tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82146853468009603582024-02-06T21:05:37.935-08:00metaldreameran artist's thoughts on jewelry making, playing violin and cello, and paintingmetaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-32025584950181886442014-06-24T08:49:00.000-07:002014-06-24T08:49:08.616-07:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
hey internet...now that it is what, 3 years later, I guess I should do some catching up. Well, I still make jewelry, but no more farm market. I sell on Etsy still under the name metaldreamer and I sell with a great litle gallery in Carson City, NV called Artsy Fartsy. I started playing irish fiddle, about 3 years ago and I have been been a maniac about picking up and learning traditional tunes...then I hauled off and bought a cello this past spring and have been taking lessons from this great guy named Lou Groffman in Carson City. He has me holding the instrument correctly, reading bass clef and all around learning my cello ABC's...so, in my spare time I started plein air painting around the Sierras and into California(mostly when my husband golphs..). I have a triangle of goodness...jewelry, paint, and music. It just doesn't get better than that. i will start adding things on here again:)<br />
Here are some shots of an 8x10 done at sunset of this little dirt road by my house in Dayton called Fort Churchill road.. the air was crisp, and the sound was quiet, but the color of the light was ablaze, I was sad when my time with the light quit. Sigh, the sun just kept moving even as I furiously stroked the panel. This one was done in under 28 minutes due to that fact. Until next time..have fun out there where ever you are:)<br />
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metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-48227923754877241062011-08-23T08:54:00.000-07:002011-08-23T08:54:49.611-07:00my brain is on fire...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_pe0ssb="194" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZqVpDmCslDbSzuuNsDLVQ9a0lW9CX6O2U_1zEBFfsG9mS4y1TN2LF_VsBKG4GOidg1A2o7IfGjObB6NUtDjYVtVuyzERUKtmr1s3OxErjIwnoEGCdaZCc1RdoBTcKfugjnYEUxX62lgs/s1600/296909628_f153c8f294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ZqVpDmCslDbSzuuNsDLVQ9a0lW9CX6O2U_1zEBFfsG9mS4y1TN2LF_VsBKG4GOidg1A2o7IfGjObB6NUtDjYVtVuyzERUKtmr1s3OxErjIwnoEGCdaZCc1RdoBTcKfugjnYEUxX62lgs/s320/296909628_f153c8f294.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>yes, my brain is onfire. I have been working nostop for several weeks and this weekend I took off and did NOTHING in my studio for 2 days. Washed laundry, actually swept my skanky floor, and went fishin with my family. Yup, it was GOOD. Today, I was mulling over my commissions, the fact I just filled a wholesale order and that took 3/4 of my stock and all that background noise of customer whispers of wishes in my head. My head. It started swishin around, a rumba picked up, changed to a tango, and came out a two-step with earrings in mind, even though I have only metal gauges for pendants. The earring gauge metal is on order, again....see what i mean! <br />
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</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">At the local market, I have had a request for more earrings, smaller, light-weight earring for an older, BUT hip clientele....also post earrings. It seems that a post is most comfortable for a damage ear, or an earhole that has,(ahem) been pulled from wearing too heavy of an ear, or that result of living through the '80s big earring era... I also have noticed that those that are purchasing, look at price, and want something that looks expensive at a good-quality price, and turn down anything that smacks of cheap--woot! Seriously, I get tired of making bread and butter items. </div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">So, serious percolating of coffee and ideas makes for time at this blog to sift and sort... I am humming to these themes:</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">1. wild, wild, west meets Art/funky</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">2. hip, rustic-chic</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">3. tribal, suburban woman</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">4. Atomic age mod</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">5. patina, good gems, and shiny versus matte</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120"><br />
</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">So if anyone sees this, what are YOU wanting to dangle in your ears??? OR if you are a designer, what are you contemplating making?</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">see ya'll</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120">denise/metaldreamer</div><div closure_uid_pe0ssb="120"><br />
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</div></div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-82451765672832900612011-07-24T12:02:00.000-07:002011-07-24T12:02:06.371-07:00SCORE!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" closure_uid_6bln4v="154" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmys3nqeREi96E2T9z7a8hqMJ5t79T-59wsTaBVVAmwK6j3OmwKC4rw1fhJbUM83LXw5LsEuBxOUOhHUA73O_ssqybKXSCNg8-5IkzYIq8Yo0d87I7K8kD9-hnlhvkqAowmL-NQ-jQlqiR/s1600/july011ROCK+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmys3nqeREi96E2T9z7a8hqMJ5t79T-59wsTaBVVAmwK6j3OmwKC4rw1fhJbUM83LXw5LsEuBxOUOhHUA73O_ssqybKXSCNg8-5IkzYIq8Yo0d87I7K8kD9-hnlhvkqAowmL-NQ-jQlqiR/s320/july011ROCK+051.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" closure_uid_6bln4v="154" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">WOW!! I was at my Saturday Farmer's Market under my elm tree as usual, when the nicest lady came by with these two full trays of stones and asked if I wanted to look and possibly trade. Drool, of course I wanted to trade, I was hit by stone madness almost instantly. So, I mentally duct taped my mouth and said, sure thing....she started grabbing up turquoise i had already made into jewelry and I opened those glass lids and WE BOTH were in heaven. I think I got the best in end of the deal. I offered to pay in cash, but she insisted that there was a pair of earrings and a pendant she had seen that would suit her perfectly. We both grinned like idiots and traded away. </div><div class="separator" closure_uid_6bln4v="154" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_6bln4v="154" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh happy day!!!! I have oolite, bloodstone, montana agate, (be still my heart) I have amethyst sage agate, butterfly jasper, Graveyard Point Plume Agate, wild horse picture jasper, Mariposite with the green hue from all that Chromium... ohhLord I am a happy woman. Oh yeah, red agatized japser, Mary Ellen Jasper with the hematite in it, Brecchiated jasper, Ironstone, and three pieces of Hell's Canyon Petrified wook with the herringbone pattern and the quartz silicia inbetween.! SQUEEEE!!!!</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_6bln4v="154" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" closure_uid_6bln4v="154" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Yes, it was a good day at the market. sigh, happiness is a good rock and i have a BUNCH of them. It might take me a few more days to calm down. I tell ya. Well, work should do that too-- I sold a bunch of items as well as getting all those nice rocks. So tomorrow I will whistle while I work just like those seven little men in the woods--grin</div></div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-17429382402670762032011-07-06T09:50:00.000-07:002011-07-06T09:58:58.371-07:00View from my House<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_8KDpM8_g7wnKFUpPqRNvsUATS1utUgbFm8WR3AlmGPxKam-pskeh55NHUvjJdvJYr6hZQj4g6tfCMmBBAVnpSjJ0uM_c1LoGklkpN2wQLJUha-upWG0I7X1YAvXm0aRfpHi2JT6SoGa/s1600/summer+043.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626282899744555938" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_8KDpM8_g7wnKFUpPqRNvsUATS1utUgbFm8WR3AlmGPxKam-pskeh55NHUvjJdvJYr6hZQj4g6tfCMmBBAVnpSjJ0uM_c1LoGklkpN2wQLJUha-upWG0I7X1YAvXm0aRfpHi2JT6SoGa/s320/summer+043.jpg" /></a> i live in Dayton, Nevada where history is abundant and sage brush happens all over. Thought i would start putting up some shots of the views i get to see whenever i step outside...<br />It's quiet out here, except for the sound of the Carson River rushing by(high, due to snow melt) and the birds chirping in day and the frogs croaking at night. I like that a lot. Helps my brain slow down from working in the studio. I do not have one of those luxurious studios with all the bells and whistles, but it gets the job done. Life is good and I am most grateful.<br /><br /><div></div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-49601849347645303232011-07-04T08:08:00.000-07:002011-07-04T08:29:19.732-07:00Market Days--WOOT!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwx_-zFu4j_9fW0_CaW_bVvZnStFXUkBs9hOX9nTFc9O_ve2U8tnPpHEp-jmz6Xh19fEcZjgRPbClrDekqMaGuiXtyufRi993n-HhC5m7C2B6T6bzdDEhyphenhyphenZL1I9aAbYZZtS2vKEY6OFaJ/s1600/2011farm+market+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5625518715433471554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwx_-zFu4j_9fW0_CaW_bVvZnStFXUkBs9hOX9nTFc9O_ve2U8tnPpHEp-jmz6Xh19fEcZjgRPbClrDekqMaGuiXtyufRi993n-HhC5m7C2B6T6bzdDEhyphenhyphenZL1I9aAbYZZtS2vKEY6OFaJ/s320/2011farm+market+005.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div>morning out there,</div><br /><br /><div>yeah, I have been busy again. I finished up all my California spring shows and two saturdays ago started my summer Farmer's Market at 3rd&Curry St. in Carson City, Nevada. I absolutely adore my Market...yummo produce and just the nicest folks. I have to say, part of the appeal is my Elm tree(i set up under it every year) and my charming customers. I nosh on fresh cherries and ice water, (its arid up here) and talk ninety to nuthin with everybody. It is great to get out of my little studio and do nothing but talk and sell and listen. That last one is actually kinda important. I am having to write down all my "remember this" stuff each week. We have a nice mix of locals and summer visitors/tourists to the area. I am starting to have regulars from previous summers that want a companion piece to previously purchased items, and orders for resizings of rings, could this be in this color of stone please, and do you have blah blah....hey! I am turning into the local jeweler under the tree, chuckle, that just makes me laugh every time i think that actually. I love that I can combine making stuff with the smell of fresh strawberries and coffee brewing(i am down-wind of these vendors) with hearing live acoustic music from whomever the market decides to highlight that week.<br /></div><br /><div>So, that is summer currently. I work on Etsy commissions, and stock for the market during the week and sell on Saturdays. Life is good!</div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-21407959067850224692011-02-08T08:17:00.000-08:002011-02-08T08:36:44.728-08:002011 Tucson<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmpiY5QoahO3rWkvFQ-B1jvITU4j8BJyi_XY7IbWX7UX9pliCRoLOn3srHhec9lF2AyYnrzZx04nBCtE1wyljuYqdLhQ4lS0P5VpA7pvEhpGSjRxG4opNv9OQREqVjbYkGAv1dCW_yw4S/s1600/rocks+069.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571358510362136498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmpiY5QoahO3rWkvFQ-B1jvITU4j8BJyi_XY7IbWX7UX9pliCRoLOn3srHhec9lF2AyYnrzZx04nBCtE1wyljuYqdLhQ4lS0P5VpA7pvEhpGSjRxG4opNv9OQREqVjbYkGAv1dCW_yw4S/s320/rocks+069.jpg" /></a><br /><div>wow! I went, I saw, and I bought a lot....I attended Jan 31-Feb 3rd. Who knew it snowed in Arizona?? Weirdest weather ever experienced in 20 years of going I tell ya. At the Riverpark/Pueblo show, (which is one of my favorites) Ethiopian opal rough was EVERYWHERE, and fire agate from the mine there in Arizona; it was reasonably priced too. The GJX show....ehhh did not do it for me this year. Too pricey on all their materials. Electric Park was deserted when I got there due to the cold. I observed buckets of rough sitting in frozen ice. So, I went to the Gem Mall to blow my last hour of shopping. Boy am I glad i did. It is a wholesale only show, so bring your id, anyway, went in and found the most lovely Red River Jaspar cut by Intrinsic Trading. Go see these guys because they are gonna get big fast is my opinion. Top notch stuff in quantity and beautifully cut and polished. There was a good bit of all kinds of opal there too, and i bought accordingly.....Tucson is once a year heaven on earth for a jeweler, and i can't wait 'till next year</div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-21088264393263651732011-01-23T09:50:00.000-08:002011-01-23T10:03:01.434-08:00Tudor Jewelry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7SvmOKCCs4grvZbMRUGL5E_LdslB32f35hY7qPrG7D0Kum0sKclqbIgQENK3wMBiwiKMq4QZWr03HtZeXbHE_4Sin52J0tRYpUiyCIMPmDmH7m9afiSEtUGQxnjXZtoaLeqk0Hd73f5S/s1600/20100328232059871.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 315px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 260px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5565442143462673426" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf7SvmOKCCs4grvZbMRUGL5E_LdslB32f35hY7qPrG7D0Kum0sKclqbIgQENK3wMBiwiKMq4QZWr03HtZeXbHE_4Sin52J0tRYpUiyCIMPmDmH7m9afiSEtUGQxnjXZtoaLeqk0Hd73f5S/s320/20100328232059871.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><div>I have been recently catching up on a gorgeously filmed show The Tudors. Wow, all that very yummy jewelry. I know it is not exactly correct for the period, BUT as a jeweler who cares when it sparkles! I think David Yurman must have felt the same if you look at his renaissance inspired pendants....</div><br /><br /><div>I felt inspired by all of that glitter to look at what the court actually wore as well as the peasants, hey, they decorated too. Compared to our streamlined ways, the peasants were quite ornate. So I included a link to tudor jewelry in the title of this post(just click the actual title) for those that would like to examine what jewels were used where and why. Fun reading and inspirational for sparking a new jewelry design or two for your own horde. Let me know if you go... also show me what inspires you or what you might create that comes from another era.</div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-71655784302698944042011-01-20T09:20:00.000-08:002011-01-20T09:35:29.705-08:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjfAJNcNRO6U_cnF7NvJ_DClca5VrARGNMR93P_-0eHleEYYFDix3jAzWZO-Dzjy72g8Ir3oluaH6dvbPrczxxsxDVOrzEbjq1vgrYCyb_U7BrPjBUx8_0ZoGX4fdJ6BWmmqGuYUy6h7G/s1600/june2010+019.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564320095215309442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZjfAJNcNRO6U_cnF7NvJ_DClca5VrARGNMR93P_-0eHleEYYFDix3jAzWZO-Dzjy72g8Ir3oluaH6dvbPrczxxsxDVOrzEbjq1vgrYCyb_U7BrPjBUx8_0ZoGX4fdJ6BWmmqGuYUy6h7G/s320/june2010+019.jpg" /></a><br /><div>oop, its been awhile again. The past few months have been an absolute blur of shows and making jewelry. I always look forward to January and a break. The first few weeks are down time so that my brain remembers how to function. Well, I am rebooted, and starting to climb out of my rabbit hole. </div><div>I have been cutting ammonites in preparation for when the ideas start zinging in. The above shot is my basic styles for 2011. It is VERY hard to make simple when I have lots of colored stones hanging around ... but I did it. Someone always wants just a plain, simple earring and there they are. These have solid backs and are still lightweight enough to wear all day. I like 'em. </div><div>Have a great day out there everybody, and I am off to do that exercise thing and practice a couple of new fiddle tunes. See ya,</div><div> </div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-49725460179333318232010-06-23T07:52:00.000-07:002010-06-23T08:01:47.778-07:00traveling to jewelry showsI was traveling to Marin Art Festival last weekend and had to drive by Lake Tahoe on my way there from my house. Wow, every time I see that water it blows my mind at how truly BLUE it is. Driving to these shows really helps to blow the cobwebs out of my mind and relax my show jitters somewhat. All the preparation of making bunches of jewelry pieces, the packing of the truck hassels, grabbing paperwork for sales tax, etc... just melts away looking at scenery like this. Thank goodness for my sanity!! This week I am only driving 30 minutes away to the local downtown farmer's market in Carson City, NV. I just love it there under my oak tree. Tomato vendor on one side and a glass artist on the other. Well, that is another day and another post. Bye now,<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUFJRj68ulkbE3REkiNmYu4P1X3OQR3gJhQhpu7iPEHK6cWHsy0QN2gwyU-727Si5XMkGd2X-Vx0xkvIF1nK29OF7pdDRCqJc8RyPxVplr9vKBRlMjm-0W8MnJSyNbyuZBq1ECzsw3Mtv/s1600/marin2010+004.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485982358402741474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUFJRj68ulkbE3REkiNmYu4P1X3OQR3gJhQhpu7iPEHK6cWHsy0QN2gwyU-727Si5XMkGd2X-Vx0xkvIF1nK29OF7pdDRCqJc8RyPxVplr9vKBRlMjm-0W8MnJSyNbyuZBq1ECzsw3Mtv/s320/marin2010+004.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-68907646898085485902010-05-28T15:52:00.001-07:002010-05-28T16:00:19.655-07:00Rings and re-sizing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv7UaoRgjHfN31B1UZxWvJeLzI7i8w0PuzMnnfjPsHbcxp_auT13oh8Uj-X3eApDJlCFgsepEaeYfgdMW-JfigkV2S7OlTnm8hJyUSLLUKmPFn_rnyxSioUQJiCYjM2o4QlSePp2i1sVk/s1600/may2010+109.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476459272827561538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSv7UaoRgjHfN31B1UZxWvJeLzI7i8w0PuzMnnfjPsHbcxp_auT13oh8Uj-X3eApDJlCFgsepEaeYfgdMW-JfigkV2S7OlTnm8hJyUSLLUKmPFn_rnyxSioUQJiCYjM2o4QlSePp2i1sVk/s320/may2010+109.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Rings. I have been having an absolute blast making them lately. Used to shy away from them because of resizing. I asked an opinion of other jewelers on Flickr about resizing and rings and received helpful advice. Everyone on Flickr is just so nice. So, the helpful advice I shall pass on was as follows:</div><br /><div>1.Set the stone AFTER the ring is sold, and photograph the stone just sitting in the mounting. No resizing necessary.</div><br /><div>2. Hammer up to the size needed. Make sure the ring shank is thick enough to accomodate hammering.</div><br /><div>3. Leave one end of the shank open in the design. This makes the ring multi-sized.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>These were the best three. All in all there was much to consider for the next few rings on my bench.</div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-88587207661636068182010-04-21T11:04:00.000-07:002010-04-21T11:13:38.637-07:00flux of the brain, not the bench<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaK5S5tDNIO7Fw-DV-JDJwjZYMLdtwY58-ng7BtBwX508_fP4VIseTVn8rmR1T3E1wsZQMnGt6Z_GtbJQGk6foQtNQPJoY1q1Zo2AligHVP1upbWiH38uGkDHycn4UpaJPpRodzmhhThR/s1600/opals+005.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462655371923267522" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaK5S5tDNIO7Fw-DV-JDJwjZYMLdtwY58-ng7BtBwX508_fP4VIseTVn8rmR1T3E1wsZQMnGt6Z_GtbJQGk6foQtNQPJoY1q1Zo2AligHVP1upbWiH38uGkDHycn4UpaJPpRodzmhhThR/s320/opals+005.jpg" /></a><br /><div>Well, I did it. I mailed off applications to shows in California that I have never attended before as a vendor or as a show--goer. I cannot decide if I am of a mood to be hoping yes or no to the jury verdicts. The venues sound like places I would just love to visit, BUT are they profitable?? Dunno. </div><br /><div>This season is all about exploration, and pushing that envelope. It has been years since I did retail, and my brain is all aflutter about new concepts to create. My calender is in a constant state of change, taking on new shows in new places. So, everything old is new again or is it just confusing? There. Bezeling up some opals now seems rather comforting compared to actually sorting out my head this day....thank goodness everyone else in my household has concrete schedules to hang onto!</div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-78602438336780177112009-04-09T08:41:00.000-07:002009-04-09T09:22:38.804-07:00Petoskey<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObStfyK8ar-WjZ5d1kW-uX1iNtrXXEIzALu_CLMED503MG00KZHy5utPaeOWttxjGiO2RaQYrH99dA7tIbDGnXt8JdMAArHNAOjmWSey1r-OEFAE-7M5YA5w4J9NIAebYlnOaDYXJQsCM/s1600-h/hanni+003.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5322717555499009954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 261px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgObStfyK8ar-WjZ5d1kW-uX1iNtrXXEIzALu_CLMED503MG00KZHy5utPaeOWttxjGiO2RaQYrH99dA7tIbDGnXt8JdMAArHNAOjmWSey1r-OEFAE-7M5YA5w4J9NIAebYlnOaDYXJQsCM/s320/hanni+003.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Lookee!!!! My new consigment store sent me some Petoskey Stones to work with and said "just be creative with them" and I was. It always feels good to make something with a stone I have never worked with before. The challenge was to work with the texture and not overpower the neutral tone of these stones with bolder colored accent gems.... I love bright color and neutrals are hard for me. Hey, I think I might like them now!<br /><br />Question:<br />How does color come in to play in your work? Is it a side thought or a formal element or not a consideration? There, brain food or at least an appetizer. Have a good time at you bench today--metaldreamer </div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-42744535337201681352009-03-13T09:01:00.000-07:002009-03-13T09:15:22.421-07:00out of the box<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUzexw-nEpys5SCakWUN73KrfkDVWJWsMOmY-roCucBmH5W9yJ2qrgUWUTgEaNeErYkzkrQ3GLZYltXaTHXvmrJq6NgTqAAdaRA1wHvBOGVD8OMiISi66ADvmalMX2xy2AxOu0jakXbN_/s1600-h/knitting_000.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5312706430675766322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 319px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 306px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUzexw-nEpys5SCakWUN73KrfkDVWJWsMOmY-roCucBmH5W9yJ2qrgUWUTgEaNeErYkzkrQ3GLZYltXaTHXvmrJq6NgTqAAdaRA1wHvBOGVD8OMiISi66ADvmalMX2xy2AxOu0jakXbN_/s320/knitting_000.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Morning all, </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I went to a knitting group this past Wednesday to check it all out. The ladies were hilarious and the knitting was really more fun than I anticipated. I had not really done this craft before and thought branching out might help with my jewelry brain to take a sidestep and loosen up a bit. Well, I got tangled up in my thread, met really neat people, and sold jewelry??? If you make jewelry, most of us wear it too and I did. My favorite pair of earrings were yanked out of my ears and passed around and felt of ;it was off from there. I really did not do it on purpose, sometimes you do, other times you don't. Well, this particular day sent me home with a handful of custom orders and a bashful gratitude. I also came home with a new potholder that I felt more than proud of--I actually untangled my thread-yahoo.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So, get out of your studio a little and try a new craft/hobby. It might lead you to a new way of thinking, new people, and hey, maybe, right back to your studio in a roundabout way. Getting out is fun!</div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-14637725008004505892008-11-29T10:10:00.000-08:002008-11-29T10:37:11.510-08:00brain snarlHey there,<br /><br />I have been bombarded by the season of Christmas. Every year at this time I take a deep breath and do not get to come up for air until March 1. I prepare and have my supplies, stones, silver, etc... I make extra pieces in the summer months, and STILL.... anyway what hurt my head was dealing with wholesale and retail. I am a Libra and like things balanced and my scales tipped over; ergo no blogging whilst I righted my ship. It occurred to me that others go through this as well and might have their own take on how to balance.<br /><br />I had a slow spell retail wise, so I went out to peddle my wares at the local shops in the area. I visited 18 stores and waited. Four days later to my pleasure, two stores decided to purchase outright and I had 4 others that said come back after Thanksgiving. Wonderful. Well, this coming weekend I have a retail show that needs mondo amounts of stock. Great, except I just sold a significant amount of pieces this past week. STILL no problem, I was estatic to be working.<br /><br />As I sat down to the bench to work, I zoned out making bezels and realized I wanted to expand my wholesale line. I am going to BMAC(Baltimore Market of American Craft) for the first time this February. I have done wholesale before, but this economy makes it a whole new ball game and I want to plan for all scenarios. Remember, I am supposed to be working on making enough new pieces for my show this coming weekend, and not pondering the ether.....<br /><br />Next thing I know, I have paper and pencil drawing out designs, configuring my booth, making lists of things that need to go to BMAC instead of just making my pieces for the Christmas show. I pulled myself up short and realized what i was doing---procrastinating. Arggghhh I hate it when I don't do the task at hand. I got over myself and grabbed some metal and stones and got cracking.<br /><br />The moral of this little rant is, "the best made plans of mice and men" don't always make pretty jewelry. I had too many things on my mind and it created mediocre pieces. I made designs I had previously made before instead of pushing for more, and better. I let the economy talk filter into my hands and made cheaper designs. Instead of twisting metal; I twisted my head.<br /><br />Alright, I leave the floor to all of you. Do you have brain snarls? Do you contemplate things better left to another time while working? What are you solutions?<br /><br />have a better post turkey day,<br />the demented jewelermetaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-17669913087309124712008-11-14T10:04:00.000-08:002008-11-14T10:22:30.170-08:00The bench<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IoJXhdW24RNKZ5Tdpdjs5sdlgfCd459JhuvX8XLvdLS7cxeGf6Ts760EoRYrO5NouaM5NvqoI4f04n1rpvJhb70Ym5pzNWoIEwXBstcm-nROZVq-Zd6WhIG_qBPpO_9kXmP3UFS7FjOQ/s1600-h/mosaic2115208.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268580055460476322" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IoJXhdW24RNKZ5Tdpdjs5sdlgfCd459JhuvX8XLvdLS7cxeGf6Ts760EoRYrO5NouaM5NvqoI4f04n1rpvJhb70Ym5pzNWoIEwXBstcm-nROZVq-Zd6WhIG_qBPpO_9kXmP3UFS7FjOQ/s320/mosaic2115208.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>This is where I work, play, and live. Notice my furry friend Marcus. He just loves to help... </div><br /><div>Anyway, thought i would post the actual spot where i do things. Wish i had more tools, but on the other hand, minimalist tools really help out design wise. I have more freedom to explore the design issue versus the process. I love process driven concepts, but i get bogged down in the business of how i am making "it" instead of the what i am making. </div><br /><div>When i get a new tool, I have to do it on my off season in order to have the time to play around and see what it is capable of. It takes me weeks of experimentation. My brain goes into overdrive and i don't sleep well--the gerbils are busy in there.... It takes me quite a while to incorporate new concepts into the stash of tricks to pull on when drawing up the new designs. I need to have the process of using the tool down well enough that i don't have to concentrate on how to use the darn thing so I can work on whatever is at hand to make. I hate being caught in the middle of making something and have to say, now HOW do i get there. For some this is why they make with their hand in the first place. The urge to solve the puzzle is paramount. I make things because i want the object itself and happen to enjoy the process of solving the puzzle as a bi-product of getting my sparkly pretty thing. So here is my question to go with the post:</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Are you process driven or object driven?</div><br /><div></div>metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-25221030061540913052008-11-12T18:51:00.000-08:002008-11-12T19:05:08.134-08:00Is craft dead??<br /><br />Nah. I have been surfing and reading and looking and scratching my head on this topic. I wholesale and I hear folks from the 80's era saying "it ain't like it used to be". I do Etsy and I hear "Where are the sales. Then I had a sale! " In galleries I sell to it is "business is slower". Well, THAT is a lot of talk about something that is thought of as dead. People have the urge to make with their hands, and this will not disappear. Consumers will still value hand crafted items in this day of tech. Are we making things/items that are used daily for our community and creating sustainable jobs for the economy? Speculative thought. We/artists/crafters are daily supporting the human spirit. That is valuable, and salable to boot. My bank account proves that an intangible emotion can be emulated and given a receipt. Craft/Art evolves and makes itself useful again every generation and the previous life is a shell cast off. It is stimulating to think of what this new group will come up with. How do you feel on this subject or do you care??metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8214685346800960358.post-38136799126530344722008-11-11T16:26:00.000-08:002008-11-11T16:34:41.397-08:00effective design and the doodle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72iLap9D_hAcdE8h0ikoVkAu1cv1Kwrv2pnlbBNAKBwiDq9UeD2mu-RtUVSEIRMDnHJJGa46Hpy9GNwiQn26rVA0livmQp1E_f0sJMO8vosdhJJ4AbEDie0C_EwJPMDIR9yP2UgS_XvmF/s1600-h/design+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267561236494058482" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72iLap9D_hAcdE8h0ikoVkAu1cv1Kwrv2pnlbBNAKBwiDq9UeD2mu-RtUVSEIRMDnHJJGa46Hpy9GNwiQn26rVA0livmQp1E_f0sJMO8vosdhJJ4AbEDie0C_EwJPMDIR9yP2UgS_XvmF/s320/design+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br />Every morning I have a to-do list for my bench work. Also, every morning I sit in front of my computer and, well, doodle. I have sketch books full of ideas, I have a catalog of production work, and yet that white computer paper sucks me in. I sip my coffee, surf, and doodle. It is very much like autonimous writing, except it is images instead of words. I design better if my brain is engaged with something else. How many of you out there do the doodle? How do you design the most effectively?metaldreamerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04245555637751110293noreply@blogger.com3