Just Keep Carving

Sometimes things don't work out initially but rather than give up you need to just keep going. I thought my initial carving with these beads was "flat" from a design standpoint.

But the second stage of carving I did really helps these little cactus-ish beads (Cactus, boulder, mountains? Not sure.)  Next step will be to try adding some colored pencil and securing it with Genesis medium. 

Have a great weekend! I was hoping to get out for a hike but the boy's yucky, nagging coughs will probably keep us at home. More time to carve. 

Thanks for reading! 

The voices in my head

Back in my studio and it feels good.

Between filling orders I'm working on taking my carving in new directions, carving more like a linocut.  I carve, I wonder, I carve some more. This is what is sounds like in my head.
"Could I print with polymer plates?"
"Could the carved piece, which is also part of a necklace, first be used to make a print thus creating 2D and 3D art that is related?"
"Where could I go with this?"

I'll keep this conversation going. Hope you are having a good week too!

All my current Etsy orders are now completed and shipped so I'm back to working on gallery pieces for the polymer clay book. I've been fiddling with these island pieces for quite some time now. Hoping if I fiddle some more something will coalesce.

We're winding down our school year with just days to go. Amidst the flurry of putting together portfolios we all felt like getting out would do us some good. Samuel has expressed some frustration with drawing animals because they move so I thought getting out to the nature center would be more fun than drawing animals from photographs. I did some sketching too and felt rusty. I haven't been drawing enough lately.

Elements

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.

Fog, photography, and a new ring

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.

Into the woods...

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.

Almost there now

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!

Hazards on the job

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.

Newer than expected

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.

Carving

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.