Thursday, December 30, 2010

looking ahead to 2011

For the past five years I have traveled to Tucson, Arizona to purchase gemstones for that years jewelry production. Every year I spend too much money and come home with gems that I purchase but don't make anything with. It is such a shame to have all of these beautiful stones sitting in plastic bags instead of sparkling in a piece of jewelry! So this brings me to 2011 New Years resolution:

January 2011 is One of a Kind Month
I am going to design a piece of jewelry 'a day' and post it on my site on Etsy.com for purchase. This will give me that chance to make unique things that will not be duplicated since the stones I am using are not possible to find again. Etsy seems like the best place to post my new creations and have them available for sale. I plan to have a photo of the stone that is going to be used posted on this blog. Once the design is done, it will be posted on Etsy. I am hoping that the sales of these pieces accomplish two things:
• inspire me
• allow me to purchase more beautiful gems in February

Stay tuned- I hope you are as excited about this as I am! January 3rd will see me back in the studio. That is the day that I will start digging through my gems!

2010 Year end

Christmas craft show season has come and gone in one big blur. It always surprises me how quickly it is upon me (how did September get here so soon?), how the panic sets in (I'll never have time to make everything!), and then how I can sit with a coffee one morning and calmly look back at it (I did it!).

I always enjoy meeting the people that support my passion. Thank you all for letting me do what I love to do! I hope that all of the gifts purchased will be enjoyed and that everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Summer time shows!

It has been a week of some good news for me on the craft show front. My summer was looking rather long with no craft show or folk music festival in sight, so I went to check out the Kelowna Farmers Market. I was accepted so now my Saturday will start with a cup of coffee at 4am! For first year sellers it is a first come first serve for spots. By mid June I was told that a 4am start was necessary to get a spot. Yikes! I'm game to try it out and see if it is worth while. I need to let people know about me and the studio at the Rotary Centre. I have really enjoyed teaching silversmithing there and want to fill up my classes for the fall.

I got a phone call tonight and there was a cancellation for the Vernon Creative Chaos sale so I now have a corner booth for that one. I'm really happy! I sold there for three years in a row and now this was going to be my third year of not getting in. I love cancellations. Now if only the Edmonton folk fest will call..... my summer will be made then.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Tucson Gem Show

























2010 Tucson Gem Show was a whirlwind. I had only one day to get my shopping done - there is no way I could have done that several years ago! There are so many shows to see that it takes a couple of years to get the hang of it. The Gem Show covers three weeks and over 15 shows, all at different venues over Tucson. Some are in large convention centres and hotel ballrooms, while others are in large football field sized tents filled with booth after booth of gems and pearls. I just register for the large AGTA show (American Gem Trade Association) and that badge pretty well gets you into all of the other shows.

I spent the day with my best friend Heather who, along with my shopping list, kept me on track! (Heather was the official photographer of the day too) It is far too easy to get distracted, and in the end, spend too much money. I was looking for strands of semi-precious stones, cabachon cut gems, and also some faceted stones. I found some really interesting new cuts of beads that I am excited to play with. I always find some interesting things that I have no idea of what I'm going to do with, but just can't resist buying anyway! This year it seemed to be anything that was pink. I bought some beautiful bright pink tourmaline that will make fabulous earrings and matching pendant. Keep an eye out for them!




Friday, January 15, 2010

2010 Inspiration

I have been thinking a lot about unfinished business. We all have things that are on our minds, things that persist but may not be acted upon. I guess this has formed a sort of new years resolution for me. I have several 'suites' of work that I have more variations of floating around in my head but have just never gotten around to making. Well, this is the year that they will be made! I have started expanding on things that I like in my work, exploring other possibilities with mixing shapes and textures, adding stones and color. So far, I am having fun and putting some nice 'new' pieces together. Expect to see more swirls and swirl textures in 2010. That is still a shape that I love to work with. Now I must get back to the studio...