Weekly Challenge- Week 52

Monday i was sitting at the studio feeling utterly lost creatively. i needed to do something to break me out of my downward spiral so i decided to melt my scrap silver down. well.. it was a bit more than i thought it was once i got it melting, so i did some water casting. 

the results were pretty inspiring. :) so i made some new jewelry. three pairs of post earrings, two rings and a pendant. A pretty solid foundation for a new collection, if i do say so myself. :) 

Being a maker - 2015 wrap up

"Be truthful, one would say, and the result is bound to be amazingly interesting."
-Virginia Woolf "A Room of One's Own"

I have struggled with what is has meant to me to be an artist/maker and have an artistic voice my entire adult life. I have never felt like the 'artist' label fit me. I didn't think i was making things to make a statement (i later discovered that even when i thought i wasn't saying anything, i was) and i didn't feel like i had the skill level to call myself anything more than a dabbler. It was much easier when i was a child and the 'artist' label didn't have all the societal baggage that it does, although, even when i was little i knew that growing up to be an artist wasn't something i should aspire towards. It was somehow lesser. And i am still working through the mine field of self-worth, cultural worth, and 'productive member of society' definition that comes with all that- this post is about part of that journey.

For many years, i was afraid to make the things in saw in my mind and doodled in my books. They were weird, different, technically difficult or nonsense to wear. Even after being obsessed with haute couture for quite some time, i never thought that *i* could get away with making something like that. I struggled in my art classes at college because i always scaled it back, made it useful/wearable/relatable/normal/safe. I didn't have these grand 'meanings' behind my work. I didn't explore like many of my class mates. I kept things small, rigid and for a while, lacking in any artistic life.

Looking at my photography portfolio, the further i progressed in my studies, the worse my photos got. And looking back, that is because i wasn't being honest in my work. I was taking the photos i thought i should take, or the teacher thought i should take- not the ones i wanted to take. I was learning metal smithing techniques at this time as well, but the supplies and tools were pricey, and i was mostly self taught, so i was also playing it small and safe and trying to make things i thought would sell, instead of things i thought were awesome. I look back on my first jewelry piece that i made 'just because' with a mix of embarrassment and pride. Pride that i finally did something just because and embarrassment because it took so long and it was so bad. lol.

This year, thanks to the years of support from a very patient and encouraging partner combined with the influence of a very wonderful and dear artist friend, i have started pretty much exclusively making what i *want* to make- marketability be damned. :) And i was surprised at the overwhelming positive response from people purchasing my jewelry. There was a truth to my work- no artsy fartsy philosophical stuff (that i could never get into when i was in school, which also made me feel like a fraudulent artist), just me, the metal and the tools making something that captures a moment- whether that's how i felt about the song on the iPod, the weather or just me enjoying a new hammer.

I've also started selling my 'experiment' pieces, and they've been flying off to new homes. Previously, they would have been tucked away in a drawer or in a box, forgotten as i refined a technique, looked for better tools to do said technique, or set it aside as a failure for not 'being perfect'. I think people respond well to the lack of perfection. I'm not a goldsmith making shiny, traditional rings with a mirror finish and diamonds. I'm an art jeweler- making fun, funky and statement pieces from copper, silver, gemstones, pebbles, driftwood, rusted bits and vintage stuff. my perfection is found in the imperfection and individuality.

Now- that doesn't give me license to be sloppy, but it also means that i should not be spending 2 hours hand polishing a $20 pair of copper earrings to absolute perfection. Because then, they're not perfect anymore- they look manufactured and overworked and that's a huge turn-off.

I am looking forward to 2016 as the year i really come into my own. I have a cohesive line of jewelry and art now- when it's all spread out at a show, it flows. My displays, my work, me.. we are all in harmony. I'm also looking forward to getting back into photography. I pulled out my old portfolio and actually sold two pieces this month to someone who really wanted them. I'm going to be setting up the dark room and adding traditional B&W photos to my offerings- i haven't decided if i'm going to create a separate Etsy shop or just add them in for now. I'd like to work on incorporating some of the photos into reliquary style jewelry and into my larger wall pieces- i'm working on some ideas- look for in-progress blog posts next year. :)

Weekly challenge - Weeks 49-51

I haven't made any new art that i could share over the last couple of weeks because it's all been stuff for gifts- either commissions or gifts i'm giving.

I did go to the MTGMS gem show back on the 13th and picked up some neat stuff i can share though! (the sting of peacock beads are from Flamey Amy- not the gem show, but they came in the day i was taking the photo so i thought i'd include them in the new loot)

I picked up a lot of rutilated quartz at this show- something about it kept calling me and i purchased pieces from three different vendors. I got some neat fossils too- sand dollars and horse teeth.

The smaller cabs (from the left to right over the peacock beads) will be ones i'll have available for my stonesetting class in January at the MBG. This will be a fun class- students will have a choice of making a ring or pendant and we'll set a cab and a faceted stone.

I keep feeling like i have so much to say about this year- about how i grew as an artist and as a business woman this year.. but i don't know how to start. With Week 52 being on the horizon, and me actually keeping up with this very well this year, all things considered, i feel like i need to sit down with my fancy pottery mug of tea and write some words of wisdom, hope and summation, but i just can't get that first sentence out. Maybe i'll be better next week and can give 2015 the artistic send off it needs... and deserves.

Weekly Challenge- Week 48

I had my last show of the season this past weekend. It was the Brooks Holiday Artist Market and it was great. :) I made friends with some artists, bought some beautiful work, and received a lot of positive feedback from customers. All in all, it was a very successful, albeit busy, fall show season. I'm thankful for the break, but already planning for the spring. The fine silver gingko leaves were popular this year- I'm looking forward to collecting some more and making another statement piece - I didn't get any good photos of the one I made, but it was three small leaves, cascading on fine chain from a hammered sterling circle. I really liked how it turned out. I was also experimenting with a new very black patina on silver that is highly polished. It looks almost like hematite when it's finished. I think it's pretty slick and it looked great on one of the gingko leaves and the little stacking rings. I have a long list of things to work on for the spring shows.

I made myself a ring as a reward. I used a freeform piece of 96 layer copper and fine silver mokume gane that I made and set it into a lovely statement ring.

Mokume Gane (wood grain) set in sterling and fine silver ring- Private collection

Weekly Challenge catch-up - Weeks 46 and 47

I promise I was working the last two weeks! (the dark circles under my eyes from the late nights at the Studio corroborate my story!)

My last show of the season is this weekend at the Brooks Museum and honestly, I'm thrilled. I have a pile of commissions to work on before Christmas and then I can take a break for a couple of weeks before I have to get back to it for classes and spring shows. If I sound like I'm complaining, trust me, I'm not, I just need to make myself a working time turner and maybe make a clone or two of myself! Lots of work is a good problem to have and it is one of the things that I made sure to be thankful for this past holiday.

I'm working out my schedule for classes next year with the Botanic Garden and the Metal Museum. I'm very excited to have opportunities at both locations and am thrilled about the added reach I'll have to get other people addicted to... I mean interested in, metal working!

I've been busy making fresh new things and a few classics. My artistic ADD doesn't allow me to do too many of the same thing without being uncomfortable and a bit whiney. :) But I think I have a good system down for pseudo-production line work that isn't all the same. It can be difficult to create a body of work that is cohesive yet varied enough to be engaging. I am finding that just changing the pattern or the accent stone isn't' enough to keep me feeling like I'm growing and moving, so I have to push myself a bit more. A dear and respected friend said I needed to go a bit further with my work- to not play it safe and to be a little less of a perfectionist. so I'm trying to get a little more dimensional. I'm adding some dapped and swaged shapes to my standard designs and I'm finding they bridge the gap nicely between my fold formed pieces and my air chased pieces. they're not quite ready for the spot light, but watch for them to be showcased in Week 48 as I'll be debuting them at the show this weekend :)

New earrings made for the upcoming show

A shot of my booth at the Crafts & Drafts show on 11/14

Living the artistic life

Last night I had the pleasure of seeing the work of an artist that I truly admire displayed at the Dixon gallery and gardens. 

Martha kelly is an inspiration, not just as an artist, but she is also an amazing person that embraces life. I have to say I'm a little envious of the amazing life she has, but I am so happy for her that she has it, and it gives me something to aspire towards.

There is a print (tbh several) that I want of hers that makes me tear up just looking at it. Not sure why, but it's a good tear up- like so happy I can't hold it in.

If you want to look at places in Memphis in a whole new light and see some art that will take your breath away, make time to go see Martha's show and the American impressionists show- both at the Dixon through January. 

If you want to be reminded on the regular that life is as wonderful as you make it, and point of view makes all the difference,  click on this link to view and subscribe to Martha's blog.

Weekly Challenge - week 45

It's hard to believe the year is rapidly coming to a close. I have been trying to create new work for this Saturday's Crafts & Drafts show at Crosstown. Last night's creative haul was pretty good- i took a photo of all the stuff that has been completed this week for debut on Saturday and i like how it is all pretty cohesive. I really have the mixed metals thing going and everything has a sort of down to earth, warm feel that i like. :)

Tonight's goal is to get some more silver work finished. I have like 4 pair of silver earrings, one silver fold formed necklace and a handful of Infinite Love pieces left- everything else sold out at River Arts festival (YAY!)

Weekly challenge - weeks 44 and 45

I have been doing a fair bit of traveling for work these past two weeks- i was in the Carolinas the last week of October, back for halloween (taught a class that day). Then it was off to Houston/Galveston the first part of this week, and i wrapped the week up with Lebanon, TN this past Friday. As such, i have gotten SO LITTLE DONE in the studio.. :(

I have a show this Saturday at Crosstown arts- Crafts and Drafts from 10am-4pm. It's the first year for this show but i'm pretty sure it's going to be great. There will be lots of great local art and fabulous food trucks.

I did get a few things done this week - here's one of the new steampunk love necklaces.

This is what i made tonight!

 This is what i bought at an awesome Bead shop in Charlotte i found while killing time for my flight.

And here are the pieces made in the Air chasing class on Halloween at BMB designs. the big piece at the top was my demo and the small pieces below are all the student work. they did a pretty awesome job!

Weekly challenge - weeks 42 and 43

I can't believe I missed posting for week 42! It is, after all, the answer. Last week was a little busy with the River Arts Fear downtown (had a blast) and this week has started off busy with me being in South Carolina for work. I'll be working on Halloween costumes, getting stock made for my next show (Crafts & Drafts at Crosstown on November 14th), prepping for the Gift Workshop class (Nov 20th) and finalizing my spring schedule of classes at the Metal Museum. Busy times!

Here's some stuff I've made recently.

Weekly Challenge- Week 41

Pink Palace Craft fair was AMAZING!!!! it was so much fun to get to demonstrate, hang with my metalsmith BFF Virginia and interact with people that *loved* our work! I was in the studio each night after the show making new stock to fill in all the stuff we sold. It was a wonderful validation of what i've been doing and i am beyond thrilled.

Here's some of the stuff i made this weekend that went into the booth. My next show is going to be River Arts and i'll be demonstrating in the Artists @ Work tent and my work will be for sale in the Artist Marketplace there where the demonstrations are. I'll be doing some air chasing demos for sure, most likely cuffs and 6x6 wall pieces.

Weekly challenge - Week 40 continued

I had a busy night last night! I got 4 spinner rings completed (smaller sizes both in width and ring size for those of you with dainty fingers!!) and 2 wider ones almost finished. These are all sterling silver (and gold- the bottom one in the pic has rose gold filled and yellow gold filled spinners). I need to get busy on some copper ones too so i'll have plenty for this weekend!

I also made some fancier stacking copper rings- the heavy gauge wire is great for adding texture- i love all these and am going to have to make myself a set when i have some down time (HAHAHAH!!!).

Weekly Challenge - Week 40

Pink Palace Crafts Fair is this weekend and i'm excited and nervous. I don't have nearly as much inventory as i want to have, but i do have some pretty awesome pieces to show off. My air chased/fold formed Tafoni and Eddies lines are really cohesive and look great on display. (and wear quite well :) )

I got some new toys to play with once i have some down time this show season- they're blanking dies!

New toys!

I've had artists block lately- so i took some broken vintage jewelry and re-imagined it into something timeless and wearable. (a truly complete weekly challenge piece!!!)

Weekly Challenge- Week 39 continued

 New earrings... the silver ones are an example of what we'll make in the Gift Workshop class at the Botanic Gardens on the 20th of November. 

 Air chased sterling silver with Boro glass cab pendant. I'm trying to decide if i'm going to make a chain for it or just slap a fancy bail on and go. :)

Overview of the stuff i've been working on.. that large ginkgo leaf is *heavy* - lots of fine silver there. i'm debating on adding some patina to the leaves.. they look a little flat all shiny, if that makes any sense. I'm trying to build up stock of some new awesome stuff for Pink Palace- which is only a week away!!!!

And because kitties make everything better- here's Willow snuggling. :)

Master Metalsmith Linda Threadgill at the Metal Museum

The exhibit is amazing. It's up through December- get yourself there! My photos don't do it justice- the patterning is something that must be seen to truly appreciate. So much gorgeous, intricate texture. the natural forms are stunning. the flow is out of this world. i bought the catalog and i don't often do that. :) the leaf platters' textures are just WOW.. the hammered and the electroformed bits... so very cool. (words fail me i am so impressed by this exhibit- i loved the Eleanor Moty exhibit- this is on par with that one)

Weekly Challenge - Week 39

It's already Wednesday. I spent Saturday delightfully at Repair Days at the Metal Museum, making rings for folks, carving a scratch bowl and watching the iron pour in a light misting rain. . The Master Metalsmith exhibit is stellar and i highly recommend it. (photos here) Sunday, i made a Halloween wreath and i tried my hand at lunar eclipse photography and was doing quite well until the cloud cover thwarted my full eclipse shots. Monday and Tuesday, i was in Galveston for work and spent a little bit walking the beach and collecting shells after i'd finished my work.

My wreath. :)

The beach at Galveston

Weekly Challenge - Week 38

It's been a true challenge to make sure i'm creating weekly- and that's a sad thing in many ways. This is what i love, what i'm passionate about, what, figuratively, gets me out of bed every morning, and yet, i don't get to do it every day.

I'm trying to understand when it became ok, acceptable, lauded even, to go spend your time doing something you're not passionate about day after day for the majority of your life. I've been doing a lot of reading/studying lately and i honestly think religion has something to do with it. Suffer in this life for the bounty of the afterlife- be a cog in the giant machine of society, have your soul crushed day after day, and receive your heavenly reward when you die. People/cultures that don't have afterlife beliefs live much more in the moment- they are an experiential people. I'm trying to find a way to work that zest for the moment into my daily life, which in a society that is more focused on *next* than *now*, is difficult to say the least.

Making doesn't always mean a finished product- or even a 'product' at all. sometimes making is just a sketch, writing in my journal.. sometimes it's just working on an idea in my head and finding solutions.

that being said- i did finish my commission Friday while i was manning the T-Shirt desk at Repair Days and i will be making at the Family Fun tent tomorrow...

Weekly Challenge - Week 37

Here's a photo of my gorgeous Willow cat. she loves to snuggle the blanket. I've been sick this week, so there's been lots of kitty snuggle time. While the cuddle time and down time is needed, Cooper Young is tomorrow, so i've needed studio time this week, that i sadly have not gotten. I will not stress about it though- i'll have what i have for sale at the show and anything that's not ready or labeled or whatever will be available at Pink Palace next month and it will be fine. :) 

Here's an in-process photo of the air chased sterling silver and boro glass pendant i've been working on. it's almost finished now, but i haven't taken another photo yet. i love air chasing! It's so organic and interesting and i love learning how to make the metal do what i picture in my head.

Weekly Challenge - Week 36

Cooper young festival is quickly approaching and i've been building up stock of my less expensive 'fashion' earrings and making some cute colorful stretch bracelets for kids, teens and raver chicks. :)

To combat all that 'assembly line' making, i had to do some artsy fartsy making, so i made these pieces. The necklace is asymmetrical and can be worn in a few different ways. the long earrings have some lovely kyanite ovals at the bottom. I've also been working on my super secret commission project and having a lot of fun with the challenges presented by it. I feel i am really growing as a maker and learning/creating new techniques to get metal to do what i want it to do.

I've got a lot of things going on this fall - especially demonstrations. i have to figure out the best way to make my equipment mobile for these events... time to get the focus back on the MMWS! :)

Weekly challenge - week 35 part 2

Here's what i finished up Wednesday at Open Studio. i think the smaller air chased pieces will be pendants, the two fold formed pieces are sealed with jewelers lacquer to protect their lovely patinas and the cuff at the bottom has been formed into shape and will have a blue patina added to the recesses and a dark brown patina on the rest (fingers crossed it look like it does in my head)

I've got to buckle down and get making! Cooper young is in 2 weeks, then i have Pink Palace 3 weeks after that, and my inventory is low. I need to get all these UFOs off my bench!

I'm going to do a UFO lock-in at the Studio once the weather gets less than desirable (no point in being inside for 24 hours during the lovely fall weather that is soon coming) where you'll pay a fee to reserve your spot at the table for 12 or 24 hours, meals will be provided (you bring your own wine or beer) and we'll have contests for who completes the most UFOs, most unusual way to complete a UFO, etc (UFO for those that don't know are UnFinished Objects-- pieces of whatever medium that have not made it to the completed state for whatever reason) I think it will be a lot of fun, a great way for people to learn some new techniques, get some input from others and get some work completed!

Weekly Challenge - Week 35

Welcome September! Bring on the fall weather- the warm, bright days with the sun a little lower in the sky as i complete my morning commute, and the crisp evenings that require a light sweater or an artsy scarf (like the one i made this past Sunday at the Scarf-in-A-Day workshop i took from the Memphis Guild of Hand Weavers)

My lovely scarf hand woven on a table loom 

I've been working on a special order for several weeks and i finally created the perfect pieces. I thought i had finished them last week- i did final polish, took photos and everything.. but i sat down last night and completely re-did them and i have to say, i'm impressed with myself. :) i like to think that my (re)new(ed), positive (no complaining) POV has something to do with the creative breakthru.. as well as spending a day doing something creatively different.

There are times when i just want to make something completely useless but beautiful- i often find myself making things that are 'useful' or 'wearable'. and i put those in quotes because they're subjective terms- wearable to some people would be unbearable to others and then again some people really do delight in the art wearing them...

usefulness is one of those things i find myself struggling with constantly-- we have 2 sets of flatware- one is a lovely set of stainless steel that andy and i picked out together and it's our 'daily' use set. The second one is my grandmother's sterling silver set. it is beautiful and glowing and i try to use it on the regular, but i find myself pulling out the steel more than the silver because i don't want to 'mess up' the silver. However, as it sits in the drawer, unused, it becomes tarnished. regular use keeps it glowing and silver. How do i toe the line, as an artist, of creating unique and beautiful works that are useful- that are sturdy enough for daily use, should the owner wish to do that? I don't want to make things that just sit in a china cabinet and never know the touch of the family that owns them, never bears witness to special events, or even daily events... and this is the quandary of being a somewhat grounded person that learned making as a way to provide useful things, repair things and upgrade existing things rather than going the fine art route.

Weaving the scarf felt very familiar to my hands- self-sufficiency is something that i ponder often. If i lived in a tree house in the woods, would i be able to provide myself with all the things i need to survive? what would my life look like if i lived off the land as much as possible? How would being a metal smith fit into that life? (i can see it now- off the grid, growing my own food, living in a tree house and getting regular deliveries from Rio Grande! LOL!)

I still have a dream of a little artist commune where we create art and the things we need for day-to-day living... i joke that i'll do it when i win the lottery (gotta remember to buy a ticket), but i find myself turning more and more towards that as a goal for normal, real life..

Weekly Challenge - Week 34

I have sort of been making this week- not all visual art, but still creating through my writing, doing things at home, even a little cooking. I finished the ginkgo leaves that i picked at Bhan Thai (one didn't make it, but it's ok, such is the fragility of nature) and some of the peperomia leaves from my beautiful plants at home (that are doing so well now that they are out of reach of the kittens!) and they just need to be polished and have some patina applied and they will be ready for sale. I have another project going on too but I can't share it at this time. I finally had a breakthrough on something that I'd been stuck on, and that is a huge relief. 

I have several shows and events coming up this fall- it's going to be my busiest fall season yet and i am more than a little thrilled. My first even it right around the corner on September 19th- I'll be at Cooper Young festival with Happy Thread Creations. I'll be doing silver rings at Family Fun day down at the Metal Museum's repair days on September 26th. Then I will be at Pink Palace in the demo tent again with Virginia Fisher. Just a couple of weeks later, I'll be doing demonstrations at River Arts Fest. Then I have a small break and will be at my first Crosstown show, Crafts & Drafts. :) I have a lot on my plate but I think it's the good kind of busy. 

I have been nesting some at home- the cooler weather in the evenings and mornings tells me my favorite season is near, and i have already begun celebrating that with some french press coffee, a book and a new cozy blanket. I sat down Sunday and read a book from cover to cover in one sitting- i haven't done that in forever. It felt good to feed my brain and to have 4 kitties snuggled around me, taking turns buzzing in my ear to let me know that they have missed our quality cuddle time as well.

I've been trying to be more thoughtful about my interactions with others- what kind of influence i am having, what i am 'leaving in my wake'... i was reminded recently that not all 'free spirits' are such- many are just free loaders- and i am being mindful to look at not just the words and actions, but the way they combine when deciding if someone is one or the other.


So there's the random musings of an artist for today. :)

weekly challenge - week 33

This week I've been getting ready for my Air Chasing class at the Gardens this weekend and coating some fabulous ginkgo leaves (including one that looks like a butterfly) i got from Bhan Thai last Saturday.

The Air Chasing class at BMB designs last saturday was great fun and a wonderful workout :) the students made some lovely pendants and cuffs (and i was thrilled with my 6x6 V fold sample. 

Weekly Challenge- Week 32

My first (mostly) successful electroformed golden rain tree pod came out of the bath this week and it has some interesting 'quirks' that have pushed me to work out some better processes and seek out different supplies (me and Midas Copper conductive paint are NOT friends). the hole is from where i got a little aggressive burning the organic material out before enameling, but i think it will still look awesome when enameled. :)

Weekly Challenge - week 31

Somehow i lost or failed to take a photo of the work i completed last week, so look at this adorable kitten in the mean time. :) It fits in the palm of my hand and loves to snuggle (and will be needing a home soon!!! If you're looking for an adorable new addition to your family, please let me know.)

Here's one of my wall pieces on display next to the amazing calming clay and wood work of Jonathan Griffith and the technically impressive pulp paintings of Chery Cratty.