Texture

Elizabeth Garvin

Julia Turner

I really enjoy these scratched textures. Elizabeth Garvin's pendant is silver and Julia Turner's is made of wood and painted. I like that there is a similar feel to the two pieces but they are made of different materials.

Janice Ho Jewelry

I love this piece of jewelry by Janice Ho, it reminds me of the movie, A Series of Unfortunate Events. Right now I'm going through all my website links I've saved as favorites. It's so much fun to rediscover great art! On the right side of my blog is a list of my favorite artistic websites, enjoy and be inspired!

Sarah Graham

These Sarah Graham rings are just gorgeous. I especially love the one on the right, how the black metal is set almost as though it were a stone!

FOBOTS

One of our new Exhibitors at the BMAC Show makes these fantastic FOBOTS, they are robots made of found objects. The artists says, "Fobots are not toys, they are not functional, and they will not go on a rampage while you sleep." That sentence made me laugh, I love this Fobot, he's so cute! I wish they'd rampage a little then maybe he'd follow me home!

Wild Materials

Back while I was still in college at Towson University I was working on my Honors Thesis Project and my friend from The Broken Plate Pendant Company suggested I use magnet dust and mix it with paint in one of my pieces of jewelry. I needed parts to be interchangeable and stick together. I thought it was a great idea and tried it, sadly it did not work out the way I needed it to but I still think it's really great idea.
Picture above: This paint contains iron powder, making it magnetic. Several companies, including Kling Magnetics, Inc., and Krylon, make magnetic paint.

Women in Art

President Obama signed his first bill into law on Thursday, approving equal-pay legislation that he said would “send a clear message that making our economy work means making sure it works for everybody.” Somehow this video of Women in Art and this new bill were connected in my mind.

Great Stones!

I don't know what kind of stones they are but they make me happy! Manoel Bernardes.

Support CERF

CERF is the Craft Emergency Relief Fund, a wonderful organization that strengthens and sustains the careers of craft artists across the United States. Many of you know I work as the Jewelry Manager for the Buyers Market of American Craft Show. CERF has helped several of my artists. One artist had her house and studio burn down in the California wild fires and CERF worked with us to donate a free booth to her. I cannot say enough wonderful things about this organization.
I just purchased the Sandra Enterline "Safety Net" Charm for 2008 (pictured above). The money goes to help CERF and the charm will remind me to help others and to be grateful for what I have. If you can't afford the charm just do something nice for someone today. Hold open a door and smile!

I'm in love!

Can I please have a house with a pool on my finger? Pretty Please? Philppe Tournaire

Organizing!

I've been busy organizing and downsizing the 'things' in my life. I have too much stuff! And I've come to the conclusion that I need to stop saving magazines. I've been subscribing to Metalsmith Magazine for years and I'm embarrassed to admit I've never sat down to read one cover to cover. Honestly I've barely read any of them. Don't get me wrong, I do love the magazine but I also have too much happening in my life!
While still in college I did start a habit cutting up magazines and saving images I liked. I have two big boxes of images from doing this over the years. Then when I need inspiration I can dump out one of the boxes on the floor and go to town! (I'm happy to not be storing all of those magazines!)
Metalsmith was the one magazine I saved from getting cut up, but guess what it's getting sliced! I plan reading articles as I go through them but I've got over a 100 books on my floor I still need to read cover to cover. (The books are mainly art jewelry or business, I love to learn!)

The picture above is a stack of magazines next to an 18 inch ruler, the magazines reach up to 15 inches!

Shop Makeover: Gallery Go-getter

Go read another of the Etsy articles, Shop Makeover: Gallery Go-getter, written by Andy Cooperman. Andy Cooperman's jewelry is pictured above, I have loved his work for a long time!

Paper Earrings

I love this colorful pair of paper earrings I found on etsy, click on the image to see more of Papermode's creations!

Design Challenge: 30-Minute Earrings

So I missed the deadline for the 30-Minute Earrings book but I thought I'd share my sketches, design and directions with you. (Submissions are due tomorrow and I've never heard of today shipping.) These earrings are for someone with a stretched earlobe (specifically ear hole is stretched from wearing heavy earrings). The sketches above show the front (left) and the side (right). The earring is made of a silver disk and the post is soldered into the middle of the back.

Supplies:
2 20-gauge earring posts and backs
2 silver discs 5/8 inch diameter
4 20-gauge jump rings (small)
2 pieces of 24 or 26 gauge silver for balling and adding crystal
2 crystals or pearl beads

Steps:
1) Drill a small hole in the silver discs close to the edge (make sure your jump rings can fit through)
2) Use a small punch stamp and hammer to put a dot design around the edge of your discs (pictured below)
3) Use doming block and slightly dome discs for depth
4) Take 2 pieces of 24 or 26 gauge wire and use your torch to ball the ends
5) Sandpaper discs (220 grit) for more artistic texture as shown below
6) Solder ear posts on center back of domed discs
7) Add a jump ring through the hold in disc and attach a second jump ring to that (at this step I through them in my tumble vibe to polish for maybe 10 min, before you add the crystal)
8) Use 24 or 26 gauge balled wire and add bead then wire wrap to second jump ring

Here are your finished earrings!

For a slighting easier project skip the dot texture around the edge of the earrings like the ones pictured above.

Great Idea!

I was at a friends house last night and saw on the wall a frame with she and her husbands goals in it! I thought that was a fantastic idea. A great way to keep you goals in mind so you're always striving towards them. I'm going to write up my goals today. Knowing me, the overachieving, anal retentive one, it will be long. But maybe it will help me to focus more on creating great art!

I also keep a long to do list but that's not the same as a goal list.

Black & White Polka Dots

Lately I've been loving

Crazy Polka Dots

They make me Smile!

Acknowledge Yourself and Celebrate

I recently discovered Alyson Stanfield's Art Marketing Action Newsletter and her annual "Acknowledge Yourself and Celebrate" via Danielle Miller's Blog. I constantly feel like I'm not accomplishing anything since I do work a full time job. I'm looking at art jewelry for work all day every day and wish I could make such wonderful things. I need to take into account how much I've really accomplished with such little time.
2008 was a good year!

How did you promote your art and your online presence?I really concentrated on creating an online presence this year...
started my blog
occasional contributing and commenting on other blogs
opened a flickr account
joined crafthaus and linkedin

What technological skills did you learn or improve?
Blogging
Researching skills

How many people did you add to your mailing list?
N/A

Who were the top ten cool or influential people you met?
I don't know where to start, I've met so many people this year through working for the BMAC Show...

Whom did you mentor or help out?
That list is long, I've worked for the Buyers Market of American Craft and almost all I do is mentor jewelry artists. I love helping others with their dreams.

Did you create a new business card, portfolio, or other marketing piece?
I made a new business card with the help of my sister

What medium or skill did you attempt or master?
Drilling a hole through a stone
Drawing/Painting Jewelry (Class at the Walters Art Museum)

What did you try that was completely new?
?

What did you try that was uncomfortable, but helped you grow?
Worked harder at talking to strangers, mainly about the BMAC Show but still a good skill

What worthy cause did you support in some way?
?

What new art events, galleries, and museums did you visit?
Cleveland Institute of Art
Smithsonian Show
BMAC Show
ACC
Philadelphia Museum Show
JCK
Couture
Saul Bell Design Awards Dinner
Many other small art shows

What resources did you discover?
LinkedIn
Art Calendar
Brain Press
Klimt02
National Association of Independent Artists

How did you improve your studio habits?
Not in my studio enough to improve them

What books did you read to help your career? What videos or films were useful?
Craft in America, PBS documentary series
First two seasons of Project Runway
Buyology
Blink
Turning Point
The Art of Jewelry Design
The Little Black Book of Connections
The Little Book of Yes! Attitude
Prospecting
The Power of Wow

What seminars/workshops/lectures did you attend or teach?
Attended Drilling Holes in Stones
Drawing/Rendering Jewelry

How did you enhance your office or studio environment?
Working hard to stay more organized and not let things pile up

What organizations were you involved with?
Metals Guild of MD
SNAG
WJA DC/Baltimore Chapter (Secretary)

What grants/honors/awards did you receive?
N/A

What articles were written about your work?
Blurb in Niche Summer 2008
Blurb in American Style October 2008
Blurb in JQ International Fall 2008

What exhibits, grants, contest, etc. did you submit your art to?
Saul Bell Design Awards
Book Fantastic Plastic
Book 500 Plastic Jewelry
Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts New Student Scholarship
American Made Alliance, Peace and Politics Exhibit
Book Wrap, Stitch, Fold, & Rivet

Where did you save a wad of money?
?

What was the single best thing that happened to your art career in 2008?
Made a fantastic necklace out of plastic and a bicycle reflector for the Peace & Politics Exhibit held in Philadelphia PA in August 2008

Need a pep talk?

If your feeling low today go to Luann Udell's blog for a great pep talk! I wish I had time to write deeper more meaningful thoughts but as I've said several times my full time job drains a lot out of me. Soon I hope to have more time to share my art with you. Now go get that pep talk, thanks Luann!

Yummy

You know I want these, I want these boots so much I didn't even post a link for you to look them up! ; )

Harriete Estel Berman

I love the work of Harriete Estel Berman! Go read her great article on etsy called Shop Makeover!

Wedding Registry

I'm sure I mentioned how much fun it was registering for things! I might go do it just for fun every couple of years. Having that little zappy gun in my hands is wonderful!
I know a few months ago I had two sets of China up here well we've picked an entirely different set. This are Kate Spade Dogwood Point: 'Crafted on fine bone china, beautiful blossoms in a unique kaleidoscope-esque swirl create a stylishly graphic effect for your table.' And they are dishwasher safe!

I also want this Kate Spade Tidbit plates with polka dots!

I'm not really into China but Joe said lots of people in his family want to buy it for us. We also agreed whatever isn't bought to complete the sets we will buy. Since several people mentioned only receiving part of their China which made it kind of useless.

I love how much fun these two types of plates are and that they are black and white. I can change the color scheme of the room and they will continue to match! Maybe they will inspire some jewelry!

NAMTA Foundation Visual Arts Major Scholarship

DEADLINE: Sun, March 01, 2009
NAMTA Foundation Visual Arts Major Scholarship

The NAMTA Foundation is currently accepting scholarship applications for students majoring or planning to major in the field of visual arts for the 2009/2010 academic year. For further information and an application, please visit our website www.namtafoundation.org or contact Leah Siffringer at lsiffringer@namta.org.Contact: Leah Siffringer 704-892 6244
www.namtafoundation.org lsiffringer@namta.org

Wedding Cake Inspiration!

I love the detailed icing beading that goes around this cake.

I've fallen in love with polka dots!

I also prefer the square cake without columns. I think it looks prettiest.

I've been cruising through the Internet and wanted to share with you some of my favorites cakes and what I like about them besides their yumminess!

Lapsus Memoriae: A Slip of the Memory

Here are some picks of the gallery and the pieces I made back in 2005 at my solo art show! The post below is also a piece that was in this show.

My favorite hand held piece!

When I had my solo art show back in 2005 I was to show jewelry. Slowly throughout the year of building a cohesive body of work my jewelry turned into hand held sculpture. I love watching people handle work I've made. Everyone holds it differently, explores the piece in a new way.

This piece is about 4 by 5 inches when opened. It's make of 20 gauge sterling silver sheet that has been etched with an essay I wrote.

Cast Acrylic

I just purchased some cast acrylic rod and cast acrylic sheet! You may recall my Reflection Necklace made out of sheet acrylic/plastic. (pictured below) Most people that see my jewelry know that I mainly work in silver wire. So working with solid acrylic rod and sheet will be a whole new challenge. I hope to push myself...

Nice Necklace!

I love the pattern in this necklace, it was created by Suzan Rezac. Click on the picture to see more of her work. This necklace reminds me of the Reflection Necklace I made with the black plastic. Well done!

On Ice!

It's been cold here in MD, very cold! My parents creek that's about 50 feet across froze over so we went out to play! There were ice waterfalls that were just beautiful!

Animated inanimate objects!

Don't you just love this cute Mad Hatter Bowl Set! Looks like they might run off the table!

Belated Christmas Gifts

I love presents. I mostly love giving them best I work very hard to find the perfect gift for someone! But I can't deny I love receiving them too. Joe gave me a belated present, the book Artistic Luxury!
Peter Carl Fabergé, Louis Comfort Tiffany, René Lalique came together only once to display their goods in what was probably the most opulent exhibition ever mounted: the 1900 exposition Universelle in Paris. This splendidly illustrated catalogue contains photographs of individual exhibits, scenes from the World's fair, and the glitterati who wore the artists' jewelry.
I went to the exhibit at the Cleveland Museum of Art and it was fantastic! It's only open through January 18th so today's the last day!

Wedding Cake Topper

So I don't know exactly where the wedding is going to take place yet. But I have our cake topper! I thought these birds were cute and showed great care for one another in the way they wrapped around each other. I looked at so many cake toppers of a man and a woman that had no emotion on their faces and I hated that. I wanted the cake topper to actually portray how we care for each other. I also love birds!