I have been neglectful in posting recently.  With the holidays work,, some family issues and Olive and my birthday, I have barely had time to sleep!

Olive had a Yo Gabba Gabba cake and ate Brobie and Fuffa! The went into a sugar coma!

I do have some exciting news.  A few of my artist friends and I have rented a beautiful space in Downtown Farmington NM.  We will open a pop up holiday gallery.  We have settled on the very creative name "Holiday Art Gallery" or HAG!

We figured we should not go with any kind of clever or cutsey name as we will not have much time to promote it.  We just need to get straight to the point!  So HAG it is!  I hope we dont get mistaken for one of those pop up Halloween stores!

I have been working on some new work for this gallery so I will post that soon.  I will also post some pix of the gallery.  Our Grand opening is Dec 9th with a reception during the winter art walk.  So if your in the area, stop by!

cuffs

 Femur Cuff: Great for that orthopedic in your life~

 Dream on: Dream until your dreams come true. (This stupid Arrowsmith son ran through my head the entire time I was making this cuff!!!)

 All saints have a past......All sinners have a future.  Thank heavens for that!!

new work

I won a box of industrial chic goodies from a drawing from  Ice Resin. I received the box last week.  I have purchased these findings in the past.  They are sold only at Michaels.  Industrial chic is a line of findings and charms created by Susan Lenart Kazmer.  When I found out she had a line of products I drove 4 hours to the closet Michaels.  I bought everything in the store and drove back the 4 hours!!!  As a rule I do not use other peoples work in my jewelry.  When I first started making jewelry I purchased a ton of clasps, charms and handmade lampwork beads.  I still use them but I am finding I'm using them less and less.  I sell each piece I incorporate an Industrial chic piece into.  The pieces are well made and very reasonably priced.  I am so excited to have a bunch of goodies to work with.  Thanks Ice Resin.com

 The No 5 tag is from Industrial Chic

 Close up of rough Garnet and Citrine

 I used Garnet, Citrine and a very dark apatite. I love this color combination

 I used a small tree branch for the toggle.

 Close up of the clasp

 I made the sterling circle with "hope" stamped on both sides.  I used a bronze birds nest and a small Bronze bird that I purchased from one of the vendors in Tucson.  I cant remember who the vendor was but they had TONS of pieces made from vintage molds. I used tea stained muslin and a beautiful ribbon in a garnet color but it changes to a gold/yellow in certain light.  perfect match to the garnet and citrine!

past art walks

I just came across this video of the summer art walk posted by my friend .ken Collins . The December Art Walk is coming up soon (Dec 9th)  I am on the Art Walk committee.  My job is mostly fund-raising.  I organize the annual fundraiser each summer (with lots of help from the other 3 members of the committee). My job this time around is to procure some Christmas carolers.  Any suggestions? This is my one job for this fund raiser and I do not want to fail!  We have tried in the past with no success so if any one knows a bunch who like to sing or if you yourself would like to participate, contact me.

studios Tour 2011

I know it has been some time since I have blogged but I have a very good reason!! I have been getting ready, and participating in our 9th annual Studio Tour

The tour took place in Farmington NM last weekend.  Four artists opened there studios and invited other artist to participate in there studios. We had four studios with 20 artist.  It was fantastic.  I was located at Liz Stannards home.  this is her studio above.

We had Cindy McNeely with her beautiful pottery. (I now own 2 of these pots!!!)

 Cindys husband Doug McNeely also participated. This was his first art show and he was a smashing success!  I wish i had more pictures but these were taken at the end of the weekend and most of his art has already been sold! (I also got a cool piece from him}

 Here is a shot of one of my display cases. I had many new pieces and most of them sold! Thank you Four Corners.

 Robb Rocket was there also.  This is his cool paintbrush sculpture with one of my favorite color paints! He also did the metal pink and red skull.

 Here is out first attempt of a group shot. We were all so tired after two full days of the tour and no sleep the week before! Liz looks like she is already half asleep!

Here is out 50th and last group shot.  I promise you don't want to see the 48 in between! This was the best we could do.

This year with the addition of the 2 boys, we went with a bit of a different theme.  since Robb is into hot rods and the low brow scene and with the addition of Doug who is new to creating art we needed to change it up a bit.  So we went with the low brow theme!  we served LOTS of beer in all flavors (Im not a bear drinker, are they called flavors?) anyway we had a shit load of bear for our guests and we had some low brow snack options as well.  I really should have taken a pix of our appetizer table.  We had pig skins (oops sorry Pork Rinds) with Tabasco sauce (cuz that's how we roll), we had small wieners in toothpicks and bananas with toothpicks dipped in chocolate ice cream topping.  we did have some other options for those HIGH BROW folks that stopped by!

We really had a great time.  I think it was the best one yet.  You will have to all come next year! I really want to thank Liz for opening her home to us, the artist and even more, the public.  Where we create is a very private special place for most of us and I am forever grateful to liz for the opportunities she has given artist and the community.  GO LIZ!

I will post more of my new work soon