Creative Life - Week 22

I've gone and gotten behind again...

Once again, i have been quite busy. I was in Charlotte/Greensboro again last week - i made it to one of the rock shops in Greensboro and got some really cool, unusual stuff. I can't wait to make something really wow with these pyrite roses i picked up. And the owner was super cool and full of knowledge and it was just all around a great experience.

I went to this great local place in Gastonia that was an old theater while in NC- Webb's Custom Kitchen. The food was SOOOO GOOOD.. :) 

I taught my fold formed bracelet class this past Saturday and we had a great time. It was one person's first time and she took to it beautifully- her bracelets turned out pretty amazing (see below).

And i've been working on adding some more display space to the shop. I've gotten in a lot of new stuff and i will be bringing in beads soon since the bead shop that used to be just down the street has moved to midtown (i think).

I made a couple of things recently too - including this lovely set for a very dear friend. 

Creative Life 2016 - Week 19

I missed weeks 17 and 18. and by missed, I don't mean to say I wasn't making- thankfully this time. I just missed posting. And sure i could go back date a post, but that kind of feels like cheating.. so I'll just say that I made some awesome stuff last week (because I did- I made three epic bracelets as a custom order for someone) and I traveled last week (to Greensboro NC) and the week before that I was just pretty overwhelmed.

I went to an amazing Full Moon sacred woman's circle on the 22nd- it was epic- and it actually coincided with the full moon in Scorpio. I got some guidance from the experience and it gave me the nudge to start working on it. The Navigating Negativity group meeting the following Monday (25th) drove the point home even more. I have to let go of the habit of comparing myself to everyone else- as an artist, as a friend, as a person. I constantly berate myself because so-and-so is a better metalsmith than me, so why do I bother? Or this person is better at putting their words to paper or that person is more energetic. I have to stop tearing myself down. It doesn't help me, and it doesn't help the people thatI'mm supposed to be helping. Because i really do feel like my path in life is to help people, to teach people, to be kind to people and protect those without voices. (and to help/protect critters and nature)

So i spent week 17 working on that- and i guess technically, it's still part of my Creative Life journey- not everything i do, everything i achieve, has to have a physical result to show off.

I created my samples for my class coming up in June at the MBG- I'm going to teach folks how to make spiculums and stuff! it's pretty neat to take a flat piece of metal and have some pod, flower, weird things at the end of a few minutes of hammering. (the lotus took more than a few minutes...) i can't wait to add enamel to this stuff.. whole new level awesome.

Creative Life 2016 - Week 14 part 2

I went to the 1st Whet Thursday of 2016 yesterday down at the Metal Museum, and the weather was just amazing.  The sunset gave us a great show too, with the clouds turning this luscious shade of purple right before the sun slipped below the horizon. With the giant oaks and the deep history, combined with my obvious passion about metal, the Metal Museum grounds are one of my 'grounding places'. While there, i browsed the Inches from the Earth exhibit and got some encouragement to keep on with the direction i'm going, and i fell in love with a David Huang small vessel. 

In that vein, i have some new work for the Art Walk on the 16th!  :) If i sell enough, i'm going to go and get that vessel. I just have to decide where to put it. The bottom picture has a couple of designs i'm revisiting- the bar necklace is a chunkier version of one i've been making. The two fold formed pieces are variations on a theme and are a bit smaller than some of my previous (non circle) pieces. the bracelet is a vintage copper blank enameled in the torch and swirled with a rake while hot. i'm super pleased with the colors and the swirls and am looking forward to making more of these. I just have to suck it up and get over the idea that i *will* use up the focal pieces i have and that's ok. :) I also made several pairs of the torch enameled beaded earrings and did those up in silver and copper. 

 

Creative Life - Week 5 & 6

It's been a busy year. At least on the "Main Stream Job" front. i have been trying to be the artist also, but time has been scarce. I am proud to say i completed my piece for the Halstead Kinetic Challenge and went to the opening of the Collaborations show at MJCC that i am a part of (along with a slew of talented Tennessee artists)

I haven't been able to keep up with my blog because nothing wants to post from the mobile app anymore- something broke on the last update, which is just silly since i have a google phone and this is a google app...I had week 5 written and ready to go last week, but anyways- it's about the spirit of the blog more than the letter of the posts.

i have been treading water (in life) mostly- work is busy, creativity scant, weather weird. I keep pushing on because i know the life i want is within reach. I sourced some neat old silverware from the early 1900's for my next project- i'm going to make molds of parts of them and use them in other pieces- there's too much of a historian in me to cut them up and use them. i picked up two lovely floral pieces from an antique store in Galveston- they'll have a fun story at least. :) And i'll have some great samples to show off at my Mold Making for Metal Clay class that is happening March 12th at the Memphis Botanic Gardens. :)

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 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 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 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 30 part 2

I've gotten all the pieces finished for the show save for a little final finishing and I'm pretty stoked about it. All the pieces are fold formed or air chased so they are a nice cohesive collection. I found an excellent display case for the jewelry and I prepared the wall pieces for gallery hanging. This is my first gallery show so I'm nervous about how the work will present and flow with the other artists' pieces.

a few of the pieces

The opening is August 7th from 5 to 7 at the Centennial Art Center in Nashville and the show runs until September 25th. Unfortunately I won't be at the closing reception because that is Repair Days at the metal museum. It's also the TN craft fall show in Centennial park (Nashville) so if you're going to be in the area, you should go to both. They're free and there will be plenty of awesome art and lots of cool people.

 

Weekly Challenge- Weeks 27 and 28

Week 27 was crazy- I went of out town for work on about 2 hours notice and spent about 22 hours 'in transit' due to various reasons and didn't get back until Thursday. I got to go to Minneapolis for more than a layover though, and i have to say Minnesota is gorgeous! (last time i was passing through it was December and everything was covered in white- hard to really tell what a place looks like when it's 10 feet deep in snow)

But i got caught up and have some great work to show off- i'm really digging the sculpture stuff i've been doing lately, and it's fun to work a design out in the 'wall scale' and then see how to miniaturize it for jewelry. I've got all my pieces pretty much ready for the show in Nashville next month and i have to say, i'm SUPER stoked about it. (and a little nervous-- pricing is so hard... )

part of one of my wall pieces

And i've decided that i'm going to do a small travel trailer instead of a VW bus for my mobile studio... it was hard-- OMG so HARD to let go of that dream of a completely mobile and self contained studio. Especially after i completely fell in love with that 1st high top bus i found in Cali. BUT... after looking at the Acorns and seeing how much more room i would have for equipment and me, and looking at the reliability issues that VW buses have (even well restored ones) both andy and i would feel more comfortable about me gallivanting across the country in a reliable car (hopefully a new car with warranty) with a small trailer behind. I'll be updating my gofundme with the new information as soon as i have something more solid.

Weekly challenge- Week 25

this week's piece came together very quickly and exactly like i had hoped (very close to the sketch i made on Monday). I bravely assembled a 3 inch by 3 inch sheet of 24 gauge sterling silver, 18 inches of 12 gauge sterling square wire, fine silver bezel wire, 26 gauge sheet, a Wild Horse Canyon agate cab and a dark aqua larimar cab into a statement neck piece.

The forming of the metal was finished in one 3-4 hour session and it would have been completely finished in less than an hour more except my perfectionism kicked in and i tried to 'fix' something that no one would have ever noticed and made another 4 and a half hours of work for myself, cleaning up the damage i did. Check out the progress pictures below with the finished piece down at the very bottom.. I'm wearing it today to try to make adjustments to the neck wire for comfort. I think the wire will need to be trimmed a bit as the ends overlap now that i've put bends in it for the collar bones.  It is very comfortable so far - the air chased piece is extremely light (but super strong) and the 12 gauge square is a very comfortable size, especially since i took some 500 grit sandpaper and rounded the edges a just little.

The finished piece.. now to decide if i will oxidize or not.. 

Weekly Challenge- Week 6.75

I tried out some new techniques this weekend while i was supposed to be making stock for my upcoming show. i needed the creative boost of trying something new, because while i love making spinner rings, and stacking rings, and antique button pendants and fold formed earrings, i can get a little stagnant with my designs and my execution without a little injection from something different... so i played with some larger scale (wall jewelry size) air chasing and some enameling techniques that i had set aside many years ago and never quite gotten back around to exploring further.

No finished work yet, but here are the preview pics. :)

air chased copper with wood, art glass and paper. still working on the layout.

  

Graphite on enamel. 2 layers of opaque enamel were laid down and fired, then stoned smooth so i could draw on it. Then i doodled :) this is before firing.

 this is after firing. :) 

Weekly jewelry - week 4

I can show it now as it was auctioned off last night for the Memphis Botanic Gardens' Incognito event.

Wall jewelry!

Journal in copper and brass #1- fold formed copper, hardwood, woven copper, brass and fibers.