Humbug? Just a lil' bit....

I love the Christmas season, so I am usually ready and raring to put up decorations right after T-day turkey leftovers have made there last go-around in the microwave. But this year, not so much... It's already Dec. 14th and my gifts are not wrapped or shipped... in fact, I still have quite a bit of shopping to do yet and I have not put up ONE decoration or a single twinkling light.

I think the stress of whats going on in our world, nation and in my own little universe has knocked some of the wind out of my sails (and sales) this year. However, I am sure I will be bummed if I let this season pass without putting some of the 'icing on the cake' though. I know the decorations are not even close to being the true reason for the season, but it is still one of my favorite parts, so I am hoping my inner elf kicks in soon!

At least I can say my Scrooginess has not extended to crafting. I did make quite a few Christmas themed decorations and jewelry pieces for my online stores and the craft bazaar I did at my office last month. Here's one of the posters I did for it:

It was very casual. We each just had one little folding table set up in a hallway. Unfortunately, we had several participants cancel at the last minute so the selection was not too great. Also, it was right during one of the scariest financial times and just after some jobs and departments were eliminated, so people were not exactly in the shopping mood and they said so as they just walked on by. But it was still a good experience overall and I donated a small amount to charity as a result of sales. Next year will hopefully be better.

On a more upbeat note, check out the sneak peak in my Etsy store 2 showing in the left margin to see some of the ho-ho-holiday items posted recently. Click 'em to see the listing! Thanks!

More Twilight twinkles...

Well since I am now a full blown fan (to put it lightly) of the Twilight novels and the movie myself, like others, I have been inspired to create some art based one some of the surrounding described in the books. Living in Washington and being a tree lover, it's only natural that the scenes that talk about flying through the woods and the vine maples that form arches around the edge of a meadow hit me with intense visuals. Here are a couple of the pieces that I have recently added to my store.

Cullen's Woods

Woodcrest

To make these pendants, I carved a relief in a large rubber eraser, pressed precious metal clay into the mold and when it was at the leather hard stage, I used a needle tool to make tiny holes in the area I wanted to be darker so that the antiquing medium would pool in them. I guess that would be pointilism in the literal sense. The pieces have been kiln fired, tumbled, antiqued then hand polished.

Yay! It's finally out! And still out of my hands...

I have been waiting and waiting for the Winter 2009 edition of the Belle Armoire Jewelry quarterly magazine to come out and it's finally available!

The reason I am excited is because it contains a feature on my silver tree jewelry. Sadly, none of my local stores have it in yet but they should in the next week or so. In the meantime, it is availabe on the Somerset Studio (Publisher) website here.

A few months ago the editor contacted me because she saw my work on a website and liked it. She asked me to write an article and submit 3 pieces along with instructions and photos of the work in progress.

Below there is a tiny sneak peak per the proof I received from the editor showing my article, my hands at work and their photography of my pieces.

For a full size readable version, please pickup a copy of the magazine!! Michaels and Ben Franklin craft stores and other large chains sell the magazine. Also many bead stores and larger magazine stands. Barnes and Noble and Borders have it sometimes too.

I received an email from the editor today asking me to submit another article for their next issue by Jan. 15th! I better get to work! I have an idea in mind for what to write about, but it's a secret. Neener, neener. =oP

'Tis Officially the Season

Thanksgiving is over and now we are on to Christmas. Ho, Ho, Ho!! I am working on getting in to the holiday mood by creating some holiday jewelry and decorations. This year I decided to make some soldered glass ephemera collage ornaments with some beautiful angel and St. Nick images I have been saving for something special. I used scalloped tape around the edges and high quality solder with a touch of real silver in it. I used twisted and plain silver tone wire to hand form the hooks and filigree hangers. Many have genuine chandelier crystals and other beads attached. They were fun to make. I hope people like them. I have started adding them to my store today. More coming in the next couple of days!

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving with those you love.

Photos copyright Lisa Whipkey, Kamera Kat Studio

Twilight and the Twinkling it Inspires

The Twilight series of books by author Stephenie Meyer is talked about EVERYWHERE these days in case you have not noticed. And now that the movie is coming out, the planet has a bit of vampire mania.

I have always loved vampire stuff and might even be a closet goth somewhere down deep and since the book and movie is set in my home state of Washington, I am really falling under the spell of Stephenie's work myself and I cannot wait to see the movie.

I was "window shopping" around Etsy and noticed that some of my fellow artists have been inspired by to create twilight-ish art. Here's a sample of the stuff I found:

An altered Art Charm Bracelet by poetsummer

Edward quote pendant in a matching tin from shadesong

A set of four scrabble tile pendants from CandyTilesLove this star quote pendant from storytales
And last but not least, check out this Edward dream quote pendant from bluembrownlee

It's always an honor to be featured in someones Treasury on Etsy. Thank you DCHStudio for picking my "Drangonfly Dame" pendant for yours. To see it live, go here before it expires on 11/24/2008.

Wire that Wows!

As any jewelry lovin' artsy craftsy gal knows, there's about a million ways to make jewelry - metal clay, beads, shrink plastic, polymer clay, soldered glass, fused glass, metalsmithing, nuts and bolts & bubble gum. OK. Maybe not the gum, but you get the idea that there's lotsa ways to make bling.

Just about all of the aforementioned methods for making jewelry call for incorporating some form of wire work on occasion, either to enhance the appearance or for function. It may be as simple as making a loopy bail, earring hooks or wrapping a stone, but wire has always been an important element of jewelry making. Wire even stands on it's own as a primary jewelry making medium. Take a look around your local craft store and you will find there are many kinds of wire and tools to make it do something funky.

OK. I do about every craft known to woman so why have I not got in to wire more? Well, because a lot of what I have been exposed to in craft and bead stores, while fun, is also semi gaudy or seems to be geared towards kids or casual looks that's just not me. However, I have stumbled on some truly inspiring wire work from a fellow Etsy artist that is elegant and creative. I just have to share some of this awesome work with you.

Here are some pieces from juliadesigns. Please visit her online store to be wowed further. She even offers tutorials so you can create some pieces for yourself: