I got my kiln back - woo hoo!
I just hope they correctly fixed it, I will know soon.

Spring Green

Blue (no name or item number written on my tube of blue)

Enamel Tests

I should be getting my kiln back this week. It has been in the repair shop because of the faulty display.

Anyway here is some big news....

I GOT A SINK!!!! Running water to my studio. I could not enamel without running water, now I can.
So in getting ready, I am doing some enamel tests of my existing colors. It is going well.
I am making earrings my test pieces and I am going to document each color here as I go.
These earrings will be for sale for $21 each.

This pair is #2720 Trans HARoid Purple. (the color isn't exact in the photo - it is a eggplant kinda color)

Display Tweaks

Last week I decided to get a jump start on getting my display ready for use again (it has been put away for 2 years).
I drug the whole thing to the center of the yard and assembled it. I realized the shelves needed a good washin' and to be re-painted. So I dis-assembled all of it and put it back together in two unit sections, with half the total shelves set up in such a way for me to paint them and let them sit in the air to dry. I then realized it would be a good idea to set up the tent around the shelves in case it rained, so I wouldn't have to take them down until I was done. I got the tops of the white shelves, cleaned and painted. I left it outside overnight to dry. That worked out quite well, however the next day a nasty storm came to town, nearly blew the tent down on top of the shelves, so my 4 year old and me, rushed to disassemble it before it started to rain and wind really whip up. We did it! All that time to set up though, alot of wasted time, we need to do it all over so I can finish painting.

N E C K L A C E D I S P L A Y S

I really could care less for the conventional neck bust displays for necklaces, and at $30 each, it really is unreasonable to use them in my set-up. Besides that they get dirty and banged up, just by the nature of taking them to shows. So my alternative was to cut fan shaped pieces of plexiglass with notches cut out of the top for the necklace to hang on.
My problem - a way to make them stand on their own -
My solution - well, everytime I have set up at a show so far with this display (which has only been about 3 times) I stuck the plexiglass down into bars of soap. It worked until customers handled them or the wind blew them, the holes worked larger and the fans were no longer sturdy. It wasn't working good enough. Though my booth smelled wonderful.

So I asked on the etsy forum if anyone could suggest a solution, Only one person seemed to have any ideas, a tripod stand or some of that foam for plants you can get from the floral dept of the craft store.

I bought some tripods, though too little they would not hold my plexiglass. So I tried the foam and it seems to work well, I guess the best test of that will be to use it. They will work better than soap but I don't believe they are the best solution still yet.

In looking at the picture of my booth, I realized how much I dislike the three big white boards where I showed off multiple necklaces together. They are dirty and not the look I want.
So I have all these tiny tripod easels now with no use, so I made tiny fans to compliment the larger ones, they work perfect, and my pendants will fit on those as well. I can also use them for earrings. I think I will paint the little ones white.
I am excited about how they are turning out.

here are a couple of pictures to help illustrate what I am describing,

Upcoming shows

I was accepted in the Spring Daze Festival in Cary, NC. It is a juried show, however I have no idea how it differs from a regular festival where you just pay for a booth and are in, next to god knows who.
(I was in the middle of 2 food venders once, lets just say I will never order food from one of those festivals based on what I observed)

Anyway, I am also planning on selling at the local Farmer's Market on Saturdays. Maybe just set up half my display. (I am iffy on this one)

And one more the Orange Street Festival. I really like that one, because well I do really well there.
Three years ago I won third place for my setup and got a hundred dollar check, then had to break down and not even show up for the second day because, my dad passed away at 3pm on the first day.
2 years ago I attended that one when I was pregnant and really hurt my foot bad, there.
hmmmm maybe I should avoid that one huh? :)

I think those three should be good enough for a start - esp since my youngest is still quite young.
I am thinking my 4 year old could help me sell at the Farmer's Market, he might enjoy that - If not he can sit at Grandma's each week.

Today I painted half of my shelves. I am in no hurry but they definitely need the overhaul since I haven't pulled them out in over about 2 years.

I need to set everything up to make sure I have enough merchandise. I am nervous about that.
and I need to make a few more necklace holders.

Well I have to send my kiln back :(

The digital number is broken.

one of the lines in the screen doesn't light up, so I wouldn't be able to tell if the temp was at 1500 degrees or 1300 degrees, that would be a problem.

Amber

I have been mulling over what to do with this Amber Cabachon for well years now, and here is what I finally did with it.....

Dawanda

OK, I have 4 items listed on Dawanda now. I do not have to keep renewing there to get seen! My views come in 3 times faster than on etsy. Most people say the opposite is true for them. Maybe it has something to do with my ring being on front page of the category for jewelry artists for the past week, IDK. I am also translating my listings into German and French - supposedly this also increases views. I can't wait to get my first sale there!

New Avenues for Revenues

OK I just signed up with Dawanda - I am nervous about the set-up and $$ conversion. we will see how it goes. here is the link

http://en.dawanda.com/shop/Bordeaux

I got my book, and I realize that there are some tools and such that I still need to get before I can get started.

• A sink with running water (hubby is working on this)
• a sheet of mica (not essential)
  
• fireproof gloves (I knew this already)
• a good dust mask
• a fiberglass brush
• wet/dry carborundum paper (320-, 400-, and 600- grit)
• a jar (I am sure I have one ;))
• comet powder
• some green scouring pads
• a new watercolor paint tray
• some paint brushes
• teeny spatula
• holding agent (klyr-fire)
  
• eutectic solder
• cloissone(sp) wire
  

Wow that is more than I realized, I guess it will still be a while til I am fully ready (cash flow ya know)

What to do with it!

I will be enameling copper and silver with my new kiln.
I have not used a kiln in about 6 years, so I bought the book "The art of Enameling : Techniques, projects, inspiration" by Linda Darty.
I know the book will be a good one because she was my professor at East Carolina University.
I can't wait to get the book, refresh my memory and get started.


There is something else I wanna do.
Since Argentium Sterling Silver is so new, there isn't anything really published about enameling on it. I plan of testing the waters to see what happens. We shall see. I already know torch firing works just fine on Argentium Sterling Silver.

Have I ever mentioned, I LOVE Argentium Sterling Silver!

I GOT A KILN!

Craft Shows and Booths

I see the question a lot as to what a good display for a booth at a show should look like. Well here is what I have learned from my experiences.

When I started doing shows, I was clueless so I bought 3 folding tables and made black tablecloths for each one, I spent a
lot of time sewing them to fit so as not to blow wildly in the wind.
Well black is usually the first thought to show off sterling silver, due to contrast.
but I learned very quick that I looked like a black hole amongst my colorful neighbors.
No one wants to enter a black hole, and my jewelry was lost in it. I had very few sales.

Then I moved on to purchasing some pale green fabric to put on top of the black. This helped just a tiny bit, customers weren't as intimidated, but it still wasn't what I wanted and it wasn't good enough IMO.

Then I realized that my tables were at waist level, and so was I where I was sitting. People had to look down at my items and I was looking up to them from my short chair. I could not stand for hours. Neither my booth nor myself were very approachable.

I spent a couple of years mulling over how to remedy my problems, I had no ideas at all. (I only ever did about 4 shows per year.

I researched some very expensive displays I came across a company called abstracta, they had a good product with good ideas but cost so much it was out of the question, plus they used glass - and it gets windy on the Cape Fear River.

I needed something which could break down and easily be transported in my van.

My husband all along had been preaching that display didn't matter, the product is all that counts. How wrong that line of thinking is. Remember the black hole - would you go into one.

Big corporations spend mega bucks on merchandising and the appearance of their stores.\\

Then just a couple years ago, before kid #2 which has totally stalled out my show ability. (I will be returning this spring.)
I had an idea....

My husband could barely believe what a fantastic idea this was.
It gets everything at eye level, including me, I could sit and speak eye to eye with customers.
I was very noticeable and bright. Customers came in by the hoards. (though I still haven't been to many shows with my display yet - soon though)
I won a hundred dollars and third place in a show.

It was easy to put up and break down and easy to transport.
I LOVE IT!
ok you wanna see it now don't ya.

here it is (click for much larger view)


The wood shelves slide onto pipes it breaks down flat.
For the blue necklace displays I cut my shape out of plexiglass and painted the back blue. two notches at the top holds the chain, add two more for earrings to match set. Only problem I have to somehow fix now is I have the necklace displays stuck in soap to hold them upright, it is not the best solution, although my tent smells lovely!

The rest of the individual displays were purchased.

My tall director's chair was the icing on top.

I hope this inspires someone out there in how to display their merchandise.

I have an idea!

I wonder if you can use Kool-aid as a pigment for epoxy resin?
I must try
and keep you updated!

Spiral In Resin

My newest creation is an argentum spiral set into mustard colored resin. The head is completely Argentum Sterling, and the band is Traditional Sterling Silver. This was a fun ring to create, I really must explore resin more.

However I did glue my third hand down to my desk, oops. gotta figure a way to unstick it. Maybe acetone.

I did make this so I could solder the band to the customers unique size. I am seriously hoping I don't damage the resin in the process.

Here is a trick when soldering a shank where the head cannot take heat.
put enough water in a small container to just cover the entire head. Most of the shank needs to be sticking out of the water. You must use a third hand to do this. Then make sure the shank is perfectly aligned. Place your flux and solder over the area to be soldered. Use a HOT flame and heat the top of the shank only and flow as quickly as possible. The water should keep the sensitive material cool enough to not be damaged.

Someone mentioned in a forum post about how organized one keeps their workspace. Well my answer (as well as many others) is not very organized at all. Here is a picture of my bench. I did not clean it up a bit for the photo. I love it though, it suits me and I can find things when I need them.
My husband and my dad built my studio for me, I am forever grateful, it is my santuary. It has electricity, of course, the yellow stripes are where wires are running so I don't hang something there and get electrocuted the blue stripes at the top are where the studs are, so If I am hanging something heavy I know where to put the nail. There is a tv cable running out there, though it isn't hooked up, there is a phone line running out there, there is a water line running out there, though that isn't hooked up either right now, hopefully soon. We set the other half up with a couch, TV and colored flooring for the kids, do you think they use it, No Way. Baby won't stay over there, even if we had up a gate, he wouldn't stand being by himself, though my older one would sit and watch TV the vcr broke. The flooring is made of that rubber matting, it is very cushioned, I love walking out there barefoot (Watch out for metal shards!). Thats about it.
Here is the outside, beautiful isn't it!

Torch Fired Enamel - NEW!

I love to enamel, but I don't have $1000 for a new kiln. So the only option left for me is torch fire.
There are inherent problems with using enamel in jewelry.
The edges must be protected from damage due to being brutal to your loved piece. Enamel is glass after all and will chip and crack if abused, (lets face it all jewelry gets abused to some extent).
So I needed a design which was both beautiful and practical for everyday wear. So I came up with the Double Dome Pendant. The bottom dome is super shiny, and the top one is enameled. I plan on making a line of these pendants of all different colors. And we will see where this leads me .

Artist Statement

To me art is a process, not a destination. The inspiration for my work begans with nature. As I mature in this field, more and more of my work reflects my personal experience. I find that my inspiration often comes from within, it is a response to what I have already created.
I intend to continue where I left off 4 years ago, and see where it takes me.

Photos

I have been spending a bit of time trying to get more photos taken. It is not so easy, but the more I do the better they seem to get. I am still learning.

Here is a pic of my bee pendant, hanging from its chain, the background is my backyard. I like the effect.