Working with my hands

So last week I spent working with polymer clay.  I've had the supplies since Christmas 2010.  I did fiddle around with it a bit at the start of last year, but wasn't having much success and got caught up in designing White.  Everything got shunted aside while I went back to work and then all the summer/fall markets, when I just need to keep up with the supply of my regular pieces.

However, during the Harrison Hot Springs labour day craft fair, I met a very talented artist named Andy (facebook: A. Brown Designs) who creates fabulous jewelry in clay.  I bought of pair of her fooler gauge earrings and a ring.  I fell in love with her octopus tentacle earrings and raven head pendants.  She gave me the inspiration to try again.

With no markets in sight, I was able then to spend several carefree days rolling out clay and experimenting.  First project was to make calla lilies.  I have always loved Diego Rivera's paintings of lilies, and of course, I have my own Lily.  After sketching them, I began to roll them out, intertwined with leaves and vines.  I wasn't interested in making them realistic in terms of colours, and the ones in deep purples, blacks and reds are my favourites so far.  Even the gold and black looks pretty good. 

You have to understand, while I love working with my hands, working in clay has always been a sore point.  Even as a child, I had a small kiddie pottery wheel.  And I spent hours trying and trying to make a simple, smooth pinch pot, to no avail.  They were horrid, mishapen lumps.  Even in university when I was studying for my B. Ed, our art classes touched on clay, and I was again left with some shrivelled lumps.  Several years ago, I even took a class at the Rotary Arts Centre in Kelowna on working with PMC (Precious Metal Clay - fine silver).  While the class was supposed to be beginnner level, my fellow 'students' were sculptors.  I ended up with hard lumps of mangled silver compared to their detailed pendants.  Trust me, PMC is very expensive and is not something you keep practicing with unless you know you can produce something reasonably attractive.

Why on earth would I invest in purchasing all the tools I needed for polymer clay?

I guess we all have yearnings for secret talents.  Anyway, I like how things have so far come out, and I think I've figured out what works for me.  The beads and art pieces in the books by Donna Kato and Carol Blackburn are very pretty.  And I'm not even going to try to make them.  I'm sticking with simple lines, flowing shapes.  It's what works for me in my silver jewelry, and it seems to work for me in clay.

Technical notes on clay:  I've only worked with Fimo so far, but have some packages of Sculptey which bakes at a different temperature.  I'll try it out next and compare the two for ease of manipulation, texture, etc. 

Short nails seem to be best for working with clay - you don't want to mar a piece with a poke of your fingernail. 

Don't drop unbaked clay onto the dog bed.  It picks up hair very easily.

And so we try again

Move ahead 6 months since I last sat here and wrote something, and I find myself staring at the white screen with the cursor's nagging blinking urging me to come up with something interesting or witty to say.  I have been putting this off.  It's really not that I don't think about writing these posts, but somedays what I want to talk about isn't really the norm for a jewelry blog.  Somedays I just need to vent about something, or am looking for a sympathetic ear.  When there isn't really anyone in one's life who can fill those roles, then cyberspace calls, but that's TMI for anyone reading out there.  I read other crafty blogs from time to time, and they are all about the creative process, with great tutorials and the like.  Moving forward, should I decide to continue this seriously, that is what I should be doing. 

Overall, last year was a good year for Pink Gargoyle.  Sales were consistent with 2010, which I guess in a fragile economy, is a good thing.  Some new shows were absolutely fantastic - the Bloom Markets in Ft Langley were superbly organized, marketed and attended.  A Crafty Affaire in South Surrey shows tremendous potential.  Make It Vancouver continues to grow in scope and attendance.  My hat is off to these talented people who conceptualize and realize these great markets.  I know it's not easy, especially to do it so graciously as well.  I really respect their dedication to promoting local artists and designers. 

I learned a hard lesson too.  Responding to an invite for a series of new Christmas markets, called "Made in BC," I learned that no matter how professional the application looks, or the apparent capabilities of the organizer, some people are strictly there to scam you.  Losing several hundred dollars in application fees to shows that didn't happen is a bitter pill to swallow.

Looking ahead to 2012, I'm going to try for some of the even bigger shows - One of a Kind, the Harmony Arts Festival.  With so much beautiful jewelry in Vancouver, it's hard to know if I stand a chance.  However, my collage paintings got such a great response during the last few markets, I am continuing with them this year and will actually agree to sell them this time.  I have also been learning how to do bookbinding, with the covers being smaller versions of my collages.  I hope that by adding to what I have available beyond jewelry, then I can venture into new markets.  At any rate, creating these have been a tremendous outlet when I need to take a break from jump rings and polishing.

That's pretty much it for now.  I've been more of a recluse the last six months, except for going to markets.  Maybe recluse is a bit strong - let's say I'm more selective about whom I spend time with.  After a rather harsh comment about the future of a friendship at the end of the school year, I tend to keep to myself and my family.  Ultimately, they are what matters most anyway, and I am so tired of the way a lot of women seem to treat each other.  Frankly, it's no surprise that some of my best friendships in my life have been with men.  They are not so quick to pass a damning judgement and terminate a friendship over some imagined slight.

Off to yoga now to find some inner zen, and to try to not fall over.  Then back into the studio, to explore what possibilities await.

     

The Perfect Woman in Black & White

Statement about “Branded” – The Perfect Woman in Black & White

Combing through a mid-1960’s woman’s magazine, I was struck by the constant running theme of having to be the perfect woman pleasing her man - she had to be beautiful, coiffed, a gracious hostess, and doting mother.  Whether or not she had ambition, her own wants, or any other thought in her head seemed irrelevant.  Indeed, it seemed that that ideal image was a marketable brand.  Sadly, in many ways, this brand of perfect wife/mother/sexpot has not progressed very far in forty years.  We are still reminded on a daily basis that we can have it all – motherhood, career, size 00 jeans, and a fabulous man – if we just stay thin and beautiful so that we attract all the right kind of attention.  There can be campaigns for natural beauty, there can be movements to empower women across the world, but until we truly feel that we are worth more than a number on the scale in order to snag a man, we are still simply accepting that the brand of the Perfect Woman is the best that we can be. 

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.