It's Heavenly

                                                         A Few More Recent Pieces

A Couple of Recent Pieces

Two more pieces in my most recent series. Somewhat of a departure from my previous work; I'm liking it quite a bit. Will take some time to restock my supply of jewelry; meantime will be contemplating which images to use next.

The Latest News

Recently I started a new direction with my collage work. Within a day or so of completing this first one,
I received an invitation to participate in a show in New York! Pammela Springfield, of Portland's wonderful Cannibals Gallery (which is temporarily without a home) has arranged to show the works of some of Cannibals stable of artists at the Celebration of Whimsy Theater in New York's East Village for the months of July & August. (CWT is in  the space formerly occupied by the famous Living Theater.) The timing seemed perfect - so this piece is currently on view in the Big Apple. A very exciting opportunity.

In other news, I have connected with a sales representative who will begin representing my jewelry later this year. Also very exciting! This could greatly increase the number of venues to show my work, so I'd better get busy!

Unexpected Fame

A year or so ago, I sold a bottle cap & button ring on Etsy. It sold to Darien Gee, who mentioned that she had a book out, Friendship Bread. Being busy with a show at the time, I didn't get around to checking it out. A couple of weeks ago I went to my local library, looking around for something to read. I spotted a new book of hers, The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society, and began to leaf through it idly. It seemed fall open naturally to page 85, and I started to read. Imagine my surprise when I spotted this passage: "She picks up one of the sparkly vintage rhinestone rings rimmed by a silvery bottle cap and slips it onto her finger." It goes on to describe "a large rhinestone gracing the center of the ring, an orbit of small silver balls encircling it." My ring, in a published novel! I read further, and found a description of another piece made of "a vintage gold button resting on a champagne pink bottle cap" - another piece that was on my Etsy shop. One of her characters - a woman who makes bottle cap jewelry. I'm surprised and thrilled to have something I made show up in a nationally published novel. Thanks, Darien!

I'm Back

Finally a moment to breathe - courtesy of some nasty bug. On the mend, and almost ready for my next show, at Lucky No. 3, a charming shop at 2615 SE Clinton in Portland. The show is on First Friday on March 1 6pm to 9pm, Saturday March 2 11am to 6pm, and Sunday 12 noon to 5pm. There will be 10 artists showing; I will be there only on the Sunday. This would also be a great chance to check out the shop, which features the beautiful work of my friend Julia Skerry & her 2 partners.

I've been experimenting with hammered copper disks, as you see above. These earrings, along with the rest of my recycled, romantic jewelry collection, will be featured.

Holiday Preparedness

   Had a lovely time last week when Mary Lou Zeek, of the eponymous gallery in Salem, came to visit my studio with her staff member Tina. They chose a large grouping of my jewelry for their holiday season. Now the pressure's on: I've just been accepted into the Llewellyn Holiday Market, which is only 2 weeks away, I have other galleries to keep stocked, and I'm in the last 2 weeks of my business class @ Mercy Corps. Gotta do homework for that; gotta make more jewelry; gotta get my show props ready; gotta get some sleep. Plus things are getting busier at my day job as the holiday shopping season approaches. Wish me luck!