ICE is nice

Some of you may recall that a while ago I posted some work in progress photos of these circle pieces. I came up with this idea to "float" circles within circles. I kind of have a thing for circles and ovals and the infinite things that you can create with them. Toss ICE Resin into the mix and the possibilities get even crazier (and my brain gets scarily close to exploding).

Last week I finally had a moment to give the resin a try. And I loved it! I am so thrilled with how my pieces came out - just as I had envisioned them. Exactly! I can't tell you how happy it makes me to try something out for the first time and have it work just the way I had hoped and dreamed. (yes, I do dream about these things...)

I found the resin very easy to use, though a little messy my first time out. I now know what I need to have prepared and how I can do things in a less sticky way the next time. I ended up with a few tiny air bubbles but they really don't phase me in the slightest. I kind of like them, actually, and want to figure out how to keep more of them around for some future pieces.

These pieces are now large, modern pendants that hang on silver neck-rings. I have plans to make smaller pendants, earrings and bracelets. Then I may build a house out of ICE Resin. And a car. And my very own Robert Downey, Jr.. It's THAT amazing!

There is such a thing as too many carrots

Man, am I sleepy/sluggish/slackery today. I had two sick bunnies at once and the whole experience just kind of drained me. Laurel and Petey managed to eat something that did not agree with them so they both had very bad stomach pain today. It's probably my fault for loading them up with too many carrots yesterday. But they were begging, standing up in tandem, looking at me with ears perked and noses twitiching, tipping their heads in the direction of the carrots...and I caved. I gave them a big heaping pile and watched in delight as they snarfed it all down. I knew it was too much but I was weak (and they control me with their minds). Laurel recovered faster than little Petey. He gave me quite a scare, actually, but he is doing well now. And looks at me with grateful eyes for keeping him warm beneath a fleece blanket and rubbing his belly. Anything for my little sugar-bunny. :)

Since I don't have much to report other than pet stories (which I'm sure isn't all that interesting to most non-bunny people) I thought I would share with you some new things that are (or will be) in the shop. The pair on top are a new design that I am especially fond of. The Art Nouveau style is pretty marvelous, if you ask me. :)

The earrings above will go up in the morning. Just to give you an idea of how much I procrastinate - I made the pieces for these earrings over a year ago and am just now getting around to finishing them. Why do I do this? Beats me. At least I still like them. :)

Here is one of my copper banded rings. The band is etched with a pretty floral design. It's one of my favorites.

I've been trying to get more rings in the shop after I discovered that I had none last week. How did that happen? I love rings! And I love this new design. It looks like a carousel.

Modern Cabbage Roses in deep violet...

And lastly, this is a new fun ring. It's a little bigger than usual so you know what that means... it's a little more funky. Oh yea!

On that note, I am going to bed. It's early, I know, but my brain no longer wants to function. It's time for tea, perhaps a cookie (or five) and Sherlock Holmes. Nighty night. :)

Birds!

It's been a while since I've had any of my birds in my shop. This is one of my early signature pieces. This is the kind of necklace that people come up to me at shows wearing and say "Look, I bought one of your birds a few years ago and I'm still wearing it!" I love it when that happens.
There are four little fluttery birds in the shop now and I will be making a zillion more to get stocked up for the summer, so if you want a specific color just let me know. :)

Inspired by the dark side

OK, not really the dark side. Just the slightly morbid side.. if you consider Victorian mourning jewelry morbid (which I don't:) I've been mulling over some ideas for modern mourning jewelry for a while and I finally sat myself down and made a set.

I used a mixture of antique jet glass beads, antique mother-of-pearl buttons and my own porcelain pieces. The silhouette brings in another Victorian favorite. I think it goes well with the idea of commemoration and remembrance. I will be making some very simple necklaces with these silhouettes as well (I have more profiles in the works) - just a simple pendant on a silver chain. I can't wait to wear one. :)

Now, I've got a question for you! See those matte black earwires on this pair of earrings? I bought them at a craft store a while ago. Does anyone know where I can find matte black wire to make my own earwires? I haven't exactly started searching for it - I just thought I would throw the question out there and see of anyone knows where I can find it. Anyone, anyone?

Please indulge me...

...while I show you photos of two of my squishy bunnies. I came across this scene earlier today and quietly crept to get my camera. They didn't move. Laurel was sound(!) asleep on top of little Petey, dreaming away.

He is such a good little guy letting Laurel use his head as a pillow. He just looked at me with that sweet pink face as he wore his girl like a fancy party hat.

Sweet bunny love....

Things you do...

...when a show is slow and you are bored.

• 1. Pretend that everyone who is eating maple cotton candy is really eating cotton quilt batting.

• 2. Pretend that every time someone says "Your jewelry is beautiful!" they are really saying "YOU are beautiful!" And respond accordingly.

• 3. Throw nasty looks at the guy set up across the room from you who is selling mass-produced junk jewelry from China and trying to pass it off as handmade at a juried handcraft show.

• 4. Eat A LOT of sweet, maple flavored things. (It was the Maple Festival, afterall) Even the chili dogs seemed to have a maple-ness about them.

• 5. Realize that you are completely sold out of fancy-pants necklaces and bracelets and have a minor panic attack when you realize that the next batch of shows is only three weeks away.

• 6. Make prank phone calls on your cell to your friend who is set up a few booths down from you. The caller ID kind of gives you away, but it's worth it just to ask "Do you have Prince Albert in a can?"

Yep, I am done with my first show of the year. It wasn't the most spectacular show but it did it's job. I met the goal I had set for myself so I am content with that. And it also helped me to see my inventory and figure out just what I need to make in the next few weeks. I've been an earring-making freak for a while now but I really need to make some necklaces and bracelets. And rings. So I better get busy. Tomorrow. First.... sleeeeeeep.

List of 2010 Shows

This is a list of the shows I will be doing throughout this year. There will be a few more added but for now this a pretty comprehensive list. Please note: I sell only my completed jewelry at shows - no beads or components and no pottery. Those things are only available online. :)

April 10th-11th
Marathon Maple Festival - Marathon, NY

May 1st-2nd
Athens Arts Fest - Athens, PA

May 7th-8th
Secret Lentil Spring Studio Sale - Delavan Center - Syracuse, NY

May 8th-9th
Clayworks Annual Spring Pottery Sale
The Polish Community Center - Binghamton, NY

June 5th-6th
Westcott Art Trail - Syracuse, NY

June 19th-20th
Crafts at Rhinebeck - Rhinebeck, NY

July 5th
Arts and Crafts on the Green - Montrose, PA

July 24th
Annual Greene Arts & Crafts Festival - Greene, NY

August 7th
Cortland Arts and Wine Festival - Cortland, NY

September 11th-12th
Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival - Norwich, NY

September 25th-26th
Two Rivers Fine Arts and Crafts Festival - Binghamton, NY

October 9th, 10th & 11th
Annual Letchworth Arts & Crafts Show and Sale - Letchworth State Park, NY

October 23rd
Salt City Urban Art & Craft Market - Syracuse, NY

November 12-14th
Holiday Shoppes - NY State Fairgrounds, Syracuse, NY

November
Clayworks Annual Holiday Pottery Sale
(Dates TBA)

December 4th & 5th
Plowshares Craftsfair - Syracuse, NY

Extra Update!

I just plopped all these pretty bits of bling in the Extra shop. And now I'm sleepy. Good night!

Creating home...

It's been a long, exhausting week. My family moved my grandparents from Long Island to upstate NY this weekend. They arrived at their new home (my mother's) yesterday, and in an effort to make the move as easy and stress-free as possible we tried to recreate their home in a new environment. My mother and her husband generously gave them most of their downstairs and a small apartment at the back of house. The moving truck showed up on Friday and we had about 24 hours to get the house together before my mother arrived with my grandparents on Saturday.

All I can say is thank god that my brother and sister-in-law have the ability to stay up all night long because they kicked much ass in the way of getting things unpacked and put in their proper place. When I came back on Saturday morning they had accomplished so much, it was amazing!

The most important room to both of my grandparents is the studio. They used to have separate studios but now they will share one very large, bright room. It's a dream studio space with my grandmother's painting area in one corner (photo above) and my grandfather's drafting desk in another. The other side of the room has a sewing area and shelves for fabric and yarn.

I spent most of my time getting the living room area together. We laid out their furniture in almost the same way they had it in their house. Some of my grandmother's paintings hang above the couch (they look a little crooked, I see. I was tired, what can I say...).

My grandmother collects many things and I wasn't able to get them all unpacked and displayed before they got there. But some things were out, like their beautiful collection of African carvings. The nesting dolls and Pinocchios will have to wait their turn.

My grandfather collects the letter "A." I hung some of them by the chair he likes to sit in. I envision them going all the way up the wall. If anyone has an A they would like to contribute just let me know! :)

My favorite part of the room is the bookshelf that my step-father built in an unused doorway. He was still working on it just an hour before they arrived. I think it looks great (and now want to turn all my doorways into bookshelves - who needs doors anyway?)!

So that is that. My grandparents seemed quite happy with everything, though I am sure it will be a tough adjustment for them. Leaving the home you built together for 60 years or so is bound to be hard. I know it's been hard for me and I never even lived there. Thankfully their house is staying in the family and I know they take comfort in that. And now we can all work to make this new home, home.

Just say no to the Easter Bunny!

It's that time of the year when I get on my blog and say "Please, for the love of God, do NOT buy a rabbit this Easter!!!!"

The photo above is of my sweet Emma bunny. She was found almost one year ago, abandoned on the side the road, most likely an Easter rabbit that someone decided they didn't want. The first time I laid eyes on her she was huddled up against a curb, scared to death. It still breaks my heart to think about it.

Since then she has taken over the entire upstairs of my house. Every morning I awake to her running around my bed, begging for her morning treat. Then we have our daily ritual of chasing, snuggling and chasing some more. She is perfection.

Unless you are able to have a rabbit inside your home, free of a cage and safe from other animals (and children), DO NOT GET ONE. Please go to the House Rabbit Society's website to learn more about why purchasing a rabbit at Easter time is to be discouraged. And please spread the word.
Emma thanks you. :)

It's a Jewelry Affaire

There is a new, fabulous jewelry magazine on the stands TODAY! It's called Jewelry Affaire and it's published by Stampington & Company (so you know it's going to be good!). It has the same lush, artisan feel of Belle Armoire Jewelry but the projects are simpler with fewer techniques which means that anyone can do them. Yay!

I have a cutesy project on page 30 that involves some sweet little Cindy Gimbrone bird beads, so be sure to check it out! :)