Artfest is in the Air!

These are some of the trades for Artfest I've been working on...little shrink plastic charms mixed with beads and funky fiber in an array of ocean colors. (I was originally inspired by an article on shrink plastic charms in Somerset Workshop by Lisa Guerin). The theme this year is sea monsters! I've adapted it slightly to include mermaids and the faces I think look a lot like jelly fish with long tendrils flowing down.

This little one has a curly seahorse tail and butterfly wings. A sweet little monster!

This is a closeup of the face that reminds me of a jellyfish...you gotta see the flowy tendrils for the full effect. ;)

Only 23 more days until ARTFEST!!! :)

Jewelry: the zine

I just received my copy of Jewelry: the zine by Catherine Witherell and Deryn Mentock. It is filled to the gills with gorgeous photos of jewelry, inspiration and articles by 42 different artists! I am honored to say that I am one of the lucky artists invited to participate in this lovely project!


I played with recycled sari silk yarn and this was the result. ;) I am so in love with funky fibers right now. And a "sea theme" was on my mind with Artfest just around the corner. Hence the octopus necklace and the floaty mermaid fairy, and lots of BLUE.

The zine is for sale on Catherine's site and copies will be available at Artfest (if they don't sell out first)! You can by your copy HERE. It is truly a feast for the eyes and creative spirit. I am so impressed with Catherine and Deryn's hard work and determination to put this gorgeous collection together. And I am also awestruck at the immense and diverse talent of all of the artists featured in the pages of this amazing zine!

Christmas is Coming...

I really do love this time of year when the air turns crisp and cold and sometimes the sun peeks out to warm you up when you really need it. Fall has come and gone with a few leaves lingering on the trees. With the scorching temperatures gone (for now) I can pull back the curtains and let the LIGHT in! Our house is full of an enchanting warm glow during the sunlit hours of the day and, like a cat, I move from room to room following the sun for warmth and light. We got the trees trimmed in the front and back of the house and it makes for even more wonderful, light-drenched rooms. The leaves protect us from the scorching summer heat and in the winter, they draw back their shades to let the light pour in! I'm loving it. ;)


For the second time in my crafty life, I participated in a craft fair! But this time I learned my lesson and I bought affordable supplies that I could transform easily into delightful works of art. Last time I did this, I opted to learn several new crafts and the laundry piled up to the ceiling! And the kids ate cereal with water! (ok, it wasn't THAT bad. Good thing dad's the cook in the family. I just provide the basics and do the shopping. Funny side note: We were all watching tv one day and a commercial came on that showed a smiling mom carrying out a hamburger helper casserole out to her family sitting around a perfect dining room table. Maya turned to me and Raul and in a serious but inquisitive tone remarked, "Moms can cook?".) Ok, so craft fair. It was fun and it gave me the confidence boost I needed to prove to myself that I can make a living from my craft. :)


I wore my butterfly earrings out yesterday and got many compliments from friends and family. "Wow, you made these?" Yes, I did! :) And it was fun! I do have the goal of having my own Etsy shop up by the end of this year. Well, I think it's just around the corner, even if it's not technically launched January 1, 2009. ;) But big things are on their way. I just know it.

Old Friends, New Seasons

I've been working on some jewelry lately. It's funny that when I started making art again about two years ago, I started with jewelry. I collected every jewelry and beading magazine I could get my hands on. And then my artistic interests took me on a whirlwind adventure in stamping, card making, mixed media, and collage.

And now I'm back where I started. It feels good to return to a familiar activity. I feel a connection to the beads, wire, fibers and doo-dads that I combine into wearable art. It's like I've reconnected with an old friend and we've just picked up where we left off like no time had passed at all.

Today was a scorcher (for November) at 77 degrees! Stranger things have happened. (Like snow in March...and we're only 85 feet above sea level!) A stroll to the park with some friends from the neighborhood was just what a day like today called for. I sat barefoot in the grass and chatted with the moms while Maya collected acorns with her girlfriends.

The evenings are still cool and require fuzzy socks and extra layers. So it's kinda sorta maybe lookin' like Fall...but today was like Fall trying on Summer for a change. So does that make it Fummer or Sall? But nothing beats a warm, sleeping kitty (and a cute little monkey) to snuggle up to. I know there's a song to sing when you want the rain to go away or the sun to come out, but is there a "go away summer" song I can sing? ;)