Hello Press

I don't often talk about my press, only when it happens and then I quietly walk away. I've been very lucky to get some really wonderful press over the years and it is always exciting for me: the cover of Metalsmith, my work featured in the Lark Book 500 Series, a necklace worn at the Grammys…

With my most recent press in the current issue of Metalsmith, I thought I should get some of my press out there again. I just added some of my press highlights to my website and created a board on Pinterest.

Thanks for reading.

30 minute necklaces

i received my copy of 30-minute necklaces recently and spent part of my evening reading it last night. my wallpaper necklace was published along with 59 other designs that will suit lots of different tastes and skill levels. my favorite projects are by linda chow, jacqueline barbera, tiina rajakallio, ada rosman, and davina romansky.

necklace by davina romansky

thanks for reading.

30 minute earrings

i got my advance copy of 30 minute earrings last week. it looks like a great book with lots of interesting things to make. my warm earrings are one of 60 featured designs. i especially love the pieces by boris bally, amanda shero granstrom, and brenda schweder. i can definitely see having a little fun in the studio with this book very soon.

the book comes out on june 1 and you can preorder your own copy now.

thanks for reading.

500 plastic jewelry designs

i just got my complimentary copy of 500 plastic jewelry designs, juried by susan kasson sloan. this is my first time in the lark books 500 series and i have two pieces published. i am psyched! i flipped through the book last night and it looks fantastic - the 500 books are always so inspiring. it will be my treat to sit with it over the weekend and really look.

thanks for reading.

congratulations, warm earrings!

my warm earrings (this month's jewelry of the month) made it into 30 minute earrings! they are very happy.

30 minute earrings, an upcoming lark books publication, is a how-to book that will include some 50 different easy-to-make-fast earrings. sounds like fun to me.

thanks for reading.

attention! 30 minute earrings call for project proposals!

i'm working on my own submissions for lark books new book design challenge: 30 minute earrings. here is a link to details and the application. the deadline is coming up - january 26. should be fun...

thanks for reading.

presentation report, snag installment #1

time to start writing about all that happened at SNAG... i think the best place to start is my presentation. after a few intense weeks of preparation and some serious self-doubt (including a desperate phone call to my mom), i put my very first power point to bed the night before the seminar. (come on, how much fine-tuning can one really do?) i felt good about the content and visuals and had practiced many, many times. i had to stop, but not before another run-through with my friend and fellow presenter, marthe le van. we practiced one final time at about 11:30pm as we lounged in our matching twin beds in what we now refer to as "mansion camp." (we stayed at an extravagantly decorated brownstone in downtown savannah.) the next morning we made our way to the conference hotel, stopping at the fantastic SCAD shop for some very helpful retail therapy. (i was so nervous at this point!) i bought a ridiculously good fabric brooch made by kristen hlis. (this name might be a little wrong...i'm taking it from my receipt.) for the next 4 hours we dealt with all the technical stuff, which wasn't easy - there were a lot of issues. finally, after transferring our presentations to one laptop, the seminar started at 2. i spoke at 4:30. by that time, i had calmed down quite a bit and i have to say, i am pleased with the way it went. my talk had 4 sections, starting with my background. then i outlined indie shops and galleries, indie craft shows, and trunk shows. i defined each topic, discussed pros and cons, and mentioned my personal experiences. i really hope the attendees (all 200+) got something out of it.

now about this public speaking thing, i think it's always good to make oneself do difficult things, like public speaking. (it builds character, no?) like i said, i wouldn't do anything differently, but over the next few days i paid extra attention to the other presenters. they are much farther along in their careers and have more experience presenting. i listened to how they opened and concluded their talks, noted their transitions, and the overall structure. i even took some notes which i'll just file away for future reference. eventually, i would like to make my presentation public. it might be a good resource for many emerging jewelers and other artists.

p.s. marthe le van is an editor at lark books. they publish wonderful art and craft books including my favorites in the 500 series, like 500 brooches.

thanks for reading.