Odd and Ends

So I can't let another week go by without a message put out into cyberspace. The ASN Business Expo was great last weekend. Thanks to all of you who made an appearance. We had more traffic than ever. Look for The Jewelry Lady at the next event scheduled at the Science Spectrum on November 18. So mark your calendars now.

My art buddy Kathryn Flanagan and I will be showing at November's First Friday Art Trail on November 5, 2010 from 6 pm to 9 pm at the Helen DeVitt Jones Clay Studio located at 511 Ave. K. It is the red brick building behind the Underwood Center for the Arts. Here is the website for the FFAT if you are unfamiliar with what's going on here in the art community of Lubbock. Check out all the locations presenting art on the trail. http://ffat.org/Home.html

In getting ready for this show, we are both working feverishly on producing some cool new jewelry. In times past Kathryn and I have spent many hours in the studio and on the road making art and selling art. But in the past year or so we have not spent any time together in the studio, so I am excited to see what the lady has been doing on her own. In my personal preparations, besides digging through my piles of art supplies, I have been reminiscing about our past together.

One year with another artist, we drove to Graham, Texas. On the long drive home, we passed this amazing sight of a caught catfish on a truck. We stopped the van and all got out to take some pictures. Then, of course as artists, we had to analyse how it was created and with what knowledge and skill.

In going through my pictures, I ran across one of this totally amazing wooden box Kathryn created while we were students at South Plains College in Levelland, Tx. She made the top metal landscape in our Metalsmithing and Jewelry Design class. Together with her woodworking skills, mounted the metal landscape in ebony and finished it off with a box to fit.

Now I can't leave out my own work. In our Metals class, we were given a lot of free time to create whatever we wanted with the skills we were shown. When we got to etching, I just went crazy. I cleaned up a few pieces of etched metal and made some two-tone necklace pendants. The top picture is an example of that work. I still have a whole pile of metal etched with who knows what on them. In getting ready for this newest show, I keep thinking about them. I will have to mediate for awhile to remember in which pile of stuff in the studio they are in. So maybe by the next show, I will have created some new jewelry with the mystery pieces still in hiding.

This Saturday is Grape Day at Llano Estacado Winery so you know where I will be sampling this year's product. http://www.llanowine.com/Events.aspx

Free Weekend Fun

So I am preparing for the second showing of The Jewelry Lady. Sale is Saturday, October 23, 2010 at the Science Spectrum. We will be set up from 10 am to 4 pm.

Displaying last month at the Arts and Crafts Business Expo were also Miche Bags, Pampered Chef, MaryKay, and Scentsy Candle representatives. I had the privilege of being next to the Peanut Brittle table. Nobody can resist handmade peanut brittle. There was also two ladies selling beautiful pearl necklaces. My mother purchased a hand-crafted vest. There is definitely going to be something for everyone. I am looking forward to the carved rock man.

The Jewelry Lady will have a varied array of jewelry. I have new sterling silver, vintage/estate sterling silver and costume jewelry. I love anything that sparkles especially if it can be worn on the fingers. I will also include several different local artists' hand-crafted work, as well. Phyllis does beautiful wire wrapped stones that have been cut and polished by her father. LeAnn is a potter who makes the best beads. I have procured several pieces including clay beads and etched/patinaed metal. There may even be a few of my own pieces of brass and copper.

So stop by and come play for awhile. Conversation is free, playing is free, admission is free.

Calm, Quiet Morning

So, I have neglected my blogging and my faithful followers. To you, I am sorry. But maybe some things I say today will help explain the lag.

This morning I got some amazing pictures because we had a hot-air balloon glide right over the house. The pilot forced the balloon up to get past our trees and aimed to land in the empty field next door. But the balloon bounced and landed in the neighbor's yard. The view from here made it look like it landed in their trees. But not so. All the neighbors came out to watch. I took pictures after it landed. I was so excited I just had to share with all my peeps.

BUT I can't log into my account. Round and round I went with user name, password, new account, need to switch over.....So I made it this time. But there is no telling what will happen the next time I want to post. Lesson to me. Brain needs repetition.

But I digress. Back to the balloon. Look at the amazing shots and just imagine the absolute calm, still morning with a balloon sailing past. Just another sign fall is here.