John Tzelepis

John Tzelepis was my first metals teacher in college (I was in the first class he ever taught). Anyway, he is one of the reasons I fell in love with metals. He also happens to be my boss at Phoenix Art Center, and also just a really good friend. He has finally jumped on the etsy train and opened up a shop.

www.jtjewelry.etsy.com

Check it out to see all his awesome work. He has just started up, so check back often as he is adding new pieces all the time. I already own a bunch of his jewelry but this is going to tempt me into purchasing even more...

Some of my favorites are these:Sterling Silver Earrings

Enamel Ring

Enamel Pendant Large

Also, check out his website to see his other work. You can also find John's work in the Lark Book 500 Necklaces, and in The Art of Jewelry Wood.

Trade: LittleRobot

Last week I traded some jewelry for these awesome prints below by an artist from the United Kingdom, Lindsey of LittleRobot. Her work is just gorgeous. Check out her shop, and her Blog. She is a talented lady. A House is Not a Home
A Cage for Two

These two below are not prints that I traded for, but they are on my list of desires for sure.
An Owl Situation
Nested

Eye Jewelry

I saw this over on Arthur Hash's Blog, so I apologize if this is a repeat for you (I really never want to be one of those people that just blogs about things on other people's blogs), buuuuuut I just had to share. Its that awesome.

Eye Jewelry by Eric Klarenbeek

Letting Go and a Shop Update

I've finally decided to let go and list the rest of my "Animales" pieces in my etsy shop. The pieces were created for this show that I blogged about here.

Check out my shop if you'd like to make one of these pieces yours!

I have also been listing several other items, so check it out! There is lots of cute new jewelry and more to come in the next week!

Weekend at the Cabin

This weekend I took off with my husband and some friends for some peace, relaxation, and cooler weather in the high country. My husbands family has a cute little cabin in Pine, Arizona, which is about 30 minutes from Payson (about 2 hours northeast of Phoenix). Its a great place to go to get away from it all for a couple of days, and this trip was much needed!Isn't the cabin cute? We had fun cooking out and picking fresh berries. One of my favorite things to do in Payson is go to some of the antique shops. We got a big thunderstorm the first day we were there which gave us the perfect excuse to stay indoors and do lots of shopping!

The first day we were there we went exploring to find this place called Ellison Falls. We'd never been there but heard there was a nice swimming hole and wanted to see what it was like.As you can see, it was beautiful. The turquoise color of the water was striking against the background of red rock. I will definetly be going back here. It was a major bonus that it was only about a half mile hike.

The next day we went on a hike to Fossil Springs. It was an 8 mile hike that I wasn't sure I could make. I had very patient people with me:)We had to hike to the bottom of this canyon. Hiking out was the hard part.I started out in the back and was there the whole way. One of the most beautiful things on the hike were these blooming agave plants that just shot out into the sky across the desert. They were gorgeous.Unfortunately the thunderstorm we had the day before made the hike pretty muddy and the water really murky. Usually Fossil Springs has water that is a gorgeous turquoise color. This isn't the spring, just a wash on the way, but I thought the color of the water was really cool because it shows how red the rock is here.
Fossil Springs "seems to appear out of nowhere, gushing 20,000 gallons a minute out of a series of springs at the bottom of a 1,600 foot deep canyon." The water was really clear near each spring, but pretty murky in the rest of the stream because of all the rain. We did a little bit of swimming mostly to cool off before we started the hike back up the canyon.We left to hike out at just the right time. We heard lots of thunder on our way out, and as soon as we approached the parking lot to leave it started to rain. I would never want to get caught in that canyon during a flash flood (which happens fairly often this time of year).
It was the hardest hike I've done in a really long time (if ever) and I am actually really proud of myself. Of course, I can barely move today, but it was really fun and a much needed weekend off. My favorite part was not the hike, but was playing "Take Two" (a version of scrabble) with our friends. It was a great weekend!

Plenty of Work and a Weekend Trip

I spent today drilling holes in a new platter. Not only do I have to drill a million holes, but I then have to go over each one with a ball bur to take off the sharp burs because they tear my embroidery thread when I am sewing. Very time consuming...and I am probably doomed to get carpal tunnel any day now.

This one is going to be a wall piece, and its a self portrait.

I am running off to the high country (and cooler weather) to the family cabin this weekend. I should have plenty of time to get all the embroidery done on this piece. Hopefully I will have it to show you on Monday. I will also have lots of pictures from my adventures this weekend...I am going to a really beautiful place. Have a great weekend everybody!

Ebay Scores

Lately in my work I have been altering found objects such as old silver platters and trays. I found these two items on Ebay today and was lucky (or frivolous) enough to make them mine.

What I am going to do with them is still a mystery. But, you see the potential...right?

The top one is a little pincushion with sterling silver tray base, and this one below is an antique metal frame, but the glass is a convex curve! I am really excited about this one:)

Now, let the brainstorming begin.

My Favorite Poem...

This poem by Richard Burton has been my favorite poem since I was 14. I hope you will like it too. It comes to my mind often. Especially lately.

Oh, and this is me with my little black lambs that I raised with my dad when I was a kid.

Black Sheep

From their folded mates they wander far,
Their ways seem harsh and wild;
They follow the beck of a baleful star,
Their paths are dream-beguiled.

Yet haply they sought but a wider range,
Some loftier mountain-slope,
And little recked of the country strange
Beyond the gates of hope.

And haply a bell with a luring call
Summoned their feet to tread
Midst the cruel rocks, where the deep pitfall
And the lurking snare are spread.

Maybe, in spite of their tameless days
Of outcast liberty,
They're sick at heart for the homely ways
Where their gathered brothers be.

And oft at night, when the plains fall dark
And the hills loom large and dim,
For the Shepherd's voice they mutely hark,
And their souls go out to him.

Meanwhile, "Black sheep! Black sheep!" we cry,
Safe in the inner fold;
And maybe they hear, and wonder why,
And marvel, out in the cold.

-Richard Burton

Trade: Swallowfield

Recently I did a trade with Jen of Swallowfield for this lovely print. She was so nice and her work is just beautiful. I love my new print!

Here are some other prints of hers that I love...

Pollinate

July in Acadia

Pattern Town

Check out more of her work in her Etsy Shop, and her Blog!

Don't Forget

On Thursday I worked at the Night Gallery. In a three hour period we had over 500 people walk through the doors. Last Thursday there were over 900. To me, that is so exciting! Because the gallery is located in a mall (an outdoor mall) you get such a different demographic of people coming through than you would at a gallery located somewhere else. Also, just the sheer number of people coming through is amazing to me.

Don't forget to go and check out the awesome artwork there. I have a piece in the show, and many of my friends do as well. This show will only be up for about 2 more weeks, so check it out!

The gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday from 6-9pm. It is located in Tempe Marketplace right next to Aeropostale. More details Here.

Facebook

Today I created aBusiness Profile Page.

I recently read that facebook has more than 53 million active users, an average of 250,000 new users join every day, about 34% of users work as professionals, sales, executives, educators or are in technical careers, and the fastest growing demographic on Facebook consists of users 25 and older. So, I thought it may be a good way to get my work out there.

Click here to become a fan:) Thanks!

July 8th

Last Tuesday was my 24th Birthday. It was by far, one of the best yet! I started the day out by going to the grocery store and buying about 200 popsicles. Then I took them to the Boys and Girls Club in Guadalupe (where I used to teach art and now just volunteer sometimes) and gave them out to all the kids. Then all 200 something kids sang me happy birthday and gave me sticky fingered hugs. I couldn't have asked for more. It was great!

I spent the rest of the day with friends and family just hanging out and having fun.

I also got some really great gifts that I love!

Scott gave me a dock for my ipod. I love this thing! It is so great! I don't know how I ever survived in the studio without it. It even has a remote, so if an embarassing song comes on that I don't want my studio mates to know I secretly love, I can change it real quick without having to run across the room throwing things out of my path to save myself from the humiliation of everyone knowing I still listen to the Spice Girls. Ok, so I dont actually have the Spice Girls on my ipod, but I don't share the same taste in music as the people I share a studio with so the remote comes in handy. The sound quality is great too. I really do love this thing and have been taking it with me everywhere since I got it.

My little brother gave me the first season of the hilarious show, Flight of the Conchords on DVD. The show is an HBO series (I dont have cable) about two guys from New Zeland that are members of the band Flight of the Conchords. Very dry humor. Check out some clips of the show Here, Here, or Here. Guaranteed laughter convulsions. I promise.
Then I went to the studio (yes, on my birthday) to do some work. I don't really consider it work though...because I love what I do so much. Anyway, my friends there had made me this killer necklace! They sometimes call me The Flame, its my nickname, if you know me then you know why:) Hence, "The Flame tunrs 24." This will adorn my studio wall. Forever. I love you guys!They also collaborated and made me this AWESOME little sculpture. I love it. See the little pearl? Isn't it gorgeous?! I think they should sell these on Etsy! (Its about 4" high.)My friend Kristin gave me a gift card to go to a swanky salon in Scottsdale. I am saving this for a cute back to school haircut! And she took me out for some yummy sushi at Kabuki. It was delicious!My mom gave me a new flat iron that I've been wanting for a while. Sometimes I like to make my BIG hair small...and flat. Thanks mom!
So, another year has passed and now I'm older and wiser. Thanks for being there with me and for making my birthday great!