More Diana Necklaces

Busy with the Diana Necklace- I made it for a good friend of mine, Becky Britain Hicks the Mothering Coach, with the colors in mind for her. I need to repeat it two more times, once for Etsy, once more for Sei Bella. 

This week my small pillows also came in for my idea to put all of my bracelets on them at SB- I had them made by another awesome etsy seller who makes pillows. I'm so excited about these little guys. I think they need a little more fiberfill in them, and I think the black velvet ones they sell on line are 3" x 3", however I had mine made in 3"x 4". If I had them made again, I might have them made a little larger, but maybe the additional fiberfill will make a huge difference. Still, they are great as is, and such beautiful colors. Additionally, I didn't have to go buy any fabric as Peggy was able to make them from her scraps of fabrics. 

Additionally, I broke down and ordered a tumbler. Alex gave me his best 'we are poor' look. I said it was all going to work out. This will surely take care of the block I currently have with finishing off my earrings. I now have a little community of ear wires that I was hand sanding and polishing and a separate community of earring dangles, and hoops ready to go on ear wires. Using the tumbler is almost essential to polish the ear wires, and in some cases the dangles and hoops if they are sterling. I really can't believe I waited this long. Hello, Dura-Bull. 

New Things

It's spring. I haven't written in quite some time. I am thinking about writing a new blog, about biking and a club I have started, and thought I should try to look back on this one, and perhaps start this one again. I like the name of my blog, I like art, and there is a lot to comment on if only I had the time.

I had to really re-fresh my memory on where I was in that last blog entry. Whoa... I decided to take a painting class? Holy hell, that was just plain crazy. What was I thinking? Lots of things have happened since then, and that seems like a lifetime ago.

Here's what happened: I never finished the Van Eyck painting. If I remember correctly, my second son Andreas got sick (not seriously, it just threw me off a couple of weeks), and I started making more Jewelry and decided that taking a class with my family and work life was just too much. I decided I really like my life without school. And, I already have my M.F.A. I also have thought many times in the past year, that you cannot ever go back in time, although you may want to, and re-create your past. This is impossible. I was still at Fontbonne, yet the feelings, the people, the experiences were all changed. I had clearly moved on.

I believe everything happens for a reason, and the good part was that I met Christina, who started working with me on jewelry and though she is really too busy with finishing her Masters Degree, she worked with me for a while and it was wonderful having her in the studio- she is a welcome, lighthearted and very creative person. I hope that she can come back in the summer.

Since then, I have been creating jewelry, jewelry, and more jewelry. My friends Salon/Boutique has not opened up, she has had a lot of road blocks, but actually- it will be opening soon. About mid-year to fall I got on etsy and really feel that I have learned a lot by putting my things on there. It's been good for me, and also addictive. I've started selling things there, and also selling things at my local yoga studio: Janes House of Well Being. This has kept me very busy and I've found that making jewelry is fun, and less serious than the painting I was doing, or painting in general. It is something I can handle a bit easier with my family obligations. There is a lot more to do in terms of  interactions with people, and the business of art. I have my regular painting class on Wednesdays for people to come to my studio and paint, however, in the last year or so I've had a good number of people come and join me for jewelry making or group jewelry making sessions. Creating jewelry with others has been enjoyable, although I will have to admit I have trouble reconciling that I am doing this (jewelry making and designing) rather than painting. And, this is the primary reason why I haven't jotted a thing down since early last year.

 I'll try to post some pics of just the jewelry as it has progressed in the last year as those dates are all on the pictures. Anything you see previous to this post will be inserted according to the picture date, and I may write a few things about the pieces now, in retrospect as I know the pictures will refresh my memory as I go through them.

I've come to realize that this new path is only a side path (with many positive points) in the grand scheme of my artistic life.

April 2 2013- Indo-Pacific

For this very long bohemian necklace I braided three 2mm (this is super-tiny) suede for extra strength - and placed small glass turquoise indonesian beads along the length of the braided part. The braided area is knotted, then the three long strands flow up on each side to a sterling lobster clasp. 

Hand formed sterling silver ear wires with a handmade pin which has a spiral at the end to hold the bead which is a stone called chrysoprase. I saw wire work like this from an artisan there when we went to La Isla Mujeres for a vacation get away in February. The spiral is quite tricky to make. I attached a round jump ring that holds the Indonesian beads that I am crazy about this week. 

Chrysoprase is said to be a problem clarifier. It brings unconscious thoughts to the surface and allows insights into personal problems. It gives an acceptance of oneself and others and encourages forgiveness and compassion.
Chrysoprase is also believed to draw out inner talents and stimulate creativity while it's gentle vibrations are used to aid sleep and relaxation and to reduce nightmares.