Grouse Studios

APRIL/ MAY –  JEWELRY/SILVERSMITHING - LEARN THE PROPER USE OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HANDCRAFTED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY WITH PROFESSIONAL RESULTS.  YOU WILL LEARN TO MANIPULATE VARIOUS FORMS  AND GAUGES OF SILVER WIRE AND FLAT SILVER, THE PROPER USE OF THE JEWELER’S SAW, FILES AND FORGING HAMMERS AS WELL AS CLEANING, SANDING AND POLISHING . YOU WILL SEE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF SETTINGS WHICH CAN BE USED, AND YOU WILL MOST LIKELY SET A STONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS.  THE COURSE IS TAUGHT THROUGH A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTION  AND EACH STUDENT WILL COMPLETE A NUMBER OF THEIR OWN PIECES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN, BUILD AND FINISH YOUR OWN PIECES LIKE A PRO. INSTRUCTORS: JULIA ROSE-DICK AND BOB JIORLE , 8 WEEK COURSE, 2 HOURS PER WEEK (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS) FROM 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.   FEE:  $ 225.00/PERSON. YOU MAY ALSO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL ADVANCED CLASS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS COURSE.

SIGN-UP NOW AS CLASS SPACE IS LIMITED (908)399-0247 TO REGISTER OR E-MAIL grousestudios@gmail.com.

MARCH 20  – SECRETS TO SENSATIONAL SOUPS  – A GREAT DAY OUT . INVITE YOUR FRIEND, YOUR MOM OR DAD, OR SISTER OR BROTHER TO SPEND SOME TIME TOGETHER, GET SOME SOUP INSIGHT AND ENJOY A NICE LUNCH IN THE PROCESS. PRESENTED BY PROFESSIONAL COOK AND KITCHEN GARDENER, CHERYL KARCHER. LEARN TO  CONSTRUCT NOT GOOD, NOT GREAT, BUT SENSATIONAL SOUP !!  1-3 PM,  FEE: $25.00/PERSON, VERY REASONABLE FOR TIME WITH FRIENDS OR FAMILY, A LESSON AND SENSATIONAL SOUP !!

APRIL/ MAY –  JEWELRY/SILVERSMITHING - LEARN THE PROPER USE OF TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO MAKING HANDCRAFTED STERLING SILVER JEWELRY WITH PROFESSIONAL RESULTS.  YOU WILL LEARN TO MANIPULATE VARIOUS FORMS  AND GAUGES OF SILVER WIRE AND FLAT SILVER, THE PROPER USE OF THE JEWELER’S SAW, FILES AND FORGING HAMMERS AS WELL AS CLEANING, SANDING AND POLISHING . YOU WILL SEE VARIOUS EXAMPLES OF THE TYPES OF SETTINGS WHICH CAN BE USED, AND YOU WILL MOST LIKELY SET A STONE BEFORE THE END OF THE CLASS.  THE COURSE IS TAUGHT THROUGH A SERIES OF DEMONSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTION  AND EACH STUDENT WILL COMPLETE A NUMBER OF THEIR OWN PIECES. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DESIGN, BUILD AND FINISH YOUR OWN PIECES LIKE A PRO. INSTRUCTORS: JULIA ROSE-DICK AND BOB JIORLE , 8 WEEK COURSE, 2 HOURS PER WEEK (WEDNESDAY EVENINGS) FROM 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM.   FEE:  $ 225.00/PERSON. YOU MAY ALSO TAKE AN ADDITIONAL ADVANCED CLASS WHEN YOU HAVE COMPLETED THIS COURSE.

DRAWING COURSE -MARCH (START DATE TO BE DETERMINED BY ENROLLMENT) THIS INTRODUCTION TO DRAWING WILL EXAMINE LIGHT, LINE, VOLUME. THIS COURSE WILL BE USED TO EVAULUATE SKILL LEVEL AND DETERMINE SUBJECT MATTER FOR FOLLOW-UP INSTRUCTION. INSTRUCTOR: GREG NAPOLITAN, LOCAL ARTIST/CHAINSAW SCULPTOR. COURSE WILL CONSIST OF 3, TWO HOUR SESSIONS HELD ON CONSECUTIVE DAYS FRI, SAT & SUN 10AM-NOON.

PLEASE REGISTER BY CALLING (908)399-0247 OR E-MAIL GROUSESTUDIOS@GMAIL.COM

The Classroom at Grouse Studios is now accepting reservations for spring classes or workshops. Call or check this website for  a complete list of classes being offered or schedule your own class or workshop in MY space. Contact Julia at (908) 399-0247 for details.

Ok, everyone, I am now very interested in handmade soap. I have been researching this and have found several sources for soap very close to home.  I am conducting  field (or bath)  studies on manufacturers’ brands. Keep in mind these are handcrafted soaps, not mass produced, not pumped out strictly for profit, these are truely made with human hands with consideration and forethought. I am also pressuring friends, relatives and strangers to help me in my marketing research. I LOVE the three soaps I am currently purchasing for sale at my store.

The Three Brands I am currently offering are : Finger Lakes Soap Company: I discovered these products a number of years ago at the local farm and family store in VanEtten, New York. I became instantly addicted to Heather’s lip balms. I currently have at least three different scents/flavors in my purse at all time, I carry them in my camera bag and in a pocket of each of my winter coats. I NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT. I have been using her soaps for about 1 year and find them to be affordable, luxurios and varied in offerings (an excellent selection). I am now awaiting my new order of shampoo and bath salts. I can’t wait!

Next are, “Romancing the Skin” these hail from Battle Creek, Michigan and are made lovingly by the hands of my cousin’s wife, Kelly. I have only been using her soaps for a two month period, but I also find them to be very lovely.  Kelly’s soaps are very organic, they have a less “flowery” scent than others that I have test sniffed. Her soaps have a very earthy scent and a nice clean finish on the skin. I have a lovely blue colored bar called “Stargazer” in my powder room downstairs, and I use it daily. I will let you know how long it lasts. Kelly’s Romancing the Skin bars are a bit firmer than the FingerLakes Soap bar, I think this is beacuse she used lard in some of the bars she makes. I will check to see if the addition of lard hardens the bar. I will also let you know why she uses it in some, and not in others. 

And last, but certainly not least, is Stone Cottage SoapsWorks: this is a soap maker located in Frenchtown, the same town my shop is in. And let me tell you, David has a vast array of varieties (I think he told me, 225 scents) wow !! that is alot to choose from. I am currently using a bar “heliotrope”, wow, what a lovely scent. It is fragrant but not too “flowery” (contains Olive, Palm and coconut oils, Shea and cocoa butters, fragrance, white china and pink Kaolin clays). Really a nice subtle fragrance that stays with you for a little while after you have showered. David tells me that he will be releasing a mans’ shaving soap soon.  I will let you know what my husband has to say about it as soon as we get some.

I am very happy to be carrying these craftsperson’s soaps, it make shopping alot of fun in my store and has been well received. I plan to expand in the coming months the offerings of these three artists.

Hey Everyone, I have expanded my horizons and have taken a booth at a brand new Antique Mall located in Allentown, PA. Black Rose Antiques & Collectibles at South Mall 3300 Lehigh Street
Allentown, PA 18103. Please add this to your must stop destinations. The Mall is open from 10am-9:00pm during the holidays. Check it out, nice high quality merchandise, great gifts, reasonable prices.

Join me and other talented artisans  on  Saturday, December 5 &  Sunday, December 6 for lots of fun and exceptional gifts at the Ottsville Holiday Festival at Linden Hill Gardens, 8230 Easton Road (Route 611), Ottsville, Pa.   The festival is from 9am – 3 pm both days and features Unique Gifts by Local Artists, Seasonal Plants, Topiaries & Herbs and Sweet and Savory winter fare. Check out the gifts and the wonderful gardens decked out in holiday spledor.   My shop will also be open in Frenchtown from 11am-5pm, stop by and say hello to my sister-in-law, Pam.  See you at the Festival, and since it is two days, there will be no excuses as to why you could not attend !!!

AROMATHERAPY PRODUCTS FROM FINGER LAKES SOAP COMPANY: Artisan Soaps, Lip Balms, Bath Salts, Soy Candles, Hand Cream, Ointment, Essential Oil Spray Mist
Now Available at Grouse Studios. Excellent Stocking stuffers and co-worker gifts. Pamper Yourself this holiday season

I have developed a line of greeting and note cards which will feature my photography. I will also make custom cards for anyone  who would like me to shoot specific material to be converted to cards for resale or for gift giving. I  also have Frenchtown cards which will feature the landmarks, landscapes and characters of Frenchtown. Please come by and check them out.  They will be sold as individual cards and gift packs. You can choose a theme.

Here are three “baby rocks” that have been set in sterling silver settings which were designed by me for each rock. These are currently on display at my store Grouse Studios, 7 Kingwood Avenue, Frenchtown, NJ 08825. These pieces are one-of-a-kind and are available for sale. Please contact me for  additional photos or to arrange to purchase and ship. Prices range from $45-$95 and include domestic ground shipping.