The Bees in my Bonnet

I'm always sketching designs that pop into my head...in my sketchbook, on note paper, napkins, the back of receipts. Usually, for the most part, those images and creations from my inner artist progress no further than a rough scribble or two on paper. However, this pendant made it into the three dimensional world. Ah, satisfaction. Now, I'm determined to make one design from my stash of sketches every week. Wish me luck and send a babysitter.

Also, my super fantabulous friend, Jes, featured me and this pendant in her new column on Indie Public. Jes' column is titled "She Dreams of Art" and in this installment featured a few of my Maine Team peeps including Kellie of Wordy Smith and Bob from Heron Cove Woodcarving. When you are reading my bit in her column, I apologize for the annoying, repetitive use of the exclamation point. That's a habit I certainly need to break.

Lastly, remember my post about photographing with props?? If not, you can find it here. Well, I scoured my house for interesting textures and colors. In the back of my china cabinets, I found my collection of rust old cheese and nutmeg graters (thanks to Martha Stewart's Halloween issue 3 years ago...I HAD to buy all of the graters at our local antique mall to achieve a spooky "tablescape"). The dots of back light through the grater holes and the warm rust colors may be just the element I need in my photos.

New Work!

There were additional new items to blog about, however the liver of sulfur was naughty and caused all sorts of flaking and blotching on several pieces....~sigh~. So, those items HAD to be refinished (so very frustrating!) and were not ready for this photo shoot!

Works in Progress

I arranged this small sampling of items on my steel block to summarize my design direction...completely scattered! I'm having tons of fun creating pieces that have been bouncing around in my mind. They all relate to my 3 different collections, and, maybe in some way, relate to each other as well.

I just listed this pair of earrings in my Etsy shop the other day. I'm in LOVE with these pearls I picked up while in Florida. Lots of pearl items with oxidized sterling and 18k gold on the way!!

New Work, Old Work

Perhaps it is the longer days, or the receding snow, or the single blooming yellow crocus in my garden...whatever 'IT' is, I have been inspired to devote more time to the creative process and less time wallowing in the late winter/early spring blahs I experienced a few weeks back. Now that the studio has risen from the dank cellar, production time has increased (with the occasional scolding for my dear girl now that we are sharing space..."This is mama's: Don't touch that: Those are sharp!!") More new work to come in the following weeks!

TEN THINGS I LOVE ABOUT SPRING:

1. more daylight!

2. rainy days and nights

3. parenting birds (see #9)

4. fiddleheads

5. asparagus

6. lambs!

7. prepping the gardens

8. new growth from my perennials

9. watching the eagles (watch out! this is addictive!)

10. making Easter Eggs

How does Spring sing to you??