Craft Show listings

I have finalized my Craft Show Schedule for the Fall/Holiday Season. This is where I will be:

2010 Essex Craft & Fine Art Show

Essex Junction Fair Grounds

Oct. 29, 30 & 31

Friday 12-7, Saturday 9-6, Sunday 10-5

St. Leo's Parish Hall Holiday Craft Sale

Waterbury, VT

Nov. 13

9-3

Queen City Craft Bazaar/ Holiday Craft Show

Union Station, 1 Main St., Burlington

Nov. 20

10-5

Women's Festival of Crafts

City Hall, 149 Church St., Burlington

Nov.26, 27, 28

Fri. 5-9, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5

Utah Necklace

This necklace is made with a big piece of Abalone shell I purchased when I was in Southern Utah visiting my son; he took me to his favorite rock store in town. Along with the Abalone is

Fluorite, Paua shell, Labradorite and French steel-cut beads from the 1920'2. The weight of the necklace is quite light.

Fall / Holiday Craft Shows

Boy, Summer comes and goes so quickly in these parts. The Fall Craft Show Season is rapidly approaching. This is my schedule thus far:

Stowe Fall Foliage Craft Show, Oct. 8,9,10, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (pending)

Essex Fall Craft Show, (at the Essex fair grounds), Oct. 29, 30, 31, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Queen City Craft Bazaar, Holiday Sale, Nov.20th, Saturday (pending)

Women's Festival of Crafts, Nov.26, 27, 28, Friday, Saturday, Sunday

Thank you to everyone that has visited me at the Shelburne Artist's Market on Saturday's. The market will be running through Oct. 2nd, that will be the last day of the season.

Thank you to everyone else who has visited my booth at various craft shows over the last couple of months. If you need a gift and are unable to make an upcoming show, you can always make an appointment to come to my studio on North Ave. in Burlington, VT.. Calls can be made to : 802-318-5515.

Now go on out there and enjoy this beautiful Fall weather.

Fun with Camera

I love this apron! It was one I found at my Mom's house this past summer. She must have worn this for those "special" occasion parties that she hosted. Minus the tee-shirt and jeans.

pic's of some of the Lace for sale

Bead and Lace Sale

It has been a very long time since my last post. Losing my Mom at the beginning of the summer through me for a loop. Spent much of the summer going through my Mom's house, which was filled from top to bottom with items passed down through the generations. And oh, the memories that go along with each item. I did uncover some wonderful old paper and cards which I will use in my journal and greeting card projects.
With everything that came home with me, I decided that it was time to make more room in my studio, so I am having a SALE this coming Sunday, August 29th. I have a great collection of beads for sale; glass, crystal, Czech glass, Venetian, natural stone beads and more... I will also be selling off some of my extensive collection of vintage lace. Some of the lace was handed down to me from my Mother-in-law, who was once in the Antique Linen and Lace business in Long Island. I also aquired a bit of lace from my family's store in Waterbury, VT.. This store was in the family for 92 years!
SALE: Sunday, August 29, 10-3, 805 North Ave., Burlington, VT. Under the white tent.

Life changes

How do life changes affect our artwork? I recently lost my Mom and wonder how much this will influence my artwork moving forward. I can look at other pieces of jewelry I have made in the past and connect them to a specific life changing events. Are the most creative people in the world the ones who have experienced the most pain and challenge in their life?

This photo was taken at the recent Queen City Craft Bazaar. What a great event this was. It was so fun to be surrounded by so many great crafters. For more photos of the other crafters, check out the Queen City Craft Bazaar website. "http://www.flickr.com/photos/purpleelm/4589939441/in/set-72157624020231476/"

WOMEN WHO ROCK - Sunday, May 23rd

Yup! I will be one of the 25 Women Who Rock!! Crazy huh? I will be singing Carol King's I Feel the Earth Move.
This a benefit to raise money for the Eleanor B. Daniels Fund: Educating, Reserching and supporting Women's Health Care.
Come on out and show your support by rockin' the night away.

WOMEN WHO ROCK - Sunday, May 23rd: "Advance Music & 95 Triple X welcome
WOMEN WHO ROCK
Higher Ground Ballroom
Sunday, May 23rd
doors 6:30 show 7:00
ALL AGES
$10 advance $10 day of show"

"tell a story" collection

This is from my "tell me a story" collection. I have many customers that have bought from me in the past who like to hear the "story" behind my one-of-a-kind pieces. I am happy to oblige. I love talking about my bead finds and where they came from. This piece has a 24K gold-leaf Venetian bead as the focal bead, I bought this on a recent trip to Murano, Italy. On the island of Murano they make the most beautiful beads in the world. Of, that's only my opinion. The teeny-tiny beads in between on the piece are steel-cut seed beads from then 1920's (like the one's you might see on a gown from that time period). I have also included in this piece, vintage Czech glass, crystal, pearls and Tourmaline. There are no two necklaces the same in this collection. I love making them!

Image collage

A few more images from the walls of my studio.

Work desk, love the 50's furniture.

Image Studio

I was asked recently to post a few more pictures of my studio. I am very happy to oblige this request, as my studio is one of my favorite places on earth. As I was snapping photos of my work space I realized how much of my space is covered in images. Images that inspire me, that give comfort, that remind me of special people from long ago, some that make me laugh. Most importantly, this space is mine to do with it as I please. We all need a corner of the world that we can call our very own. A space that is by invitation only.

Famous Inspirational Quotes

Famous Inspirational Quotes: "'A good laugh and a long sleep are
the two best cures.'
Irish Saying"

I love this quote. Two simple ideas that make so much sense. Have you laughed today?

True Love

My supplies, I love them all. Sounds strange, huh? No, not really. I was playing around with a self portrait last night in my studio, this is what I can up with.

Please come out and support local, independent artists. This will be great place to find the perfect Mother's Day gift, Graduation gift, Wedding and Prom accessories. See you all May 8Th at Union station in Burlington.

Thank you

Thank you to everyone who came out to the Women's Expo this past Saturday. A special thanks to all that purchased a necklace or a pair of earrings from me. I hope everyone enjoys their new jewelry. It is always great to meet new people, and to talk with old friends as well, albeit customers from the past or buddies from the craft world.

My next craft show will be through the Vermont Craft Workers Inc.. The Spring Craft and Fine Art show will be held at the Essex fair grounds, in Essex, VT.. The show will run on both Saturday and Sunday, May 1st & 2nd. You can always post a special request to me before then.

Wedding and Prom season is upon us and I have some wonderful items for both special occations. I have custom designed the jewelry for 7 weddings thus far. I love making the bride happy about the jewelry she has picked out for herself and for her bridesmaids as well.

New work from the Studio

Here are a few new creations from my studio. I started making journals a few weeks ago. I love the paper arts. I have been using various papers to make my journals, mostly vintage images taken from old children's books, magazines from the early 1900's , stamps from all over the globe;

just to name a few.

The earrings pictured here are my alternative to the "typical" pearl wedding jewelry. The earrings are very funky and fun to wear on the ears. I think they have a celestial quality to them. I have used pearls, crystals and tourmaline, all suspended on stiff beading wire.
We are rapidly approaching Wedding Season.

A blink of an eye

I did end up cleaning my studio. When I finished I stood back and looked at and thought "Wow, that looks great, and organized. Now what project can I start now?" Since then I have started a number of projects and my space is back to where I started. Who can stay clean and organized in the throws of creativity? Not I. I love surrounding myself with loads of supplies, all within an arms reach.
Leaving the restaurant business to pursue my artists dreams has been a process. A process that I continue to live each and everyday. As many of you fellow artists and crafters know, working in our studio's each day can be a bit isolating. When I was a restaurant owner I probably saw upwards to 200 people a day throughout my work day (which was generally 10-14 a day). I spoke to numerous people on the phone each day at the restaurant. Now I talk to the ladies at the gym, my mail person, my cats, my part time dog and my son, on a good day. And if any of you have a son rapidly approaching middle school age ,you know just how much they talk to their Mother's. It usually goes something like this "Mom, when is dinner ready, I'm hungry?".
But, you know, I wouldn't go back. At the same time, I have no regrets. I love my life now. I love being able to work and play in my studio everyday, it's truly a gift.

A clean slate

Has the Universe ever given you a "clean slate?" If it has , then you know what a gift it is to start fresh. You also know the fear and anxiety that goes along with such a gift. Recently, I was provided with a "clean slate". I was forced to make a heart wrenching decision to close the doors on the restaurant that I owned. Not an easy decision. What came next was surprising to me. I not only lost my livelyhood, I lost people in my life that I believed to be close friends. Added to this, I became a single Mom. My former husband moved very far away for business, leaving me playing the roles of both Mom and Dad to our 10 year old son.

That is where my sad story ends. Now for the good part. I have been given the opportunity to do the work that I am passionate about; my jewelry and other artist endeavors. I have never felt so satified as I have been for the last several months working in my artist studio. Each day that I wake up, I am "charged" and inspired by the work I am creating. Starting over is good, especially when one follows their heart and does what they love to do.

Leaving my comfort zone behind, approaching the unknown, is like standing on the egde of a cliff and jumping off "free falling" to the next level. It's been a leap of faith. I am still "free falling" but, I believe that I will make it into the next chapter of my life safely and much more satified.

I wanted to publish a picture of my studio for two reasons. One, so that those interested could invision where I do my work. Two, 'cause it's a bit of a mess and this may be the kick in the butt I need to organize my supplies. It's kind of a before and after picture, this being the "before". Perhaps in the near future I will be posting the "after" picture for all the world to see.

I spent the morning surfing the web, looking for craft shows to participate in this coming Spring and Summer. Any ideas? Then I decided to take the afternoon off and play in my studio. I made some very cool journals out of old cereal boxes, clippings from 1950's magazines and collected stamps. I had too much fun.

Gotta go and encourage my 11 year old son to finish up his homework.