Hey April Fool's Day!

And I'm actually writing something. Neat trick huh? I guess I haven't had much to say the past few weeks. Just working and living. Seems to take up all my time. I've had my first few shows of the year and the feedback (and sales!) are off to a great start. Thanks so much for all the wonderful comments about my new pieces. I especially like talking to those of you who have known me from the beginning and have seen the changes over the years. Your support and encouragement for me to keep growing mean the world to me. And for those who are seeing my jewelry for the first time and like it, just know that I am always looking at new ideas and want to keep growing in my craft. I take all of your comments and suggestions to heart so please continue to let me know what you think. "White" is now finished and made its debut last night at the Newlands Wedding Show. I had a new table display too. All in white of course - set up on blank canvases with white flowers and loose white petals. A big blow-up of one of the pictures of Lily modeling for me too. I really thought it looked pretty. Of course, there is not a picture of it as my camera is possessed and often chooses not to work. I have taken quick shots of all the pieces in the line and put them into a price catalogue. If you are interested in receiving it, please send me a message and I will email it to you. This is just until I convince Lily to pose for me some more and I get the rest of the shots done properly. She's happy to do it, but she would prefer that I take the pictures on a warmer day than last time. Poor thing was wrapped in just a scarf on the dining room table while I snapped away. When I get some more of the seaglass pieces done, I'm taking her to the beach to pose there. What else? Damn genetics I guess. I've doomed my children - especially Lily. So far this week she's had her first real migraine, been told she's getting braces by the end of the year, and tomorrow chances are high she will be getting glasses. Max got his eyeglass prescription today. Hopefully he won't be getting the migraines too. I've read that while fewer boys are prone to them, those that do get migraines are often also sleepwalkers. Max had been over his sleepwalking for about the last six months, but he has started again in the past couple of weeks. Recently, I found him on the couch in the middle of the night, just sitting there, eyes wide open but clearly still in sleep-mode brainwise. I'm thinking that he might be going through some kind of growth spurt again and things are firing a bit off kilter. Anyway, got to run right now. Just a reminder - please let me know if you would like a copy of the white catalogue or pictures of anything else you've seen at my table but hasn't made it onto the website yet. I'll get it to you. I'm am working to get the website totally up to date so thanks for bearing with me. Cheers, Christine

Directions

Been working steadily all month and so many more ideas to hold onto and create into something tangible.

"White," will be the new bridal line of jewelry and should be ready by March for the first of the bridal shows I intend on doing this year. Features round Swarovksi crystals in many sizes, quartz, white pearls, sterling silver, metalwork, white satin and organdy ribbons. I've created a soldered silver infinity symbol wound with crystal that runs as a theme through the line. These pieces are more delicate than what I normally produce and I think they will be so beautiful when they are done. I'm really pleased.

The other line goes in completely opposite direction and I finally came up for a name for the pieces today. This collection will be called "Alchemy." Alchemy is the "art of transmuting metals," and is usually used to reference the wished-for transformation of metal into gold. This jewelry uses rough-hewn pyrite (fool's gold), lemon quartz, vintage watch gears, lots of soldered metalwork, grey satin ribbon and rich blue pearls. They reflect my love of steampunk, of post-apocolyptic literature and movies (The Chrysalids, 1984, Farenheit 451, HG Wells, The Stand, Mad Max...), minimalism, and raw beauty.

While I had intended to call the line "burton," for my appreciation of the vision of Tim Burton, I've chosen Alchemy to represent the post-apocolyptic world of "Nine," which Tim Burton produced. This beautiful and dark movie tells the tale of nine "stitchpunks," who represent the soul of their creator and are his attempt at retribution for the part he played in the destruction of the world. Each stitchpunk embodies one element of the scientist and collectively they return life, and hope, to the planet. An interesting fact, the voice of the scientist is done by Alan Oppenheimer, a cousin to Robert Oppenheimer. Robert Oppenheimer was the man responsible for overseeing the creation of the atomic bomb during the Manhattan project:

"I knew the world would not be the same, few people laughed, few people cried, most people were silent."

We all have the choice to create beauty in our world. We all have the choice to be more human and humane, to ourselves and to one another. Choose wisely.

The Procrastinator's Blog

That really should be the new title of this. Seriously, without that microchip planted in my brain to livestream the daily blogs I do compose in my head directly into the computer, I seriously suck at doing this regularly. So here we are, Happy New Year! I've got until the end of January to keeping wishing people that, don't I?

I have been working. Finished a number of custom pieces so far this month so that's been a great way to start the new year. I've also been shopping. I received some polymer clay for Christmas (Fimo) and tools, so I've been out acquiring the other tools I need to try my hand at making beads. I've really enjoyed studying the techniques by Donna Kato and can't wait to get started. I have to admit that I am a bit nervous about this. I absolutely suck at working with clay. I've tried pottery, even had a wheel when I was younger. Everything looked like it was made by a blind monkey with no hands. I've tried PMC (precious metal clay) - those lumpy little nuggets of silver will never see the light of day. It didn't help that the others in my class were all sculptors and handled their clay beautifully. (and yes, the class did say no experience was required) A bit intimidating and very frustrating. It's a very expensive product too, so just buying some more to play around with is not such an easy expense to swallow.

So here am I about to tackle the medium again. Stubborn girl. I don't expect to be showing any of my beads in my work for quite awhile. But I am prepared to take my time and make mistakes.

I have been working on the bridal line as well. It's called "White." I think that the pieces I've done so far will turn out really well. Delicate, flowing, feminine. I can't wait to see the finished product and post some pictures.

Been buying some new stones and glass too - more steampunk to come and certainly a line of edgier, more industrial pieces. We must evolve and I can't keep churning out the same stuff. I am keeping some favourites - the flowers for example, but they are being repackaged in a fun way.

For now, looking at shows for the year. I need to try out some new venues and broaden my reach. While I did increase sales overall last year from 2009, the markets that had been tried and true in the past dropped dramatically for sales. I may be spending more time in the car this year to go to go a bit further afield.

So I'm looking forward to 2011. It's the year of marketing and growing for Pink Gargoyle. Time to get this show on the road and make a splash.