Our First Artist is David Peters of D.P. Creations Jewellery and Design

My name is David Peters and I am the artist behind D.P. Creations Jewellery and Design. I was born and raised in Regina, Saskatchewan but now live in Grand Coulee just 8 minutes outside of Regina.

As I grew up my mom was a great inspiration to my affinity for jewellery because, as I always say, "her hands made Liberace's look bare".

My love of jewellery led me to work in retail jewellery stores such as Birks, Paris Jewellers, and Ben Moss. Over these years I began to explore silver smithing and produced simple pieces for family and friends. After being in the retail industry I longed for more unique jewellery, rather than just cookie cutter designs, so I decided to explore my own designs believing that other people might feel the same.

I do find that my jewellery designs still have a classic style, mimicking the type of pieces I knew from the retail industry, but I am more readily exploring my artistic side as my confidence and knowledge of working with jewellery grows. My favourite type of jewellery I create is "Melts" - molten metals flowed of sterling or gold which create one-off designs and patterns. My favourite melt to date, I have dubbed "Ode to the Grinch" due to the old man's face I see in the sterling. I accented the "Grinch" with 14K yellow gold bezels and almandine garnets to create a lovely pendant. I love big heavy pieces but as of late, I find myself experimenting more with finer pieces such as filigree designs and forever my daunting nemesis - earrings!

I have always believed that education is fundamental to any endeavor, so I started with a few courses at the Neil Balkwill Centre. I went on to complete a certificate of Jewellery Design and Repair from Ashworth College (with Honours). Now I am happily venturing out into the Art Festival scene as D.P. Creations to explore and share my love of jewellery with others.

I find inspiration for my jewellery designs both in the past and modern trends. I try to weave the old and new together to create pieces that hold a classic edge yet be fashionable enough for today's consumer.

Harvest Hues - Saskatchewan Jewellery Artist Show

Harvest Hues will be featuring 12 Saskatchewan jewellery artists and we will be introducing them here on our blog. Stay tuned!

Exciting News!

Our jewellery show and our jewellery was featured on the Lifestyles page of the Leader Post today! :o)

I managed to get some new pieces prepared before our interview (last Friday). We are just putting some finishing touches on the poster/invitations. Here is our pic and the article (by Irene Seiberling):

An introductory jewelry-making class at Regina's Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre a couple of years ago was all it took. Laurie Walton and Laura Steadman were hooked instantly.

"The love of making jewelry won us over," the Regina jewelry artists agreed.

So they gathered together other like-minded artisans, formed a coffee group that met monthly, and started brainstorming -- exploring venues to showcase their creations.

"There are big shows like Bazaart and Our Best To You, but we're not quite there," Steadman explained.

"We thought 'wouldn't it be nice to have a place to show our work' for up-and-comers like we are," she said.
That's when Walton came up with the name for the group of novice jewelry artists -- JewelleryWon.

They started out by showcasing their jewelry at open houses. But as interest grew, the group decided to move their show and sale to a hotel. In May, about a dozen local jewelry makers gathered together to showcase their work.

Because the feedback was so positive, they've decided to do it again. Their next show and sale will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sept. 25 at the Holiday Inn Express in south Regina.

"We're hoping to have 11 to 14 (local jewelry artists) this time," Walton said.

The September sale is expected to feature everything from chain mail to silver to lampwork to copper jewelry.

Making jewelry is more than a hobby for both Walton and Steadman.

"It went way past hobby after the first year," Steadman said. "I fell in love with it."

In fact, she insisted she now couldn't image doing anything else. For Steadman, who recently left an office job to stay home with her children, making jewelry has become a part-time job. Eventually, Steadman hopes to make jewelry exclusively.

Steadman currently shares the skills she's developed with others by teaching classes.

"I teach how to fuse the little silver rings," she said.

For Walton, who continues to work fulltime in an office, jewelry making remains a passion to pursue in her spare time. She got into it because she was looking for a pleasant way to pass the time once her daughter headed off to university.

"It becomes addictive," Walton said with a smile. "The more you learn, the more you want to do."

In their introduction to silversmithing class, Walton and Steadman learned how to handle silver, copper and brass.

Steadman's metal and stone jewelry is defined by its texture and colours.

"I like the different things you can do with metal," she said, pointing to pieces pressed with leaves, and others that were hammered to create an interesting texture. "When I discovered metal work, I was smitten."

"I like sterling silver the best," Steadman said.

She makes necklaces, earrings, rings and bracelets. Steadman's prices range from $30 for earrings to $300 for a large, labour-intensive cuff.

"I am more colour-driven," Walton pointed out.

Her jewelry often features semi-precious stones and lampwork beads.

She took a silver class to learn how to make her own chains.

"And I'm starting to like working in copper," she said.

Walton's jewelry ranges in price from $15 for earrings to $150 for pieces featuring lampwork beads. But the average price is $30 to $60.

"The more work that goes into something, the higher the price," she explained.

For others contemplating getting into jewelry making, Steadman encourages "Go for it!"

You might get hooked, like them, Steadman and Walton suggest.

"When you find your passion, you will know it," Walton said, to which Steadman nodded in agreement.


Here is the link: http://www.leaderpost.com/life/Jewelry+with+local+flair/3440310/story.html


Keep creating!! - PSC (Prairie Sky Creations)

Prairie Sky Creations Beads Available at Beadplus!

Yay! My beads are going into the bead store today! :oD
Come on down to check it out. Beadplus in the Golden Mile in Regina, SK.

I'm so excited!

Plus I have more exciting news for JewelleryWon, but I can't tell yet! You'll have to stay tuned to find out! ;o)

Keep Creating! - PSC (Prairie Sky Creations)





(One of my beads sold right after I left the store! )

Upcoming Shows and Other News

JewelleryWon will be hosting 2 more shows this fall!
The first will be September 25th and we are thinking of a Customer Appreciation theme. Keep checking for more details.

The second show will be November 6th. This is definitely going to be a Christmas show and will have some extras! ;o)

Other news:

My lampwork beads are going to be available at the Beadplus store in Regina. I'm just finishing preparing my display and will be taking them in soon! I feel very honoured and excited that my work will be on display in the store. :o) Check out my blog for my preview pic.
http://www.prairieskycreations.blogspot.com/


I've also been asked to have my work featured on the Candid Reviewer blog. Wow! Here's a link to the blog: http://www.thecandidreviewer.blogspot.com/

I'm working with copper these days and getting lots of inspiration! Hoping to get lots done over the summer.

Keep Creating!! - PSC (Prairie Sky Creations)

The Buds of May Was a Success!

We had 11 jewellery artists displaying their creativity and a GREAT crowd. The weather kind of helped. It snowed and rained and snowed. Wasn't a great day for doing yardwork, that's for sure!

Buds of May Sale!!!

Check out our sale May 1!!

We have twelve talented jewellery artists showing off their creations!

Silver, copper, lampwork, chainmaille, wirework, crystal, semi-precious and more!

Classes are done for now..........

1. Classes are done
2. I've run out of my nice Dark Teal and it is not available anymore :o(
3. I WAS able to make a hollow bead with a red heart bead inside (pic below)
4. I cannot get that red irridescence out of the marmoran glass.....yet
5. I'm getting a really marbled blue out of the marmoran glass (pic below)
6. I finished the birthday gift for my friend with my bead in it (pic below)
7. I finally figured out what to make out of all my nice teal beads (pic below) (Now that the Dark Teal colour is not available does that mean the jewellery piece is worth more...? LOL)

It's not the easiest to see but the bead inside IS a heart and it is not attached to any other part of the outer bead.

My blue marbled Marmoran bead, the birthday gift, and the last of my Dark Teal glass




P.S.We are preparing for our spring show on May 1!

Keep Creating!! - PSC (Prairie Sky Creations)

Acceptable level of Chaos...

Ok, so maybe 3 jewellery classes is a little much. It's chaotic! Actually, the classes are great and I'm enjoying each one very much...the chaos comes with getting a sitter and making sure that I have what I need for each class, not to mention getting there somewhat close to on time! Deep breath...

My design class constists of some interesting excersises for seeing shapes in different places. Looking at scribbled lines, organic things (plants, fossils, etc.) and man-made things. My designs for that one came from some Art Deco architecture and a 1961 Mercury Montclair. I will post some pictures just as soon as my new computer arrives and, of course when I get the pieces finished.

My bead class is great. I love learning new things. It's wonderful to see the bead come from a rod of glass passed through the flame and transformed. I just need to learn a bit of patience so my beads are centred....
Pics coming soon....see above! ;)

Jewellery project is great too. I am getting a bunch of my pieces finished. I also love the people that go to these classes. It's great to see all the interesting ideas that everyone comes up with.
That's all for now. Hopefully by next time, my computer will be here and I will have more interesting things to share!

Cheers,
Laura (EllJay Design)

Foils and Follies

Here are my beads (my foils):

This is my *cough* plaid bead.

My daughter calls this my "Easter Island" fish. This is the bead that was supposed to be a hollow bead with a heart in it.

This is my second attempt at the hollow bead with a heart in it.

This bead DID turn out. :o) I am making this into a piece of jewellery for a friend's birthday present.

PSC (Prairie Sky Creations)

P.S. Keep creating!