touching the heart

mary jane dodd

we speak through our work -

do you ever stand back to see what yours is saying?

not just to others,


but what it reflects back to you... 

'the idea is to write is so that people hear it

and it slides through the brain

and goes straight to the heart.'

- maya angelou

necessity is the mother -

mary jane dodd

of your own invention!

when i taught the workshops at the teen arts festival, the plan was to have on a sample bracelet... i didn't have the time to order from some of my favorite etsy creatives... and i didn't want to use plastic or mass produced ones...

when the light bulb went on and i realized -

i can do that!

so i did...

what personal discoveries have you made lately?

--------------------------------------------


and remember - 


tomorrow night at 8:30pm local time you can participate in earth hour 2012 -

Earrings

I am personally more of a necklace girl.  The chunky wild necklaces that I prefer are usually too much with earrings. 

So my earrings to date have been kinda plain and lacking (as a statement piece themselves that is).  They have been made to compliment my necklaces. 

However, my clients aren't all chunky wild necklace ladies.  MANY are earring and bracelet fans. I sold lots of bracelets last year, after not having much the year before.

  So this year, is the year of the earring.  I am excited and hope to create many one of a kind, wild earrings, that can stand alone.................just like my necklaces.

Here are a few pairs I have made already. 

I'm leaning toward dangles and asymetry in the earrings.  I plan to still offer plenty of symetrical pairs, I know some folks just cannot stand their earrings to not match.  I guess growing up in the 80's helped me to accept the mis-matched earrings!

Most all the components I am using are my own or gemstone, shell or natural beads, and I will be throwing in some great handmade pottery beads from other artists too.  The top pair features a  mis-matched set of charms from Starry Road Studio.  I make all my own earwires now, and feel good that I can say they are totally handmade.  (I did use some czech glass on the bottom pair, but they looked so earthy I couldn't pass them by).

So what direction are you going in this season? 
Wiht the start of a new show season, do you focus on a color scheme?  A style?  Or a certain component?

Custom Orders

by Izzy Winterhart

Sometimes I love custom orders.  It's flattering when a customer comes to you and says "I love your work" and "really would like you to make".  Like recently when I made this ring.  My first custom order from a guy.

Originally he wanted leopardskin jasper but I couldn't find a cabochon small enough to do a cold connection bezel.  Then he said, "how about tiger eye".  "Perfect", I said, because I knew I had the perfect one that was waiting for a chance in the spotlight.  

I'm pleased as punch that this little guy turned out to be a beauty and so is my customer.  I typically like to fly by the seat of my pants when it comes to creating, but occasionally it's nice to have a special request.

How about you?  Are you a seat pant flyer or a custom order guru?

guest post - shae freeman

Sometimes the hand remembers 

what the brain does not.
It recalls what the rest of the human has never known.
There are unknown cartographies in the fingertips, 
ones that map old memory. 
- anonymous   

       

Objects exist as visual language, representations of complex ideas before spoken language itself was even established.  Ritual objects, spiritual objects, fetishes.  Objects for remembrance, objects for hexing.  Objects for containing the spirit after death, family heirlooms and objects for earthly remains. Good luck charms, protection and safe travel. Functional objects, objet d’art and artifact.  Objects are tasked with carrying precious and sometimes fearful power. Our species has an affinity for tangibility, for acquisition. Our relationships to objects are so vast and complicated that very many of us are not consciously aware of them.

As a maker, I use the same tools and traditions that have been used in metalworking for thousands of years.   I am following an ancient and deeply embedded tradition of object making.  My hands, the intermediary between brain and tools, are the executors of intent which make the ideas a tangible reality.  As an artist, my responsibility lies in truthfully reporting the world as seen through my eyes.  The end result of my interpretation of the data I receive through my senses is what name we give to an object- art.  As a creator, I am tapping into genetic memory, collective unconscious and archetypes imprinted in the human animal’s psyche- the wellspring from which we all draw.  This skill is only honed by the act of creation itself, and by opening interiors doors to allow it to enter.  In creating, the attempt is being made to enter into a state of grace to receive creativity.  By allowing myself to be open, if I am very lucky, I can channel this imperative and let my hands do the rest.  The object thus made will be invested with power shaped through my unique focusing of the lens.  A uniqueness we all have in common.

I am a visual artist, a visual learner and most of my communication with the general populace is visual. So let me tell you a short story, visually.

Thank you for letting me share my limited understanding of the universe.


............................................................

shae's work ranges in scale from jewelry to large sculpture (7+ ft. tall)

find her here:

etsy

flickr

Ghost Nets...

MaryAnn Carroll

I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these earrings as well as what the message behind them....

Here is what Greer McNeil from Vintajia Adornments has to say about these earrings: 

Ghost Net Earrings

Ghost nets are fishing nets that have been lost accidentally, or deliberately discarded at sea.. They travel the oceans of the world with the currents and tides, continually fishing as they progress through the waters. They trap a wide range of marine species including turtles, dolphins, whales, seabirds, dugong, crabs, fish and sharks. Marine debris is such a danger to the marine environment that it is a 'Key Threatening Process.' These gritty, edgy environmental statement earrings have been designed from salvaged mouse wire patinaed to look as though they have spent years in the ocean. The aqua apatite nuggets represent the sea through which the nets have trawled.

And we have Leslie Watt's unique style..... This piece is one of my favorites!  You can see more of Leslie's pieces by visiting her shop The A Jewellery.

 Aegean Dream 

Gorgeous lampwork beads by Kaz Baildon, Handmade bronze beads and pin by me, solid bronze chain and hand forged clasp. I have a real passion for etched glass beads and I adore these as they just remind me of that point on a shoreline where the azure sea mingles with golden sand. I wanted to accent the lampwork but keep it centre stage so I made some chunky but plain bronze discs and flowers which I tumbled to a soft satin finish and linked them together in sets. For the focal element I set a bead on one of my bronze headpins and then hung it from a simple flower connector. I normally oxidize my metalwork but the bright bronze chain just felt right on this piece.

Strut Your Stuff Next week.....

The winner for the month of March will be chosen randomly from participants. Please remember that although we love to see all of the fabulous designs in the flickr pool, one of the requirements for our challenge is to add your creative thoughts that went into your piece.  Please take the time to do that with some of your uploads.  Thanks!!

Barbara's Approach to Polymer Clay Vlog Vol. 1

By Barbara Bechtel

Today, I thought I would begin a new video series with my posts addressing my approach to polymer clay. I asked some jewelry artists in a Facebook group what type of video they would like to see me do and the overwhelming response was: POLYMER CLAY...Many wanted tutorials, but I felt like I needed to address some other issues surrounding working with polymer clay, and really any medium before I get into tutorials. There are many tutorials already out there and rather than add to the fray, I want those of you who are curious, to approach polymer clay in a new way.

So, without further ado, I bring you my first vlog for LMAJ:

In my next vlog, I want to tackle TOOLS. 

What burning questions do you have about polymer clay tools??? 

 Leave your question in the comments and I will try to answer as many as possible in my next vlog!

Guest Post - Genea Crivello-Knable

by Genea Crivell-Knable

Hello friends!

I must say how flattered I was to be asked to write a guest post here in this lovely community. When asked to post I really had no idea where to start so Izzy suggested I write on what inspires me.  Well I would have to say what inspires me is everything around me really....  especially COLOR.

 

Color spectrum chart.

 

My "Wing Ding" style beads in a rainbow of colors. I think artists are given special eyes to view the world closely, differently than the average person. I heard that people perceive color differently. I never realized I had a knack for picking colors until I had a friend that didn't have that same gift. I guess sometimes we don't realize certain things we have are gifts and don't realize that not everyone has them. I feel I get my artistic gift and color sense from my mother, whom is an artist as well. Here is a picture of one of her paintings she made me for Christmas. I look at it every day since it hangs just above my computer. It is no wonder I had the idea to see how it translated into glass!

 
Here is a picture of mom's painting and my bead inspired by her work.

 

I took this bead a step further and created a pendant so that my mom could wear my interpretation of her painting around her neck. Sometimes I am inspired by scrapbook paper. A certain color palette or pattern might catch my eye. I generally pick up the paper and stick it on my studio wall for inspiration or maybe just walking past it will inspire an idea right away.

 

I saw this paper at Hobby Lobby and picked it up since I loved the colors. This design and color palette turned into my "Retro Daisy" design! Aren't these colors yummy?! Sometimes my own work inspires me to move in different directions. For instance I created this set of "Tornado Candy" beads back in 2009.

 

In 2012 I decided to re-visit this design only I started out by making a large focal size. When starting the new design in a focal size, I kept getting ideas so I pushed the design a little further each time until I had created 3 new styles from just a single idea!

 

From Left to Right:"Tornado Candy", "Tornado Candy Ruffle", "Tornado Candy Ruffle Button", and "Tornado Candy Ruffle Daisy". I truly love bright colors, so naturally that is my color palette of choice. My very favorite colors are lime green and aqua. So sometimes when I have a design idea I start out creating them in my favorite colors. I then like to add in some other favorites like coraly pink or orchid purple. See how well they seem to complement each other?!

 

I also enjoy working in more earthy colors as well like in my "Desert Serpent" design. Earthy ivory with a smack of rainbow colors.

 

My newest inspiration comes from one of your very own Love My Art Jewelry artist and designer, StaciSmith! We recently did a bead swap and I received these amazing beads from her.


 

I was so inspired by them I began to color match my glass to her work and create a special bead set!

 

We were both so excited about this idea that we are doing a very special project together that we will be revealing  on our blogs soon! I hope that reading this post helps  you put on your "artist eyes" so you can  take a deeper look at the world around you and be INSPIRED!

xo Genea

You can find Genea on:

Etsy,

her blog,

her website,

and Facebook.

Learning Curve

My adventures into ceramic bead making have been a blast. Many obstacles

have appeared, but with the help of my friends, I have succeeded.

One such obstacle has been glazing. My dear, smart friend Mary Ann Carroll, who makes GORGEOUS beads, uses porcelain. Porcelain is white, and will take on whatever color glaze you use. Good, smart rule to follow, huh? Yeah, well, I've never been much of one for coloring in the lines :) While taking an initial private class with a local potter, who uses stoneware, I saw some finished pieces made with black clay!! I was in LOVE!!!!!!!!!!! I had purchased Raku fired beads from someone previously, who didn't glaze the ends. This resulted in a smoky, black clay where the bead was unglazed, and I just loved them. I believed if I used black clay, I could achieve a similar result with my beads. She also showed me the stoneware (tan), and a red stoneware clay. Those 3 are my favorites.

Bisque fired black, red and tan stoneware from right to left.

The problem, I found, though, was that not all glazes are made for all clay bodies. I am no chemist, and do not wish to be. I just want GREAT colors on my beads!! Some were perfect... some failed miserably. (Again, left to right, black, red then tan stoneware clay)

As you can see, the red did well on all 3 bodies. The black and red, are richer and deeper, as is the turquoise below it.

-The light blue did well on all three, but again, I prefer it on black.

-Green apple is most true on the tan stoneware.

-And the forest green didn't seem to vary any across the board.

Cool, huh?? That's what I thought. Although I did have a few failures. I can still use the beads, but they're DEFINITELY not the color they were intended to be.

The first one is cream-breaking red. Tan looks good, the other 2 failed. Next in line is butterscotch.Strangely enough, it only seemed to work on the black clay.

Then comes lemon.... hmmmm... No yellow here. On tan, it appears to be an acid green with orangish spots.. pretty cool! Black on the other 2.

The last 2 are the most mysterious. Believe it or not, one set was light pink, and the other was spinach green. Which is which? Your guess is as good as mine!

All in all, it's been SO much fun. The experimenting and discovery phases are so motivating and fascinating.

What shall become of the "failed" colored beads?? Whelp, they look brown to me :) I KNOW I can make use of brown beads! And I think I know a certain friend who could actually make pink and spinach colored beads with pink and spinach colored glazes :)

Online Communities and What I Have Learned

Being online, whether blogging, or facebook, etsy or pinterest, has opened up a whole new world to me.  I have made new friends, I have been able to promote my shops, I have found support, encouragement and advice, and have found some artists that I really admire, not only as artists, but as plain old wonderful folks.

One of the places I have found some very close friends is facebook, through groups.  There is one particular group, that is kinda small, which I love, because I feel like I really know those gals.  Its all beady ladies, one way or the other, and it’s a private group, so its always a party.  It shall remain nameless too, because I am selfish that way. (wink wink)

Here are some beady friends I got to meet in person- friends I first met online

Anyhow, I have learned a lot since I began my online journey.  I'd like to share a few of them.

1.        What I do is no secret.  So why not share what I know.  

I have learned almost everything I know because someone took the time to share a tip, or technique with me.   Who am I to not pay it forward?   I am forever thankful to everyone who has ever helped me to get to where I am today.  Whether it be splitting early bead orders with me, teaching me to solder or tips and tricks in business, I am soooo very thankful.  You all know who you are!  (gosh- each and everyone of you has probably helped me in some way or another)

2.       Put yourself out there.  The good will outweigh the bad.

Yes, I know putting your work online (like on etsy, flickr or facebook) puts you at risk for copying.  It may very well happen.  You can deal with it if it does.  People may try to make what you do, but may only do it once or twice while they try to find who they are as a designer or master a technique.  Yet there are those dreaded people who try to imitate what you make and undersell you, but they are NOT the majority.  Overall, the good that comes from sharing your work and pictures online outweighs the bad.  So don’t hold back out of FEAR.  Be confident in who you are as an artist, and do your thing.

3.       Do not compare yourself to others.

Oh my word.  This is one I struggle with.  Whether I am seeing a design I wish I had thought of first, or know of someone selling more then me, my first instinct is to compare and wonder what I am doing wrong.  DO NOT DO THIS.  I have learned to just say no to comparing.  Concentrate on my work, my goals, my direction, or I will be pulled all over the place, doing this and that and the other thing trying to keep up.

4.       Take care of your friends.  Be encouraging.  If there’s something of theirs you love, share it with the world.

This has been one of the most amazing things I have learned.  There is such a great community out there willing to give a shout out to other artists, a link, a facebook post, its just amazing.  So, be nice to your friends, the artists you admire, give them some “press” and share the love.  Encourage them, celebrate with them.  The relationships I have made with my like minded beady friends are like none anywhere else.  I value them, and hope I take care of them as much as they take care of me.

These are just a few of the things I have learned along the way.  I am sooo very thankful for the amazing people who are always there for me, behind the scenes.

What have you learned from your online adventures?