Birthday Sale One Day Only 25% Off

On July 8th I will be turning 25! That seems like a milestone age for me...not sure why. Anyway, I decided to have a ONE DAY ONLY sale to celebrate my birthday!! One week from today, everything in my shop will be 25% off that day only. Don't worry, I will be listing lots of new items from now until then, so there will be lots to choose from! ALSO, I got a studio assistantship at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts this summer, so I will be in Tennessee from July10-August9. This means my shop will be closing down for that entire month and I will most likely be delivering all of my inventory to my local retailer.

Moral of the story: Get it while you can!

Thanks!

Pine

A couple of weekends ago I went to my husbands family's cabin in Pine, AZ. My favorite thing to do in Pine is go to all the little antique shops. It's so fun! We passed this road while exploring the town....how cool would it be to live on Anvil Rd?!I scored a bunch of old blacksmith tools for practically nothing!The hammers just needed a little refinishing and they were good as new! Two of them were even handmade hammers which is totally awesome.

I also got this little note holder which I hung in my studio for to do lists. I like it! Hopefully we will get to go back to the cabin sometime this summer before school starts again!

Work for Portrait Show

Just mailed these pieces off to the Portrait Show at Shaw Gallery. (I don't have access to a nice camera this summer so these pictures are the best I have.)

Other Artists in the show include,
Margaux Lange
Robert Ebendorf
Tom Mann
Susan Hoge
If you are in or near Northeast Harbor, Maine on July 9th, head on over to the opening reception from 5-7, or be sure to check out the show, it runs until July 22nd. Dean's Gone Fishin'
Necklace
Sterling Silver, Ebony, Paint
(lazer engraved photo of my dad as a child)
Bowtie (Brooch)
Sterling silver, ebony, paint
(lazer engraved photo of my dad as a child)Moms Wrinkles
Brooch
Sterling Silver, Ebony, Paint
(lazer engraved photo of my mom laughing)

Eye Ring

Sterling Silver, Ebony, Paint

(lazer engraved photo of my eye)

Mementos (brooches)

sterling silver, brass

I hate Buffing.

I really do.

Today, I turned this really pretty chain:

Into this deformed mess of scrap metal:

I was buffing it and it got caught in the wheel. The chain whipped around, shattered the light bulb, sliced open my hand and yeah...got totally mangled. Poo. That means this piece will not be making it to the Portrait show at Shaw Gallery.:( Stay tuned for the pieces that did survive:)

New Photos

A couple of weeks ago I applied for the MJSA (Manufacturing Jewelers and Suppliers of America) Scholarship. Part of the application was to submit photographs of your jewelry on a model. I have never had to submit photos like that before, so I didn't have any. Luckily I have a very talented friend who is an amazing photographer. Janalee Acereto took these gorgeous shots of my jewelry and I am soooo happy with how they turned out! (see more photos here) The model is my other friend Breanne Johnson...isn't she beautiful?!

Cross your fingers that I get the scholarship!

Many thanks go out to Jana for the photos and Breanne for being such a beautiful model! Im lucky to have friends who are willing to help me so last minute with my crazy requests:)

Earrings Galore

My friend Jill was able to go to the opening for the Earrings show at Heidi Lowe Gallery in Rehoboth, Delaware this weekend. She took some pictures, and I loved how Heidi set up the show so much that I wanted to share with you. What a fantastic way to display earrings!!! And thanks to Jill for the photos!

Resurrect: Opening Reception

On Friday night I went to the opening reception for the Resurrect:Art of the Reclaimed Object show at Mesa Art Center. The opening was well attended and the show was laid out beautifully (as always). I love Mesa Art Center, they have the most gorgeous space, everyone that works/volunteers there is wonderful and they always have awesome shows!

Here are some views of the gallery:This was the piece I had in the show:

Lock for a Lost Love

Found silver platter, copper, glass, embroidery, pearls, hair

12"x12"x2"These are some of the pieces from the show that I really liked:This one above I thought was really funny.

Cindy Imhoff

Place of Magic

Collage on TileTom Shields

Family

Found furnitureFrancesca Vitali had 3 pieces of jewelry that were really cool to see in person, check out photos of her work by clicking on her name.

Also the work of Marlene True.

St. Elise

Tin, Steel, Enamel Paint

Denise Laws

My New Panties Series

Wallpaper, hoop, mixed media

Lilyana Bekic

Life is Splendid (Bustle)

Splenda Wrappers, cotton, plasticMargaret Whiting

Deforestation

Law Books The Sergei Isupov show Androgyny was still up, and his work is amazing in person! The textures and shading are so unbelievable!
This is one of his pieces (above).Here are some shots of the art center...it really is a beautiful place!

They had a live band playing which was really fun.

The Fragmented Landscape public art pieces by Ned Kahn.

The Mesa Art Center Store. Be sure to stop in if you go to the show, I have jewelry for sale there!

Laser Engraved Ebony: New Series

Currently working on a new series of laser engraved ebony pieces for jewelry. These are the first completed pieces in the new series. I took some pictures as I made them so you can see the process. I forgot to take pictures of the actual laser engraving so I will do that next time.After I engrave the ebony I rolled some wire out flat to frame the piece with some scroll work.This is after the pieces of wire have been shaped.Soldered to the bezel.Set into the bezel.Now rolling some jump rings for the chain.Connecting the links.Links shaped and connected ready for soldering. Soldering each link closed (takes FOREVER!)
Waaalaaa! The final products. Stay tuned for lots more of this, I've got lots of ideas brewing and will be asking for reader participation in this series really soon.

Phoenix New Times

My piece for the Resurrect show made it into the Phoenix New Times this week! Read the full article here. It doesn't mention me, but I got a nice half page photo in which is awesome!

Don't forget about the opening tomorrow night at Mesa Art Center from 7-10!

Resurrect: Art of the Reclaimed Object

I almost forgot! This Friday, June 12th from 7-10pm is the opening for a show I have work in!Resurrect: Art of the Reclaimed Object

The exhibition is at Mesa Art Center, feel free to drop by the opening and say hello!

The show runs: June 12 – August 9, 2009

"Resurrect is a national juried exhibition that focuses on art created from found objects, materials or items initially designed for another purpose but fashioned into works of art. The "reclaimed object" serves either as the main focus or as an embellishing feature that is visually present in the work. This exhibition showcases 55 artworks in nontraditional mediums by 51 artists from 18 states."

Artists include:

Christine Alaniz (Sinking Spring, PA)

James White and Joe Milosevich (Crest Hill, IL)

Lynette Andreasen (Mesa, AZ)

Nancy Arthur-McGehee (Sandiego, CA)

Lilyana Bekic (San Diego, CA)

Elyse Pignolet and Sandow Birk (Long Beach, CA)

Jen Blazina (Philadelphia, PA)

Carol Cole (Bala Cynwyd, PA)

Kat Cole (Salem, AL)

Allison Cooke Brown (Yarmouth, ME)

June Corley (Loachapoka, AL)

Emily Dvorin (Kentfield, CA)

Irene Embrey (Anacortes, WA)

Elissa Farrow-Savos (Sterling, VA)

Gayle Friedman (Washington, DC)

Rodgell Helm (Tempe, AZ)

Cindy Imhoff (San Francisco, CA)

Soyeon Kim (Urbana, IL)

Stan Klimek (Aquila, AZ)

Roberta Lavadour (Pendleton, OR)

Denise Laws (San Francisco, CA)

Zeke Leonard (Providence, RI)

Scott Lizama (Gilbert, AZ)

Mary Ann Lomonaco (Larchmont, NY)

Joetta Maue (Brooklyn, NY)

Barbara McLaughlin (Tucson, AZ)

Timothy McMahon (Brooklyn, NY)

Libby and Jim Mijanovich (Marshall, NC)

Justen Morgan (Tempe, AZ)

Joe Muench (Ames, IA)

Armin Mühsam (Maryville, MO)

Rik Nelson (Liberty Lake, WA)

Sue Norton-Scott (Chandler, AZ)

Jacki Orr (Phoenix, AZ)

Laura Prieto-Velasco (Oak Park, IL)

Kiki Revoir (Anguin, CA)

Carol Russell (Prescott, AZ)

Jeffrey Scanlan (New Orleans, LA)

Tom Shields (New Bedford, MA)

Anne Straus (Wyoming, OH)

David Terpening (Charlotte, NC)

Ruth Terrill (La Honda, AZ)

James Thurman (State College, PA)

Marlene True (Sandy Hook, VA)

Francesca Vitali (Rochester, NY)

Margaret Whiting (Waterloo, IA)

Ira Wiesenfeld (Tucson, AZ)

Peggy Wyman (Macomb, MO)

The guest juror for Resurrect was Claire Schneider, Senior Curator of Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, Scottsdale, Arizona.

Black and White

Working some lazer engraving into my jewelry. These are some in progress experiments...lazer engraved ebony (and white paint). Hopefully something will come of this that I can use for the portrait show at Shaw Gallery next month! Especially since ebony is $130.00 per board foot. Thats almost like buying silver. Craziness!!!

More photos of this in my flickr stream.

Portrait/Self Portrait Show at Shaw Gallery

This week I am finishing up my work for the Portrait/Self Portrait show at Shaw Gallery. These brooches will go to the show along with some new work. Here is the postcard, my image made the cover (or at least I think its the cover!)

Other Artists in the show include,

Margaux Lange

Robert Ebendorf

Tom Mann

Susan Hoge

If you are in or near Northeast Harbor, Maine on July 9th, head on over to the opening reception from 5-7, or be sure to check out the show, it runs until July 22nd.

New Earrings

Something I have wanted to do for a really long time is create a production line of my embroidered jewelry. I think I am finally off to a good start! The earrings below are pieces I created for the Earrings show at Heidi Lowe Gallery.

The show runs from June 9th-September 12th. If you are in Delaware make sure to attend the opening on June 13th (and take pictures for me!) My next step is to expand on this series, make some necklaces, rings, pendants and brooches and submit my portfolio to some galleries (which I still have never done and has been one of my goals for a very long time now.) Wish me luck and if you have any feedback on the new production work, it would be very welcome as it is very new for me!

1. silver long with turquoise embroidery 3, 2. copper long and orange embroidery 3, 3. silver long with turquoise embroidery 4, 4. silver long with red embroidery 3, 5. silver long with red embroidery 2, 6. copper long and orange embroidery 1, 7. brass long with turquoise embroidery 2, 8. silver scalloped teardrops with red embroidery 3, 9. brass and turquoise dangles 1, 10. brass and pink embroidered earrings 2, 11. copper and green embroidered earrings 1, 12. brass and turquoise embroidered earrings 2

Final Snag Post

Day 4 of SNAG began with the panel Revolution/Evolution moderated by Helen Williams Drutt English, with Marianne Aav, Fritz Falk, Liesbeth den Besten. When I read the program and it called this event a "panel" I assumed it would be a discussion. It was not. Each of the speakers gave a lengthy description and historical overview of jewelry in the last 50 years...but only really up until the mid 1970's. It wasn't at all what I thought it would be, or what it could have been. I guess I was a little disappointed with this one.

Albert Paley gave a talk on his work that afternoon which was awesome. His talk was refreshing, inspiring and honestly motivating. He talked about his evolution from goldsmith to blacksmith, to making monumental sculpture and public art. It was nice to hear from someone who has been hugely successful but is still very involved in the field and has a passion for the making. I really loved hearing him speak. I also really liked seeing his sketches. Made me realize how far I have to go in that department (as well as in many other areas!!) Great talk!

The last event I attended was the Education Dialogue. I wish I had been able to stay for the whole thing but I had to catch my flight back home and only stayed for the first hour. Unfortunately the first hour was pretty much spent arguing over the definition of Craft and where metals fit in the academic world...in a crafts dept. or a fine arts dept. Not as productive of a discussion as it could have been. Maybe it was better after I left.

Overall, SNAG was an AWESOME experience. I met many people but not as many people as I wanted to. I was shy and didn't introduce myself to people I wanted to meet. That was dumb. Next year I will be smart and get some guts. I feel like I got tons out of the experience and definitely plan on going back. I may not agree with some of what is said, may not agree with the politics, and I may not like some of the speakers, but I think you get out of it what you want to. I went in with no expectations and had a genuinely wonderful time. I saw lots of great art, met lots of great people, ate lots of great food and had tons of fun. Thanks for a great time SNAG. Ill be back next year.

SNAG Conference in Philly: Part 3

On day 3 of the SNAG conference, Neri Oxman started the day off with her lecture, "Craft by Ecology." Although mostly over my head, her talk was captivating, energetic, and really really interesting. She discussed the differences of design in nature and the man made world. She talked about how we as humans design by separating environmental concerns from structural and functional concerns. Nature has no such distinctions. She gave the example of an egg and how when squished vertically, the egg won't break, but when squished horizontally the egg cracks immediately. This is because a hen needs to be able to sit on the egg, but when the chick needs to hatch it breaks through the side of the egg. She talked about how she has been researching how to design by letting the materials dictate the form of the object. By programming complex algorithms into the computer, she lets whatever materials she is using control the form of the object she is creating. The chair above is one of her more recent pieces.

Neri Oxmans talk was very interesting and even though not directly applicable to metalsmithing (or at least the way I work) it was definitely worth attending.

Camille Paglia spoke next on "Art and Sex." I opted not to attend this lecture and instead went to the Fabric Workshop. It was an awesome space with work by tons of my favorite artists, but my favorite piece was a 52 foot felt whale (inflatable inside) made by Tristin Lowe. Thanks to sokref1's flickr stream for the photos. The Fabric Workshop was definitely worth the trip!!! It was awesome! That afternoon was Myra Mimlitsch-Gray's talk, "Anti/Icono/Clastic". Myra showed images and talked about her work, focusing on her recent residency at the Kohler Center. There was so much of her work that I had never seen and it was sooo great to hear her thoughtful explanations behind the pieces. Here are some images from her flickr stream:

That night was the Gallery Night tour, which was tied with the Jewelry in Motion show for my favorite part of the conference. There were sooo many shows to see, we didn't even get to see half of them, but we saw SO much work!! Among my favs were Wexler gallery and Philadelphia Art Alliance.

Stay tuned for one more post (Day 4) and my post conference thoughts.