melissamanleystudios

Cabochons at my house!

2012-01-15T13:25:00.002-05:00

My stone dealer friend, Anne Kennedy, will be at my house Saturday the 21st from 10-2:30 selling her wonderful cabochon stones! She has polished stones such as Carnelian, Labradorite, Jaspers of all kinds, Petrified Sequoia,carved Mammoth Ivory, Druzy, Amazonite, Banded Agate, Kunzite, Meteorite from Russia, Dendritic Limestone... the list goes on and on! Her prices run from around $5 up to $100 or so. There should be a little something for everyone. And if you just want to come drool over stones, chit chat and munch on tidbits then join us!

More New Things

2012-01-07T20:05:00.000-05:00

After being inspired by cool polymer clay beads by Shipwreckdandy on Etsy (see post below to view some of her work) I made some polymer clay beads of my own last night. Check em out! They look like bones.

I'm REALLY excited about making clay beads now... can't stop.
And thought I'd share that I will be teaching at Valley Ridge next October. I made this Steampunk Santos as an inspiration pieces for a class there. She's kind of a work in progress there's a lot still I'd like to do with her.

New Etsy Items

2012-01-07T19:54:00.001-05:00

Go see the new work I put up on Etsy here's some samples:

Inspirations

2012-01-07T14:34:00.003-05:00

Winter is a time of reflection and creativity for me. I adore winter. Maybe its the mature woman in me that loves the temperature, but I adore cold these days. You can see a great collection of snowflake images here. With a break from the community college I get to rest up and rejuice. I have done a lot of surfing Etsy this season and have fallen in love with these artist's artwork! I just can't get enough of the ingenuity with materials they exhibit. Very refreshing to see people play with materials and come up with such cool pieces.

First up we have Shipwreckdandy

I purchased some of these beads from her and Oh! am I in love with them!

Next we have Nusquam.

And next we have Sparrowsalvage.

And finally for today I will share some of Fancifuldevices work with you. Enjoy!

Ken Bova in Wilmywood

2011-10-09T17:45:00.000-04:00

So! Ken Bova will be teaching his chopstick hammers (and more) workshop for Cape Fear Community College's Metals Guild on Saturday Nov 5th from 10-5pm. It is open to current metals students and I will have a 5 extra seats for non CFCC students at a nominal fee of $60 for the day. If you are interested email me and I will sign you up. It will be first come first serve so don't wait! Ken is a wonderful teacher and it should be a fantastic day. We will work and then break for lunch and then work some more! Fun will be had by all!

Ken is currently teaching at ECU and you can view his site here.

Winner!

2011-10-09T17:09:00.000-04:00

Sorry for the confusion about the comments with the "Destination Creativity" book giveaway. I have to publish the comments. They come first into my email and sit there until I publish them. I was away all day yesterday doing an enameling demonstration at a festival. When I got home and, finally unpacked the furniture and tools out of the car around 7pm-ish, I was just too pooped to even open the computer. I ate, drank some "Shotgun Betty" hefeweizen(nice bottle cap btw), watched an old Steve McQueen movie ("Tom Horn" it was so-so), and my habitual episode of Star Trek Enterprise and fell asleep. So I have published the comments now and draw the name out of a bowl.

The winner is: JB!

JB email me your address so we can send you your book! Or if you prefer email Ricë Freeman-Zachary on her blog as she will be sending it to you.
Congratulations!

Book Give Away!

2011-10-08T00:21:00.000-04:00

I have raved about Ricë Freeman-Zachary on my blog before. So, many of you may have visited her blog. I met her over a year ago. It was quite a treat as I have been a fan of her writing and her art since I first saw it in Rubberstamp Madness Magazine back in the day. I always thoroughly enjoy talking with her and treasure the times I have been able to socialize with her and EGE at retreats. Her new book "Destination Creativity: The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat" is a wonderful journey to nine of these UBER inspiring art retreats all over the US. You can follow along from your cozy armchair! Today I will be choosing a winner to receive a copy of Ricë's book. Just comment on this post by midnight on October 8th PST to be entered.

I have a necklace project in Destination Creativity. I thought I'd share a little secret! This tip was brought to my attention by one of my friends Kathy James who joined me in San Diego this summer to make the little charms on this necklace. Kathy found out that her disc cutter will cut the mica perfectly! Now why didn't I think of that! Thanks Kathy if you're reading!

A bit about disc cutters. I now have a Swanstrom disc cutter from Rio Grande (though other folks sell them too) after going through a Harbor Freight one (don't bother!) and a Pepe tools (it's fine if you can ever get one!).

There is a video on the Swanstrom cutter here.
I ADORE my Swanstrom. I would HIGHLY recommend you skip the crappy ones and go right for the top. You will never want for another! Normally you will want to wax the cutting punch but the mica might get all gummy, so I didn't when cutting mica. I also normally use a brass hammer and I hold the punch in place the first two or three taps. This is to prevent the punch from possibly bouncing up and down in the shaft and potentially getting stuck. It's really more of an issue when cutting metal. a colleague of my thinks one should just whack the heck out of the punch, VERY hard so it cuts in one blow. That seems harsh to me but, he's a burly guy... I like firm hard taps until the punch cuts through. With the mica it'll probably cut in one hit. I have not noticed the mica dulling the cutting edge. Also don't forget! Once your punch has cut through, you will feel this, revert to very gentle taps to push it to the bottom of the shaft. Then lift the entire disc cutter up and off the punch which should still be sitting on your table. Don't try to pull the punch backwards out of the shaft. You may jam things up and have a terrible time getting it dislodged. And another thing, I prefer a very hard, firm sub-surface under the cutter for resistance and optimum cutting. In other words no bouncy card tables. In fact, if your work table is not very thick and sturdy put the disc cutter on the floor. It will cut WAY better with a firm surface under it. I use mine on top of my 70lb anvil with a couple of pieces of thick leather under it to protect it, the punches and my anvil's surface.

Well, happy mica punching! And be sure you visit the other artist's blogs who are all participating in this blog hop. Then you may become eligible for a grand prize!
Sunday, October 9th: Deryn Mentock
Monday, October 10th: Jen Cushman
Tuesday, October 11th: Jill Berry
And don't forget to visit Ricë's blog here.

Drumroll

2011-09-22T09:37:00.000-04:00

So! I have exciting news... well I think it's exciting! Coming in October I will be participating in a blog hop giveaway. Kind of like a blog progressive dinner. I will let you know more but the prize will be a copy of Ricë Freeman Zachary's

Destination Creativity: The Life-Altering Journey of the Art Retreat.
I have a project in there and I'll be talking about it and a new tip that will help you to make the charms. More info to come, so stay tuned!

Eric Whitacre

2011-09-08T20:30:00.000-04:00

I think I can safely say that Eric Whitacre is one of my daughter's idols. My daughter is complex... many 16 year old girls are. She's searching... she's a rocker, she loves loud metal and can rip, she likes paintball and Halo yet loves videos of small cute animals. She's not a prep, not a scholar really, though she's smart and watches stuff like the BBC's Pride & Prejudice series with me over and over again. As a mom you worry ya know? Where's she gonna end up? How will I get her through it all in tact? Well, my daughter found chorus. The chorus teacher at her high school has some sort of magic touch with these kids. Kids from all walks find a common ground and they excel together. Meredith has fallen in with this mottled pack and adores it. I beam with pride when they sing in their black gowns and pearls. She has gone to searching Youtube for "cool, ancient sounding music" She's showed me videos of choirs from all around the world singing Mozart and Bach in grottos, kyrie's in canyons. Through this she has discovered the music of Eric Whitacre. If you haven't seen his Virtual Choir then I strongly recommend that you do. Here's a talk he did with clips of his choir for TED
Hearing his talk about this project always makes me cry. We've come to adore his music in our house. And I dream that my daughter, who wants to be a rock star, will become a composer... or a rock star composer...

JOURNALFEST 2011

2011-09-07T20:24:00.000-04:00

Looking for a pick me up this fall? Come take my classes at Journalfest in Port Townsend, WA!
I will be teaching this Roadsign Journal. I'll bring the covers and show you how to attach stuff to it and bind in pages. You bring some pages and some cool stuff to attach, and we'll rock-n-roll. Next I will be teaching how to make this wild little wooden journal

I will supply beautiful maple covers made by woodworker Art Bert in Pennsylvania. We will dye carve and decorate them. Then I will show you how to bind them with a coptic stitch binding that looks complicated but isn't! Fun will be had by all!

Destination Creativity Sneak Peak: Now With More Photos!

2011-08-30T18:58:00.000-04:00

Check Ricë's video about her upcoming book!

Artfest 2012!

2011-08-11T19:03:00.007-04:00

So its that time again folks! Decisions, decisions... all the yummy classes! Oh the glorious torture of registering for Artfest! I am teaching three fun classes go check 'em out... BUT I am here touting Ken Bova's classes. Ken will be new to Artfest and you just have to check out his chopstick hammer class! So cool! and Ken is such a great person and fabulous professor. These hammers are the cutest EVER!

It's on it's way!

2011-08-11T10:48:00.003-04:00

It seems folks who pre-ordered through Amazon are receiving their books! yahoo!

heART space

2011-07-18T12:44:00.003-04:00

Read about my pal Kim Wood Beller's studio called
heART space.

New

2011-06-28T12:01:00.002-04:00

New etsy pieces! The earrings are made from the beads I blogged about earlier in the year. They are lime and powder blue enamel on copper plated steel. And the shell pendant is a piece that will appear in my book Jewelry Lab coming in September. Both jewelry pieces are available on my etsy site.

Check it

2011-06-27T15:33:00.003-04:00

New stuff on my Etsy
just in time for summer!

Bookmaking Journey at "heART space"

2011-06-26T13:55:00.007-04:00

Wilmington artist Kim Beller and I will be offering a day long "playshop" and Bookmaking Journey at her studio "heART space" in Middle Sound here in Wilmington July 16th, 2011. We will take you through making a personal art journal. You'll learn how to etch a decorative copper plate for your book's cover, carve your own rubber stamp to embellish your book, as well as numerous collage and painting techniques for the inside of your book. You will burst with ideas as we break out paints, stencils, paint mediums, glue, ink, stamps, and collage papers and show you interesting ways to use them all in a nurturing, creative environment. If you are not an artist, or have only just started, this will be the perfect day for you to embrace your creative inner child. If you are a seasoned "art journaler" then join us for a day of playing and sharing.

We recently taught this in Manteo, NC and everyone was begging for more! I personally can't stop working in my art journals.

This day long retreat is $95 -with ALL materials AND lunch included.
All you have to do is show up with an open mind, ready or fun!
Space is limited so contact me for more information or to sign up.

The Shepherdess in San Diego

2011-06-26T13:44:00.005-04:00

I will be teaching in San Diego at The Shepherdess
July 8th, 9th & 10th this year:
Hard Candy-torch fired enamel beads
Porthole Washer Charms-making links with mica and copper washers
Loveburst -puffed, torch fired enameled hearts

These washer links were made here in Wilmington by Marcie Abney in the Porthole links class.

Bach in Japanese Forest

2011-06-26T13:43:00.001-04:00

A beautiful Japanese commercial for a limited edition wood covered phone. Bach is played on a ginormous xylophone in a Japanese forest.

New Tools!

2011-06-21T21:36:00.001-04:00

Check out the new tools in my Ladysmithsupply shop on Etsy!

Architectural Jewelry

2011-06-04T23:18:00.006-04:00

Today Beverly Ash Gilbert and I walked along Milwaukee's riverwalk. She showed me these wonderful pieces of GIANT jewelry called "River Gems Urban Jewelry" made by John Ready. I ADORE them!

Chopstick Hammah!

2011-05-25T07:48:00.005-04:00

Ken Bova was recently here in North Carolina and did workshop at Pullen Art Center in Raleigh. He taught how to make these adorable little homemade riveting hammers with a nail and chopstick. This is one I made. I'm currently pestering Ken to teach this more! Especially at Adorn Me, or Artfest or Bead & Button. I KNOW you folks would eat these up! And Ken is a fabulous instructor and generous, kind person... a metals rocks star!

Eh....

2011-05-23T21:11:00.001-04:00

yep, pretty cool.....
(someone is brilliant! wish I could say it was me!)

Re-adjustments

2011-05-13T19:15:00.004-04:00

So I'm driving Meredith around... traffic jam, gridlock we can't see what the problem is. I'm about out of gas so I make a U turn and we go a different direction, clear the other end of the county... she's slightly late to her end of year party... I have to drive home and then turn right around and come right back to get her. I have things to do! a workshop tomorrow... stressssss! Then at the next stop light I am roasting in the baking 6 o'clock NC sun, soI roll down my window. Suddenly to my left in the other lane there's a man 50's I guess? graying hair, in a beat up older elantra... he's singing. I mean really singing! as in belting out opera!
...nice, mellow, tenor voice drifting out of his rolled down windows.
wow.
traffic what traffic?

Manteo, NC!

2011-05-06T12:24:00.004-04:00

Imagine yourself on the waterfront in Manteo, NC making art with me and my artist/metalsmith pal Kim Beller.... well make it a reality!
Join Kim and I, June 18th for a day long Book Making Journey at "Good For You" in Manteo, NC. "Good For You" is a sanctuary of calm, a yoga & massage studio and emporium of unique gifts on Sir Walter Raleigh Street. Beginning at 9 that morning, Kim and I will guide you through carving a stamp all your own and etching your stamp's design onto a copper bookplate to adorn you book. We will then delve into the delights of art journalling. We'll show you a plethora of techniques for painting, collage-ing, decorating and embellishing your own special art journal unlike any other. You will walk away with knowledge, a stamp to use over and over, memories and a fabulous keepsake book that you will enjoy for years to come. And here's the icing- you get to do all that in Manteo, NC! Walk the waterfront, visit the Elizabethan gardens, explore Sir Walter Raleigh Antiques next door, rent a bike or kayak the next day, walk the quaint streets, enjoy the brewery cafe down the street... What a weekend!
The Saturday workshop is $125.00 and includes materials and supplies, lunch, goodies to take home and an unforgettable journey!

pre-registration required (contact me for more information)
cash or checks accepted

*please bring anything personal you would like to use in your journal….
(old photos or copies, fabric, yarns, ribbons, cord, love notes, post cards, stamps, etc) the sky is the limit!

Home Stretch

2011-05-05T09:31:00.004-04:00

So, I got back from Art & Soul Hampton Tuesday night and had to hit the ground running Wednesday as it was the last day for my Metals 1 and Metals 2 M/W/F classes. All their grades and attendance needed logging in and final submissions were due to the college. Today is the last day for the two Metals 1 T/TH classes. *sigh* ah.... it's almost over. While I love my students (and WAIT til you see what my Metals 2er's made for me while I was in VA!!!! more on that later!) I just desperately need a break.
I awoke to soft cool temperatures... what a blessing... and this! I have to share what my fabulously clever colleague Ben Billingsley so humorously wrote this morning:

"Captain's log - stardate 05052011... By 9:30 a.m. grades will close for 3 classes, by 12:15 p.m. 2 more - last one by 1:45. Final grades and online attendance - from hell's heart I stab at thee!"

I agree..... from hell's heart......
well, maybe you had to be there but I thought it HILARIOUS!

Mica Mania

2011-05-05T09:15:00.004-04:00

I will be teaching a day workshop, or as my friend Kim Beller says "playshop", at A Place To Bead here in Wilmington, NC.

Join us on Saturday, May 14th.

I will show you how to work with sheets of mica, a natural mineral that forms right here in the mountains of NC. We will use the mica to make little window panes over tiny images with copper washers, like little portholes. I will show you how to texture, drill, and rivet. This will be a fun day making charms for beginners and veteran metalsmiths alike. Bring your own little images or use some of mine. Learn to connect your window charms to chain or earwires and have a blast browsing A Place To Bead's extensive collection to add to your jewelry.

If you'd like to see the charm samples in person, go by A Place To Bead on College Rd. next to Dick's Sporting Goods.

For more information and/or to sign up, contact A Place To Bead at 910-799-2928.

Limits

2011-04-25T01:34:00.003-04:00

I'm reaching limits.
Fraying
Unraveling
...becoming unglued.
...Too many obligations, too much to try to keep together. It is SO true that if you do too many things you do none of them well. A Chinese proverbs says that if you chase two rabbits you catch neither of them.
So what to do? What spinning plate do I drop?
Thankfully the long weekend offered some respite.

Taking Stock

2011-04-04T18:23:00.002-04:00

So, maybe I'm a little strung out... I've had a LOT going on, book edits, students needs, health issues, dealing with doctors, bills... no insurance... *sigh* whatever! That's not really the point, except I feel all weepy writing my letter to an award committee at the community college where I teach.

I'd like to share it with you. Because whether or not I get this award (LOTS of other talented folks have been nominated) I know deep inside that.... hm... well that this stuff is good stuff... the teaching, the connecting, the sharing and imparting knowledge, the laughter and comraderie in the studio. It's all been worth any hassles or politics or not enough pay.

Marilyn Goodman Anderson
Endowed Award for Excellence in Teaching
April 8th 2011

Dear Award Committee,

I want some specific transformations to occur in all my students. Some of those will occur, some of them might occur, and then some of them I hope for, but will never see because they will occur many years from now.

I intend for my students to get the fundamentals of the subject matter, of course that’s a given. I want them to walk away with a basic understanding of say, how to solder, or what controlled deformation of metal can occur through folding and annealing, or the concept of intaglio etching on copper. I want to be able to measure improvement from the time they enter my classroom, to the time they leave it. That’s the bottom line. But that’s just nuts and bolts - teach subject, impart knowledge, test, grade, end of subject. That’s nice, and well, a tad boring. Teaching dry like that doesn’t cause a whole lot of transformation. But metalsmithing has at its roots ancient magic, alchemy! So as a metalsmith I have to wonder what is a college experience without a little alchemy? Why am I doing this if not for the love of my subject, and the giddy pleasure of sharing it? There are other jobs for pete’s sake. Why should I do this then, this teaching?

I deal with flames and crucibles. I forge and mold. I refine with the fire and shape with files and grinding wheels, removing material, smoothing hard substances and shining them up to a glow. I do this to my students. Sometimes they are aware of it, most of the time they are not. They do the assignments, but often don’t see the subtle texture that my class might leave on them. I feel the metaphors we borrow from metals are no accident. Therefore, I illustrate this with every demonstration of a tool or a technique. Artists wrestle through process. Life is process. We all must continually process information, decisions, directions, paths and outcomes. I strive every day to make my classroom the crucible where I illustrate conceptual thought about physical process. I want my classroom to be a place in which my students not only come to understand physical processes and their outcomes but how those processes, those lessons, those assignments are a microcosm of their lives. I try to open their minds to thought as they work. I vigilantly illustrate metal to hand to mind to world. I instill that what we do we become. What we think we become. Metalsmithing is an exacting craft that requires so many qualities that are missing in our young today, or are not emphasized in our fast paced world: discipline, diligence, patience, presence, mindfulness of the current moment. In these things I hope to make an impact on my students.

Science has shown that working with the hands can unlock primordial learning centers in the brain. It can fire synapses that need a jolt, synapses that have been numbed by our gadget using video game playing young. Many of the students I have enrolled in my classes have never used a tool of any kind! The real magic comes when they master the tools and techniques and they are proud of what they make. I am so fulfilled when they tell me how much they love using their hands to produce things of value. Humans have a deep need to produce, to create. I know my class empowers my students to see the impact they make on the metal. And it changes their perspective of themselves when they are proud of their work and then see the ripple affect of their work on the people around them. And when others admire their work it infuses them with even greater inner value! What a joy to make a difference in a student’s life, to help them see themselves as valuable, and to help them glimpse what they are capable of!

Again, I deal with flame and I want to ignite my students. I want to see them burn with passion about whatever subject they choose. Metaphorically, I pile wood up everyday just anticipating the moment when I get to light the match. That match might be handing them just the right book, or showing them a new tool. Sure, I could just show techniques. But please know the rapture I feel when I can get across the interconnectedness of that one technique, to the history of mankind, man’s relationship to his hands, to tools, and to the metal, and what it means to us now, in this place, on this day, in this time. I see the world as a fabulous place to learn with amazing revelations around every corner, with so many disciplines intertwined in our human history. I want them to see that too. I take utter and delicious glee when the moment comes that I might perform just the right demonstration and pair it with just the right verbal lesson about history, chemistry or best of all philosophy, or traits like patience, or diligence and their payoffs. I love the “Ah ha’s!” spreading about the room. I feel then like the magician who tears away the cloak and reveals that the sawn lady is in fact all safely in one piece. Life is too short for learning to be boring. Learning should have drama! Learning should be full of thrills, chills, laughter and emotion. I like them terrified of melting their hard won work, and then ecstatic when they succeed without melting it. I tell them my classes can be like roller coasters. If they aren’t feeling these things then they don’t care. If they don’t care, how will they ever care to remember anything I tell them? People need to invest themselves in the process. I require it. I require intention. I tell them this everyday.

I know I have succeeded and my students are consumed, burning with questions, thought, contemplation. I know I have won them when they tell me that they couldn’t sleep for solving some logistical metals problem, or when they come into the lab three hours early just to execute an idea they had while driving home last night, or when they email me bursting with excitement about figuring out a project’s conclusion. These are the times I know they are thinking critically about the subject, and that they are making the connections. The synapses are awakened! These are the transformations I get to see. The ones that I may never see are the ones that I hope will occur possibly long after I am gone, when they teach someone else what they learned from me, or when they reflect on a concept we discussed many years ago.

Like an ancient alchemist, I am on a burning quest to take my raw material and through transmutation in the furnace of my subject matter, create gold. My students are the lead that I hope to change. But long ago in the pursuit of ancient alchemy and its allegory and metaphor, it was believed the alchemist himself was improved. And thus I am myself changed. I learn and am forever making adjustments in my own processes. I become addicted to this give and take, the process occurring within the process of teaching them. The more passionate they become, the later after class I linger to see how their project turned out. Passion is infectious.

I confidently know, without a doubt that I have changed some of my student’s lives in a positive way. I had a student tell me the other day, “Ms. Manley you may not know this, but I really don’t have very good self esteem. And I am so utterly proud of this (holding up a piece she made in my class). I have never been so proud of myself. I just keep looking at and thinking about the whole process of making it and it’s kind of amazing. Thank you.”

Yep, if I could I’d teach for free.

Adorn America

2011-03-24T07:48:00.001-04:00

Adorn America
give it a go!

Candy

2011-03-20T20:16:00.003-04:00

Wish I could enamel these all day long, everyday, and do nothing else.

Now to make earrings and things out of them!

Zombie!

2011-03-19T12:00:00.002-04:00

My community college student and friend Ashley, wearing her fabulous zombie jeans!
Isn't she clever!? I bet I could get her to take commissions......

Oxygen

2011-03-08T09:17:00.004-05:00

I'm now back from "Adorn Me!" in Houston and what a great time!
Met Janice Berkebile and what FUN we had! Up to all hours yaking.....

I thought I'd share this image. Its creativity coach Jill Badonsky's from her freeing your creativity newsletter. You can subscribe here. The newsletter title this time was "Put your ear down close to your soul and listen hard".
The image came with the caption "creativity is my oxygen".
So true.

Cog Love

2011-02-13T17:31:00.004-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

The reverse, concave side of this pendant is enameled red:

The Move, Paper Animation

2011-02-11T07:41:00.000-05:00

Saw this on Etsy. TOO cool!

Western Tapestry

2011-02-05T12:27:00.006-05:00

I love films. Hey, we all do, right? Often I love films others could care less about or even can't stand! And often I stumble upon things way after they've been long forgotten by the rest of the world.
And I really love westerns.
I recently saw True Grit. Enough, I'm sure, has been said about it these days. Fantastic of course, and I plan to see it again. My western obsession needed another fix last night, so Robert and I watched The Missing with Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones, two of my favorite actors. I had no idea what to expect. I'd just gotten into grad school when this movie, directed by Ron Howard, came out. So I was among the missing myself, so to speak! All I can say is WOW. Why did I not hear about this film? Did everyone hate it or something? I found it riveting. Cate performance was astounding. Maybe I'm too easy to please, who knows. I do know I adore being mesmerized by lighting, textures and I get real into art direction,wardrobe, set design and direction and props. Hey lets face it, I'm visually oriented, like you probably are. I was so stimulated by the texture and lighting and wardrobe in this film that I think I dreamed about it all last night.
Cate's wardrobe was late 1800's perfection. The two coats she wore in the film... well now, I must have! I have been thinking all morning about how I could make them. Then again having her figure would be a necessity too and that's not going to happen any time soon! I could go on and on.... the house, Cate Blanchett's hat and belts, the quilt on her lover's bed, the winter light coming through the windows, the little rock structure towards the end of the film, the mocassins Tommy Lee Jone gives her daughter, the necklaces he wears, the silver cross they exchange, the leather saddlebags on his horse, his silver embellished Mexican saddle (made by Mortenson Saddlery), Tommy Lee Jones' shirts and the silver button at the neck in one scene, and the coup de gras the found object chest embellishment on the evil Yaqui shaman! (Who is played by the same actor who plays the beautiful Uncas in Last of the Mohicans, believe it or not!) It's a brutal film, a hard one for a mother to watch, but as Cate's character says in the film you don't know how to stop.

Elbow live, with the BBC Concert Orchestra

2011-01-27T09:37:00.000-05:00

"We make the moon our mirrorball....
Everything has changed"
I just can't get enough of this song, so beautiful. It permeated my dreams last night.

The Mysterious Explorations of Jasper Morello

2011-01-16T13:50:00.000-05:00

Luscious Steamy animation!

A Warm Embrace - Our Deepest Fear

2011-01-09T13:22:00.000-05:00

Nice!

2010-12-07T09:35:00.005-05:00

Found this great blog!!! If you live near Wrightsville Bch NC like me you'll love this!
It Starts With Me

photo by Danielle of ItsStartsWithMe.blogspot.com

Rio's Gone Solar

2010-12-07T09:08:00.002-05:00

Hey Folks, If you haven't already heard Rio Grande in NM has gone solar! How cool is that?! I have for a long long time wondered why people don't cover everything with solar panels. Especially parking lots! Who wouldn't want their car under shelter from the sun anyway?

Dash of Voodoo

2010-12-03T07:45:00.003-05:00

Ya'll seriously.... you've gotta go read Ricë (rhymes with Lisa) Freeman-Zachary's blog
Notes from the Voodoo Cafe.
Cracks me up!

Belle Armoire Jewelry Winter '11

2010-12-01T07:14:00.002-05:00

Run out and get yours while they last!
Yep, you saw right! That's my name on the cover!

Photo Magic

2010-11-21T18:43:00.004-05:00

Yes he very well maybe a magician, Joshua Curry the photographer for my upcoming book Jewelry Lab. We worked all day Saturday our third and second to last shoot. Whew! I'm just so lucky he was onboard with this!

Earth Teach Me

2010-11-10T23:52:00.004-05:00

I just heard a choral anthem by Rupert Lang-
"Earth Teach Me"
It is based on a Ute prayer and was stunning... haunting...
stopped me dead in my tracks working in the studio at 11:00pm.
Find it on iTunes.
Here are the words:

"Earth teach me stillness
as the grasses are stilled with light.

Earth teach me suffering
as old stones suffer with memory.

Earth teach me humility
as blossoms are humble with beginning.

Earth teach me caring
as the mother who secures her young.

Earth teach me courage
as the tree which stands alone.

Earth teach me limitation
as the ant which crawls on the ground.

Earth teach me freedom
as the eagle which soars in the sky.

Earth teach me resignation
as the leaves which die in the fall.

Earth teach me regeneration
as the seed which rises in the spring.

Earth teach me
to forget myself as melted snow forgets its life.

Earth teach me
to remember kindness as dry fields weep in the rain."

wow.....

Root lifter

2010-11-09T21:31:00.006-05:00

I'm slowly being drained.... little invisible needles extract my life force, drip by drip, through unseen tubes attached to me all over my skin. Each has a label some have students names on them, one says "put code numbers on new images for the book", one says chorus boosters fundraiser Saturday. There are so many I can't read them all. They protrude and catch as I walk, snagging on other people, clothing furniture. I wince, but no one knows. They can't see these things making a hedgehog of me. I feel slow... the tubes drag the ground weighing me down like heavy, molding invisible garden hoses. I procrastinate. I feel like crying. I have so so so many extremely important deadlines! I am over whelmed. I knew this would happen. I sit here typing when I know I should be doing a billion other things, things that people have already called me out on. I am running dry. And I have so little time and it will be done... for a while anyway.... long enough to sleep some, bake something, have a leisurely morning. I tell you this to vent and to preface the glorious feeling I had when I saw this!

I saw it on Artpropelled one of my favorite blogs. I just finished some important stuff and decided to treat myself with some procrastinating there. Her blog is always a visual feast and always quenches my thirst. My breath left me! It is by John Pule! I am now obsessed!

This is what I have been trying to do on enamel!!!These are the patterns I have been doodling! I am so drawn to this! Why?! All summer I googled tapas patterns and Polynesian textile patterns, ancient Mediterranean patterns from Cyprus and such.

replicas of ancient Cyprian ceramic pattern

It's like my dreams have taken form. They're such wonderful drawings!!!
I am madly MADLY in love with John Pule's work!!

I am lifted up by the roots....

Holy Crap!

2010-10-30T13:40:00.004-04:00

What a week! Let me explain. I hit the ground running after Portland, mid terms at CFCC, assignments to grade, stuff due for a magazine, deadlines for my upcoming book. Too much on my plate. Anyway, I made it through everything until yesterday. I had a day long photo shoot for the book with the photographer. He rented a larger space for us to work in. I was up til 2 getting everything ready. We were on board. Then mid morning I get this CRASHING headache. Nothing new I get headaches all the time. I pop some sudafed and Ibuprofen and go on. Then I start getting nauseous. I run home to pick up some stuff and eat but its worse! So I made a fruit smoothie with protein powder thinking that was palatable. By mid afternoon I was bad off. I was shaky, guts roiling, dizzy and about to pass out. How humiliating to have the photographer and his assistant lay me down with ice packs as I shook. I managed to call Robert. I could barely walk! It was horrible. Photo shoot ruined, I was driven home and slept most of the night.I won't go further in to detail but whatever it was is gone now.

So with a crashing headache still, we go to pick up my car downtown. Robert turns on NPR there is an interview going on with this brit with an outrageous accent. He was hilarious, brilliant, riveting! I turned it up.
OMG!
If you do anything else today, listen to this interview on the Treatment with Russell Brand. If you know me, you know I don't participate in contemporary pop culture. I just don't have time or itnerest. I'd rather make stuff. I don't watch cable TV and haven't for 7 years. So I had never heard of this guy, and had only vaguely heard Katy Perry's name but had no idea what she looked like, or what she did to claim fame. This interview was AMAZING! I think it fits in perfectly with the "shift" that is subtly happening in the world. Trust me, this is a BLAST to listen to. I wish I had it on CD to give to everyone I know. I'd hand out to random people on the street and say, "here listen to this brilliant, ex-heroin addict spew forth about life, existence,enlightenment and falling in love". CS Lewis is quoted, Ram Dass is mentioned... even Jung, geez, I could go on and on....
Put on your seat belt:
The Treatment interview with Russell Brand
I'm running right out and buying this book!

Book Signing

2010-10-12T18:58:00.003-04:00

So then after walking for 5-1/2 hours my feet were DONE! I realized I was so close to the Museum of Contemporary Craft so I HAD to take a quick look. Wish my feet could have stood more. They have a great sales gallery with LOTS of gorgeous metal work.

Ah well, it was back on the MAX line train to get to Traci Bunker's book signing!
Her work is great!!! I adore her Print & Stamp Lab book with Quarry and she has a new one coming out very very soon! Traci's journals are an inspiration. Her new book The Art Journal Workshop will be a must have! Even her stamps that she brought to personalize her books were so cool! She just has such creative ideas churning away in that brain of hers!

Cargo!

2010-10-12T18:16:00.005-04:00

All right, while I'm on a roll... CARGO! in the Pearl District of downtown Portland,OR. OMG!
I had a little pamphlet and was walking around thinking "oooo, that looks interesting lets go there...." When I see brightly colored things fluttering in the wind from the side of a big building. I decide to investigate and was SOOOOOOOO rewarded.

I wandered SPEECHLESS and dumbfounded. There were imported delights from all over the globe, weird, kooky fodder as far as the eye could see, Mexican Day of the Dead stuff, Chinese goorah, Japanese chotchkies, antiques, silk, Middle Eastern rugs, African beads, quirky tidbits and baubles, and treasures, EVERYWHERE! You could hardly walk for cool mesmerizing stuff. Needless to say I bought my dad one of those head tingler scalp massagers, everyone needs those right? And I got a little paper mache black background globe, again quite a necessity, a cut out banner of a mermaid playing a ukelele from Mexico, some cool Day of the Dead postcards, a BIG black tin of watch part tins (that the airline crushed ;-( wah!)

Feast your eyes! yeah I know! right?!

McMenamin's Boiler Room Bar

2010-10-12T17:18:00.006-04:00

Okay, place #2 that I have to rave about (now that my #@%&*! internet is back, however temporary....) is the McMenamin's Boiler Room Bar in Kennedy High School (click here for their gallery images). If you don't know who the McMenamins are then, well.... get to know! Because they have a talent for taking forgotten, dilapidated buildings and working magic on them! The Boiler Room was just that, a boiler room, now it's an over-the-top cool bar that will make your clockwork little heart go click, click, hissssss! One of the coolest artists on the planet, in my book is Tracy Moore and he took me to the Boiler Room. Yes, its all his fault. Actually, I count myself lucky that he lets me shadow around! Back to the Boiler Room. the railings are constructed of old pieces of radiator and sprinkler pipe. Just too fantastic.... I'm not a hop fiend like Robert is so I asked Tracy to recommend a beer. I had the Concordia "Ruby" a raspberry ale that they brew. It was wonderful not too sweet very refreshing. Fantastic place, wonderful night with amazing artists, chatting and sipping. Won't be forgotten....

Oblation Papers in Portland, OR!

2010-10-10T16:14:00.004-04:00

So now that I am home (whew! took long enough! two days?! really?), I have to rave about a couple of places in Portland. Yeah, I know, I could go on and on about Portland in general but first....
Oblation Papers!
I usually go a day early for my workshops because I have to buy things at hardware stores that I can't ship. I have to pad my errand time with factoring in distances, shop hours, and whether or not I have to walk or there's a shuttle. So I had finished my buying gas tanks and such, and thought I'd explore the city a bit before I had to get ready for my next days class. People at the hotel told me to check out the Pearl District so I picked up a pamphlet and trekked out to conquer the MAX line to get into town. After sifting through some misinformation that was fed me, and quizzing people waiting at the station (like a dork), I was on the train into Chinatown and the Pearl district. I picked out a few interesting things on the pamphlet some of which appeared closed now. I decided to search for Oblation Papers since they might have things we could roll through the roll mill in my class the next day. I knew nothing about the shop other than they had paper. WOW! I walked in and BAM they were printing and paper making and it was a paperproduct orgy! Here are some pics:

Sneak Peek

2010-09-29T18:58:00.001-04:00

inside the workshops of ArtBliss

Art BAHlisssssss!

2010-09-29T18:56:00.000-04:00

Year ONE meet and greet at Art Bliss near DC

New Work

2010-09-16T09:42:00.003-04:00

More new pieces I've ade as proposals for a retreat next year!
I started these on Sunday evening and had them all finished at midnight last night. Record time, considering I taught at CFCC most of the day Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and worked on these at night.

Posey House- has enamel flowers growing out the roof and a little Victorian lady kickin up a shoe inside.

Gris Gris Pouch-Gris gris bags are traditional Voudon charms or talismans for protection or good luck. They're often cloth but thought I'd made some metal ones!

Bottle Cap Beads-Fun! LOVE old soda caps!

Stay tuned to see if they'll be classes soon near you!
Whew, I'm pooped! I'm taking tonight off to flop!
Then its back to the grindstone with my book!

Creativity

2010-09-02T20:41:00.002-04:00

In this video Ricë Freeman-Zachery talks about her book Living the Creative Life

No Worse for Wear

2010-08-28T00:16:00.005-04:00

Meet Mr. Bali Hai...
my birthday gift from my bro Joe.
Mr. Bali Hai belonged to my grandparents. They got him some wild night visiting my parents in San Diego in the 60's. Those people loved to laugh. I wish I coulda' been there. But that's okay, I have the mug now.
Mr. Bali Hai's roomed with my bro for years now... all through Joe's college party years... He's a little chipped, his paint's peeling off in spots, but man, the parties he's seen! Now he's been bequeathed to me. What an honor.
Some days I feel a little like Mr. Bali Hai, chipped paint an all... but man the fun times! ;-)

So as the summer fades away, and as I put luau kitsch into the attic to wait for next summer... I get a little philosophical and reflect on what makes us need vacation so much. Well I heard a great interview with Terry Gross this week on Fresh Air called Digital Overload, somewhat on this subject. Basically a reporter had done an article on technology and how it affects our brains... the gist? we need vacations... really! Seriously! our brains need time to process all the data we give them. So even if I couldn't take a real vacation (yet again this year), I can take mental ones.
And I do!
I take them any time I can get them.
cheers!

Hampton VA 2011

2010-08-13T09:42:00.004-04:00

Yay! I will be teaching At Art & Soul in Hampton Va next year! FINALLY! Check out these two classes:

Amulet for Peace:

House of Mojo!

Hot! Hot! Hot!

2010-08-12T15:54:00.004-04:00

um, yeah..... it was 113 and 60% humidity the day I took this picture in Phoenix. (I double checked online because I couldn't believe it!)I lounged by the pool in the shade of an umbrella. Only coming out to dip in the pool!

This was dawn the next morning from my room on the 6th floor.Unfortunately because I was so busy and alternately exhausted that was about all I saw of Phoenix! well except the evil Walmart....
yep, had to.... walked down there to pick up supplies.

Thought for the Day

2010-08-10T19:10:00.002-04:00

"I was awfully curious to find out why I didn't go insane." -Abraham Maslow

This made me laugh outloud!
I have been at the computer since 9:30 this morning....
it is now getting dark, 7:30pm.
Typing, copy/pasting, emailing, bank account balancing, proofreading, fixing, tweaking...
I think I shall stop, my body cannot take this anymore!
and people wonder why I have trouble finding time to make things!
And I missed such a gorgeous day. It'll all be worth it soon! very soon!

Marcia MacDonald

2010-07-24T16:42:00.006-04:00

Kindness goes a long, long way.

Many years ago when I was a budding jewelry artist I did craft shows. The other jewelry people I met were often, not always, but often antisocial and unfriendly. They frequently exhibited paranoid behavior and would clam up if they knew I made jewelry, afraid that I was stealing their designs. The craft shows could be grueling, hot, dusty, tiring... I think my back is ruined from my craft show days. A little community feeling was nice, rare but lovely when it occurred. One night at an indoor local show a women walked into my booth. She commended me on my work. She was kind and open and sweet. She told me she was a metalsmith and had a local studio and invited me to come by. I was shocked and amazed. I thought I knew all the local metals people. She was the friendliest metalsmith I'd met to up to then! I went to her studio. I was bowled over. On the wall was a huge poster of a work I had flagged in a Tim McCreight book. I pointed and said "That's... that's.." and we both simultaneously said "Shaken Not Stirred". "Yeah that's mine" she replied. I felt like I was dreaming. Here was someone I'd never met but I'd admired their work in books, who was right here in my little two bit town, AND she was hospitable, generous, with skills FAR superior to mine and reaching out the hand of friendship to ME?!
Her name was Marcia MacDonald. She spent that afternoon showing me things encouraging me offering advice. She went on to do the same on a number of occasions.
She lived here briefly and then went on to bigger and better things on the West Coast. Today I find that Marcia has passed away. She succumbed to a long battle with cancer. I must chime in with the hundreds of voices this week lauding Marcia as a wonderful person and accomplished metalsmith. Though we were never close, she was always kind and I am better for having known her. She showed me what being a woman contemporary metalsmith could be like. That a craftswoman one could glow with confidence, and generosity and not give into pettiness and fear. She and I talked at length about starting a metals club here because I was starved for other folks who had my same passion for metalworking and art jewelry. She felt that we should be a giving, sharing community of craftspeople, that is was healthy to prosper together. Those of us who knew her will miss her bright light. The metalsmithing community will miss her wonderful work. I feel blessed that her path crossed mine.

John's Flock!

2010-07-21T11:23:00.003-04:00

My buddy John W. Golden's artwork is in Garnet Hill catalog!
check out his blog here.

Tidbits

2010-07-18T20:30:00.003-04:00

Hi folks! sorry I'm scarce these days...busy, friends in town, trunk show, book negotiations.... exciting times! But I was browsing Klimt02 go check it out if you haven't. Its an amazing international resource for art jewelers.
Absolutely mind blowing!
Check this out! I am in love with this work:

Hanna Hedman
Stockholm, Sweden

Necklace: Enough tears to cry for two series 2008

Silver, oxidized silver, copper, synthetic fibers and paint
5 x 18 x 63 cm
Photograph by Sanna Lindberg

Twins

2010-07-12T12:27:00.004-04:00

I drive my route and contemplate... why is it that I spend my summers engrossed in tropical dreamland and my winters in found-object/steampunkland? Well, I figure it's partly because of those dang Gemini twins I was born under! I also live in this semi tropical environment, so I'm surrounded by spanish moss, palmettos, live oaks.... I was so excited when my plumeria recently bloomed!

Last night one of my best friends/grad school roomie and fellow metalsmith, Adrienne Grafton came to visit. She's on a break from her teaching circuit and is languishing with her husband as I write, on Wrightsville Beach, soaking up the sun. She and I, and fellow alumni Nick Mowers have a trunk show this weekend, Saturday 4-6pm at Woods Gallery on Bald Head Island. I will bring my letter stamps some copper and will let people make their own little charms for $5. Fun!

So in playing tour guide I begin to see my environment from different eyes. Adrienne is a beach person at heart, currently living in Pennsylvania, so right now she's in hog heaven! I on the other hand get bogged down here with my daily grind. Wilmington's home, so its not always amazing to me. Adrienne has been a new lens. I am thankful. She's a Gemini too, BTW....

Check out her blog! gorgeous jewelry!

Go West!

2010-07-02T12:22:00.004-04:00

Robert and I want to head into the sunset in one of these!!!
They're designed and made by artist Lynn Sedar of Ranch Willow Wagon Co. in Wyoming.

New Whimsies!

2010-07-02T00:32:00.006-04:00

After two grueling days trying to come up with proposals for retreats (and work my regular jobs) I made these!
House of Mojo! and Tiny Garden of Glass.

I hope they're chosen!

Hands Across the Sand

2010-06-27T10:01:00.004-04:00

My daughter and her Grandmother participated in Hands Across the Sand yesterday at Wrightsville Beach. The event was to oppose offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy and renewables. Our local paper did an article and you can find the national site here.
My daughter took these pics.

King Bennie Nawahi My Girl From the South Seas

2010-06-26T16:21:00.000-04:00

Shrimp Farming

2010-06-20T10:47:00.002-04:00

This used to be a mangrove forest. Now its a shrimp farm....
for some info:
Mangrove Action Project

Spirit Dolls

2010-06-16T01:52:00.003-04:00

Robert and I were up late last night making spirit doll prototypes for a class next year. Robert made the Mask faced one I did the Birdwoman.

Belt buckle

2010-06-04T13:44:00.003-04:00

rock on....

Art Bliss!!!

2010-05-26T20:10:00.004-04:00

Ladies and Gentlemen I give you ArtBliss!
A new EAST COAST art Retreat!!! YES! Right here on our side of the world September 24 - 26, 2010 at Hampton Inn & Suites Washington-Dulles Hotel in Sterling, Virginia!
Pack your bags it should be a blast!

Sally Reed

2010-05-24T06:54:00.003-04:00

Wanted to brag some more on student work from last semester. This is the work of Sally Reed. The first image is of her belt buckle. She was in my Metals 1 class and became entranced with texture. She's one of a handfull from last semester that are off an running and buying tools! Yay!

This is Shell by Geoffrey Jones

2010-05-21T13:52:00.000-04:00

Very COOL!
A Shell ad shot in 1970 by Geoffrey Jones. This and his other short movies can be found on The Rhythm of Film DVD

Ron Pippin

2010-05-19T09:27:00.006-04:00

and I give you Ron Pippin and his marvelous creations!

Polly Morgan

2010-05-19T09:20:00.004-04:00

This is Polly Morgan:

This is Polly Morgan's artwork!
Check it:

To Do

2010-05-13T10:06:00.005-04:00

Many of you have heard me whine before about the mountain of "to do's". Well, Mary Ellen Golden sent me this article. In it Srikumar S. Rao talks about improving your efficiency through first taking note of your mental chatter.

Not a problem! where do I sign up?

He starts with
"Odds are you sometimes feel like you're swimming in molasses. Your strokes are good, with power in them, but you're just not moving forward as fast as you'd like. You look at your to-do list at the end of the day, and too many items aren't yet scratched off and will lengthen tomorrow's list."

Oh, TOTALLY! I am SO on board.....

And here's his crystal clear nugget:

"Listen. Here is a fact of life. When you label something as bad, you are very likely to experience it as bad. In fact, you're almost certain to. But as your own experience has shown you, you never really know at first whether what happens to you is good or bad. You may not know for years. You may never know..... When you refuse to label something that happens to you as bad, then you don't experience it as adversity, and bouncing back is much easier. When you don't fall down, you don't have to get up."

SO wonderful! I have been trying to teach my daughter this, I try to help my friends through crises with this type of thinking! I just need to be reminded myself.

Last night I was distressed about a million things. I was laying staring at the ceiling. Robert walked in took one look and said,"What's wrong with you?" I told him.
He sighed and said,"How can you think that when your the luckiest person I know!" "I AM?!" I reply.
"Yeah, you wanted to be accepted to grad school, Ding!
You wanted to teach at Artfest, Ding!
You wanted to be accepted at more art retreats, Ding!
You wanted a job at CFCC, Ding!
You wanted your daughter full time, Ding!
You wanted a studio at Wabi Sabi, Ding!
then you wanted a studio at home, Ding!
You wanted to live in this house, Ding!
then this spring you wanted a new (used) car, specifically a Subaru, Ding!
You wanted your summer school class to fill, Ding!
You wanted me, Ding! (I know right?)...
the Universe just LOVES to give you stuff!"
Obviously I was laughing by the time he listed himself!
Hmmmm, he has a point!
Well then! Now I want to do a book! I want to travel to Europe again. I want a Dumore small precision drill press... all doable!
but I better not get toooo carried away! ;-)

Tara & Bella

2010-05-08T10:59:00.000-04:00

Oh, you will cry! but it'll be worth it!

Mission Accomplished

2010-05-07T21:34:00.004-04:00

Well, I got a packet today from the Humanities secretary... my student's evaluation of me as a teacher.

I couldn't look at it.

I was too scared.

I always have good comments, but there's always one or two that have criticism. That's not such a bad thing, but it's hard for me to be objective. I take it too personally. I've tried to tell myself all the things one would, "You can't please everybody. It's not about being liked" or "They have a valid point and I need to grow as an instructor." etc......

Their responses are typed, so I have no way of knowing who wrote them, but it's still scary to be criticized. I am throwing my all students a cookout tomorrow here at my house, I'd just gone and bought loads of hotdogs, buns beans.... and I told myself I wouldn't look at the evaluation until after, in case there was a bad mark and I felt hurt. So I'm listening to E-Town on NPR doing dishes... Robert's teaching in Raleigh and Meredith's gone to a friend's house. I have procrastinated a much as I can, and now I see the envelope staring at me. I open it against better judgement.

I burst out laughing. They're so funny! and glowing...

Excerpt from one:
"I love Ms. Manley... I wish I could fail and be with her again!"
Love this one: "She deserves a pay raise and her own parking space."
This one made me want to cry: "Ms. Manley is a great metals and life teacher."

How wonderful!!!! I feel validated. I'm only part time. So I only get paid for the actual hour(s) in the classroom, face to face with the students. The extra time I put in with out pay painting a old showcase to put their work in, or babysitting the student art show last week, the extra money I pump into the class when we need things I can't order, or time delivering work that wasn't picked up from the show, sweeping the floor, scrubbing the sink, repairing tools, or driving broken tools across town to those that can repair them.... all seem worth it now. I do those things because I love metalsmithing and I want to see people get to do it, who normally wouldn't. I can confidently say that all of these people who took my class this semester wouldn't be making jewelry and metal work if it weren't for the class at CFCC. Most of them would never even have been exposed to "art metal" or "art jewelry". So my work here is done.
Warm inside!

Ring of Bright Water

2010-05-06T08:50:00.004-04:00

photo by Michael Franklin

Ring of Bright Water is one of my favorite movies. I'm ashamed to say I have not read the book. But I thought it a fitting title to this post. I've enjoyed reading Jake Stachovak's blog and want to share this paragraph from his About page with you:
"It's Not Really About Me - It's About the Water
It’s about you and all the people along the route, and anybody else that cares to listen. I’m not out to prove anything about myself with this trip. By many people’s standards it doesn’t even fit the description of an expedition. Paddling 5000 miles through everyone’s backyard isn’t “hard core” enough to compare to trips that probe remote arctic islands or cross entire oceans. What I hope sharing this trip does do is show people how paddle sports can open up a world of adventure right near home. I also hope that the route itself (starting and ending in the same small town in Wisconsin, linked by a continuous loop of water around a third of our country) shows how we all are linked by water. Perhaps with an appreciation for watersports and the realization that we all share the same water we may be motivated to take care of it for the future. "
You can read more here.

Robert & Jake as he loads up to head north.

Celebrity in the House!

2010-05-06T07:00:00.003-04:00

photo by Micheal Franklin

Robert and I were lucky enough to host Jake Stachovak. Jake is kayaking from Portage Wisconsin in a loop down the Mississippi, around Florida, up the East Coast all the way back to Portage. Read about his amazing trip here!

A Steam punk romance. By keithnewsteadautomata.com

2010-05-04T23:58:00.000-04:00

Oh yeah!

The Cog is Dead - "The Death of the Cog"

2010-05-04T23:06:00.000-04:00

FUN!

the hissss of steam

2010-05-04T22:34:00.001-04:00

Josh Sreb

2010-05-04T10:44:00.003-04:00

I have to brag on some of my students. It's the end of the year at CFCC and I'm taking photos of the final work. I'll share some more as the week progresses. I just finished tweaking these images of Josh Sreb's work.
Isn't it WONDERFUL!?
I'm hoping Josh's work will be accepted into a new Quarry press book coming out, Steeeeeeeeeampunk!
And hopefully, we'll see more of his work as he progresses. This semester was Josh's first foray into metalworking! CFCC will be loosing Josh, along with a number of my other best students as they go off to other schools and pursuits. BTW- the cuff is for sale as is the second belt buckle pictured. I keep telling Josh and others that they need online stores/etsy shops. Let him know what you think!

Intimacy

2010-05-03T23:32:00.002-04:00

So, it's late. I have to get up a 6. I should be in bed, but I feel verbose. I was recently thinking about a comment a woman made at my table of wares at Artfest this year. She said,
"wow, your work is so refined... and its so ... intimate." It just cropped back up in my mind and I'm swishing it around. How nice. I like it... intimate. Isn't that what jewelry does best? Its given intimately. Its small and requires a paring down of experience... a scaling down of vision. Keith Lo Bue talks about allowing the viewer in, and that being the choice of the wearer... I think I'm drawn to nuance as well. I like it when something's packed with nuance. Or when subtlety is used... a subtle transition from one edge to another, or a fading texture gradually dying off a surface. Ah.. so lovely... and when it's done well! a patina that is used just so... a fine file that has gently licked off a sharp edge and softened it and then been lovingly sanded to the silkiest of smoothnesses.... so nice.

Why am I enraptured with metal? I mean really, why? why not clay? I love clay! I used to adore it! but now its okay, I mean I like it an all. Why not oil paints or soil? I used to adore soil! ...and humus and roots and the warm smell of it on my hands, but now..
it is metal that I cannot stop thinking about. I drive the road, NPR playing in the background dreaming of how many different hinges I can make for one locket. How many different ways I can trap a shell in metal. How many different ways I could solder a platform onto a ring to raise it up differently each time. why does my brain do this? And then why is it so hard to actually make the metal sugarplums that dance in my head? It seems there's never time.
I guess it's back to that word, intimacy. I am intimately involved with copper and silver. We are in a love triangle we three.
Or is it an age thing? is there something about middle age when your brain kicks into high gear, but only on certain things? I can't remember my middle name but ask me a question about metal! ah well... it's a lovely affair.

Whitman

2010-04-30T07:34:00.004-04:00

....walked out to the studio, after making diner, after teaching.... the late evening air was so cool, so lovely. No hint of the awful August ahead. The birds were still about. The cat snuck out beside my leg, exited to be loosed on the night world. I had mistakenly left the radio playing softly on a shelf. Even though the dinner in the house was in the oven, the timer about to ding, I thought I'd just flip on one soft desk light and touch some of my tools, revisit the project, one of millions I've had to abandon mid-process to go to a part time job. So I stole it, that soft moment at the bench, not even 4 minutes of time and then it happened. Just liek things like these do, there it was wafting out of the radio... someone reading Whitman.

I froze at the words. I've never payed one whit (no pun intended) of attention to Walt Whitman. I preferred the romantics or Rumi, but I could not ignore it. It sliced my thoughts open with such a quick clean cut. Here try it yourself:

"There's no object so soft that it makes a hub for the wheeled universe. And any man or woman shall stand cool and supercilious before a million universes. And I call to mankind, be not curious about God, for I who am curious about each am not curious about God. No array of terms can say how much I'm at peace about God and about death. I hear and behold God in every object, yet I understand God not in the least, nor do I understand who there can be more wonderful than myself. Why should I wish to see God better than this day? I see something of God each hour of the 24 and each moment then, in the faces of men and women. I see God and in my own face in the glass. I find letters from God dropped in the street and everyone is signed by Gods name and I leave them where they are, for I know that others will punctually come forever and ever. And as to you, death, and you bitter hug of mortality, it is idle to try to alarm me."

so beautiful.... guess I had better pay more attention.

My New Etsy shop

2010-04-25T14:30:00.003-04:00

Check out my new shop saltwatercowgurlz.etsy.com. The focus will be belt buckles and belts. I don't have any buckles up yet,soon, soon! But I have plenty of belts!

My Students Buckles

2010-04-25T14:24:00.003-04:00

Thought I'd share some of Cape Fear Community College students' belt buckles:
Alex Kleiner, Aleah Smith ( has dried pansies under plexiglass) and Courtney Fryar.

Otter Skull Fetish

2010-04-25T11:28:00.004-04:00

Here are pictures taken at the Iron Chef Artists Challenge by Rachel Bowen Thanks Rachel!!!
In these the fetish is still damp. I made it to hang on the wall. The sausage casings and concentrated watercolors dried lighter, and if I remember correctly some of the salt left a white frosty effect. BTW- the otter skull was a resin replica!! No otters were harmed in the Iron Chef Artist Challenge or the making of this art piece. Also the large chunk of coral was supplied by AF in the kit. As many of you know, I'm adamantly against using coral. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS FARM RAISED OR FAST GROWING CORAL. these are myths perpetrated by the bead industry to fool you into purchasing guilt free. I almost had an argument with the bead store lady in Port Townsend. She insisted that there are farms in China that raise coral! Which I find preposterous. I was buying red glass there that looked coral and commented as such. But I just was weak at AF and used this piece that was provided.
Read more:
Oceana
Too Precious to Wear
World Wildlife Fund

Artfest Experiences

2010-04-18T11:51:00.006-04:00

Hey! This is a photo by Adeola. I'm planning my creation at the Iron Chef Artist Challenge sitting next to Theo Elsworth, wearing his ghost glasses. She just a posted Artfest pictures on her blog! click here
You can see some of the great energy generated by the Iron Chef Artist Challenge and if you scroll down, I really enjoyed her pics of the journaling in the Kitchen Shelter by the beach. Love that tattoo! The bonfire journaling party is one of my FAVORITE events at AF the fire, the dogs and marshmallows, the creativity, the old woodstove going.... I well up with emotion!

Hat seller

2010-04-17T11:15:00.002-04:00

I feel like the hat seller in a children's books. They're stacked on my head like a Dagwood's sandwich. I have not prepped and uploaded any Artfest photos nor have I worked on my tool junkie blog... and I am taking time out for this right now. the last down time I had was the Monday after Artfest when Robert and lazed and wandered about Port Townsend. I hit the ground here literally running. Our plane landed Tuesday after Artfest after an overnight redeye flight at 10:30 am. My dad picked us up at the airport and drove Robert to his part time outfitter job, and me to straight to the community college! I taught for three hours went home and collapsed.
I feel better about things when I forgive myself for all that I do.
Lists are great:
-clean house, unpack, set my studio up again
-teach/prep demos/ grade fix grades that are not loaded up online
-work on commissions from Adorn Me: don't worry ladies I've not forgotten about you!
-start with new VERY COOL private student she's hooked me up with a local teaching workshop venue
-meet/talk/email with new local teaching workshop venue:stay tuned!
-Email with event organizer in DC for a new retreat/ there come up with classes for them!
-Help organize CFCC student art show jurying this week/ view event venue/ plan display for the metals (need to repaint the showcase next week)
-make work to submit to a potential book a friend is doing???
-Take work back to the Gallery and get more made for summer
-Etsy...sigh... haven't done anything there. I have a new shop opening there of belts and belt buckles but its not happening anytime soon.
-Email...forever the email, sorry Kim... I'm still here!
-Book! yes, I want to do a book! this one is the "for Me" thing on the list. I wish the world would quit turning so I can make work and write!
-Robert and I HAVE to go shop for a car next week. I've been borrowing his and its his kayaking rust bucket (near or in salt water all the time.
-notice what's last on the list:
take care of me! exercize, loose weight, get my waning health under control... plant herbs and flowers....

Anyway the moral of the story is life is never easy for anyone. It throws stuff at us and we need to learn to juggle. So I wear this stack of hats and hey, it shades me from sun, keeps me warm... there are lots of benefits! Its a creative life! I get to make things and make things happen and touch lives in classrooms making things with others! But I don't always return emails quickly. And I might not have time to read and sign your online petition, or come to your party or opening, but I will try!

DC anyone?

2010-04-17T11:06:00.002-04:00

Who wants to go to DC for the weekend and make art?? Anyone? Raise your hands....
Stay tuned!

Sublime

2010-04-13T12:43:00.000-04:00

Thanks Daxx! Right up my alley!

Robert's Trek to Charleston-Night 1

2010-04-12T23:10:00.002-04:00

Mother Nature has reminded Robert just how much he doesn't know!
He had high reviews for the staff at East Bay Park in Georgetown, SC. But tonight on Cedar Island is another story. He said he'd not see another boat or soul for hours. And as he landed and started setting up camp huge mosquitoes descended. He was very nearly sucked to a dry husk before he managed to put on a storm cag to try and gain some protection as he got the tent up. At our last phone conversation he feared they would realize they could all team up and pick up the tent and carry him off like a giant burrito. He said there were so many hitting the tent that it sounded like rain! He pulled as many supplies as he could near the zipper so he could just dart a hand out for what he needed. Not sure this in the man alone communing with nature that he'd hoped for!
Last position: Latitude:33.13423 Longitude:-79.2472

View Larger Map

Roberts Trek to Charleston

2010-04-12T17:31:00.002-04:00

SO Robert had to modify his big kayak trip from here to Charleston due to a death in the family over the weekend. But he checked in today at Latitude:33.35687 and Longitude:-79.28007

View Larger Map
He'll paddle down Winyah Bay and out into the ocean. cool.....

Artfest 2010 Iron Chef Artists Challenge!

2010-03-31T19:59:00.004-04:00

I have no pictures of the Artfest Iron Chef Artists challenge so I stole this one. Linn Woodard took it and I stole it from Carla Sonheim's blog (There are stunning pics of Fort Worden there).

So, here's the deal, Teesha decided she wanted some interesting events this year at AF. She had a band the first night, Surrealized, truly AWESOME! gave us goosebumps!
Then on Thursday night any teachers who wished to could participate in the Iron Chef Artists Challenge. We chose either 3D or 2D. I of course chose 3D. We were given the same bag of cool stuff and 30 minutes to make something out of it. We were allowed to bring our own bag of "tricks". I was kind of dreading it after I said I would do it. It just felt like a competition even though it wasn't supposed to me. And I felt on the spot about it and Stephanie Rubiano, Keith LoBue, Micheal DeMeng were all participating.... I just dreaded being compared to them. But! here's what happened! Tracy handed me my bag of goodies and the start was announced. I dumped it out and what fell out on my table but a replica realistic resin otter skull!!!! Yeah! Way! it did! right then the world around me fell away...DeMeng who? I was enthralled and instantly began making a fetish. The next 30 minutes evaporated and time stopped. People pushed and crowded and cameras flashed, members of Surrealized played. While I noticed the music I had no clue about anything else. I just made. I twisted wire and assembled. I stretched sausage casing around it all and painted it with vibrant watercolors. It was SOOOOOOO fun! They added additional minutes but I barely needed any. I was the first person finished in my area and I LOVED how it turned out. People have promised to send me pics so I'll share when I get some.

Countdown

2010-03-18T10:34:00.004-04:00

me at Artfest last year

Why do I adore Artfest so much? so many reasons...
At Adorn Me a couple of ladies asked me about it. They'd heard it was expensive, cold...
not worth it. They were SADLY misled. I am not a wealthy person by any stretch, and I get cold like the next person but that's like saying, "I heard Heaven's really boring and the gold streets are a bummer to stub your toe on." ???!!! really!? okay well.. you just go right on believing that!

Artfest is so priceless to me. I would do all kinds of things to be able to go every year.
The environment is a visual feast. The textures and rich greens... the lushness....
the view out to the ocean over the gorgeous bluff, the peeling old paint on some of the older buildings, then add to it the artists and their plumage! Teesha and Tracey are the coolest people EVER! and around then flock the coolest people EVER! The magical energy and vitality that swirls around next week at Artfest is unlike any other retreat... for me that is. I'm not a fan of the hotel retreat environment. Of course it make sense your indoors to learn the workshop... but its so sterile, fake and the air is recycled and has that icky hotel smell. don't get me wrong with hotel retreats the organizers try really hard to make it fun and choose great teachers and they can be a blast too. But I prefer a space that is inspiring. I want a vista, or scenery, or a gorgeous sky when I am not making or teaching. It is so wonderful in our time off to hike up the bluff, or down to the lovely lighthouse amongst the sculptural driftwood on a beach peppered with interesting rocks and pebbles. once in Anahata's class on the upper floor of one of the old buildings the sun brilliantly blazed forth through the tall windows. We cracked them and let the warm air breeze in. She put on fantastic music and we painted together in silence with the sounds and smells of the sea wafting in through the windows, while birds chirped outside and clouds billowed by on a blue sky. You could smell grass lawn being mowed... glorious and so NOT hotel...
The nearby town is quaint, picturesque and artsy. Its people delightfully friendly and talkative. Robert and I are entranced. A lot of folks are when they visit Port Townsend.
I couldn't imagine thinking Artfest was expensive. Teesha tries hard to make it available to all. There are even scholarship situations. So if you are reading this and on the fence, you will never, never regret coming to Artfest.

Floats on a fence by Ranger's housing Fort Worden.

Dreamcatching

2010-03-18T10:23:00.004-04:00

the grasses at Fort Worden at Artfest last year.

McCabe of Dancing Mermaid said this a day or so ago:
"i think the closer i get to my dreams the more i freak myself out."

Wow....
have to agree. I think this is why its really HARD to follow our dreams! We think we want to but its work, its scary, it may require change.... just not simple. but usually the rewards are untold, even unimagined!

Monday , Monday....

2010-03-15T23:23:00.003-04:00

Wow, back in the swing for a week at the community college, then off again for Artfest! I have midterms to grade, assignments to grade, handouts to design for Artfest, outlines to do, supply lists to check off, new jewelry that may never get made, business cards to make for a friend, more shopping to do, and re orders for the community college for supplies for next year, our student show's in a few weeks, boxes to ship and disasters to avert! *pant*pant* Then tonight, lots of soothing to do with the teenage female person! Lots of emotional turmoil... I told her today, "well, might as well get used to it. One minute you'll be angry, the next elated, the next depressed and feeling inadequate... that's what being a teenager is all about! It's jam packed with feelings and emotions all swirling around. You have to learn how to deal with them and control them. It's a learning process you can't avoid. You have to grow through all those emotions!" She said, "its kind of like being bipolar only there's no medication for being a teenager!" I said "you got it! pat yourself on the back for figuring that out now!" She cracked a smile. We made found object goodie boxes for vendor night at Artfest, complete with clock gears, resistors, and itty bitty electrical thingies. While I graded, she baked some white chocolate macadamia nut cookies and searched bizarre choral music on youtube. She made extra cookies to take to her girlfriends at school. She really enjoyed making the goodie boxes with me she said,"Mom, I can't wait 'til I can go to Artfest with you."
Soon... maybe when she's 17 she'll be old enough... I love it so much there, Artfest itself, the students, the instructors, the volunteers, the art, vendor night, the trees, the Fort, the beach, the driftwood, the rocks, Port Townsend!
.... and I know she would too.

Small Pleasures

2010-03-14T11:12:00.004-04:00

Woke to this in the morning and thought it was just lovely.

Later, over my cereal and coffee, I read another artist's beautiful blog. Ya' know its so frustrating... there is always somebody more talented, and more prolific with a cooler life. Its hard to keep your eyes on your own paper. I'm not jealous, I mean I like my life and I don't have malicious feelings, just envious feelings... "I wish" feelings. But those are non productive. I fight them so often... and I know envy is a cancer. And I have Artfest to get ready for! As hard as it is for me to get any studio time, and productive studio time at that... I can't get derailed in a quagmire of self doubt. *sigh* Just wish I were more free in my work and cranked out cool stuff at the rate she does. I seriously doubt she's on anyone else's blog envying! But for those of us that experience these moments take heart, and dig deep into your own life.

On a lighter note here's some pictures of the belt buckles my student Beth Hammett just finished for her sons! They were a winter ordeal. They had to be redone and worked over a number of times. She told her sons they'd have to change their homeowners policies because these were now worth $10,000.00 each due to the amount of work in them! the end result is wonderful she should be proud. One is faux bone with a city skyline inspired by her son's business logo. The fauxbone encloses a piece of Russian meteorite. the buckle's etched "when you wish upon a star" on the reverse. The other buckle is an enameled basse taille (etched)water scene. It has our mutually favorite quote from Isak Dinesan "The cure for anything is salt water; sweat, tears or the sea."