TMI = overstimulation

I find myself battling all these ideas and images in my mind not knowing where to start or which thread to follow...  Even though it is a life long struggle for me to find FOCUS I seem to thrive on my chaotic brain chatter

For the first time ever I am trying to attain a CPA to do my yearly taxes - I am stubborn and even though it is like pulling teeth I do my own business and personal taxes every year. Hoping not to this year - it takes so much time away from making work! 

I saw these steel beads that were only a couple of dollars a piece but a great design - I'm interested in seeing if i can make something similar out of Sterling 

When I was making dinner 

I noticed how beautiful the very center of the sections of leeks were! 

For the first time ever I am trying to attain a CPA to do my yearly taxes - I am stubborn and even though it is like pulling teeth I do my own business and personal taxes every year. Hoping not to this year - it takes so much time away from making work! 

This week I spent hours researching and compiling supply orders - I was out of almost everything - AND I ordered some new materials to try mostly for this one earring design which I came up with last week - 

i cut bottom design out of paper about 4 times before i was satisfied with shape and size

Normally I use Sterling for everything, but don't want the earrings to be heavy and even if large are still very comfortable to WeAR. 

I cut out the design in Aluminum but that didn't look quite right. So i ordered some Titanium and a few other options to try out. I am excited about this idea - hope it works out this week! 

What I actually finished this week 

The piece for show at Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts - 20 years of the Artist in Residency program - I was fortunate enough to be a resident in 2002-2003

http://www.arrowmont.org/artists-in-residence

on my plate for this week 

1. wedding band - first one came out perfect first try - it's mate is on the third try! 

2. custom bracelet - still haven't gotten to that

3. custom piece for spiritual purposes 

4. still need work to fill an order 

As in Life and Art; there is always a challenge and a lesson to be learned - Here's to learning something this week!

Rotary Engine

inspired by

Sometimes it seems the easiest way to tap into what you believe is when someone asks you a pointed question.  About five years ago a college student from out west contacted me about an artist profile for a class paper, and she wanted to write it about my work. One of the things she me about was my favorite jeweler, and what jewelry did i look at for inspiration.  I told her i had lots of inspirations; African and Egyptian art, architecture, nature, anything and everything around me, but that i thought it was most important to look outside of your own medium to avoid the trap of your work mimicking other artists in your medium.  The most inspiring thing i saw this week was a detail from a railing. This is definitely going to inspire some work from me! I can't get over how amazing this piece is, i found the picture on David Norrie's website, a blacksmith who lives about an hour away from where i live now.
I adore this piece and plan on paying homage to it real soon in my own studio!

www.davidnorrie.com

Taking Care of Business!

One of the things I struggle with as an artist is the business side and doing multiple different aspects - I either work on paper work and nothing else or I work in the studio and forget EVERYTHING else like eating and following through on jobs and all these various tasks which keep me in business

1. Deadline for filing quarterly taxes for Colorado - a first time for me!

2. Send a small order to Miya Gallery, my favorite gallery in Weaverville NC. If i can't be there at least some of my art progeny can. - they have customers waiting for a shipment to arrive. However for the last two weeks I forgot to look up from the piece i was working on and it slipped my mind.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Miya-Gallery/87805201702

3. Send my new favorite piece off to one of my best customers in South Carolina he wants to try it on and see if it's a "fit" (first i have to make chain longer)

4. Start working on components for an awesome lady in Florida who wants a custom bracelet similar to one she saw on my Facebook page.

5. Also really need to start amassing a collection of work to take to my newest gallery, Boulder Gallery of Arts and Crafts, which has been on my list for weeks and I REALLY should get it there before the second week of February
www.boulderartsandcrafts.com/

6. Mail off my trade for one of my best friends Sondra, who is an amazing artist who I got to trade with
her necklace is made from a washer i found in the alley behind Miya Gallery and it is completely unique - I have never seen a washer that looks like it! Picture coming
www.sondradorn.com

My biggest hurdle getting it ALL done and getting work in studio done AND life maintenance on top of that

getting started

...never thought i wanted a blog, but today i just starting making one. i realized it could be like a sketchbook for me; enhancing awareness of my process and maybe it will keep me on task and honest about the steps i need to take next.