Dreams Become Reality

I'm always designing in my head.  No matter how busy I am, my thoughts inevitably turn to some sort of creative endeavor.  Sometimes being too busy to actually sit down and create can be a good thing.  This pendant, "Arbor Boy" is a good example.  I'd been imagining this pendant for weeks, going over every detail in my mind, but had no time to actually work on it until yesterday.  When I finally sat down to make it, the design flowed like water!

I created him from a tiny antique porcelain doll head set on an etched/heat treated copper "stage".  A hand made tree grows from his head, and below an antique sterling silver fork acts as roots, holding a French blown glass level.  Copper, brass and pewter gears accent. 

Arbor Boy represents my belief that we must think and live  "green" to restore balance to our planet.

So, don't be too impatient to create your next big idea/design.  Let it live and grow in your imagination for a bit, and the final result may be all the better for it.

Surviving the Streets of St. Augustine

This is an odd post for me, a small departure, but I wanted to share...
 

I am a 45 year old runaway.  Yes, this weekend I ran away from home.  It's a struggle, living on the streets.  The mean streets of St. Augustine.  The constant assault of local live music wafting through the air, tripping over street musicians and performers with tiny dogs dressed as pirates.  The wonderful indie art galleries and restaurants in every nook, cranny and hidden side street.  Don't get me started on the antbellum architecture or how the place reeks of painstakingly maintained Spanish history.  It's Hell, I tell you, Hell!

Just to survive I've ducked into a new little place called "Rhett's", right next door to "Scarlet O'hara's" on Hypolita Street.  Those marketing wizards!

Where Scarlett's is a multi-level, old home turned into pub-style restaurant and college hot-spot, Rhett's is a new, super-cool, upscale piano bar and gourmet dining experience.  Sort of like what I imagine Mr. Butler would also be...but that's another story.

I can hardly manage to wolf my Caesar salad with all the burbling piano music, lovely and attentive staff, and don't get me started on the saxophone guy...oozing talent and fresh-scrubbed college cuteness. 

My lovely waitress just stopped by to ask what I thought of my salad.  I so wanted to drawl, "Frankly my dear, I don't give a damn."  Don't worry, I didn't.  But I could have!

So, I sip my beer (yes, I am not afraid to order a draft in a place like this, after all, I am a street person), and stare at the antique tin tiled ceiling, plotting my next move.  I am interrupted by the arrival of my lobster stuffed chicken breast on truffle-infused mashed potatoes.  Oh. My. God.
 

I don't want to simply eat this meal.  I want to marry it.  I want to wear it next to my skin.  I want to take it for a long walk on the beach, holding its hand.  In case you don't get what I am saying, this meal is an orgy in my mouth.  Wait, that is really gross.  This meal is...delicious.  Simply, elegantly, delicious.

If I could eat like this every day I would become one of those house-bound people who eventually make the news because a wall of their home had to be destroyed so they could be removed by crane.  And I would be grinning ear-to-ear while dabbing at the truffle oil staining my chins.

I ran away to St. Augustine because many, many, MANY moons ago I used to live here, and to this day I adore the place.  Don't get me wrong, St. Augustine, America's oldest city, has its share of ridiculous tourist-traps.  Many crap shops selling T-shirts and chocolate on a stick in the shape of an alligator, "ghost tours" on every corner, and sangria bars with exhausted locals sweating their asses off dressed as Spanish soldiers, grinningng through gritted teeth at drunk, fanny-pack wearing families from Wisconsin taking their pictures.  But, as I sit under a painting of the Battle of Atlanta, sipping cappuccino, I marvel at how hip little places like Rhett's coexist with the Nation's Oldest Drug Store and Ripley''s Believe it if Not!  Somehow, St. Augustine has managed to grow up, while still retaining it's core personality.  Kind of amazing, really.

By the way,  I am totally getting into this whole runaway street person thing.

I was about to say that my dining experience was marred by the arrival of a huge party of really loud people seated right next to me.  I was, until the woman in charge of the group came over to me and apologized in advance for her boisterous group, and offered to buy me a drink to make up for it. God, I love St. Augustine!

Holy crap, I just realized that after it gets dim in Rhett's, they give you menus that LIGHT UP WHEN YOU OPEN THEM.  I can't stand it. You crazy kids with your fancy toys.  God bless you, no more squinting, or lighting your menu on fire because you held it too close to the table candle in a vain attempt to read it.

Back to the charm that is St. Augustine.  One of my favorite memories is of walking down a side street one evening after a great meal, and hearing laughter and music coming from a hidden courtyard.  The yard was surrounded, as many are, with an ancient stone wall.  I peeked over and found a group of locals, off work but still dressed in their Spanish period costumes.  They were relaxing, drinking beer, and cranking some great tunes.  They saw me and immediately insisted I join them, a total stranger.  Of course I did, and had a great night getting buzzed with soldiers, pirates, and wenches.  Totally awesome.

That is why I run away, as often as I can, to St. Augustine.  And you should too.  Living on the street has its advantages...

So, Rhett's, I'll let you carry me up that gigantic winding staircase anytime.  Really, you can, because I am so stuffed I can't walk right now.

 

Thank You Kim St. Jean

It's funny what gets me to finally bite the bullet and try something new. I've never taken a jewelry class in my life, and am grateful to be alive in the digital age, where you can find almost anything online. There is a video for just about everything (YouTube) and great books and DVDs at our fingertips.

I mentioned Kim St. Jean's new book, Mixed Metal Mania, in a previous post. It's great, go get it right now. Because of this book, I finally tried using stering silver solder paste, wire and sheet to create my own bezels. I am a huge fan of copper and brass tube bezels, which I make using recylcled pipe. But, I also wanted to learn the traditional methods of creating bezels, but didn't have the courage to go for it before now.

Turns out, in my recent studio cleaning frenzy, I found a tube of sterling silver solder paste I totally forgot I even had (and don't really remember buying...Jeez, I'm old) as well as a nice selection of solder wire and sheet. I guess at one time I thought I might actually give this a go! Good thing I did stock up, and I'm very proud to say I now am a soldering fool.

Kim made it look and sound so simple, I figured I had to be able to do it.  The photo below is of a ring I created from scratch--sterling on brass bezel with a nice hunk of Boulder opal.  I am pleased with the results, need to perfect my finishing a bit (you can see the line where the bezel wire meets...boo), but overall I think it 'aint bad for a first try.  FYI, the ring is available in my Etsy shop...just sayin', a girl's gotta eat, so take a peek if you like opals...

I am eager to try more complex designs now, just wish sterling silver prices weren't so crazy.  Remember the days of silver at 50 cents a gram???  Thems was the good ol' days, that's for sure!

Oh, and I also just ordered my very own Fordham FlexShaft.  I burned up my third Dremel set up trying to make it behave like a real machine.  So, that's exciting and totally emptied my wallet....wish me luck!!!

Spring Cleaning - It Just Might Kill Me

So, I've spent the last three days feverishly attempting to bring order to the chaos in my house and studio space.  Spring Cleaning sounds so optimistic and bright...yeah, right.  My back is killing me, I've hauled three giant lawn and leaf bags of junk to the curb and I still haven't touched my cave of a closet.

On the bright side I did tackle my work bench with damn good results.  It was such a complete disaster--looked like a bomb went off--and I had given up actually working in the space.  The upside, besides re-discovering the actual surface of the table, was finding all the stuff I forgot I had buried in the mess.  Sort of like a shopping spree in my garage.

I know the new-found organization won't last, we creative types aren't known for our neatness.  But I will enjoy the open space while I can...Now, on to the closet!

Web Shop Shout-Out...

Ornamentea, hurry up and go there. Really, just put the name in Google or click the link and go there! I discovered this shop a while ago and have been so pleased with the fun bits of this and that I have found there. It's a grab bag of a place, with everything from tools, to base metal findings, to super cool 3-D cast pewter twigs, to lace inset plexyglass sheets. The tutorial pages are also very nice, with great tips about coloring metals like brass (rip some paper towels into strips, put in a lidded plastic container with a few drops of ammonia, add your brass, close the container and shake for a few minutes--voila--aged brass). Don't skip the "Micellaneous" tab, that's where the odd bits live, from brass bullet casings to tiny acrylic leaves.  Oh, and did I mention that the prices are FANTASTIC?   Enjoy...

A pendant I made using a bullet casing and heart charm from Ornamentea, along with pewter wings and a rutilated quartz bullet.

New Stuff and a Book Shout-Out

So, I've been working on a new line of neclaces featuring pendants created using vintage photographs, optic lenses and brass gears.  I really love old photos, and mixing ecclectic elements with the designs.  I am lucky to have a huge antique/flea market right near me, with monthly shows.  I have been finding some really cool photos, tin types and old ads that are great for pendants.  Most are from the mid to late 1800s.  I especially like old tin types for thier creepy yet beautiful poses.  So, here's a slide show of some of the new stuff, all available at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery in Lake Worth.

Next, I want to give a shout-out to jewelry designer and author Kim St. Jean.  Her new book, Mixed Metal Mania, is fantastic and a must for all jewelry mixed metal enthusiasts.  Great photos, projects and tips, including a list of ways to easily color metals like brass and copper with home made patinas.  I've really enjoyed the jewelry projects, and have further educated myself with her soldering, folding, and metal work techniques.  THANKS KIM!!!  Oh, and Kim, hurry up and get a website, okay?  We want to see more of your work!!!



Not Enough Hours in the Day

Hello!  It's been forever (it seems) since I've posted.  As with so many of us, life is so busy!  I have been working closely with a wonderful little co-op gallery in Lake Worth, Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery, run by Joyce Brown, a talented sculptor and supporter of all things art.  Joyce is a real voice for the arts community in Lake Worth and has a spectacular back story involving peddling to the Amish, promoting hippy folk concerts and proudly declaring her Communist affilitations.  I love her.  The gallery is a funky, ecclectic mix of everything from gigantic metal sculpture to fused glass earrings.  The member artists (28 and counting) all work together to keep the doors open and host events twice a month.  It's a big challange to keep the gallery up and running, considering todays economy and wholesale evisceration of most communities arts budgets.  Anyway, I help the gallery by running their Facebook page and blog, both of which I expect you all to immediately follow and "like".  Go ahead, I'll wait till you get back....

Thanks!  Now, on top of working with the gallery (where I also show my work), I also manage several other blogs, websites and Facebook pages for both my jewelry business and my "real job" with the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation.  Again, please follow, like, etc.  As much as I enjoy working with social media and web design, I am at capacity with all the groups I support, and find I need to somehow figure out how to juggle it all AND find time for my own work.  Welcome to the digital age.

So, what have I been up to?  Well, last Sunday we hosted the fifth annual WILD THINGS Art Show in support of RSCF's conservation programs.  This event is held every year in Loxahatchee, right around the corner from RSCF, at a private studio owned by Gisela Pferdekamper.  Gisela is a wonderful artist--famous for her "fat horse" sculptures and paintings.  Every year she allows us to hold the show in her studio, a converted barn.  The space is amazing and we have a great time.  All the art is wildlife inspired and this year we had some of the best artists in the region.  I have to give a "shout out" to a couple of artists that joined us for the first time this year.  First, Anthony Burks.  Anthony is a spectacular painter/mixed media artist and his work is just breath-taking!  We are so lucky to have him in the show!  He created the bongo painting you see here specifically for the event, and it sold (of course).  Check out his online portfolio and prepare to drool....

Next, check out Melinda Moore's art photography.  GORGEOUS work, almost dream like.  Her bird photos are just stunning.  Again, a great addition to our show.  We look forward to seeing both Melinda and Anthony again next year.

Finally, I have to thank Georgette Pressler of Devious Body Art for her amazing work during the show.  She painted Andy Fields into a living cornucopia of wildlife!  Parrots flock across his face and shoulders, while bongo graze on his chest and abs....Can you say SUPER-COOL-AMAZING?  Whate a great night...

So, I've been busy!  AND, I've been making a whole new line of necklaces using vintage photos and tin types.  More on that later...this post is long enough!!  See you later...