Gobs of Green

New work! Yes lots of Prehnite... of course!
A lil bit of Ocean Jasper, Amethyst and Herkimer Diamond as well!!!

This weeks sale item!

Here is the piece that I picked for this weeks 20% off!
Double Pod ring
Sterling silver with hollow brass bubbles :)
The posts that the brass pods sit on are actually riveted through the band and then soldered.
Extra strength and all that...

This ring is a size 6 1/2 and can be purchased in my shop!

Rollin' 20's

NEVER-ENDING SALE! – Starting in one week(3-11-11)I will be indefinitely initiating a rolling never-ending sale of fantastic silver goodness! I will be marking down one randomly rotating piece in my shop 20% for that particular week!

Yes... it could be that one ;)

Once the week ends, the price goes back up and a new piece will be picked until they have all been cycled through. And thennn.... it starts over!

We now return you to your regularly scheduled broadcast.
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Just some eye candy...

Some of my most recent work...

Sea Sediment ring

Emerald Highwall

Chunky Prehnite

Herkimer Diamond Pendant

Beefy Orbical Pendant

Prehnite Man O War Pendant

Lil' Herk

Prehnite Lantern

Quartz Ring "The Happening"

Lots of Gems!!!

Well it's a new year and I am off to a good start!
Here are the sets so far!

Ocean Jasper to the left, Herks to the right!

The long OJ was cut by me.

Herks, Ocean Jasper cut by me :), Amethyst.

Ocean Jaspers(cut by me) and a Blue Tigers Eye Man o War.

Natural Prehnite, Labradorite, Prehnite, Huge Kyanite Pendant.

Chrysocolla, Prehnite and Herks!

Double Shot!

Even though due to anxiety issues I am now caffeine free :(

Here's to a good start! Hope everyone is well!
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Handmade Division Talk About Nov

What mentors/teachers would I like to study with?

Well unfortunately I am not big on names, I barely passed art history so...

Photo credit Keith Lo Blue

One name does come to mind in the area of finishing. I love finishing, it is where the piece comes to life in my opinion. One of the first things that I learned in school was that a good finish sells your piece.
So I am going to say that if I had the opportunity to take some classes and really learn some cool stuff, it would  be Keith Lo Blue.

If you check out his site you will see that he has pretty much rocked all of the finishing techniques from etching to weathering and distressing.

And there are classes to be had on his site!

Go ahead and check it out, you will be impressed!

Please check out what some other Handmade Division members are thinking on this topic!

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com

Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogpost.com

Tosca Teran: http://nanopod.wordpress.com

Rickson Jewellery: http://www.Ricksonart.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr: http://bCyrJewelry.blogspot.com
Lisa Hopkins Design: http://lisahopkinsdesign.blogspot.com
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com

Emily Watson http://nocoloratall.tumblr.com
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com
WATTO Distinctive Metal Wear http://wattoonline.blogspot.com

Pink Crow Studio: http://pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com

Etsy Metal Blog Carnival Nov 2010

Blog Carnival is Etsy Metal's monthly group blog where several members get together and post on the same topic. It s a great way to check out different views and ideas of some talented artists. Check out the links down there... and meet some wonderful new people!

Am I a successful artist?
What is that? What is successful?

It can mean many many things, my ideas of being successful...

people appreciate what I am creating, creating something that is meaningful to me

for the first time in my life, people truly appreciate what I am doing

being able to make my own work hours

wearing jeans every single stinkin day

working harder when I need cash and slacking when I don't

Stickin it to the man

wrestling with my dog at 3am because I love him

being free in general

learning that self discipline takes on a whole new meaning

But wait, it's not that easy.

It is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

I still struggle with it daily.

It can be down right brutal.
It is a test to end all tests.

So am I successful?

Personally? Not yet, but I am on my way.
I can't see living with so much stress being a success, but it is getting better.

One of the hardest parts is being able to separate art from business. The way I do it, and I am still working on this, is to do just that. Separate it.
When I am working on art I block everything else out, shut the doors, turn off the phones, close the laptop, hide in my world.
When it's time to do business, I have to change personalities and become someone else.
I am still far from a successful business person but I learn every day.
So basically, I do not mix the two, they stay very separate.
I will know when I am successful because I will have someone handling all of my biz for me and I will just create.

The best thing that I have done for my shop is networking and marketing. Meet everyone I can and never cut anyone short.

Help everyone I can and in turn be helped.
You can be the best designer/artist out there but if people don't know you exist,

it just won't work ;)

Check out what some other very talented people are thinking on this same topic!

stacey http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com
victoria takahashi / experimetal http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/
2Roses http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Jenny: http://ridgeschool.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
Heather: http://www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
Nina Gibson: http://www.ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/