I Forgot...

 fog on the beach in San Francsico on my first day

...to talk about my time in California outside of my show with Raissa! Here's a brief run-down of my jewelry and art-related adventures and things I found inspiring in pictures...

La Frontera at Velvet da Vinci

an incredible exhibition inspired by the border between the US & Mexico

(I also got to hang out with my gallerist Mike for a few hours which was such a treat!)

I popped into the new location of Rare Device, a lovely design shop that carries my Very Thin Gold Rings. It was great to see the new space and say hello to the sweet people who work there. I also saw some lovely jewelry by Is Was &Will Be and Laminar Jewelry.

on a long walk with my cousin...we made a stop at the De Young to visit the observatory and then walked around the sculpture garden where I saw this giant safety pin by Claes Oldenburg

on the drive back from installing the show with Raissa...this landscape near the coast is gorgeous

I visited Faultline Studios in Oakland to see work by a new favorite street artist, Cannon Dill, before heading to CCA to spend time with Marilyn De Silva

light in a cathedral in San Jose

More photos on Flickr and on Facebook.

Thanks for reading.

once again...SF, part 6, the end

karen gilbert-sediment brooch

just a few more bits about my trip to san francisco before i move on to other things. i met jeweler and gallery owner, karen gilbert, at my opening at rare device. we had a good talk about our work and her new gallery (gallery lulo). she also invited me to be a part of the gallery, which i am very excited about. she represents a strong group of jewelers, many of whom are among my favorites. i will be working in the coming weeks on a new group of jewelry for her.

i got myself a lovely jewelry treat at rare device - this leather covered pendant by jalea jalea. i saw it last time i was at rare device in 2008 for my west coast trunk show tour and have not stopped thinking about it since. i figured that was a sign...

the one disappointment of the trip was that i did not make it to shibumi gallery. there just wasn't time...too bad, i would have liked to see that space and the tina rath show. i'm finding her work very curious right now. i guess i'll have to rely on the internet to see images...

tina rath-boulder colony

and finally, a huge thank you to rena and lisa at rare device for inviting me to be in fault lines, for curating such a beautiful show, for hosting a fantastic opening, and for just being all-around fantastic people. (it's wonderful working with you!)

thanks for reading.

once again, i left my jewelry in san francisco, part 1

gossamer knot necklaces by uniform natural

the opening reception for fault lines at rare device was great - the work is strong and everything looked fantastic together. the space was packed and busy all evening and i got to talk to lots of lovely people, including the other artists in the show - molly mcgrath (molly m designs), martha mcquade (uniform natural), and carol gilbert (yorktown road). their work is wonderful - really excellent designs - modern, innovative, thoughtful, and beautifully crafted. i loved all the folds, pleats, layers, abstracted shapes, lines, and the colors, both bright and subdued. here are some of my favorite pieces:

rectangle dress by uniform natural

vortex earrings by molly m designs

vortex laser cut print by molly m designs

layered pleat sling by yorktown road

distressed scarf by yorktown road

you can see (and purchase) more of the show here.

finally, a huge thank you to all the fans who attended. it's always such a pleasure to meet people who like and support my work. and, another big shout-out to all my friends who came - thank you!

thanks for reading - more tomorrow!

is it a drawing or is it jewelry?

i made this necklace last week for my show at rare device. i've been thinking about making this chain since i completed two necklaces with similar chains for the barns show back in the fall. i started making these links last summer when i made the "this is awkward" series for the stimulus project at sienna gallery. i really had no idea then how it would become so important to me now. making the chain is not rocket science, in fact it's so simple, but i find it incredibly appealing and satisfying. i had the idea to hang it on the wall in different formations because it reminds me so much of a drawing.

this necklace will be on view at rare device as part of the group exhibition fault lines, opening friday, march 19.

more images on flickr.

thanks for reading.

fault lines, a show at rare device

i will be in a small group exhibition at rare device in march. the show is titled "faultlines" and also features the work of uniform natural, molly m designs, and yorktown road. i am really excited about this show - the other artists make some really exquisite work (clothing, jewelry, accessories) and i love how it all complements each other so beautifully. i will be showing work from my borderlines series and plan to attend the opening.

the show opens on march 19 and runs through may 2.

thanks for reading.

all my little shops

rare device

one of the other things i've been thinking about is the many shops that have carried my work over the years. i put together a list and there are about 75 different shops in 19 states and 4 countries. it was really interesting to compile this list. i had forgotten about some of these places and i found myself exclaiming a few times. they are all a part of my success and my total experience as a small business owner/working artist. i learned a lot from them including things i like and things i want to avoid. a few caused some serious headaches while most of them just made me happy. i would like to say thanks to a few in particular - these are the ones i started with, who ordered again and again, gave me trunk shows, featured my work in some way, and who were just an incredible pleasure to work with:

velouria in seattle, wa
fancy in seattle, wa
cog and pearl in brooklyn, ny
rare device in san fransico, ca
carol young studio in los angeles, ca
habit in chicago, il

velouria

thanks for reading.

i left my jewelry in san francisco, part 1

my rare device trunk show was fantastic, despite the heavy rain that day. lots of people came and i had a great time talking to everyone, including the lovely owners, rena tom and lisa congdon, and their fabulous employee, natalie. the shop is loaded with beautiful things and has an excellent selection of art, craft, and design books.


now i'm off to LA!

thanks for reading.

this trips' treasures, so far

i've picked up a few pieces of jewelry...
from left: porcelain key (on my own gold chain) by saikai from rare device, knitted necklace by laura irwin from seaplane, twisted wire earrings by raissa bump, porcelain red tree earrings by yasha butler from rare device.

below: vintage gold necklace by anna korte from azalea in san francisco

thanks for reading.

seattle revisited

i lived in seattle for about 7 years before returning to the east coast nearly a year and a half ago. since this was my first trip back, it was packed with old friends and good coffee. today i ventured to the industrial area to visit the HQ of the amazing clothing company prairie underground. (the above picture was taken nearby - i just couldn't resist that sign!) i got to meet the duo behind the work, devora and camilla, and picked up a few pieces for myself including this incredible jacket.
i also spent a lot of time looking at jewelry in shops and galleries around the city like facere jewelry art. the following image is a brooch by seth papac, one of the many wonderful jewelers represented there.
my trunk show at velouria was fantastic. this shop is by far one of my favorites and i absolutely love working with the owner and clothing designer, tes de luna. it's always such a treat to have a trunk show at velouria!
i am off to san francisco. my rare device show is this saturday, 12-4.

thanks for reading.

from penland to seattle

my time at the penland school of crafts ended on thursday. we had a final critique on my students' bezel setting projects and as usual i was impressed with how well they did and even more with how personal they are already making their work. after the crit they presented me with this beautiful charm bracelet that they had been secretly making. it made me cry. my near four weeks as their instructor was just incredible. it was a joy to teach them and i learned a lot myself.

my instructor slide show/artist talk went well. i was very nervous but was able to settle down within the first few minutes. i showed images of my work and things that are inspiring me right now. here are a few images of my inspirations...nicholas de stael, terry winters, and a close-up of a buoy.

today i am off to the west coast for the start of my trunk show tour and right now i am waiting in the tiny asheville airport for my plane to board. it is real early and i am looking forward to being quiet and still on the plane, two things i have not been for awhile now. i have a few days in seattle to start, then head to portland for my show at seaplane. the next day i will travel back to seattle for my show at velouria followed by a few more days to visit with friends. after seattle i head to san francisco for my rare device show and then on to los angeles for my final show at carol young/undesigned as well as a lecture at long beach community college. after all that i head back to penland for the last days of the fall concentration. i am really looking forward to my shows and seeing all my friends again. it's been almost a year and half since i moved from seattle to asheville. this trip is sure to be lots of fun. as for my shows, i'm feeling pretty good about my readiness. i wasn't able to make as much as i would have liked, but i'm guessing it's still enough since i tend to make more than i usually need.

charm by claire buck - gracias amy

thanks for reading.

west coast trunk show tour

i will be heading west for a tour-of-sorts with trunk shows lined up in four of my favorite cities and shops.

friday, october 24 at seaplane - portland, or
saturday, october 25 at velouria - seattle, wa
saturday, november 1 at rare device - san francisco, ca
saturday, november 8 at carol young studio|boutique - los angeles, ca

more details to follow...

thanks for reading.