giveaway winner

remember this beautiful ring?

it now has a home - 

carol of beads and birds please contact deborah lee taylor here... 

congralations!

and thank you to all who entered -

i am sure there will be another giveaway soon - have a wonderful weekend

Rising Sun - An Art Show Tale of Success

                                                                                                      by Kelli Pope

        I've been doing Shows for years.  I started out doing "crafts" in the early '90s, and participated in local town fairs, church fairs, school fairs, etc.    When I got really serious about jewelry 8-10 years ago, and realized I'd found my passion, I strived to work my way up to "JURIED ART SHOWS".  I've been in a lot locally over the last few years, but have still felt that need to push further and harder... get better pictures.. get in better "art" shows, and leave the "craft" shows behind......  They have served me very well, and are near and dear to my heart, but unfortunately, I've outgrown my audience there.      I started applying on Zapplication last year.   No luck.   I decided it was (hopefully) my pictures.  So this year I pushed for more professional pictures.  And applied to a couple more online.       To my utter delight, I was accepted into the Rising Sun Fine Arts Festival.  It was held in Indiana, about 2 hours northeast of me.       While excited, I was also QUITE freaked out!!!!    It required that any beads in jewelry be made by the artist.  AND, I had never attended the show before.   That had always been a golden rule of mine.  Check out the show before applying the following year.     But this one sounded GREAT, so I accepted my invitation and made a reservation at a historic hotel in town for the weekend.    Unable to get my usual help; sister, sister-in-law, friends.... my husband Steve decided to go with me.   With a bad back, I knew it was gonna be tough because he couldn't lift, load, sit for long, etc, and had never been my "sales guy".          

The weekend before this "unknown" show, I had another local show that was a blow-out (YAY for sales!!  BOO for diminished  inventory!!)    I worked like crazy all week building my inventory back up, as I was not going to be able to include my pieces with pearls, gemstones, rocks, lava or even with Mary Ann Carroll beads!!  I was going to have to leave quite a bit of inventory at home.  Something I'd NEVER done.  

Steve and I hired our trusty dog sitter for the weekend, and off we went Friday afternoon to set up.  When we arrived, I was in the incredibly perfect spot at the corner of the two streets blocked off for the show-  Front and Main. This is my view from my booth, when we pulled right up next to my spot to set up.  No dragging, hauling, carting in the set up.  

(Rising Sun Pavilion, Front Street, on the Ohio River)

BOY was I excited.  Not only did I get this view, being on the corner meant I could have my booth open on 2 sides.  Very nice! 

       (the lovely fountain in the pic above, behind the pavilion. It sounded WONDERFUL!) 

                            (my booth with a shot down Main Street, away from the river)

After set up, we checked into our hotel.  It was 3 doors down, behind my booth on Front Street! (YAY for easy access and close bathrooms!!!!)  We were able to park our truck in their back lot on the alley, and leave it there for the weekend  (YAY for no issues with driving to and from and parking!!!)  

          (see the open window on the 2nd floor behind me?  I kept hearing a dog barking... horns... trucks backing up..... frogs...... people sneezing...  Every time I turned around, no one was there on the sidewalk, or on the porch or balcony behind me.  FINALLY, I looked closely, and there was a very large gray parrot up in that 2nd floor window!!!   WE had so much fun listening to that guy.  He was QUITE entertaining)

The show was not huge.  50+ booths.  But the weather, the view and the crowds were spectacular!! Not to mention the incredibly helpful, friendly organizers.  

Across from me in the pavilion a local winery was set up, and to the right of it was a tent with different musicians singing throughout the show.   

  I could NOT have handpicked a better view, weather or booth location. Sales were good.  Our room was quaint and charming.  The music was wonderful.  AND, Saturday night, the tourism bureau, provided the artists with a dinner and awards ceremony.  

   I have never won an award at a show.  Years ago, it bothered me, but over the years I've found that good sales, and happy customers are far more important than the ribbons.  So we closed up the booth Saturday night, and walked up Main Street to the dinner, tired and hungry.    There was one man, an artist, who had been the judge for the entire show.  I never saw him in my booth.  I once saw him pass by, and asked Steve if he'd seen him in the booth.  Nope, he hadn't seen him either.     Oh, well.  Our weekend was fantastic.  I had a lovely bottle of wine chilling in the room, and dinner was free :o).           They started announcing awards starting with Honorable Mentions. The only 2 categories were 2D and 3D art.  When they got to 3rd place 3D, they called my name.  Steve had to elbow me to get up, I was so stunned!   WHAT A THRILL!!!!!!   AND it came with a cash prize!!    WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!     I all but skipped back to our room that night.   

What started as an anxious new adventure, turned out to be an absolutely heavenly experience.   Steve and I could not have felt more blessed that weekend.  I am grateful he was there to share it with me.  

  .........the only downside???   Steve has advised me that should he be "required" to "assist" me in the future, he will expect the same incredible view, close accommodations and parking, easy set up and tear down, free dinner, picture perfect weather, lovely music and enough prize money to cover the weekend costs!!

!!!!!!!SHEESH!!!!!!!!  

Collaboration Comes to Fruition

I think I have mentioned that Genea of Genea beads and I have been working on some collaborations.  Genea makes wonderful and whimsical glass beads that I adore!  We met long ago through Lori Andersons Bead Soup blog Party, and have been fans of each others work ever since.

 

This is a picture of the bead soup that had me drooling!!!!

 

 

 

So, Genea and I did a trade for beads at the beginning of the year, and she was so inspired by the colors in my polymer beads, that she made special sets of wing dings to match.

 

 

 

She came up with the idea to make limited edition sets with her wing dings and my polymer in these colors.  I thought, why not, sounds fun!  And guess what, it was!

 

 

 

 

It was a lot of work, and we had to work out many kinks along the way, but finally, last week, we launched our limited edition one of a kind sets, and we couldn't be more excited!!!!  Each set is completely unique, and comes in its own packaging that Genea created specially for these sets (she is the detail person in our collab!!!  Thank goodness for that!)

 

 

 

All in all, its been a great experience, and it reminds me that only good comes from exploring new possibilities with other artists.  I can't wait to work on another collab with Genea, as well as other artists.  There is a whole world of like minded people out there- who are still different enough to get together and create amazing things!

 

 

If you'd like to see how the sets turned out, or purchase one, you can find them in Genea's shop. 

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110029697/harvest-heart-2-handmade-lampwork-glass?

 

 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/110032396/sea-limes-batik-donuts-handmade-lampwork

 

Or you can read more about our Collaboration here on our new blog We Social Artists, Collaboration and Inspiration.  We plan to feature wonderful artists who have collaborated to create unique and one of a kind art together!!!

 

 

Fall Inspiration

We are a few days into the Fall season.  Where I live, San Diego, it's still hot as summer, with more hot days ahead.  There are no nearby forests with leaves that change color...no nip in the air at night...no smell of wood fires..not good ones anyways.  How do you find inspiration in the season, when it's so hard to see?, so hard to feel?  Here are some ways that work for me.

FOOD.  Nothing says fall to me like pumpkin pie.  Not just for Thanksgiving dinner...and it's got squash in it too...tasty, good for you, pretty to look at, warm fall color.  It works for me.






LEAVES.  Even green ones.

    

HOLIDAYS AHEAD. They're coming. Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's. I'm not ready to think about that....so it's time now to pause, reflect, be grateful for these days of quiet before the holiday season is here.

ART.  Let the art you make inspire the season if the season doesn't inspire the art....it's all in how you look at it.

guest post - ersi marina

On 3 September I was asked by Mary Jane Dodd to write a guest entry to this blog.  I was excited and thankful for the opportunity, and I am happy to be here with you all. 

My name is Ersi Marina Samará.  I was born and grew up in Athens, Greece and I have been living in Spain for the last 31 years.  I studied drawing and painting in Athens, and photography in Barcelona.  I also love literature, so I attended creative writing courses for five years during the nineties.  I got some short stories published in literary magazines.  Through the years I have learned as much from my own experimentations and from the work of artists I admire as from my studies and books.  You could say I am 50% self-taught and I certainly keep learning new things about my art and myself every day.

between words and fortune

I am constantly attracted to new techniques and media, and sometimes I need to step back from my work so that I can take everything in.  I like working with watercolours, India ink and graphite, though I also use acrylic inks and gesso, and collaged elements. 

the seamstress

untitled II

Lately I have been incorporating new materials to my work, particularly fabrics.  I am still a beginner in textile art and I have a lot to learn, but fabrics, their colours and textures, their patterns and history, have always fascinated me, so I think they are in my work to stay.

contemporary embroidery

Many things inspire me, physical objects, images or even ideas. But everything goes through the filter of my feelings. I can be very cerebral analyzing a finished work, but I need to create with feeling, establishing a deeper communication with my work, listening to it and trying to satisfy its needs.

sometimes outside

I usually avoid strong visual statements that seem to cry out their message.  I prefer whispers to shouts, suggestions to commands, serenity to tumult.  But I admit I also like contrasts.  Life is full of contradictions, people too.  Sometimes trying to express these contrasts and contradictions in my work is all too tempting. 

Eleonora di Toledo

a free interpretation of an original painting by Agnolo Bronzino

In 2011 I became very interested in book art, especially artists' books.  That is an area yet to explore and I crave the time necessary to do it.  

a long path with pauses - cover

a long path with pauses - inside pages

(editor's note:

ersi also made a beautiful contribution to the flags for peace project this past week, you can see it here)

ersi can be found -

blog

flicker

Look who's Strutting Their Stuff!

Here's some lovely work that's in the pool this week:




By Earthshine Lampwork Bead and Jewellery Design. Copper Ammonite components from Kristi Bowman teamed together with my own lampwork beads in autumn shades. Brass earwires.



by My Bead Journey. Goddess of the Wake: Inspired by this pendant created by Jenny Davies-Reazor, a pattern by Jill Wisman, and a desire to capture the look of the wake behind our boat were the inspirations behind this necklace.

Are you ready to strut your stuff?? Check out the sidebar for directions.

 **Remember, to give a description of your thought process, while creating your jewelry or beads/components. We really want everyone to share their creative thinking. .** Thanks, as always, for creating and supporting "handmade". 

Also, don't forget to enter our giveaway for a beautiful ring from e5jewelry!
You don't want to miss out! It's a gorgeous piece!

On Personal Adornment....

This week, I met and chatted with two wonderful women where I'm planning my first class in my hometown. We were looking at some jewelry samples I had brought and each discussing the types of jewelry we wear.

It wasn't until recently that I, in fact, started wearing my own jewelry on a regular basis. Although I make jewelry and wear jewelry, I tend to find myself returning to favorite standards. It was really interesting to hear the types of jewelry these other two beautiful, yet different, women chose to wear, which had both similarities and disparities from my own choices.

How amazing in it that we live in a world where through our work we can connect on such a visceral level through a solid object to other people?

tiny shot of my journal where I'm recording my intentions for my work.

In the last several weeks, I've been making a conscious effort when I'm in my studio, quietly meditating, putting stamps to clay, hammer to metal, needle to thread, to ponder these very questions.

As I think about these things, I'm embracing this organic change that is coming not only to my design aesthetic but also my evolution as an artist.

The connection between maker and wearer is a strong one. What thoughts do you have on the subject? I'd love to hear your experiences in the comments!

Also, don't forget to enter our giveaway for a beautiful ring from e5jewelry! You don't want to miss out! It's a gorgeous piece!

a beautiful giveaway -

mary jane dodd

today is the autumnal equinox (it gets big love from me) & issues in a new season -

the lovely deborah lee taylor of e5jewelry has generously given us a ring - 

sterling silver with copper accents

fits ring size 7.5

you, dear people, can do what i cannot - which is to enter... 
we can all think of at least one someone to share this sentiment with - 
it's secret message translating into a secret smile, just knowing that someone feels that way... 
think of how you could make another heart warm with this lovingly handmade piece - 

deb's random act of kindness here 
allows you to share a random act of kindness elsewhere... 

around and around it goes - 

there is nothing required of you to win... 

but might i ask if you could perhaps
commit a random act of kindness yourself this week?

it doesn't have to be big - 

share the love... 

and check in next saturday to see if you've won... 

resources, inspiration

mary jane dodd

'green pod' necklace

nancy l. t. hamilton 

follow the links, bookmark her, learn from her - 

she is awesome... 

i thought of her this morning after pondering over libby's book and site recommendations (which i share with her wholeheartedly)... 

nancy is a gem - she has videos on youtube

i hadn't checked in a while - and there are some great ones i want to watch... 

have fun!

artBLISS Bound!

I am writing this on a Sunday night, after spending the day going over my checklist and trying to make as much jewelry as I can for artBLISS.

I've been working on more projects involving thin gauge metal. As I work with it, I am talking to myself, wandering about how to turn it into either an online tutorial, class or in real life workshop.

The day this posts, I will be in Sterling, VA, most likely running around trying to find the nearest this or that for the this or that's I will have forgotten to pack.

I was talking to my husband today about woulda, coulda and shoulda's...

I hope that I don't go down that road of wishing I would've done something that I didn't know to do, or could've done or should've done in regards to preparing for this new experience after its over.  I want to enjoy all parts of this new direction in teaching--even the parts that I don't have a clue about now, but will later.

I'm all in for the journey and the learning and unfolding that happens during the process of discovery.

I don't know now what I will know next week after the classes are over regarding teaching what I know about metal. Will the creatives in class be excited about what they learned? Will the class meet or exceed their expectations? What will happen this weekend that will be the most surprising?

I haven't been nervous about teaching; no, I have been very excited. I remember being in Sharilyn Miller's wire working class in Kentucky years ago, having already memorized all the tutorials from her book, Bead on a Wire.

I was able to do the class projects easily, but I found myself hurrying to get my project done so that I could enjoy helping out those near me in class that were having a bit more trouble holding their pliers, or getting the wire to coil up right while Sharilyn was busy showing others how to do the same thing.

I couldn't help myself. If I knew the answer, or thought of a way to relate to her students, I just jumped in and tried to help (super late apologies, Sharilyn).

I loved that part of the class more than the actual learning of the class projects. It was thrilling seeing the light shine in someone's eyes when something new to them clicked. I dreamed not of being a great jewelry designer, but about being the one that got to share what she knew with others.

So this weekend, I will get my teaching feet wet...meet some amazing people that I have been interacting with online and finally get to hug...and make some new creative friends.

It's time to do some more soaring...and I am ready to go!

Coming up over the Rio Grande River

First stone set found on the ground after balloon flight...

Base Metal Clays

by Staci Louise Smith

Silver metal clay was my first love.  I love silver jewelry. 

(some of my silver work)

 However, when the price of silver jumped, I bailed and had to try out this base metal clay. I started with fast fire bronze, since the ONLY book I could find at the time was this one.  (and its a good one too- I recommend it)

I bought the book, clay, and the firing tools I needed. I got a second set of dry working tools and I was off.  I am by far no expert, but I will share a little bit about this medium, since there is just not a lot of information out there. 

First I will start by saying, I only bought a second set of dry working tools, since I could wash the clay off my other tools more easily so it wouldn't contaminate my silver clay.  However, for sanding and filing I got a second set.  Its worth it, because if you get bronze clay bits in your silver its going to ruin it. 

From all the people I have talked to, the only sure way to fire bronze and copper clay is in a kiln. So I highly recommend firing in a kiln, in carbon.

Not all carbons are created equal, and this is where the guess work and playing around starts.  I have tried many carbons before ending up with one I like.  It's a personal preference really, they all offer various finishes.  I have talked with people who don't think they all fire the same either. 

You will also have to choose a firing container.  I used my good old stainless steel container for about 6 months. 

However, stainless steel is messy, and will spall, creating a black build up in your kiln.  So when Cool Tools came out with firing foil to make your own pan, with no mess, I bought it.  I loved it, for about a year.  It's inexpensive, and keeps you kiln clean, but it eventually wears down, and mine got holes in it, and then items near the holes were over-firing (bubbling). 

So I may go back to my good old stainless steel.  There are also these new ceramic firing vessels I'd like to try. I hear good things about them.  Perhaps down the road I will try them as well.  They maintain a better heat, so you have to reduce the firing temp while using them. 

Am I making you want to try this product?  There is honestly a lot of guesswork, and a lot of figuring every time you change a variable.  There are a lot of failures.  You get guidelines for firing, and most times they are good, but depending on the thickness and size of your pieces, and the age of your carbon, and the placement in your firing container, you can end up with pieces that are under fired, bubble or burst,

and you may never figure out what caused it either. 

 

I always try to hammer my pieces when they come out of the kiln, to ensure they are fired properly.  They should not crack or break.  If they do, they are under fired.

All in all, I love the look of bronze and copper clay. I love the price.  Even if I lose one or two pieces in each firing, it still is economical for me.  I am also someone who is open to learning via mistake, and doesn't mind a BIG learning curve, so for me, it works.  It may not be for everyone.
 

Working in bronze clay is a bit trickier at the "wet clay" stage,  then the copper.  It doesn't want to stick to itself as easily as copper clay.  So for working with the clays, I prefer the copper.   I think the copper tends to fire more consistently also.  But for finished results, I prefer the look of bronze, and its my go-to clay for making components.  I use fast fire bronze, and it shrinks MUCH less then the copper as well, and that's another bonus for me, since I like my pieces to have some good chunk to them.  Here are two pieces, one in copper, one in bronze, that i used the same mold for.  You can see the shrinkage difference.

 

The Moon Baby Focal is done in bronze (and has a patina) and the single wing is made from the same mold, in copper. 

 

 

I prefer using molds for the bronze clay, since its sooo hard to get it to stick to itself, its very difficult to hand build things.  I often rivet  finished pieces that were molded, to copper backings or add them to polymer when finished to add more dimension and depth, because its hard to achieve with the base metal clays.  (my hat is off to those who successfully do add dimension, such as Lee Ann of Summer Studio's and her 3-d bronze beads, that is no easy task!)

 

 

Above are mine, and below are LeAnn's beads. 

 

Here are a couple places for information on bronze and copper clay.

http://www.cooltools.us/Metal-Clay-Tips-Tricks-s/1106.htm

http://www.metalclayacademy.com/metal-clay-resources/metal-clay-blogs/metal-clay-blogs.html

So, for those of you who have been working with this medium, what was your most epic fail, or your greatest break through?  Do you have a favorite place to gather information on metal clay?