Tuesday, December 2, 2008

An "a-ha" Moment

I was very excited to receive a package of ring blanks and one bracelet blank over Thanksgiving weekend.


I had the chance to try out setting some polymer down in the bezels and I am thrilled with the results. I am a trained metalsmith (without a working studio at the moment) and I suffer from a bit of frustration as I 'think' in metal but that doesn't always translate into polymer. You can make similar things but the working methods are quite different. I am purchasing metal pieces (that I know how to make...argh!) and adding in polymer. I enjoy each little baby step though.

I feel tempted to keep these two rings but the point is...to fill the Etsy shop. So these will be posted soon.

Poppy Ring on...(what should I call that background? Its actually the texture from the seat of an IKEA stool but thats TOO long and decidedly un-catchy!)

(with a nod to Whitman...) Leaves of Grass on Linen.

This is now an "idea" that I will begin to use for bracelets, necklaces, brooches, earrings...

Ah...bask in the glow of new ideas ...but just for a moment because today I won't make it into the studio at all. (waaaah!) Instead I will teach math and phonics and do laundry and run errands.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Next...

I'll be offering FREE shipping in the Etsy shop from November 28 - December 1 (non-supply items only)! So thats FREE shipping and FREE gift wrap!


Forest Bracelet, seen above, with glass beads and oxidized sterling toggle clasp with be available Friday.

I'll be posting throughout the weekend - here's a little bit of what I am just finishing up. I'll be adding some Christmas ornaments in addition to a new jewelry line featuring rings and earrings. (earrings seen below)

I have taken a bit of a turn with polymer clay technique and I am really happy with where I am headed.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Explore

Up to this point I have pretty much used polymer clay as a vehicle for something else, originally just using as bezels for my watercolor pieces. Being the recipient of a LARGE quantity of clay in myriad colors, and all the polymer equipment to boot, I have started to explore a bit more. It appears that polymer clay's limitations are set only by the artist's limitations - its an amazing material.

So although I am sometimes driven to only work on set projects that I can complete, I have decided to set aside time, SLOW DOWN if need be, and just take some time to explore. I feel like its time to take a turn.

Here are just a few experiments with blending and inlay. These may show up in the Etsy shop soon.


Monday, November 17, 2008

How 'bout them apples!

Its fair to say I am not always working on art/jewelry. Ok...its fair to say that I am OFTEN not working on art/jewelry and find many other things that fill the hours of my days.

For instance, yesterday after we finished school Sam and I made applesauce. Ok...I made applesauce while Sam handed me apples and talked non-stop. He says he was keeping me company .


Here are my simple directions for Chunky Applesauce, healthy enough to serve as a side dish, delicious enough to fill the role of dessert.

* A note on apples* I used "seconds' (that is to say, the less than lovely apples that cost 1/2 the price and taste just as good) from my local orchard here in Southern PA. An equal combination of sweet and tart varieties produces the best tasting sauce in my opinion.

Chunky Applesauce

Ingredients
Apples (or 1/2 and 1/2 pears and apples)
water or apple juice
cinnamon
nutmeg, sugar to taste (opt.)

1. Wash, peel and core apples. Cut into large chunks and place into large stock pot.
2. Add just enough water or apple juice to cover the bottom of the pot and heat on high until the water begins to boil. Stir, turn heat to low and simmer, stirring often. Add more liquid as needed in small increments. (You want just enough to cover the bottom of the pot so that the apples don't burn.)
3. When the apples begin to break down a bit add a little cinnamon. Stir . Taste. Add more cinnamon, nutmeg or white or brown sugar to your liking at this point.
4. Stir. Simmer. Stir. Simmer.
5. Depending on how many apples you used and how small you cut them this will take anywhere from 45 mins. for just a few apples to 2 hours for a stock pot full. You can help the process along after the apples soften by using a potato masher however my family prefers chunky applesauce (as the title suggests) so I don't do a lot of mashing. Continue to simmer until all apples are soft and saucy.

Serve immediately or cool and freeze. I usually use a 1/2 bushel of apples that makes us 18-20 cups of applesauce.

As a side dish...Serve warm or cold.
As a dessert...Use as the fruit base for an easy apple crisp or simply serve warm with vanilla icecream.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

FREE HOLIDAY WRAPPING!

FREE Gift Wrapping is now available in my Etsy shop!
November 15 through December 15 I'll be happy to wrap your purchase from Jibby and Juna. Or, should you prefer, I'll send you the wrapping so that you can check the item and do the wrapping and tapping yourself.


I've used high quality artists papers as ribbon and tag. I carved my own stamp to print the coordinating gift tag, using a lovely silver ink. The tag is blank on the opposite side, ready for your own personal message.

Color choices are:
- Blue with Ocean Blue Tag
- Slate with Rosie Red Tag
- Green with Yellow Green Tag

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Art Installation

New the Jibby and Juna shop...Earring Art Installations!

(Tree collage holds my Small Post Earrings in Canary Yellow )

All post earrings now arrive on a one of a kind, 2 x3 collage, complete with stand. Earrings arrive in a box...




...remove freestanding collage and display!




Collage pieces are created using cardstock, artist's papers, cotton string, vintage books, photographs, inks, stamping, printmaking... No two will ever be alike. Each one created by me and signed on the back.



The earrings become part of the artwork when not being worn.
Consider it two pieces of art in one...More for your money!


Coming to the shop November 15...free gift wrap with every purchase!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

In the beginning...

My current watercolor pieces start as nuggets of experiences, though I rarely know where I am going when I first get started. Many of the pieces I am working on now have grown out of the trip that my family and I took June-Sept. 2008. We traveled to island of Saint Helena in the South Atlantic Ocean by way of Cape Town, South Africa, gathering treasures, the best of which being the experience itself.


We spent the better part of one day on a hike to this fortification, Banks Battery. It was a good day. The weather was glorious. The water was so very clean. There were starfish in tide pools and most importantly..No one fell off a cliff.

As the children mucked about with sea urchins, I set about sketching, muttering about the difficulty of drawing so many rocks. Eventually - EUREEKA - I realized I really liked drawing rocks!

I ended up with a sketch I quiet liked...that translated into a watercolor "gem"...that might get paired with an old key to form necklace. I am currently working small, large and rectangular watercolor gem pieces, set in polymer bezels.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Behind the Scenes

To those interested in a look behind the scenes of Jibby and Juna and connected creative pursuits, I, Genevieve, give you...my blog.

Below are some of the watercolor pieces that I am currently working on - soon to be posted on Etsy. It can take quite a while to go from initial idea, to the final watercolor piece. I am a doodler at heart so lack of ideas is never a problem, narrowing them down, being concise, making decisions sometimes is.)

I just started listing these mini decoupage posts. I tend toward smaller earrings myself and decided it was high time I started making some.

Mini rivet posts will be ready soon. I am custom mixing the colors. Oh, except the " Bazooka bubblegum" pink.

I haven't decided yet whether or not to post a photo of my studio cleaned up or the real deal. Hmm...I'll have to think about that.

I've spent my years since college raising and homeschooling children for the most part. And a worthwhile pursuit all of that has been, and continues to be, however at some point, those children started to do more for themselves and I was free to put time into artwork again.

I was trained as a metalsmith but alas, do not have a full metal studio at this point. I started working with polymer clay alittle over a year ago when I was given a LARGE quantity of polymer clay equipment and materials. I felt drawn to find a use for it just about the same time I found Etsy.

Thanks for stopping by -