Psssstttt- Give Away!

Heads up! this chickadee is having a giveaway on her site. Leave her a comment for your chance to win a beautiful knit scarf. What an awesome giveaway!
Happy Weekend everyone!

ACC!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to spend 4 hours meandering through The American Craft Council show, with fellow craft enthusiast this chickadee. And believe me, 4 hours was not enough time to take in all the wonders the ACC had to offer. Below are just a few of my favorite jewelry artists. This is my 4th year attending the show, and I have a system as I stroll through. I pick up cards of those artists I like and jot myself quick notes about their work so I can find them later. This year, as I organized my cards and notes after the show, and prepared for this blog entry, I found that several of the artists I like have defunct websites, or their sites do not reflect the quality and breadth of work they were showing. S0 unfortunately dear readers, I am unable to post a lot of the work I found inspiring, but what is posted should be an enticement to attend next years show.

Karen Gilbert, (pictured above and below) I love her mix of metals and blown glass, her work is always a favorite of mine at the show. And she usually shows "salon style" with another of my favorites, Eric Silva. Silva's work combines hand carved gems, bone, and fossils along with metal pieces that unexpectedly hinge, move, and spin.

Erica Rosenfeld- Glass and cold connected rivets. She also had some very lovely layered glass earrings.

Jimin Park- I actually didn't see this piece at the show, Park was part of the "Search Light Artists" section and was showing some interesting cast rings. I found the above piece after searching the artists site. I am assuming this is a cast piece as well. I love the texture and disintegration.

Joanna Gollberg- Silver spinning disc rings. I admire the fabrication.

I also really loved Andrea Janosik's work, so much so I bought one of her tiny blossom rings! She uses patent leather and other textiles combined with sterling silver.

I enjoyed the "Searchlight Artists" exhibit and got to see Megan Auman's sculptural furniture designs up close and personal. I've admired her steel and silver jewelry designs, so it was great to see her larger sculptural work. I discovered artist Elizabeth Perkins in Searchlight as well. Perkins casts lace that was handmade by her Grandmother and Great Aunt, and then using the "pate de verre" method, re-creates the lace in glass. Her installation at the show was gorgeous. Each lace piece was pinned to the wall casting delicate spiderweb like shadows. I ended up buying one of her small boxed pieces and am trying to figure out where to hang it.

The "New Wave Craft" debuted this year, and I couldn't help but overhear some of the grumblings about it. Personally, I thought it was fabulous, and a great way for up and coming artists to get some exposure at a national level. 300 artists were invited to apply, and then 15 were chosen to show in a small market style section. Clearly the jurying was rigorous, and I was for the most part pleased with the ACC's choices. I humbly consider myself to be part of this "New Wave Craft Movement," and felt that representative artists did it justice. I was delighted to see Margaux Lange's work in person in this section.
As typical, I feel like I didn't get to see everything, left feeling inspired mixed with my usual feelings of "I'll never be that good...," and had very sore feet!
Till next year....

Snow Day!

"Spring Sprout," enamel on copper

"Peony," enamel on copper

"Dandelion," enamel on copper

I had a snow day today so I was able to finally photograph a couple new pieces. Here's a sneak peek of some new spring designs. Look for them in shop shortly!

B.E.S.T Giveaway!

Head over to our B.E.S.T blog and check out all the beautiful items from the participating artists that you, dear readers, can win! Just sign up on the mailing list for your entry, and to recieve updates on our group activites, shows, and news. I donated a pair of my Sweet Pea earrings for a little fresh spring time fun. Good luck!

Barcode Ring

Sterling silver band ring with a hammered line texture. I gave it a patina to blacken the lines. I plan on making a series of these, called "Barcodes," as that's what the pattern reminds me of. Look for them in the shop soon!

Savage Snowdrop!

Come visit me at the Savage Snowdrop Arts and Crafts Fair! This Saturday, Feb. 16th, 9am-3pm. At the Historic Carroll Baldwin Hall, 9035 Baltimore Street

Savage, MD 20763. Presented by the independent artisans and crafters of EtsyCREST. For more info: www.savagesnowdrop.blogspot.com

This Chickadee and I will be sharing a space, so come for great handmade jewelry and beautiful textiles for you and your home.

Dandelion Blu Profile

Check out the profile of yours truly on the BEST blog today! There are photos of 2 new pieces, plus you get a peak at my new display stragety. I am trying to put a little more "pizazz" and texture into my backgrounds. Enjoy!

Friday Etsy "Ring" Finds

As I was doing my homework for my "All About Rings" class, I thought I'd share a few of my favorites off etsy. Happy Weekend everyone!

Acrylic "shrinky dink" ring by Dillon Designs
White gold and wood ring by Wood Rings

Cast sterling silver tentacle ring by Octopus Me

Flameworked glass ring by Amy Johnson

Electric granulation sterling silver rings by Lake

Psssst!

My "paper heart" pendant is listed in a really beautiful treasury on etsy today.
Check it out here!

The Mama's Are Speaking- About me!

Check out the flattering and informative review of my "I Gave You My Heart" Pendant on Mama Speaks! Hurry! I only have one left! I made 4 and each time I listed them, they were gone that day. Hmmm, maybe I should have made more?
Everybody has a heart, why not celebrate this everyday instead of just V-day? My work bench is calling, my hammer is thumping- thump, thump, thump!

BEST!

Baltimore Etsy Street Team!!! Check out the new blog and our first treasury! Currently we are posting bios of all the members, so you readers can get to know us. We had a meeting on Saturday night and I was totally impressed with the talent, professionalism, and dedication of all the members. I look forward to working with all these motivated artists. On the horizon we are planning artist collaborations, shows, AND for you dear readers, giveaways of baskets of goodies on our blog. So check it out and stay tuned! This is just what I needed, a good kick in the butt to get moving. Also, check out CREST, (Capital Regional Etsy Street Team) we are having a show Feb. 16th called the Savage Snowdrop!
Click here for details!

My Funny Valentine

Just in time- I hope! Listed in the shop today. Copper and handmade paper heart pendant.
The paper is held between 2 hand sawed "frames" with gold fill rivets. I texturized for pattern, and I gave them a heat patina. These little hearts hang from a copper chain on an angle. Fun!
Also added another "I Gave you My Heart" pendant. xoxox!