Creating For a Cause

by MaryAnn Carroll

Note:  If you have arrived at this post from the Free Charles Erickson FB page, please scroll down to the third pair of earrings to learn how to receive a pair of blue enameled disc earrings along with a special thank-you magnet from Charlie's Mom, Marianne.

Original post: I think most of us, at some time or another, want to help with non profit organizations or causes that we have a personal connection to. For me, and from what I have personally experienced in the past four years, it is supporting the wrongfully convicted. There are long stories I could tell as to why, but I won't launch into them, other than to say that my family was a part of a wrongful conviction that could have ended up much worse. Fortunately (I say that lightly), our story did end with an option that was the best it could be. Others have not been so fortunate and spend many years locked up behind bars for crimes that they did not commit. I know it is hard to many of us to believe, but it happens so much more than you know. And if you haven't known anyone who has experienced anything like this with their family, now you have. Me.

Prior to that experience I knew quite a bit about our justice system, since I was interested in the topic. What I didn't know is how naive I was to what REALLY happens. It is not anything like you see, even if, like me, you are obsessed with real trials or shows like 48 hours and such. If you were like me and glued to the TV with the OJ Simpson trial on court TV and all of the other famous trials, what you didn't see is what goes on that is not in the courtroom. (For the record, I also think there are cases where the defendant gets away with the crime they were charged with).

What has helped to make a difference and bring recognition to this issue is online social media. What a great way to bring people who have similar experiences together. A story that I followed long before Facebook was the wrongful conviction of Ryan Ferguson and Charles Erickson. If you would like to read about those, you could simply Google either of their names and a litany of information with be at your fingertips. 

Court costs are surmountable. Again, something most do not realize. Ryan Ferguson with the help of his family, is free. Charles Erickson is not. His family is also trying to help free him. There is no way that I can give to all causes that I would like to, so for the time being, my focus has been on this case.

This is where my creativity comes into play. I don't always have extra funds to offer, but I do have some talents that allow me to help out. In this case, I started out by making earrings that represented a circle of support for Charles. I offered them for a donation. I was able to raise money with those. The problem is they were tough on my hands, so to make them in large quantities was getting to be a little too much.

 

I decided that I needed to make this a little easier on my aging hands, so I came up with this style in their place.

And after making many ear wires by hand (I always feel like everything I do has to be completely handmade), I have simplified the task once more and purchased simple pre-made ear wires. This way I can produce more and will also to able to mail groups out to Charles' Mom, Marianne Erickson. She can then offer them as a thank-you for local donations to the defense fund.

As you can see, they are made the same (hand-punched and domed discs with enamel), but I am being more efficient and saving a few joints!! lol!!

If you would like to help the Charles Erickson Defense Fund, (a minimum of $20) and receive a pair of blue earrings that are a little closer in color to the first picture, just head over to FREE CHARLES ERICKSON on Facebook or his website. Click the PayPal button to donate. Marianne Erickson, Charlie's Mom, will notify me to ship. Thank-you.

 http://freecharleserickson.org

Here are a few things that my friends at Love My Art Jewelry do to help by making jewelry.

Karen McGovern

KAREN:

I donate a huge portion of my sales to the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation and hold an annual show called Wild Things to raise funds as well. Over 20 artists participate and donate to RSCF 25% of sales generated through the show.

Rare Species Conservatory Foundation

Carol Dekle-Foss

CAROL:

I take a training in April to work with human trafficked girls. My goal is to be able to have jewelry classes with them. If not, then I am planning on designing a few pieces with a portion of it going the the cause. 

Courage World Wide

Barbara Bechtel

BARBARA:

I've started donating $4 the proceeds from my Be The Change Penny Charms to a chosen charity bimonthly. For December/January, it is Karen's foundation....but for February/March I will be choosing a new one.

Be the Change

Our other friends at LMAJ also have organizations that are near and dear to them. You can find those on the side of our blog.

What creative ways do you contribute. Feel free to share.

Thanks for reading and supporting those who create handmade with handmade.

MaryAnn

Getting Back Into It....

by Staci Louise Smith

Thank you Barb for a great post yesterday.  I have definitely been having a tough time getting back into the creative groove.  I just don't know where to start sometimes after a long break.

Since I will be staying on at the Bethlehem House Gallery for a second show (yay!!!) I decided to start out by making some new things to add.  

I allowed myself some playtime, since there was no real items I had to make.  

I ended up up making earrings to go with my more sculptural chokers that I show you the other week, in my new years post that touches on my extensive procrastination.............

I had fun with them and really liked how they turned out!  Sort of scribble looking, or twig like, either way, I sort of like the randomness of them.  They look great on.....I wish I could get better pics of them being worn.  Too hard to do on my own ears!  I tried anyhow!

I also wanted to make some heart necklaces in polymer, that are similar to these sugar skull ones (that I will be teaching in August at Beadfest).  

That allowed me to play with some polymer clay- since I had to make the hearts.  While I had it out, I made these REALLY fun to wear and bold polymer earrings.  They feel so great on, with the chain allowing them to move and dangle.  Both sides are textured so you don't lose any interest as they move.  Being polymer, they are light and allow a big earring without all the weight.

fronts

backs

I also thought I would try out Claire Maunsell's hollow beads.  She has a great tutorial on it, and I thought they also would be good for earrings....being lighter.  I really enjoyed making them, and think I am going to make some large ones, using my own shape templates.  we will see how that goes.

It felt good to play.  I need to finish up some jewelry today for the gallery- and then I plan to jump into bead making again for a bit.  I miss it, and I need new stuff in the shop.  The sketch book is full of ideas, and I have two fun polymer tutorials I want to try out.  The first one I got is a faux turquoise one from Lynda Moseley, and the other is the faux glass tutorial from Ginger Davis Allman.

I really cannot wait to try out some of these new techniques with my polymer beads this year.  I am chomping at the bit!

So that is it, I need to get to it and finish some jewelry to drop off tomorrow.  Nothing like coming down to the wire to spark creativity.  I hope that you are all finding your creative spirit for 2015!

Regaining your momentum....

by Barbara Bechtel

Some freehand stitching I've been working on in 2015

Are you already on a roll in 2015? Are you off and running and attacking the new year? If you are, GOOD FOR YOU! But perhaps you're already stuck.....Sometimes even though we have the best of intentions of diving into the new year with a new zest and zeal, you go to your studio or your worktable and you feel....

Stuck.

Overwhelmed.

Underwhelmed.

Lost.

Lacking.

If that's you, DON'T WORRY! You're not alone! Sometimes the holidays or any big event for that matter can leave you feeling less than motivated creatively. My own experience is that much of that feeling can be attributed the the break in momentum. All of the build up to the holidays or a big show can leave you feeling depleted and zapped. For me, it's a big factor in my creativity. Although it continues to be a struggle for me, as I continue on my creative path, I thought I would share my tips today for finding your groove again and regaining your creative momentum:

Barbara's Tips for getting UNSTUCK:

NUMBER 1 (AND THE MOST IMPORTANT):
Be kind to yourself. You are not a machine. While you may have just had a holiday "vacation", many times we need a creative vacation. If you're recouping after a big show, close that studio door for a couple days, weeks, months, if you need to. Focus on other aspects of your life for a bit. As the old adage goes, art imitates life, and sometimes when you get into a routine with the rest of your life, you'll feel that pull again on your creativity.

2) Take a class or do something different creatively. You're a creative being but that doesn't mean you have to focus solely on one thing. Especially if your main focus brings in income, your creativity can often be zapped by that pressure to make money. Find a class that teaches a skill you've been wanting to add to your repertoire or take up another creative hobby while your brain recuperates. Cooking, knitting, painting or drawing, whatever!....Free yourself to use your creativity in other ways besides the one where you feel stuck.

3) Find local connections. If you have creative friends nearby, get together for a day of fun. It can be as structured as you wish (everyone works on the same project) or maybe everyone just brings their own project to work on. Sometimes just talking to other creative friends about what they are working on and chatting together over a cup of coffee can really help. No creative friends nearby? Get on the ol' interwebs and have a google hangout or start a Facebook group where you can commune with like minded creatives!

4) Revisit an old or unfinished project. NONE of us have any of those, right? ;) Sometimes those old and unfinished projects haunt our creativity and weigh us down. Dig one out and FINISH it. It doesn't need to end up like the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, but sometimes the act of getting in there and finishing something you started can be very liberating.

5) Clean/ Organize/ Rearrange your workspace. Shake it up. Get rid of old stuff, rearrange and clear the space. Find some old supplies you forgot about. Commit to using them or parting with them.

6) Embrace the mundane tasks of creativity. Make clasps, make headpins, recycle that old metal or clay, polish your tools, clean the pickle pot. Sometimes in the throes of creativity, we put those things off, but just like doing the laundry, mowing the lawn, and cleaning the toilet, it still needs done, and there is always a sense of accomplishment afterwards.

What are YOUR favorite tips for getting unstuck? I'd love for you to share them in the comments!

... in the details

offering bowl - mjd 2014

-----

the air of winter 

may be biting, but in its

sting i feel alive. 

-----

my work over time has evolved into simpler things. my focus is upon solid craftsmanship and defining details. even my writing this year (because i felt like i was losing focus somehow) is being combined with some haiku writing - where the choices all matter - you only have 17 total syllables to work with. 

but in our work, this too is true. there are things you will always need - findings, texture, metal, beads or other materials. they are defining. 

bracelet bar - mjd 2015

-----

as i am me and

you are thee, there must be peace

for the sake of we. 

-----

there are days where components are my focus. they provide opportunities for practicing what i find to be important - creating texture, attention to details, attainment of satisfying patina, even what i choose to clean the pieces up with (sandpaper, steel wool, brass brush, nail shaping block, etc.). and figuring out if the addition of something really does add, or if it detracts and was just fun as an exercise in trying something new. 

this has taken me years - 

it's important - as you work, you find out what makes your work yours. there is no way to really know at the beginning, it takes time and mistakes and victories to find out. it takes listening to your heart and being attentive to what makes it sing. you can successfully execute a design, but is it something you want to do again or reflects your aesthetic? 

what are details that matter to you? what ones do you feel are key to your work? 

wishing you all a year filled with what you need - i think i speak for many when i say that 2014 was a bit of a brutal one. let's hope for something a bit gentler. 

Jewelry trends for spring 2015

Carol Dekle-Foss

Hello everyone! I took a few weeks to relax before the new year so I could refocus my intentions and gain clarity as to what I wanted to accomplish in 2015. It was good for my soul, so now I'm fired up for the new year!  I've hit the ground running...literally.  With my Fitbit snugly on my wrist I've managed to avoid the holiday weight gain by working out almost everyday. 

So keeping healthy is one goal I have for 2015, but I am also working on jewelry pieces for magazine submissions, craft fair and festival applications, and revamping my website. In a few weeks it's back to school where I will be continuing to learn French. Also, My father has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's so a lot of my time will be spent taking care of him. It should prove to be a very busy year, but I am determined to make it the best yet!!!

I recently took a peek at the latest jewelry trends for spring 2015. I should say I never follow trends but some of these have roused my creative juices! 

Here are a few of them that have piqued my interest:

Chunky necklaces

Staci Louise Smith nails this look with her bold and dramatic necklaces. I love how she is able to create such perfect asymmetry.

Irregular Earrings 

Earrings that are irregular and unbalanced. I love these earrings by Kelli Pope for their deep sweeping curves and a pop of black beads placed in just the right spot.

Chokers

Chokers in a variety of shapes, styles and gems. I've always loved chokers so this look has me really excited! After reading about the new trends, I immediately headed to the studio to create this necklace. 

Brass metal

Bold statements in brass. Karen McGovern created this beautiful brass wire heart pendant with a cute little red enameled drop. 

Boho with a modern twist

Boho meets deco. Barbara Bechtel made these lovely star and crystal boho earrings that have a rustic and linear look.    

So those are some of my favorite trends for this year! What about you? Do you keep up to date on the latest trends or completely ignore them? Do tell!

Resetting in 2015

Happy New Year! Now that the holidays are officially over and the dust is starting to settle, I'd like to get reacquainted with you all!

Many people don't like to make resolutions or goals, but I always find it a good to reset. Whether you have concrete goals or just like to choose a word to focus on....or simply have a list of things you'd like to accomplish, I hope this year brings fruition to your heart's desires.

Over my show season this past holiday, I decided that one of my goals in the new year would be to make more videos and take more pictures of my process. My work tends to focus on using a lot of second hand or seemingly worthless objects and elevating them in my jewelry.

A good example of this is my penny charms. I really wanted a way that those who follow me could see a part of the process so that they could relate it to what they are seeing in person.

I made this simple time lapse video to showcase the first part of the process. I'm still learning about producing videos like this but I hope to keep refining my skills and making more videos from the studio.



How Barbara creates a unique charm from a real copper penny. from Barbara Bechtel on Vimeo.

Happy New Year

by Staci Louise Smith

Happy New Year from all of us here at LMAJ!  

Now that most all of the holiday dinners are done, and gifts are given, and the kids are going back to school...........now what?

How do you start your new year?  Are you fired up with a million ideas and tons of motivation?  Or are you floundering and procrastinating, totally drained from 2014?

I know I am the latter- totally procrastinating.  I need to get show app's out, like ASAP.  I need to enter a years worth of receipts (my own fault, I know).  I need to finish up some VERY late class proposals and hope I can still get in to teach.............

But my studio looks like this......................

My shipping area like this................................

My receipt drawer like this....................

I want to do none of it.  

NONE

OF 

IT

So I started to clean up a space on my desk, and there was wire sitting there.

And on my very long list of things that need to be done, is to make Bead Dreams submissions.

And I was thinking one of those submissions would need a wire armature in it.

So I thought I would quick play with some wire (only take a minute) just to see how I'd want to do it.

The rest of the desk never got cleared.

The receipts did not get entered.

The studio is still full of piles.

But I made this necklace (upper right corner)

Which led to these earrings (left and bottom)

Which led to this.

Which led to this.

and none of it led to making armature for polymer clay.....:shaking my head at myself:

And now I just want to make jewelry.

I am the worst employee ever, and if i weren't my own boss I'd totally fire myself.

So, how are you guys doing?  On fire, or just lugging along?  I'd love to hear how you are ready to take on 2015!!!