Dauphin Island Festival to Oil Spill

I spent this last weekend at one of my favorite shows of the year...The Dauphin Island Art Show. It's a mini-getaway weekend for me. I get to spend some time on a beautiful island with my friend Lisa in her home on the Island. This Festival with it's gorgeous island weather was overshadowed by the coming oil slick that threatens their Coastline as well as our own here in Biloxi. It weighed on the minds of everyone who lives there and those who frequent the Island.

The Gulf of Mexico waters sustain so much for us here. We have tourism, fishing, seafood and definitely not least all, the wildlife we are a habitat for. The total damages won't even be known for a long time to come.

I have been watching with horror the events of the past 10 days. I can't believe we can't even shut this thing down and as it grows, the damage it will do to everything in it's path. It breaks my heart to even contemplate the loss.

On the bright side, residents of all the Coastal States are stepping up to volunteer to help with the clean-up, including me. I have signed up at oilspillvolunteers.com as well as Audubon Pascagoula River Center. I am hoping my background will make a valuable volunteer, but I will do whatever is asked of me to help.

I hope this opens eyes to the fact that we need to find a better energy source. The oil companies have us by the throat because we let them. We all need to be more proactive with pushing a better way, be it wind turbines, natural gas or solar energy. I don't believe that the tragedy in the Gulf should have been a "risk" worth taking.

I will be offering a percentage of my sales to a recovery effort yet to be determined. I will keep you informed in the next day or so when I decide how to proceed.

Studio Clean Up - Final Day

Here we are...the last day, yeah right...! Tomorrow, I tackle the file cabinets. Nothing fun to see there...lol...! I'll be shredding for weeks..!

Photo 1 is the laser printer in the corner. I decided to turn it and make it more accessible. I really like the change...!

Here is the over view of the computer desk and printer all cleaned up as well as a view of the entire studio. Look how much room I have reclaimed over the last few days....! I am so glad I decided to tackle this project. I want to thank Cat Therien again for prompting this organization frenzy...! It will be so much fun to create in this space again...! Thanks for coming along...!

Before and After. If you look real close...you can see my dog Max in the left photo and Elvira in the right. This new set up will make it soo much easier to step around them...lol.

Spring Studio Cleaning Day 3

Here is what I am tackling today. This is probably the hardest day. I have to put all my little pieces and parts back into their containers and make my desks usable again. I try to do this task about once every 6 weeks or or..or it gets very unwieldy.
I have 2 desks on either side of the black chair so I can turn from one desk to the other. I used to use the first desk for my polymer work, but I end up using it more than the one facing the wall.

I ended up moving that entire table from the side of the desk underneath the "big" table. That opened up a ton of space in my studio as well as let me keep all my polymer clay "stuff" all in one place. I love the new look...! I will post that photo tomorrow.
The last photo is part of what I am tackling tomorrow. The corner printer table and my computer desk..yikes..! Thanks for coming along...!

Spring Cleaning Part 2

Ok...Spring Cleaning Day 2...! I tackled my bookcases...! What a mess..! I have ceramic stuff and pieces of glass and other stuff that doesn't belong.

Here is the shelf and table (that was covered in boxes the day before) I have my polymer clay oven and pasta maker set up on the table. I realize that the shelf doesn't "look" organized, but it is. I have my polymer clay canes and pieces on the top shelf in the plastic containers. I still have my fused glass "stuff" on the middle two shelves.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a before picture of this bookcase. You can see how much room I reclaimed with it's clean-up. This last photo is what I am tackling next. My jewelry tables. The computer desk and printer desk will be tackled another day...!

Studio Spring Cleaning

I was inspired by a fellow artisan Cat Therien who in the process of doing a Studio Cleanup. Cat is a very talented polymer clay. She is an inspiration to me with that as well...! Cat is on day 3 of her studio clean up. I tackled my closet area yesterday. The first photo is the closet. I have an awesome storage closet. It has all these shelves and open space on the right. This photo is taken after I had taken all the boxes off the top shelf and cleaned out the right side to some degree, so you don't really get the full filthy effect..lol.

These are all the boxes that came off the top shelf of the closet as well as some fabric that has been there forever. Don't ask my why I keep alllll these boxes. I guess I think that someday, I will need them all. This table held my light box up to now. I wanted to reclaim some of that space for my polymer clay, fused glass work, and eventually my earth clay. I have a tray of glass pieces below the table as well as 25lb box of earth clay.

This is how the closet looked after I finished the clean up. I have all my jewelry boxes and bags on the top shelf. All my packing materials is organized on the second shelf to the bottom as well as some of the things I need for my shows. I will show a photo of the closet after the clean up is over. Some of the book case "stuff" has found its way back into the closet, but it is still organized.



All non-jewelry related crafts put away in plastic containers. Things in those containers...markers, paints, inks, more paints.

This is how the light box is set up on the right side of the closet.

Can it be...?? Getting Ready for Valentine's Day Already..?

Can it be...? I was thinking the other day that I really need to start to get ready for Valentine's Day. Of course, I do have a time crunch. I will be out of commission for about a week at the end of the month. I have to have surgery on my wrist and won't be making jewelry for a couple of weeks...what ever am I going to do..??? Probably go stir crazy....lol...! Hence the early start to the Holiday.
These little beauties will be available in my Artfire studio very shortly. Perfect for Valentine's Day.

Happy 2010..!!

Happy New Year everyone...! Yikes, it's been another couple of months since my last post. When I started my blog, I wanted to make weekly posts...that didn't quite happen. My best intentions didn't come to pass...kind of like what happens with most New Year's resolutions...we make them on January 1 and by January 15th....March 15th...maybe we make it a bit longer...but most times, we fall short of what it is we want to change. It maybe isn't because our desire to keep up changes, but life and job change and disrupt our routine and it gets harder to adjust.
2009 was a difficult year for a lot of people in the US and even around the world. We've seen huge economic changes that have altered the way we live and the way we view our lives and what's important and necessary in them.
Hurricane Katrina was another life altering point for me. I was out of work for 3 months and we were dealing with cleaning up our Coast and our own back yards. It was shortly there after that I realized that I wanted to turn my love for jewelry and jewelry making into something more. It has been one heck of a ride....one that is not over, by any means. I have come a long way in how I do business and how I make jewelry. I have made huge mistakes in business along the way and made great strides. 2009 was a huge test for my business. I am still standing.
I hope 2010 brings everyone lots of love, health and joy. I hope we all find what we need to live full lives with all our loved ones around us. Thank you for listening to my ramblings in 2009 and I hope you'll be back for another year.

Crazy for Collars

If you follow my blog at all, you know I belong to a very talented group of women called UWIB which is short for Unique Women in Business. We share business ideas, give business advice when needed and just all around support each other in our journey in this world.

I purchased a collar for my sweetie Elvira a couple of weeks ago. How cute is that..?? Suzanne from Crazy for Collars is so very talented in her sewing...! She has a so many cute and colorful collars for dogs and cats. She has Christmas collars and collars with bows. I choose a beach blue ( go figure) and green stripey collar. She collars are very well made and I anticipate it lasting for a very long time.

I realize that Elvira doesn't look very happy in her collar in the photos...lol, but she and my other 2 fur babies had just come in from playing with me in the back yard and she was all worn out. It was a perfect time to snap the photo...while she wasn't moving..lol..!

If you get a chance...stop by Suzanne's Etsy shop and see what she has to offer for your fur baby...I'm sure you'll find something you like...!

George Ohr Show 2009

I know this update is a bit late, but I am recovering from Canton and getting ready for the next show. The George Ohr Festival was fabulous...! We had gorgeous weather on Saturday, but Sunday didn't cooperate and we experienced lots of rain. We got lots of shoppers though in between bouts of heavy rain.

I saw some old friends and made some new ones. Randye Temple was back with her fused glass jewelry and paintings. I also met Pam and Bill Clark from South Carolina. They had the booth next to me and had the most beautiful pottery and colorful handmade glazes...! Visit them at Clark House Pottery if you get a chance, you won't be disappointed...!

One of the great part about doing shows is meeting new people and learning about their art. I also met Loran Chavex from Mobile. She had beautiful paintings in watercolor, acrylics and oils. She does sea life and nature portraits. I was lucky enough to acquire a a jumping dolphins painting. It now resides on the wall of my studio. It's so great to look around my studio and be inspired by the artists I've met along the way on this journey.

I received my booth assignment for the Peter Anderson. It looks like I will be at the about the same location I was last year. That puts me almost right across from one of my retail locations at Sea About It. I will be at booth number 668. I look forward to this show each year. The weather is perfect right now and I hope it holds for the next few weeks...!

Fall Show Season is here...!!

I haven't been posting as frequently lately. I have been a busy little bee getting ready for the Fall Show Season to begin. First on the docket is the George Ohr this weekend.

I will probably not be able to post as much for the next 2 months, but I will try to keep you updated about shows as much as I can.
This bracelet was made with one of Neil's hand cast sterling silver rings. You'll notice it's a little different in style. The back of the bracelet comes around the back of the wrist and attaches to the side of the ring. I plan to make these bracelets in a variety of colors and with different sea charms. This one has a (barely visible, sorry) sterling dolphin charm. I believe they will be a big hit at the shows this year...! I just have to wait for my silver caster to make me some more rings...the task master awakes..! Neil has been great though, he's really enjoying learning about soldering, casting and even getting used to the tools we use. He's made jump rings and he was learning how to make earwires yesterday. It's been great to have someone to share my passion with...!

New Pieces and Panic

I've been a busy little bee lately...! Neil and I have been working on silver a couple days a week and I've had the urge to play with my Kazuris lately.
I took a a very last minute shot to get into a show next month in Canton, MS. It's called the Canton Flea Market. It will be held Thursday, October 8th from 8 to 5. I have heard that shoppers are out in full force at 5 AM with flashlights...! They bus folks in from all over for this show, so I am looking forward to an awesome turn out.

Now..the reason for the panic....I realized after I got into the Canton show, that it falls 4 days after one of my bigger shows, the George Ohr Fall Festival the weekend of the 3rd-4th....yikes...! So, I am scurrying to make enough inventory to fill for both shows. Luckily, Neil will be accompanying me to Canton to help out.
These images are some pieces that I have completed recently...enjoy...!

Lost Wax Casting - Part 2 ( Part 1 actually)

I guess this this actually part 1, because all the work we are doing here, comes before the last post.
The first photo is of me setting up the wax molds on a "button" of wax. I fit as many wax pieces on the button as space allows, as long as the pieces are not touching. We had anywhere from 10-15 pieces per button.


The next step is to "make the biscuits" as Horace puts it. You mix up a fine white powder with water, vaccuum out the bubbles and carefully, pour it over the flasks. They also get vacuumed for air bubbles. They are then put into a kiln for about 9 hours to burn out the wax on the buttons. Once that is accomplished, you can can shoot the hot silver into the areas of the flask that don't have the wax and...."ta-da" you have silver pieces like the ones I show below.

Ok, so maybe there are a few more steps..like cutting the pieces off the button and cleaning them up, tumbling the shine back onto them and buffing them to a high shine. It is pretty much a two day process though and one that Neil is getting pretty good at.

AAhh....the difference a soap can make...!

If you keep up with my blog posts at all...you know I belong to a very talented group of women known as UWIB ( Unique Women in Business). We support each other's businesses by making 1 purchase each month from another group member's store. The purchase doesn't have to be a big one, there is no minimum....trust me this is no hardship with the talent in this group. A lot of the woman have Etsy and/or Artfire shops to choose from.

About 4 months ago, I ordered some lip balm from Michelle at Flameworks. They were pomegranate and mango flavored. They had the perfect texture and flavor..! She was very quick to ship and it was packaged perfectly, I was very pleased.
In July, I ordered from Michelle again. I ordered her new flavor of lip balm...Coconut. Ok, now you know as well as I do, that coconut can be done badly...but I wasn't worried..it was perfect as always..! I also tried Michelle's vegan deodorant. We've all heard how bad store bought can be with some of the things they put into it. Michelle's works like a charm.
Now, to the reason for this post. Along with my lip balm and deordorant..Michelle sent me a sample of her soap. It was called Black Misson Fig. At the time I thought..that was very sweet of her, but I'll never like a "fig" soap. So, I put the sample in my shower and forgot about it for a few days. I picked it up when my "regular" bar was getting low and started lathering it on....! WOW...!!! I loved it...! It has a very catchy fragrance..very refreshing and energizing...! All from something I never would have tried on my own...! I had to go order a full bar...! Very good marketing technique on Michelle's part let me tell you...! She sent me a sample of Black Raspberry this time...I'm almost afraid to open the zip lock...afraid I'll have another obsession...!
If you get a chance stop by Flameworks and see what Michelle has to offer, she has a large variety of flavors and sizes on most of her products. Tell her Dawn sent you...!

Lost Wax Casting Lesson

I got to go play..I mean learn more about lost wax casting last Thursday with my friend Horace. I started buying Horace's cast silver a couple of years ago and he has been kind enough to teach me his technique.
This first picture is of me heating up the solid silver to a liquid form in the centrifuge. To the right of me is the large kiln Horace has that holds the cylinders that the wax has been burned out of to make way for the sterling silver in the centrifuge.

The second photo is after the cylinder has been put into the centrifuge and the spinning has started, throwing the hot silver into the molds.

Photo three is of me moving the hot, hot cylinder putting it into cool water to wash the material off the silver pieces. It comes off very easily and you left with the silver pieces on a "button" of silver. ( photo 4) They are then cut off, cleaned and pickled. Then they are tumble polished.

I am having such a great time and am learning so much from Horace. I am hoping soon to be able to make my own wax molds and cast silver pieces that are my own signature pieces. The next time I go out there, I will have some photos of the beginnings of this intricate process.

Who Knew...??

I had an awesome time last weekend at the Ocean Springs Art Market/Fresh Market in front of the Mary O'Keefe Cultural Center. We had a great turn out and am happy to report that the Fresh Market will be with us again September 5th. It would be awesome if they continue to combine both markets to the benefit of both Markets..but what do I know?

I was doing some internet research the other day and discovered that we have Art Markets every weekend..!

- Pass Christian has a Market every Saturday from 8-11 at the War Memorial Park on Hwy 90.
- Waveland has a Market on Wednesdays from 6-12 and Saturdays from 8-12.
- Moss Point's Market is from 9-1.

I am probably going to check out a couple of these this Saturday and see which one or ones would be the best fit for me.

I will also have my Fall Schedule of events posted on my web site very soon. I am also finding the best date for my Annual Home Show.

For your viewing pleasure today, I have posted pictures of a couple of new pieces. I made a Chakra bracelet with Swarovski crystals and Crystal Quartz. I also have these stunning Crystal quartz Mini Lotus Pears made into gorgeous teardrop hoops. Both are available for sale in my Artfire Studio.

Dragonflies Again

I have been on a dragonfly kick again. I just love these little sterling silver charms...they look like they are flying around the edge of the bracelet. I used faceted Moonstone and stick pearls in both bracelets. I couldn't quite capture the the flash of the moonstone on camera though...it is stunning...!

I used green apatite and tiny peridot gems in the first bracelet as well as one of my favorite Swarovski colors..Erinite.

In the second bracelet, I used yummy Kyanite coins and Sapphire Swarovskis. Kyanite comes from the Greek word kyanos, meaning blue...no wonder I love it...!

The green Dragonfly bracelet is for sale on my Artfire site right now.

Summer Starfish

I can't believe Summer is half over, I'll blink again...and it will be Christmas ( cringe..so sorry). Not that I don't love Christmas...but the time is going much too quickly..lol. I am getting my info together for my Fall Schedule which I will post soon. The Peter Anderson and the George Ohr will be here before I know it..lol...!
I just listed some more of my Czech Glass Charm Earrings in my Artfire Shop . I have dolphins, starfish, sun faces, seahorses, sea turtles and fish. Quantities are limited, I am finding it harder and hard to find the glass squares.
I found my Naked Sandals on another blog yesterday..! Unique Women in Business is a supportive, fun group to belong to. We support each other other in business and in life. If you are a Unique Woman in Business and want to join, you can follow this link and tell Erin I sent you...!