduation, I was working for a stationery company as a product designer and a planner for more than 20 years. Around in 1999, I was fascinated with antique jewelries. In 2002 I quit the company and entered to Tokyo Jewelry Craft School in 2003. In 2004 I graduated there and started my career as a jewelry artist." I'm looking very much forward to sharing this artist with you! Please join us! It's an online internet event and does not require travel. You can enjoy this event from where you are sitting while you read this! Also you may call into the show via phone at 1-832-397-6317 Please hold calls until the question and answer session near the end of the show! Call and ask the artist questions or simply to let us know what you think of the show! If you have SKYPE you can call direct with SKYPE to Mona77401

Older Archives of Featured Guest Artists

2011-04-14T03:14:00.000-07:00

There is a treasure trove of previous guest artist's interviews to reminisce with over the Live Video, our sister site where we were doing our interviews prior to moving to Ustream!You might ask yourself who's there??

Harriett Estelle Berman, Tadd Hardy, Betty Stephan, Peter Sewell, Shay Stone, Jay Whaley, Lilian Chen, Maureen Zappa Brusellini ... and many more!

Archives of interviews, inspired discussion about design, season events! It's a great place to bath the muse!

Mona Hair - producer of The Jewelry Connection - a human interest story and an affair with wearable art!

http://www.livevideo.com/video/The-Jewelry-Connection

Meet Guest Artist Sharron Westeren

2011-04-14T02:44:00.000-07:00

Time	Sunday, April 17 · 2:00pm - 3:00pm

Location	http://www.thejewelryconnection.tv

Created By	The Jewelry Connection, Mona Hair

	Join us to meet guest artist Sharron Westeren - Independent Jewelry Artist! Sharron lives in Las Vegas and the name of her business is Delicate Designs. She is a member of the Las Vegas Art Guild and a Las Vegas Etsy group. You may visit her website at: http://www.delicate-designs.net/ Date: 4-17-2011 Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK, 4 am in Japan Location: http://www.jewelryconnection.tv This is a LIVE streaming internet event that you can enjoy from anywhere in the world. No travel is necessary and there are no fees attached! A 100% Positive experience from the comfort of your own home! Join us for an interview, review of work, and question answer session to follow! Mona Hair Producer of The Jewelry Connection - an affair with wearable art and it's artists! A human interest story!

Invitation for a Challenge in a Themed Design - Cave Paintings

2011-01-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

You're invited to participate in a global (world wide) design challenge in wearable art with the theme of cave paintings!
Details:
1.-Independent artists may submit up to 4 submissions per artist
2.-Designs must reflect the theme of Cave Paintings
3.- artist must include name, website (if you have one) , city,state, country, and
     personal photo(this is a human interest story...not just a jewelry show)
4.-Pictures must be minimum 600x600 pixels and no larger than 900 by 900 pixels.
    Slightly off square will be accepted for example 600x500 pixels ect. Rectangular images
     will not be accepted.

5.-Submission Deadline is February 20th, 2011--- send submissions to
    mhair@pdq.net
6.-Jewelry show of submissions will be hosted on February 27th in the internet
    broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection at http://www.jewelryconnection.tv
at 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK,
    6am in Australia.

   If you miss the show don't worry. It should archive at this site and be up for viewing within
   an hour after the    show! I'll also be preparing a presentation video of all submissions and
    uploading that video to YouTube the same day.
    Location of the video will be http://www.youtube.com/mona77401

7. As a precursor for the show The Jewelry Connection is hosting a program on
    January 9th to share pictures of cave paintings as inspiration and to underscore
    the details of what is necessary to participate in the challenge!
8.-Judges for this event have been selected who have a history in this subject and
    are eagerly awaiting your submissions! Prizes will be announced at a later date.
    Prizes will be awarded to First, Second, and Third Place.

As a final note, You don't have to be a seller of original wearable art. It isn't
necessary to have a shop on the internet or anywhere else. If you design jewelry
for the pure enjoyment and would like to join us in this challenge you are very
welcome to participate!

Warmest Regards,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Meet Guest Artist Sean Purucker of LA

2010-11-24T20:24:00.000-08:00

Join us this coming Sunday for an on-line internet LIVE interview with Costumer/Designer, Sean Purucker, of LA. Sean is a successful designer of wearable art. Get the scoop on what its like to create wearable art using larger design space directly from this fascinating designer! A memorable human interest story!

Date: November 28, 2010
Show Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm Europe, 8pm UK, 6am Australia
Location: http://www.jewelryconnection.tv

Looking forward to sharing this wonderful artist's story with you!
Mona

Where My Beauties May be Found!

2010-11-08T04:02:00.000-08:00

In the not to distant past I moved my shop to a new location! Art Fire is the Up and coming place to be for artisans and it's where I am too! Come see me! I'm in the process of moving all of my listings of available design work to this location!
Love and Light!
Mona

Pushing the Envelope in Design of Wearable Art

2010-11-07T18:16:00.000-08:00

Usually we explore original art jewelry. We're going to expand the horizons just a little bit with this show and go for some wearable art of a broader range and offer resources on where you can find patterns for hats, gloves, hand bags, and much much more! Join us for some fun, some eye candy, and an exploration into t...he possibilities of where our art may go!
Location: http://www.jewelryconnection.tv/
Show Time is: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK, and 6am in Australia.
With the time change occurring tonight this might throw international timing off a bit. No worries. You can catch the archive!
Looking forward to sharing this adventure with you!
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Meet Guest Artist Wendy Gell

2010-10-06T02:04:00.000-07:00

World wide, well respected independent jewelry artist Wendy Gell will be joining us for a live interview, exhibition of work, and question/answer session! Wendy is famous for her Disney and Glamor wristies among many other types of designs! This is a show not to be missed! I'm very much looking forward to sharing this wonderful artist with you! The program is an internet (on-line) event. No travel is required. You can watch this at home on your computer monitor! High Speed internet access is recommended.

High Speed internet access is recommended.

Date: 10/10/2010
Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm Europe,
8pm in the UK
Location: http://www.jewelryconnection.tv/

Love to All,
Mona

Invitation for a Collaboration - Holiday in Jewels

2010-09-18T14:17:00.000-07:00

You're invited to join us in a collaborative activity called "Holiday in Jewels". Our group has done this project for two years in a row and it's been a really beautiful and exciting sharing experience. The invitation is for independent jewelry artists, creating one of a kind work, to submit up to three designs for a holiday themed on-line jewelry show and holidy jewelry video to be uploaded to YouTube! You can see previous videos http://www.youtube.com/mona77401 to get an idea of what the videos look like. The broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection is http://www.jewelryconnection.tv
This is where the holiday jewelry show will be hosted.

Submissions must be in to me via my email address: mhair@pdq.net by November 14th and the jewelry show will be presented on November 21st. That allows 4 and 1/2 weeks of shopping for our fans to see the video, visit our shops, make their purchases, and get items shipped.
To Participate:
1. pictures need to by at 300dpi and no smaller than 600 x 600 pixels
2. up to three submissions per artist
3. include with your email, name, location, website
4. send all to mhair@pdq.net
5. Deadline for submissions November 14th 2010

Looking forward to sharing in this holiday adventure with you!
Best Regards,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
www.jewelryconnection.tv

Free Tutorial Live on Sunday August 29th - Polymer Bracelet

2010-08-26T03:36:00.000-07:00

On Sunday afternoon August 29th, 2010
Show Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, and 8pm in The UK
This is an on-line presentation with live video and audio. High speed computer access is necessary to participate during the show.
Dial up is so slow that the audio and video will not stream well.

...We'll be hosting a tutorial in the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection!
People have been requesting this tutorial for a while and I've been dodging it until I could get a good archive on it. Now that we are getting great archives at our new home I'm going to break out the toys and host a tutorial on this project! Pictures of similar bracelets are exhibited here!

A list of supplies and tools for this project if you want to follow along:

Tools:
Clay - Sculpey
Pearl-X powders - lots of colors - $26-$50
Pasta roller - $27.00
http://www.cistamps.com/rollagraph_jumbo.htm
Wheel embosser - Rollagraph jumbo $6.00 for handle
Shadow Leaves Rollagraph embosser wheel $7.50
Sculpey blade - $2.00
Clay Roller - acrylic tube- $7.00
Ink - varies
Brass bracelet cuff - 3.50
Amaco Polymer Clay Oven - $60.00
with additional Sculpey oven thermometer $13.00
Work mat
Baby powder
Flitz - metal polish long wearing to reduce tarnish
A rubber glove
Fine grit wet sander or sand paper
Basin of water
Soft polishing cloth
Future Liquid Floor Polish
Fine Sponge - make sponge is good

You're welcome to work along with me as I make the bracelet or you can simply take notes and refer to the archive at a later time as you wish! I'll be offering a lot of special tips on how to handle this design to create a very nice quality piece of work!

Looking forward to sharing this tutorial with you!
Love to All,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Papier (Paper) Mache' in Jewelry

2010-08-17T03:04:00.001-07:00

Something interesting and a throw back to the 60's and 70's is the subject of use of paper mache' in wearable art.

What's interesting about paper mache' wearable art?

1. Ingredients are inexpensive and are probably in your home right
now!
2. The process goes way back in the history of wearable art!
3. The possibilities are endless for making jewelry, beads, and
masks of all sorts!
4. It can be molded into forms for solid/dense structures of design
5. It can be used to create a base design the over-layed with ornamented
scale work and other designs to create textural excitement and dimensional effects!

It is recommended in various different sites that adding a touch of salt or a few drops of Clove oil will retard growth of mold in the glue, but consider the other possibilities! Perhaps some chocolate scent in a dark brown flower of paper mache', or a magnolia scent in a gorgeous big brooch of a similar design!

It's a creative outlet that offers almost immediate gratification, allows anyone to indulge in a creative attempt, and can even be a terrific family project ---creating gifts for loved ones. Designs in any style are possible! Try something Pop Art, Romantic, Contemporary, Cubist, Religious, ......RUN WITH IT!
Please let me know what you do with this! I would love to see pictures!

Website resources on Papier (Paper Mache) include the following:
http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/05/papier-mache_floral_brooches.html#more

http://www.squidoo.com/paper-mache
Newspaper Pulp Recipe familycrafts.about.com/cs/papermache/a/blpmpulp.htm
Resin Paper Mache Recipe - familycrafts.about.com/cs/papermache/a/blpmpastes.htm
Cooked Recipe for Paper Mache' - familycrafts.about.com/od/papermache/a/cookpmpaste.htm
No Cook Recipe for Paper Mache' - http://familycrafts.about.com/od/papermache/a/nocookpmpaste.htm

Love To All!
Mona

Thoughts on Inspired Design - Mona

2010-08-16T05:55:00.000-07:00

Greetings Friends!
It's been a while since I posted anything here of a personal nature! I'm so wrapped up in doing the shows, editing images, creating videos, that I rarely have time to breath! I have the day off from work today and there is something that needs saying!

The idea that inspiration is hardly worth considering at all is exactly the kind of mentality that degrades the value of the inspired work of artisans by society and has people hacking out below par design work because they don't explore from within as they work. If creating was easy everyone would be doing it. If inspired work didn't exist there would be no differentiation in the quality and admirability of works at large.

That thing that happens in our heads that helps us design things with long enduring intellectual properties may be called anything we like, but it can never be called common or unnecessary.

This I can say with some authority as in my own experience I have made things that were uninspired and created designs via inspiration. I've also witnessed this phenomenon in others as well. These two processes are not exclusive of one another, making versus creating. You may begin to make something and then become inspired...that's when what you initially began to make morphs into something else but you like it better! Alternately you may have an inspired design that you tinker and mentally outmaneuver until it becomes less than it began. That's always a let down. If you have been at it long enough, you'll have experienced all of these things!
You may find yourself moved to create by your own dream or another's. You may be moved to create by visions of exciting architectural elements or a visit to a rose garden. Inspiration may come from anywhere at all! Don't live at your work table or in your studio. Get out and experience some life so that you have more to enjoy and more to share!
If you haven't been designing long I hope you find encouragement from my observations to reach within and bring those special visions of yours out and into the world where we may all enjoy the beauty of what and how you think!

With Love,
Mona

Join The Jewels of Fall 2010 Collaboration of Artists!

2010-08-14T03:41:00.000-07:00

You're Invited to join a video collaboration. It's that time of Year! Jewels of Fall!
Who's up for another video?? We did a fantastic presentation with last year's video. Once the submissions are all in, I'll create a presentation video for You Tube.
This has served us all very well for soft advertising! On September 26th..., Dr. Gail Devoid and I will host the video with all of it's contributors as our show at The Jewelry Connection!

I'm accepting submissions for Jewels of Fall 2010:
8-15-2010 through 9-19-2010.
What's needed:
!. a picture of your Jewel of Fall design
2. a picture of yourself to lead into your photo
3. a brief bio - name, city, state, country and web address
Please allow me to add the text information to your pictures.
Depending on how I pan and/or scan the shot, it might not be in the right place
if you have put the text there in advance! Also keep your photos as squarish as possible. Long rectangles vertical or horizontal do not work into a video very well.
Photo size requirements no smaller than 600x600 pixels. Anything larger is ok. It gives me more room to create a great video!

Send all submissions to mhair@pdq.net
This invitation if for designers of one of a kind wearable art. Mass Produced items are not represented by this video collaboration.
We had a great world wide representation of artists last year! I'm looking forward to sharing this project with you all!
Mona
Group Moderator
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Guest Artist Kate McKinnon Live Interview!

2010-08-14T03:12:00.000-07:00

The Jewelry Connection is honored with an opportunity to invite you to meet Kate McKinnon! Kate is recognized world wide as a fine designer of wearable art in Metal Clay with publications in book and DVD form! Her edgy, exciting, and innovative design work has long made her a favorite among admirers of wearable art!
This will be an internet- on-line computer event that may be enjoyed from your own home with your computer!

Locati...on: www.jewelryconnection.tv
Date: August 15th, 2010
Show Times are: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe and 8pm in The UK.

We'll enjoy an interview, exhibition of work, and more!
Please join us for a rare opportunity to explore this incredible artist!

Warmest Regards,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
www.jewelryconnection.tv

PS: if you are operating with dial up the program will be difficult for you to watch. Streaming audio and video operate much better with high speed internet access!

Meet Guest Artist Michael Mara

2010-06-11T20:54:00.000-07:00

Join us for a live interview with talented and prolific artist Michael Mara of Illinois. Designer of jewelry, knives, and free standing sculpture, Michael's interview is sure to stir your own muse, excite your eye, and inspire your vision! Join us for this extraordinary live internet event!
Date: Sunday afternoon June 13th, 2010

Date: June 13th, 2010
Location: www.livevideo.com/liveshow/the-jewelry-connection

Show Time in the US: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST
Show Time in Europe is generally 9pm and in the UK 8pm.
In Turkey show time is 10 pm!

Meet Artist Betty Stephan

2010-05-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

Join The Jewelry Connection for an interview and exhibition of work with independent jewelry artist Betty Stephan! Betty is a member of the Etsy Bead Weavers and a very accomplished artist! We are looking very much forward to sharing her interview with you!

Her website is: http://www.bettystephan.com and you'll find a link to her Etsy shop there as well!
Date: Sunday May 16th, 2010
Location: http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection
Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST 9pm in Europe 8pm in the UK

With a history of 69 countries visiting our site we enjoy a vastly international audience! You'll find our shows interesting, inspiring, and fun! When you use the link to the website allow a few seconds for the broadcast room to load.
You do not need a membership at this site in order to watch and hear the show. If you want to participate with live text during the show and/or webcam, you will need a user ID for the site!

Meet Guest Artist Harriete Estel Berman

2010-04-30T08:08:00.000-07:00

Join Mona and Gail in the broadcast of The Jewelry Connection on Sunday to meet Harriete Estel Berman! Harriete is a very well known and much revered artist creating fantastic wearable art and equally beautiful decorative art! We will enjoy a live interview, an exhibition of Harriete's work, and a question/answer session!
This is an internet event and may be watched from the comfort of your home anywhere on the globe! Over 60 countries have visited our shows!

Date: Sunday May 2, 2010
Time: 12PM PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3PM EST, 9pm in Europe,
and 8pm in the UK
Location:
http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

You may explore Harriete's online sites at these web addresses!
WEBSITE: http://www.harriete-estel-berman.info
BLOG: http://www.askharriete.typepad.com
www.harriete-estel-berman.info/profguidelines/profguide.html
www.snagmetalsmith.org/Publications/Professional_Guidelines/
VIDEOS: http://www.harriete-estel-berman.info/gall/videos.html
ETSY: http://www.harrieteestelberman.etsy.com/
OBJECT FETISH JEWELRY: http://www.objectfetish.com/jewelry/harriete-berman-v-52.html

To watch and listen to this show you only need to go to the link provided.
To participate with live text during the show you will need to acquire a user ID for the site at www.livevideo.com It's free and takes 30 seconds or less to get a user id for this site. You will need to be signed in with your user ID to participate during the show!
We're looking forward with great anticipation to sharing this talented and inspiring artist with you!
Best to All!
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Meet Guest Jewelry Artist Kerrie Slade of England

2010-04-08T10:36:00.000-07:00

Please join us for an online, LIVE interview and exhibition of work of our guest featured artist at The Jewelry Connection!
Kerrie Slade of the UK will be joining us for an interview and exhibition of some of her work. Kerrie is an artist with vision and skill.
The show promises to be memorable!
Please note that this is an online internet live show. You do not have to travel. You may watch and hear the show from the comfort of your home sitting at your own computer!
To only watch and listen to the show nothing more is required than to show up at the internet site on the date and time!
To participate during the show you will need to get a user id at the site and be logged in. www.livevideo.com
Please allow the site a few seconds to load.

When: April 11, 2010
where: http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection
Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST in the US
In Europe 9pm except in the UK - 8pm

Looking forward to sharing this wonderful artist with you!

Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Meet Guest Jewelry Artist Peter Sewell

2010-03-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Please join us today, Sunday March 28th for a live interview and review of work with independent jewelry artist Peter Sewell of Wakefield England!
Peter's extraordinary fine beaded jewelry incorporates some magnificent stones and crystals! Major Eye Candy today and his live interview will provide a special glimpse into the world and work of this fine artist.

Show Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm UK
Location: http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

See You There!

Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry

Meet Guest Artist Jay Whaley

2010-03-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Presenting Jay Whaley of Whaley Studios in SanDiego!
Metalsmith, jewelry Artist, Teacher, and Mentor!
Join us in the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection on Sunday Afternoon March 21st, 2010 for a LIVE interview with our guest artist!
Time: 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK

Location: The Jewelry Connection

This is an internet event. You may enjoy this show from the comfort of your home via your computer! To participate during the show with web cam and/or live text you will need a user id which may be obtained from the home page of www.livevideo.com and then you must be signed in during the show.
Nothing is require to simply watch and listen to the show!
Hope to see you there!
Best Regards,
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

The Latest from TJC and from SNAG Conference

2010-03-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

Greetings!
It's been an awesome week! SNAG conference has been in Houston all week! Jay Whaley along with Terrie and Greg Masters have been my house guests and we've had a really terrific time getting to know one another! Jay's work at SNAG conference has involved capturing interviews with some of the worlds most revered jewelry artists! You may find the audio interviews here:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/whaleystudios

for the Video with Audio Archives visit here: http://www.metalsmith.tv/

On Thursday March 18th At Whaley Studios Blog talk:
Kate McKinnon - a globe-trotting metalsmith, who has devoted herself to the study of how things are done, and how they could be done better. She lives in Tucson, Arizona, and loves warm weather, nice people, and good books. Please join Jay Whaley at his blogtalk radio site for a live interview with Kate! Show time is 3-4 pm PST, 5-6 pm CST, 6-7pm EST!

Also coming up very soon is WIRE FANDANGO with Annette Kinslow! Wire Fandango is a retreat that will be hosted in an historical bed and breakfast! In the plans are a wine tasting with a local vintner a limo ride to a fabulous dinner, and much much more! Get more information about the fee and the plans here: www.kinslowart.com

Thank you Shay Stone for a terrific interview on Marh 14th!

In Addition Perry Jackson will be hosting a work shop soon at Gahanna Bead Studio in Ghanna Ohio where she will be teaching some outrageously fine wire wrapping techniques!! Dates are: March 26th, 27th, and 28th! Link for more information is:

http://www.gahannabeadstudio.com/page/6724204

Meet Guest Artist Shay Stone - Live Interview!

2010-03-12T04:52:00.000-08:00

Join us in an ON-LINE internet broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection (an internet event) to meet visiting guest artist Shay Stone of Laytonville California! Wire wrapping beautiful wearable art full of love and light would best describe this wonderful artist's work! Join us for a live interview and review of Shay's work on:
Sunday Afternoon - March 14th, 2010

Location:
http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

Show Times by Zones: 1pm PST, 2pm MT, 3pm CST, 4pm EST
10pm in Europe, 9pm in the UK

Our show is starting one hour later on March 14th to allow for everyone to calibrate with Daylight Savings Time -spring those clocks forward one hour!

Looking forward to sharing this wonderful designer with you!
Best to All!

Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Meet Guest Artist Annette Kinslow of Texas!

2010-03-06T23:21:00.000-08:00

Join Mona and Gail in the broadcast room on March 7th 2010 for a live interview and review of work with mulit-media artist Annette Kinslow!
Show time is 12pm PST, 1pm MT, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm Europe, 8pm UK
We'll host an interview and review of work with an open question/answer session to follow!
Looking forward to sharing this talented artist with you!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a snippet of what she's up to in the near future!
Oklahoma City Bead Market is March 27th & 28th at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds. Sign up for classes at www.kinslowart.com .
Also, coming up and beginning to fill--WIRE FANDANGO!! That's April 30th through May 2nd in beautiful San Antonio, Texas. We're having all new classes there. See details and sign up for WIRE FANDANGO at www.kinslowart.com also--just look for the navigation to the page.

Meet Canadian Jewelry Artist Brett Borrie Today!

2010-02-14T06:42:00.000-08:00

Independent artist Brett Borrie and his work will be featured in the broadcast room today. Canadian inspired Brett is a self taught artist who engraves gold, silver, platinum and creates amazing one of a kind original designs. Also featured will be a jewelry design inspired by the Winter Olympic Games!
Looking forward to seeing you today!
Show time is 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 1pm MT, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK!
No User ID is required to watch and listen to the show!
If you would like to participate with webcam/mic or real time text
You will need to grab a user ID from the home page of www.livevideo.com. It's free and takes about 30 seconds.
You can click on the title of this blog to be transported directly to the broadcast room or click here! THE JEWELRY CONNECTION BROADCAST ROOM

Give this site a few seconds to load. If you don't have broadband or some type of high speed internet access you may experience difficulty watching the show. Nothing I do to help you there!

Happy Valentine's Day to All!

Mona

Meet Bench Jeweler and Artist Erkki Kokko of Finland

2010-02-03T16:27:00.000-08:00

Meet Bench Jeweler and Artist Erkki Kokko of Helsinki Finland

Host:	The Jewelry Connection
Type:	Music/Arts - Exhibit
Network:	Global

Date:	Sunday, February 7, 2010
Time:	12:00pm - 2:00pm
Location:	http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

Description

Join us at the online broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection to meet Erkki Kokko of Helsinki Finland! Erkki (Eddie) is a bench jeweler and we'll be enjoying an interview as well as a review of his work! A human interest story combined with a display of original inspired wearable art is certain to bring you an entertaining and meaningful experience!
Show Time is 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST in the USA
Show Time in Europe 9pm and in the UK 8pm
Please allow a few seconds for the broadcast room to load when you go to the web address provided!
No user ID is required to watch the show. A user ID is required if you wish to participate with the show via webcam/mic and/or real time text chat and may be obtained from the home page at www.livevideo.com
Looking forward to sharing this talented artist with you!

Jewels of Love - an internet Jewelry Exhibition Jan 24th!

2010-01-19T01:01:00.000-08:00

On January 24th The Jewelry Connection will be hosting a Live, on-line internet, jewelry exhibition! Representing over 20 independent jewelry artists, we'll enjoy exploring the theme of Love in Valentine's Day Jewelry and wearable art!

Please join us!
Show time is:
12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm Europe, 8pm UK depending on your location and time zone!

Website Location for the show is:
http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

Please allow time for the broadcast room to open after you click on the link.
No user ID is required to watch and listen to the show. If you would like to participate in live real-time text and/or join us with your own webcam you will need a user id. It 's free and may be obtained at the home page of www.livevideo.com
Also you may call in during the show to visit with us and verbally salute your favorite artist. You may call in via Skype to User ID Mona77401 or call in by phone to The Jewelry Connection's dedicated line at 1-832-397-6317
Looking forward to sharing this lovely event with you!
Best Regards,
Mona Hair - Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
Dr. Gail Devoid - Co-host of The Jewelry Connection

How To Join The Valentines's Day Jewelry Show and Video

2010-01-03T13:24:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!
Our fans our loving our seasonal jewelry shows and videos! I know we just finished one project, but Valentine's day isn't far away and to get the jump on potential sales for that day we are going to have to move fast. I am Planning the Jewels of Love show in the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection for the 24th of January.

I'll need submissions of your work in a Valentine's day (LOVE) theme by January 17th, so that I'll have time to get the video ready!

You can submit up to 4 items for the video and jewelry show. Here is what I need:
1. Photos of your work up to 4 designs
2. photo size no less than 600x600 pixels and no more than 900 x 900
3. name, website, city, state,
4. personal photo (of you working, with your family, with your pet)
I need personal photos to make this a human interest story so please don't be shy with your photos. Your photos of yourselves create an important bond with your viewers and fan basis!

***send your pictures and information to mhair@pdq.net

Looking forward to working with you all on this project!
Happy New Year!
Mona

Meet Guest Artist April Abate-Adams

2009-11-16T17:36:00.001-08:00

On Sunday Afternoon November 22, 2009 Join Mona Hair and Dr. Gail Devoid in the broadcast room to meet guest featured artist April Abate-Adams.
A Geologist and jewelry designer, April has a love of stones and design.

Show Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm UK 9am in Hawaii.
Location: www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

No user ID is required to watch the show.
A user ID is required in order to join the show with live text and/or webcam.
You may call into the show to ask the artist questions with Skype by calling User ID: Mona77401
or by phoning in with phone number 1-832-397-6317
Join us for a wonderful opportunity to get to know this artist!
Her website is: Delicate Desert Designs
Happy Thanksgiving to All!
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Temporary Relocation of The Jewelry Connection

2009-11-07T05:05:00.000-08:00

UPDATE: 11-14-2009

The upgrades on the Primary broadcast room for The Jewelry Connection are complete and we are returning to the Primary Broadcast room just in time to host our online jewelry show, "A Holiday in Jewels! Here's a link to the broadcast room for the show!

The Jewelry Connection Broadcast Room

SCHEDULE FOR NOVEMBER :
NOVEMBER 1ST: WAS DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS FOR A HOLIDAY IN JEWELS
NOVEMBER 8: OPEN FORUM AND HOW TO BEAT A LOW EBB OF THE MUSE
NOVEMBER 15: A JEWELRY SHOW - A HOLIDAY IN JEWELS -A COLLABORATIVE OF DESIGNERS
NOVEMBER 22: Meet Guest Artist April Abate-Adams - Interview and Review of Work
NOVEMBER 29TH - THANKSGIVING WEEKEND - NO SHOW ON THIS DAY

PRELIMINARY SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER:
DECEMBER 6TH: CHRISTINA NEIT WITH THE ENTRIES FOR HER FANTASY JEWELS CHALLENGE
DECEMBER 13TH: GUEST ARTIST TAMRA GENTRY - Interview and Review of Work
DECEMBER 20TH: BROADCAST ROOM HOLIDAY GET TOGETHER
DECEMBER 27TH: CHRISTMAS WEEKEND - NO SHOW

Presenting Fabulous Chain Maille on November 1st

2009-10-28T17:31:00.000-07:00

The Jewelry Connection will be hosting guest artisanRebeca Mojica of Blue Buddha Boutique!
Rebecca is a world class chain maille artist! Join me and my co-host Dr. Gail Devoid to enjoy an interview and a review of some of Rebeca's work!

When: Sunday Afternoon November 1st
Where: http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/gdevoid
Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST, 9pm in Europe, 8pm in the UK, 9am in Hawaii!

Hello Everyone!
Tomorrow afternoon we will be hosting guest featured artist Rebeca Mojica of Chicago! Rebeca is a world class chain maille artist. Because my broadcast room is still in upgrade mode, we will be relocating the show to my co-hosts broadcast room! Here is the web address for the location of tomorrow's show Featuring Blue Buddha Boutique and Rebeca Mojica!

http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/gdevoid

Thanks!
Looking forward to seeing you all there!
Hugs,
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

You may join the broadcast room by clicking on the link provided. Please allow a few seconds for the broadcast room to load. If you wish to participate in live text or with a webcam you'll need to create a member ship at the site and set up your web cam prior to the show, and then be logged in. Sign up on the home page of www.livevideo.com

You may also call in for the show with Skype via my user id: Mona77401 or call in by phone to the show at The Jewelry Connection dedicated line: 832-397-6317

Rebeca's website is:

http://www.BlueBuddhaBoutique.com - Chainmailling our world one ring at a time.

Hope to see you there!
Love to All,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
An on-line radio talk show for and about independent jewelry artists!
www.livevideo.com/the-jewelry-connection

Meet Guest Artist Maureen Brusa Zapellini

2009-09-23T03:40:00.000-07:00

On Sunday Afternoon September 27, 2009 featured guest artist Maureen Brusa Zappellini will be joining us in the broadcast for a live interview, review of work, and question/answer session! Maureen is a trained metalsmith with training in Italy as well as the USA. Designing jewelry and creating forms are her forte and it will be an awe inspiring show!

SHOW TIME IN THE USA: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST
SHOW TIME IN EUROPE: 9pm except in the UK - 8pm

No user id is required to watch and listen to the show.
If you want to join in live text to the broadcast room or with a webcam and headset with mic....you must have a user id which may be obtained from www.livevideo.com home page.
To Join the Show Click Here: The Jewelry Connection Broadcast Room
Best To All!
Mona
feel free to Skype me with any questions: User Name Mona 77401

Prepping for the Holiday Jewelry Show - Instructions and Requirements

2009-09-20T07:43:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone!
My co-host Dr. Gail Devoid and I are in the midst of planning for a jewelry show that will showcase jewelry for the Holiday Season
Target Date for the Show is November 15th, 2009. Location will be the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection. It will be a live show offering holiday jewelry designs by independent artistans, their website locations, and their general locations around the globe.

Here are the details for submissions:
1. The jewelry may be in any medium-in a Holiday Theme and must be one of a
kind wearable art by an independent jewelry artist. No mass produced designs will be
accepted.
2. You may offer up to four submissions per artist
3. Photos must be minimum of 600x600 pixels and no more than 900x900 pixels.
Photos need to be in a square shape. Rectangle shaped photos do not display well via this
venue. It's not a juried show. Be as creative as you like with props ect...to offer a feel of The Holidays!
I also need one picture of the artist. People feel a more personal connection when they can
put all of the information with the face of the artist. Remember..we are entertaining viewers!
This show must carry a human interest story presence.
4. I need to have submissions for this video and Jewelry Show presentation by November 1st, 2009.

I'll debut the video presentation on YouTube November 14th or 15th.

I'll need:
Name, State, Personal photo, Picture of your offering(s), and website location! Make sure it's a design(s)s that will be available for sale at your website during and right after the show ok!?..so that folks excited by the event will have an opportunity to visit and make purchases while the presentation is still fresh and new in their minds! On previous shows viewers have literally opened another browser tab and purchased what was being shown before the show was over so have your offerings ready to view in your point of sales locations being offered with your profile during the show.

Let's enchant our fans with the best Holiday Jewelry they have EVER seen!

Send submissions by November 1st to mhair@pdq.net with Holiday Jewelry in the Subject Line

Best To All
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
An on-line radio talk show for and about Independent Jewelry Artists.
Skype User ID: Mona77401
Phone Number for The Jewelry Connection - (1) 832-397-6317

You're Invited! Meet Gordon Uyehara - Metal Clay Artist

2009-09-13T01:46:00.000-07:00

Sunday, September 20, 2009
Interview and review of work with Gordon Uyehara of Hawaii!

Where: The Jewelry Connection (a clickable link)

Time: 12pm PST 2pm CST or 3pm EST depending on where you are in the USA

Time: if you're in Europe show time is 9pm except in the UK where it is 8pm
Time: in Hawaii is 9:00 a.m.

Join us for a live interview with guest independent jewelry artist Gordon Uyehara of Hawaii! Gordon is a well loved and highly revered teacher and designer in Metal Clay.
His interview will be incredibly informative and his review of work will no doubt be a marvelous experience. It's an honor to welcome Gordon to the broadcast room and I'm looking forward with great anticipation to sharing this experience with you!
Gordon is on a tight time constraint, so please have your questions ready for the question/answer session near the end of the show. Thanks!

If you create a user ID at this site you may real time text to the show and even join us with your own web cam if you so desire! Nothing at all is required to simply join the broadcast room and watch the show!

Gordon's Website: http://www.geocities.com/gtrsolo/index.html

Best Regards,
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection - An On-line radio talk show for and about independent jewelry artists.

What the Season of Fall brings to mind in wearable art subject matter

2009-08-22T13:31:00.000-07:00

We'll be hosting a discussion on what the Season of Fall brings to mind in the way of possible wearable art. An inspirational chat for design ideas for our upcoming jewelry show here at Live Video on September 6th.
Join Mona and Gail for this discussion!

Date: Sunday August 23rd
Show Time is 12pm PST, 2pm CST, or 3pm EST in the USA
Show Time in Europe: 9pm except in the UK where it is 8pm

The title for this particular blog also includes a direct link to the broadcast room!
Simply click on the title and join us to hear the discussion!

Much Love,
Mona

Upcoming Events for The Jewelry Connection

2009-08-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

August Events at The Jewelry Connection: 8/9/2009 Join us August 16th, 2009 for a live interview with guest independent jewelry artist Linda Hartung! She has two websites that provide fantastic resources in jewelry components. Those websites are: www.alacarteclasps.com and www.wirelace.com Her personal designs website is www.alacartejewelry.com Linda is an awesome artist and it will be a wonderful opportunity to spend some time getting to know her! Looking very much forward to sharing this experience with you! Where: The Jewelry Connection Time: 12pm PST 2pm CST or 3pm EST depending on where you are in the USA Time: if you're in Europe show time is 9pm except in the UK where it is 8pm If you create a user ID at this site you may real time text to the show and even join us with your own web cam if you so desire! Nothing at all is required to simply join the broadcast room and watch the show! ______________________________________________________________________________________8/16/2009 Join us on August the 16th 2009 to meet Lilian Chen, guest featured artist at The Jewelry Connection! Lilian is a US ambassador for Swarovski Crystals and a well recognized designer and independent artisan. Lilian will be teaching a class in Cortona Italy October 23-30, 2010
Here is a link to the site with that class information! http://www.toscanaamericana.com/lilianchenjewelry.html Check it out! Where: The Jewelry Connection Time: 12pm PST 2pm CST or 3pm EST depending on where you are in the USA Time: if you're in Europe show time is 9pm except in the UK where it is 8pm If you create a user ID at this site you may real time text to the show and even join us with your own web cam if you so desire! Nothing at all is required to simply join the broadcast room and watch the show! Best Regards to All! Mona

Coming Up - a collaborative - Jewels of Fall - How to Submit

2009-07-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Greetings everyone!
My co-host Dr. Gail Devoid and I are in the midst of planning for a jewelry show that will showcase jewelry for the Fall Season!
Target Date for the Show is September 6th 2009. Location will be the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection. It will be a live show offering brief biographies of each artist, their work, their general location of residence and their website addresses.

Here are the details for submissions:
1. The jewelry may be in any medium-in a Season of Fall Theme and must be one of a
kind wearable art by an independent jewelry artist. No mass produced designs will be
accepted.
2. You may offer up to three submissions per artist
3. Photos must be minimum of 600x600 pixels and no more than 900x900 pixels.
Photos need to be in a square shape. Rectangle shaped photos do not display well via this
venue. It's not a juried show. Be as creative as you like with props ect...to offer a feel of Fall!
I also need one picture of the artist. People feel a more personal connection when they can
put all of the information with the face of the artist. Remember..we are entertaining viewers!
4. I need to have submissions for this video presentation by August 31st.

I'll debut the video presentation on YouTube and in the Broadcast Room on September 6th.

I'll need short biographies from everyone(what you would like for viewers to know about you). Name, State, Personal photo, Picture of your offering(s), source of inspiration for the design, and website location! Make sure it's a design(s)s that will be available for sale at your website during and right after the show ok!? At least on September 6th..so that folks excited by the event will have an opportunity to visit and make purchases while the presentation is still fresh and new in their minds! On previous shows viewers have literally opened another browser tab and purchased what was being shown before the show was over so have your offerings ready to view in your point of sales locations being offered with your profile during the show.

Let's enchant them with the best Fall Jewelry they have EVER seen!

Send submissions by August 31st to mhair@pdq.net with Jewels of Fall in the Subject Line
Jewelies! Start Your Engines!

Best To All
Mona Hair
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
An on-line radio talk show for and about Independent Jewelry Artists.
Skype User ID: Mona77401
Phone Number for The Jewelry Connection - (1) 832-397-6317

2009-07-12T07:34:00.001-07:00

Location:

http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

Join us for a live interview with well known beading artist Maria Rypan. Her website is: http://www.rypandesigns.com/ Maria is an extraordinary beading artist and teacher! Where: The Jewelry Connection - (Click to go to broadcast room) Time: 12pm PST 2pm CST or 3pm EST depending on where you are in the USA Time: if you're in Europe show time is 9pm except in the UK where it is 8pm If you create a user ID at this site you may real time text to the show and even join us with your own web cam if you so desire! Nothing at all is required to simply join the broadcast room and watch the show!

The Art of Jewelry Designer Armando Suarez

2009-06-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

The Art of Armando Suarez

Date:	Sunday June 28, 2009


Type:	Meeting

Location:	http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

Time: 12pm PST 2pm CST or 3pm EST depending on where you are in the USA Time: if you're in Europe show time is 9pm except in the UK where it is 8pm

Join us as we explore the art of independent jewelry artist Armando Suarez of Virginia. His magnificent designs all share one particular and unique component.... horse shoe nails! YES! His designs are gorgeous and I can hardly wait to share them with you! If you create a user ID at this site you may real time text to the show and even join us with your own web cam if you so desire! Nothing at all is required to simply join the broadcast room and watch the show! Best to All! Mona Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection

Meet Guest Artist Victoria Lansford

2009-05-16T01:59:00.000-07:00

On May 31st, 2009 I'll be introducing a magnificent independent jewelry artisan, Victoria Lansford. Her website is www.victorialansford.com. Victoria is a world wide well respected artist in Russian Filigree among other techniques. She's produced tutorial video CDs and taught extensively. You'll find more on her net bio by visiting her site. She will be joining us in the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection for a LIVE interview, review of work, and open question/answer session to follow! Also, if you are into soldering Silver, Victoria is the only source I know of for acquiring powdered solder!

When: May 31, 2009
Where: http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection
Time: 12pm PST 2pm CST or 3pm EST depending on where you are in the USA
Time: if you're in Europe show time is 9pm except in the UK where it is 8pm

If you create a user ID at this site you may real time text to the show and even join us with your own webcam if you so desire! Nothing at all is required to simply join the broadcast room and watch the show!

This is a rare and wondrous opportunity to hear Victoria in a LIVE interview, talk about her work, her experiences, and more!
Looking forward to seeing you there!------Mona

Meet Guest Artist Ileana Munteanu Live May 17th

2009-05-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

More than a year ago The Jewelry Connection radio talk show started up it's first episode of it's program, with the idea that many might like to meet and get to know independent artists of wearable art. Those artist's, without this venue, might never be found by large numbers of seekers of inspired wearable art! Sixteen months later, we are revisiting the very first artist who appeared "Live" on the show! Ileana Munteanu of Brooklyn, NY. Ileana is a very fine artist who creates one of a kind wearable art in gemstones, glass, pearls, leather, and very finely beaded hand work that is sold in her online boutique as well as a gallery in New York. I'm looking forward to sharing Ileana's interview with you "LIVE" where/when we will have an opportunity to see what magic her muse has wrought in the past year! New pictures, new work, new information, and a terrific sharing experience is to be had by all.
Dr. Gail Devoid (co-host) and I, will be sharing Ileana's Live interview in the broadcast room of the new site of The Jewelry Connection
Show Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, or 3pm EST in the USA
Show Time: in Europe - 9pm for most and 8pm in the UK
Just click on the link for The Jewelry Connection or the title of this blog entry to be transported directly to the broadcast room.
To participate in the discussion portion of the interview you can either call in with Skype with my id: mona77401 or you can sign up at the new site with a user id and enjoy live texting, webcam access, and mic!
Home page for the new site is www.livevideo.com where you can create a membership!
Looking forward to seeing you there!
Best to All!
Mona

Your Day of Joy - A Wedding Jewelry Collaborative

2009-04-25T09:09:00.000-07:00

12 independent jewelry artists from around the globe have joined in collaboration to celebrate "Your Day of Joy". A presentation video devoted to the Bride. From across the USA, Scotland, Australia, and England, designers have submitted their own original one of a kind design work to be presented in this video. In addition to the lovely design work of these talented and distinguished artists, some have offered more than photos. Cathy Kent Johnson of the UK also submitted pictures of English churches! Sonia of Gioia Mia submitted pictures of Brides and Grooms. Sonia also offered for use one of her husbands original Scottish compositions in which he is also featured as the musician. Title of this this original piece of work is "Heritage". It's the opening music for the video and I'm very grateful for this lovely and moving addition. It brought happy tears to my eyes as I played it over and over again, trying for just the right placement of photos. I contributed another piece of music titled "First Love's Linger" to follow up. It's quite a lengthy video as videos go, but there's something lovely to hear and see with every moment that passes, so I hope you'll find this video enjoyable in every way. All of the designers have their website, name, and location if possible, noted on their photos. We all do independent commissioned work and welcome your contacts! Love to All!----------------------Mona
mhair@pdq.net
April 26th, 2009 the pictures, bios, ect will be presented during a LIVE broadcast of The Jewelry Connection! Show time is 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST. In Europe show time is at 9pm except the UK-8pm.
http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The...

Wire Wrapping Session with Mona - Play Time! Join Me!

2009-04-21T17:00:00.000-07:00

On April 26th, Mona is going to offer some brief tutorial information and practice with lots of one on one help with wire wrapping. I'll be helping answer questions about how to keep from breaking your wire, and anything else I can help you with to make your attempts more successful! I'll also offer suggestions for books and offer links to websites on the net that offer free and for fee tutorials!
Show time is as usual, 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST in the US
Show time in Europe is 9pm except in the UK where show time is 8pm
Have some wire available to play with and join me! I'll spend a good long time helping you sort things out!
What you'll need to play:
1. wire 18 or 20 gauge craft wire - at least 1 foot
2. wire 26 or 28 gauge craft wire - at least 4 feet
3. an object to be wire wrapped (cabochon, button, piece of smooth glass)
4. a wire cutter
5. a fine tip permanent marker
6. a soft fabric measuring tape or piece of non-stretch string(failing all else a
strip of paper to use for measuring)
7. some time....this will not be a fast and furious show. I'll spend as much time as needed helping participants work through a single technique/project and offer some tips on how to handle wire to keep it from breaking in the middle of a piece of work. When selecting your object to wire wrap please do not choose a large object. It will take to long to wrap. Choose something no more than 1 to 2 inches in diameter.
8. Safety glasses or some type of glass is a good idea to protect your eyes from the wire!
Until you learn this technique I advise against using precious metal wire.
After a few hours of practice with this you will easily be able to move from practice wire to finer components, but don't rush it! More practice delivers a finer result and the practice pieces very quickly start looking really good!

To participate at the new home of The Jewelry Connection you'll need a user id and password. It's free and it's fast. Just grab a user ID at Live Video
Or----you can skype me at mona77401 to ask questions!

Meet Guest Jewelry Artist Dinah Hoyt Taylor!

2009-04-18T20:31:00.000-07:00

Last year Dinah took us step by step through a design in copper! Rolling Mills and all kinds of metal working tools and equipment were explored. This time we will enjoy a live interview, review of work, and question/answer session with Dinah! A number of new designs will be explored as we delve into the muse of this wonderful independent jewelry artist!
Show Time in the USA: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST
Show Time in Europe: 9pm except in the UK - 8pm
Please help me welcome Dinah Hoyt Taylor to the broadcast room!
Just click on the title to this blog and you'll be transported to the broadcast room!
If you want to join in the text chat or use a webcam you'll need a user id at this site. www.livevideo.com
Have a Great Weekend!
Mona

The Jewelry Connection is Moving

2009-04-10T06:11:00.000-07:00

Greetings Artisans and Friends!
After a great deal of contemplation, deliberation, and research The Jewelry Connection is planning a move to be effective immediately. I'm very excited about the new site. Everything that wasn't working or that changed in a negative direction at the old home site has been re-established and even enhanced!
Here's how it breaks down in functionality!
1. Video Clarity - superior quality
2. Sound - stereo quality
3. Archived Shows - YES THEY"RE BACK! archives expire and are deleted in 7 days,
but you can download them before they expire and the archives are in video and
sound(not just sound)!!! So grab them within a week of the show and you can save
them permanently!
4. Functionality - no adjustments to make to the sound on entering the broadcast
room.
5. Navigation - Easier in every way for visitors to navigate
6. A video/sound Podcaster of extremely nice quality is available that can be
implanted where you want them, and when the show is not live videos of many
previous guest artists continuously rotate through the podcaster, not just
one.
7. You can Skype the show for free - no phone fees - and text live in the chat room!
To Call in: Skype me at mona77401

The new location offers a venue that we can be proud of in our journey toward sharing artisans and their work with the public. The size and quality of the video screen in the broadcast room is good enough to allow for some excellent tutorial opportunities and several other functions of this new broadcast room are superior to our original home.
Change is not easy. The show's been running at Nowlive.com for over a year. We've learned a lot about running a show there and it's been an incredible experience. It's about to get even better! Please join me at the new location!
Location of the new home of The Jewelry Connection is as follows.
Broadcast room: http://www.livevideo.com/liveshow/The-Jewelry-Connection
Home Page: http://www.livevideo.com/user/home.aspx
Show Time will not be changing! Every Sunday afternoon at 12pm PST, 2pm CST, or 3pm EST in the USA.
If you're in Europe: show time is 9pm except in the UK where show time is 8pm

Please help spread the word about the move!
Thank you for your ongoing support of the show.
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
An on-line radio talk show for and about independent jewelry artisans with live video!

TUTORIAL WITH ROBYN TIPTON AT THE JEWELRY CONNECTION REDUCED IMAGES IN JEWELRY DESIGN

2009-04-03T02:30:00.000-07:00

Date:		Sunday April 5, 2009
Type:		TUTORIAL
Location:		www.nowlive.com/showid/63074
Phone:		SKYPE ID: mona77401 `SHOW TIME IN THE USA: 12PM PST, 2PM CST, 3PM EST SHOW TIME IN EUROPE: 9PM EVERYWHERE EXCEPT THE UK WHICH IS 8PM`

Join me in welcoming Robyn Tipton of Portland, Oregon on April 5th, 2009! Robyn will be offering a tutorial on using art in jewelry! She makes lovely jewelry using reduced images in her design work and is going to share with us the how of it! Robyn is a very talented designer and you can visit her website in advance at: www.robynsart.etsy.com

SHOW TIME IN THE USA: 12PM PST, 2PM CST, 3PM EST
SHOW TIME IN EUROPE: 9PM EVERYWHERE EXCEPT THE UK WHICH IS 8PM

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ASK QUESTIONS OR MAKE COMMENTS DURING THE SHOW YOU CAN DO SO BY CONTACTING ME THROUGH SKYPE. MY USER ID: mona77401
Once I accept your call via Skype your conversation will go live to the broadcast room and your calls are very welcome!
Best Regards,
Mona

Wedding Jewelry Show - Another Collaborative

2009-03-31T19:24:00.001-07:00

With two really great collaborative video projects behind me, one for Christmas 2008 and another for Valentines Day 2009, I'm gathering artisans of one of a kind jewelry designs for a Wedding Jewelry Presentation. Not only am I creating a presentation video of wedding jewelry that will post to YouTube, but during my radio talkshow on the internet, I'll actually do a show on the Jewelry, including brief bios on each designer and a display of each individual contribution. Artists are welcome to join the show and talk about their own work, or I'll do it for you with my co-host if you can't make the show!

My target date to finish this project and start promoting it is May 1st. That
means I need Photos by April 24th to begin working on the video! It's
going to be posted at Youtube and shared with the broadcast room of The
Jewelry Connection just in time to garner interest from potential
clients for all of those wonderful spring and summer weddings! This
could include bride's maids jewelry as well! If the response is as big
as some of the other projects it could even work into 2 videos! Let's
see where it goes! People who are contributing to these videos are
experiencing increased traffic at their sites!

Home Page for The Jewelry Connection is http://www.nowlive.com/mona77401
Broadcast Room for The Jewelry Connection is http://www.nowlive.com/showid/63074
look for the little yellow letters that read OPEN AUDIO and slide the open audio bar to the far left to resolve streaming audio issues when you enter the broadcast room!

If you're interested in joining me in this new project please contact me!
What I need from you to create the presentation:
1. submit pictures with your name, location, and website in condensed bold
letters, large enough to easily read. The best font I have found for this
application is: Myriad Web Pro Condensed (this is a Font)
If you don't have this font, I'll add your information to your pictures for you!
2. minimum size for jpgs is 500x500 pixels. Larger is ok. I can always re-size
down without loss of resolution, but enlarging small pictures creates a profound
loss in clarity. Higher resolution images are better...like the ones directly
from a digital camera set to "fine".
3. send your pictures to me and I'll get them in the line-up for the video!
Please send your pictures to mhair [!at] pdq.net
I'll be creating a file for all contributing artists.
Also send me a short bio about yourself that I can present during the release of
the video!
There will be a SHOW featuring the release of the video. Individual pictures and bios of artists will be presented as an actual Wedding Show. All artists are encouraged to attend the show and participate, but it isn't mandatory.
The show is being run with Skype now. The download is free, the calls are free,
and the sound quality is superior to anything I've done in the past! Calling
into the show with Skype does require ear phones. Cheap ones that plug into the
back of the computer work great! If you can't attend the show or don't want to, I'll present your pictures and bio for you with my Co-host Dr. Gail Devoid.

Tips for Photos:
Necklaces that are in the round with lots of space in the center don't work very
well. If they can be displayed in a more compact arrangement I can bring them up
with a zoom for a closer view. If they are spread out I can't offer viewers a
closer look at the work.

When composing shots of your jewelry, take the pictures with a bit of open
surround space, with the jewelry in the center. This open space in the
background allows me to pan and zoom to create an impression of motion rather
than a series of still shots and gives the viewer a far away view as well as a
closeup. If you watch some of the videos I've already created, you'll see what
is happening when I pan and zoom. The photo composition very much dictates how
much or little I can do with it, artistically, from a video point of view.
This is a bridal show! Don't be afraid to break the rules when it comes to
presentation. Use a swag of lace, some orchids, a necklace draped over a tiara,
some lilies or anything else that adds a sense of romance to the pictures.
The video is meant to create romance, ambiance, and intrigue. These kinds of
pictures are not the same kind of pics one might necessarily shoot for
presenting at a website/point of sale. The more inviting the pictures are, the
more likely a potential client is to actually go and visit your website to find
out more about the design. That's where your other pictures and your item
descriptions will do the job of selling! There will be those who submit pictures
that they have had saved from shop submissions and I'll have to use whatever I
get, but if you want to shine, get me pictures that will Wow the crowd!
If you've heard from me, I probably already like the pictures you have on display and consider them suitable for the presentation.

Let me know if you have any other questions! This is fun and easy.
I do the bulk of the work. I just need pictures that thoroughly ID the designer, with name, location, and website plus a short bio.
The response to previous collaborative events of this type
have been very favorable. We did a show like this for Christmas 2008, for
Valentines Day 2009. You Tube watchers Loved them and they got lots of action in
the Broadcast Room as well! You can see those videos at http://www.youtube.com/mona77401

It is possible for me to collect your pictures from your website, add your information to your pictures and even collect the bio you have on display in your profile, but I need your permission to do that.
Best,
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
http://www.nowlive.com/showid/63074 - Broadcast Room
http://www.nowlive.com/mona77401 - Home Page of The Jewelry Connection

Meet Guest Artist Don Wolford of Princess Bride Jewelry

2009-03-28T14:52:00.000-07:00

Don Wolford has been designing jewelry for Brides and Bride's Maids for a long time. Don will be joining us in the broadcast room via Skype for a live interview, review of work, and question/answer session to follow. He's a warm and wonderful human being with a romantic soul. The show is sure to be interesting, entertaining, and informative! Please join me in welcoming Don Wolford of Princess Bride Jewelry to the Broadcast Room of The Jewelry Connection!
Date: March 29th, 2009
Time: in the USA show time is 12pm PST, 2pm CST, or 3pm EST
Time: in Europe - show time is 9pm except in the UK where show time is 8pm
Location: www.nowlive.com/showid/63074 which is clickable in the link to the Broadcast Room above!
Best to All!
Mona
PS: Add me to your Skype Contacts to join in the show with audio for comments ect.
my Skype id is mona77401

The Jewelry Connection -Live Video is back up!

2009-03-14T10:04:00.000-07:00

Fund raising for The Jewelry Connection is working well! We raised $139.00 toward reinstating streaming video for the show! I made up the difference to a total of $200.00 and for this month we have streaming live video again. We still need contributions of any amount from everyone to help us continue with live streaming video. Some sponsors have been solicited for support of the show and I'm waiting to hear back from them.
March 15th, 2009 Susy Garner of Dallas Texas will be joining us in the broadcast room as featured guest artist! Susy will be sharing a very inspiring story of how she left a traditional day job in persuit of her career as an independent artist. We will be reviewing some of her work and offering a question and answer session to follow! Please join me in welcoming Susy Garner to the Broadcast Room!
Location: The Jewelry Connection
Show Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST in the US
Show Time for Europe: 9pm except in the UK, where show time is 8pm

Upon entering the broadcast room please find the little slide bar next to the tiny yellow letters that read Open Audio and slide that bar all the way to the left to cure distortions and looping of the streaming audio!
You can grab a user id at the Now Live Support Page which will allow you to enjoy live text chat in the broadcast room and many other functions not available to guest listeners without user ids.

Fund Raiser Coming Up for The Jewelry Connection

2009-03-04T17:33:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends of The Jewelry Connection,
The Jewelry Connection program has enjoyed a bit more than a year of free broadcasting at Now Live, home site for the show. I'm grateful for that time and after reviewing a number of similar sites, this site offers the best support for the type of program I'm producing.
Last Thursday Now Live made some changes. Programs that want to continue broadcasting with LIVE video must now pay for the bandwidth to produce shows. The fee they are asking is two hundred dollars per month. That sounds like a lot doesn't it!
It isn't actually much at all if you all are willing to help support the show with a very small contribution. The last show where numbers of visitors was recorded was almost nine thousand live listeners. If each of those listeners donated only one dollar to support the show, we would be able to enjoy live streaming video for almost 4 years, so this is a goal that is easily attainable!
Sunday March 8th, 2009 I'll be hosting a fund raising program at The Jewelry Connection with my Co-host Dr. Gail Devoid.
I am able to continue broadcasting live audio, but no live video is available at the site at this time. It is still possible to call into the show, enjoy interviews, look at pictures, and watch videos in the broadcast room, but with no live video, the show is operating with a bit of a handicap if we want to host live tutorials and enjoy guest artist by web cam. Also, I am unable to show pictures of artist's work through the remote streaming video pod casters which is a huge handicap.
I know that this is a tough time in the economy to be trying to raise funds, but the support I'm asking for is very minimal.
Guest Artists, teachers, jewelry students, and I would all be very grateful for your contribution to support a program that I work very hard to make sure is worthy of your attention! Please join us during our program on Sunday afternoon and consider donating a small contribution in order to return the status of the show to include streaming video!
Date: March 8th, 2009
Show Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST
Show Time in Europe: 9pm and in the UK 8pm
To visit the home page of my on-line radio talk show The Jewelry Connection visit here: nowlive. com/mona77401
To visit the broadcast room: nowlive. com/showid/63074
Slide the Open Audio bar to the far left upon entering the broadcast room. Hit F5 on your keyboard to reset the broadcast room if videos won't load from the media files. F5 usually fixes anything that isn't functioning properly for you! Click on the media tab at top left in the broadcast room to open a double panel of videos and pictures that are already viewable there!
Looking forward to meeting with you on Sunday, March 8th!
Best Regards,
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection
An on-line radio talk show for and about Jewelry artisans!

Put These On You Calendar - Featured Jewelry Artisans

2009-01-04T09:13:00.000-08:00

COMING TO THE JEWELRY CONNECTION IN JANUARY 2009
These artist will go live with interviews, reviews of their work, and open question/answer sessions to follow! Show Time for these "LIVE" events is 12pm PST - 2pm CST- 3pm EST depending on what part of the country you're in!

January 4th - Nancy Romans - brand new on the scene - an entrepreneur working in fine fabrics and creating wearable art! Major eye candy exhibiting delicious combination of color, texture, and style! Her website shop name is

French Sugar Vintage

January 11th - Dorren Bates - Jewelry Artisan and Painter (combo presentation) of art and jewelry! Doreen is a very talented lady in multimedia living color! A first time presentation of a painter and jewelry designer for TJC! The name of her website is Doreen Bates Art

January 18th - Multiple artists from around the globe will have their bios and work presented!
This is the pre-launch exhibit of work from artists who have submitted designs to be featured in The Jewelry Connections Valentine's Day Jewelry Extravaganza Video to be hosted at You Tube as well as the broadcast room of TJC until just past Valentine's day! A soft advertising collaboration for multiple designers in the theme of Love! Join us for this review at the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection

January 25th- We will be reviewing the finished video of the collaboration discussed on the 18th!
Dr. Gail Devoid - a superstar in the fined beaded jewelry world - will be presenting a tutorial and demonstration of how to create the Cellini Spiral - a technique of fine beaded work!
Join us for this review and tutorial at the broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection
Gail's Website is: http://www.tarnhelm.com/NeedForBeads

A Sneak Peek at February:
I'm still working on the calendar for February but confirmed at this point:

February 1st - Vampi Choy - of Richmond Texas - A world Class Bead artist, will be live with an interview and review of work with a question answer session to follow! Her website is: Vamps Art
February 15th - Eni Oken - world famous wire wrapping artist will be live with an interview, review of her work, and information on her new website Jewelry Lessons

February 22nd - another world famous artist - Linda Crawford will be joining us for a live interview and review of work. A world class jewelry/enamel artist! Click on the link to view some of her fabulous work! This is only one of her websites and it's being updated at this time, but has major eye candy viewable and lots of it!

Valentine's Day Designs - Request for Submissions!

2008-12-31T10:19:00.000-08:00

2009 Valentines Day Video Submits
If you're an independent jewelry artisan and would like to join me in the 2009 Holiday extravaganza video presentation for Valentine's Day, please submit your pictures! Keep reading!Your photos need your website location. You can add those to the description if you like, and I'll add them to your photos for you!DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS IS JANUARY 18TH,2009 - up to 5 submissions allowed per artistThe photos will be reviewed during my live radio talkshow event on the afternoon of January 18th!So having your information available for sharing with the audience will be very important if you want your work to be found!
Send your photos to me at: mhair@pdq.net with VDay Submission in the subject line of your email. In your email, include your name, city, and state so that I can announce them during the Live presentation of your submissions!
Photos need to be at least 300dpi resolution and no smaller than 450 x 450 pixels. Larger is better. I can always resize. Pictures need a nice border of surround so that they may present well in video form.
As I mentioned, submissions will be reviewed "LIVE" for my on-line radio talk show audience, which ranges between 3000 and 8000 listeners every Sunday afternoon. The video will be posted to YouTube, and a copy will remain as free soft advertising in my broadcast room until after the Valentines Holiday! There will be two copies made of the video. One with background music and one without. The broadcast room has music playing almost 24/7 so I use silent videos in the broadcast room. You Tube Fans get cranky when there's not music or background, so I make one for them as well, with sound! Please Join me in this wonderful soft marketing adventure!
Warmest Regards,Mona
****To review videos of previous events visit: www.youtube.com/mona77401 The Holiday Videos we produced for the Christmas Holiday Season of 2008 were a huge hit and did impact sales at websites in a very positive way! The submissions were so numerous that we produced Volume 1 and Volume 2 for this event!
To visit the home page of my on-line radio talk show The Jewelry Connection visit here: www.nowlive.com/mona77401
To visit the broadcast room visit here: www.nowlive.com/showid/63074 Slide the Open Audio bar to the far left upon entering the broadcast room. Hit F5 on your keyboard to reset the broadcast room if videos won't load from the media files. F5 usually fixes anything that isn't functioning properly for you! Click on the media tab at top left in the broadcast room to open a double panel of videos and pictures that are already viewable there!
Mark it on your calendars! The show will "GO LIVE" on January 18th at 12pm PST, 2pm CST, or 3pm EST depending on where you are in the US. In the Broadcast room of The Jewelry Connection - link listed above. You can watch and listen to the show without doing anything except showing up. If you want to participate with live text chat, you'll need a user id which takes less than 30 seconds, and can be acquired at www.nowlive.com/support It is also possible to phone into the show if you want to call in to comment, by clicking on the Call Show button and following the system instructions. Please remember to turn down your computer audio if you call in! Thanks!
This presentation is occuring on the deadline date for submissions. The finished video will be released during the following week and will appear at www.youtube.com/mona77401 It will be available in the broadcast room and at Youtube until after Valentine's Day. I'll hosting a review of the finished video in the broadcast room on January 25th, just before Dr. Gail Devoid starts her tutorial presentation.

The Calendar of Events for The Jewelry Connection

2008-12-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

I've created a yahoo group called "The Jewelry Connection Now Live" to manage events scheduled for The Jewelry Connection - radio talk show for and about independent jewelry artisans! The location is here: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TJCNL/
I have to approve requests to join in order to keep the spammers out. Please pardon me for that! I initially want to leave this as an open group but that doesn't work.
There are rare emails out of this group. A couple a week. The calendar of events is open for you to review when you wish, but I also have special events set up so that reminder notices go out five or six days in advance of an event, and then again 24 hours before the event.
You're welcome to join this group if you want to stay updated on what's going to be going "LIVE" in the broadcast room and when!
Best to All!
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

An Invitation - The Jewelry Connection Says Farewell to 2008 and Hello to 2009!

2008-12-28T08:53:00.000-08:00

Wrapping up 2008 and Launching 2009 at TJC
Date:Sunday December 28, 2008
Show Time: 12pm PST, 2pm CST, 3pm EST
Type:Meeting Location: www.nowlive.com/showid/63074

You're invited to join The Jewelry Connection in wrapping up 2008 and find out what's coming in the New Year! Thankyou's and announcements. The broadcast room may be reached directly by cutting and pasting www.nowlive.com/showid/63074 into your browser window or clicking on the link above.
F5 on your keyboard is the reset button for the room to correct anything that isn't working properly(video playback or anything else). It completely resets the broadcast room for you. It doesn't effect it from my end!
Slide the open audio bar to the far left upon entering the broadcast room or after resetting with F5. This will correct distorted streaming sound feed!
Happy New Year to All!
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

The Valentines Day Collaborative Project

2008-12-27T09:56:00.000-08:00

The Holiday Christmas Jewelry Extravaganza video was a big hit so I'm planning to do it again for Valentine's Day.
You are invited to submit photos of Valentines Day romance themed jewelry for the new video. Submit up to five photos per person! If there are enough pictures, I'll produce more than one video. Make sure your website address is embedded on your picture in bold letters that do not encroach on the jewels.
Submission deadline is January 18. Release date for the video at Youtube is January 25th. This will allow for early exposure and allow for potential clients to hook up with those who have submitted work, order their Valentine's jewels and receive them in time for the big day! The video will be featured in the broadcast room of the Jewelry Connection. On January 18th the program will be devoted to announcing the video and a review of submissions will be done during the show.Minimum size on photos in jpg form must be at least 450 pixels. If they are larger, please don't resize. I prefer to do it myself in order to put jewels at their best advantage in video form.Looking forward to collaborating with you on this!
If you don't know how to add text to your photographs, send me the pics with your website and full name. I'll do it for you! No fees are involved in this collaborative project!
Send your submissions to mhair@pdq.net

Happy New Year!
Mona
Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection at www.nowlive.com/mona77401

For the 2009 Calender of Events at TJC

2008-12-16T03:36:00.000-08:00

I'm looking for independent jewelry artisans to present as featured guest artists at The Jewelry Connection for the 2009 Calendar of events! Live Shows present every Sunday afternoon at 12pm PST, 2pm CST, or 3pm EST depending on what part of the country you live in! I offer a script prior to the show for you to fill out and return to me! Contact me, send me pictures, return the script, and be there for your show! The interview may be conducted by telephone at the very least, or by webcam and headset with mic if you have a user id at www.nowlive.com!
To get a user id visit www.nowlive.com/support
To review the home page of TJC visit www.nowlive.com/mona77401
To visit the broadcast room go to www.nowlive.com/showid/63074

F5 is the reset button for the broadcast room and will fix any issues you are having with loading videos or with sound there.
The open audio slide bar needs to be moved all the way to the left to cure any looping sound.
Please contact me if you are interested in joining me for a spot as featured artist!
Happy Holidays to All!
Mona

What the Heck is Twitter? An answer for????

2008-12-14T06:52:00.000-08:00

Imagine, building a network of people that you can share with instantaneously! Search for people with similar interests! Share comments, ideas, triumphs, failures, family news.
I recently signed up over at Twitter hoping to share news of my on-line radio talk show and bring new viewers/listeners inn to hear interviews and reviews of work with independent jewelry designers from around the globe.
After a couple of days of Twittering my head began to digest the ramifications of what I was observing there.
1. Yes, networking possiblities exist
2. Marketing possibilities...I don't know. I hate spam and delete delete delete regardless of it's venue of entry into my life. I prefer to seek out what I want. I despise being hammered continuously with people shouting buy here, buy here, buy here! Media hammers me enough already. A couple of promos per day I can tolerate and may even find interesting, but more than that and I believe I'll be inclined again to delete delete delete...and stop following. It's not always a numbers game. It's a matter of having something of value to offer, and helping seekers find what they are searching for...not pounding them with it until they run for cover.
3. Outside of commerce and it's dubious possibilities through this venue other ideas began to digest. What is this a symptom of? People from around the world twittering and sharing even subtle things in their lives...like I'm making coffee, I'm sick, my child is ill, I just got a paper cut, I'm making a new jewelry design, I'm blogging on how to be successful....the content runs on and on....some personal, some business related.

What does this mean?
Has the world become so productivity oriented that we, as people, have become lonely for human contact? Do we need interpersonal relationships with tweets that are missing in real time because we are so damned busy trying to make a living? Is our society so productivity oriented toward success, money, prestige, competition, appearance, pretention, having stuff, doing stuff, that we no longer have time to walk down the street and converse with the neighbors? What are the names of your neighbors? Not of the entire street! Just the ones to your left and your right?
How about getting together with friends for a dinner? Inviting folks over for a pot luck? Meeting with pals for Coffee and Brioche on a Saturday morning?
We are hungry for people....not just for sales. We want to talk about even the mundane with someone who will listen objectively, supportively, and reciprocate in kind.

I see Twitter as an avenue for sustaining those of us who are obsessed with success. To be successful requires 24 hour dedication and leaves no time for socializing. I have to actually work at it to find time to interact with friends and loved ones.
Working 16-20 hours per day leaves no life remaining to Be.
Twitter is a fast fix communication with some super fine people who have similar interests! It's a fix ... an injection of relationship, friendship, human interaction, into an otherwise lonely day.
Someday, if I ever become successful enough that I don't have to work so hard, I have dreams of moving back into a world where people do things outside of a studio, office, garage, where all of my hours of the day are consumed today. While I love what I do....I am lonely. Twitter makes me feel better and that's a good thing.

Adventures in Marketing for Independent Jewelry Artisans

2008-12-06T06:20:00.000-08:00

In November of this year (2008) I had a brainstorm ...again! LOL I approached several independent jewelry artisans about creating a video of one of a kind wearable art devoted to the "Holiday Season". The response was overwhelming! The project moved from the development of one video to TWO videos and embraced the work of 33 independent jewelry artisans from across the US, Canada, and Portugal. Background music was provided by my dear friend Ed Rambeau and turned out very very nice as a first try at this type of collaboration! The videos provide a gentle and unpressured marketing experience through the home page of my on-line radio talk show and over at You Tube as well! You can visit all videos I've created for featured guest artists of the show at this link - The Videos
November 23rd I did a three hour show at the broadcast room where short bios were read on each designer, still shot pictures of their works were reviewed, holiday music was enjoyed, and we had drawings for prizes! It as a really fun show to do. I've had limited response from designers regarding success in this little marketing adventure as yet...it is still a bit early, but the response has been favorable with some artisans noting that traffic for their websites and their sales has improved!
Life is not easy for artisans who do one of a kind or limited editions of work. We cannot go to market and offer buyers thousands of pieces of the same work for resale. This is my attempt to help promote artists, get exposure for hand crafted work, and offer recognition of the importance of their work. Creating is a noble endeavor, especially when it is related to items that we will intimately embrace as worn ornamentation that is NOT MASS PRODUCED! Happy Holidays to all with lots of love, Mona of Mona Designs, Producer and Host of The Jewelry Connection

Videos and Live Broadcasting

2008-06-01T02:43:00.000-07:00

Wow! It's been a while since I added anything to this site! It's been a very very busy year for me! In January of 2008 I began hosting a live on-line radio talk show at the link provided in the title of this blog! The broadcast is The Jewelry Connection at www.nowlive.com/mona77401 . I've been interviewing and promoting independent jewelry designers from across the US! Programs broadcast on Sunday afternoons at 12pm PST, 2pm CST, or 3pm EST depending on where you live. The range of mediums that the artists work in is amazing! Chain maille, polymer clay, french beaded floral work with jewelry application, fine beaded work, lampworked glass in jewelry design, fine metal and gemstone work...it runs the gamut in content! There's a pod caster there to replay previous broadcasts and the site is loaded with pictures videos, music files...I even have the good fortune to have a professional singer donating music for the website and I am delighted to have an opportunity to promote him there as well! Ed Rambeau, of www.edrambeau.com has been a tremendous contributor of musical entertainment for the program in the form of videos and MP3s. Ed's a veteran performer! As a singer, song writer, and actor, Ed has played broadway. Ed's been in the entertainment business for many years and is just as vibrant and shining today as ever. He released a new cd about 2 weeks ago and is almost finished with another one! He's also one of the warmest, friendliest, kindest, and most talented people that I have ever had the pleasure to get to know. Please visit his website! His list of cd's is quite impressive! A link to his fan club is there as well! He's the kind of person everyone is always very pleased to know. A genuinely fine man with an equally genuine talent!

It's been a great learning experience for me and a wonderful way to promote my peers in jewelry design! In the process of all of this broadcasting business I have discovered I have a talent for putting together some very nice video presentations by beginning with a lot of still shot photos, then panning and zooming the pictures to add "life" and motion to them! I'll post a few here so that you can get some idea of what I am talking about! These are some of the presentation videos that I created for guest artist for my live broadcasts! If you're an independent artist that produces one of kind inspired design work, I would love to interview you at the site! Email me and I'll tell you all about how to do it.

There are several things that prevent a solo artist from becoming successfull.

A few of those things are abscence of name recognition, inability to travel to shows, and prohibitively expensive advertising.

Several things about the process of doing these interviews aides in all of those problematic areas. First, the videos for the guest artists are posted at youtube.com in advance of the scheduled program to encourage visitors to the broadcast. The videos also provide long term soft advertising for the designer's websites because the point of sales web address is included in the credits at the end of the videos.

Second, the broadcast is audio archived to a podcaster that may be picked up and embedded any place that anyone might one to share the broadcasts with on personal website pages or anywhere else on the "net" that one might wish to place a podcaster. Those podcasters go Live during the Live broadcast, and then the broadcasts appear on the podcaster by date, as replayabe archives.

Third, the artist and the producer (me)promotes the upcoming program, notifying everyone he or she wishes to, about the upcoming live broadcasted interview. I also send out about 60-80 invitations for each broadcast to people that I already know want to attend these types of programs. I also announce the upcoming events at my blogs and other sites where I have a stream of public contact! So, in this brief nut shell description, you can see how this might promote fresh new traffic to an online designer's shop site, develop some name recongition, and develop a continuos soft sale advertising via continuous interest in the videos posted at youtube.com! You can visit all of the presentation videos at www.youtube.com/mona77401

The best part of all is this. Independent jewelry designers are fascinating people with fascinating creative minds. They pour their lives into producing inspired work that is very worthwhile of notice. Their inventive creativeness is a very fine expression of what is best in human beings.....to create, with contemplated, inspired, artistic expression. They make beauty...they create! They move society with inspiration, beauty, and entertainment. These are noble deeds and independent jewelry designers are not recognized nearly often enough! That's the primary reason why I launched the idea of an on-line radio talk show. The public deserves to meet and get to know who these talented people are and to discover what it means to create with vision, inspiration, and technical skill.

Wire Wrapped Floral Necklaces

2007-08-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Wire wrapping floral necklaces is a time consuming and humbling effort. Planning the design carefully with regard to color, texture, and weight pays off if some time is spent in the planning phase. This is true, particularly, if you are planning to work with fine metals such as Gold or Silver wire and gemstones, when waste and error can be costly! I recommend a book by M.T. Ryan titled, "Glamorous Beaded Jewelry". Instructionals in how to wire briolette shaped items such as glass or gemstones is very well presented here and while the projects in this style are very limited, the experience gained from those projects allow one to expand and develop the initial ideas into designs that are more personalized and more embellished! The necklace on view here is created with Sterling Silver, Moonstones, Amethysts, Cultured Pearls, and discs of Jade.

Working in Precious Metal Clay

2006-12-15T08:39:00.000-08:00

Recently I have added PMC (Precious Metal Clay) to my repertoire of design work! Interestingly, working in Polymer Clay and lampworking hot glass has honed special skills sets that have readily transfered to work with this new form of expression in one of a kind, art quality, jewelry. With careful planning and selection of materials, it is possible to bring into reality those designs circling in my mind, trying to find a way out.
Natural gemstones have inclusions that cause them to behave very badly (cracking and exploding) in the high heat that is required to reduce PMC to pure fine metals of Silver and of Gold. With this in mind, turning to lab created stones is a natural step in bring nice quality faceted gemstones into play with PMC. Also, art glass and a wider variety of glass enamel work may be added to the palette of an artist to allow for a broader and more exciting enhancement of artistic self expression!
In this necklace, a stick of Oak, a fabulous dichroic art glass cabochon by Carolyn Relei, an Oriental Jasmine Leaf, and three lab created gemstones are used to create a pendant in Fine Silver with PMC3. The stick of Oak and Jasmine leaf were coated with PMC3 paste multiple times with a thorough drying between each layer, then fired in a kiln to burn out the organic materials. Once the organic materials have been burnt away, what is left is a Fine Silver (99.9: pure) .... highly elevated from what is available in the way of Sterling Components on the market, with artistic value, one of a kind embellishment, and much less tarnishing than found with Sterling Silver.

Leaves of Morning Glories from my garden made beautiful Fine Silver leaves. Lots of detail in strong veining and an elegant heart shape render enchanting components for jewelry design. The leaves are combined here as accents for color change Sapphires and Sterling Silver. Often, elements for design that can be used with PMC may be found as near as your doorstep or back yard! It is my feeling that when you open your eyes to the real world most near you, some part of that world will stroke a creative spark, offer a special artistic element, and offer what is an inspired work ( the best kind of work).

Using Textured plates above and below a layer of
PMC can deliver and interesting contrast that
adds excitement or at the very least more visual
interest to a piece of jewelry,such as a pendant.
Lab created Amethysts are used here in cabochon
and faceted ovals to a soothing color, and a round
faceted Cubic Zirconium brings additional texture
light refraction, and color to the overall composition.

Books
There are several resources available for
information about using PMC including
websites and really fine publications! I recommend:
1. "Creative Metal Clay Jewelry", by CeCe Wire
2. "Introduction to Precious Metal Clay", by Mary
Ann Devos
Websites that I have found valuable are:
1. Excellent resource for working PMC
http://www.pmc-conference.com/
2. A nice compilation of information and tutorials on how to use PMC in several different ways by a dear friend, Margaret Schindel!
www.squidoo.com/preciousmetalclay/

Ornamenting Polymer with Pearl Ex powdered pigments

2006-04-04T14:41:00.000-07:00

As I develop a feel for the new polymer cuff bracelets
I am working on, more depth and color are developing.
The base of this bracelet was created by mixing black with green until I had a deep forest green color. The polymer was carefully mixed to a uniform color and rolled through a pasta machine at it's thickest setting. Next I rolled my leave roller stamper on a pad of jet black ink and imprinted the sheet of polymer with the leaf design.
After applying the sheet to the brass cuff base and molding polymer sheet to the shape of the cuff, I trimmed the edges with a sharp craft knife so that the polymer covers slightly over the edges of the cuff. Then gently stroked the edges with a gloved finger to create a subtle rounded edged effect. This creates a smooth comfortable finish. I was very careful to keep my fingers only in contact with the brass blank so that I didin't disturb the finely shaped edges . I had several colors of Pearl Ex powdered pigment set out for use and had preselected the colors before I began. Using a very fine, soft, eye shadow cosmetics brush, I stroked Pearl Ex pigments in different shades to produce a dynamic play of color in the foliage, while leaving the borders around the leaves their original deep green. As this was all Premo Sculpey polymer, I cured the bracelet in the oven at 275 degrees Farenheit for 30 minutes. Surface protection of several coats of "Future" have been applied to protect the beautiful colors and I had pre-plated the cuff with 24K Gold prior to starting the project. Each bracelet is a unique and exciting adventure. I hope this mini tutuorial is of some help! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me!
Create something today! Hugs, Mona

Getting beautiful leaves from a press mold!

2006-03-27T17:12:00.000-08:00

In the gathering process of my foray into polymer work, I have amassed a fair number of tools. Yes, I am a tool junkie. Always looking for leaf shapes, I have now accumulated a huge number of leaf cutters, and a small number of molds...you know...the large flexible vinyl sheets with attractive shapes that you are supposed to be able to press clay into, and get wonderful molded identicals of. Today I had a three step learning process that you will get a kick out of. I wish I had pictures to go with this, but am certain that when I share my experience, you will nod, smile, and/or laugh out loud....at right at me... yourself------ or both of us! I am still laughing. It is always such a rich pleasure when ingenuity wins over an obstacle.
I avoided those tray style press molds for months. I kept thinking, sure, conceptually the idea is great, but how am I going to get a lump or sheet of clay pressed into that wonderful leaf mold, get rid of the excess clay, and retrieve the clay from the mold that I am attempting to reproduce!
First, I rolled out a small sheet of clay...perhaps 3inches by 3 inches and layed it over the mold, pressed the clay into the mold, grabbed one edge and pulled the clay away from the leave mold and wow! The leaf is gorgeous...in the middle of that little lake of green clay. It has serrated edges, or ruffled edges, or lots of tiny curved edges. What the heck! Am I supposed to cut that with a craft knife...maybe..ok....I'll give it a go. A craft knife was not a good plan. Impossible to navigate all of the fine edged details, I got a less than satisfactory result and before I could even finish extracating my leaf, I switched over to a pair of scissors, picked up the leaf gently between my fingers, and attempted to cut my leaf out. This didn't work out either. Finger prints in the clay and still unable to negotiate all of those tiny curves and serrations with the scissors. I layed the whole mess down and had a major think.
Finally, I pressed the clay into the flexible mold: trimmed away the bulk of the excess around the edges with a craft knife, but never getting into the edge. Then, with a straight bladed craft knife, I held the flexible mold in my left hand and gently tented it so that without disturbing my molded leaf, I made the edges of the flexible tray bend ever so slightly away from the mold I was actually using! Then with a straight blade held on a flat plan, parallel with the surface of the mold, I carved the clay away from the edges of the mold precisely where the clay meets the edge of the mold. This worked perfectly and the resulting leaf was everything that I could have hoped for. As the mold is flexible (I keep reiterating this flexible part, cause if you try this with a rigid mold, I doubt you will have the same degree of success) I was able to very easily unmold the leaf, add some garnish of mica and pop it into the curing oven!
If you have been dodging some of those very elegant leaves and things because you had little confidence that anything lovely could happen with that type of mold, I hope this opens up new and exciting opportunities for expressing yourself!!! Thank you for visiting! ................Mona

Answer to Technical Questions on creating Polymer Cuff Bracelets

2006-03-15T16:06:00.001-08:00

I received a few questions today from a jewelry designing peer regarding my previous post on polymer cuff bracelets.
The questions were:
Hey Mona, couple of questions for you on this (beautiful bracelets, BTW!) first, did you place anything between the raw polymer and the cuff itself before baking? To make sure it stays adhered? Second, the sponge you used, what kind was it? I know most of my normal sponges have a very hard/stiff texture unless they are wet down. Then I have sea sponges which are a little softer to begin with, but a very uneven texture. So I'm curious as to the texture of the sponge before you dipped it in the future.

The Answers Plus a Bit More/including at home Gold Plating for Cuff Interiors:
At the craft store I purchased a small bag of watercolor sponges. The bag contained 2 each of fine pore silk sponges, synthetic hydrophilic sponges, and coarse sea sponges. I used one of the fine pore silk sponges.
While I was curing the polymer I didn't use anything between the brass cuff and the polymer. After the polymer was cured and still hot, I took it directly from the oven to a dunk of cold water in a sink. This is supposed to make the colors more vibrant.
I haven't tried letting the polymer come to room temperature slowly, so cannot confirm this, but love the results I am getting, so will continue to manage the polymer with a cold dunking. After the polymer was cool and dry I removed it from the bracelet blank. With fine grit sand paper I cleaned the bracelet blank of any residue from curing, then rinsed it and wiped it dry.
Going back to my desk, I placed a very sheer coating of E6000 glue on the bracelet blank and also on the back of the polymer, then let both rest, separated for a few minutes, according to manufacturers instructions for the best and strongest bond. Finally I reapplied the polymer to the bracelet and sort of rolled it down onto the blank with my fingers from one end to the other with firm pressing strokes. This was very easily achieved.
Update on the finishing:
Ages ago I purchased a gold plating kit from Caswell Plating They are located online at caswellplating.com.
The kit is for 24K Gold plating. I sanded the inside of a brass bracelet blank to make sure it was good and clean, wiped the inside down with a soft rag and alcohol to make sure no fingerprint residue remained, and proceeded to try the kit this afternoon. What I got was a nice laydown of 24K Gold on the interior of the bracelet blank. I still need to buff the inside for a nice finish, but what I am looking at right now is pretty nice! This is the way I plan to finish all of my bracelets so that the brass bracelet blank won't leave green marks on the skin and I have a finish that will be long enduring and of beautiful. quality. You can see in the picture that the interior surface of the bracelet blank is a nice rosey gold in contrast with the exterior surface of brass.
When I bought the kits they looked so rudementary and unimpressive that I hadn't tried them yet, but with the new bracelets I am turning out with the polymer, I wanted to create a truly quality item and decided to drag out the plating kit and see if it really was worthwhile or just a hoax! The kit cost about 46 dollars and I bought the first one on ebay from this company, then later figured that the kit probably wouldn't coat very much metal, so even bought another one. I filled the cap from the plating solution full(it's a small cap) and had enough solution to plate the inside of 5 bracelets with a width of 2 inches, so the stuff really works, is economical, at least from my standpoint, and provides a practical solution for my desire to create a fine quality
finish on my designs without having to send stuff out for plating!!!!
Hope this has all been helpful for you!

Getting a Finer Finish on Polymer Cuff Bracelets

2006-03-14T18:19:00.004-08:00

If you have read my first entry, you will see that my work is very diversified. Subjects will change depending on what type of work I am doing on any given day and sometimes more than one medium is working on the same day!
For this post I would like to share an experience I have had in trying to get a really fine finish on a wide polymer cuff bracelet.
Several weeks ago I purchased a large bulk of very wide blank brass cuff bracelets. These make fantastic bracelets when covered in custom blended or ornamented polymer. I made a couple in the past two days. Using "Future" liquid floor wax is pretty much a standard for getting a very durable protective sealant coat on polymer. The finish is very strong when matured and never yellows, lending to long enduring beautiful finish. Usually this is applied in mutiple layers with drying time between each coat. I was using a broad soft brush to apply the sealant to these new bangles and ran into all kinds of trouble getting a beautiful even finish! Mind you, this brush is very similar to what I use on all of my smaller polymer work with no difficulty at all! Here is the problem:
The bangle is large and oval. Future dries fast! By the time you are half way around the bracelet with even a large brush, your sealant is beginning to dry before you can finish your coat full around! This leaves uneven lines of demarkation where your first sealer went down and where your new sealer started, and if you try to go back and touch up, the situation becomes even worse. I was working very fast with my broad brush and still couldn't get my coat down fast enough to beat the drying time and distortion dilemma.
After an hour of putzing around trying to get my coat even and never achieving the beautiful finish that I was trying for, I finally dug out a bag of sponges from a drawer under my desk and chose the largest one that had a
fine, even, texture. Next I poured some future into a demitasse saucer(very small saucer) next to my work station, dipped in the sponged very slowly and dragged it against the edge of the saucer as I came away to remove any bubbles clinging to the sponge. This is the good part! With one smooth long stroke, the sponge applied a perfect even coat of sealant over the surface of the bracelet.. The layer of sealant was perfection. No bubbles, no running, and delivered a glass-like surface finish. I have eight hours of drying time on these babies but will post pictures tomorrow evening! The bracelets are very different in every way except for their basic shapes.
I achieved a very pretty mica shift on one of them and will hopefully be able to catch that with the right lighting so that you can see what mica shift is!
Thought for the day:
An artist does not create art. Art finds a soul willing to be used as a portal and spills forth. There aren't nearly enough volunteers!!!! Dream something, create something,.............anything! All things are possible with a willing heart and the help of a good friend. Will be back with pictures tomorrow! G'Night! ----------

M

Okay Here are the pics I promised!

Introducing Mona Designs

2006-03-12T08:40:00.000-08:00

Welcome to Mona Designs..... Where color, texture, light, dimension, and mechanical composition evolve from moment to moment in an exciting and experimental way!

Most days you will find me in a pair of well worn jeans and a cotton t-shirt because they are don't flame up if hot glass pops onto them. Hair in a pony tail and a furrow of concentration between my brows, I concentrate on lots of small details and the safety aspects of my work.

An Introduction to My Multi-Media Approach:
The "Pear Corsage Brooch", seen above, is an excellent example of how I mix media to produce original wearable art. The leaves and flowers are a combination of Russian and Venetian beaded work. Tiny glass beads are worked with wire to produce floral components. The glass pears are a product of lampwork at my torch. Combined, these elements fulfilled the dream of a client residing in England.
The piece of work measured about 4 inches in height. The pear blossoms and leaves have an intriguing, slightly posable quality. This allows the wearer to adjust, to a minor degree, position of the components. A pin clasp is mounted at back, and high in the composition. This allows for balance and also for ease of use for the wearer. Contrast in color, texture, and dimension bring hot glass and beaded work together in a lovely and exciting way. I accept commissions for this type of work! It takes weeks to design and produce a piece of this type of work. The pear brooch sold by commission for two hundred and fifty dollars.

This particular design, "Kumquat Fantasy", is a combination of French and Venetian beaded work combined with Austrian Crystal elements. This piece now resides in Florida and was purchased by a world renown jewelry designer. Working in a monochromatic palette(same color family), the tension of excitement comes from use of different textures (or perceived textures) in glass, combined with faceted crystals, to satisfy the eye's need to find symmetry, texture, color, and dimension. Matte and shiny textures combined in shades of tangerine, outlines of iridescence, juxtaposed to matte textures, ....you get the idea by now I am sure! The eye demands to be entertained. When the eye perceives it's view as deficient in any aspect...one becomes intellectually bored and the design falls short of making a connection with the viewer. The work of a designer must entertain, in a complex multi-level way, regardless of the medium or the design fails.

Lampworking Intro:
I have been working hot glass for about three years now. I have a kiln and a dual gas (Oxygen/Propane) torch setup. Glasses I use are imported Italian glass primarily from the Moretti line of glass. I keep a small inventory of Bullseye glass as well for the special colors. Although I am self taught, I am well read in the field and have lots of hours at the torch invested in my experience! The four shells were a great accomplishement for me! They are all larger focal sized shells. Learning to work color, texture, and dimension into hot glass is much more difficult than working those elements into any other medium.

Introduction to Polymer Clay Work:
A couple of months ago I began to experiment with polymer clay as potential components for my design work! There are some artists in my jewelry designing group who do wonderful polymer work and those artisans stimulated my interest to the degree that I had to take the plunge! Small brooches seen here are created with foiled polymer, then ornamented with caviar and crackers on one. Gouda cheese, grapes, and bread ornament another. A large collection of pastries and sweets on display here are all being prepared to produce more "Faux Food" wearable art jewelry! All that you are viewing are completely created of polymer. The shield brooch, at left, is four inches in length. It is a joy and a pleasure to work with Polymer Clay. If you are not familiar with this particular medium try a Google search on it! Articles depicting use of this medium in designing jewelry are appearing in fine publications such as, "Lapidary Journal" and "Art Jewelry". Polymer is making it's mark on the timeline of jewelry history. You really want an opportunity to experience this!

A link to my portfolio site is listed in the "About Me" section. There you can view many other designs in a wide range of mediums. I hope you find your visit stimulating as well as entertaining,!
Please fill free to leave comments or questions! Every effort will be made to give you the benefit of my experiences! Sincerely, Mona