Please mark your calendar for the art fair being sponsored by the Mattoon Arts Council on Saturday, June 15, around the bandshell at Peterson Park in Mattoon, Illinois. I believe the hours are noon to 7:00 p.m. – I’ll double-check that. Briar Lane Studio will have a tent. In addition to displaying our jewelry for sale, Barry will be demonstrating chain maille and I will be wire-wrapping. There will be entertainment at the bandshell throughout the day. Stop by and say hi!
Report on the Effingham Artisan Fair
Even though it was cold, rainy and miserable all day, the less than desirable weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the many people who attended the Effingham Artisan Fair on Saturday. Much to our surprise, we drew a decent-sized crowd and did very well. The Effingham people are so cordial, and we enjoyed visiting with all those who stopped by our booth.
For the second year in a row, we won the People’s Choice Award, which was both a surprise and a compliment. Thank you very much to those who voted for us. It made the day seem a lot less gloomy. We did the happy dance! Special thanks to my cousin Tina for bringing me a much needed cup of delicious hot chocolate from Joe Sipper’s.
The rain eased up around 4:00 p.m., just in time for us to tear down and load our van without getting too wet. We are still drying things out at home – all of our setup materials seemed to be damp just from the humidity of the day. Our tent and some quick reorganization kept the rain from reaching our jewelry. By the way, there’s nothing like loading a drenching wet tent into one’s van!
Despite the dismal weather conditions, we will most likely be back next year – I believe the date will be April 26, 2014. If you are thinking about attending, I promise that the weather will be better.
No Work and All Play
The title pretty much sums up how I feel about “working” in my studio. Here are some pictures of the recent things coming out of there. Zebra print is all the rage. Black and white will mix with any color. My favorites are red, turquoise, sage or olive green, purple, and orange. My granddaughter mixed up some classy hot pink and white zebra print that earned her extra credit in art class. What imagination! Kaitlyn rocks!!!
My Funny Valentine
If money were no object, what would you want your sweetheart to get you for Valentine’s Day this year? Let your imagination soar!
I’ll start. I’d like a brand new Mustang convertible that I could drive to the airport to catch a flight to New York City, where I would have the best seats in the house for a couple of Broadway plays and then visit the best boutiques to buy a whole new wardrobe for my European vacation. Thanks, Honey!
Beautiful Blogger Award
Several weeks ago, I was nominated for a Beautiful Blogger Award by fellow blogger Deborah Hutti (www.Deborahhutti.wordpress.com). I was quite humbled by this nomination since Deb is one of the nicest people and best writers I know. Stroll on over to her blog – I think you would appreciate her writing style as well as her timely topics. I am a bit embarrassed that I did not thank her sooner, but I suppose later is better than never. So, thank you Deb!
After researching exactly what was expected of me after being nominated, I found that I need to list my seven favorite bloggers…a sort of “pay it forward” thing. So, here goes.
Admittedly, I don’t have the opportunity to read a lot of blogs, but I have found several that I think are worthwhile to follow. My seven favorite bloggers to date are:
- Deborahhutti.wordpress.com
- Luannudell.wordpress.com
- Settingforfour.blogspot.com
- Onethousandsingledays.wordpress.com
- Nellhillsblog.com
- Kristenscreationsonline.blogspot.com
- Itsy-bits-and-pieces.blogspot.com
Abundant Productivity in the Studio
We’ve been busy in Briar Lane Studio getting things ready for spring shows. I’ve been learning new techniques with polymer clay, and Barry has been experimenting with new patterns for his chain maille. For as much time as we’ve spent in the studio together, we’ve been getting along great – as long as he stays in his space and doesn’t complain about the state of confusion that I’m in.
Here are photos of a few of the new pieces. I hope to soon have photos of some new zebra print pieces that I’ve just finished.
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- One of Barry’s fabulous chain maille creations. I loved it so much, he made one for me.
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- Several rows of silver and blue make this dramatic bracelet a standout.
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- Sterling silver and multi-colored niobium rings make up this versatile bracelet.
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- Lovely Swarovski crystal rings are featured in this bracelet.
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- This classy piece is made of fine silver.
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- My newest pin made of polymer clay and accented with copper. It’s quirky, but I love it.
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- A side view of the quirky pin.
Hair Today, Gone Tonight
I freely admit to my addiction for making jewelry. Even after an extremely stressful day at the office, I hole up in my studio to unwind and let the creative juices flow. Before I know it, I’ve gained my second wind and blissfully worked two hours beyond bedtime.
However, even though I am a self-proclaimed jewelry junkie, there are some aspects of the creative process that I don’t particularly enjoy. While performing these processes, I sometimes zone out. My mind will wander to the pressing issues of how I would word the obligatory birthday card for someone I don’t like, or why Hobby Lobby can’t open for just a couple of hours on Sunday, or why “Harry’s Law” was cancelled, or why I can’t seem to be satisfied with my hair color. Important things that my mind needs to process.
One especially mundane part of working with polymer clay is sanding and polishing the baked pieces. I love experimenting with color and texture and different design techniques, but to call the finishing process interesting would be akin to folding underwear for three hours.
Last week I had a particularly hair-raising, or perhaps I should say hair-curling, experience while performing this tedious task. I tend to amass a pile of polymer pieces to be sanded and polished. My logic is that if I allow them to accumulate, I’ll suffer through and have it done all at once. Then I can return to the more stimulating designing/creating activity. This is the way it was done before Ford created the assembly line, and you can see the mess that Detroit is in. I use this same reasoning when I schedule medical procedures. Get everything done on one day, if possible, and enjoy the rest of the year.
So, I diligently wet-sanded about ten pieces of polymer clay to a shiny finish using no less than four different grades of wet/dry sandpaper on each piece. Messy doesn’t even begin to describe it. Afterwards, to get that stunningly gleaming finish, I moved everything to my work bench, where one of my most useful pieces of equipment – the Flex Shaft – makes its home. We call this tool a Dremel on steroids.
Replacing the drill bit with my one-inch buffing wheel, I began the laborious process of polishing every square millimeter of the newly created pieces. Ho-hum. I could have used the bigger, super-duper grinding wheel with the polishing attachment, but that thing scares the bejeebers out of me. It can grab your hand or an article of clothing faster than a shopper can grab an iPad on Black Friday.
So, picture me standing there with the Flex Shaft polisher in my right hand and the polymer clay cabochon in my left, day-dreaming about the best way to cajole my husband into taking ballroom dance lessons or buying me a chocolate diamond for Christmas.
This will seem off-topic, but it’s very relevant. I’ve been growing my hair out for the last three years or so. It’s finally at a respectable length. I know all the safety rules about long hair and power tools, and I am especially careful about not allowing my hair to get too close to my work. Before my last haircut, my bangs, which I am also growing out, were long enough to stay behind my ears. After my last haircut, they now, annoyingly, tend to fall in my face.
This is my recollection of what happened as my mind wandered to where I would park the Mustang convertible that I would surely find in my driveway with a huge red bow on it when I retire. The errant strand of hair fell between my eyes, and I instinctively reached up to move it back…with the hand that was holding the 26,000 rpm (according to my husband) Flex Shaft polishing wheel going at full speed.
The rest is kind of a blur. The room spun for a moment as my mind blanked out the pain. My foot eventually came off the pedal that made the polisher go; I may have actually stepped down harder on it as all this was happening. I remember that when I dropped the tool, it continued to spin for a few seconds as it dangled from its cord, minus the polishing wheel. I’ve never taken drugs, but I think I now know the feeling. Wow, where did that wheel go, man? I actually was looking around the studio for the polishing wheel; I probably had a stupid grin on my otherwise numb face.
When I finally did reach for my head, my first comment was, “Oh crap!” I found myself with a massive dreadlock over my left ear. My face hurt under my left eye, and my skin tingled all over. I was shaking just a bit, but I managed to get to the bathroom and look in the mirror. This called for another “Oh crap,” a personal scolding, and a few other choice words.
Ironically, I had a hair appointment in 45 minutes, so maybe she could figure out a way to get the dreadlock undone without cutting too much of the hair. Wait a minute! No! No one is cutting this hair! I’ve worked too hard getting past that point of no return to cut it off now.
I went downstairs and told my husband that I needed his help – PRONTO! He followed me into the bathroom. When he saw my hair, he looked incredulous. “What the (expletive) did you do? You’re going to have to cut that, you know.” “No way, mister. Just see how bad it is and start untangling.”
What do they use for chewing gum in the hair? Butter? Peanut butter? Mazola oil? I had all three and I’d try them until I found something that worked.
I told him I couldn’t find the power polishing wheel. It had broken the shaft right in two and must have flung the wheel across the studio. He seemed pretty impressed by that.
Patiently, he worked on the dreaded dreadlock, trying unsuccessfully to stifle a laugh. I’m glad I could provide his humor for the day. He looked as giddy as a puppy getting his belly rubbed.
“Boy, that thing is in there tight,” I said as he untangled. “That’s because the wheel is embedded in the middle of your hair,” he said. Oh, great! “Do we have another shaft that I can use with a new power buffer,” I asked. At least I had my priorities in order.
Finally, the wheel came out, looking kind of like a gigantic Q-tip but nothing like its former self. “You’re going to have to cut your hair,” he said. “No way, buster!”
I moved to the other bathroom where I kept the conditioner and began spraying it on the dreadlock, which felt like curled-up steel wool. With my wide-toothed comb, I slowly and gently began working the hair loose, alternating spraying and combing.
Finally, it smoothed out. I was surprised to see that there were only a few strands of long hair on the comb when I finished. Whew! I dodged the bullet on that one. I pulled the hairs off the comb and threw them away. Then I turned around and saw it on the floor at my side. That curled-up hank of hair. I looked in the mirror, and there it was – the place where it was yanked out of my head. Fortunately, it’s barely noticeable because it’s close to the hairline and my long hair covers it.
The left side of my cheek stung and looked like I had suffered rug burn, and there was a scrape on my nose. I guessed that it was probably the Flex Shaft itself that got my face while the polishing wheel was wrapping itself around my hair. Eventually a bruise formed under my eye, but fortunately it was barely noticeable, and no one suggested that I move to a shelter for abused women.
I’ve learned another lesson the hard way. It seems like that’s the only way I learn lessons. I can’t say that I was not following safety precautions because my hair was not hanging too close to the tool. Oh, no. I brought the tool to my hair.
I’ll do what I can to protect myself from future incidents like this. I wonder if my safety goggles will fit under a football helmet.
Round and Round We Go!
Seems like I’m stuck on circles for some reason. Nearly all these designs in copper incorporate circles in some way. Maybe it’s because I always seem to be going around in circles. Or I had my circle of friends on my mind as I was making these pieces. Or I was thinking about drawing a circle around my section of the studio and telling Barry not to cross the line. I walked in one day and found that he had cleaned off the entire top shelf of MY work space. EGADS!!! I told Mr. Neat Freak that if this is ever going to work after we retire, he’s going to have to wear blinders and stay in his own area of the studio. Fortunately for me, his things have been selling so well that he’s too busy working to even pay any attention to my space.
At any rate, for whatever reason, I present the circle:
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- Copper cuff that has been texturized, patined, and adorned with beads.
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- Copper cuff with great patina
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- Copper cuff with blue/green patina
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- Colorful copper cuff with circle cutouts
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- Mixed metal pendant with more circles
Contact Information
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you'll stop by often. You may contact me at
briarlanestudio(at)gmail.com.
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Briar Lane Studio 