When Your Ho, Ho, Ho Leaves You Low, Low, Low...by Karen McGovern

This entry began as a simple post I made to the LMAJ admin Facebook page.  I was commiserating with my fellow LMAJ artists about how I had officially started “Holiday Head”.  You know—that thing that happens when the holidays arrive, and you start reminiscing about holidays past, people you can’t be with or can never see again, and you find yourself drooping into your eggnog, but not in a good way.  Holiday Head.

I was on the verge of a spiral into the dark the other day, but pulled myself out of it by standing up, hitting the studio, and making ONE THING.  One simple thing.  Not something I needed, not something new, just something that I knew I could complete from start to finish rather easily and would please me.  A simple bangle.  I beat it up with the hammer (no need to consult Freud on that one…), patina’d it, polished it and then sat and looked at it.  Then I gave it away.  It was IMMENSELY SATISFYING and pulled me out of my funk.  I’m sure it had everything to do with taking control, accomplishment, moving my mind off sadness and into creativity and giving.  WHATEVER, IT WORKED.

This bangle is so simple, yet really lovely.  16 gauge copper wire wrapped
four times around a steel bracelet mandrel.  The ends are soldered using
sterling silver easy solder paste, and I also soldered the wires together at
midpoint or more stability and structure.  Hammered, liver of sulfur patina,
polished with a polishing cloth to bring out the highlights then
sprayed with two coats of clear gloss Permalac metal sealer.

I believe artists “feel” more than others may.  I think that’s how we tap into whatever creative mojo we have.  We are emotional beings that not only respond to beauty, but want to create it and give it to others.  So do that.  Giving something away when you are feeling depressed can really, really lift you up.  I wish more folks would realize this and do it.

Holidays are rough on just about everybody.  On the one hand you are surrounded by hyper-happy imagery and expectation, on the other, you may not be able to fulfill what may seem like holiday OBLIGATION to be Super-Elf or whatever.  Especially if you are alone, or without your loved ones near.  You can easily find yourself hopping a candy-cane festooned train to DepressionVille.

 

For the next couple of posts we would like to hear from you—artist or not—about what you do to help creatively life yourself up when feeling low during the holidays.  Please share—you may be offering a perfect piece of advice or have the perfect idea that can help someone else who may be struggling to stay “up” during this time of year.

AND, for those of you with holiday show on the schedule, make them as fun as you can. Wear a stupid hat (I totally believe in the restorative powers of a stupid hat....).  Give away mistletoe or pine sprigs.  Use humor--it is a superpower.  I just finished a holiday gift show held in a cool converted barn/studio.  Made a display box for my work from a wooden crate I got on sale at Joann's.  Beat it up with a chain and a hammer, stained it, stamped it, and used rusty cup hooks to hang necklaces.  Simple, I know, but man do I like it and I MADE IT MYSELF.  The show was lovely and I sold enough to be able to donate over $200.00 to the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation for Ninita's toothbrush fund.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, click the links...please.  I guarantee you will feel better!

Thanks in advance….I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, comfy elastic waist pants and a spectacular food coma. Now, GO MAKE SOMETHING!!

Inspiration and Evololution

by Staci L. Smith

It is no secret, that most of us who make beads and / or jewelry......LOVE beads and jewelry.

I am no exception.  So when Karen McGovern made these rings, I had to have one.

She made me one special, just for me....

(I added the wire to make it just a hair smaller so I could wear it on my pink.....i love it!)

She also sent me some of that wonderful aquamarine, and some citrine crystals too.  I was thrilled to have some, and I loved this design so much, I wanted to make myself a necklace to match.

Of course, I added some more rustic elements- mastadon bone beads.....and i  am not one for measuring, so, its a bit rougher.  However, I am so happy with how it turned out.  

I didn't measure at all, just cut some silver that looked like enough to fold up, made a few cuts so I could fold it, and added my beads, and worked it like a huge bezel.  I added some balled headpins on the ends to add the chain.  I love little cabinet curiosities, and boxes always always always had my heart, so this got the ball rolling in my mind.

I made another in copper, and then I made some shallow, large copper boxes, and added some large and small gemstones to make a sort of shadow box pendant.  I also made another silver one that is really rustic looking, not sure I love it, but it has sea glass and a fossil shell.

 I just love when another artist inspires me so much.  The process of watching a simple concept, like "box"  or "capture" evolve and change into many forms.  That is why I love surrounding myself with art.  I see color schemes that inspire me, or a texture, or a shape......and I have to try it in jewelry.  

Art Up To Your Eyeballs - by Karen McGovern

Well, how was your Thanksgiving?  Are you still wearing your elastic waist fleece pants?  Are you stuck to the couch?  Have you managed to get the gravy stains out of...well....everything?  I hope you all had a peaceful, joyful, delicious, self-indulgent Thanksgiving with family and friends.  I know I did! 

 

Now, on to the important stuff.  WHAT ARE YOU BUYING FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS?  Not....I hope you'll give yourself a breather before diving into the next holiday.  Yesterday was Black Friday, and I stayed home, just like I do every year.  I'm still working on the turducken, and will be well into the first quarter of 2014. AND, I had some family to care for...

An orphaned grey squirrel...

An orphaned bongo antelope newborn.

Ninita, a baby pygmy marmoset.

Among about a thousand other critters that need my attention. 

Black Friday and Cyber Monday (day after tomorrow) are burned into our brains via the Gods of Advertising.  Yes, you can get some good deals a few things you might actually want, and end up with a TON OF GARBAGE YOU DON'T.  Here's my take....

 

If you follow this blog, you know that there are thousands of incredibly talented artists and independent vendors sweating it out to make a living, hoping like HELL they will be noticed in the coming days and weeks leading up to Christmas.  You've been asked and pleaded with to shop small and local.  What you actually do is up to you.  I'm not going to try to shame you into forgoing the mall--its pull is almost hypnotic.  SO MANY SPARKLY LIGHTS.  So, I'm just going to ask you to look to the right and left of this post for links to artists and vendors I hope you will at least consider clicking on and taking a look at.  One of them is me.
 

 I am not holding a sale right now.  I just had one to celebrate the launch of my own independent website with my very own online shop.  Not through Etsy, Artfire, BigCartel or anything else.  That's right folks--if you visit my website and make a purchase, you deal directly with ME.  I KNOW--CRAZY, RIGHT???  Well, it is.  And it's also a gamble.  No big storefront that is recognized by millions.  No advertizing other than what I can generate on my own.  No middleman (except for PayPal...can't get around that).  But, let's get back to the first sentence of this paragraph.  I'm not holding a sale right now.  WHAT???  I know, I seem to be Hell-bent on shooting myself in the foot, right?  Well, to be honest, I simply can't afford a sale now.  My desire as a jewelry designer and artist has always been to create AFFORDABLE work.  I donate most of my proceeds to support wildlife conservation.  My goal is to use my work to build a bridge between art and nature, cover my costs, and be able to give a significant portion in support of something I deeply believe in.  So, my work is already priced about as low as I can go and still be able to continue creating it.  Why am I telling you this?  Well, obviously, I hope you'll visit my site and consider making a purchase.  But also, I would like you to consider when you purchase from me or any of the artists you can find here, you have an opportunity you can't get anywhere else.  You actually get to know the artists you buy from.  So many have a really unique, wonderful story to tell.  When you purchase from an independent artist, like those listed here and all over this blog, you have the opportunity to create a personal connection, and I find that so interesting, rare and special!  Artists like us put it all on the table.  If you follow us or connect via our shops and Facebook pages you'll get a glimpse into a REAL LIVE HUMAN LIFE!  How cool is that?  If you go even further and read our blogs and personal posts, you'll get to see Staci build her dream studio, get to cheer as MaryAnn is able to  raise and direct funds from her work to purchase awesome cat condos for a rescue organization, get to read Mary Jane's stunning poems and insights into her jaw-dropping work, and get to hear me go on and on and on about wildlife conservation, among other things. That's just three of the MANY fantastic artists here!  You'll hear about our art shows, our amazing screw ups (sometimes with PICTURES) as well as our triumphs and joys.  WE LIVE THIS STUFF, PEOPLE!
 

 

So, what does this have to do with me not holding a sale?  Well, I guess I just wanted you to know that you have many, many more reasons to shop with me and the aritsts you see here beyond the enticement of a sale.  AND, by the way, that sale isn't easy for anyone to offer.  None of the artists here (in my opinion) should have to have a sale, yet they are, becuase this is their LIVLEYHOOD and they need your support, and because we seem to have become a nation that MUST HAVE A SALE AFTER THANKSGIVING ON EVERYTHING IN THE UNIVERSE OR WE WILL DIE.  Or something like that....

 

I know it may not be in my best interests to forgo this weekend in terms of sales, etc.  But, it is in the best interest of my conscience.  So, I'll go with that.

So, show us independent artists some love this season....pretty please!!

Happy Holidays to all, I wish you Peace, Joy, and Prosperity!! 

Holy Holidays, Batman! What Month IS it? By Karen McGovern

So, I went to Walmart the other day and upon walking through the electronic doors I was IMMEDIATELY PUNCHED IN THE FACE BY CHRISTMAS.  After I picked myself up off the floor, I checked my smartphone and no, I had not been somehow teleported into the future, it really is the last week of October.
 

I love the subtlety, don't you?

Squeezing past 7,000 lit fake Christmas trees and working my way past 3,000 inflatable snowmen, Santas and cavorting reindeer, I felt sort of MOLESTED by this over the top, desperate attempt to start wringing greenbacks out of every man, woman and child in the vicinity.  I know the economy is down, but I think we all can admit that our culture has seriously abused the term "holiday spirit".

 

I don't do "holiday" themed work.  Not because I'm anti-holiday, but because I'm not good at it.  Whenever I try to force myself to create within any particular theme, my brain just freezes.  Sure, I could pile a bunch of red and green beads/patina/paint on something and call in "inspired by the season", but that would be such a lie.  Yet, we artists do try to capture an audience this time of year, hoping to entice folks to buy handmade for the holidays.  It's crunch time, people!

 

Many of my jewelry artist friends are already stocking up on designs for the holidays and I am so jealous of their ability to create lovely work that isn't a sell-out to Santa.  With that in mind, I have vowed to tackle one of my true artistic Achilles heels this season--EARRINGS.

 

Earrings kill me.  I hate to make them, can never think of anything innovative or original when trying to design them, and burn with jealousy when I see gorgeous earrings online.  YES, STACIE LOUISE, I'M TALKING TO YOU!

 

Look at these earrings by Staci...I MEAN LOOK AT THEM!

Yet, the few times I have made earrings they have sold very well.  So, I shall sit down and try to create a line of earrings reflecting my style of design.  COMMING SOON TO A FACEBOOK PAGE NEAR YOU!!!  I plan to surf my favorite artist's sites to bolster my courage and imagination, get myself some nice 20 gauge wire, and GO CRAZY (literally, you may never hear from me again...).

Earrings I have made that I did not TOTALLY hate...

Bottom line, I urge all artists to stay focused and not feel forced to create thematic jewelry that just isn't your style.  In the words of every signed high school yearbook in history, "Stay true to yourself and don't ever change!"

What is your go-to design for the season?  What designs do you struggle with? Feel free to share in the comments, and Happy HallowGivingMas!