Sunday Morning Coffee and Etsy - 06/07/09

I'm starting my week off on the right track. I need to get back on schedule with my blog. Amazing how being late just once leads to a whole string of blog-neglecting incidents, oops! Apparently spring and summer are a major distraction for me. In fact, I'm having a tough time sitting here instead of heading out to my tattered old 'daydreaming chair' in the garden. I do want to share some truly stunning work that I've run across in the last several weeks, though.

I meet the most wonderful artists by either creating or being featured in Etsy treasuries, and Maurice Sewelson of Sewelsonwoodcraft featured me in his treasury a while back. I was stunned by the beauty of his work when I clicked over to his shop. My stepfather was a talented woodworker, and I learned to appreciate the beauty of a piece of fine wood at a very early age.

Maurice's shop is filled with examples of beautiful exotic woods that are showcased at their finest by his amazing skill. I think my very favorite is the Spalted Red Gum woodturned lidded vessel. This shape of this piece is gorgeous, and the ebony accents are just perfect with the grain of the wood.



Another piece of his that I would love to have is the Australian Jarrah Burl woodturned vessel with its fascinatingly patterned eucalyptus wood. I would just love to see this piece on my living room coffee table. Perfect.

Speaking of Australia, another piece of spectacular work that I've found lately are the 'Sunset at Great Barrier Reef' pieces from the shop of Corinna's Atelier. Color always grabs my attention, and these just jumped off the computer screen when I was doing a search for a coral themed treasury that I'm planning. The way the stones in the Sunset at Great Barrier Reef Necklace blend into each other with their various shades of pink, coral and cream is nothing short of mesmerizing.



The matching bracelet with its meticulously crafted abundance of tiny stones is positively delicious. I especially love how each side of the piece is exactly opposite in design, making the blending of the colors even better. I am definitely going to have to create something using these colors!

On that lovely note, I must leave. Time to head down to the studio and make things. I got a wonderful shipment of deep purple amethyst, sagey green amethyst, sparkling lemon quartz and topaz, and the lovliest shade of rose quartz with a frosted finish. I love making simple little wire-wapped necklaces from fabulous gems, and I can't wait to wrap up a few of these and get them in the shop. I finally did post a piece made from a piece of the pretty translucent white chalcedony that I've had for a while - I named it Through the Mist, and it just had to be accented with a sweet little golden dragonfly!

What? No shopping again??

Alas, I'm out of time, and haven't done my weekly shopping posts - again! I've been on a roll in the studio all week, working on gallery and custom orders, and even finished long overdue pieces for my mom, and my best friend.


Also have several new designs about ready for my Etsy and 1000 Markets shops. Only one little picture for now, though. This is one of the custom pieces finished this week. I'll be putting this design in the shop as as well. I'm going to make one for myself, too! This one is sterling, with a 5mm opal in the center. I'm going to do one with a brass flower and perhaps a moonstone in the center for myself. I got a ton of yummy little accent stones this week, so there are lots to choose from. And a big order from Rio, too with some gold. I'll be listing some gold stacking ring sets soon, too.

I've got to report for jury duty for the first time in my life tomorrow morning at 8:00. Which means I have to actually go to bed at a reasonable hour tonight, so that's it for now...more photos coming soon. And of course, more garden pics. I never get tired of my garden, which is still blooming beautifully with new treasures each week. This week the Penstemmons are strutting their stuff!

Saturday Night at 1000 Markets

My mom and I had a wonderful trip down to Hanover Gallery in Chattanooga, TN on Friday afternoon to deliver all the pieces I've been working on for the last couple of days. We decided we needed to get out more often, so we'll be traveling to the other galleries that are close enough to visit, as well. I always wanted to be a travel writer, lol! Just the one photo of Missy Peirano, who is the owner of this delightful gallery, sitting behind the jewelry display case for now, though - I'll be writing a post about our trip with more pics and details of some fab food later this week. Now it's time to move on to the great new items I've come across at 1000 Markets during the last week!

First, there is a new member in the Wearable Art Market, and her work had my full attention the very moment I first laid eyes on it - meet Peggy and her shop Maskwoman. Each of her wondrous creations has a many-layered story to tell. These are the type of pieces where you notice a new delight every single time you look at them. She makes masks that are small enough to be worn as pendants (they come with a tube bail affixed to the back for hanging), as well as larger masks to be used as wall art.



One of my favorites is the sweet 'Empty Nest' pendant mask with its lovely shining gold. The dreamy look of the eyes in this one gives me the feeling that just about anything is possible - if you dream it you can do it!

And of course, I can't help but love her 'Back to the Garden' pendant with it's lovely sagey green paired with a sweet rose and a touch of deep red - most definitely on my wish list!



As a bird-lover, the ever so unique 'Birdgirl's Prize' caught my eye right away. I would so love to hang it on my wall - the colors were just made for my house! This is a large piece, 12" by 8", and the little 'prize' at the end of the string is a wonderful touch of whimsy. The expression of the bird reminds me a lot of my own little african grey, and I definitely think he keeps me on a string, ha ha!


The Metalcraft Market is a 1000 Markets marketplace that I manage with the help of several other metalsmiths who are members. The work there ranges from jewelry to fine sculpture and wrought iron work - just about anything that can be created from metal is represented. The longer I work with metal, the more I am fascinated by what can be done with it. You can push it to the limit, then anneal it, and it returns to soft pliability waiting to be push to the limit once again. I was greatly inpsired when I first saw the work of Patrick Conlin, who creates both stunning jewelry and amazing metal vessels.


His piece titled 'Seaform Teapot' is just simply one of the most amazing pieces of functional art I've ever seen. Incredibly, the teapot is functional, and includes an infuser in the lid, a beautiful hardwood handle, and two matching cups. Unbelievable.

The 'Flared Vessel' is a perfect example of the distance that metal can be moved through the skillful use of hammer and torch. This one has me inspired to try and create one of my leaf pieces with ragged edges. Read more about how to create raised vessels here.

Another way to form metal into a 3-D design is through the art of Repousse. Patrick has a gorgeous Repousse Sterling Cuff in his shop that is a stunning example of this art form.

This is another technique on my 'short list' of things to learn. Hopefully I will be trying this at the annual jewelry retreat in October. Read a more about the art of Repousse here and here. Oh, my, how I want to take one of Valentin Yoktov's classes!!