Etsy Metal at the Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show

This past weekend I attended the 2nd Annual Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show. The artists in the show represent the pinnacle of contemporary jewelry in the United States. Two of etsymetal's members were represented at this prestigious invite only show--Danielle Miller http://www.daniellemillerjewelry.net/
and Lena Echelle http://www.lenastudio.com/.

While in Atlanta I got to visit with Alicia Istanbul http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5179902 and Ashley Akers http://ashleyakersjewelry.com/home.html. It was great to get to see all of these etsy peeps face to face. I feel like it was a reunion and not a first time meeting. I also got to visit with my talented brother in law, Leif Westermark. We gave him some of Danielle's abacus cufflinks for his birthday and Christmas. He LOVED them.

I got to meet one of my hero's in the metalsmithing world face to face. Harold O'Conner is a world renowned artist who's work has been featured in all the Lark Jewelry Publications, Jewelry Artists by Lapidary Journal, Art Jewelry, and Metalsmith, and his work is in galleries all over the world. For more detailed information please see http://www.haroldoconnor.com/album/index.html

















Lena talking with Alicia and Ashley watching the cases.

New Mountain Series

Last week I went to the mountains to meet my EtsyMetal friends at a Gemshow in Ashville, North Carolina. I got some exquisite gemstone beads and loose stones that I am thrilled to get to use in my work. It was estatic to get to meet these metalsmiths in person and I really felt a sense of belonging being in their company.

I got to meet Danielle Miller from http://www.daniellejewelry.etsy.com, Maggie Joynt from http://www.maggiejs.etsy.com, and Beth Cyr from http://www.bcyrjewelry.etsy.com.

My husband asked if I took any pictures of the leaves, but I didn't need to take pictures because I was taking it all in and I knew that it would come out in my work. After the gem show, we went to eat and then I drove an hour away to Maggiejs store in Dillsboro, North Carolina. I am in love with this quaint little place and I must say that my heart aches to go back. Maggies store was artful and cosy and looked as if you took the mountains indoors.

It was a gruelling trip driving 6 hours there and driving back the next day at night took me over 12 hours. I had to nap a lot! One of the highlights on the way back was having a great waffle at a Waffle House somewhere in South Carolina smothered in butter and syrup.

These women are amazing artists and fine people. I am so blessed to have met them! Please check out their etsy stores for your holiday shopping!