I was thrilled to see this hand-cut stone that my teacher brought today. It is a smoky quartz 14mm gemstone. Dick Desjardens is a lovely person! He is a retired doctor who has delivered over 2000 babies. Now he spends his days cutting gemstones and taking care of his wife. He is an interesting man and has done many things. I love to hear his stories.
Hans and I alternate weeks where we go and work with him in the studio. So far I'm learning to cut cabochons, but hope to get to faceting one day! I got some equipment a few months ago and have only done two stones so far. My husband loves to cut stones as well--he is much more talented than I am!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I love to work!
I recently cleaned and organized my studio. Now I'm back to work and I love it! It really helps me to have a clean studio. I feel that it cleans out the cobwebs out of my brain. My sweet husband is to credit for getting me the shelves and the plastic bins for organizers! In this photo I'm working on a custom order for bluebird.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Tidal Pool Series
I've really enjoyed working with this shape lately. I hope to come out with bracelets in this line too. I want to do another necklace with the tube set gemstones in it too. I just wish that I had more hours in the day because some days my brain overflows with ideas! Today I'll balance my time between commissions and new pieces.
The texture on the top is heated to get a mottled look then I took the pointed tip of my burnisher and scratched a circular pattern on the top.
The texture on the top is heated to get a mottled look then I took the pointed tip of my burnisher and scratched a circular pattern on the top.
Friday, June 5, 2009
What inspires me....
My work graphically represents my life. I have come to see my striving for the "perfect and happy" life as a clean form, and all the divergent paths and unexpected detours as the cutting away or crumbling of the original form. It is the acceptance of life as it comes--usually messy, unpredictable, and tragic--can lead to a new kind of beauty with richness and depth that only wisdom of experience can afford. I only now have words to describe this part of my experience that has been in my work for some time mostly because forms and shapes come more easily to me than words. I celebrate life in its chaos, juxtaposed with the eternal striving for order. Those universal themes are what resonate so sweetly to me when I work.
My first "signature piece" was an accident! I was wanting to drill holes to create a "moon ring" but instead the drill bit was dull and wreaked the whole ring. My sweet husband suggested that I salvage the ring by cutting around the unsightly hole in an artistic way with my saw. Even after it was done, I could only see my mistake. Now I don't see it that way, I see it as serendipity or a happy accident. It was the first in my Roman Ruins series.
My style is still developing as I learn more skills and venture further into experimentation. I am enjoying the process and feel that I have lifetime of learning and creating ahead of me.
For more stories about inspiration and signature styles, please read these blogs, whose authors are posting on the topic on June 5 -6, 2009
http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com
http://andescruz.ganoksin.com/blogs
http://andescruz.wordpress.com
http://ashleyakers.blogspot.com
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
http://etsymetal.blogspot.com
http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com
http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com
My first "signature piece" was an accident! I was wanting to drill holes to create a "moon ring" but instead the drill bit was dull and wreaked the whole ring. My sweet husband suggested that I salvage the ring by cutting around the unsightly hole in an artistic way with my saw. Even after it was done, I could only see my mistake. Now I don't see it that way, I see it as serendipity or a happy accident. It was the first in my Roman Ruins series.
My style is still developing as I learn more skills and venture further into experimentation. I am enjoying the process and feel that I have lifetime of learning and creating ahead of me.
For more stories about inspiration and signature styles, please read these blogs, whose authors are posting on the topic on June 5 -6, 2009
http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com
http://andescruz.ganoksin.com/blogs
http://andescruz.wordpress.com
http://ashleyakers.blogspot.com
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
http://etsymetal.blogspot.com
http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com
http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Enigma 2
I just finished this piece and I'm thrilled! Its been in my brain for a long time, so I'm glad that its done. Now if I could just get all my ideas done...... :D
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Do Something to Help the Worlds' Children!
I know a friend whose son works with this fabulous organization called Compassion. They feed, educate, and nurture children in third world countries from a Christian persective. These children get what they need to thrive and contribute in their communities to make the world a better place one child at a time. I think the key is that they get education to improve their lives and they understand the importance of staying in their communities to give back to others.
I sponsor a beautiful little girl with my family in India. I was drawn to her because she loves to sing and is near the same age as my middle daughter. I love the Indian culture and feel very inspired by it. It is a small way to give back to the world but it feels good to contribute what I can. I write letters to Diya and they get translated. Right now Diya cannot write very much back to me because she is only 6, but her mother sends me letters telling me about her activities. I send her letters about our life her in the US. I've been following the blogs of folks who are touring India from the Compassion organization. I believe that this is very important and I feel great to be a very small part of it. I believe with my whole heart that in this life we only get to keep what we freely give away.
I sponsor a beautiful little girl with my family in India. I was drawn to her because she loves to sing and is near the same age as my middle daughter. I love the Indian culture and feel very inspired by it. It is a small way to give back to the world but it feels good to contribute what I can. I write letters to Diya and they get translated. Right now Diya cannot write very much back to me because she is only 6, but her mother sends me letters telling me about her activities. I send her letters about our life her in the US. I've been following the blogs of folks who are touring India from the Compassion organization. I believe that this is very important and I feel great to be a very small part of it. I believe with my whole heart that in this life we only get to keep what we freely give away.
A Million Little Pictures: Documentary
This morning I saw a blog post from jewelry guru Cindy Edelstein talking about a project from Arthouse Coop in which 1000 artists from all over the world document their lives with disposable cameras. I immediately signed up to do this project. This past year I have worked on improving my photography for my website and have enjoyed learning more about photography. Perhaps its my exhibitionist tendencies that draw me toward this project, but I also think that I love to be involved with other artists in large scale projects. I find it very rewarding and inspiring. It would be great to see what your artistic life looks like too!
Here's a blurb from the Arthouse Coop website: "During the summer of 2009, one thousand artists from around the world will document their lives in 24 frames using a simple disposable camera with a flash.
On September 25th, 2009, an exhibition housing over 24,000 photographs will be constructed to take you on an adventure through the lives of these thousand artists."
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