going where the urge takes me

I work with many different genres. I tend to go off and investigate something new when I see something that interests me. I've taken photographs for years now, and consider this to be one of my best talents. The jewelry making is something I took to right away, and has also been very successful, although I'm actively working to turn it into a full time job instead of a parttime one. I actually got into the jewelry obsession after buying a few things to make a beaded bookmark for my boyfriend!

I've knitted for a few years, crocheted for longer. I recently knitted and felted a piece that's waiting to be turned into a purse. I've wanted to try quilling but haven't yet (it's on the t0-do) list. What I really need to work on is getting some of my photography submitted to the New York State Fair for this fall. I have some that I'm sure will do VERY well, and what a boost that would be to both my ego and my sales if I can say "judge's choice" or "blue ribbon winner" to go along with the photograph.

I've not sewn anything in quite a while, but this has more to do with doing other things than anything else. Currently, the sewing machine is at my feet under my desk. I have sewn some quilts though, with my mom.

Besides focusing on improving my website and marketing that and the etsy and cafepress sites, I'm working a lot with resin these days. My goal is to use the medium to create pendants from my photographs. I also am fascinated with seeing what I can embed in resin, and one trip through the grocery store will have me throwing a large handful of items in the cart thinking they'll look cool as jewelry. It's an interesting way of looking at things.

I had a patient at work ask me what my 'business' is. As I was trying to come up with a consice answer, a coworker told her "it's a hodge podge of creativity". I like that. I think that fits. :^)

Slideshow of photography, jewelry

I thought I'd take a quick minute and link a slideshow I put together with various screenshots of some of the items available through cafepress, as well as some of the jewelry available for sale. I do know the gunmetal beaded chainmaille bracelet has been sold, I think everything else is still available.

Inspiration

So, what's that quote about something being X % inspiration, Y % perspiration? Yeah, I'm too lazy to google it, too. Well, the other night Asia was putting on a concert at the Turning Stone Casino, and I was fortunate enough to have tickets, thanks to Sir Wonderful, Coz. It was a FANTASTIC show. How many chances can one girl expect to have to watch Steve Howe play guitar? Granted, I laughed right along with Sir Wonderful every time Steve did the patented (if it's not, it should be) Steve Howe Hop, and it was slightly embarrassing to see how appalled he was at me counting the number of concerts I've attended on one hand, but still the night was fantastic! How inspiring...truly, food for the soul.

Copper and clay

I've been working mostly on trying to figure out different methods to combine my photography with my jewelry. I want to be able to have multiple pendants & pieces with my photography either embedded or transferred or whatnot that I can use.

I started working with polymer clay. There is liquid polymer clay available that will to varying degrees pull a printed image into itself. I'm working on how to do this evenly. It's difficult just cooking a blob of liquid with the photograph laid over top of it, because the liquid usually isn't level on both sides. I began playing around with embedding the liquid clay (and the image) into fabric, as well as some funky copper mesh I found at Michaels Arts & Crafts. I haven't gotten too far with the process although I have successfully transferred images into workable items. The hard part now is actually working to see what can be done. I did encase the image on copper mesh in black clay, somewhat of a cabachon setting of sorts. My skill with the clay is rudimentary, and the resulting pendant is pretty dark and abstract, although the original photo is also. The copper stick at the top is what I inserted during the curing process (which means baking in the toaster oven) so that I can insert a bail or something else later on to hang it from. I think it's a promising technique, and I'm fascinated with copper so this works.

I'm also working on how to embed pendants with copper flakes and little pieces of the copper mesh. This is my first attempt. I think adding the white clay was not the best way to go, at least not adding it after the piece was texturized. Still, it's a work in progress and a good learning experience for me. I'm having fun working with the medium, mixing media together and seeing what the possibilities are.