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!) 

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.

Is it OVER YET??? By Karen McGovern

I’m not talking about preparing for Christmas.  So there.  We’ve all heard enough, amiright?  It’s in four days.  Enough said.  Well, okay, the only thing I’ll say about getting ready for Christmas is that I made an ornament.  By accident.  I was fooling around with some copper wire and this happened.  My first, and probably last ornament ever.  A partridge.  Or maybe a French hen?  Is it a calling bird?  Man, that song has a lot of birds in it…whatever.

 

 

In fact, this post is about the aftereffects of Christmas.  The post-holiday funk that can, and does, descend upon many of us.  Not just us artists, but all of us.  The period of delirium that begins in October and rushes through January is pretty spectacular.  Planning, creating, obsessing, scheduling, rushing, procrastinating, then panic with a nice splash of chaos thrown in at the end…just because.  It’s such a weird time of year.  So much crammed into a relatively short time span.  Frankly, it’s exhausting.  Then, the big day comes, we have a blast, and….it’s over.  You wake up after Christmas with an emotional hang-over that can sometimes be pretty crippling.  Family disperses, wrapping paper, boxes and tinsel are thrown away and the tree suddenly looks a bit harsh and dried out in the morning light.  What just happened?

 

I find that after the holidays I need a good 10 days to 2 weeks of ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  And that is just fine and dandy, thank you.  No, I will not be firing up the torch and creating anything new.  I won’t be in my studio at all.  My brain at this point is equivalent to soft serve ice cream.  Stick a fork in me, I’m DONE.  If you need me I will be curled up on the couch with a book, or listening to the soundtrack from Inside LlewlynDavis (the best collection of music I have come across in a looooong time.  Get it.  Right now.  Seriously).  Or I may be visiting with my new best friend, Delilah, a baby bongo antelope we are hand rearing.

Yes, I am utterly adorable.  Deal with it.

Don’t fret the non-existent afterglow of Christmas.  Embrace it and use the time to recharge.  Let somebody else cook dinner.  Don’t answer the phone if you don’t want to.  Turn off the computer.  Sleep in if you can (YES I KNOW I AM CRAZY HERE).  Most of all, don’t let anyone make you feel bad for…well…feeling bad.  Not everyone fa-la-las happily forever.  For some of us, Christmas is WORK.

Courtesy of craftfail.com

I’m not going to get all dark on you here, just wanted those of you that understand what I’m talking about to know you’re not alone.  I can only use a candy cane as a stir stick in my coffee for so long.  I’ve learned to simplify holidays, so that there might—just might—be a chance to actually enjoy them (or at least recover from them a bit quicker).  While I admire those that can flawlessly pull off a Martha Stewart holiday of dreams, I cannot.  And trying to do so just sets me up for an even bigger let down when it doesn't all come together like the magazine promised. 

There are no rules or sure-fire ways to make it through the holidays if they are difficult for you.  You simply have to find what works for you and stick with it.  I recently read a scientific study has proven that memories of unpleasant events are more firmly planted in our brains than happy memories.  Thanks, Science, we really needed THAT.  Anyway, what I try to do every year is make note, in some real way, of the wonderful things that do occur during the holidays.  The thoughtful, unexpected gift/call/visit from a friend or loved one.  The smell of the Christmas tree.  The look on my cat’s face when he discovers said lit and decorated tree.  The wonderful meals shared with friends, even if it's just a quick lunch on the fly.  All this might sound trite or stupid, but that damned scientific report is right.  We do remember with great ease (and stunning detail) all the uncomfortable or unpleasant things in our past and the good stuff just gets lost.  So capture the good any way you can.  I write it down and take lots of pictures of moments that make me smile.  I make notes and stick them on my ‘fridge.  Song lyrics that cheered me, quotes I’ve read, whatever, so I can see them over and over again and remember that it’s not all bad.  And when that isn’t enough I plug my ears with noise cancelling headphones and crank up some really good music and maybe sit and cry for a bit.  Defuse any way you can, and do not for one minute feel guilty about it.

There have been other scientific studies that prove creative people are often plagued with depression or depressive thoughts because we emote more.  I guess that’s a clinical way to say we FEEL MORE.  I suppose that’s true.  The question is, what do you plan to do about it?  I suggest owning it.  Accept the feelings.  Try not to keep things bottled up.  As cliché as it sounds, writing down your thoughts does help.  I don’t keep a journal or anything; I’m far too undisciplined for that.  But, I do rant on my personal blog and write quite a bit for myself.  Give it a try…it can’t hurt.

In the meantime, try to remain present.  By that I mean try not to let the past become the only reference point for your well-being.  Hang on to happy memories with a white-knuckle grip, but don’t obsess if the current situation pales in comparison.  I often have to give myself a mental shake when I begin to slide into those “I wish Christmas was like it was when I was five” feelings.  That is pointless.  All you have is here and now.  MAN, I AM GIVING AWAY CLICHES TWO FOR ONE TODAY!!!  Lucky you…



Cake stencils?  That's a real thing?

Okay, I’m done.  Grab 2014 by the--ahem--bells and run with it.  There is a fresh, New Year out there waiting for us.  Let’s do something SPECTACULAR with it, shall we?  See you next year….

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.

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!! 

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?