Thursday, October 27, 2011

Holiday Shopping

Just finished a large assortment of monogram necklaces using vintage typewriters keys.  I will present these at the Sacramento Arts Festival next weekend.   I have been creating alot of smaller pieces to sell over the holidays.  I miss bead embroidery as I have not had much time to devote to this activity.  I will beging making a few holiday ornaments for the gallery and then start on some larger embroidered projects.  I am anxious to dive into something new.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Beadpunk

Working on Beadpunk or rather steampunk with beading embellsihment.  I like "Geisha Gal"..turned out very nice.  I love the odd shapes of  various watch parts.   I am busy working on 6 pieces at the time.  There are many stages...lots of time waitng for glue to dry, cleaning the many. many, very small vintage watch parts... so I find it best to work on several projects at once.  Anyhow, thought I'd share my Geisha Gal as she is a good representation of my direction with Steam Punk jewelry

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Variations on Steampunk Jewelry

I've busy working on new work for my featured artist show at the gallery this July.  I am trying something totally new..steampunk and found objects jewelry.  I did alot of searching but have been able to find some fantastic old watches(which I am taking apart), keys, stamps and more,  My new works is a u-turn from my usual bead embroidered pieces.  I love the challenge of trying to get all these components to work together. I am also finally getting to work on some new techniques which I have put on hold since joining the gallery.  Often I feel very restricted on what I can show at the collaborative gallery as I have been juried in for beadwork;  this prevents me from exhibiting other jewelry types at the gallery. 

On top of being featured artist, I have committed to showing two new pieces at the Folsom B of A gallery in July.  Needless to say the next month will be busy and house cleaning will be put on hold(what else is new!).
I am enjoying all the newly found creatiity this Steampunk project has brought on.  My mind is racing with new ideas...i could really use more time!  Looking forward to some chill time in mid July

Anyhow, I need to get busy cleaning those watch parts!  I have a few photos t post but the quality is poor.  I usually Take my photos in diffused sunlight but it has been so gloomy and dark that I had little sunlight to light up my work.

Monday, May 9, 2011

It's been way too long!

I cannot believe how busy I have been with "other" things!  I feel pulled in many different directions these days.  I am attempting to produce as much new work as I can for the El Dorado Hills Spring Artist Tour...May 21st and 22nd and then also for my Featured Artist Show at the Artist Collaborative Gallery this July.  Unfortunately, my work takes time...alot of time.  I am exploring new bracelets and am posting photos I took of 2 newer designs.  One of the photos is of a  blue button bracelet which I've made a duplicate.  The second bracelet will be embellished with crystal and pearls.  The fringe bracelet is really cool and fun to wear.  All those beads give the bracelet a hefty weight.  The toggles on both these bracelets were very time consuming....tension on the beads has to be just right or the toggle will be soft but if you get it right the toggles are beautiful, strong structures.

Yesterday I received some beautiful, soft leather I had ordered.  Black and brown for some men's cuff designs(women also) and a lovely matte gold leather to make a beaded collar with...can't wait!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Dragonfly Symbolism

Often I use Dragonfly cabochons in my work  Many of us are intrigued by the dragonfly which is a member of the Odonatu Family.  Odonatu comes from the Greek word for teeth.  The drafonfly and other Odonatu do not have teeth but do have incerdibly powerful jaws used to crush their prey. 

Dragonflies symbolize maturity and depth of character.  When show hovering over water they represent going betond the surface, looking into the deeper inplications and aspects of life.  It's agility presents a sense of power and poise that comes with age.  The iridescence of the dragonfly is associated with self realization through removal of self doubt.The dragon fly lives a short life, only a few months.  This reminds us to live for the moment, live life to it's fullest and live your life without regret.  Love those dragonflies!

I have only completed twe pieces this year...soooo busy with other responsibilities.  The first necklace I finished is a longer (25"-26") piece with a beaded blue/purple dragon cabochon on a spiral rope of Swarovski amythest AB crystals and blue grey pearls..very nice piece.  The second is earthy.  I used distressed green leather.It is a bead emroidered medallion.  The center stone is Peruvian Opal and the smaller stones are turqouise...all toped with shimmery gold pearl.  I used a teal leather cord to hold the medallion.  I am moving towards earthy.  The holidays are over.  Time to put away the bling and start making "everyday wear" .  I have plans for "dude wear"  just need to get it made before my ideas slip away.

I am participating in a studio tour this may and really need to get moving.Time to go.  Toodles!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Getting Technical Here!

Today I posted a backround photo for my blog   A few minor difficulties but I like the look okay  I changed the template so my bog title would stand out upon the detail of my beading.  The detail is from a bead embroiderd  collar I made last year.  It is now being wore by a lovely southern belle, somewhere in Georgia....sold at the gallery : )  When I made this collar I was rushed.  I made it to place in a gallery show which previewed art for a studio tour.  It came out quite nice and I plan to make at least 2 more this spring(God help me !).  The collar was laborious taking easily 25+ hours to make...Ahhhh what would I do without MUSIC!...and my dogs, who faithfully sat by my side the entire time I worked on this piece!  

Anyhow, today I give myself a pat on the back for getting my blog heading to look so fancy!
 Nitey Nite All!

Friday, January 7, 2011

Today is the first day of the rest of my life...as a blogger!

I have finally taken the first step into the online abyss.  Yes..to me the internet worls is an abyss.  I am an artist and I have been creating jewelry for 9 or 10 years.  The past 2 or 3 years I have focused on bead embroifered jewelry and off loom beading techniques.  I am currently a member of the Artist Collaborative Gallery in Old Sac California.  Actually, I am the newly elected president of this collaborative.  How I got to be president...........I am not surprised as I always seem to be saving the ship!  What I see in my involvement with the gallery is that alot of artists never push themselves out of their comfort zones and when we start that attempt to sell out work we become even more restricted..because we want to sell our work.  We want to sell our work and buy more stuff to make more stuff and thus we artists never really become rich until we are dead..lol!  But it is all in good fun and self discovery.

Like many other artists, I'm sure, I go to bed every nite extremely spent and as soon as my head hit the pillow my mind starts to swimming in creative thoughts.  I have such a strong urge to push myself farther with my jewelry pieces.  I am totally in love with crystals!  Shiny, colorful iridescent little gems they are! I want to mix theses gems with rough metals and soft, supple leather...........interpetations of life...water, mountains life....that is how I see these materials.  I am so intense about thing, aren't I !  Hmm, mustn't take myself too seriously as them the fun will disolve.

I have 2 wonderful kids and a fantastic husband.  My life revolves around theirs.  This blog shall be a diary of my art and whatever else passes my day.  I have no idea how to blog...post photos, add links. change the format. etc.  So today I begin my adventures in blogging.....along with new attempt in more sculpural beading and continued advancement in bead embroidery.  This should be fun.  Wish much success!