Jewel Carnival Blog for August: Studio Tour

It is that time of the month... we are doing a Jewelry Blog Carnival Studio Tour and thought it would be fun for other artists to see our work spaces. So not a lot of words this time. Just images. Being that I just got back from a retreat, and had to put all my clay and tools away, these shots were taken last night at O - dark thirty.

The left is the classroom / fused glass / sales / storage area. I can take 6 students, but I prefer 3 to 4. When I do not have classes it is loaded with my fused glass cutting area, the grinder and glass band saw.

This image is of my private work queendom. My artistic realm. Straight ahead is the metal/goldsmithing area and to the right is my polymer/metal clay work station. It is pretty darn organized. After I got it set up I didn't think that I could find anything. But, to my surprise - it made sense and I can find stuff.

Below is a better view of my main work area. I have my Ipod up top on my right and a mini TV on my left. It is pretty darn cool - I can put in a jewelry VHS tape whenever I want to watch or research a technique I haven't done in ages.

In this image I have been working with my polymer goodies. Inspiration came from our local Clayville-California's Annual PolyPalooza retreat at Zephyr Point on Lake Tahoe in Nevada.

The goldsmithing area is always a mess. I am constantly running over to file, solder, saw or set a stone. Of course I am always in a hurry and don't clean up... except for sorting my metal filings. Here I am waving at the camera. I try to use feng shui in the studio set up. Therefore the mirror. It is bad chi to have your back to the room and not be able to see people approaching you.

It has taken many years and many tries to get the studio/classroom just right ... it is, now for me, my heaven. I have only had ten studios/work areas ... s'bout time I got it right ... don'tcha think?

Take a moment to visit these other Jewel Carnival Bloggers today and check out their studio tours too. Some might be posting later....

Elaine Luther
Marco Fleseri
Angela Crispin (scroll for the English version)
Tamra Gentry
Lora Hart

Kirsten Skiles

Almost there... and Super News!

I am not one to turn down a commission... even when I am packing to go to the Polymer Retreat .... tomorrow!

Here is an image of a small (for me- I went to the big school of art) pendant that has a dancing illusion and that is gently arched down the center. It is embellished with a 1.5mm diamond, a trillion peridot and a fresh water pearl. I call her Peridot Dancing. Click on image for a larger view.

The super news is that after I get to the Hilton Hotel Indian Resort (Chicago) next summer I get to play with polymer buddies at the NPCG's (National Polymer Clay Guild) 2009 Retreat. I offered to do a demonstration of one of my new canes/techniques... we'll see.
But, the best news is that as soon as that retreat is over the MCWC (Metal Clay World Conference) starts... at the same location!!! How great is that?. I get to give a pre-conference workshop on setting stones in metal clay. I will be teaching some of the techniques that are in my book. And then, for the next two or three days, I will be giving a seminar on Bench Tricks for the Metal Clayer. And do I have lots of those.

Now I need to breathe....

No, finish packing.

The Challenges of September.... yikes!

Well, it is that time again. Next month I get to be a featured artist at a great gallery in Placerville. Last month it celebrated it's 16th anniversary. That is pretty darn good. Galleries, in general, tend not to last very long.

So I have been madly making new jewelry. Tripley so, since not only do I need new work for this show, I need to get samples to a Portland, Oregon gallery and prepare for our 22nd annual Artist Studio Tour. The latter is the third and fourth weekend in September and Phil and I are hosting, in our back patio 'gallery', two other artists as well. A painter, a potter and me.

Whew!

In three days I get to go to a fabulous polymer clay retreat at Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Clayville-California's PolyPalooza. I am so stoked I can hardly stand it. I will, hopefully, get a lot of elements made for the September shows. I am giving three demos: how to create shaped tissue blades, unusual lace canes and the Able Cane Slicer(tm). I was honored to be asked, along with Carol Blackburn and Kathleen Dustin, to beta test this new polymer tool.... I am soooo addicted to it. I will post some samples later.

But, for now, I need to make the hand-outs, samples, pack the pc and the clothes.

Clothes?

Better start the washing machine.