Basic Metal Smithing Vital Elements is starting a series of metal-smithing Work-shops with the purpose of providing single steps to gain a total knowledge of working with metal to create jewelry. Once you know the basics, project specific classes will follow. Every month beginning in March there will be 2 different workshops offered twice. The following are March classes all on Monday evening 5:30 to 8:00 so have an early dinner and come ready to learn. Classes are going to be kept purposely small with payment required a week in advance. S Student are required to have their own tools and keeping cost in mind these workshops will allow you to build your metal working tools slowly and affordably. Occasionally I will have some of these available to purchase at Vital Elements March 7 and 14 metal sawing 30.00 plus materials March 21 and 28 stamping 30.00 plus materials In April we will continue April 4 -5 beginning PMC 1st evening create piece 2nd evening fire and finish $60 +materials April 11-12 beginning PMC 60 + materials April 25th Chains, earring wires, findings and cold connections. $30 + materials May 2nd Tiny treasure locket. Perquisite metal sawing, cold connections. The following tool lists are needed if you plan on making your own jewelry. Class tool list Sawing jewelry saw, bench pin, size 2 blades, 6x6 sheet of 22gauge copper, bronze, nickel silver, or brass Hand drill, small metal files. Stamping. Alphabet metal working stamps, Ball pen hammer copper, silver, brass sheet metal, Chains etc. Various gauges of steel.copper, sterling wire. Call 360-298-0300 or come in to reserve a seat. Classes are limited and will fill fast. Bench pin http://www.ottofrei.com/store/product.php?productid=328&cat=362&page=1 saw blades http://www.amazon.com/SE-Jewelers-Saw-Blades-144pc/dp/B002Q8886C/ref=pd_sbs_indust_3 saw http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=911054 sheet metal, copper, sterling or nickel silver. www.objectsandelements.com/shop/metal-sheet-metal-c-73_74 STAMPING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES Ball pen hammer Browne’s or Ace Metal stamps Alphabetical Harbor freight search for metal stamps Basic tools and supplies that will be needed Wire cutters Round nose pliers Bent nose or chain nose pliers Wire in various gauges 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 Sheet metal Please check all your resources Old j

Vital Elements is starting a series of  metal-smithing

Work-shops

 with the purpose of providing  single steps to gain a total knowledge of working with metal to create jewelry. Once you know the basics, project specific classes will follow.

Every month beginning in March there will be 2 different workshops offered twice. The following are March classes all on Monday evening 5:30 to 8:00 so have an early dinner and come ready to learn.  

Classes are going to be kept purposely small with payment required a week in advance. S

Student are required to have their own tools and keeping cost in mind these workshops will allow you to build your metal working tools slowly and affordably. 

Occasionally I will have some of these available to purchase at Vital Elements

March 7 and 14   metal sawing 30.00 plus materials

March 21 and 28 stamping 30.00 plus materials

In April we will continue

April 4 -5   beginning PMC 1st evening create piece 2^nd evening fire and finish $60 +materials

April 11-12 beginning PMC 60 + materials

April 25^th Chains, earring wires, findings and cold connections.  $30 + materials 

May 2^nd   Tiny treasure locket.   Perquisite metal sawing, cold connections.   

The following tool lists are needed if you plan on making your own jewelry. 

Class tool list

Sawing     jewelry saw, bench pin, size 2 blades, 6x6 sheet of 22gauge copper, bronze, nickel silver, or brass

  Hand drill, small metal files.

Stamping.  Alphabet metal working stamps, Ball pen hammer copper, silver, brass sheet metal,

Chains etc. 

 Various gauges of steel.copper, sterling wire.

Call 360-298-0300  or come in to reserve a seat.  Classes are limited and will fill fast.

Bench pin

http://www.ottofrei.com/store/product.php?productid=328&cat=362&page=1         

saw blades

http://www.amazon.com/SE-Jewelers-Saw-Blades-144pc/dp/B002Q8886C/ref=pd_sbs_indust_3

saw

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=911054

sheet metal,  copper, sterling or nickel silver. 

www.objectsandelements.com/shop/metal-sheet-metal-c-73_74

STAMPING TOOLS AND SUPPLIES

Ball pen hammer

       Browne’s or Ace

Metal stamps

Alphabetical   

    

  Harbor freight search for metal stamps

Basic tools and supplies that will be needed

Wire cutters

Round nose pliers

Bent nose or chain nose pliers

Wire in various gauges   14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 

Sheet metal  

Please check all your resources

Old jewelry, kitchen drawers for things that can be recycled, old baking pans, copper wire from electric work or unused and broken lamps get resourceful and reuse and recycle. 

Holiday Shopping Shop Locally

Hey Vital Elements Friends 
I thought I would let you know what's in store for the Holidays.
Vital Elements represents the following local artist
Kris Samona's who makes wonderful dragons, frogs, octopus, and earrings from glass.  These are one of a kind beautiful creatures
Betsy Childress's superb bead work creations.  Besty's beaded jewelry shows the result of years of experience and attention to details.
 Retro Rose Design, yep thats me Rhonda Scott.  I have just put 3 months worth of jewelry production into the store.  Come by and see what I have been up to.
I'll post more tomorrow with pictures.

Forte Chocolates

I am putting out some great Chocolate today.   Forte Chocolates were the best I tasted at the Seattle Gift Show.  They are made in Stanwood so they are local to our region.  I have limited quanity of their sea salt dark chocolates and two kinds of their dark chocolate bars, Aztec Soul and Orange Jazz.  Come on in while they last.

Vital Elements Class Offerings

So I am cancelling some of the classes that didn't have any interest and changing my policies.  When the going gets tough the tough gets going, that's my new motto for the month of October.  My classes are now 15.00 like my competitions, supplies not included.   Before, they were all inclusive now you pick out what you want to use.
My classes will have supply lists and students should have the basic tools which I sell in my store, with very affordable prices.  Although I do general beading, not the bead weaving, I bring in Betsy Childress who is a very talented local (Friday Harbor) Beading Instructor and Artist.  Her First class will be rescheduled and posted later today.  She will have kits of all the supplies needed.  
Steam Punk Jewelry is such a Hot Trend now and I have the supplies for making a wonderful necklace. Nov. 8th is the date and I only have 3 spots left so come on in and sign up.  I am so excited about this class.
Help support your local business, shop locally.

Vital Elements Beads, Gifts, Jewelry and accessories and inspiration

Vital Elements Beads is a full service bead store serving Friday Harbor and  the San Juan Islands.  We have been in business since Feb. 2010 and now offer free how tos for the beginning beader.  Come and learn how to put together a wonderful necklace or earrings and receive free instruction from Rhonda Scott of Retro Rose Design, a jewelry design company since 1985. We offer beading and jewelry workshops plus mixed media, collage and other fun art project classes. 
I have expert research sources for the hard to find beading and jewelry supplies and can order anything you need if I don't have it in stock. Also available for you to browse through are magazine and books. 
Hope to see you soon......Islanders please support your local business's.  

Tangeled Web I wove

Here is my wire web that I wove for my stores window.   It was simple and really didn't take very long to complete.

Class Schedule!

It is time again to start up Vital Elements Fall  Workshops.  Here is a list of tentative Workshops and Dates.  Come on in to the store at 30 First Street, Friday Harbor to sign up or ask more questions about the Workshops offered

Sept. 27th     Jewelry 101
Oct.  18th     Artist Trading Cards
Oct   25th and 26th Precious Metal Clay ---3 spaces left
Nov. 1st        Art Journaling
Nov. 8th        Steampunk Jewelry            ---3 spaces left
Nov. 15th      Jewelry 202
Nov. 22nd     Collaged Wall Hanging

Beginning Oct 1 Vital Elements is hosting a weekly  Friday Night Art Nite, it like a quilting Bee but with Arts and Crafts.  Jewelry, Fiber, Paper and yes even quilters are welcome to come and be inspiring and get inspired.  Please RSVP  to Vital Elements so I know if anyone is coming!  This is something that at least 5 people have asked about so I will give it a try.  6 to 9 every Friday.   RSVP by commenting, stopping by, or calling me. 

I will be posting suggested basic Craft kits that you will need for my classes, also needed tools for Vital Elements Jewelry workshops.

New Beads Added on Wednesday!

I had my first bead vendor come and sell me beads!  His name was Tony and he drove a tagged van full of beads across the US from New York State. 
I'll be putting new copper, Czech glass, and silver bead caps into the store on Wednesday. 
Hopefully I will be able to scan them (scanner acting up) and post them here later today.  I purchased table cut Czech beads, some fire polish 3mm, and 6mm rondels. In copper I have a some toggles, large focals and a small selection of regular shapes. 
Come on in and see what's new.  Through out the fall I will have new merchandise every week.  Add a comment and let me know what you would like to see on the island in beads and crafts supplies.
Work shop sign ups coming soon!

Herringbone Bracelet workshop

Vital Elements is please to announce a Herringbone Beading Class offered by bead artist extraordinaire Betsy Childress.  Come and join the 4 hour workshop on Oct. 17th ) all the beads and material are provided including a glass button to clasp it.  Just 50.00 and you get excellent instruction and a fabulous bracelet with the knowledge and instruction sheet to make more.  See you there.   Call 360-298-0300   leave a message with your name and number.

Beads by Jean Christen

I finally got my camera to upload to my computer.  For some reason it was just not working right. Now I can post the pictures of Jeanies Beads.

Port of Friday Harbor

Everyday when I park my car up the street from my store I pause to take in the beautiful view of the Port of Friday Harbor.  I thought I would share with you my view.

Adding more beads

It has been quite a while since I've posted on my blog!   I have been busy, busy, busy and the tourist season just started. 
I have been adding beads and jewelry findings daily.  I recently got in contact with Jean Christen from eastern WA.  She makes wonderful beads, pendants, pots, mugs and the best mixing bowls ever.  She is sending me some and I should have them in store by mid-week next week, yahoo!  Love her work and I have been looking for nice ceramic mugs for my store for about 6 months. 
4th of July weekend is upon us here in the San Juan Islands and I am hopeful it will be a very busy weekend.  I am so excited to have the prospect of putting more wonderful gifts in my store for my customers at reasonable prices.
I am still trying to get Art papers, Scrapbooking supplies and other goodies.  Stay tuned.
Have a wonderful weekend.
R

Drilling Holes in Things Workshop Mon

Drilling holes in things workshop is on Monday Evening at 5:30  I have a space left if you are wanting to join in to this workshop.   It is 30.00 plus a charge (actual cost) for the special bit.   You need to have a Dremel or Dremel type tool. Come and finish a beach glass necklace and earrings.  We will also be drilling stone. 

What's In Store Teresa DeLeen Studio

Vital Elements carries a wonderful line of Jewelery from Teresa DeLeen Studio. The initial pendants she creates are one of a kind and simply beautiful. Teresa makes her pendants from PMC. She desribes the process below.
Precious Metal Clay is a clay-like medium used to make jewelry, beads and small sculpture. It consists of very small particles of silver mixed with an organic binder and water. Precious Metal Clay can be shaped just like any soft clay, by hand or using molds. After drying and sanding, it is fired in my kiln. The binder burns away, leaving .999 pure silver which will not tarnish as quickly as sterling (.925) silver which contains copper. The piece was then antiqued, to bring out the texture, tumbled all night to strengthen the metal and, viola!

Drilling Holes in Things- rescheduled to May 24th 5:30

This workshop has been moved to May 24th due to a pre-scheduled event. Hope to see you then!

Great Workshop Last Night

I had the best workshop results last night. It was my collage workshop and we went through about 10 techniques. Great fun! I love the fact that so far the workshops have gone well. They are small and intimate and I think I prefer that to a larger group. I asked the attendee's if they liked a technique based class or a project based class and two would prefer a project base class. It may be hard to finish a project in 2-3 hours but I am going to come up with some ideas for my fall and winter workshops.

I have been approached by several people to do one on one instruction and to have jewelry making parties, art parties, and beading parties so I am working up a brochure and price sheet for different kinds of events. This would be fun and bring business into Vital Elements and the customer would take home their project as a memento.

I recently had a customer come in and spend the evening with her husband making 12 special pendant for her 50th birthday, she and her friends were all traveling to Spain and attending a horseback riding adventure. The pendants had the name of the group and an image of a horse. They turned out great and it was a great experience.

I brained stormed and came up with some great ideas.
Bridesmaid parties, make necklaces to wear in the wedding
Teen Beading Parties - Make earrings and bracelets
Birthday Parties with your choice of Jewelry, collage, journaling.
Remembrance Parties - Making a special journal or book to remember an occasion or loved one.

Artist Trading Cards are so much fun. They are a great way to make sure you are doing some kind of art. While creating them you get all kinds of wonderful ideas for larger projects. The little baseball card size of art are also a fun way to try mini versions of technique. By June I will have some made and ready to trade. They are not for sale...you must make one and trade. You can cut a 2 by 3 piece of heavy cardstock or anything that has some density to it and just, even, doodle. Fabric ATC’s our fun if that is your art medium. Make sure you come in and check out a binder full of examples. I will try and get in stock some blank ATC's too.

That's it for now and I will try and give an update on the Island ATC Project. It now has a name! IAP

collage workshop supplies

IF you are signed up for my Collage Workshop please don't forget to bring papers. If you can pre-gesso a canvas and base coat it in the color of your choice.

Drilling Holes in Things Class date

HI I am going to have to move the Drilling Holes in Things class to Monday May 24th, at 5:30.

Beads in Friday Harbor

Hey! Did you know there was a bead store in Friday Harbor? Yep! Vital Elements have an ever increasing supply of beads for your beading needs. Let me know what you are looking for and we can find and order them for you. We also have a selection on chain and jewelry frames for resin and small mixed media jewelry projects. Come on in and check it out soon. New beads added daily.

Collage Workshop-Layer Upon Layer

My collage class is full! If you are signed up and can't make it make sure you call or email me and cancel. Thanks

Here is the supply list.

Matte Medium aka Mod Podge Matte finish
Acrylic paint in assorted colors
Paint brushes
Images Copied onto card stock at Printonyx
Rubber stamps for texture (if you have them)
scissors
mounted canvas in the size you prefer (if you have gesso please gesso your canvases before class. If not them bring them in and gesso them Sunday before 4)
hand sanitizer with alcohol

I think that's it. Check back just in case I add something at a later date