keeping afloat on synchronicity
I am always so deeply touched by all the positive reinforcement I receive around Artfest time! I'm completely blown away by your reaction to my art and cannot thank you enough for sharing it with me! I would continue on regardless [because let's face it , making art is addicting! ]... but hearing how you appreciate its uniqueness (and sometimes REALLY 'get it') is buttercream icing on the cake :) It's always such a treat for me to rub elbows with other artists, especially those who make things I love, but can't imagine venturing into myself. I've been so lucky to be mentored by amazing artists, and it's really given me the need to cherish the artists I adore and continue to offer my help to them whenever I can.
Artfest was amazing ... it wasn't the same w/o my partner's-in-crime though [lori b / celine / bernie], but it was really wonderful to spend lots of one-on-one time with my mom ( thanks mom!). I always love to take jewelry classes at Artfest ... I've been making jewelry of one kind or another since I was about 10, but I feel like I don't make it consistently enough on my own to grow like I've grown in other areas.
So, this year I took 2 classes from Susan Lenart Kazmer, who I just adore!!! This is my second time taking classes from her at Artfest and I'm never disappointed by her ingenuity and creativeness when it comes to metalworking. She gets me thinking in boxes I never even knew were in my closet! This piece above was the 3rd I made during AF and my favorite. (didn't hurt that Judy Wilkenfield of Red Velvet was across the room from me and full of laughter ... it was a treat alone to finally meet her after admiring her work from afar). I used a band of nickle left over from the ring class the day before to make the box of numbers. Larry gave me some wonderful number handstamps that I hammered into the surface and then torched the whole strip until it was oxidized. I sanded away most of the oxidation to leave the numbers black and the rest my favorite finish ... brushed metal. The number box spins around on a copper tube and has a red blown-glass bead and washers inside. This one at left reminds me of an creamy ranunculus ... each layer of resined dictionary paper has a special word I cut out ... they spin in circles around the silver wire. I wrapped the ring in green silk ribbon and topped it off with a heart shaped bead cap and silver snowball bead that sparkles. I had a wonderful time in both classes and made amazing jewlery - thanks Susie!!!
I had a great time at Vendor's night ... it's always so fun to meet all of you! I got to meet Cassondra of
Citrus Faire which was wonderful, and she introduced me to the gals from The Art Nest. I chatted them up about teaching at one of their retreats in Utah so stay tuned! Mom ran into Doña in the hallway the first day of classes and it was so great to catch up with her :) I also bought lots and lots of goodies! If you click on the photo and look at it over on Flickr you can see what everything is and where I bought it ... and this was just the stuff I could decide on ... there was so much more I had to pass up on! I also bought 3 pieces of very cool paper, but it's too big to photo so you'll have to wait for it to show up in artwork!
One of the most inspiring things I purchased at AF was this bisque doll body from Judy [they have a magical story here]------------>
Right away it spoke to me and the most wonderful idea crept into my mind about how to use her ... I've been wanting to make something really different around a Peapod theme and I think I have finally found the perfect object for inside the pod. I'm going to start working a my peapod project next week [have deadlines for Somerset to finish up first!] and want to incorporate some of Susan's metalworking concepts with felt to create a Peapod that is bursting open. I'm going to stitch my felt pot to a metal frame and have a hinge ( door ) where the baby's head is so the pod opens up and reveals the baby growing inside. Then I'll have metal and thread tendrils flowing off the body of the Peapod. Stay tuned for further thoughts and photos as this piece evolves!
NOW GO MAKE ART! I had another surgery yesterday [ that actually went better than any of the other 7 before ] and it's time to go rest on the icepack again :) I would love to hear what you're up to and what's inspiring you this spring!
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