jibby and juna

A bit about the next things

2012-02-10T07:40:00.000-08:00

One project flows into the next...so I shouldn't be sitting here playing with shavings. It looks like I should be cleaning.

Two new shops will soon be carrying my work. Watch for Jibby and Juna in Atlanta and Austin this spring.

And...drum roll... I will be included in a book about polymer clay coming out next year! This will take up a lot of my time and attention over the next couple of months and will probably mean that the Etsy shop, when re-opened, will be limited (because unfortunately there are still only 24 hours in a day).

Landscape/Seascape

2012-01-19T07:26:00.000-08:00

I'm spending some time on my Landscape/Seascape necklace series today. It seems that walking away from them for a bit was worthwhile - I feel like I'm looking at them with fresh eyes. This is one of those pieces I may have to deliberate selling.

A big thanks to Angie at a little etsy love for featuring my work (with a coupon code) today!

Toga Beads How-to

2012-01-17T05:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a short how-to for making what I call, for lack of a better name, toga beads. They remind me of marble "fabric" drapped on classical statues.

All you'll need is white polymer clay, a cutter, needle, black acrylic paint, paper towel and possibly some steel wool.

1. Make a ball of white clay about double the size that you want the finished bead to be.

2. Pinch and twist opposing sides of the ball making "handles" (sort of) and continue to twist until the bead has layers/twists to suit you. Less twisting will result in thick folds, more twisting results in thinner folds.

3. Carefully cut the handles off the ends of the bead.

4. Pierce, flat end to flat end, with a needle and bake standing up on one end or using a bead rack.

5. Brush with black acrylic paint, getting the paint into all the indentations, then immediately removing paint from the "high spots" with a paper towel. After the paint dries if you find you want more white showing, remove even more of the black paint with steel wool.

Black and white gives these beads a marble/toga feel but different colors of clay and paint would be fun too!

Learning something new

2012-01-12T09:52:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

I have read that as we age its very beneficial for our brain to continue to learn new things. Are you over 40 years? Then let your heart (er, brain) rejoice because today there is NO dearth of new things to learn!

I've recently tackled Instagram. Wow, it does so much for much for my iphone photos! The first two images of buildings at the Ephrata Cloister are regular and for the second two I used Instagram filters.

And soon it will be new

2011-12-26T08:10:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was lower key than most years and I loved it. We attended an outdoor Christmas Eve service with live Nativity this year. Starry sky, carols sung to a single acoustic guitar...its was probably the best Christmas church service I have ever been to.

I re-opened my shop today and will be running sales throughout the week. I like to do a lot of clearing out around New Year's including all aspects of my life. (Those of you who read my blog can also take advantage of free shipping...use FREESHIP as the coupon code when checking out ;-)

Winding down

2011-11-28T08:47:00.000-08:00

Filling the shop with the rest of the new finished work that I have. The shipping continues but the making is winding down. As always there is so much "in the works" but it will have to wait until after the holidays.

If you have the chance visit my Etsy team's blog post today. I researched and wrote a short piece about freedom, shopping, fingerless gloves (?) and the power of purchasing from artists and small business owners.

Small and special

2011-11-21T10:08:00.000-08:00

I've decided to end the Stone Upon Stone line and will post the last (and smallest) of the earrings this week. This design originated after I was in a huge rockfall in 2008. You could say it was part of my healing process and now...I feel like I'm done and its time to move on. Although the rings and earrings have been good sellers for me I'll be selling off the pieces I have left.

Ah..that feels good. Making way for new things.

I'm trying to keep lots of new stocking stuffers in the shop right now. Small earrings are my way of practicing new techniques, 3D sketching in polymer, so lots of the tiny earrings are one of a kind or limited edition. Small and special doesn't have to mean diamond studs.

Ring, ring

2011-11-18T05:24:00.000-08:00

I decided to try some paid advertising this year. The folks at 20BestTwenty could not have made it any easier (thank you Meg)! I went out on a bit of limb by choosing a ring to promote for starters. I know, not the easiest jewelry to sell since fit is key. I have full and half sizes 5-10 ready to ship - this is more production mode than I've attempted with rings thus far.

After a quick and helpful tweet chat with Danielle last night I realized that it would help if I provide some sort of chart, link, or ring sizers. So after the boys get started with math thats the first order of business this morning.

Danielle (HandyMaiden) makes the most charming animals. Hand sculpted, handed painted polymer - each with such personality. You can find your standard favorites (fox, owl, deer) but if its a Red Panda, Fennec Fox or Eastern Quoll you're after, she's got that too.

Partner in Polymer

2011-11-15T04:47:00.000-08:00

My high school art teacher husband is adding a polymer clay unit to his 3D design course (pretty forwarding thinking of him, eh?) so he's been invading my space lately.

Its nice to have company in the studio, especially clever company who thinks of new ideas and likes to solve problems. He's making his way through certain skills trying to narrow down the ones he will teach while keeping his expectation of what the students will do with those skills wide open. Unfortunately its all too easy to teach a skill, show an example...and then just end up with 24 copies of that example. He encourages creativity above all and of course, polymer clay willingly obliges.

Live the good life

2011-11-11T05:36:00.000-08:00

I believe in the idea of craft as part of economic, spiritual and emotional renewal! You can read about it here and here.

Most good things have been said and now just need to be lived. - Shane Claiborne

Elements

2011-11-01T13:10:00.000-07:00

Lots of new parts and elements floating about. I'm still wondering how they'll all come together.

I find I like the sides of the beads for a new bracelet as much as the tops.

New Favorites on Etsy

2011-10-24T08:43:00.001-07:00

1. Prickly Stem Earrings - Mioraklime 2. Teal Bird and Ivy - ManglePrints. 3. Eucalyptus Bud Ring - RebeccaDeans

(Did I mention there are 61 shopping days until Christmas?)

Back in the swing

2011-10-20T09:33:00.000-07:00

My Etsy shop is open again and I am slowly posting some of my new work. I've been working on construction, kinetic pieces and incorporating non-traditional elements (yarn, rope, antler...)into my work. (and polymer clay IS traditional? what?)

On another note, if you're new to Etsy or selling online in general, I really recommend checking out the new series on the Artisans Gallery Team blog - The Don't Do List. Part one was posted today and covers some important points about shipping.

Too many irons in the fire

2011-10-05T08:56:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm being pulled in a lot of different directions lately. So I'm gathering supplies in preparation of taking 1o days off from Etsy to concentrate on some of the (many) projects I have started. My shop will close Friday...but I'll be back :-)

Fog, photography, and a new ring

2011-09-30T05:56:00.000-07:00

When Ema left for college she took her camera, leaving me to adjust to using my husband's Nikon D300. (I know, poor, poor me, right?) I'm not complaining but it is different, heavier, a little unweildy for me. I'm practicing; I know the only way I will learn is to just have at it.

The new Fragment ring in is the shop today.

Happy together

2011-09-27T09:02:00.000-07:00

My Manifesto Necklace is showing up in lots of nice places! Today Emily featured it over at El Vintage. (thanks Emily!) The vintage suede ankle boots in her Etsy shop caught my eye.

Echo

2011-09-26T06:35:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been feeling like ideas and dreams from long ago have caught up with me again.

Echo necklace

Art as a magnet

2011-09-20T07:58:00.000-07:00

Artists and craftsman! Read this business blog post for a shot in the arm.

Fest

2011-09-10T09:06:00.000-07:00

I'm coming up quickly on my only show this year. New Freedom Fest, celebrating small town life happens right in my small town, New Freedom PA on Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10am - 4pm. (For reference we are 1 hr. directly north of Baltimore, MD.) There will be music, games, food and a farmer's market. And at my booth (#22) there will be sales (!) and new work. Stop by and say 'hi' - I'd love to meet you!

My husband lamented that he didn't have a Jibby and Juna piece to wear...so I fixed that situation.

Personal museum

2011-08-23T06:43:00.000-07:00

With Ema leaving tomorrow and school starting for us on Thursday we're in clean up/re-organized mode. I realized its terribly sad that the natural history (aka treasures, aka stones and sticks) that I've collected from two continents and three islands have been sitting in plastic bags in a cupboard. Decided to rectify.

Only smaller bits fit on the narrow shelves created by hanging a printers tray side ways.

The house we rented this year in Maine had a private beach that was littered with huge mica flakes. I wish I could figure out how to set this one in a bezel.

The tiny collection.

The best of the heart stones.

Fossils from Calvert Cliffs.

Off you go...

2011-08-17T07:34:00.000-07:00

Our daughter leaves for college one week from today. (can this really be happening?)

I made this necklace for her (and a couple like it for the shop). This type of beading is rather calming when the world feels like its rushing by.

So very timely...found a back to school treasury I was in over at The Handmade Gift Guide today!

Into the woods...

2011-07-28T18:31:00.000-07:00

School starts in 2 weeks so we're packing in all the fun. Today - sailing. Tomorrow - the zoo. I'll probably only have a couple more full days in the studio.

A belated thank you to Heather Kent! It was very nice to find a photo of my work over at her blog last week. She has nice interviews too. Below is one of her new hand painted lockets - I lean toward all things woodland. She has a wide variety of images (from hedgehogs to red velvet cake) available on pendants, rings, earrings and even cufflinks.

Manifesto

2011-07-14T18:06:00.000-07:00

Last year sometime I heard someone (and I honestly can't remember who) say slightly snidely "Well! You don't want finger prints in your polymer clay!" and that did it for me. I started working on beads that had my finger prints as their texture.

Lately I've been wrestling with the big ideas of copying and being authentic and how can any of us ever be sure we aren't unwittingly using too much of someone else's idea, what with the overwhelming number of visual images we have access to EVERY SINGLE DAY. Angst.

It seemed like the right time to finally complete and post this necklace. The white beads are made with my finger prints. No one can copy my fingerprints but if someone would copy the beads they will be forced to use THEIR OWN finger prints. I enjoy the irony.

2011-06-09T08:40:00.001-07:00

My treasury "watch out for sharks" was chosen as the Artisans Gallery Team's treasury of the day!

Click over and check out my inspiration, this Porcelain Great White Shark by cedarpottery, AND my other 15 great finds!

Almost there now

2011-06-06T05:00:00.000-07:00

Our 180 days of school for the 2010-2011 school year are finished! I'm still getting the boy's portfolios in order but the end is in sight. Studio time has mostly been limited to fulfilling a large custom order but I also spent a little time rummaging through the " discard box" and re-working pieces that didn't work out. Carving works wonders on Stone upon Stone pieces that were made before I got more consistent with them. (I throw nothing away.)

I had a pleasant surprise from Amanda at Ulixis who featured my white Fragment earrings on her blog yesterday! Check out all her lovely finds!

Turtle update

2011-06-01T08:51:00.000-07:00

Some time between 11pm and 7am our snapping turtle left us. God speed turtle!
To answer one of the questions in the comments, no, turtles don't sit on their eggs they drop 'em and leave. But we will work to keep the eggs safe for the next 6-7 weeks. Once they hatch we were told we can move the babies to the stream. (Sam is having a little trouble being convinced that a snapping turtle wouldn't make a good pet.)

Our dog gets it that she isn't allowed to dig where the eggs are but we have some concerns about the neighborhood cats. We're thinking we should construct a wire dome of some sort.

Expect the Unexpected

2011-05-31T11:51:00.000-07:00

I woke up this morning expecting something unexpected.

We found her just outside our backdoor. Mind you we live IN town - she had quite a walk. She is LARGE with a top carapace thats about 10 x 13 inches. She has now buried herself underground. I don't think I need to tell you what she's doing down there.

I called the local park (they take injured birds, snakes etc.) and they said to leave her alone; she'll finish laying eggs in about 24 hrs.

Hazards on the job

2011-05-23T09:11:00.001-07:00

Big orders, lots of beads...beads, beads, beads. Soreness in one hand led me to try making the same small beads between the thumb and pointer finger of my other hand and lo and behold, I am polymer ambidextrous! (well, at least with that kind of bead)

This is one of the "rest" projects I am working on after both hands get stiff. I cut into my thumb on Saturday because I was carving and not wearing my leather finger protector. Amazingly its just about healed already. And I've learned my lesson.

On other fronts

2011-05-17T08:56:00.000-07:00

I'm doing some graphic work on the side for my brother in law who is starting his own business. Sam helped me out here.

And I am preparing for a big graduation party for my "model", Ema. Ah! My model with be going to college this fall! Had a hearty cry about it yesterday - brought on by the thought of not having a model but really centered more on the fact that my first born is preparing to leave home. (I'll be listing this new ring soon.)

Thanks for reading!

And so...

2011-05-11T08:34:00.001-07:00

...someone has copied some of my pieces. Its was unsettling to come upon their Etsy shop, a bit like seeing your own head on another body. My designs are simple so maybe this is an unfortunate but natural side effect.

They openly state in their shop that they are "inspired" by me. Now I've had people say that before, that is, they see something I did, they change the ideas, they make their own, they let me know they posted a picture on their blog or flickr and its humbling and kind ( and exciting). That is not wrong. We learn from each and then we can make the KNOWLEDGE, not the item, our own. And when everyone plays by the rules...it's actually great! Those with more knowledge have more of a "reserve" from which to share and the rest of us need to be respectful of that. (and to heighten the effect you can do what I do and stand in the Ford/Forlano booth at ACC and weep ;-)

No, inspiration is something completely different than copying. So where is the dividing line? MOST of us don't want to step over that line - me included!

Forging head with new rings, new necklaces, new earrings!

Tweet Tweet

2011-04-28T07:13:00.000-07:00

In case you're interested...www.twitter.com/jibbyandjuna
where I chirp and warble a little.

Keep on, keepin' on

2011-04-21T08:25:00.000-07:00

I'm working through techniques with individual beads - like sketching instead of completing a finished drawing. I have a lot learn so maybe its good to do this for a little while.

I need to keep things moving so unless I have an immediate "I know what I am going to do with this bead" I am just going to post/sell them. Sets will be showing up in the shop throughout the day today.

*Thanks to everyone who left a comment on the last post. You all are great! *

Blah

2011-04-19T18:07:00.000-07:00

Feeling very dull, "off" or something like that, creatively speaking.

I do love that I have good light at my work table, even on a rainy day, thanks to my skylight. Maybe something interesting will happen there tomorrow.

Testing the waters

2011-04-14T05:11:00.000-07:00

I'd been considering making/selling more loose beads lately (being encouraged by Claire's success with beads over at stillpointworks and several requests from customers) to broaden what I have to offer in my Etsy shop. Feeling a bit frustrated with some necklaces I am working on, I decided to scale back on complete jewelry for a week or two and just work on beads, planning to post some sets and test the waters.

The first sets of Debris beads sold within hours which is pretty cool! Re-listing! b

Landscapes and beyond

2011-03-31T05:04:00.000-07:00

I have several more landscapes almost complete. The even newer ones seem to be escaping their bezels. Hmmm...no photos of that tangent yet.

This piece has no added acrylic paint. Its a stretch for me.

I'm re-working an earlier piece because I'm just not satisfied with it yet. So its sits here partially finished. I realized it would be very convenient for me to have about 4 huge tables on which to lay out partially finished work for weeks and weeks just so I could look at it, play with it, try it on then walk away for days. Come back, insert bead, take out bead, insert different bead and so on. I think I just need to live with things for a while before I can finish them.

Stopped me in my tracks

2011-03-28T06:08:00.000-07:00

I find myself increasingly interested in closures and clasps (maybe because I struggle with them). These necklaces from Vladimír Rozkovec really got my wheels turning.

I love how the clasp works but especially that it is completely integrated into the focal pendant - nothing is an after thought here.

Aren't they fantastic? Couldn't you see this idea of closure translating to polymer clay?

Vladimír has an Etsy shop where you can enjoy more of his sculptural leather work.

Just a peak

2011-03-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

A peak at carving work. I've done totally carved beads so now I am moving toward partially carved surfaces and forming organic shapes.

I am venturing into aluminum foil core beads because I need to work on weight of finished pieces. Why didn't I try this sooner?!

And one last peak... a peak at my house (and my Yellena prints) on the Artisan's Gallery Blog.

A BIG thanks

2011-03-16T08:03:00.000-07:00

A quick post with BIG thanks to Kellie who so graciously chose me for the Talented Tuesday spot on her blog! If you're in Brisbane, Australia she'll be at The Handmade Expo Market this Saturday. If you're like me and geography does not allow (what a shame!) , click over to her etsy shop and check out her resin jewelry and buttons!

The end result

2011-03-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

The large custom Sediment necklace is finished and on its way across the country!

Stainless steel strung through a short length of hollow rubber cord creates the loop for a toggle clasp. (my left thumbnail almost permanently has black paint under it - sorry to everyone except Claire :-)

The beads graduate as they get close to necklace for comfort and to cut some of the weight. (it has about 275 beads!) I was a little sad to say good bye to this piece. I truly labored over it.

The day was made

2011-03-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

I got a lovely email this morning from Delphine of Le Blog du Coolest. She posted the necklace she made (below) after seeing my fiber bead tutorial last November and another necklace incorporating her "quotation" of my moon earrings. Very cool to see her take on these textures. You really made my day, Delphine. Thank you!
Several big custom orders have kept me very busy these past 3 weeks or so. I've really been feeling like I needed to stretch myself more in regard to construction so when a request came along for a necklace version of my Sediment bracelet I knew it was meant to be. Here's the necklace in progress. I wedged the beads at the bottom to help create the curve without a lot of gaping.

What kind of clasp to use was probably my biggest hurdle. I sketched. I stared. I sketched. I stared. I wanted something simple and sturdy but also something that was incorporated into the overall design so a purchased clasp was out. I finished it tonight and will hopefully get some good photographs tomorrow before its shipped to its new home.

Surveying the landscape

2011-02-26T18:17:00.000-08:00

Finally finished my third Landscape piece. I nearly ruined it because the paler shades of polymer darkened in the multiple curings. The heavy etching was a "what have I got to lose now" thing that I ended up really loving! No failures - only detours. I blended another sheet of polymer with similar coloring to make a second simliar piece.

Tried and Tru

2011-02-20T11:41:00.000-08:00

After several angst laden discussions with my husband about the chemistry involved with curing polymer clay, he, being a problem solver, took the whole issue under his wing. He purchased this wonderful item and ran a battery of tests with me.

This type of thermometer allows me to see, in real time, the temperature of the interior of the oven, it allows me to set a highest temp. alarm that goes off if the oven runs higher than 290F and it also keeps track of temperature range. I now know that my oven cycles to 312, and then to 294 and then its ready. Once pre-heated, I pop the battery out, and re-set and the temp. so I can keep track of the the actual range while a piece is being cured. My oven has a 14 degree cycle range with my new vent (see below) running. I've also found that keeping a ceramic tile in the oven helps to even out the temperature (without it the cycle range is more like 20 degrees).

Kyle finished installing the vent in the corner of the studio that will house all of the things that need to be vented. Soldering will take place directly under the vent, the oven is obviously in the middle and the pickle pot will be to the right.

Onward

2011-02-08T04:55:00.000-08:00

What is the missing element on this Landscape necklace?
Idea one: middle of the road approach, a swirled layer of dark blues, a landmass at the horizon.

Idea two: discordant, craggy layers. Sometimes this kind of thing really works for me.

I think the winner is idea three: minimal. I did some nighttime landscape drawing in charcoal in college and this reminds me of that.

Kyle bought a thermometer with a probe and an alarm and I'll be testing the oven with that today to find out if I am having any temperature spikes.

Whoa Nellie!

2011-02-07T08:56:00.000-08:00

What on earth happened Saturday? I mean, I know what happened - the polymer clay not only burned it melted! But HOW did this happen?

At the correct time I took these out, held my breath, checked the oven temp. (it was correct), turned off the oven and left the room. Thank God I was running my makeshift vent (fan/open window). But the thermometer saying 278F has me stumped. HOW did this happen? Everything should have been fine!

I started running tests using two thermometers and test curing several pieces from the same black clay. My husband thinks that possibly we had a power surge (we had a lot of ice that day) and the oven spiked. The other theory is that I am overtaxing a $75 oven that is only made to toast a bagel a couple times per week. Either theory is a bit distressing because now I don't trust the oven. If something burns again of course I'll know it but what if the temp. dips too low and I end up with improperly cured pieces? Ugh, more tests.

Up and running

2011-02-03T14:38:00.000-08:00

I re-opened my Etsy shop today and have an updated banner and avatar...the look of things to come hopefully.

{Sediment Bracelet}

My hiatus didn't go exactly as planned, probably because my planning wasn't very realistic. Family and household won out many a day. Children don't stay children forever.

Beyond that I cleaned and cleaned and tackled several boring jobs like reorganizing how I keep track of business finances (ok, my husband did that part). I divised a new way to store post earrings. Accordion folded drawing paper and a mini hole punch did the trick (printer paper is too thin and cardstock is too thick). You can stack several and put them in a shallow box or draw.

I've been pretty haphazard about storing finished work up until now. I'd love to hear your creative ideas for storage!

I did manage to get some new pieces started and finished. I hope to complete this Landscape necklace over the weekend.

Thanks for reading!

Snow Day

2011-01-28T05:09:00.000-08:00

We spent yesterday morning shoveling and I am paying for it today. My biceps, hurt not my back, so I guess that means that I lifted correctly. Isabel here didn't help shovel at all which is a shame because she loves to be out in the snow!

The studio is looking much better although its still...not...completely...finished. Last night I sorted through partially finished work (gosh, there is a good bit) and through the pile of pieces that didn't work out for whatever reason (and gosh that was depressing). I am very hard on myself about wasting supplies so this was especially difficult. But on a positive note I now have a small bag of sterling silver to recycle, a pile of yucky beads that will be perfect for practicing carving and the makings of several necklaces and bracelets.

I'll re-open my Etsy shop on Feb. 3.

It will get worse before it gets better

2011-01-19T17:03:00.000-08:00

The next photo is indeed proof of that statement.

I thought we should take photos after we had made the studio really messy. That way ANYTHING would be an improvement. We couldn't completely clear the room so at first it felt like rubics cube...things were moving but there still isn't any empty space! I'm afraid it looks like we are hoarders and require intervention. But things are getting better.

This will be the metal/solder/clay oven area - the far side of the room in the first photo. Hate to the lose the window but thats where the vent will go. The work table is an IKEA hack. We purchased the wooden shelves when we got married and they've served so many purposes. Here they have been cut in 1/2 and have a plain interior door for a work surface. And thats my new portable jewelers bench there a top it. To the left of the window will be the solder station.

On the opposite side of the room (where Kyle stood to take that first "help I am buried in my stuff!" shot) ) we'll have the generalized storage area. The entire family uses this room but we had sorely neglected this fact, with lack of dedicated, organized, storage space for art supplies. We regularly have googley eyes, yarn, wool, card stock, oil paints, pastels, oil paint...lets put it this way, if you are out of something, let me know. We took the other parts of the IKEA shelves and added a corner.

Hopefully we'll get a lot more finished by the weekend.

Road trip

2011-01-13T09:18:00.000-08:00

Several days before Christmas I packed the kids and my parents into the van for a long day of fun - shopping at a discount Amish grocery store and my first visit to terrain. Ema served as my official photographer and here is a brief account.

We packed the back of the van with great deals from BB 's Grocery Outlet, headed to lunch at Andrew Wyeth's favorite lunch spot (portobello burger for me) and made it to terrain around 2pm. I had contacted the buyer hoping to meet her but unfortunately she was away. Samuel asked if we should be in stealth mode and I told him 'no' we weren't on an undercover mission... nor was I going to introduce myself. The friendly staff was quite busy, being 4 days out from Christmas.

The store is beautiful and amazingly cohesive, with no detail left to chance - think Anthropologie's earthy big sister with an emphasis on all things garden. I felt like I fit there visually with lots of green, grey and brown, concrete, wood and stone. Still, its a bit surreal.

I was very pleased to find a selection from D. Landreth Heirloom Seed Company for sale. Landreth's is the oldest seed house in America and is located just blocks from my house.

Newer than expected

2011-01-05T17:01:00.000-08:00

Something about the New Year compels me to rip rooms apart.
I had planned for January 2011 to be the time do so in my studio but my husband pushed things one step further by purchasing a torch and jewelers bench for me for Christmas. (He certainly knows the way to this woman's heart!) So we are now taking the whole room apart, installing new shelving, lighting, a solder station and ventilation.

All I have to show for it right now is a room in disarray (no photo - use your imagination) and a few things I was working on right before we started to make a mess.

I purchased these lovely, lovely tools from Celie Fago's Etsy shop. I really enjoy carving! Celie even provides a companion carving tutorial on her blog.

Perhaps I'll do some before and after or progress photos of the studio.

Goodbye 2010

2010-12-31T16:26:00.000-08:00

2010, like any year, brought a combination of joys and sorrows for me. One bright spot for sure was being nominated to the Artisans Gallery Team on Etsy.

Without further adieu, I'll ring out the year with a team post.

Happy New Year!

Teal and Yellow Anthriscus by UnaOdd

Gold Dear Shirt by WrenWillow

Custom Little Houses by thelittlereddoor

Belle Heart Strings Mobile by MaisyandAlice

Flight pattern sterling silver hoop earrings by noblegnome

Not all who wander are lost necklace by lulubugjewelry

rustic stoneware dinnerware by OneClayBead

Peppermint Rosemary Vegan Handmade Soap by DeShawnMarie

Sale

2010-12-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

Save 25% off everything in my etsy shop by using coupon code "sale25" when checking out. Yes, the shop announcement says 20% but you savvy blog readers get an even better deal ;-)

Now*sigh* back to bed for me. I am feeling rather under the weather, and I don't mean the 3-7 inches of snow headed our way. Must have caught a bug. So thankful that it held off until 7pm Christmas evening to kick in.

Slow down

2010-12-18T04:23:00.000-08:00

I need a serious slow down. Between orders (finishing my 3rd wholesale order in a month), keeping up with etsy AND preparing for the holidays I am starting to flag. I stopped working the other night because my fingers were sore.

As always at this time of year I like to think about "re-setting" everything, putting things to rights to begin the New Year. I am going to have an after Christmas sale and then close for just a bit the end of January.

Go Team - Part II

2010-12-16T05:06:00.000-08:00

Another small, color coordinated peak at the Artisans Gallery Team!
What amazing variety and talent on this 145 member team!
Enjoy and stayed tuned for more...

Magma Earrings by PoleStar

5 Wooden Helicopters Party Pack by imaginationkids

Happy Colored Flower Bag by Starbags

Petit Lace Fans Enamel Posts by bullfinchbarbury

Crystal Series Orange Black Yellow by UnaOdd

Seven Loop Necklace Scarf by nitca

The rainbow umbrella by YannPendaries

Cubist Bird Feeder No 1 Orange by joepapendick

Go Team!

2010-12-14T08:26:00.000-08:00

A look at just a few of the artists from the Artisans Gallery Team on Etsy. Its a great pleasure to be included in this talented group of folks!

Sweet Diamond Promises by sarawestermark

Organic baby quilt by SewnNatural

Sterling silver chain necklace by QuercusSilver

Tiny shimmering black globes by donauluft

8x12 Prepared by f2images

Stack of eight colorful prep bowls by LynnCardwellPottery

Sea Urchin Ring by staroftheeast

Weak in the knees

2010-12-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

Sales of my work at terrain are picking up (hurrah!) so its time to order more beads for the etched pearl necklaces. Looking around and considering some other purchases here. I find beat up old beads very appealing. Archeology meets jewlery - whats NOT to like about that?!

Of course beat up old beads often come with a price. "Don't get too attached to that last strand", I said to myself. They are tile beads from Afghanistan thought to be about 2000 years old. A strand of 21 beads costs $120. Gosh - it would be like wearing a museum around your neck!

Time is almost up

2010-11-30T12:54:00.000-08:00

Just a few more hours to save 20% off in my Etsy Shop. Use Christmas20 in the coupon code section at check out!

Restocked Stone Upon Stone Rings today. They continue to be my most popular piece. (I am sure being dubbed "cool" by Cynthia Tinapple was what did it!)

Lest you think I live a wonderfully bohemian/artistic life, the rest of my day went like this...upsetting orthodontist visit, ruined a custom carved ring and had to start over, bat in bedroom.

And thats where I am right now. Waiting for my husband to get home from work to save us from Dracula. This has happened before and we've found that a Lacrosse stick can be wildly effective. I think we'll eat out tonight.

I hope that you are having a much better day!

Cyber Sale

2010-11-28T14:30:00.000-08:00

I'll be having a Christmas Sale in my Etsy shop Monday, November 29 - November 30. Use coupon code Christmas20 at check out to get 20% off.

Bonjour

2010-11-26T17:51:00.000-08:00

Awoke this morning to find my Stone Ring in a French gift guide!
Check out Sophie Petite Cuisine for links to all the items and shops listed.
- Thank you Sophie -

Its simply nice to share

2010-11-22T07:56:00.000-08:00

Along the way, I've had some polymer artists extend themselves and share their knowledge and present me with great opportunities. Kindness should overflow, shouldn't it? So it seems appropriate that I make my first small attempt to 'give back' with a tutorial at the beginning of America's week of Thanksgiving.
( A special thanks to Ronna, Cynthia, Claire, Lynn, Tracy, and Christine.)

There has been some interest in my fiber-y beads so here goes. Yes, yes, its simple (but I tend to be pretty simple) and they make a nice contrasting texture with smoother beads .

1. Roll a ball of clay.

2. Flatten slightly to make a chunky disk. Put a hole through the center to made a bead.

3. Cross hatch with a tissue blade all around the sides. Don't leave too much blank space. Change the angle of your blade after 5-7 or so slashes tilting the blade so that your lines cover the entire side of the bead. Cross hatch but with a blade.

4. Squeeze either side of the bead with your fingers to make the cross hatch lines open up, revealing a fiber-y sort of pattern. And you will probably need to re-open the bead hole at this point too.

Here are the beads used in a finished piece. They can be used as is, sanded to make the raised areas shine in contrast to the "canyons" or, as I usually do, I distress with acrylic paint to enhance the texture.

(Please feel free to use the beads anyway you want. Crediting me would be nice. Sending me pictures of what you made would be great too and I would be happy to post your projects here.)

Take me to your leader

2010-11-19T07:11:00.000-08:00

I often have "assistance" in the studio. My youngest son is most interested in polymer clay. He seems to understand that it can be almost whatever you want it to be and sees it as the first solution to every creative urge .

I've started buying him his own clay after he came to me one day and said "oh by the way, I used all of the Premo black...does that matter?"

This was his idea. I helped work out the kinks.

Winter soul

2010-11-17T05:01:00.000-08:00

I've been in a lot of treasuries lately. This one really says winter to me.

Time out

2010-11-13T12:49:00.000-08:00

Beware the bareness of a busy life. - Socrates

Now...time to re-group because between school, household and my wholesale order from terrain I've been going 8am-8pm straight through every day.

Friday night was decidedly, deliciously, slow. Kyle and I practiced Christmas carols on guitar, mandolin and melodica, occasionally stirring a big pot of homemade applesauce that simmered on the stove. Saturday I played at making "magic stones" among other things.

If you are in Philadelphia stop by terrain at Styers in Glen Mills, PA and check out my jewelry!

Rough and Ready

2010-11-05T11:45:00.001-07:00

Raw turquoise. Isn't this gorgeous? I usually prefer stones in the rough.

This is my little visual respite from the current task at hand...my first wholesale order. I'll post pictures and the more about the shop next week when the 16 pieces are complete.

A Short Story

2010-11-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

210 white beads. It has been a long day. The end.

Whirlwind

2010-10-23T18:03:00.000-07:00

We've logged 18 hours in the car in the past two weeks visiting colleges with our daughter, started a new art program with our boys and I've start negotiating my way into the world of wholesale. (More on that when things get sorted out.)

Amazingly all this seemingly mundane stuff can be quite inspirational (well...we did drive through Vermont in autumn) but it hasn't allowed for much time in the studio. I am working on new rings though, trying to thin the band and add variety to the shape.

(Sam says he prefers working in polymer but 15 mins. of observational drawing every day is really helping him make progress in drawing!)

Here comes the sun

2010-10-01T05:02:00.001-07:00

Sunshine finally. It had been raining here in our part of PA for 24 hrs., give or take. I've not seen rain like that since we spent the summer on Saint Helena, where its location in the Trade Winds make that amount rain reasonable. Here...not so much. It was quite amazing though and we awoke to an explosion of mushrooms in the yard. So my youngest son and I started our day with fungi identification and I decided that this is the best way to start the day, not with fungi necessarily but with "wonder".
Soon afterward, with Samuel tucked into grammar, I checked Polymer Clay Daily only to find my Chrysanthemum rings as one of Cynthia's fall picks. (Could clicking PCD on the toolbar and seeing one of my pieces pop up ever get old...no, no, I doubt it!)
Despite the early morning ramble I got so much finished (school and home and otherwise) and I'm headed to the studio for a bit after dinner. I feel myself...heading in a direction. I finished this piece for New Freedom Fest. Its a pin. It didn't sell (I am secretly please...I like it.)

Here are the other "landscapes" that I've started. Landscapes? Are they? I think they might be. I see them as pins/walls hangings. Maybe pins and wall hangings. Maybe pins you take off and hang on the wall. I've been greatly drawn to NON jewelry work lately, namely landscape paintings and sculpture. The grey ones in the upper left and lower right corners are larger slabs of clay that I cut apart and then reassemble. (The same with the feather textured pieces .)

Post Fest Post

2010-09-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Mostly visuals this time...shots of new and in progress work taken as I prepared for New Freedom Fest last Saturday and one photo of my booth. Whew. Exhausted.

(considering doing a tutorial of how I make those stripe-y eggplant colored beads in this first bracelet)

Collaberation

2010-09-10T06:07:00.000-07:00

Good things come in small packages.

Shannon at MissFickleMedia was willing to undertake a custom order for me. I emailed her a simple sketch, she created some copper samples and now here several weeks later...Voila!

Shiny silver rings, very well made, in a variety of sizes. I will mostly likely patina them.

They will hold stones, gems, carved bits or maybe polymer with faux enamel once I work out construction. Silver is expensive (especially compared to polymer) but I love the role reversal. The silver will play the understated, supportive role and the plastic will stand in as the "gem".

Order! Order!

2010-09-08T08:03:00.000-07:00

I have a show coming up in 10 days. The fact of the matter is that this is the state of affairs.

I promise that the rest of my house is much cleaner. REALLY! My polymer clay work area is much cleaner and comparatively boring. But this is the "put it all together" table and so things get a little out of control. I will eventually get to the point that the mayhem starts making me cranky (like when you've over mixed paint and have ended up with some sort of muddy grey/brown) and my husband will say "clean your work table - you'll feel better".

Order is actually coming from chaos at this point and I am producing a steady stream of finished pieces, hoping not to pull an all-nighter before the show.

Creation and Evolution

2010-08-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

I am on Voila today in the Current Topic Series: Evolution!

I am amazed and thankful for the opportunities that come my way, weaving themselves into my creative process. Finishing this bracelet, thinking through my process and retracing my steps was a great experience.

Tomorrow we start back to school and as part of the writing process I teach my kids to read compositions out loud, to slow themselves down and self critique their work before I read it. They want to rush and skip this step (just like I do) but slowing down and actually hearing what one writes weeds out mistakes and hones the strengths. Being part of Voila's Evolution Series was similar for me. I was forced to think about what I was doing because I had to write the "story" of how this bracelet came to be.

Thank you, thank you Christine Dumont!

Upcoming Show

2010-08-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

In addition to a flurry of custom work I am busy preparing for New Freedom Fest in New Freedom, PA (60 mins. north of Baltimore). This outdoor show is September 18 from 10am-4pm right in my hometown. You can get more info. about the day at the New Freedom Heritage website.

First....look!

2010-08-12T05:10:00.000-07:00

I would have thought I'd come home from vacation permanently hunched over from all the time we spent looking closely at the stones, shells, sea glass, sand dollars and seaweed strewn across the beaches of Matinicus last month. I looked at pebbles closely, as I had been taught to do in Tracy Holmes class "A Day at the Beach, developing a criticial eye in regard to my own polymer clay versions. (This echoed my Dad's drawing instruction when I was little "always look at the thing you are drawing MORE than at your piece of paper".)

Here's my fiddling around. The more realistic looking ones have been sanded; the others are rough.

This might be what happens next.

And I am definitely headed in this direction but with custom sterling rings.

Where has the time gone?

2010-07-30T18:08:00.001-07:00

We tend to choose "off the beaten track" as a travel destination. Thing is, I find it incredibly difficult to get back on the track again at least in the area of technology. (Is that such a bad thing?) At any rate, sorry to those of you who noticed the month long gap here.

Our interest in remote islands continues. At the beginning of July we went to Matinicus Island, Maine. Twenty-two miles out to sea it is quite simply a lobstering village on a 2 x 1 mile island. Just fifty people call it their year round home. No paved streets, no street lights and a one room school. No commercial anything (although they do have a one room store and a one room bakery). We got there by water taxi and came home by ferry although most people and supplies travel via single engine plane.

Our days were quiet and slow. Time was measured by sun and tide. We left our car on the mainland and explored the island on foot. Most days we had South Sandy Beach to ourselves.

My miniature cairns - the tallest being about 3 inches. (oh my yes, you'll be seeing some polymer stones soon!)

Ben's cairn - he is a master of balance.

We ordered zero carbon lobster by standing on the rocky shore and holding up a finger for every lobster. They were $5/lb. and were delivered to our house later in the day.

Locals apologized for the fog. "Its Maine," we said, "we CAME for the fog!"

New Posting

2010-06-27T08:55:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note...

This artifact necklace was mentioned here a while back when one went to the Radius Gallery. I finally have one posted in my Etsy shop.

A necklace born of my love for the ocean, interest in archeology and fascination with repetition and asymmetry as design elements.

Ode to my summer vacation

2010-06-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

Plans are finally in place for our summer adventure!
Can you guess where I'm going - here is a clue?

(The beginnings of my foray in polymer clay beach stones. Another clue.)

Bead purge

2010-05-31T13:29:00.000-07:00

Descriptive title, huh?

The wooden box I use for spare beads and beads made while trying out a new techniques is overflowing. Sure, eventually I might use them but I have SO many projects in the works and so many beads and I'm trying to get things under control and cleaned up. I've organized the beads into collections based on color and started posting them in the shop.

Magnum Opus and Free Shipping

2010-05-28T04:52:00.000-07:00

For the past several weeks I've been focused heavily on my kids. We are winding down our school year finishing research papers, web design projects and that very last unit in the math book. I have observed that math becomes increasingly difficult as the weather outside improves.

I can end up feeling creatively foggy during this process. There isn't time or energy left at the end of the day for my artwork. Work begets work apparently and I only have new ideas when I am also actively creating. You can see where I go from here..."I will never have a good idea EVER again! Waaaaah!"

(Driving on a Friday Evening by my daughter, Ema)

I checked out my daughter's new blog the other day. Have I foolishly been stumbling over my own magnum opus? The raising of children is such a large creative endeavor that its hard to see the beginning and the end all at once.

Nothing changed - except my attitude. But that's made all the difference.

(All photos above are my daughter's. She just shot her second wedding. When I was seventeen I babysat to make money!)

To everything there is a season. I'm looking forward to getting into the studio again soon with the energy of the accomplishments of our school year at my back and a long summer ahead.

In celebration - FREE shipping through May 31.

Happy Saint Helena Day!

2010-05-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

The island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean is considered to be the most remote community in the world. And today is her day!

Although there are islands that are geographically farther from a continent Saint Helena gets this title of most remote because it is 1200 miles from Africa AND has no airport. The only regular access is by Royal Mail Ship about 8 times per year.

Found in 1502 by a Portuguese ship that had blown off course, brought to fame as a possession of the East India Company, it is today a British Overseas Territory.

Two years ago on this day I was scrambling to pack for a 3 month adventure for a family of five to this much forgotten island that has captured our hearts and minds. I don't think a day goes by that I don't think about returning.

I could go on and on. If you're interested here is the blog that I kept during our adventure.

All photos were taken by my husband Kyle and are part of the documentary work he did for the island's museum.

http://kylewilliamson.com/
http://my-daily-art.blogspot.com/

If...

2010-04-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

...you're in the Allentown area May 1, stop by and see me at From Scratch INDIEdependent Handmade Market. It 10-4pm at the Trexlertown Grange.

The Muse has left the building!

2010-04-24T14:41:00.000-07:00

I set aside the entire day today to work on pieces for the show next weekend. This was the last day I had decided to give myself leeway (ok don't quote me on that) to start any new work.

Got up early. Excited to get started and then...nothing. I just felt muddled, uninterested. How incredibly inconvenient!

Oh well. I refused to just sit there in that puddle and instead finished pieces that were already in progress. In the long run this was probably a good idea anyway. Many of these parts have been sitting around for weeks (or in the case of those round, white beads, months) while I considered how they would be used. The last photo shows a bracelet with its umbilical cord still attached. I might re-string it.

From Scratch

2010-04-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

I'll be joining a bunch of great artists and craftsman at the upcoming From Scratch Indie Market, May 1, 10am-4pm at the Trexlertown Grange just south of Allentown, PA. Check out their site for details and directions.

I attended the Christmas From Scratch Market as a shopper. Its a great show with a nice range of products including food and live music! When Pam who runs the show invited me to the spring one I jumped at the chance.

Just a little reminder

2010-04-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

My young neighbors came to see my demo day at the museum last month. They purchased their own hot pink polymer clay the following day and mimicked my demonstrations for their mom. How cute is that? I made time for them to come to my studio last weekend, to use my tools and get a short "lesson". Turns out I got the lesson.

After going over the the basics I set out a bunch of tools and let them have at it while I worked on some carved rings. After about 20 mins. I started asking what they would like to make. "Beads!" I said. "How about a pile of pink beads to string?" A pendant? A ring? They weren't interested. A little frustrated I asked "then what do you want to DO?" The younger of the two girls said quite matter-of-factly "well...we just want to PLAY of course."

Making the Jump

2010-03-17T08:35:00.001-07:00

Claire (stillpointworks and the NEXT BEND) and I have talked about how artists with varying backgrounds translate their training into the language of polymer clay. She and I both found the material when we found ourselves without full studios up and running (her/glass and me/metal).

Admittedly I have sometimes gotten stuck because my initial big ideas still appear in metal. But a recent epiphany reminded me, re-energized me, regarding the power of polymer. Goes as follows.

Metal can be textured using heat, hammering, stamping, piercing and so on. I could do this in thick sheet metal by annealing (heating) and then using a cross peen hammer.

The metal would not be bright blue unless I made some other changes afterward (patina, enamel) and would require some more time and materials and tools. And if I did not like what I had made or I messed up I could not do this...

...and start all over again.

During my demonstration at the museum two weeks ago some really nice folks stood and chatted and asked questions for quite some time. The husband was taken aback at what he thought was the high cost of such a "tiny brick of the stuff" (polymer) and "my, what an expensive craft it must be". I asked him what he thought the same size brick of sterling silver would cost. Raised eyebrows all around - point taken.

This is not to say that I have lost my love of metalwork or that I still don't think of designs where truthfully, only metal would do. But I am learning to enjoy the ease and speed at which I can work through design ideas in polymer and relish the translation process.

The Big Day Plus One

2010-03-08T10:47:00.000-08:00

My coughing is almost gone thank God (apparently I had bronchitis). It subsided enough for me to have a great day at The Radius Gallery. My husband helped plan a demo table with several in progress pieces because he predicted, correctly, that I would do more talking/explaining than actual demonstrating. Although my process is wildly less complex, I was inspired by the poster of what goes into making one of her pieces that Louise Fischer Cozzi hangs in her booth at the ACC Show.

I did give a brief demo on how I made my "Fragment" rings to several people (several of whom were children which is fine with me because they are always a little more willing to give an enthusiastic "wow!" when I am finished). The Crimsons Red one is now in the etsy shop.

The gorgeous weather affected typical Sunday attendance at the museum I was told. Actually for this being my first such event the numbers were just right and I had a couple gaps between people visiting my table so I could re-squash clay and rest my throat. I had a nervous stomach on the way there but it was amazing, once people started asking questions I was totally fine. When I saw that someone was generally interested that was all it took for me to relax.

I read and researched all last week to prepare for the "what is polymer clay made of" questions and not one single person asked me that. Kind of funny. Not a waste of time though because I know a lot more about the material than I did just 7 days ago and knowledge is never a waste.

Here is the lovely glass display that is filled with just my work for the entire month! As I look at this photo I am reminded again of all the people (included the curator Morgan and his assistant Jessica) who have come along side me, supported me and given me opportunities to show my work over the past 3 years.

Countdown

2010-02-28T10:52:00.001-08:00

Seven days until my "meet the artist" day at the PA State Museum. I am feeling under the weather probably because I have been working like crazy and haven't gotten the rest I need.

Here is a look at some of the pieces I delivered to The Radius Gallery on Friday .

I am still a bit nervous about having to demonstrate. I'll spend time this week researching the history of polymer because I want to be able to talk intelligently about the material. Anybody have some advice about good online sources?

Who?

2010-02-25T08:32:00.000-08:00

Yeah, that's my name and my earrings in a magazine. Surreal.

Yes indeed, I was Ronna Weltman's "lab rat" for her social media experiment and subsequent article in the Feb./March issue of Step by Step Wire Jewelry magazine. Over the course of several months last fall Ronna posted about my work on Facebook and Tweeted on Twitter while I watched my Google analytics and sales and reported back via email. The experiment concluded with a telephone interview.

I am very thankful to Ronna for choosing me as her guinea pig. The article in itself has been a great experience for me!

Escape

2010-02-19T05:49:00.000-08:00

Tonight is the opening at the Yellow Wall Gallery for "Summer in Winter: A Visual Escape". My husband, Kyle, has an amazingly verdant photograph from the Island of Saint Helena in the show.

The gallery is located on the second floor of the Midtown Scholar used bookstore on N. 3rd St. in downtown Harrisburg PA. If you love art, learning, books, the smell of books, the look of books and fancy yourself a bit of a bohemian you will be happy here. The official opening reception and luau (!) will be held from 6pm -10pm and the show runs until March 26 when HOPEFULLY we won't have any more snow and ice to escape.

The image above is from a new series that Kyle is working on. I'm experiencing some mental and emotional turmoil right now and keep thinking its seeping into his work.

See more from him on his daily art blog or at his website.

Update:Haiti

2010-02-17T07:36:00.000-08:00

Please don't let Haiti fall off your radar.

My uncle and several other men, including Jacques, were in Haiti for several days to deliver money and assess the needs of the children at the orphanage. They hoped to move the children to a better location but couldn't. They hoped to purchase a vehicle for Jacques' brother but couldn't. According to my uncle it was a couple of days of learning, making connections and planning the next step. I suspect that one of the biggest accomplishments though was to let the Haitian people know, at least some of them, that people are out here and trying to help.

They also encourage and convince the adults to let the children sleep inside Jacques' house (which is several hours from Port au Prince and unaffected by the earthquake). The entire country is sleeping out doors with great fear about going back into buildings again. They are sleeping anywhere they can find space, on the sidewalk and in the 8 ft. median strip of the highway.

Descriptions of the quake from people who were in Port au Prince were that it sounded like a helicopter close to the ground. "Whump, whump, whump", like the blades rotating - but the sound was actually buildings collapsing. My active imagination is struck by that description. You can begin to understand the fear that tightly grips the people now. In the city the stench of sewage and decomposition is constant and my uncle found it horrible that after a couple days he actually started to get used to it.

Jacques does have an up and running website - Source of Life Ministries. Donations can only be accepted through snail mail at this point.

Excellent design

2010-02-16T06:43:00.000-08:00

I just had to post about UnaOdd's new faceted rings. Although composed of 2 different materials, wood and polymer, she has put them together in such a way that there is absolutely nothing contrived or artificial about the end result. It is as if the wood and polymer were SUPPOSE to be together all along.

There is now a size 4.25 Fiery Orange one ready in her shop!

Fevered pitch

2010-02-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

The blizzard raged outside and I worked to a fevered pitch inside. I don't think I have ever had such a productive 24 hours but unfortunately the intensity may have been born out of worry.

Normally I really enjoy a good blizzard but during this one a friend had a heart attack and the stray kitty we've been caring for went MIA. Good news came late Thursday - my friend is doing really well and recovering from surgery and Bob Cat turned up unscathed. (Anyone need a Maine Coon Cat who is well behaved, talkative and gets along fine with dogs?)

I am struck that this colorful bracelet in waiting was born during these two dark days...or maybe that makes complete sense. The one blue bead was made several months ago and sat unused until I realized it could be the beginning of a chunky carved rendition of my Reef Bracelet.

I am carving, carving, varying my carving and varying my finishing techniques. Most of the pieces I am working on now are headed for the Radius Gallery but their siblings will be in the Etsy shop soon.

Meet the artist

2010-02-07T16:31:00.000-08:00

Its nose to grindstone for me right now. I will be the artist of the month at the Radius Gallery at the PA State Museum for the month of March. Its an honor and I am forever grateful to assistant arts curator Jessica Watson who spotted me on Etsy!

I'll have 10-20 pieces of my work featured and will demonstrate (did I mention my fear of speaking in public?) for 2 hours on the first Sunday of the month.

I'll be taking all new work (large necklaces, carved rings...) but I also wanted to use something from the museum's collection as inspiration for some of the pieces. The new mastodon exhibit seemed a perfect jumping off point so I've been working on faux bone. I've found directions for this technique in various places but Irene Semanchuk Dean's Faux Surfaces book is the clearest. Learn first. Mess with process later.

"The Inventions of God"

2010-01-28T06:58:00.000-08:00

Two weekends ago my husband and I headed to the beach for a short get away. The Jersey shore in January isn't exactly a hub of activity which of course is part of the charm. No crowds. No hurry. The ocean's ebb and flow is comforting, like a heartbeat. The vast expanse of sea and sky, a reminder that the world is large and I am small...and so certainly are my problems.

The beach held many treasures, "inventions of God" according to John Muir.

We found these whelk egg cases and were both immediately struck at how much my flat, translucent polymer beads mimic them. Did I see one of these as a child, hide the image in my memory until one day when it found its way out on its own? I don't know. But I feel like there is some kind of creative connection that I intend to continue to explore further.

The boardwalk in Wildwood was eery and fantastic.

My husband took the photos for this post. You can find new work from him daily at his new art blog.

Daily Grommet

2010-01-23T09:52:00.001-08:00

Check this out! Watch the video with Jeanne Connon over at the Daily Grommet...wearing my necklace!

Far away...but not so far

2010-01-21T09:13:00.000-08:00

My friend Jacques lives here but his brother lives in Haiti where he runs an orphanage and we have waited over the past week while the string of news has trickled in.

The children are safe.
Jacques' brother and his family are safe.
They got a few day's supply of food.
And finally, Tuesday, they are all moving into a more secure location in the countryside.

Jacques is unable to take money to his brother right now. So he, like the rest of us, waits and prays that the large aid organizations and military get what they have to the people who need it.

My eight year old asks "if our army knows now to take care of people in emergencies why don't they just do that all the time instead of going to war?" So I ask, "Samuel, will you please be president someday?"

Support for the orphanage has been done pretty much by word of mouth up until this point and there isn't a web location where I could point you you could donate. If you haven't done so and would like to help I can, however, recommend World Vision - they have an excellent financial responsibility record and already had people in the country when the earthquake occurred.

Very clever

2010-01-14T17:56:00.000-08:00

Mary of MaryMade purchased one of my Stone Upon Stone rings a few months back. She was kind enough and clever enough to include the ring in one of the photos of her recent listing of her beautiful Blueberry cowl! Aren't those colors wonderful?

I, in turn, chose her cowl as the inspiration for my current treasury.

See how much fun advertising can be?!

Let there be light

2010-01-06T08:10:00.000-08:00

My husband has always known the way to my heart. This was my Christmas gift!

And with the addition of a 35mm 1.8 lens I can now take photos any time of day (or night). Gosh, no more perching close to a southern facing window waiting for clouds to clear. What will I do with all the time I'll save?

I guess I can work on four new necklaces that are partially underway.

All Things are Made New

2010-01-03T05:28:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!
Hoping you had a wonderful Christmas! I made an attempt to vanish from the computer world for a bit as I find as much as I like what the internet can do I need to walk away from it sometimes. I spent time with family and went caroling on Christmas Eve. I reflected, looked ahead, prayed... I read a whole book. If someone offered one MORE week of holiday I would take it in an instant but I do feel refreshed and ready to start school tomorrow.

New Year's Day brought a nice surprise. My birch bark posts were chosen to be part of a great collection of earrings over at A Thoughtful Life. Its great to see such creative variety with the smallest piece of jewelry. Thank you April!

Carving

2009-12-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

I have my first carved piece (earrings) finished and posted on my shop.

Part of the way through the process the design changed. The top photo shows my original plan for the drop (top left) and the bottom two show how the earrings eventually came out. This happens a lot with me. I sometimes think "it must look like I have no plan" but the truth is I always start with a plan...I am just very willing to change it if things head another direction.

O Tannenbaum

2009-12-16T17:29:00.000-08:00

Thought I would share the trimming of our Christmas tree. Sorry I couldn't figure out how to include a cup of hot chocolate and homemade ginger cookies for you.

My husband and I made the train garden two years ago. The whole thing is covered in glitter and its magical at night.

And these are my favorite ornaments. My husband made them for our first Christmas. This year they are adoring the front stairs.

Its a multi step process.

2009-12-11T16:35:00.000-08:00

Somewhere along the way, someone noted that my work was simple but well designed. Hmm. However the comment was intended I chose to accept it as:
1. A fact. I do tend toward simple lines in my designs.
2. A challenge. Time to stretch a little further.

I started this particular necklace a couple weeks ago and posted part 1 on November 17 . This is the first time I have re-cured the same piece as I added different elements and the first time I used liquid polymer.

Now the box has a distressed grey back and a textured piece that will get inset.

Almost done. Not groundbreaking but a good exercise.