Rhapsody in Bloom is this weekend

This weekend I will be at Luthy Botanical Garden from 10am to 5pm Saturday and from 12pm to 5pm on Sunday.  Please come out and see all the lovely art on display there.  The earrings above have the most beautiful patina.

Open Box with Flower and Pearl Necklace

I have put together a lovely box bead with a flower blooming out from the window in the top of the box.  The necklace contains two sections of argentium sterling silver viking knit with fine silver end caps and toggle clasp.  The clasp matches the box very well and the whole piece has a pleasing weight and feel when worn.  This piece comes together just in time for the Rhapsody in Bloom Art Fair at Luthy Botanical Gardens this weekend.  Please consider coming out if you are in the Peoria area.  The gardens are such a luscious location for an art fair.

Post Rhapsody in Bloom

I was pleased as punch with the way this weekend went.  The gardens were such a beautiful setting for art, especially my botanical pieces.  I received a special mention award from the jurors at the event.  I was wowed.  Meanwhile, I took a few shots of new items in the lovely diffuse natural light there.  The necklace in this photo has an iridescent, multicolor patina that somehow looks more simple and monotone in this shot.  I still have so much to learn about photographing jewelry.

copper!

I realized today that it has been ages since I have posted. I usually wait until I have eye candy to post. I started 21 new items this week but none of them are finished. A few made it through their first trip in the kiln. One piece just needs some patina. All the others are at random stages. I fired copper test pieces yesterday and am excited to say that this second brand of copper clay fired as the packaging said it would. So finally no more messing around guessing how to change the firing program for that other brand. Bah and humbug to products that do NOT work reliably. This brand that works is the one I will stick with for a while. I am immersed in learning to make photo polymer plates today to make an order for someone. I also have a pair of copper earrings nearly ready for the kiln. I have made the decision that copper and bronze (and copper/bronze married pieces) will not be debuting at Rhapsody in Bloom since that is now less than a week away and I am still working with tests.

Sense of Serenity

In the wake of the madness of Junction City I am finding a delightful sense of serenity. I met so many wonderful people. The volunteers at the fair were super helpful and nice. The other artists were warm and welcoming. The fair goers were fun to talk to. It was just simply a great experience.

Yesterday I went over to Lakeview Museum to return my jewelry to the case in the gift shop. We went through the group of items we had agreed upon before and found it had seriously dwindled over the weekend!  Together we picked out another set of items including some bracelets and the Amulet for Personal Growth.  One thing I have noticed, Katie from Lakeview always picks out my very most favorite items to place into her case.

Today I selected photos to send off for the Washington Fine Arts Festival jury process. That fair is in August. As soon as I hear back from them I will add it to my calendar.

I do have my work cut out for me in preparation for Rhapsody in Bloom (June 26th and 27th) so I had best get back into my studio and start creating again.