Art is a Blessing: Polymer Play and Mixed Media Musings

by Staci Louise Smith

Art is such a blessing.  I think someday's I take creativity and that I get to do this for a living for granted.  Art is such a huge part of who I am.  I see art in almost anything.  I take in colors, and textures and composition no matter what I look at.  It leaks into all parts of my life, and for that, I am grateful!

It's that time of year, where I have spent the entire year making beads and jewelry.  I try to allow myself some playtime around the holidays.  It allows time to make gifts for people and get out some of my other art supplies.

One of the blessings, is that my children get to be creative too.  they learn the fun of play, and the business of selling their work too.

To start off the season of creative playtime, Julia and I worked on some polymer pendants for the Hereford Bazaar.  It's a craft show her school puts on.  All three of my kids made stuff for it and I got them a "real" crafter table there!  

It was a lot of fun to prep for a show that was NOT my own.

Now, Julia (age 11) is not known for her organizational skills, and she brought me these bags of polymer clay.  They contained every color of the rainbow and then some.  So I said, how about we mix them up and swirl them, and then she could use that as a base to stamp her designs onto!  

We had a blast putting odd colors together and running them through the pasta machine and finding the  surprise patterns that arose.  She is a color junkie, so she was in rainbow heaven!

After that was done, she stamped them and cut out the circles to add to her bezels.

I had so much fun with the kids in the studio.

Collin (9) made little owls and got to use alcohol inks for the first time.  I showed him how to make these easy little "squish" owls and he picked it right up!

My oldest, Aiden (14) makes jewelry.  

Here they were at the show- they all did really good and had a blast, and I must say, IT WAS THE MOST FUN SHOW I DID ALL YEAR!

Here they all are, and yes, I am a proud mama!

Here are Collin's key chains and bracelets he made

Here is Julia's set up, with magnets and necklaces in polymer

 And here is Aiden's work.  He loves working in gemstones and beads, but has started doing more wire work and polymer too

So, that was a great week to get the creative juices flowing.

As you may know, I have dabbled in mixed media before.  But I have wanted to add more of my polymer into the mix.  I have had ideas, but no time to try them.  

So finally I gave myself a week to play.  It's almost up, and I am almost done these piece.  They are finished, all but the three in the lower right corner.  I hope to make a few more today and finish these, and then its back to business for a week.

I love being able to pull from all the different media I have worked in to create art.  It is such a blessing to my soul to be able to freely make what is in my head and heart.  It is also nice to know that I get to use all those things I have learned through the years, a million different ways.  I REALLY encourage you to always keep learning new techniques and mediums.  You never know when the skills you learn will pop back up!  

So be blessed and create art!  Never stop learning and playing.  It's all part of the process.

Show Prep and Accepting my Limitations

by Staci Louise Smith

Show time has finally rolled around again.  

I think I almost always go into a show feeling somewhat unprepared.  I have notebooks of things I want to have made for each new show, and rarely get to finish them all.  Though I must say, I usually come pretty close.  People often say to me, "I don't know how you do it all, three kids and a business."  

My answer every time is, "I don't."  

Something is always not done.  I live with a half finished list, piles of laundry and dog hair filled floors.  I have projects that get back burner-ed in the studio all the time.

This year, I have had two extra months of no shows to prepare, and somehow, I am still not prepared for this show.  Life just keeps telling me, get out of the studio.  It seems to be one thing after another this year.  So, I am finally trying to listen.  I have been taking more time to rest, and to be with family.  I really burned myself out last year trying to do it all.

As a result, my list is not going to get done.  And though a small part of me is crying inside, dying to make all these new things in my head, the rest of me is actually ok with it.  

It is what it is.  My well being comes first, family comes first.  

I mean, it takes a month for me just to make all the components so that I can assemble jewelry.  A full component tray, with clasps and ear wires is a GREAT feeling.  It means I am almost ready to sit down and assemble things.  

(I also tried my hand at making large wire balls for beads- I love them and they will go so well with my style!)

I did get a bunch of new earrings made, which felt REALLY good.  

I also got a half day in the studio (after lunch and into the night with dinner and family time in between) to torch some metal and hammer things and make these rocking bangle bracelets.  I just love them.  Bracelets are never my strong point, so I tend to go with something different, like my leather cuffs, ect.  I have been itching to make bangles, and man, I am loving it.  Thanks to Maryanne, Karen for sharing different bangle techniques and getting my creative juices flowing. I am late to the bangle party!!!

(links to some great bangle posts)

http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/06/twist-it-sister-by-karen-mcgovern.html

http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2014/12/how-to-make-copper-bangle.html

http://lovemyartjewelry.blogspot.com/2013/09/how-to-make-wire-bangles.html

and Patti's bangles have been very inspiring to me:

http://myaddictionshandcrafted.blogspot.com/2015/04/my-addictionskinda-sums-it-up.html

Bangles before finishing:

Bangles after fnishing

So, here is a little video mid-bangle production.  Messy studio, tools everywhere.....and I love it.  

(I am cranking some Cat Stevens, so you may want to turn down the volume.  I like to listen to Peace Train while I beat up metal....lol)

If you are local, my show is in Bethlehem PA this weekend.  Here is a link to the show info.  It is a beautiful town with lots of wonderful places to eat and shop and get a drink.  The show is full of wonderful artisans and artists as well.  I hope you can stop by!

http://bfac-lv.org/downtown-bethlehem-fine-art-and-craft-show/

When Your Ho, Ho, Ho Leaves You Low, Low, Low...by Karen McGovern

This entry began as a simple post I made to the LMAJ admin Facebook page.  I was commiserating with my fellow LMAJ artists about how I had officially started “Holiday Head”.  You know—that thing that happens when the holidays arrive, and you start reminiscing about holidays past, people you can’t be with or can never see again, and you find yourself drooping into your eggnog, but not in a good way.  Holiday Head.

I was on the verge of a spiral into the dark the other day, but pulled myself out of it by standing up, hitting the studio, and making ONE THING.  One simple thing.  Not something I needed, not something new, just something that I knew I could complete from start to finish rather easily and would please me.  A simple bangle.  I beat it up with the hammer (no need to consult Freud on that one…), patina’d it, polished it and then sat and looked at it.  Then I gave it away.  It was IMMENSELY SATISFYING and pulled me out of my funk.  I’m sure it had everything to do with taking control, accomplishment, moving my mind off sadness and into creativity and giving.  WHATEVER, IT WORKED.

This bangle is so simple, yet really lovely.  16 gauge copper wire wrapped
four times around a steel bracelet mandrel.  The ends are soldered using
sterling silver easy solder paste, and I also soldered the wires together at
midpoint or more stability and structure.  Hammered, liver of sulfur patina,
polished with a polishing cloth to bring out the highlights then
sprayed with two coats of clear gloss Permalac metal sealer.

I believe artists “feel” more than others may.  I think that’s how we tap into whatever creative mojo we have.  We are emotional beings that not only respond to beauty, but want to create it and give it to others.  So do that.  Giving something away when you are feeling depressed can really, really lift you up.  I wish more folks would realize this and do it.

Holidays are rough on just about everybody.  On the one hand you are surrounded by hyper-happy imagery and expectation, on the other, you may not be able to fulfill what may seem like holiday OBLIGATION to be Super-Elf or whatever.  Especially if you are alone, or without your loved ones near.  You can easily find yourself hopping a candy-cane festooned train to DepressionVille.

 

For the next couple of posts we would like to hear from you—artist or not—about what you do to help creatively life yourself up when feeling low during the holidays.  Please share—you may be offering a perfect piece of advice or have the perfect idea that can help someone else who may be struggling to stay “up” during this time of year.

AND, for those of you with holiday show on the schedule, make them as fun as you can. Wear a stupid hat (I totally believe in the restorative powers of a stupid hat....).  Give away mistletoe or pine sprigs.  Use humor--it is a superpower.  I just finished a holiday gift show held in a cool converted barn/studio.  Made a display box for my work from a wooden crate I got on sale at Joann's.  Beat it up with a chain and a hammer, stained it, stamped it, and used rusty cup hooks to hang necklaces.  Simple, I know, but man do I like it and I MADE IT MYSELF.  The show was lovely and I sold enough to be able to donate over $200.00 to the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation for Ninita's toothbrush fund.  If you have no idea what I am talking about, click the links...please.  I guarantee you will feel better!

Thanks in advance….I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving, comfy elastic waist pants and a spectacular food coma. Now, GO MAKE SOMETHING!!