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! 

October - Beyond Pumpkins and Ghosts...by Karen McGovern

October is a great month.  The weather, for most of us, is finally getting interesting.  Trees change color.  The air is crisp, and so are the apples.  Events like hay rides and visits to orchards compete with corn mazes and beer fests--AND my birthday is in October so, yes, the month ROCKS.

 

October's leading lady is, for me, Halloween.  I've always loved Halloween.  The opportunity to dress in costume is an artist's dream.  I also love the history, folklore and mythology surrounding events in October/November.  It's more than just carved pumpkins and bed sheet ghosts, you know.

 

One of my favorite events of this season is Day of the Dead, or Día de los Muertos.  This traditionally Mexican holiday is celebrated just after our American Halloween, on November first and second.  The holiday is a celebration honoring family and friends that have died.  One of the central figures of the holiday is the sugar skull.  A highly stylized skull decorated with lavish embellishments, flowers and more.  They are beautiful!  I have several artist friends in all media that have created amazing interpretations of the sugar skull theme, one of my favorites is by my good friend Georgette Pressler of Devious Body Art.  Georgette is an amazingly talented body painter.  She turns the human body into stunning works of art.  Her Muertos works are just breathtaking--as you can see here.

 

 

Another favorite artist who specializes in Day of the Dead works is an American gal named Krisztianna.  She creates jaw-dropping sculptural works she calls Muertitas.  She makes them for every season, sculpted from Styrofoam, hand painted, embellished and simply STUNNING!  Check her out and get ready to be amazed.

 

 

For jewelry designers, October is a buffet of inspiration.  Fall colors in glorious peak, so we reach for agates and amber, amethyst and tourmaline.  Copper, brass, all those rich colors--yum.  I have never been one to create "holiday" jewelry, but this year I decided to try my hand at designing a sugar skull inspired series of work.  First, I created a necklace for Nunn Design--I'm part of their Innovation Team--and I used a hand cut skull I created from etched copper, embellished with Nunn's brass floral stampings, crosses, twig connectors, charm and beaded chain.  LOVE IT. 

 

Next I created a matching over-the-top cuff for Plum Gallery in St. Augustine, FL.  I created it from textured aluminum overlayed with a brass dragonfly wing.  In the center is a hand cut skull in etched copper, embellished with brass, sterling silver, steel leaves and more.  I rather like it, in all it's dramatic glory.

 

 

Finally, I wanted to create a more subtle design, so I made a jasper necklace in copper, sterling and aluminum.  A tiny sterling silver skull is held in place with a dimensional brass flower.  I really like this design.  Finally, I've made a bracelet that features a brass cup holding one of MaryAnn Carroll's gorgeous enamel copper discs, the tiny sterling skull and the brass flower, with a white stick pearl accent.  Definitely a favorite.

 

Red creek jasper pendant, brass and enamel copper bracelet with pearl accent. 
These designs are available NOW, so contact me if interested!!

For those of you that do create "holiday" work, what themes have you explored outside the "normal" holiday imagery?  I'm considering expanding on this theme, perhaps to try a winter solstice series.  There are so many wonderful seasonal themes that go artistically beyond snowmen and candy canes...that really interests me.  How about you??? 

Sublety of Color and Shape: Designing artful holiday jewelry

I've never been one to dress to the season. You won't find me wearing festive Swarovski crystal snowman earrings or wearing a jingle bell around my neck. Today I thought I would explore some different ideas for creating  in the holiday spirit! I started with the simple idea of a candy cane to see how artists interpreted this theme differently than the norm.

found here

1) Use texture or pattern to suggest an idea subtly. By simply changing the angle of a line or texture stripes this ring takes on the structure of a peppermint stick without the calories!

found here

2) Color and unexpected materials come together in these great red and white earrings made from recycled newspaper! How can you interpret holiday color schemes into your work either by use of materials or technique?

found here

3) Is your design versatile? By simply using red and white, these earrings could easily complement many different outfits and holidays.



What ways do you involve Christmas, Winter, and Holiday Color schemes into your work? Have you designed interesting jewelry that transitions well into the holidays?

Holiday themed jewelry: Do you?

Is it just a lampwork thing to want to make cute little snowbunnies when the snow flies (somewhere)?

Or earrings that coordinate with things you might choose to wear to a holiday party?

Or pieces that just plain deck the halls?

In the medium you work with, do you make any different jewelry designs just for the holidays?  Does your festive holiday mood make its way into your studio in other ways?  Do tell!