Turning 29 and Working Overtime....

Spring in Portland is glorious.  Truly, magically.  After our long, dreary, rain filled winters (especially this one!), we are doused with yet more rain in the spring....but what helps us Oregonians to endure is the glory and splendor of those incredible blossoms.  Shocks of pink, purple, white, and all colors of the rainbow, everywhere.

My personal favorite is the Pink Dogwoods.  Aren't they incredible??  They make my heart swoon.

Yesterday, I turned 29.  I thought of hosting some little giveaway here, or a sale, but not only did I not have the time, I decided I would much rather do something that involved simply giving.  Giving of myself.

So, sometime in the next few weeks I am going to do something that will help others, and yet absolutely terrifies me.  Donating blood.  Why would donating blood terrify me?  I hate needles.  They just absolutely freak me out, and what's more, is that whenever I have had blood drawn, I can feel that needle inside my body.  

However, I know how important blood donation is.  My fiance is a twin who was born severely premature and needed blood transfusions.  There are people in all sorts of situations, who have been injured or have physical diseases or disorders or who are giving birth and being born, every single day, who need blood.  And on top of it, I will be conquering yet another of my worst fears.  Hell, if I can sky dive, I can donate blood.

Have you ever donated blood?

 

In other news, part of the reason I haven't been 'around' is because I've been working my patoose off.  Being a nanny is hard work....I'm just lucky I have 5+ years under my belt!  

In addition to working, the fiance and I had a trip up to Seattle (for him to work) a couple weekends ago...he's going again this weekend and I get the casa to myself.  And the studio! We will also be trekking up there next weekend for the Gallery Walk during the SNAG conference.  I won't be going to the conference itself, but am excited to meet and see friends new and old.

I also put my jewelry in a sale at the Oregon College of Art and Craft.  They host an annual Metals and Ceramics sale, where students and alumni can have their work for sale and part of the proceeds go to funds for those departments to bring in visiting artists or buy new equipment, etc.  We raised a lot of money for the Metals department, which is very exciting.  Last year's sale paid for Tim McCreight to come host a workshop and do an artist talk, which was incredible.  

With any luck, work will settle into more of a routine soon, and I will be 'around' more often.  I do so love sharing my experiences with you!  Soon, I am sure there will be more wedding-related posts, as well.  This whole wedding planning stuff sure is overwhelming (and exciting!) 

I hope spring is as glorious for you as it has been for me!  May sunshine make all your days bright, and lift your spirits higher than you can imagine!

Spring, My Birthday, and A Sale!

Spring is officially here in Portland, which is resplendent with shocks of pink from blooming trees, amidst a growing sea of greenery.  It is my favorite time of year, hands down.

In celebration of the onset of Spring, I am offering 10% off all items in my Etsy shop, now through June 21 (Summer Solstice).  All you have to do is use the coupon code "SPRINGFLING2011" when you purchase anything from my shop on Etsy!

Also, I will be turning 29 in 10 short days!  I'm hoping to do something for you lovelies for my birthday, but am not sure what.  Stay tuned!  

And may your part of the world be blessed with shocks of beautiful color everywhere!

Ring A Day Exhibition at Punch Gallery!

 

In 2010, a large group of artists undertook the task of creating a Ring A Day for 365 days.   Only a handful of people made it the whole year, but many of us made it for 100+ days.  

The results of those efforts are now being shown in an exhibition, Ring A Day, at the Punch Gallery in Seattle, WA.  I'm very excited to be participating in the show, and am looking forward to seeing everyone's rings during the SNAG gallery walk!  For more information, visit the Punch Gallery website, or click on the image for a bigger view.

The Thorn Brooches, Exposed....

 

My labor of love is now showing at the G. Gibson Gallery in Seattle, WA.  I was so excited to get the opportunity to make these again!  They came out far better than I imagined they would.  You can find more images on my Flickr page.  Thanks for looking!

Photography by David Woody

COUNTERFLUX: Defensive Ornament

I am extremely proud to announce that the Thorn Brooches are showing in Seattle this month!  

They are part of a group exhibition, COUNTERFLUX: Defensive Ornament, at the G. Gibson Gallery.  Check out the flyer for more information, and definitely stop by if you're in the area!

The Latest Rings From Ring A Week!

Oh, boy!  I did not realize how behind I had gotten on posting the rings from Ring A Week 2011!  Here they are:

Ring A Week No. 12
RAW2011 12/52

"The Bastard Ring, Revisited"

I could not let this rest. Failure doesn't sit well with me, and so, I brought out the Bastard Ring that would not solder. And, I soldered it. There was some sawing and filing involved, but eventually, I got the seam just right, and the solder flowed beautifully. Now, with a nice bit of polish, he is ready to go out into the world.

Sterling Silver
Size 8.75

 

Ring A Week No. 13
RAW2011 13/52

"A Study in Texture"
With this ring, I decided to try something different. Using a sheet of silver, I formed the ring and soldered it. I wanted to add some texture to it, so I brought out some of my silver shavings, and sprinkled them about on top, and then fused them with heat, which went well. Following that, I added a few little gold balls, but they melted into the silver, leaving a few pits (not so well). It may not be the most successful ring, but now I have a new way of bringing texture to future pieces.

Sterling Silver

Ring A Week No. 14
RAW2011 14/52
"Dreaming of Uluru"

Uluru is an amazing place, and yet I have never been. During all my time in Australia, I did not have the chance to go, and now it lays in my dreams. While it may be a tourist attraction, it is an incredibly sacred site to the Aboriginal people of the region. I know that when I *do* visit it, eventually, I will definitely not be one of those people who walks all over it. I want to appreciate it, listen to the stories, feel the energy surrounding the area, and give it, and the Aboriginal people of Australia, the respect they deserve.

This ring features a gorgeous Ocean Jasper, full of pinks, yellows, reds, and ochres. While the colors may not be exactly reminiscent of Uluru, the shape certainly is. I imagine there have been many trails in the land to, from, and around the great Rock.

"Dreaming of Uluru" is built of Sterling Silver, with a patina to contrast with the gorgeous colors of the stone, and to enhance the trails along the accenting Silver.

The stamp on the back lets you know it's handmade, with love, by me.

Sterling Silver
Ocean Jasper
Patina
Size 5.5

Ring A Week No. 15
RAW 15/52

"A Little Glimmer"

Sterling Silver
Opal

 

Ring A Week No. 16
RAW 16/52

"Failed Attempt"

Sterling Silver
Patina

Ring A Week No. 17
RAW 17/52

"Of Lily Pads and Tadpoles"

When I was little, we had this little pond hidden away in our back yard, surrounded by beautiful trees. Every spring, we would rush down there to go fishing for tadpoles, which is great fun to a child. We would catch them and keep one or two, watching them in a bucket of pond water, before returning them to their brothers and sisters.

When I saw this stone, I was instantly reminded of a ponds dark water, flecked with lily pads, and all the mysteries within those waters.

Sterling Silver
Lily Pad Jasper
Patina

Size 7 US