Is your passport in order? Challenge of Travel preview (Part II)

August 31, 20122 Comments

Tomorrow is the big reveal – Erin’s Challenge of Travel. Yesterday I shared information on famous German figures in science, literature, music. Today – the arts. When I was in art school, getting a minor in Art History was a done deal. Literally! I had the credits almost completed after taking Art History electives. Art geek. That’s me!

There are so many German artists whose work I respect, especially when taken in context of history. How they were influenced by their patrons, reaction to events of the time… Art is propoganda, art as expression, art as cultural vehicle…My short list included Holbein, Caspar David Friedrich, Hans Hoffman, Kathe Kollwitz, Eva Hesse, Anselm Keifer… But I narrowed down to artists whose work I respect AND find visually compelling, evocative, inspirational…

(In no particular order)

Albrecht Durer – printmaker and painter. 1471-1528.

Melencolia by Durer Young Hare by Durer

Melencolia I 1514. Young Hare 1503.

Franz von Stuck – Symbolist and Expressionist painter. 1863 – 1928

von Stuck's Spring von Stuck's Sin

Spring 1909 Sin 1893.

Emil Nolde – German Expressionist painter. 1867 – 1956

Nolde Nolde's Moonlit night

The Sea Moonlit Night 1914.

Kurt Schwitters – Dada and Surrealist painter and collage artist. 1887 – 1948.

Schwitter's Miss Blanche Schwitters collage

Merz231 Miss Blanche 1923 Merzbild – for Alf Gaudenzi

Karl Blossfeldt – photographer. 1865-1932.

Blossfeldt

Sulamith Wulfing – painter and illustrator. 1901 – 1989.

Wulfing

Hope you enjoyed that ecclectic sampler. Stay tuned tomorrow to see my piece. And I will tell you – all that I have posted in the last 2 posts – not what influenced my piece at all. Hmm. What a tease…

Start packing your bags… Challenge of Travel preview

August 30, 20125 Comments

This Saturday is Erin’s Challenge of Travel blog hop reveal. Its a creative challenge to create a themed piece – in this case the country of your choice. Germany is mine. Not exotic, not a place that is known for a different design aesthetic – like Japan or Aboriginal Austaralia. German is a large part of my heritage (along with Irish, Welsh and Scottish. Full Celt!) yet I have never been there. It is the British Celtic lore that inspired and informs my artwork. So in reading and researching Germany – I wanted to share some of my finds.

Part I – Thinkers, musicians, architects.

The Brothers Grimm – linguists and cultural ressearchers, most well known for their collections of folklore.

Grimm stamp Snow white folk art stamp

Frau Holle stamp Bad fairy stamp

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe –artist, writer, and politician.

Goethe stamp

Richard Wagner – composer and conductor. Retold Germanic myths in “Der Ring des Nibelungen” (The Ring of the Nibelung) Wagner stamps

Rackam's Brunhild

(Brunhilde the Valkyrie – A. Rackam 1910)

Martin Luther – theologian and religious reformer

Luther stamps

Johann Sebastian Bach & Ludwig van Beethoven – Classical composers extraordinairre

Bach Stamp Beethoven stamp

Albert Einstein – theoretical physicist, developed Law of Relativity.

Einstein stamp

Walter Gropius – pioneering architect, founder of the Bauhaus School.

Bauhaus stamp

Mies Vander Rohe – Pioneering architect, “master of Modern Architecture.

Mies stamp

( I apologize for not linking them all – but any can be found readily in Wiki for more info)

The stamps as illustrations was a happy accident – and so much more. I kept finding stamp images which were so apropos at documenting and honoring German figures from history and culture. So I searched out ALL stamp images. But what could be more perfect as a souvenir of travel? As a child I took over my Dad’s stamp collection. His mom, my Grandmom always requested postcards when we traveled, especially our first school trips to Europe as teenagers. I myself have made it a quest to buy stamps on Carribean islands, the Owl post in Hogsmeade… not for use but to collage. I am an inveterate collector of paper ephemera, ticket stubs, wrappers and such that I collage into my travel journals. So let this post whet your appetite – for travel or for the upcoming reveal – hopefully both!

Tune in tomorrow for German artists!

Legend and lore of gems: sapphire

August 29, 20122 Comments

In case you missed it – my September post is up on the Beads of Clay Blog. Sapphires for September. There is a treasure trove of trivia and gemstone eye candy – take a look!

Sapphire palette

Beadfest bounty.

August 23, 201210 Comments

I wanted to share with you some of the treasures that I brought home from Beadfest. As I may have mentioned – I am thrilled to be a part of this creative community, and found the environment of Beadfest invigorating. I came home with materials, artist beads, and ideas to last me a good while. I do have a tendency to live with the new materials for a while before incorporating them into new pieces. The artist beads and focals are handcrafted by colleagues, fellow artists; I want to share their information here – we all support each other with marketing, blogging, social media… wherever we can. And although I have unplugged these last two days in an effort to feel restored before I dive back into the studio – I am inspired to create with:

S+S Shivam

Cabochons – S&S lapidary

Gems – Shivam imports. (Labradorite, citrine, garnet, labradorite, spiniel)

Dakota Stones

Dakota stones – onyx, ?, dragons blood jasper, moss agate, apatite,?, amazonite.

Carol DeeZigns

Gorgeous enameled components from Carol Myers of Carol DeeZigns. Carol is the FIRST certified “Painting with Fire” instructor!

glass clay booty1

Lampwork Strands ( top to bottom) SueBeads, HMB Studios, Gardanne beads.

Lampwork “stone” – Kerry Bogert of Kab’s Concepts.

Polymer Buddha – Barbara Bechtel of Second Surf

Matte finish lampwork beads – JoAnne Zekowski of Z Designs in Glass

Moon/ocean lampwork focal – Jan Onipenco of Molten Mayhem

clay metal booty

Left: Ceramic components by Mary Hubbard of White Clover Kiln

Bottom: Bronze pieces by Staci Smith of Staci Louise Originals.

Right: Ceramic and raku pieces by Diana Ptaszynski of Suburban Girl Studio

Green Girl treasures

Green Girl Studios!

Andrew Thornton originals

Andrew Thornton sculptural bronze components and focals. Andrew was one of my Bead Swap partners…

And – one of the highlights of Beadfest is the BEAD SWAP organized by Diana P. of Suburban Girls Studios. My lovely partner this year was Sandy Miller – and she showered me with goodness! Interesting that it was the ceramic artists I knew, and the lampwork artists that I am thrilled to be introduced to… I was tempted to unwrap one wee parcel each hour Saturday afternoon, but I quickly lost that will power and dove in:

Bead Swap goodies

From top left to bottom right: Studio by the Forest, Nancy Schindler at Round Rabbit, Chinook ceramics, Outwest glass, Lori Lochner, and Lava Lampwork

Thank you to all my artist friends for doing what you do, sharing it with the world, and pursuing the (not always easy) path or a self-supporting artist! Until next year…

BeadFest – these are the people in my neighborhood

August 21, 20129 Comments

My first Beadfest as an exhibitor has come and gone. It was most definitely worth the days spend firing and glazing in a frenzy! I had a wonderful time – seeing my pieces well received, meeting new friends, catching up with old friends. And I managed to fit in a little shopping and a bit of barter (tomorrow’s post). For now – a recap of the booth, and a few of my neighbors. I regret not taking more people pictures…I seem to have focused on the beads.

My booth

high fire and words

"Mythic Nature" series

Lunar Hare

Lampwork lovelies from my neighbor Sue Kennedy of Sue Beads.

Sue Beads

What patience! Hundreds of raku beads from Amy at Xaz Bead Company.

Xaz Bead Co.

One of a kind ceramic focals and buttons from Mary Hubbard at White Clover Kiln.

White Clover Kiln

Green Girl Studios – pewter charms, buttons, pendants…

Green Girl Studios

Lampwork from Heather of HBM Studios.

HMB Studios

Lampwork focals from Anne of Gardanne Beads.

Gardanne beads

The show was great, although long hours on one’s feet. The atmosphere was very invigorating, and creative. I am thrilled to be part of this community; I am very glad I took the leap and applied. Although it seems very quiet here at home, alone – I am full of ideas and energy – so thank you friends!

Beadfest or Bust!

August 8, 2012Leave a comment

Beadfest or Bust

In case you were wondering wher I had been – I have been in the “glaze cave” as I afffectionately call the basement studio. I have been glazeing all day every day and firing the kiln daily as well. All in preparation for my first national bead show. Its a convention really. Beadfest, Heard of it? It is August 17-19 at the Greater Philly Expo Center (actually in King of Prussia). Classes, demos, book signings, and a huge retail sales area. Bead mecca. Bead porn.

And I will be there at #454 in Artisan’s Alley.

A group of my fellow beaders/designers… and I decided to host a sale in all of our shops. Because there’s nothing else going in my life this week, right? (wink, wink). Please take a look and support the artists in their endeavors if you are so inclined! We appreciate it!

Melinda Orr ~ Melinda Orr Designs ~ 15% off w/coupon code BEADYGIRL ~ Enter for the Leather Bracelet Kit Giveaway on the blog

Etsy: www.orrtec.etsy.com

Blog: www.orrtec.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/melindaorrdesigns

Lorelei Eurto~ Lorelei Eurto Jewelry ~ 20% w/coupon code BEADYGIRL

store: www.LoreleiEurtoJewelry.etsy.com

blog: http://Lorelei1141.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LoreleiEurto

Karen Totten ~ Starry Road Studio ~ 20% off w/coupon code BEADYGIRL

Blog: http://starryroadstudio.blogspot.com

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ktotten

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/starryroadstudio

Marsha Neal ~ Marsha Neal Studio ~ 10% off your entire purchase from my Etsy shop including the special SALE section that has items marked down 30% off.

(Marsha is my bead show guardian angel/consultant!)

Every listing purchased during this date from Marsha’s Etsy shop will get entered into an additional drawing for a $25 Marsha Neal Studio Etsy Shop Gift Certificate (see her blog for extra info).

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarshaNealStudio

Blog: http://www.marshanealstudio.blogspot.com/

FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/MarshaNealStudio

Staci Lousie ~ Staci Louise Originals ~ 20% off w/coupon code BEADYGIRL

Etsy: http://www.stacilouise.etsy.com

Etsy Components: http://www.etsy.com/SLArtisanAccents

Blog: www.stacilouise.blogspot.com

Sue Kennedy ~ Sue Beads ~ 20% off w/coupon code BEADYGIRL ( My BEADFEST neighbor!)

Etsy: www.suebeads.etsy.com

Blog: www.suebeads.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/SueBeads/241806885873855

Lisa Peters ~ Lisa Peters Art ~ 20% off w/coupon code BEADYGIRL (sorry not applicable for RING KITS)

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LisaPetersArt

Blog: http://www.lisa-petersart.blogspot.com/

Jenny Davies Reazor~ 20% off w/coupon code BEADYGIRL

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/jdaviesreazor

Blog: http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JDRshrineart

Mary Hubbard of White Clover kiln: coupon code BEADYGIRL

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/WhiteCloverKiln

Blog: http://www.whitecloverkiln.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteCloverKiln

For me – the shop is sparse, I admit it, but its all been about Beadfest prep:

earring pairs

glaze table.

Happy Shopping!

And now without further ado… Bead Soup!

July 27, 201266 Comments

Reveal 1 Banner BSBP

Hello and Welcome to the first Bead Soup Blog Party reveal! If you are here, you are most likely familiar with Lori Anderson’s Bead Soup Blog Party ( or BSBP…) but if you just arrived from the far flung reaches of the Universe then here is a synopsis: 2 people, personally paired by Lori, exchange packages, beads aplenty. Head to the studio and make magic, whether it be ornate, simple, a new style, a challenge… Share your creations here. (For all the details, including the future Hop dates – Bead Soup Blog Party. )

My partner – what a nice way to ‘meet’ new people! – is Cassie Donlen. Cassie is a lampwork beadmaker, jewelry designer, and artist extraordinaire. Her work was new to me… was I out in the far flung reaches of the Universe? I love every thing she sent me, and she was so generous! Here is my loot:

BS6 from Cassie Donlen

( For what I sent Cassie – she has great pix on her blog. )

Donlen lampwork

The first thing that popped into my head was “Exotic blossom”.

I need to pause here, to build anticipation for the reveal and also to give you a bit of back story/inspiration. My Bead soup from Cassie got lost. There were a few tense days – and the Postal Service is NOT to blame. I sent her my address typed incorrectly. (The whole story is posted here in my first BSBP blog. ) Clearly I did retrieve my package. While some people would attribute this to luck, or coincidence – I think there is a message here. The Universe was shouting at me. The message you ask? Well its all tied in to the ‘exotic blossom’ …

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
Anais Nin

Exotic blossom

I kept the 2 main flower focals together, and added dangles. The stamped copper reads “Risk” and “Blossom” to remind me to move forward and push the boundaries. I hung the blossom on a link of chain, showcasing another of Cassie’s lovely beads. The green and blue together, contrasted with the red…and the nature of the focal were all so visually appealing that I found myself designing a simple piece to accentuate the focal. I had planned to use the fab copper chain Cassie sent for this pendant, but I needed more red for balance. (Silk from Marsha Neal Studio). This is an amulet to me, and while I may add more charms – for right now it is complete.

The pendant wasn’t the only creation… The first thing I did was this…

BSBP6 bracelet

…using Cassie’s clasp and focal bead. I admit – it was my favorite bead so it got singled out for deluxe treatment. Strung with copper and glass from the Soup, and paired with copper chain, and hand spun sari fiber. (You read that right. Its not ribbon. It was hand spun from recycled saris. YetiandYarndrygoods on Etsy) I am thrilled with this one, and plan to wear it often – whenever I am not in the Ceramics studio, that is…

On a final note – thanks to Lori and to Cassie for yet another fantastic BSBP experience! I appreciate all the time and effort went into organizing, and the creation of these beautiful beads. Each year I participate I am excited to have a chance to PLAY, to do something new and unusual, to be inspired, abe to experiment a bit. But enough of ME – you, my dear blog reader, have other treasure to view, creations to see!

Here is the link to the complete list of participants in today’s reveal: Bead Soup Blog Party July Reveal. Have fun! And thanks for stopping by…

Treasures by post! Its Bead Soup time…

July 12, 20127 Comments

I was so horrified! To realize that because of clumbsy typing on my iPad I had sent my Bead Soup partner the wrong mailing address! After work I knocked on the door of #10. ( I live at #109…) The resident’s Mom was dog sitting. And yes – there actualy was a package! ( My heart is racing! I could have hugged her!) So here to my relief – is my bag-o-treasure from the lovely and talented Cassie Donlen!

BSBP arrives!

So much loot! The big reveal

( If you are lost: here’s the condensed version. Sign up, get a partner. Send them beady treasures, they reciprocate. Make something fab, test your comfort zone, play and experiement. Blog it, hop around, share the love. Its the Bead Soup Blog Party)

So many packages spilling out, bountious goodness on my kitchen counter! “Be a Bad Girl” I love it…

First there are the colorful beads of the soup itself…

The color palette!

Delicious copper chain! Spiral beads! And to think she has NOT met me – so perfect!

Copper!

The lampwork – Cassie’s own. What a magical mysterious flower, an exotic bloom…And a sweet clasp.

The big reveal!

The lampwork glass beads in detail. I love the enamleed copper with the green polka dot drop/head pin…. They are going to have to remain together. I have a tendency to design pieces where “Less is more” and the details of the artists bead can really stand out. That means I have multiple pieces starting to take shape in my mind’s eye.

Lampwork details.

I am so thrilled with what Cassie sent, and thank her for her calm patience while I tracked down my loot! She was sooo generous to me!

Her shop, you ask? Why yes – its here.

What did I send her? Her pix are better than mine.

We are part of Reveal #1 on July 28th. So stay tuned, its just over 2 weeks away!

You can find all the details and list of participants at Lori’s site… our insanely organized hostess. Can you believe she matches us all with our partners individually?! And there are 399 participants over three reveals?!

Denizen of the Deep – Suburban Girl Design Team “Summer” reveal!

June 30, 201217 Comments

Summer! It is here – no questioning that! Temperatures in the 90’s here in Delaware have me dreaming of the ocean. Luckily all of DE is relatively close to the beach (as opposed to the shore in NJ) and headed there for a respite soon. The summer charms from Diana arrived ages ago – and a lovely lampwork from Jan as well! I confess, I finished this yesterday. I have been up to my elbows in clay, teaching sculpture and wheel throwing at Clay Camp – and found it hard to switch gears. But with such lovely ingredients in my mind’s eye – I think I was designing this piece weeks ago in my head!

Summer sampler Summer loot

Here is the first pile of potential pairings. I knew I wanted to use my own ceramic mermaid pendant, how could I not? The colors in Jan’s bead were so inviting! And the gorgeous paairing of sandy brown and celadon in Diana’s – so my style! Here is: shell slice, mother of pearl, stick pearl, sea glass, river stone.

Idea pile 1

I wanted to bring more of the earthy sand color in – so Marsha Neal Studios silks to the rescue. I have a huge stash I sell with my pendants – so I am spoiled and have a color for every need!

Add some silk...

Hmm. The pile of potential has changed. Abalone, amazonite, recycled bottle glass beads, copper green pearls, jasper… What jasper is that? THe dark teal-y one with drown matrix? You know the one I mean…

Getting closer...

And here she is: “Denizen of the Deep”. I ended up with pearl and kyanite as the dangle, abalone, amazonite, MOP, pearl, and that jasper as the gems strand.

Denizen of the Deep

I wanted the larger components on the right to be balanced visually, so the left side is a double strand of gems and matte olive seed beads. Here’s a detail of the pendant and the SGD Team featured components:

details...

The starfish, you say? Where is the starfish? I had to go rogue and do a companion piece. I wanted the starfish to get equal attention, so it is the focal on the matching bracelet ( silk, seed beads, and gems – as inteh necklace)

partner piece

The completed pair

Hope this finds you cool and content – enjoying the best of summer and avoiding the worst. Have a cold beverage, some sushi, and channel your inner mermaid!

Please stop by my partners pages as well!

Diana Ptaszynski http://www.suburbangirlstudio.com/
Jenny Davies-Reazor http://www.jdaviesreazor.com/blog
Kristen Stevens http://kristen-beadjourney.blogspot.com/
Jan Onipenco http://moltenmayhem.typepad.com/
Marla James http://marlasmudmoments.blogspot.com/
Sandra Basara Miller http://www.sandra5461.blogspot.com/
Michelle Buettner http://misheldesigns.blogspot.com/

Clay Camp

June 26, 20122 Comments

When I taught full time – weekends and summers were my own. Now as a freelance artist and educator my schedule is quite the opposite. I teach a two week intensive Ceramics camp every summer – two sessions in fact. There is wheel throwing, sculpting, hi fire reduction and more for the “teens” ( the 10 and up crowd). For the little ones ( ages 6-9) there is a variety of hand building – both sculptural and functional pieces. Whatever I dream up for any given summer… Currently in week 2 – glazing week, I though I would show you what we had been up too…

fresh off the wheels