Maine Craft Weekend

It's Columbus Day weekend--the real sign that the summer season is coming to an end. This year, I'm participating in the statewide Maine Craft Weekend. My home studio in Damariscotta is open both Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Contact me for more information. I'll be working away in the studio, so stop on by and see what's new.

Welcome September!

September is here and again, where did the time go?! You might wonder how I can lose time, but if you know anything about living in Maine, you realize that nearly everything for the year happens in a short three month period. And...so much has been going on in my personal life (which I will share at a later time). Thankfully creating my jewelry has kept me focused and happy.

Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival was last weekend and it was a great show. Thank you to all who came and made it a huge success! Here's a happy lady with a new cuff:

Next up, I'll be at the 44th Annual Peters Valley School of Craft Fine Craft Fair, September 27 & 28 at the Sussex Country Fairgrounds in Augusta, New Jersey. Hope to see you there.

Upcoming Show--Lincoln Arts Festival Opens

Please join me at the Lincoln Arts Festival "Arts and Yachts" Show where I'll be exhibiting my jewelry! Opening Thursday night 5-7 and regular hours Friday-Sunday, 10:00-6:00. I'll be available and on hand for most of the show. Hope to see you there!

Summer is Flying!

I can't believe how quickly the time is flying. I've been busy with shows and am off to the Samoset Resort in Rockport, Maine this weekend for the first annual invitational craft show. I hope to see you there.

An Amazing Weekend with Linda Kindler-Priest

In the doldrums of this long and cold winter, I received a mailing from one of my favorite small metal schools--Metalwerx. It was annoucing their upcoming summer series called "Summer with the Masters" and I started perusing and dreaming of summer. I was thrilled to see that a favorite jeweler of mine--Linda Kindler-Priest--was teaching a class on the ancient art of repoussage. Normally I wouldn't consider taking time off in the summer, but this was an amazing opportunity and I jumped at it. It seemed so far away!

The summer weekend came quickly. And I packed up my car and headed south. Wow!!! I loved every minute. Linda taught us the technique--the basics--and now it's up to me to take that knowledge and practice. Hammering metal for 3 days was incredible and exhausting. Here's what I learned:

Structure--we hammered pyramids into the copper as an exercise.

Motion--swirls and curly-cues.

And lastly, our realistic project--I chose a dogwood flower. It was suggested to make our project on the simpler side--not many petals, and/or profile view.

Still needs some refinement, but coming along--tap, tap, tap.

What I've been up to--finishing commissions

I started into the winter with a number of jewelry projects to be designed and then created. Slowly, I've been ticking away at the list and here are photos of some of the finished projects.

This pendant was made with vintage jade buttons that were carved and suggested butterfly wings. the client and I came up with a butterfly inspired pendant set upon reticulated silver and baubles--touches of 18k gold.

Reticulated silver earrings with 4mm diamonds that are tube set in fine silver. The lower disc swings on the Inspired by a pair the client purchased a couple years ago and wears every day.

This cuff was inspired by one in inventory but added several little diamonds that were from the client's own ring--she didn't wear it anymore and thought let's use them in something else. 

This ring is 18k gold and silver with carnelian and lapis lazuli stones. The colors were chosen to correspond to an antique Navajo bracelet.

A lot more work is coming out of the studio. Will write again soon!

May -- Where Has It Gone?!

I can't believe that the month of May is winding down--already! Where did it go? I've been crazily working on inventory and commissions and getting work out to my retail shops to start the 2014 summer season here in Maine.

This year you can find my jewelry in a few new places including Bangor and Damariscotta, Maine. In Bangor, stop by Blue Heron to see some of my classic flower and reticulated silver designs.

Next up, my delivery to CRAFT in Rocklacd. Barbara is open for the season, so be sure to stop in and say hi! We've stocked the shop up with a nice mix of necklaces, earrings, bracelets, and rings.

New this year is a consignment to Off to the Cottage/Seawicks in Damariscotta. This shop features all beach cottage furniture and accessories, including their wonderful hand made candles. I focused on some beach inspired jewelry for them--fish, pearls, and coral.

Casual Interiors in Boothbay Harbor is once again featuring my jewelry. We feature a mix of pearls, silver and gold work for Carol.

I'll be changing things in and out of the shops on a regular schedule through the season. Hope you visit!

Rings--silver, stones, and more!

I've been working on a lot of rings lately--rings with funky and unusual stones and settings. Sometimes the stone does all the talking. Like this fire agate:

Simply brushed sterling silver shelf around the stone accentuates the cloudy edges and then the pop of the orange y-brown fire and the iridescent green--gorgeous stone!

And who can resist a large turquoise with black spider-webbing?! Oxidized to set off the large silver hammered balls. Everything is over sized and makes a statement in this ring. 

I am highly inspired by Native American and Mexican silversmiths from days of yore and can truly appreciate their skill and craftsmanship. I feel I struck a real Modernist look with this next ring.

It's a large round red agate cabochon that's bezeled in fine silver and off set in the larger circle. The outer edge is heavy square wire that frames the design. The inside is oxidized to set apart the areas of the ring.

Because I often don't repeat ideas or thoughts (sometimes on purpose, sometimes not), I thought I'd use some of the same design elements in another ring, but boy does it have a completely different look and feel.

A 6mm faceted blue topaz gemstone is tube set in the center of a silver bauble field. The background is oxidized to give depth and texture, while the outer square wire creates the same frame as above. I think it's pretty cool!

So many other things are on the bench, including some commissions that I'm finishing up. Lot's more to come!

Happy Easter!

A lovely sunny day to celebrate Easter with family. And happy pansies to help spring along.

And after a road trip to the annual gem and mineral show--this is what I call Easter candy!

Yummy, juicy colors of kyanite, opal, druzy, and jasper stones. They will soon meet with silver and gold and make their way into some new jewelry creations--I'm thinking some gorgeous rings! I can't wait to get back in the studio!

Silver Flowers in All Sizes

It's April and time is flying! I'm starting to get a little nervous about my inventory as I've been slowly updating things at my retail locations. So, I focused on some basics this weekend and set out to create new silver flower earrings--all sizes and styles.  This is what I came up with:

I love the various sizes and finishes, hydrangea inspired and daisy inspired. A pretty good bunch with a few more pairs ready to go on the bench. Can't wait to get them all together.

Rings -- Back at it!

Rings -- they've been a calling. It's been a while since I wrote and I've been mostly processing and struggling through the days in the studio. While I've been working and creating through it all, finally I feel I have broken through the void and back toward inspiration.

I started with a visit to one of my local wholesale accounts to check in and see if there was anything in particular she might want for the upcoming season. We chatted and caught up and I saw what was left for my stock (only a few things--yeah!) and got feedback for what people reacted to. I felt awakened and alive again and ready to jump in creating--starting with rings. Rings of all sizes and shapes, but with a focus on interesting stone centerpieces.

Here's where I started:

This is a square mahogany obsidian stone set in fine silver. The rest of the ring is sterling silver and the face is oxidized. I love it!

Next up:

a soft triangle dalmatian jasper stone also set in fine silver. The ring is sterling silver with shiny balled dots of silver around the face. I thought about oxidizing it like the first, but have kept it polished so far.

Saturday I picked out a large oval fossilized dinosaur bone stone and a Norwegian emerald pearl stone to work with. Both are unique and offer completely different looks.

The dinosaur bone (pictured in the left ring) is a substantially sized stone, so I added larger, flattened balls to help balance the scale. The shiny finish offsets the reddish brown textured surface--very cool.

The Norwegian emerald pearl ring on the right has balls and circle embellishments. I've cut through the circles and I like the way the negative space shows through. It's an idea worth exploring further. I chose to partially oxidize the face, but have cleaned away a lot of it to offset the accents.

Four new rings--all different, but work as a nice grouping. Not bad for a weekend's work! Hope to keep the momentum going!

Pearls for Chris

It's February! Already! While I've been trying to settle in to the new year with happy thoughts and dreams, it hasn't been even close to that. My dear friend Chris lost her 4-year long fight against ovarian cancer. She's no longer suffering and I'm thankful for that, but I miss her terribly! There wasn't a day that went by without a check in text or email. It's been tough! I'm distracted and depressed and the gray weather certainly doesn't help. Chris was my partner in crime when it came to sewing projects and always a great sounding board for new jewelry designs--she was a jewelry maker too. Her most favorite jewelry accessory being pearls. We had that in common--I've never met a pearl I didn't love. So as I wander through these days of gray and loss, I'm trying to figure out a way to honor Chris and our friendship, knowing every time I design with pearls, she's there with me.

January Rings

It's more then a week into the new year and lots going on!  In weather news, we've been -6 degrees with a foot of blowing snow, now we're 47 degrees with pouring rain--very unsettling.  I spotted and rescued a kitty who was homeless and starving during the storm.  I'm now weighing the idea of introducing her to the others.  I've worked in the studio and am ticking things off the to-do list, as well as trying to create new designs for inventory.  Here's a sampling of what's going on.

This is a commission piece with a 4mm rhodolite garnet gemstone and silver and 18k gold balls.

I thought I'd continue making a few rings and this one is still in process.  I've placed a little 3mm ruby in the setting, but am not sure if I will choose a different stone.  What do you think?

And then I thought to do a simple all silver version. 

So much more to do--getting back to work!
 

A New Year

A new year -- a new beginning.  So it goes, out with the old and in with the new or rather out with the sad and bad and in with the happy and healthy!  I find myself reflecting on the past--personally and professionally, (only to assess what worked and what didn't), and eagerly looking forward to the possibilities that lie ahead.  Positivity and happiness, love and fun...along with a lot of hard work.  I hear my studio calling me to create and I'm just about ready to jump in with both feet.  Just a little more paperwork to get out of the way and away I go!  New designs, new inspirations, new writings.  And even a new website is in the works!  I hope you will join me as I delve deeper into my craft, while (hopefully) maintaining a balanced life. 

Here's to a wonderful 2014!