December Jeweler I know- Sarah West

"Raleigh visual artist Sarah West’s work resides at the intersection of jewelry and sculpture. Working from abstract drawings and collages to create diagrams of emotional landscapes, she exposes the underlying geography of memory and history through overlapping line, shadow and imagery. She is inspired by the open latticework of bridges and electric towers, and the internal architecture of buildings, maps and trajectory patterns. In 2012, West’s work was on view in Public Record, a solo exhibition at Artspace, Raleigh and in the Penland Artists Summer Show and Illume, both invitational shows at Light Art and Design in Chapel Hill. She earned a B.F.A. from East Carolina University, Greenville." 
(statement from nc art council)
 
Sarah also works at Pullen Art Center 
She teaches Jewelry Classes,
has been a tremendous help with our Gallery Exhibitions,  and is also front desk savvy. She is a whiz at computer and administrative duties. All in All we are so glad she came on board, highly recommended by Tim Lazure.:)

Check out her website www.sarahwestdesigns.com
and be sure to come out to her opening at  CAM Feb.6, 2014

http://camraleigh.org/exhibitions/upcoming/
CAM Raleigh is thrilled to present the winners of the 2012-2013 North Carolina Arts Council Visual Artist, Craft Artist, and Film/Video Artist Fellowships 
January 31, 2014 through April 27, 2014
Opening Celebration February 6, 2014

Fall became winter, still thinking about November.

Nov. 17 puppies were born one of these will be mine, a boy named Baxter, they will be ready Jan 7.

A commission, for a company logo. quite challenging actually
convention center presentation, for parks and rec.


                                            CDC, always a challenge, equally as rewarding.
 

                          Fall suddenly became winter its safe to say Thanksgiving was a blur, 
Finally used my Tim Turner Dinnerware, Got some of my earrings on the internet for catalog sales, Devin had a gallery show in Greenville, celebrated my mothers 90th birthday. And I was happy that my new favorite earring designs were well received. There is more, this was an unusually busy time. But they have changed something again on blogger so I will quit while I'm ahead. Thanks for reading :)

November Jeweler I know Sharon Massey

This was a great group of jewelers I met several yeas ago. They were all in Grad school together at ECU. Sharon is the second from the end on the right.
Sharon currently lives in Pittsburg. She is very active with SNAG, She curates shows, works for a gallery, writes for metalsmith, teaches workshops and most recently had work accepted to the  Schmuck Jewelry
Show in Germany.  Her jewelry is interesting and well executed, she has won numerous awards and international recognition for her work. She has been featured at SOFA. Her innovative approach to jewelry making and unusual use of materials have given her a solid spot as a significant contributor to contemporary metalsmithing.


these are some of the pieces Sharon was making using fiber and metal and allowing the metal to form pigment  (color on the fabric), these were the pieces she was working on when I last saw her at SNAG (several years ago)

this is an enamel and steel piece, I was fortunate to get one of these at the pin swap.

here she is looking regal, she modeled this piece at one of the snag" jewelry in motion" shows.
I'm pretty sure I first met Sharon at the St. Petersburg Snag conference. Someone was handing out the miniture chasing hammers and they were all gone by the time I figured out where to find them.. Sharon had 2 and generously gave me one. I thought that was so nice. The heart is actually a Thomas Mann piece, I  met him at that same conference . Definitely check out Sharon's website. It is very well done, her work is amazing and I have only skimmed the surface of her accomplishments.

October Jeweler I know lillian Jones

Lillian is a jeweler extraordinaire. She is also an illustrator, painter, enamellist and industrial designer.
This is the Cloisonne enamel necklace prize for her seasonal equinox treasure hunt she does in Raleigh. It is very complex mythological puzzle that sometimes takes months to solve. Below is the map or guide used to solve the location of the  silver key, which the first one to find, wins the necklace.
A work of art in and of itself.

Lillians' enamels are beautiful and skillfully done.
Lillian teaches at Pullen, NCSU Craft Center and Ornamentea. Her students are lucky to be exposed to her insights, knowledge and skills. I always learn something from Lillian. Her blog is very informative and has step by step tutorials on different enammeling and jewelry making techniques.
Most recently we got a treat to hear her play mandolin and violin at the Pullen open house. Thanks for all you do Lillian. So glad she is a jeweler I know:)

where did September go?

Mitsie loves any opportunity to get outside
link a day  September 
"Day of the dead" Earring, soon to be Cedar Creek catalog internet item :)
weekend workshop , mokume is loud !
Wayne Werner led the workshop
class samples, rings, bracelets and earrings
Hope to have Wayne back for Stone Setting, these are some of his rings
wish list Christmas present
foredom tool sale
Mitsie on her perch waiting,
Fall and October are here, next time there should be alot more leaves.

September update

I have enjoyed having the work of Sue Luddeke
and Michael Ehlbeck at Pullen Art Center, this show will be up through the month of September.
These are the pieces I have been working on for Keith Norvals', "Day of the Dead" Show. It will be at The Design Box for the month of October.
Good Morning Brevard, started the month with a trip to Brevards', Pisgah Forest.,
                                                     and even saw the white squirrel.

September Jeweler/Metalsmith Julie Brooks "Aesthetic Emotion"

The Hungry Ghost
brooch
enamel, sterling silver, fine silver, 18KY gold plate, stainless steel
 Lullaby
baby rattle
sterling silver, fine silver, fiber, steel shot

Julie studied at ECU and MFA, Dartmoth College, Mass.I met her at the Memphis SNAG conference. She is quirky and smart and fun to be with.
"The Julie Hammer" named after her
 She is off on a 2 month, workshop teaching trip out west, Check out her website for the NCBlack teaching schedule
Julie and Jenni, Always a place for those two at Pullen. The jewelry studio will miss Julie. Happy trails.  www.aesthetic-emotion.com

Another jeweler I know, and a visit to Wanchese.

"Quilt"  Katherine made many years ago.
Some of her works in progress.
A wall of samples and lace like enameled pieces
LOLA
a mid morning walk walk on the beach
Jeannette's Pier at Nags Head
Walking on pier, found this. George's dad designed the NC Aquariums,  and this pier was part of the project
Visited the Bodie lighthouse, Katherine's husband Joel works there this summer.
Enjoyed the flowers and nature boardwalk in Manteo.
College of Albermarle where Katherine teaches and runs the Jewelry/Metals program.
Early morning shots around her house in Wanchese, very much a working fishing and boat building village.
These were at the aquarium, big shark, cool shadows.

And now back to Raleigh, things I'm working on, multiples, August link a day, there are 31.


I've enjoyed knowing Kathryn Osgood for several years. She will be at Pullen this weekend teaching an enameling workshop.

Jewelers I know.




August is moving right along. I had decided I wanted to feature a jeweler a month on my blog. Im lucky to know a lot of really talented artists
who work in metal and create jewelry. This month I am featuring Megan Clark. I met Megan at Pullen Art Center, soon after she had graduated from SCAD.  She now has a studio at Artspace in Raleigh, NC.  Her career has soared. She does shows all over the US and wins awards for her work. Currently she won the first place for silver from the prestigious Saul Bell,  Rio Grande Competition! The necklace is featured on the cover of Larks latest 500 Art Jewelry Necklaces.  Check out her website at meganclarkjewelry.com

August

New work I'm doing right now
I wish I could figure out how to get this good of a photo for my jewelry
Random image I made with camera, couldn't tell you how I did it but I like the abstract surreal quality
Here's another one, happy accident
Tthat Mitsie, she keeps her eye on me:)
Yellow Hibiscus
Been on the hunt for a solar lamp post for front yard,  in memory of Sophie, this was a pretty and historic church in Savannah beautiful windows.
Such a rainy summer this year. Everything is very green. I  have spent alot of time enjoying the back porch.

It was a lovely weekend




Forsyth Park,  Savannah Ga.

Fountain in Savannah
lion on square

Window shopping

Glass gallery, reminded me of Lisa O. and Jen Stas
Iron gates and private gardens
Night bloomer, first this summer before we left
special, favorite  birthday cupcake:)
thoughtful gifts, cards and happy day wishes
Mitsie was glad for our return and liked her catnip snake souvenir
photo by George

at the art museum
7/7/53 ( this is what 60 & 59 look like) 7/27/54


Goodmorning moon

Woke up to the morning moon, nice start to a productive day
finished the samples I started during Amy Taverns' workshop, "Innovating the Chain"
these are all liver of sulfur oxidized brass
lots of demos and information
some of her production pieces

Hope she comes again, trying to work up a followup class, maybe a pendant for the chain.
 
Decided to redo these in silver for the July "link a day".  Im actually ahead of the game this time.



 I have been  following Amy Taverns blog for years, you should check it out, she is insightful and a  true jewelry artist.

Summer post

New Jewelry, photographed on driftwood
Screen porch finch viewing, they tend to be shy.
Out smarting squirrels, slow to ripen , but safely on screened in porch.
Mitsie on her summer vacation, relaxing in Wilmington.
18k gold plated version
First thing Mitsie did when she got home, a nap in the sink.
Pretty flower at beach.
Link  a day,  June.. connectors.
 Piles of links a day, by month. Missing July. Maybe some rubies for this next batch. I've started poking around on pinterest and found this picture on Sydney Lynches page it intrigued me.

our sweet sophie

Has gone on to doggy heaven, we will miss her so much, this shot was yesterday her last time outside.

link a day for may

Link a day for may finally complete
The piles next month will mark 1/2 a year ..
Piece by Amy Tavern at Pullen Art Center for the month of June,
Necklace by Tara Locklear at Pullen Art Center for the month of June.
Necklace by Tara Locklear at Pullen Art Center , for Moonth of June

Enamel Necklace by me. Reminds me of a chicklet.
Earring Display used at Larkspur, still working on this idea.
and how to merge it with tried and true display,

Larkspur June 1-2

the birdhouses
are coming
 I owe my gardening inspiration to the larkspur garden
finally got poppies to grow:)

new necklace
an unusual blingy bracelet I made
one of Georges painting for his opening at artspace the weekend of first friday in June. 

memories

                                             Happy Birthday to Edward and Devin Mckim

Happy Friday

  • some of my elements are coming together and getting completed
  • a few new shapes, lots of rivets
  • color here and there with enamel and gemstones.
  • goldplating sent out and on the way
  • a new ring
  • and finally the pendant with photo transfer complete, week late mothers day gift.



Though it's May Im still in April, playing catch up.

Mitsie chillin'
High Fashion at Art to Wear NCSU
Happy Flower
Mitsie  wanting out the front door
George McKims' Bookcover Paintings at Pullens' "Art With Words" Show.
 DJ's Prize winning Belt Buckle , "Art With Words"
Leslie Pruneau, "Art With Words"
                                                        Matt Butler, "Art With Words"
Link a Day for April
Mitsie on the prowl, photo by E. McKim