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!!!

Things I love about the Holidays............

by Staci Louise Smith

Oh the holidays, weren't they so much more fun when we were young?  Now its hustle and bustle and shopping and making gifts, wrapping and baking and cooking.  I know for me, sometimes it can seem like more of a chore then a celebration.

(photo courtesy of http://money.cnn.com/2012/10/19/pf/holiday-shopping-deals/)

It is those times that I try to take some time to think about all I love about the holidays.  No matter what you celebrate, I think these things can be universally healing during this sometimes tough time of year.

1.  Gifts:  I love to give gifts.  I love to create gifts.  At times it too can feel like a chore, but then I think of the little blessing the gift will be to someone I care about, and it is all worth it!

 I had a blast making the above wine toppers for friends and family

2.  Not everyone loves to shop for gifts, but I bet everyone loves to get them!  It is so nice to know that someone thought of you- and my favorites are those really unexpected ones from people you did not think would be thinking of you.  (coincidentally, those are also my favorites to give)

3.  Watching kids open gifts!  Whether it is your kids, or extended family, heck, you could you tube some adorable videos too, there is something about watching the magic of a child receiving a gift!

my girl Julia has loved Christmas since she was a tiny thing!

4.  Cookies!  I mean, c'mon, warm cookies.  I hate the messy kitchen, but love the cookies- mostly, its so nice to make them with my special people.

photo courtesy of  http://christmasintheforest.blogspot.com/2011/12/perfect-holiday-cookies.html

5. LIGHTS!  I love lights- whether on a Christmas Tree, or on houses, bushes, mantels, soft twinkly lights make me happy.  I love to unwind with a glass of wine or chamomile tea at the end of the day during this busy season, with those low tiny lights all over.  (we went very minimal this year due to some really crazy events in my small town, and my decor, is mostly all lights!  I love it just the same!!!)

6.  Holiday Movies!!!!  My favorites, A Christmas Story and Elf.  Elf being my all time favorite I think.

7.  Family.  I know this is sometimes a hard one, whether you are missing a loved one, or have loved ones who drive you nuts, it still feels good to be surrounded by those who share your DNA or your heart, or both!  Hug a loved one extra tight this year. 

my brother and sis in law rocked the ugly sweater party this year!  It is so cool that my brother and sis are also good friends with my same friends, so I get to see them at both family and friend events!!!

Those are some of my favorite things.  What are yours?  Is there anything that really helps you through the holiday funk?

We here at Love my Art Jewelry hope you all have a wonderful, and blessed holiday season this year.  May it be safe, may it be full of love, and may you find time to relax in there somewhere.  

(we will begin normal posts the week after Christmas as we take some time to enjoy our families and rest!) 

How to make a copper bangle

by MaryAnn Carroll

Like many of you, I am a little crazy busy.  I have found some time to create some copper bangles, however, and consequently they became a little addicting AND a way to avoid everything else that I should have been doing to be a little more efficient. I thought that since I haven't posted in quite some time, I would start off by sharing a tutorial. Next week, I will have some of these to offer in a a giveaway, so stop back.

How to make a basic hammered copper bangle (picture tutorial)

If I were the super organized type, I would have a list of materials 

HERE....

but I am not, so I will do my best with letting you know what you need. Personally, I like to look at pictures, so that is what I am mostly providing.

Fire is you friend when it comes to making bangles and I like it hot!!!

Materials that you see here: 

Mapp Gas, copper solder, dremel, firing rack (not sure it that is the technical name) and 6 gauge copper wire (right from Lowes)

heavy duty wire cutters (Weiss)

 pickle (1 cup vinegar to 1 tbsp salt), a crock pot (one you will never use again in the kitchen, a ceramic bowl, water, baking soda for the water, plastic tongs,

I have been too cheap (and broke) to invest in a bracelet mandrel. An old baseball bat or, in this case, a maple leg from an old table works great!  They may not hold up as well, but, hell, I have four of them!!

This is fire brick (below). As you can see it has been used multiple times. I would recommend investing in some bricks, so that you don't burn the house down. 

That brings us to.....

STEP 1: Cut a piece of 6 gauge copper wire to approximately 8.5 inches (bigger or smaller depending on your hand size). I cut a little big just in case I make some mistakes and need to trim more than I planned for. Heat the copper to make it pliable. (you can use water for fast cooling if you choose to).

 

STEP 2: Using a chasing hammer (another material), hammer the wire until you get it flattened. I then use the flip side of the wire for the exterior of the bangle. This part takes some twisting and turning AND a little patience.

STEP 3: File, using you dremel until you get both ends of the wire to meet with as little space in between as possible.

STEP 4: Put the two ends together and place on your firing rack. Place the LONG piece of copper solder behind the connection. This part takes lots of practice and I could not take pictures while I was doing this since my right hand was being used to heat the front of the copper.

The joint isn't perfect, but with a little sanding and possibly a little more solder it will look fine.

STEP 5: Add to pickling solution (heat crock pot until hot.... I would give degrees here, but I have no clue what low is on the crock pot that I have.

 This is a picture AFTER it comes out of the pickling solution.

STEP 6: Using a wooden or rubber mallet, carefully hammer your bangle until you have reached complete roundness (or close to it)!!

There you have it!

 I also add patinas, sometimes textures and usually tumble them for extra strength and shine. Only two of these have patina added.

Stop back next Friday to enter to win a bangle or two!

MaryAnn