Pullen/Sertoma - Craft Fair / Arts festival..

Lots of really good work will be on display at Pullens' Craft Fair this weekend Sat. October 15 10-5 at Pullen Art Center. My son Devin will have pottery. There will be over 50 exhibitors. There are so many things going on this weekend, State Fair, downtown festivals etc. The weather should be nice so if your in the area stop by. Megan Clark, Suzanne Krill and Julie Brooks from the earring challenge will be there.

Week 40 New album






Always learning new stuff on facebook . The jewelry challenge, reached 200 earrings. I was getting frustrated because I couldnt upload this weeks pictures and lo and behold only 2oo per album. It hard to believe we have made 200 earrings! Here they are pretty colorful week.

Week 39


October is here! Started the month with a visit from Marlene True . She is a friend who works in tin. Her workshop was actually at NCSU craft center. She is off to Penland, doing a workshop next week. But she will do a 4 day workshop at Pullen in January. Her Kentucky Club piece was a demo piece for her students.
Little slow getting this week posted, even though everyone was on time. We are busy at the Art Center getting ready for our annual crafts fair. Their will be alot of nice work available for sale.
Current events are pretty bleak and disturbing right now. I think it is a shame the way the news is showing such tasteless photos of Michael Jackson. It's sad that the genius behind Apple computers has died. I love my Mac Book Pro. All the political campaigning is starting, fortunately Sarah Palin is not running.
The fall weather we have been having has been awesome. I always feel lucky to live in such a nice area. Been doing alot of urban walking and local park hiking, good way to get reacquainted with your surroundings.
The earring challenge is still going strong.
All the members of the group really feel they are getting satisfaction from the commitment they have made to this weekly obligation. I'm looking forward to seeing each of our pieces in their progression, and idea/style development, the way they are presented now sort of fragments the idea development. So far, for me, the photographing has really helped me to see the piece differently than you do on a person, card, or display. It becomes more about the image . For a little variety one week I will ask each participant to photograph their earring on a model.
Lillian stopped by for a visit this week, the granulation earrings she makes are so nice. The blue enamelled sparkle matches her blue eyes. The earrings are truly a gem, and they look lovely on. She has been featured on the cover of Jewelry Artist magazine and has a nine page spread in the magazine. Megan and Julie will be at first friday this friday at artspace, and Suzanne is working on some things with Lee Hansley Gallery and Frank Gallery in Chapel Hill. While Eliza is out Im acting director and hoping to get ready for Carolina Designer Craftsmen , Boylan Art Walk and a Trunk Show at Cedar Creek. Oh yeah fall is definitely here.



Tribute to MAKJ, New baby and Making Multiples

This week was full of activity at the art center . We had a room dedication reception for Mary Anne K. Jenkins who taught painting at Pullen for almost 49 years.There was a huge crowd of former students. Martha Stewart punch and cake were served. Mary Anne seemed to enjoy the party as did Leslie Pruneau (current painting teacher) pictured here with Mary Annes' daughter Grace,







































































The night bloomer bloomed on Sept 28 and Eliza (Art center director) finally had her baby on the 29th. Laurette Elizabeth Kiser. 8 lb. 14 oz. 22 inches.






The long awaited workshop with Jayne Redman was a huge success. We made steel blanking dies. These were made to produce multiple shapes for forming and connecting for jewelry making purposes. Jayne is from Portland Maine and does beautiful jewelry, skillfully engineered and inspired by nature, particularly flowers. She will be coming again next Fall to teach a jig making workshop for making connectors and ear wires. Thank you Jayne and Elizabeth Lyne.

Lillian Treasure Hunt

This is the jewelry prize for solving Lillians' puzzle. A beautiful granulated pendant.
jFall Equinox map for Lillian Jones Treasure Hunt, Below are her last two earring of the week designs Somehow they got left out of former post. Having to get used to the new blogger format.

Week 38

Bettys', September Studs, little flower pillows with dots. Julies earring with gold plate,"Solid gold dancers" Megan spirals and Suzannes' oxidied, etched surface and pearl.


week 37


For Betty : September studs, Julie : Pop Your Bubbles. Megan Clark : Feather/Wing and Suzanne : Enamel and surface treatment.

New show at Pullen







Ashley Brodie and Seo Eo have work on display at Pullen Art Center. Seo will be having a workshop in November, making teapots. Ashley is a durham based jeweler who has work in upscale boutiques. She will be the featured jeweler for Art Spark at Raleigh Denim. Fall is always a busy time. Stop by and stay posted our upcoming Fall Arts Fair is just around the corner and will host alot of talented makers of things. And finally a lovely fall bouquet from George.

Week 36

Thought the earrings this week were especially nice. Suzanne just got back from a week at penland her earrings are enameled copper. Silver interlocking circles are a new design for Betty, take off from last week , with no stones and high polish (not a great photo). Lillians' granulation series continues to motivate her, these earring are extremely charming in person. Megan is doing alot of shows and has lots of new designs and enjoys patterns. Julie is off to a workshop at arrowmont, is settling into artspace and continues to make her beautiful earrings these are called weird fish.



A place to remember in New Mexico

These photos are from the Los Poblanos Ranch in Albuquerque New Mexico. George and I stayed there on a trip out west it was recommended by Sessin Durgon who works at Rio Grande (friend from SNAG conferences). Great place if you are ever in that area. www.lospoblanos.com







Welcome September, Big tomatoes, Showers and New earring designs.

My watch owl, garlic spray and the addition of "black chicken" fertilizer have finally got my tomatoes growing.
Lots of little ones joining us at the art center. We had a baby shower for Eliza Kiser she is due Sept 24th. That will make the fouth baby in a row . First was Ingrid Norval, next Liam, Trishes' grandson then Anora, Sayers' daughter.
Enjoying the cooler weather. Plus a new design to start out the month. This one is definitely different for me Im excited to see how I develop it. Seems the fall always signals back to work, all the shows are just around the corner.





Week 34


Short post... Lillian Jones granulation. Julie Brooks, garnet set in gold , Irene inspired, Betty Mckim, Garnet/ Sterling, Megan Clark Stingray and Suzanne Krill, Sterling and brass.




goodnight Irene

So glad to see all those gray clouds and gusty winds go away. Left a pretty sky at dusk. I know those on the coast and up north are still feeling this storm so hang in there. This week started out with a rare earthquake, ended with a hurricane.
In between these events I had an enjoyable dinner with friends, this is the official group that is hiking down the grand canyon this November.
Suzanne brought her famous Italian lace cookies.
Of the four I'm the skeptic a" little" nervous about the journey. I have finally gotten my boots and am in walking training.




Week 33


Betty McKim,
Lemon Quartz, sterling silver



Suzanne Krill,
Natural pod



Julie Brooks
lily pad sterling silver oxidized


Megan Clark,
Titanium and Silver


Lillian Jones,
Granulation

Better late than never

A bit late this week here are Betty Mckim with Lemon Quartz, Julie Brooks Circles, and Lillian Jones Enamel.This is week 32. Somehow I got the numbers mixed up.



Week 32, Earrings, Mercury, Rocks & Hounds



It is a fact that Megan Clark has been the best about being on time with the earring challenge, next Suzanne Krill. Megans' are sterling silver with inlaid Stingray skin. Suzanne continues with black plexiglass and pearl. We all manage to get them done, but this week Ill be busy tomorrow cranking out a pair of hoops with blue topaz. We have several summer birthdays in our family. Thus, lots of summer weekend travel has prevailed.
I'll have to add my earrings, Julies' and Lillians' to another post.


























Birthday party weekend for Herb and Gina McKim, thanks for the lovely dinner. It was fun visiting with all the families. I forgot my camera during the party, but I was given this fantastic photo of Elizabeth, Herb & Ginas' 12 year old daughter with Mercury jumping hurdles at a horse show. The rocks were some of their finds from western NC that they gave me to incorporate in some jewelry.
















The dogs enjoy and tolerate each other, Runner Corbin is the golden doodle, Sophie McKim our golden and Mackie Mckim is the little sheltie. Next time we will have to add the other two hound cousins to the mix.