HEY EVERYONE, CHERYL IS UP TO IT AGAIN, SHE IS DOING A FANTASTIC COOKING DEMO/LIGHT LUNCH IN THE CLASSROOM. DO NOT MISS THIS OPPORTUNITY TO ENJOY A GREAT DEMONSTARTION and LEARN ABOUT COOKING WITH HERBS . THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO SPEND A FEW HOURS AND GET SOME TIPS. PLEASE BRING A FRIEND OR TWO, WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU.

French Herbs in Frenchtown

Do you love all things French? Grouse Studios will host a cooking demo and light lunch featuring local, organic produce and selection of French herbs from the garden with professional cook and herbalist Cheryl Karcher. Saturday, August 21^{st 12 noon – 3pm. $35}

^{Must register in advance by Wednesday, 8/18. Please call GrouseStudios          908-399-0247 or 908-319-0012}

            JOIN THE FUN AT GROUSE STUDIOS

               REGISTER NOW FOR SUMMER          

Well, you missed it. Yeah, I know, you had something else to do that day or YOU THOUGHT YOU KNEW HOW TO MAKE SENSATIONAL SOUP……..well, even I, a cook extraordinare learned a SECRET or TWO from Cheryl and I am not telling you what they were…………ha, ha,ha, so there!!!! I guess you will not be so confident next time you are making bland,  extra ordinary soup, you may think you know it all, but let me tell you, if the bowl is not emptied and cleaned within an inch of it’s life, you did not make a sensational soup. So keep your eyes on your guests and keep hoping that they don’t notice your soup short comings. Until we meet again, good luck suckers !!!!  Incidently, we enjoyed cream of asparagus and french onion au gratin, ha, ha, ha !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learn to mosaic.  You can use alot of different materials to create a mosaic of your very own. This was created in a number of steps over several days. Approx. 2 hours lay-out.  One hour prep of table surface and table base. Two more hours to pick-up the pieces, to apply the adhesive and then to replace all of the pieces. The adhesive then has to cure or dry.  You can then grout  (build up the area which surrounds the tiles and mosaic pieces) to give the top an even surface. This can take about two more hours to get a nice finish and to uncover the areas you want exposed. The grout must be allowed to cure  then you can seal the grout surface. The glass edges were also ground to be sure no one would cut themselves. The base of the table was painted cobalt blue and the sea shells were given a light coat of water based urethane to enhance the natural color.  This tabletop was created using a combination of square tiles, six sides tiles, broken glass and sea shells. The table is shown before the grout was applied. The finished table is for sale at my shop $ 200. I will be taking reservations for a class wheich will be held in April. Start looking for a piece of furniture which you may wish to create a mosaic for. You may also begin with a picture frame, a serving tray, a wood box. The piece you select should have a recess in the top or have a surface to which a trim piece can be added (this will hold everything in and allow the surface to be leveled). Call me if you wish to attend the class, I will be announcing the date in the next two weeks.

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 27  – 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.

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.

Here is a “baby rock” which was cut and polished by me. This stone may be in the granite family. The sterling silver bezel setting was designed by me for this stone. There is considerable time in this piece. This is a one-of-a-kind piece. This piece is currently at my store Grouse Studios, 7 Kingwood Avenue, Frenchtown, NJ 08825. This piece is available for sale, the price is  $ 140.00 and includes domestic ground shipping. Please contact me for more photos or to purchase and ship the item.

WOW !!! I have been taking an advanced jewelry class, with “the master” of art and my friend Bob Jiorle,  this consists of cutting and polishing stones. This is SO VERY INTERESTING and VERY EXCITING !!! I will give you some technical information shortly. I have been making sterling silver jewelry for a number of years, but have always purchased my stones. I am now making my own.

It is so gratifying to take an ordinary stone (yes, I have picking ordinary rocks from rock piles all over town), to cut it, shape it, refine it and then to polish it to a beautiful lustre…….behold, a stone worthy of a great sterling setting is born. I made it myself, I have given birth to a baby rock, or “a chip off the old block”.  Really and truely, this is a small piece of what is an ordinary stone. Look at the photos ans tell me that you are not amazed. See my next posting “How a Baby Rock is Born” for the technical information I promised. This is better than Rocket Science !!!!