New Earrings

These beautiful, midnight blue teardrop shaped faceted stones were wrapped in tons of steel wire. I tumbled polished the earrings to shine the wire and to create depth. I love these!

I did the same with these oval shaped carnelian stones. My jewelry is available for sale in my Etsy shop.

When I go to the beach I walk with my eyes down searching for the perfect beach rock. Any old beach rock won't do. I look for interesting shapes, colors and textures. I have jars and jars of rocks that I've collected over the years. When I choose a rock for a pendant, I choose a dark, plain one so the spiral will stand out against it. I hammer some of the wire and leave some unhammered for interest.

Another Snow Day

I love waking up to a blizzard raging outside while I am safe and snug in my bed. And that's exactly what happened this morning. I lay there for awhile with Roman on one side of me and Simon on the other (my cats) and savored the fact that I didn't have to jump up and get the kids off to school. I took my time and when I was ready I slowly got out of bed and went downstairs.

Ickles stretched off in front of the fire.

The view through the dining room window.

Both pairs of earrings are made with steel wire. The spiral earrings were treated with heat to create a lovely bronze color. The hoops were not treated with heat. Depending upon the temperature you use you can achieve different colors -- black, brown, blue, gold.

I made this necklace using a crystal from a chandelier that I discovered in a second hand shop. The crystal has been wire wrapped using steel wire. It's hanging from an adjustable gun metal chain.

Ice patterns on the window this morning.

Today was a good day. I slept until noon because John and I stayed up so late last night drinking martinis and dancing. We ate a huge brunch and then headed into town to our local cafe for coffee. I bought a fire log and some french onion soup at the market and I spent an hour in the studio while the soup cooked in the oven. Maggie, formerly known as Meggie, stood on my shoulder and ate crackers while I worked. Now as I type in my blog listening to the wind howl down the chimney, Ickles cleans himself on my lap and I am content. Good night!

Portrait of Aspen done in graphite and charcoal.

Earrings

Here are some new earrings the I have made.

Outside my studio window on the day of the snow storm. You can barely see the birdhouse that hangs just beyond my window.

I'm so lucky to have this little corner of the world to do what I love doing. Today I worked on several pieces while Meggie, who happens to be Maggie, stood on my head. She likes to perch there when I let her out of her cage. She's pretty good about not doing her business while she's up there.

Right now I'm working on a graphite drawing, several mixed media pieces and atc's (artist trading cards). On alternate days I will make jewelry.

I ordered this book from Amazon.ca last night and I can't wait to get it. I'm always trying to improve my drawing skills and this is suppose to be a really good book on drawing textures.

Journal Pages

This is a page from my art journal. I created this piece using an image transfer from a copy of a graphite portrait that I drew a few years ago. I love this technique so much....

Sing Sweetly

This little piece with the image of a bird, was created using a sand dollar handpicked from the rugged shores of Newfoundland. Each sand dollar is hardened before I begin the painting/collage process. Two coats of varnish is then applied to protect the artwork as well as to harden it further. Painting, stamping, pieces of vintage newspaper from 1937, images and text were used in the creation of this piece.


It's snowing hard outside as I sit inside cozy and snug. I'm thinking of heading outside to my studio to do a little work. There's nothing better than squirreling myself away in my studio and making art on a day like this.

Stone Spiral Pendants

Snowy Day