ARTICLE:

SUMMER

Welcome again to JL’s ongoing Expressions Event.
We would like to inform our new members of the community that every month JLsE holds an event to promote creativity and artistic inspiration through jewelry.

For the months of July and August the theme is SUMMER.

Since the last two events were such major challenges – “Be Cleopatra’s Jeweler” for April, and “Jewelry for him” – we thought it just fair to decrease the tension by creating an easy and fun theme about the Summer.
EASY RULES:

-Each artist should choose ONE photo that was taken this SUMMER or in the past as an inspiration for color, location, shape, etc, to be able to create their jewelry. The photo should be posted WITH your finished piece in the gallery.
-Another possible inspiration is the place where you'd like to spend a SUMMER. If there is a place where you dream of traveling and you do not have a photograph of the site itself, you can drop the link of a website that has the picture you want to share. (Please do not copy the picture of the internet to place it here to avoid copyright problems.)
-Each posted piece can have only ONE inspirational picture.
-If you put a picture of inspiration without posting a jewelry piece, the photo will be deleted.
- If you don’t have a photo or a link to post with your SUMMER jewelry, don't worry, you can post your jewelry piece without it. Maybe a friend can suggest one for your piece in the comments.

This event begins now!

JLsE asked all the artists in both JewelryLessons.com and Facebook:
- What does SUMMER mean for you?
- What kind of jewelry would you wear in summer?
- Also asked for views and opinions for this event: thanks to all the wonderful help from those who collaborated and sent us answers, tips, inspirations and much encouragement. We posted some of them below.
Thanks to the responses and comments: we know that many artists love the sea and enjoy it as an inspiration, while others love the mountains or to visit their loved ones or there are even those who stay at home resting and avoiding the heat and crowds.
Therefore to enjoy these vacations, the event SUMMER will be free for inspiration.

This event is not a competition – the prize is your personal satisfaction and the good feedback received from our fellow artists.

SUMMER,
What kind of jewelry would you wear in summer?

Summer, what does this means for you?
I asked this question to few great artists I meet here tonight and they gave me few ideas, suggestions and comments about what SUMMER means and what SUMMER jewelry can be or have.
Next theme for the monthly event will be SUMMER and it will start after father’s day.


WHY SUMMER by Perri or Shaktipaj
I think that is a great theme! Summer is broad enough for folks to interpret as they like. I know I have a tendency to create brighter pieces in the summer - folks are wearing bright clothes and want jewelry to match.
Summer can mean vacation, or here in the States, the 4th of July or a day at the beach, or a luau, or baseball games, or any number of things - very open to interpretation, and fun!
Perri


FASHION TENDENCIES by Lindarosa:
Right now the big thing is sea shells and wood beads, and neon colors. I really don't do neon but I just love to net shells. I like to use Eni's netting and the bead netting I have one in my gallery http://www.jewelrylessons.com/jewel/node/750.
To me summer means vacation,and my vacation is going to the beach, sea life, sand, shells, blue green waters and sun. Fresh water pearls are a good bead for the summer also mother of pearl beads come in a rainbow of colors and sizes.
Hugs Linda


TIPS AND IDEAS by Pat Capo
-Summer jewelry sounds fun; they could do flowery pieces with a lot of color. Tropical climates could stimulate some good ideas and keep everyone away from the hippie flower thing. The hippie flowers were more jewel toned with a mixture of bright colors. So emphasize Mother of Pearl, Blue Topaz, aventurine with rose quartz, soft pastels yes I like that slant Fran. Many years ago when I was stringing I had a very popular necklace design that was MOP, Aventurine and Rose Quartz everyone loved it and it was strictly a summer piece, and a soft pastel.
-Summer, a good place to make use of that colored craft wire they might have laying around.
-Summer jewelry would also be good for us mid-westerners when we vacation in warm climates. I like it has a lot of flexibility and probably would be easier to think of pieces to contribute. Good Idea!
-I do think it is a good idea just throw it out there and see what everyone comes up with.
-Maybe we could ask them when they think of dressing up for summer what kind of jewelry would they envision wearing with their summer wardrobe.
-Casual – Shorts - Capris - Toe rings - Ankle bracelets – Sandals - Sun dresses – Necklaces – Earrings - Bracelets.
-Evening wear more formal summer pieces.
Pat............


MEANING by DawneBryant
For me, summer is camping with the family, sunshine, fresh air, fishing, boating and basically being outdoors (exept this summer while I get my shop up and running). I think leaving it a bit open makes it easier, since summer means different things to different people. Some may see summer as green like trees and lake water, or blue like blue skies or the ocean, others may see it as yellow, like sunshine or flowers. So, leaving it broad could bring about a real range of ideas. For me, it kind of incorporates all of those colors.
Free form is another thought that comes to mind with summer, as summer is about freedom to a lot of people.
Dawn


LOCATIONS By Dana or Trackie4u2 and Donna or Gailavira


Dana:
Summer is a pretty general theme. It can mean hot. Or beach and water. Vacations to sunny locations, camping and swimming.
When I was young and lived in California. Summer meant camping and trips to the beach or ocean, sailing, wind surfing and water skiing. Now I live in the south and summer means lightweight casual clothing.
I think if you want something specific like a water theme you should probably specify that. Something like It's summer time and we're headed for sand and sun, time to hit the beach - design something with a water theme .
:o) It's pretty wide open- summer - lots of ideas to be explored.
Dana.


Donna: I see summer as meaning so many different things, mainly depending on where a person lives. It could be sea/ocean related, wildflowers, tall dry grasses, cacti. The possibilities are endless. I think that would be a great theme.
Donna


QUESTION by Expressions:
-Can you tell us what does summer mean to you?
-What kind of jewelry would you wear in summer?
Have fun!

:) Expressions.