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Celebrating the Magical Life…

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Walk up to the doors of the Hunt Valley Marriott, the sounds of the mundane world so normal to your ears – being greeted with a banner “Celebrating the Magical Life”…welcome to FaerieCon. I was thrilled to be vending for my second year, and to see friends, old and new. 

But first- the set up…

Hunt Valley Hallway

The carpet is all you notice at first, I mean, how could you not? Soon, oh so very soon – it will pale compared to the art, and costumes and characters…

FC table

The challenge of creating an artful display, and levels to showcase items to their advantage – all in 6′ of real estate. I have improved upon my space plan since last year…

FC table 2

At this point in the morning, i had only jewelry left to display. I was so tempted to flit off and chat with friends…

FC Urban Crow

Cooky and Margie of Urban Crow/The Shepherdess flew in from San Diego. They were setting up down the hall. 

J & S set up FC

And Sarah of Toadstools and Treestump was my neighbor. So there was definitely chatting…

This post turned out to be a preview, an appetizer as it were, for the main feast. A feast of friends, magic, creativity, music, artwork, and inspiration. So please stay tuned for costumes, characters, and the like…

Cauldron of goddesses

 

Spooky days…

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It was a beautiful fall day, warmer than one would expect for so late in October. The air was crisp and clean, and still retained a bit of green. We were looking forward to the signs of the season, and hoped it would include the local spices wine. Enter the realm…

Green Man Grotto

seasonal

leaves

Ambers. Oranges. Fiery fall pallette. Gorgeous to the eyes; delicious to the senses.

tanks amber ale

There were spooky elements, to be sure – the veil is thin between the worlds, and spirits walk among us…

Night Mare

Wicker Man

Pan

Enjoy the season. Revel in the beauty and bounty of nature…

twilight

As twilight fell, and we prepared for finale of a perfect day at the Faire – we looked back onthe perfect day we had -and forward to ….FaerieCon!

Stay tuned…

All in a day’s work

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Tuesday – yes, its Thursday as I post this… but Tuesday was one of those blissful days where I was in the stydio all day. Actually hopping back and forth between my 2 home studio spaces. There were no vet appointments for furry kids, no classes to teach, groceries were already in house…no meetings to attend. It was such a pleasing and productive day, I tell myself to schedule more of them into future weeks!

2 loop pendants           glaze shards

I spent some time making two loop pendants for a commission, and new necklaces ideas percolating in my head. And took glaze breaks in between to glaze new smaller ceramic components. I pressed some tiles – dryads, owls, Celtic dieties… (pix soon.)

 

And I spent a good bit of time in the upstairs mixed media studio. I am pairing words stamped in copper with my ceramic pendants. Take a look:

 MM pendants

And a few extra stamped words for future mixed media adornments… Now, to patina!

*The rest of a week was a blur of errands, classes, meetings… Here’s to a more productive week next week! *

 

Dia de Los Muertos

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Muertos

When I lived in San Diego I was thrilled to see Dia de los Muertos altars and decorations everywhere. As it is a festival to acknowledge death, and honor and remember the dead: the city was bedecked with skulls and calaveras (skeletons) There were sugar skull decorating activities for kids. Today I am going to do the same – early I know… But if my students make ceramic skulls which have to dry and be bisque fired before glazing… it is time to get to work. 

Class went well- had one adorable seven year old boy from Mexico who was excited to share his stories… Pix to follow of their projects. How do you celebrate the season? 

Update: The students glazed today. Love them! They will be even better once I add the glossy glaze and fire them!

kids muertos  

 

Art Bliss continued…

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So where was I? I had met and greeted, I enameled… Ooh the leaf charm swap… must take pictures of my treasures… The Trunk show was fun, sold a few ceramic components. My thanks to all my fellow Art Bliss-ers who stoped by! But it was a late night, and I wanted to be ready to roll on Sunday morning… (pun intended)

Forest Floor locket: in theory we were rolling textures onto copper via the rolling mill, shaping them into puffed rounded forms with a hydraulic press and using cold connections to create a locket. 

Forest Floor 2

Forest Floor  

As usual Melissa was a treasure trove of ideas and inspiration. I fell in love with the rounded sculptural form of the metal after it was formed in the press. And since I don’t have nor do I foresee getting a press – I made extra pieces. Each piece I formed, sparked a new idea. Windows cut away to hint at treasures inside, reversed forms filled with resin… So I have a few in progress:  

Forest floor in progress 

These two will have copper backs, and open in some fashion like lockets. I am thinking collage + resin inside…

Puffed forms 

These pieces are awaiting inspiration. It is just nice to look at them and ponder the possibilities, at times. Let me show you the details; I am in love with patinad (sp?) copper now!

 Detail1              Detail2

The leaf detail if truly incredible! 

So overall – Art Bliss was ….blissful. I know, you saw that one coming. But it was! Great location: the hotel had nothing nearby, so we were uninterrupted in our creative bubble all weekend. Food was brought in; coffee was brewed 24/7. It was just the focus on creating, networking, sharing…very much fun all around. I cant wait til next year!

 My only complaint: The crash. I rode my personal wave of euphoria and inspiration and excitement home and into Monday. Tuesday was all about reality and chores, and time NOT spent in the studio. Geez – if thats the only negative…. I have pretties to look at, and take me back when I do get into the studio… And my new tiny steel letter stamps have arrived. Later! 

Art Bliss in DC

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Do you know that feeling when you have experienced something fabulous and you want to share, yet at the same time you want to hold the magic in, keep it close and personal and precious? 

I am ready to share… Art Bliss thoughts and ideas from this past weekend. There are a plethora of art retreats all over the country. I have never attended one. I am spoiled in that I take workshops and work with infinitely talented artists – at the Shepherdess in San Diego, my second home… And while that becomes a retreat in and of itself –  a seperation from the daily grind, chores, etc…I used to work there, and I relish the behind the scenes perspective I have returning there. And Cooky, the owner is one of my best friends…

 The event, the first East coast, Mid Atlantic art retreat; was organized by the multitalented Cindy Wimmer and Jeannette Blix Ryan. Held in a hotel near Dulles airport, all our needs had been tended to by our thoughtful hostesses. Meals catered, classrooms equipped…Time to get to work learning, creating, sharing…

So I departed, with the intention to arrive in Dulles before DC rush hour had fried my brain. Used to live there; know what it is like. Friday night Meet and Greet: wine and nosh, artist instructors and their work, reuniting friends eagerly anticipating the weekend of creativity and inspiration. I was a little adrift, as my friend Jen had to cancel…and I didnt want to monopolize the artist/instructors and come across as a crazy stalker student. ( If you have ever done a retreat or a class, you know exacty what I mean…) Pleasure to meet Melissa Manley, Deryn Mentock, Lesley Venable and her OOAK husband, chief executive cookie baker husband Tom. (Didnt get to meet Kerry Bogert. Oops)  

Saturday – “Hard Candy” enameled beads created from copper, glass, fire… taught by Melissa Manley using tools I already have! Oh I love an applicable skill that doesnt require $$$$ new tools! Just point me in the right direction, and sparks will fly: Hard Candy domes The first attempts. And the finished pieces, including a few extra components…

Hard Candy 

Saturday was a crazy day: dinner, evening class (more on that in a minute) and Trunk Show: Trunk show There were quite a few of my fellow students opening their doors as well, to display their wares. I wish I could have gotten out to see everyone! 

Stay tuned for Part 2 Art Bliss DC…..

Same Bat-time! Same Bat-channel! Until tomorrow… 

 

Artsfest 2010

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Artsfest booth Beautiful as always, my home away from home set amidst the trees… 

Booth detail Could I ask for a better place to exhibit – where my mythical tiles could be more at home?  

view wooded path

And at every turn, every crook in the path, magic abounds:

Faerie house 1 Faerie House 2 Faerie House 3  

Great weather, great location, great show, great company! Thanks to everyone who stopped by; it was great to see you!

 

Falling… into fall

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Oh heavens! Its already a week into September! Back to school and Labor Day have come – and gone. I am very busy this month – 2 shows, a retreat, and doing new work for 3 upcoming shows…I will give you all the details here, but honestly… if you are on Facebook; follow my adventures at “The Art of Jennifer Davies-Reazor”. Its the easiest place to post pictures from shows, or the studio….

Speaking of the studio – unloaded a kiln this morning. Take a look:

Raven tiles  dryads kiln kiln shelf

So, lets talk about the fall schedule, where you can come talk to me, and see these beauties for yourself: 

Bethany Beach Boardwalk Festival: THIS WEEKEND! Saturday September 11th on the Boardwalk in Bethany Beach DE.  Lovely weather, the ocean at my back, setting up my wares as the sun rises… and this is a work day? Beautiful! Not to be missed. 

 

Artsfest at Annmarie Gardens, Solomon’s Island MD: Amazing 2 day arts festival; one of the finest. Start your holiday shopping with one of a kind hand crafted artwork and fine crafts. Set amidst the trees at the sculpture garden in Southern Maryland.

 

ArtBliss Retreat: I am looking forward to this professional development weekend – taking enameling classes, socializing, being inspired and rejuvenated. My best friend Jen is taking classes with me – we havent worked side by side in a metals studio since we were undergrads! I am having a trunk show Saturday night – my new Ceramic pendants and mixed media jewelry components.

 

Art on the Avenue, Alexandria VA: The little neighborhood festival… that grew! Fall is ushered in during this family and pet friendly affair. The streets are closed to cars and thronged with people. Hundreds of artists and craftspeople, music, amazing food, and seasonal activities for the little ones. Even shuttles from the Metro if you are a local!

 

FaerieCon: More details to come. My second year at this fantastical, fantasy, faery wonderland! Brian and Wendy Froud, Michael Hague, the Gypsy Nomads… intrigued? Music and magic and mayhem in Baltimore for the weekend of November 12 – 14th.

I will post pictures, more details as events come up. But time really got away from me, as I sculpted away in the basement studio – now, its time to get out there, catch some sun, and sell some artwork. Hope to see you there! 

For a good cause…

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I do believe that the good you do comes back to you. I try to "pay it forward" when the opportunity arises. I try to live with intention and keep my attitude positive – not to be a saccharine sweet Pollyanna – but like begets like, right? 

So with that in mind – a quick post to show you two good causes; to which I have recently donated work…

The Delaware Center of Contemporary Art is having an event: "Small art, Big Auction". Artists donate pieces sized 8 x 10" to be auctioned off, proceeds benefiting the DCCA.  It all happens October 23rd. Check it out! I am sure there will be an amazing diverse array of art! ( Here is a sneak peak…)

DCCA collage

 

And now for something completely different…

Muertos necklace Haunt necklace  

These two necklaces are fresh from the jewelry table in the studio!  They are available for purchase at the My Mom Pattie Etsy shop. My friend Marsha opened this Etsy shop to honor a wish of her mother’s – for a boutique shop with unique offerings, jewelry, etc. Marsha lost her mother in  September three years ago, and honors her memory with the shop and a great blog. Proceeds from the shop will raise funds for the Tri-State Bird rescue, and the goal of naming a room for Marsha’s Mom Pattie. Please check out the shop; there are jewelry components by Marsha Neal Studios, finished pieces by MJ Dodd, Lorelei Eurto, ceramic tiles by yours truly… And some of Marsha’s new Halloween pieces, like those I used, are too  cool. The new decals are also a must see… so go now! Check it out and bookmark it for your holiday shopping! Great one-of-a-kind artisan pieces make perfect holiday presents… Just sayin’…