Holiday Hysteria and How to Come out Alive - By Karen McGovern

Happy Holidays! Whatever.

Yes, I know Thanksgiving is this Thursday. BUT, I only realized that on this past Sunday. That sound you heard around 1:00 EST wasn't a cat being boiled alive--it was me screaming because my husband pointed out that T-day is THIS FREAKING THURSDAY. I swear, I had no idea. I knew, somewhere in the back of my mind, that the holiday was near-ish, but THIS THURSDAY? Naw.....Seriously? I DIDN'T EVEN MAKE A HAND-TURKEY THIS YEAR! Sigh....

This gives you an idea of just how out of touch I am with the calendar. And how I end up in a mad scramble to fulfill social, work and family obligations during the holidays.

Like many of us artist-types, this time of year is usually one of two things--a happy time of blissful creativity or a total black hole of whatever the complete opposite of inspiration is...Anti-inspiriation? That's me this year. I find that whenever I feel like I HAVE to make art, I can't. I feel totally tapped out and have no muse whispering great ideas in my ear. It's like my brain RESENTS feeling obligated to pump out work because of a season or holiday. Maybe my muse is secretly the Grinch, I have no idea. Holidays are tough--I haven't been in the studio for over 2 weeks now, even though I have custom stuff waiting to finish and a couple galleries asking for holiday work. BLAAAAHHHHHH. I need an elf (preferably an adorable guy elf that bears a REMARKABLE resemblance to Colin Farrell (that ACCENT!)) to come kick me in the ass or something....maybe if I drown in enough peppermint mochas from Starbucks (with an extra shot of espresso because, holidays) I'll get in the spirit. Wish me luck...

He's so DREAMY...

BUT, I have some go-to ideas that I will share with you now that still let your friends and family know that you are an artist in real life and want to give a lovely gift that reflects that, yet won't kill you to create while trying to keep a smile on your face that doesn't make you look like a frustrated serial killer. 

My best, bestest, BESTEST friend during the holidays are the plastic (or glass if you are feeling super fancy) clear round ornaments sold at Michaels and just about every other store selling holiday ornament stuff. These babies are PERFECT FOR SOOOOOO MANY THINGS!! So, here are three things you can do this year using clear ornaments that are easy, fun, and totally gift-worthy even for your picky, judgmental Aunt Sarah.

1. Jewelry inside the ornament. Pop the aluminum top off the appropriately sized ornament, add a loop of wire through the holes already in the top and hang a dainty pair of earrings or a pretty little bracelet (that YOU MADE) from the hoop, then slip it all back inside the ornament. Create a pretty tag to add to the top and hang on the tree. VIOLA! You just ROCKED CHRISTMAS.

2. Print some cherished family photos, loosely curl them till they fit inside the ornament. Pop the aluminum top off, place the rolled up photo inside, then open the photo using a chopstick. Old black and white photos are amazing displayed this way, perfect for the family member who just got married, had a baby, got a new dog, cat, monkey, lion...whatever. Add a tag, hang on the tree. YOU ARE THE COOLEST FAMILY MEMBER IN THE ROOM.

3. Get totally FANCY, ECO AND STUFF by creating tiny terrariums using these ornaments. It's actually VERY EASY. Stuff some moss (available at any garden center) in the ornament, then add tiny air plants or succulents. Click the link for a detailed how-to on creating terrarium ornaments. I love this idea sooo much. Craftsy, but not boring, and beautiful. Add the tag, hang on the tree and GET USED TO SAYING "YOU'RE WELCOME" OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

Is this cool OR WHAT?????

If that doesn't float your boat and you want to make something a bit more time consuming but very cool and fun, make ornaments using your scrap wire and sheet. This is great for using up bits of mixed metals and wire. Stamp or etch the date, cold connect or solder, go crazy. Look at your  pile of wire and scrap sheet like puzzle pieces and create some super-cool ornaments ala Picasso, or Dali. Cut a simple shape from scrap sheet (star, round, heart) then cold connect bits of this and that using micro screws or rivets. I love the star and heart shown here. The heart is made from two layers acrylic sheet (available at Home Depot) with music sheet sandwiched inside, then riveted together. EASY AND SO LOVELY! I can imagine doing this with my favorite poem or holiday text. Make something personal!!!! Dream catcher-style ornaments are also especially beautiful and fun to make. Use mid gauge wire (14 to 16) to create the hoop, use finer wire (20 to 22) to create the spiderweb inside (wrap it and go nuts, there is no "wrong" way to do this), then dangle chain, beads, feathers and whatnot below. The nice thing about this idea is that the finished design can be kept out and displayed any time, not just the holidays--AND you used up scraps in a great way!

Do you have fun, go-to craft/gift ideas for the holdiays? DO SHARE!!! I hope  you all have a peaceful, joyous holiday season and spend an embarrassing amount of time hugging your friends, family, pets and total strangers. It's good for the soul.....

Now, GO MAKE SOMETHING AMAZING!

Things I love about the Holidays............

by Staci Louise Smith

Oh the holidays, weren't they so much more fun when we were young?  Now its hustle and bustle and shopping and making gifts, wrapping and baking and cooking.  I know for me, sometimes it can seem like more of a chore then a celebration.

(photo courtesy of http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/19/pf/holiday-shopping-deals/)

It is those times that I try to take some time to think about all I love about the holidays.  No matter what you celebrate, I think these things can be universally healing during this sometimes tough time of year.

1.  Gifts:  I love to give gifts.  I love to create gifts.  At times it too can feel like a chore, but then I think of the little blessing the gift will be to someone I care about, and it is all worth it!

 I had a blast making the above wine toppers for friends and family

2.  Not everyone loves to shop for gifts, but I bet everyone loves to get them!  It is so nice to know that someone thought of you- and my favorites are those really unexpected ones from people you did not think would be thinking of you.  (coincidentally, those are also my favorites to give)

3.  Watching kids open gifts!  Whether it is your kids, or extended family, heck, you could you tube some adorable videos too, there is something about watching the magic of a child receiving a gift!

my girl Julia has loved Christmas since she was a tiny thing!

4.  Cookies!  I mean, c'mon, warm cookies.  I hate the messy kitchen, but love the cookies- mostly, its so nice to make them with my special people.

photo courtesy of  http://christmasintheforest.blogspot.com/2011/12/perfect-holiday-cookies.html

5. LIGHTS!  I love lights- whether on a Christmas Tree, or on houses, bushes, mantels, soft twinkly lights make me happy.  I love to unwind with a glass of wine or chamomile tea at the end of the day during this busy season, with those low tiny lights all over.  (we went very minimal this year due to some really crazy events in my small town, and my decor, is mostly all lights!  I love it just the same!!!)

6.  Holiday Movies!!!!  My favorites, A Christmas Story and Elf.  Elf being my all time favorite I think.

7.  Family.  I know this is sometimes a hard one, whether you are missing a loved one, or have loved ones who drive you nuts, it still feels good to be surrounded by those who share your DNA or your heart, or both!  Hug a loved one extra tight this year. 

my brother and sis in law rocked the ugly sweater party this year!  It is so cool that my brother and sis are also good friends with my same friends, so I get to see them at both family and friend events!!!

Those are some of my favorite things.  What are yours?  Is there anything that really helps you through the holiday funk?

We here at Love my Art Jewelry hope you all have a wonderful, and blessed holiday season this year.  May it be safe, may it be full of love, and may you find time to relax in there somewhere.  

(we will begin normal posts the week after Christmas as we take some time to enjoy our families and rest!) 

Last Minute Gifts That Will ROCK Your Christmas! By Karen McGovern

Christmas is, like, a month away....right?

  

Ah, the joy of realizing the week before Christmas that you still have 25 gifts to magically make appear.  If you are like me, you wait until that golden moment of panic/procrastination hits and you rush to your laptop and order everyone you forgot about something "thoughtful" from Wallgreens like socks with toes in them, or whatever else is left for sale on Amazon in the hours before Christmas.  DON'T BE THIS PERSON!

Even if you find yourself scrambling for last-minute gifts, there is no need to panic or end up buying crap you then have to GIFT WRAP like it's something actually NICE.  No one wants to open a nicely wrapped gift to find A JAR OF PICKLES.  Unless that's your thing...then, YEAH?

So, I am here to give you some super-cool, EASY, and INEXPENSIVE ideas for gifts that will make you KING/QUEEN OF THE HOLIDAY PARTY.  Your welcome....

1.  The hilarious gag gift.  Anything from Archie McPhee.  How can you resist a website who's tag line is: "Archie McPhee has the best toys, gifts, candy and novelties on the internet. We love the same things you do: unicorns, bacon, mustaches and underpants." My favorite item this year is the Centaur Santa Claus. Cause...SANTA HAS AN AMAZING SIX-PACK!  So, for those on your list with a slightly twisted sense of humor, get them HANDERPANTS and move on.

2. For the person who loves technology.  BOOMFS.  What are Boomfs, you ask?  Only MARSHMALLOWS PRINTED WITH IMAGES YOU UPLOAD TO THE SITE! Serioulsy!  How cool is this?  I bought everyone Boommfs last year and got rave reviews.  This is especially wonderful for Grandparents--imagine how they will love getting a box of marshmallows all with the Grandkids faces on them!!!  Then plopping those adorable faces into a piping hot cup of cocoa and watching them melt....wait, that escalated rather quickly...Anyway, it's a fun, inexpensive gift to give that is easily personalized.  But hurry, they stop shipping SOON.

3. The gift that will make you look far more interesting than you probably are.....AN EXPERIENCE.  What do I mean?  Well, how about giving a gift that actually requires the recipient to DO SOMETHING?  Tickets or passes to a local museum/nature center/science museum/art show/concert/performance.  NOT MOVIE TICKETS, but tickets to an actual event or activity.  AND, throw in a disposable camera so they can share the experience after.  My local nature center offers open ended day passes, and I buy these all the time. I am lucky to live in Florida and can give things like passes that allow folks to go on sea turtle nest walks along the beach or visits to wildlife rehab centers. This type thing is a great stocking stuffer and you will be surprised...people sometimes actually LIKE being forced to leave the home....

Just imagine, this could be YOUR FAMILY...OUTSIDE!

4.  For the DIY-ers.  Put ANYTHING into a clear craft glass Christmas ornament from Michael's.  Seriously. ANYTHING placed inside a clear ornament is instantly ADORABLE. Got a friend with dogs?  Tuck a few dog treats into an ornament.  Cats?  CATNIP, DUH. You can put CHEX-MIX in a clear ornament and have a spectacular hostess gift.  Tea lover?  Cram a few Earl Gray bags inside.  Dried flowers, mini candy canes, lottery tickets, CASH, JEWELRY, it can all be stuffed into these ornaments and you are a HOLIDAY SUPERHERO.  How about wildflower seeds?  Heck, any seed at all!  Perfect for a gardener....A LOVE LETTER!  Photographs!  If I wasn't late and trying to get this post up, I bet I could sit here and think of 12 BILLION things you could tuck into one of these ornaments to create a really thoughtful, cool gift. I am personally making many of these this year.  I would love to tell you what I am putting inside, but I can't because a few of the folks getting this read this blog and well....I want it to be a surprise!

5.  Finally, if you want to totally ROCK Christmas, buy some hand-made, amazing artisan jewelry and more from any of the spectacularly talented artists right here on LMAJ.  Most of us also offer gift certificates, so you don't even have to suffer through looking at all the amazing jewelry and art and trying to decide what to buy.  No one, I mean NO ONE will be less than THRILLED with this gift.  And, I don't have to tell you that you are also giving a gift to the artists you support...your purchase allows us to continue doing what we love, and helps us with other stuff--like supporting our families and such....

So, take a deep breath, all you Secret Santas, you can do this!  I hope your holidays are bright and full of love and peace.  From all of us here at LMAJ....HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

Taking Time to Care...ABOUT YOURSELF! By Karen McGovern

It's madness out there.  I mean, seriously.  Holiday fever has hit with the efficiency of a targeted missile strike--which, according to my TV and newspaper, is pretty darned spot-on.  I will not take a bunch of time here to tell you what you already know.  We are all under intense pressure as artists right now to create for our clients, for our shops, for our family and friends--all while somehow balancing annoying things like EATING and CLEANING THE HOUSE.  And, those people we live with, constantly expecting us to ACTUALLY HAVE TIME FOR THEM. Talk about juggling chainsaws....

So, as I try to do the 1,000 things I do every day anyway, and try to fulfill orders and commitments artistically, I have decided to add one more thing to the very top of my list.  Take two hours EVERY DAY TO DO NOTHING.  Now, I say take two hours....that is so I can negotiate down if needed but still feel like I have given myself a break.  I go to Starbucks and have a grande iced upside down caramel macchiato with salt an extra shot of expresso.  OMG THAT IS SOOOO GOOD!  And, have you tried the new pastries Starbucks is now carrying?? THE LITTLE PECAN TARTS ARE FROM THE DEVIL.

I read.  I take a nap. I sit in my orchid house.  And, if I am in the studio, I take that time to make something JUST FOR FUN.  Like this ornament.  I don't make ornaments, but this one just sort of happened.  It's a partridge--like from the pear tree thing.  It also sort of looks like a fancy version of the animated birds in the opening of the Partridge Family (GOD I AM OLD).  If you are looking for a quickie hostess gift to make, a simple brass or copper spiral (14 or 16 gauge wire), soldered to itself at the end and hammered makes a lovely ornament. Color with patina or metal paints, add a ribbon or raffia string (please do not use a crappy wire hook like I did), hang from a wine bottle and you have a great gift! 

I have taken to throwing myself (and my husband if he is not frantically working) a happy hour every day from 4:00 to 5:00 pm.  We sit with an orphaned bongo antelope we hand reared who needs the company until she is ready to be introduced to the herd.  She will be one year old this Thanksgiving and yes, I will be throwing a birthday party for her.

Hello, My name is Delilah and I am the cutest thing on EARTH.

I work seven days a week from dawn until dark.  Seriously.  That's what it takes when working with captive wildlife.  I could throw a joke in here about how anyone with kids understands working with captive wildlife--AMIRIGHT???  And, all the cliche things we read about how we are no good to anyone if we are not good to ourselves may be trite, but are also true.  Especially this time of year when we are in creative overdrive on top of everything else.

Bottom line, taking time for yourself to do nothing is not only okay--IT IS NECESSARY.  AND, if anyone dares to try to make you feel guilty for doing so, they deserve to be punched in the throat.  Or ignored.  For two whole hours.

Now, not everyone can take two hours every day.  So that's where the negotiating comes in.  Take an hour.  Break it up--15 minute here, 20 minutes there, whatever.  Pop a clean, dry dishtowel in the microwave for 15 seconds, spritz it with lavender and mint essential oil, plop it on your face and lay down for 10 minutes.  YOU WILL EMERGE A PRINCESS OF GOOD MENTAL HEALTH.

Also, the day after Thanksgiving, make a pitcher of coquito and label it something hideous so no one will drink it but you.  "Mom's diarrhea medicine" will work nicely.  Then, give yourself a huge glass sip every damned day till it's gone.  Try not to drink it all at once.  It will be difficult, as this is a coconutty dream of a beverage created by angels and delivered to mortals via unicorns raised by ancient Puerto Rican Shamans, passed down through the ages by the grace of all things alcoholic and wonderful.  If you don't want the booze, skip it, and add some rum extract instead.  You can thank me later.  Why wait till after Thanksgiving you ask?  WERE YOU RAISED BY WOLVES? Coquito is traditionally a Christmas beverage, so anytime after Turkey Day is wide open. 

Whatever you can come up with to give yourself a boost, a mental break, a pick-me-up--DO IT, and do it as often as you can.

Finally, I made earrings.  That's sort of a big deal for me, because I would rather chew my own arm off than make earrings.  BUT, I wanted to prove to myself that I could and I DID IT! As of this post I have created 30 PAIRS OF EARRINGS!!  Also, I like displaying them on a big wine glass....might do this for the holiday gift show I am in this coming Sunday.  Wish me luck!  

For those of you participating in holiday shows, I wish you crowds of appreciative shoppers scooping up your wonderful works.  I wish all of you a happy and peaceful season.  Enjoy yourselves, and make something BEAUTIFUL!

In closing, I leave you with this from Archie McPhee. Because EVERYONE needs a Santaur this holiday season.

Holida....SHUT UP! By Karen McGovern

I shudder to write this.  I am freaked out that I am even thinking about this.  It's the end of September.  You all know what that means.  HalloThankChrismicus is coming...sneaking up like toxic fog.  Wait, did I say that out loud?

Every year at this time, those of us in the Artsy biz turn our attention to designing for the season.   Seasons.  Holidaze?  WHATEVER.  We all start thinking about production, even tho that word makes my skin crawl from an artistic standpoint.  Every year I struggle with the idea of producing "holiday" work.  For those lucky, talented artists with large followings, this insn't so much of an issue.  But for smaller, lesser known artists trying to make a living creating art, this seasonal madness is sometimes a make-or-break time of year, filled with pressure and a healthy dose of TERROR.  How to create irrisistable art without selling your soul artistically.  I know many artists that are becoming busy little elves about now, disappearing into their studios and craft rooms, emerging sometime between Halloween and Thanksgiving hollow-eyed and hunch-backed, but STOCKED FOR THE SEASON, BY GOD!  

This kind of says it all...the endless list, frantic work, and a GIANT CLOCK ticking away...

Well, to quote my all-time favorite Christmas elf, "I want to be a Dentist!"

By that I mean I choose not to get all worked up about holiday stuff.  I tune it out as much as I possibly can and go about my business as usual--even when weaving my way thru seamless displays of pumpkins, turkeys and trees EVERYWHERE.  I say we dress a turkey as Santa, perch it on a jack-o-lantern pumpkin and call it a day.  Litterally.

Anyway, to those that go into creative overdrive, I wish you the best.  Stay hydrated.  Go outside every once and a while--I'm sure you'll be vitamin D deficient before it's over.  Remember to eat.  Remember to occasionally visit your family so that they will remember who you are when you actually come up for air.  Install a UV light near your bench so you don't morph into Gollum (not a good look, people, seriously).
 

Bottom line--don't give in to the pressure.  Trends.  WHAT'S HOT THIS SEASON?  ETSY MADNESS.  Blarf.  Stay true to who you are as an artist from the get-go.  Your clients come to you for a reason, THEY LIKE YOUR WORK--PERIOD.  If you are typically a mixed media artist who creates stunning raw stone jewelry, your clients aren't coming to you looking for candy cane earrings or adorable ghostie pendants.  So...DON'T TRY TO MAKE ANY.  If your clients come to you because you make candy cane earrings and adorable ghostie pendants APPLAUSE TO YOU and keep up the good work!  I have a dear friend that makes cupcake pendants and earrings.  Exquisitely detailed glass cupcakes that look entirely edible and ARE SO FREAKING ADORABLE IT KILLS ME.  When I see her work, I always think, "I should try to work small..."  Then I punch myself in the face and move on. 

 

I make weird stuff.  If I were to try to make anything else it would frustrate me and I would waste TIME AND ENERGY, two things YOU NEVER GET BACK, and, I would end up feeling like a failure and that sort of SUCKS THE LIFE OUT OF YOU ARTISTICALLY.  This time of year is full of stress for so many reasons--don't let that bleed into your art and your ability to create art.  Creating art is therapy, and should be joyous and an escape from all the madness.  If it is anything less than that you are doing it wrong....for reals.  This time of year brings one holiday to the forefront that is my favorite.  Day of the Dead.  I love making sugar skull themed art.  So I do.  But I make that any time of year, it just so happens that October really supports this expression.  And yes, I am aware that sugar skulls are quite popular right now, so the market will be flooded with them.  But, I'll make mine anyway, becuase I truly love the meaning behind the art and the art itself.  I will NOT make 50 sugar skull themed designs.  I will NOT try to reach some sales goal with the work.  I will make what I feel, when I feel it.  I hope you all will at least try to do something similar and not set yourself up for frantic production.....it ain't healthy I tell ya!

 

A few of my sugar skull designs...more to come!

AND, harkening back to my earlier post about custom work--I advise artists to not accept much of it during the holidays.  One more thing to add to the pressure???  No thanks. Do what makes you happy.  The end. 

So, I wish you all a productive and creative season.  Enjoy the changing scenery.  Watch the leaves change if you can.  Hell, jump in a pile of leaves the first opportunity you can.  Celebrate the changes and the beauty given to us by the Earth.  Be peaceful.  Close your eyes and just BREATHE.  Time is FLYING and we must capture the moments we can and hold them close--create something beautiful, unique and in our own voices.  Look at your hands and marvel at what you can make with them.  Don't waste time or effort on anything less than joyously YOURS.  Can't wait to see what you create......

Tis the Season

by Staci L. Smith

Tis the season to be busy!  As I read Karen's post from yesterday, I thought, geez- I really am celebrating every moment I can.  EEEVVVVERY moment.  Like, where is all my time going? 

I am not complaining, its full of fun times.

 

However, I am just starting my handmade gifts, and feeling very behind in that regard.  All is good though, I think I have most of my weekend off to work on gifts.

 

We have had lots of snow here on the east coast as well- which delays things.  It's not even winter and it's snowed at least three times in the last two weeks.  It is simply beautiful though. Plus- having snow this week allowed me to sleep in on my birthday (two hour delay- YAY!) 

 

So it really is the season, and I have felt very blessed by friends and family already.  My kids love making gifts- here are some of my handmade birthday gifts they gave me!

 

This may be my favorite, because, where else could I get a robot ninja?

 

My youngest made me books for my reading pleasure..........





I didn't get to make any ornaments yet, and I usually like to.  Perhaps this weekend I can.

 

I have found some ladies who are totally on the ball, and made some killer handmade love this holiday.

 

Diana P of Suburban Girl Studio made these great ornaments for gifts. (by the way, she has some little charms for jewelry in her shop, like these ornaments- perfect for the season)

 

She even made homemade tags!  I love those sort of details,  I am so bad at them myself.

 

Heather Powers of Humblebeads, a endless source of creativity, made these ornaments, that could even be customized.  I love them!

 

 

Erin Praiz-Hintz of Tesori Travati made this as a gift for Heather- isn't it darling?

 

 

And Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads broke out the polymer to make this cute little guy!

 

 

I really like seeing everyone put their handmade bead and jewelry skills to use making something a little different then the norm.  This is a great way to make gifts for people whom may not wear jewelry!

 

Anyone else making ornaments for the Holidays?  Is it a tradition, or something new?  And what is your favorite medium?

 

 

 

 

 



From the Heart...by Karen McGovern

Keith Lo Bue

First, Happy Holidays to one and all!  Can’t quite believe it is almost Christmas, and almost the end of 2013.  I hope you are all celebrating like mad.  Enjoy every moment you can, and get ready to welcome in the NEW YEAR!  This post was originally planned as an artist interview with the extraordinary Keith Lo Bue.  BUT, because I know we are all spread a little thin right now what with all the ho-ho-hoing , jingling, and mistletoeing, I let him off the hook until after Christmas.  I’ll keep you posted, and until then visit his website and prepare to be amazed.  I’m really looking forward to that interview!



Many of us have been in a creative frenzy since October, preparing new designs for the holidays.  I hope you have taken the time to visit the shops linked here, and have supported handmade and independent artists for holiday gift giving.  I have had a very nice season, and have created a few designs that I really enjoyed because the designs were born of collaboration and celebration.  Custom designs can be a complete crap-shoot, and I am often hesitant to agree to them.  Sometime collaboration with a client is a joy, sometimes not so much.  We’ve all been there—amiright??  This year, I had two specific custom collaborations that I just loved.

First, I was asked to create a bracelet for a woman celebrating a milestone birthday.  The gift was to be given by her sisters.  They contacted me and asked for a bracelet that would be made up of stones representing elements of her personality.  They gave me a list including things like “love of family”, “love of music“, “powerful”, etc.  I hit the Google machine and researched gemstones and their meaning.  This was so cool, because prior to this my understanding of gemstone representations was very minimal. I learned quite a bit, and loved the process.  I am fascinated with folklore and mythology, which feature gems quite a bit, plus I learned more about the healing properties associated with certain stones and the role they play in holistic medicine.  Super cool!  The resulting bracelet is pictured here.  Each stone represents a specific aspect of the wearer’s personality.  The clasp is one of my handmade favorites, a “hidden” clasp created using two enamel copper discs (BTW, MaryAnn, I am almost out.  Time for another order!!!), and a kinetic gold hoop.   So many little details in the overall design, from the individual stones to the tiny tag I made that has the sisters initials on one side and a musical note on the other (she is a musician).  Every component in the finished bracelet has meaning.  I really enjoyed every moment of the design process, and also deeply appreciate the glimpse into these girls’ lives that I was allowed.  I hope she loves wearing this!

Next, I recently began creating a series of cuff bracelets that feature a single, meaningful word.  The first that I made was a “Hope” cuff.  I used a ½ inch aluminum band, hand textured and stamped, accented with a tiny, hand cut heart.  Simple, lightweight, and very wearable.  I posted the pic on my Facebook page, and was quickly contacted by some very, very special folks.

 

 As you may know, I am a conservation biologist in “real life”.  Through my work I meet and collaborate with groups and individuals who have dedicated their lives to saving what remains of nature.  This may sound romantic and exciting, but the truth is what we do can be extremely frustrating and depressing.  There is a war against nature raging on our planet, and often we are forced to simply watch and record the wholesale destruction.  Romantic it ‘aint. 

 

Back to the story of the “Hope” cuff.  I got an email from some folks that are on the front lines of this war.  Turns out, they have been hand rearing an Indian rhinoceros that was abandoned by its mother.  The rhinos in this program are part of a captive breeding effort to save this critically endangered species.  I’m sure you have seen the press coverage about the horrific global wholesale slaughter of elephant and rhino for their horn and tusk.  I could go on and on about how disgusting and unbelievable the situation is, but I won’t.  Simply put, if the poaching of these species isn’t stopped immediately we will lose these magnificent creatures within the next decade.  ANYWAYS, the baby rhino’s name is….wait for it…HOPE!  I was asked to create cuffs for the two girls within the team that have been working around the clock to save this baby.  They spend nearly 24 hours a day with her, and if it wasn’t for this dedication and intensive care, the baby would not have survived.  This is a small, dedicated group of people who have sacrificed so much…needless to say I was THRILLED.  I made one for myself as well, and wear it every day.  That simple word, “Hope”, represents so very, very much.

 

Jewelry—the art of personal adornment—can be an extremely powerful means to convey a heartfelt message.  I try, with every design I create, to tell a story or impart a feeling.  I think I have succeeded with the designs featured here, and in doing so I hope I have created something truly special that is more than just a pretty “thing”.  I often include a note with my work that says “From my Hands and my Heart”.  I mean that.

Happy Holidays to you all, I wish you Peace, Joy and most of all….Hope.

oh, boys -

mary jane dodd

i consider myself fortunate that 3 souls chose me to mother them -

but when the holidays approach and i have 2 teen aged boys, dread settles in... 

my 20 yr. old daughter is easier to gift... i can make her handmade things & find all kinds of wonderful items on etsy (thanks to heather powers for a great post the other day)...

and then there are the boys - (who i love with all my heart, but struggle to get things for... of course, i could buy all kinds of stuff for stuff's sake... but i prefer not to do that - though one can get desperate)

one will wear a necklace and has a favorite charm from beth hemmila on leather that he wears almost daily...

the other doesn't wear jewelry at all... 

the younger one likes to skateboard - and i knew that at the skate shops, people will leave their broken decks when they get new ones... 

what if?

so i called a local shop, and yes, he had some decks -

here are a few of my first beads cut from them...

they obviously need sanding and i learned to try to peel the grip tape off first... but they have potential and i quite like the layered look of them...

my other son loves vinyl records - our own barbara did a post on using those... hey, barbara, think you can help me out? 

how are you doing shopping for your kids? with money tight for so many families how do you balance their excitement with your reality? 

and if you have any great ideas for teen aged boys (or girls or kids of any age), please send them along!

lori anderson's first annual virtual craft show - day 1

lori anderson is hosting a virtual craft show... 

7 Days, 70 Artists, GIVING AWAY 70 things.

no one hosts big like lori - queen of the bead soup parties... 

check out her blog here...  

from the depths of your experience

mary jane dodd

life is bitter sweet - a beautiful struggle... and it seems to be intensified by the holidays... i have been musing upon this, needing to put my hands on these words to fully embrace both sides... cutting antique paper that has been touched by others... finding the balance... 


it is our humanity that is universal - we share these things... one year may be filled with more of one than the other, but it evens out over time... for one, for all... 


so if it is more of a struggle year for you, a wish to find some of the beauty is being sent your way - it is there, just stay open... 

'only from the heart

can you touch the sky.'

~ rumi

the challenge of the season...

is not in finding the perfect gift, but rather in finding balance...


please know that i too am struggling with this - so it is not being spoken in a preachy manner...  and as with all things it is how you approach it that matters... 

'to many people holidays are not voyages of discovery, 

but a ritual of reassurance.'

~ philip andrew adams