Digitizing

It is so exhausting trying to keep up with all of these digital interfaces! I finally just joined

Handmade Contemporary Jewellery (my profile here)

Twitter (my page here)

and

Crafthaus (my profile here).

These are great networking sites for artists and I am excited to be a part of their communities!

If you are a member of either, stop by and say hello!

Childhood Pieces

Here are some in progress shots of some new pieces I've been working on. These are a big jump for me...much more playful and fun than a lot of my other work, which tends to read as a lot more serious. These are about the games of childhood, the little things we do, the games we play that shape us into who we become. It is during our childhood that we learn to dream...learn to create. I'm still working on these, but I think its a fun new direction for my work to take. I like that the pieces are becoming a lot more narrative...not so static. I am going to add back plates to these, shadows of some sort, but Im not sure what material I want to use yet, or what I want them to be. I have toyed with lazer engraved wood backgrounds, different fabrics, and etched metal, but at this point I have no idea how to finish them. The platter on top has come a bit farther now than it appears here, it is a scene of two children playing cowboys and indians.The photograph that inspired this piece is a picture of my dad with a toy gun, in 1958.

This one is called, "Little Brother's Superhero Dreams."

The photo that inspired this piece, my little brother at age 4 or 5...playing dressup. Its amazing the things we could do with that red scrap of fabric on our backs.

Hopefully I will finish these pieces soon...right now I am sort of stumped...if you have any brilliant ideas, please feel free to share!

Visiting Artist: Megan Auman

Ever since I applied to grad school at Towson University and had a chance to speak with Megan Auman, I thought it would be really cool to have the chance to learn from her. This year at ASU, I decided to try and bring her in as a visiting artist and as luck would have it the stars alligned and she is able to come! I'm really excited about this event and the opportunity to learn from her! Megan will be doing a sort of professional development workshop with the students here and we are super excited about what she will be sharing with us. I am sure I will have an update for you after the event!

"ASU Metals is pleased to announce Megan Auman as a visiting artist. Megan will be giving a public lecture

on Thursday, April 30th, at 7pm in the art building, room 246.

All are welcome to attend.

There will also be a

professional development workshop emphasizing on marketing and smart business skills for the working artist,

on Friday May 1st from 10-3. Location Stauffer Building, room A237.

This event is free and open to the public."

This Weekend: Yemenite Filigree

This weekend I am heading down to Tucson for a Yemenite Filigree Workshop by Yehuda Tassa. I am super excited!
I promise a full report upon my return (or sometime within the next month:). The end of the semester is wrapping up quickly and I am behind on just about everything, which means less time for blogging:)

"Follow Your Own Course"

If you are in Tucson this weekend, you should definetly attend the:

Kristen & Dustin Yoder Memorial Family Orienteering Day

This Saturday, April 18, 2009, from 7:00am - 11:00am at Agua Caliente Elementary School, 11420 E Limberlost.

Kristen and Dustin Yoder were two great young people that I grew up with, from kindergarten all the way through high school. They passed away very tragically in 2006, and their family is holding an event that is described in detail below. At the event there will be a raffle, and I have donated this piece of jewelry...

Please attend this wonderful event if you can, it is for a very good cause. Also, enter the raffle to help raise money! "The proceeds from this event will go to the Yoder Memorial Tanque Verde District scholarship fund. Dustin and Kristen Yoder were exemplary students in our school district and shared a passion for outdoor adventure. They grew up hiking and backpacking in the Southwest and spent much of their free time rock and ice climbing. Both attended Emily Gray Junior High, Sabino High School, and Northern Arizona University where they enthusiastically shared their experiences and outdoor adventures with people of all ages, leading wilderness trips, teaching outdoor skills, and educating about the environment. The brother and sister were skilled mountain climbers who traveled all over the world to do what they loved best. On June 27, 2006 Dustin and Kristen were killed in a tragic mountain climbing accident in Peru. The Yoder children's family and friends have established this foundation in their memory to provide financial assitance to children and young adults for outdoor leadership education focusing on developing life skills and leadership ability through outdoor activites.

WHAT IS ORIENTEERING?It is a type of competition at which participants use a map and compass to navigate their way on a set course from point to point as quickly as possible. In other words, it's like a timed "treasure hunt", lots of fun, and all are welcome. Please visit their website: http://www.yoderfoundation.org/

Philly: Here I come! SNAG!

Looks like I will be attending SNAG this year! It will be my first time at the conference and I am so excited! I applied for a travel grant through school and was awarded $818.00. With that travel grant and the money I earned from the sale in my etsy shop I have enough to go! YAY! Thanks for all your help.

Let me know if you are going to SNAG, I am so excited to meet everyone!

Heirlooms of the Future: SOFA NY

Just in case you are planning on attending SOFA NY this week, I will have some work exhibiting with Mobilia Gallery for their show, "Heirlooms of the Future."

Please be sure to stop by their booth (#411) and say hello for me!

All Done. Finally.

It was fun to make a piece of jewelry again....I've been working on wall pieces for so long now. I like how this piece turned out, but it doesn't work exactly like I thought it would in my mind. Next time I make something like this I will put it together a bit differently. Live and learn...and then move on!

sterling silver, 14K gold, pearls, embroidery, garnets

Guess What is Almost Done....!!!

Sooooooooooooooo close I can feel it:) Its a good feeling after working on something sooooooo long!!!

As soon as I finish I am cleaning the bench!!!

SALE for SNAG

www.asymmetry.etsy.com

This year I really want to go to the SNAG conference in Philadelphia. I looked at all the costs and figured it would cost me about $1200 to go. I don't have $1200 (or anything close to that!) I applied for a scholarship through school with hopes of getting partial funding, but I still need to come up with several hundred dollars on my own (if I even get the scholarship!).

This is where YOU come in.

I have just marked down EVERYTHING in my shop...some items as much as $75.00 off. I am having a BIG SALE in my etsy shop to try and earn money to go to SNAG! So, if you are in need of some new bling, want to buy gifts for friends, or just want to live vicariously through me and go to the SNAG conference, head on over to my etsy shop and help a girl out! I plan on adding new items all this month that will also be marked at a discounted rate. So, keep checking for new jewels! Woo Hoo!!

Lots of Firsts

Right now I am working on a necklace that is supposed to be going to SOFA NY. Seeing as SOFA is next week, I better get it DONE asap! I have been working my tail end off trying to get this thing done and it is just taking forever! This is probably the most substantial piece of jewelry I have ever made. I've already spent over $300 on materials, and many many hours working on it. I've had lots of problems in the process...some with design and some technical.

The original design (above) started looking way too much like a concho belt...so I had to change that in a hurry! The gallery that is taking it wanted it to look like these necklaces that I made a few months ago, but with the pendants as links all the way around. So, when it is done there will be a pearl in the center of each link and embroidery all the way around each of the scalloped ovals. I really hope it turns out how I picture it in my mind...

Also with this necklace I am having lots of firsts...

-First time ever using the micro torch.
-First time ever bezel setting stones this small (5x7mm).

-First time ever soldering anything this small!

-First time ever using links this big all the way around.

There are more firsts, but you get the idea.

Anyway, I'll post a picture of it when it is done, but for now, wish me luck so I can finish it fast!!