Monthly Archives: July 2014

Arrowmont – Student Portfolios

July 29, 2014education, Eventsgrossbar

It’s amazing the amount of quality work that you can do when you immerse yourself in the creative process. My recent week long class at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts proves this. Take a look at some of the student portfolios below. This is some really good work that they can truly be proud of!

Have ever considered attending a seminar, but thought that you couldn’t afford it? Once again, take a look at the portfolios below. In a market where simple Slimline pens sell for about $25, and more elaborate pens made with unique materials sell for over $100, you can see how much value is in the portfolios. Some students make a profit by attending classes. They sell the pens they make to pay for their actual expenses, PLUS they have learned new skills to expand their product lines, and make their turning more efficient.

Classes are a great way to fine tune your skills as a hobbyist, or really ramp them up and take that step into turning your skills into a business – pun intended! 😉

Arrowmont – Fun & Learning!

July 22, 2014Export, UncategorizedExportgrossbar

Barry & Don Ward

This past week at Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts went very fast as they usually do. For those of you who have never attended a class at Arrowmont, you do not know what you are missing. The energy in the wood turning studio was electrifying; 16 minds all concentrating on one thing – creating fine writing instruments! If one person did not have an answer or idea on how to complete a pen, someone else did. That is why I go back and teach there every year. It is to get re-focused, unwind and learn! Yes, I said learn! I personally get just as much out of these classes as the students do. They challenge me to re-think my methods and to push me to offer better and easier ways to create fine writing instruments!

Don Ward modifying Slimline Pens

This year at Arrowmont both the students and I were very lucky to have Don Ward and Curtis Seebeck in attendance to offer their particular expertise. Don spent an entire day and evening session showing the students how to modify slimline pens.

Curtis Seebeck demonstrating wood stabilizing

All week long Curtis would demonstrate how to cut, dry and stabilize pen blanks using his Cactus Juice from “found” wood.

Over the next several weeks I will continue to show images from our Arrowmont experience!

Leaving for Arrowmont

July 11, 2014Uncategorizedgrossbar

Barry is packing up the truck with all his teaching materials and supplies and leaving tomorrow. It’s an 11 hour drive through the beautiful Smoky Mountains to Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts in Gatlinburg, TN.

Barry is teaching an advanced penmaking class. Concentrating on segmenting pen blanks, stabilizing wood & casting blanks. The students will also be learning several different finishing techniques.

The class is for an entire week, starting Sunday, and lasting until Friday afternoon! It’s a sold out class.

For more information please see the Arrowmont link below:

http://www.arrowmont.org/

We’re Back On!

July 10, 2014Uncategorizedgrossbar

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and patience these past several days! Comcast Cable Company had a fire in one of their central junction boxes. It knocked out phone and internet service to over 5,000 homes and businesses in our area. We at Arizona Silhouette could not communicate either through the phones, or the internet! The “juice” was back and running today, and we are now shipping and taking orders.

Thanks for your patience, and to make up for the past several days we will be running a special on a couple items in addition to announcing a new “glow in the dark” pen blank! (Comcast could have used them these past several days!)

Berkshires Arts Festival

July 7, 2014Export, UncategorizedExportgrossbar

This is a picture of my booth at the show in the Berkshires. I could not use my regular booth drapes because the ceiling was too low, so I had to improvise on the booth. I was glad that I was inside because on Friday they had 3 “ of rain fall, and all the outside booths were flooded!
Saturday was beautiful and we had a great sales day – a lot of resin casted pens were sold!
What a difference a day makes. Friday was 3” of rain and Saturday was a beautiful sunny day!

Beautiful day in the Berkshires on Saturday

Peppermill Special

July 1, 2014Uncategorizedgrossbar

Earlier today we sent out the following promotion in an email, and forgot to include the heavy item fee in the description. We apologize for any confusion.

Peppermill kits with Color Block

This is a very special combination offer with our popular Peppermill kits!

Buy 2 Peppermill kits in your choice of finishes, Antique Brass or Antique Copper, and get 1 FREE Color Block wood blank! (Just pay a $2 heavy item fee to help offset the shipping expense. These blocks are heavy!)

By itself, this large wood blank is an $8.95 value, and you get it FREE with purchase of the 2 Peppermill kits. To make this offer a little sweeter, we’re giving you the opportunity to buy a 2nd Color Block at 50% off!
(No heavy item fee on this one)

These make very welcome hostess gifts to bring to a summer picnic. Anyone can bring a pasta salad, but only you can bring a beautiful, handmade pepper mill!

Limited quantities of certain color blocks.

Click here to see website product description for available color blocks and options.
Offer expires July 14th, 9:00 AM EST