This IS My Real Job

Of Knits and Challenges

After all of the holiday hullabaloo, I needed something to focus on, more specific than "just make jewelry and sell it!" I am working towards getting my knit pieces into galleries, which means getting a catalog of sorts together. That, in turn, means having a catalog-worthy selection. I challenged myself to knit 5 necklaces this month. I made it to three, each a different style. I think if I had thought of this a little earlier, rather than a week and a half into the new year, I could have done four. In any case, here is a quick shot of the completed pieces. Let's see if I can beat that next month!

Adventures in Oxygen

Twenty years ago, my dad helped me set up my first studio by procuring the oxygen tank I would need for soldering. (The propane tank came from my then father-in-law.) After awhile, I began to think it might be some sort of magical tank because I never ran out of oxygen.

Until now.

OK, so it wasn't magical. I just used teeny amounts over a long period of time. I called the number on the tank, which was for American Welding. Well, Alliance Welding picked up and let me know they had purchased American, but AirGas purchased their assets. Because the tank is owned by the company, I would need to go to AirGas. It just so happens that I drive by them all the time. Little did I know that it was the same street that American Welding used to be on. So one company got their phone number and their business, and the other company got their assets and their address. I hope that makes sense to someone somewhere.

I was able to get a refill easily, and even got a smaller tank. Twenty years is fine and all that, but why not get something that takes up a little less room? Maybe this one will be magical.

Chomping at the Creative Bit

As a sole proprietor business person, it's easy to get bogged down in the administrative and marketing work that is so necessary to keeping everything on track. While working with my RISD intern this past summer, I found myself reminiscing of a time when all I had to do was create. I didn't have to deal with any of this adult crap. After a fun, not overly stressful holiday season, however, I have some time to regroup and get excited about next year.

I am fairly ambivalent about Christmas, but not about New Year's. I love the feeling of potential that comes with the turning of the calendar. Is that why resolutions are popular? I prefer "goals" myself, and the only time I resolved to do anything it was more of a declaration to remodel my kitchen. Semantics, I know. In any case, I was generously gifted with knitting lessons and studio time at Higher Fire. I am super stoked to play! It might seem like a distraction from jewelry, but I can only think of it as cross training. One need not exclude the others. In fact, I already have some ideas to combine disciplines.

So here's to a fresh year and some fresh ideas. Maybe even a fresh web page to go with it. What will you do to nurture your creative spirit this coming year?

BABE Shopping

For whatever reason, when we talk about going shopping, the first thing we think about is going to the mall, or buying clothes. Am I right, or am I making this up? Anyway, I don't like that kind of shopping...unless I can go to the tea store or a kitchen store. In either case, I really don't like the mall. The kind of shopping I do love is shopping for work, yay! Whether I'm ordering online or buying in person, I enjoy looking forward to shiny new things and knowing that I'm doing something productive.

This past Sunday I went to the Bay Area Bead Extravaganza (BABE) and stocked up. Last year was my first time attending, and I took a couple of friends who were also first timers. What a blast. This year I had some goals in mind, and my thoughtful husband volunteered to come. Volunteered. There were so many beautiful things to look at, I wished I could support more of the individual artisans. I dropped a good chunk of change as it was, so let's just hope I can continue the trend. I've already put some of the new beads in action, test driving a pair of earrings yesterday. I also bought more shells, since they are top sellers.

Later, when I asked Charles to hand over the beads, he said "That's it." That's it? This small bag for that much moolah? Then I reminded myself of what I used to tell customers at 3 Beads and a Button: it's not the size of the bag, it's the heft. I'm looking forward to working with my new pound of glass and crystal!

Moving Studio

I haven't had a lot of fun new things to post lately as we have been moving.  Because I work at home, that includes moving the studio. While in between houses, we are living in a one-room-with-loft cottage. The upstairs is the bed and TV (we call it the lounge-a-torium, heh) and downstairs is the office and jewelry studio.

I have three challenges in this situation. One is that I can't just set everything up the way it was. I have to find new places for things, and everything has to fit in less space. The second challenge is the thought of carefully finding places for everything, then having to pack it right back up again. Moving is hard enough. When you have myriad tiny things to pack and not just dump into bags (although there was some of that), it takes time, darnit. So yeah, I've been stalling, even though I would very much like to be making things.

The third challenge is we share this cozy little space with five cats, and I assume everyone knows how much kitties like to get into things. Ergo, some cat-proofing is necessary before I can finish setting things up, let alone do any work. This is the first hurdle, which I am please to say was completed this week, thanks to my husband. Voila:

This cover is flat so that I can used it for other things, like photography.

The skinny blue cords you see are to assist in opening the cover. They have counterweights attached to them down the back. The rest of the hanging stuff is for the flexshaft. The hole in the middle is for the lamp. I needed more height for this cover, but didn't calculate for the lamp/didn't want it that high. Whatever. It works :-)

Still a lot to do, but it's a good start!

Functional Jewelry

I have a show coming up (Fremont Festival of the Arts, August 3 & 4) and am working with an intern. My husband and I are also in the process of preparing to sell our house. So with all of that going on, my brain isn't leaning towards blogging lately. In lieu of something interesting from me, I bring you something interesting from Cynthia Rowley: the Flask Bangle.

Yahoo has a blurb on it today here.

One could also purchase a pipe bracelet, such as this one from Grass City:

How about one on each wrist. What do you think?

 

The Intern

I have recently take on an intern who I connected with via a friend of a friend. The fact that she is a RISD student was a big factor. She is an avid student and worker and I think we're both enjoying the time so far. One thing that makes it extra fun is comparing college notes. While I'm trying not to feel like an old fart (yeah, we didn't have cell phones back then and I only knew one person who was on email), it's fun to hear about what's changed and what hasn't. I am a little jealous that she has access to a 3D printer, for instance. But she gets to be a little ahead of the game when she enters her sophomore year and I'm happy to be a part of that.

Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival

After finally mailing off my application, I quickly received word that I was accepted for the Sunnyvale Art & Wine Festival. It was not exactly a congratulations or a welcome letter, more of a this is where and when to show up. Good enough, I suppose.

I have always loved the Art & Wine circuit, and I remember going to this festival when I was a kid. It will be fun to return to my old stomping grounds as a vendor.

They assign spaces when you get there, which means reporting at 6 a.m. Oof! A recent improvement to my self-employed status has been no more alarm clocks. No such luck for this weekend. I'm sure I'll be awake for check-in and set up. It's that hour after opening time that may prove challenging. So come by and help keep me awake, and bring a shopping friend or two!

Latest Commission, A Few Pieces, and the Patchwork Show

Time for a little catch-up. First, let's start with my latest completed commission:

This is 14K white gold, 18K yellow gold, and carnelian, and was created to celebrate a 20th anniversary. Can you see the Roman numerals?

Although I have been working on my inventory selections, I haven't been posting to Etsy lately. I think I mentioned before that I'm not getting much traffic over there, so some days it doesn't seem worth the effort to post when I could be focusing on other things. But here are a few recent pieces that are still available:

Yes, I've been working in blue a lot lately. I do have other colors though!

Speaking of Etsy, I did a show two Sundays ago that was described by someone as a live version of Etsy. It's a fairly new show called Patchwork. The good parts: easy to get to, decent crowd, nice neighbors, right on the water (Jack London Square), fairly inexpensive booth fee, cute selection of stuff, and a beautiful day. The not-so-good parts: when they say 4x6 space, they mean it. There was more than enough room to have some buffer between vendors. The music, while a great selection, was too loud. Having to yell with customers is not that fun. Also, I only made four sales. Ah well. Here's a shot of my table jammed with stuff, including my new necklace displays. More, new display pieces will be along soon, I hope!

I'm hoping to get some more shows scheduled soon, and am currently working with my brother - a recent Coding Dojo graduate - to get a store rolling on my own website.

Cheers!

 

An Exercise in Insanity

Because my sanity needs to be tested (not)...

Because my eyesight needs the challenge (not)...

Because it's an artist's prerogative to explore and push boundaries...

and because there's something funny about saying "micro" and "viking" together...

I give you the beginnings of a micro-viking knit necklace:

That's 30 gauge wire, friends.