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

Drum Roll Please!

It's a "no."

Had a bit of a sulk, then went to a couple of bead/gem stones and spent several hundred dollars. Nothing like retail therapy.

On a funny side - I had to write an "artist statement" for the jury. All about what inspires me- the burning urges inside that help bubble up all my creativity. I know I should have one and so I spent hours one day trying to write this thing without sounding like a pompous git. Apparently, what I wrote seems to be more akin to soft porn. My husband read it and thinks its hot. All the talking about the molten metal swirling around or something. I should spend more time alone with him apparently..... he seems a bit hard up. Too funny.

So a bit cheesed I guess about the results, but to coin an overused phrase, "it is what it is."

Back to work.
Cheers!

Jury Duty

On Sunday I am to take four pieces of jewelry to be juried for the daily market at Granville Island. The jury is held only once every two years. Two years ago, I was tempted but knew that even though my work was pretty, it wasn't up to snuff for the artisans on Granville Island. Frankly, I am nervous about my chances this time too. The competition is fierce and the quality of the artists is outstanding.

Any jury is nervewracking though. Here you are, being judged on whether your work is good enough to sell. They say yes, and wow - big sigh of relief, validation, "They really like me...." You get told "no" though and it's hard to not take it personally. It is a huge blow to one's ego, to one's motivation to keep going. You question whether to keep slogging away at something that means so much and wonder if anyone will ever think it's good enough. It is difficult to sometimes keep that professional distance - to understand that you are not being judged, that it is simply not the right venue for your work. And the problem is too that there is no explanation given when you are told no. It would be nice to know that your worked was liked, but there weren't enough open spaces, that it's not suited for the market, that something.....but it's just NO.

Vancouver is a very competitive jewerly marketplace. There are a lot of designers and they are very good. And while I know that what I make is definitely unique, it is also a more difficult sell. Finding the right venue can be a challenge, and remembering that the jury process is there to make sure that you are successful at the market can help ease the blow of rejection. Let's hope that I remember my own words when I get my answer next week.

Overall, I do prefer markets that jury - even if I don't get in, and especially when I do. It does mean that there is a certain standard that sets the market above just the "first come first served" venue. The customers have a higher expectation and are more likely to appreciate the artistry of the vendors ( and accordingly, shop). They are not there just looking for a bargain or some inexpensive imported bauble to keep the kids quiet for a few minutes.

So....we shall see what happens next week. I won't have an answer right away on Sunday and will have to wait a few days. I'm taking four carefully chosen pieces - "Blooms", a new piece from the Alchemy collection, "Vintage Punk," and .....torn between two others.

There's always 2013.

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.

"And to all, a good night"

Well, it's actually only 11:30 in the morning, but the last line of The Night Before Christmas somehow seemed fitting. 5 days to go and Max is so excited. It's good to see that even at 8 years old, he is still enveloped in the magic of Christmas. Lily is excited too, but a bit quieter about it all. We've been asking and asking what she'd like, and the answers are hard to come by - mostly books really. Neither one of them had any lengthy list of must-haves. It's nice to see that they are content with what they have, but it does make our job a wee bit harder. However, in keeping with my last post, we have ordered several custom gifts for each of them that will be one-of-a-kind and speak volumes to them about how special they are to us. Haven't really set foot in the mall too much. While I cross my fingers that these things will make it here on time, I know that they will be worth the wait if they are a few days late. The presents can wait if they have to, but our Christmas morning will be just as wonderful with just being together. It will be just the four of us on Christmas day as we are entertaining family on Christmas eve, but I don't mind. We so rarely get a whole day to just be together.

I finally slept for 8 hours the other night, but so far it's the only time since September that I've made it all night. The headaches have backed off a bit, so I will take what I can get. I would rather slather on the concealer and feel groggy than feel like taking an ice pick to my head to pry the migraine out. I've had migraines since puberty but the last few years they had mostly gone away. Not sure yeat what is triggering this round, but it has been quite stressful at home the last few months. Big changes are looming for my husband and until that is all settled, I feel that these things will continue for me. When it is settled, then I believe things will be really good for all of us. I've read our horoscopes for 2011 and things look promising. I'm supposed to be more creative than ever, and he is to excel in his career. Let's see if the stars are right.

I'm planning some new things for 2011. More courses for me - wax casting, acid etching to name a couple. I've got a complete bridal line to design in January. More and more custom work keeps coming in and that's super. Thanks so much to everyone who has trusted me to create something special! I'm going to do a series of more practical and technical blogs - try to get pick up by some of the bigger jewelry blog sites. 2011 is all about marketing Pink Gargoyle and really getting it out there - time to get into the States for sure. I'm going to enter some design competitions too. I'm also toying with some home decor items in copper and wood. Let's see if I can avoid biting off more than I can chew!

So that's it for now. I wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Kwanza or whatever you choose to celebrate. I hope you all find peace in 2011. Thanks so much to all of you out there who have supported Pink Gargoyle - it truly means the world to me that you find my work beautiful enough to spend your hard-earned money on it.

Cheers!

Ozymandias

"I met a traveler from an antique land
Who said: Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal these words appear:
“My name is Ozymandias, king of kings:
Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away."