Experimenting through Trial and Error - Kimberly Keyworth

Ever been told "you can't do this" or "you can't do that"? That's what this artist was told when it came to enamelling. She was told that you can't enamel with with a torch. It just couldn't be done. But problem-solving seems to be her style. She devised a method that circumvents the traditional methods. She invented her own style that looks similar to cloisonee, but is not. It has other colors within the piece but they are not separted by "cloison" or partitions. The artist is Kimberly Keyworth - and she's one of my alltime favorite artists. Her work really speaks to me - it has a very ethnic feel to it.

"I like to think of my enamels as a cross between small, colorful paintings and handmade beach stones," she notes. "Other people use onyx and black amethyst in their jewelry; I use enamel pebbles"

To see more - head on over to Taboo to see more of her work . . .

Marvelous Monday

This post will be a little longer than my usual Monday post - but bear with me - you're in for a treat! First, have you noticed the new addition to my sidebar? Dan Godlin is my friend's son. He lives here in my town with other members in his group. He's been a creative kid ever since I can remember. I've watched him grow up - seen him practicing piano, play guitar and sing in the middle school cabaret, jam with his dad, etc. I got goose bumps when I first heard this cd. He's not only a talented musician, but he's the songwriter as well. I think his voice has a strong similarity to John Mayer. Do you agree? Please play his songs as you read the remainder of this post - I would love to hear your thoughts.

I came across this Etsy seller the other day as one of her arrangements made the front page. She goes by the name dkdesignshawaii. She also has a website. I fell in love with her work as well as being intrigued with the process so I did a little investigating. First, here are some pictures . . .

If you looked at her shop, you might have noticed she was on the Martha Stewart show. You can watch the video here. There is a new book out called "Clay Art for All Seasons". It's for sale here. And what a pity, it's in English only :o)

Well, I have a Bat Mitzvah to plan (November 1 date) . . . so there might be a few flowers in my future! I'm sure I'll be forced again (argh!) to take another "leave of absence" from the blogosphere as the day approaches.

Have a marvelous Monday!

Succombing to Alien Temptations

So, it's always nice to have candy out in your home, right? Yeah. At least it seemed pretty innocent when I put them out. Yup. But I'm a Libran and I have this strong sense of balance, or maybe symmetry. So, to the average person, this dish might look fine. But to me . . . it was too heavily weighted on the right. Can you see that? So I had no choice but to remove some of them on the right and eat them. But apparently I must have taken too much off as my strong sense of balance weighed in again, so to speak. So, I resolved to correct this error. Again and again until - there we go. Much better, right?



Yeah, that's what I thought too until I noticed there were only seven left. That's an odd number . . . that's not right . . . so . . . there

we go - that's better.


He slowly put his guns back in his holster and headed for the door.

Who was that alien? I hope he comes back soon. sigh


Looks like I've fallen back into procrastination mode. Time to get back to the studio and make that polymer clay bracelet I promised someone!

Rings . . . Kato Style

I was doing my chair surfing again late last night (on the internet - unfortunately it doesn't burn many calories, but still one of my favorite sports). Some habits just never seem to fade. I was pleasantly surprised and nearly fell off my chair when I hit this wave - head on. Colorful . . . definitely cool . . . clearly Kato!

She's got many more pictures to enjoy on her site - head on over - surf's up!

Wrought over Iron

I fell in love with some of the designs and patterns of wrought iron gates on Flickr. The first photo reminds me of one of Blockpartypress's wonderful tree designs, don't you think? From whimsical to modern, I hope you enjoy these works of art. Have a marvelous Monday!

Off to New Hampshire

Yesterday, I sent an email out announcing that I wasn't able to reach my bead winner for the month of June. It's always harder with everyone's vacation schedules. So . . . I sent my usual newsletter with a link to my email with the subject line saying "pick me". The idea was to be quick with the click. Drum roll . . . the free bead for last month went to Meg Clemens!

I'm leaving today New Hampshire bound for the Innovative Beads Expo which is held July 19th & 20th in Concord. For more information on the show, click here. And as always, if you're in the area, please stop by!

So . . . what have I been busy making for the show? Lots of my ez bead changers and polymer clay beads!

Art Jewelry - Masters of the Trade

Evolution, emergence and movement are common themes found among the art jewelry work of Corliss Rose. Expanding the limits of jewelry art through the use of more unorthodox materials and techniques is what John Rose does best. Together they are 2 Roses Studios and have have forged a unique creative synergy that explores the boundaries between jewelry, art, nature and fantasy.

Scrolling through their website allows you to see how extensive and diverse their work is. Each piece is exquisite!

The 2-Roses have further explored the concept and use of "found objects" in their high tech fusion "Non Conforming Series." Some of the circuit boards used in the series cost well over $5000 each to manufacture, making them far more valuable than the precious metal or gems used in any of the individual pieces. That value instantly dropped to zero when the circuitry was deemed "non-conforming". Value is reinstated in the materials by realigning the viewer's expectations and relationship with the object as adornment.

Marvelous Monday

Here are some close-up shots from the garden this week. Have a marvelous Monday!

From the Studio

I've been busy preparing for my next bead show - July 19th and 20th at the Courtyard by Marriot in Concord, New Hampshire. If you're in the area - please stop by!

I've been in the middle of making a bracelet for a customer. And all of a sudden, for the first time, I'm having difficulty with the "new" clay. I'm hoping that when I'm done leaching, the problem will be resolved. OK, I admit, that does sound a little weird.

Here's a photo of a bead family. The photo arrangement kind of gives me another idea :o) The white bead on the top right has a section of extuded clay in the triangle shape. Eventually, I'm going to work my way through all the discs that come with the extruder.

This weekend, I have . . . am I really saying this??? Another tournament. This time, it's my younger daughter's softball team. There will be 24 teams involved so our town will be buzzing with Tweens! And I'll be manning the snack shack! Slush anyone?

Oh, and speaking of the weekend, I'd tango for a mango (martini, that is). It's on my list of summer favorites. I highly recommend it - no affiliation, just one happy customer!

A Call to Nature

Ann Jenkins is a jewelry designer living in Bar Harbor, Maine. She collects natural objects from her garden, neighborhood and travels and then frames them beautifully in precious metal. Sparse, soft and subtle. Her jewelry reliquaries left me wanting more. How about you?

"My current work has developed from an exploration of the vast richness of the natural world. Leaves, shells, stones, seeds, bones become the jewels in a wearable piece intended as an object of contemplation. Each fragment is remarkable. All are connected by systems and relationships that underlie the importance of the natural world on our lives and spirits."

Marvelous Mondays

I'm starting the week off with some nice macro shots I found on Flickr - have a marvelous Monday!

“The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh