Blog Archives

November 29th, 2013

11/29/2013

Today I went on a quest to find a slab of wood for a project idea I have. Decided to start at Second Use, a salvage yard mecca of cool stuff. Met a fella by the name Lyle Carbajal in the knobs and keyholes area.. He's an artist that will be having a show during the December Seattle art-walk.

He gave me his card, and I'm still trying to figure out what his art is all about. Perhaps, a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma?

I'm intrigued.... Might have to take a peek next week at" Romancing Banality"

BTW- Little Bo Peeps sheep were lost; my sheep... SOLD!

A dyslexic dreamer as well...

11/28/2013

November 28th, 2013

11/28/2013

Homemade and store bought pies... This Thanksgiving, our overnight guests opted to enjoy pie with breakfast before the big meal.... Scandelicous!

Wishing you a joyous and unconventional Thanksgiving

Black Sheep and the Herd

11/27/2013

I dropped off more cast crystal today at Pratt.. This was one of my pieces that never made it to get photographed.. It's sort of a social commentary about my life. Being dyslexic and left handed can make anyone feel like the "black sheep"

Hope you all think they are cute! There is only one set available..

Acts of kindness

11/25/2013

This morning I thought I'd finally do something with my display at Pratt.

Walking into the print shop I was surprised not to find my work in it's little corner. Oakley, the events manager for Pratt had taken all my work to another table and rearranged it! Anddddd guess what? My cast glass pieces sold, along with a bunch of jewelry.

I am blown away because this was all so unexpected! I didn't think my glass would sell because it wasn't priced below or around the $200 mark (recommended for the Holiday show) And that someone would be so cool to find some table space to redo my "Elephant in the Fiat" merchandising..

A big Thank You to Oakley, and to the people who purchased my work! I get emotionally attached to all the glass pieces I create so it's bittersweet when they sell, but know that they have found a good home.

The Joy Mills Band

11/24/2013

Friends & family that recently got back from touring.. Will miss them this Thanksgiving!! :(

Synopsis of the evening

11/22/2013

Perhaps I should start out with my morning.. Rolled into Pratt in sweats and unbrushed hair. Upon arrival, I discovered the space I was to set up in.... To paint some visuals and give ya a good laugh- It was like trying to squeeze an elephant into a Fiat.

Upon completion, and priding myself for "cramming it all in" I viewed the jewelry/glass with fresh eyes this evening. Basically, my display looked like a Sanford and Sons junkyard... I totally ignored the first and second rules of art..

1. Tell the story.. I failed on that because I ignored rule number 2

2. Edit, edit, edit

I'll give myself a little slack and say that I had no idea what I was ready for... However now I do- lesson learned! Didn't bother to redo the display, because I was too busy enjoying the company.. Great to see everyone and to chat with other artists.

Kait Rhoads is a artist I've met twice, and I have always admired her work. She takes glass to another level by finding new ways to work with it... From soft sculptures to jewelry. (check out Kaitrhoads.com to see her work.) I think we'll be meeting soon for some coffee and shop talk.

I've made sooo many mistakes trying new stuff in glass... Those failures have sucked emotionally- however I've learned a lot. Perhaps something new and exciting can come from them.

Unfiltered

11/21/2013

I thought I'd take a break and write a bit... Think it's going to be an all-nighter- So if you see me tomorrow evening and I'm acting strange..... you'll know why! The "Pu Pu Platter" of no sleep, anxiety and a few drinks is a seriously bad combo. Currently, I was digging in the trash this evening looking for a bag with a 14k lobster claw clasp, that's supposed to be on a necklace. All my jewelry finding shipments come in little bags- You know, the itty bitty bags that the crack heads use.. (I'm sure you're all familiar) Anyway I have 50 of them all over my bench and studio... So the odds are against me of finding it.

While I'm half lucid I probably should think of attire for first dibs.... I could either squeeze into a dress.... Or, wear the hideous holiday sweater I found at the Red Light, and couple that with a turtleneck... On, second thought, if I'm short on sleep- people might draw the wrong conclusion, and think the sweater isn't a joke, and I'm just your run of the mill crazy.... Yikes!

Ok, dress it is... I do need to sell some jewelry; so if I don't sound rational, at least ill look somewhat respectable :)

November 20th, 2013

11/20/2013

Fotos coming tomorrow

11/19/2013

I should have pics of jewelry I've been makin tomorrow.... And more exciting news on the homefront..... 3X2 redux will not only be at Facere and the Contemporary Craft Museum.. But it'll be heading to the UK!! Damn, I wish I was a piece of jewelry in this show! To be shipped all over and admired :) -probably get treated better via postal service than a flight on the airlines!

A BIG THANK YOU to my friends who have been so sweet and supportive in the last few weeks.. Thanks for waking me up with text pictures of urchins and kind notes..

Let the collaboration begin!

11/18/2013

So I got a chance to meet with my jeweler today... Her name is Bonnie AuBuchon, she does amazing work and teaches jewelry making in Lynnwood. I just have to say, looking at her perfect bezels, made me re-evaluate my idea of setting my own work.. (unless you like a wavy, "free form" bezels!) We had a chance to talk, and I really got to find out what kinda things she likes and is into. And.... I believe we like the same stuff! Now, I'm not going to reveal what we have planned together.... but I think it's going to be sweet! You can check out her website at www.jewelleryworksltd.com and her jewelry is sold at Manya Vee Selects, downtown Edmonds. I don't know if they have them at Manya Vee, but Bonnie is skilled at repousse and makes these detailed fish~ So Cool!!

Saturday evenings "blind date"

11/17/2013

Saturday evening was the match up for the glass artists to jewelers for the 3x2. Unfortunately the jeweler I was matched with was a "no show". However, I'm looking forward to meeting her.

It was amazing to be in a room with so much talent- and yeah- I was drooling over some of the pieces the artists had on... Met some fantastic people as well- a shout out to Checha Sokolovic, we both wanted to be paired with each other- but it wasn't in the stars.. I sent her home with some of my glass and we'll keep in touch. Her style is totally unique- clean solid architectural lines, so I was drawn to her, and I being the only one that was casting glass I'm sure i was alluring to her. You can find her work at KOBO in Seattle.

I also met Juan Reyes, another amazing jeweler that liked my crazy stuff... We'll be in touch as well.

I sometimes get so down on myself.... Perhaps because I do weird things. Truth be known I walked in the room at Pratt and everyone had their work displayed out on the table... I was afraid to open the box of my work because I felt I was the only glass artist that didn't have a bead to show.. Instead, I had a box of weird things like cast glass crab claws and lotus root cross sections. But everyone was so friendly, I was put at ease to raise my "freak flag".

Hugs to ya all!!

The necklace I made today.

11/12/2013

It's a lotus root! For those not familiar with the lotus, its a stunning flower. However it's root start's in the mud. I thought it would be interesting to show perhaps a part of the flower never seen. This is the a cross section of the root cast in crystal, with 14k gold and jade. In Buddhism, the lotus is symbolic of enlightenment, compassion and rebirth. I just wanted to show others that there are lovely things in this world, sometimes not visible nor standard in the parameters of beauty. People just need to look to find them sometimes... But they are there!

I'll have more work up in my gallery in the following weeks when I have some decent photos.

One of my favorite writers

11/10/2013

"The world breaks everyone, and afterward some are stronger at the broken pieces" ~ Hemingway

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