The Talented Ursula Avakian Stone Style Pendant Workshop Beautiful pendants were made by all who were lucky enough to attend. The workshop was a huge success.

Participants used rubber stamps to apply images onto a cultured stone with flat surfaces.  No drawing was necessary – the rubber stamps provided all the images needed, and students learned how to apply colors from a variety of tiny inkpads.  To complete the pendant, matching beads were wired onto the pendant and attached to a chord (or ribbon) necklace.

Tools required:  Round nose pliers Chain nose pliers Wire cutter

If anyone has any of these tools, please bring them to class.  Otherwise, tools will be provided, but may require sharing, depending on class size. 
All other materials will be supplied.

Instructor:  Ursula Avakian

Background:

I have had a love affair with arts & crafts since my early childhood.  As an adult, I started taking classes in graphic design, and discovered I wasn’t good enough to become a commercial graphic artist, so, I pursued a career in “industrial arts”, as an engineering draftsman. That led me to the designing of wiring harnesses and cable assemblies for computer products.

After 12 years in engineering, I went back to school to pursue a career in medical information management, which I enjoyed for several years. Thereafter, I went back to school to become a librarian.  I retired from that position several years ago, but continue to work for Palomar Medical Center as a part-time “floater”, filling in for employees on extended leaves, or working on special projects.  In addition, I devote several hours a week volunteering at OASIS, a national education organization that offers challenging programs in the arts, humanities, health and technology to people 50 years of age and older.

Several years ago, I started teaching jewelry and card-making at Mary’s House in Escondido to young troubled girls coming out of the foster care system.  During the last three years I’ve been teaching similar classes to members of the “Creativity Group” to which I belong.  I also teach jewelry and card-making to groups of friends and acquaintances, passing on to others what I’ve learned from my experiences and from advanced jewelry and card-making classes that I continue to take on a regular basis.