As an undergraduate, I had my original major as photography, which I switched to my minor as soon as I discovered metalsmithing. However, I still loved photography--the process of capturing something on film, and then transforming it into print form with the magic of an enlarger and numerous baths. I formed a refined taste in photography during that time which still holds today. What I mean by that, is that it takes some serious talent to "wow" me with photographs. What can I say? I had the luck of having incredible lecturers who were working artists, and being in a country (Australia) where the talent coming into the photography scene was phenomenal.


One of my favorite photographers that I discovered during that time was Joyce Tenneson--she is, in my eyes, one of the most talented and important photographers of our time. Her images seem to blend portraiture and mythology, with her flower portraits holding a sense of the surreal. Thanks to dear ada for posting about her--it's been a while since I had looked at these beautiful images.

images via joycetenneson.com

With the upheaval and overhaul of my business aesthetics, I have started paying a lot more attention to fonts and graphics. I certainly do not have a graphic design background, so my own designs are fairly remedial, but I can definitely find the details in what feels right as far as fonts, typeface, and graphics goes. Most of my design sense is based on "what feels right"...it's hard to explain but it seems to work for me.


I recently came across Cardon Copy, which is a project by Cardon Webb, who has taken it upon himself to redesign posters, and replace them, that he finds posted in and around New York. The new posters are then placed where the original ones once lay. I wonder how much more/less successful the new posters are in grabbing the attention of passers by. If nothing else, they are beautiful and intriguing.

images via cardon copy
thank you to sub-studio for the reminder

One of my goals during this last month has been to work on unfinished projects, or things that need to be re-done. The above boat is a good example. Originally a class project, I needed to remove the colored pencil, clean up some edges (blasted solder!), apply gesso, and re-apply the color using Prismacolor pencils.

I started the process, but instead of applying gesso, I had read a technique where I could apply fixative and color over that. However, after applying a few coats (fixative, color, fixative, color, etc.), the fixative/color mixture started peeling. I don't know if it wasn't cured enough, but I ended up having to remove it all again. I finally got some gesso today and am going to be applying that, with the color over it. Hopefully it will turn out magnificently, and I'll do my best to show progress shots along the way.

My clearance sale ends July 31, in one week, so get on over to my shop and get shopping! Once the sale is over, items being removed from my collections will be scrapped. I may also be putting a few on the shelf for a while. Be on the look out for some new designs!

I just finished "Craft, Inc." by Meg Mateo Ilasco the other day. I had started reading it almost a year ago but got caught up in other things. It's a great book, and could be very helpful for many artisans. However, it is definitely geared toward people who are really looking to start a 'business' and really make some money, creating production lines and getting into retail stores, etc. That is all very helpful, but I'm not on that level quite yet.

I feel as if I've just managed to narrow down one point of what I want to do with my art and my business, which is a big thing, but I'm just beginning. This month has been full of introspection, questioning, realizations, and a bit of work. I do believe that "Craft, Inc." is a must-read for artists who want to start a business, though. It gives a good perspective, great tips, and real-life interviews with artists who have 'made it'.

Now, I think I'm ready for some fiction.

So, if you've been reading recently, you'll know that I'm having a "clearance sale" in my Etsy shop for the month of July.


Some of the items on clearance are some of my 'signature' items, and I may keep them around after the sale is over. Or, I may retire them for a while. I'm thinking about it. The ones that I am definitely not keeping are going to be cut up, scrapped, and/or recycled into raw materials for new pieces.

Why? Call it evolution. As I have evolved as an artist in the last few years, my style and aesthetics has changed a bit. When I first started making jewelry, I was inspired by clean lines, bold shapes, and satin finishes. Now, I'm intrigued and inspired by texture, dark spaces, color, and negative space. I still love the design attributes I loved before--they are a part of who I am and how I work.

I find that as an artist, I need to stay true to myself in order to keep my drive up. So, instead of working with the intention of becoming a production machine, I am leaning towards creating one-of-a-kind pieces, along with more production-oriented pieces in editions of 10, 25, or 50. I am not opposed to retiring pieces for a while and bringing them back into my practice. It keeps things fresh.


Throughout this month, I've also been working on finishing old projects. More photos will be available soon--I have to wait for some materials in order to complete a few things. One of them is this boat I made last semester. I need to remove all of the colored pencil (not as difficult as it may sound), clean up some of the seams, apply gesso, and re-color it. It is currently colored to match the drawing it was inspired by almost exactly, and I've been considering using brighter, more bold colors more in my palette, but ones that are reminiscent of the original drawing. We'll see. The stand also needs to be re-made.

I can't remember exactly how I found Daily Imprint, but I have been following the blog for a while. I am a complete sucker for Australian Art & Design, and love to get bits of it wherever I can. It reminds me of my "other home", which I will always love.

Over on Daily Imprint today, there is a shop featured called Filly's Stable, in Melbourne. Melbourne is known as being the fashion capital of Australia, and rightly so. A wealth of amazing designers live there, and I am living proof that shopping in Australia can be quite addictive. Filly's Stable has a bit of rustic feel to it, yet is at the same time chic and playful. I was immediately grabbed by the name, as I grew up with horses and dream some day of living in a chic yet rustic house with those snorting, hoofing, beautiful animals in my back yard (I still have not one, but two saddles in storage). Now, if only I could visit this cute shop in person!

For those of you in Melbourne, it's located at:

Here is a little taste of what will soon be in my Etsy shop...new works inspired by nature, incorporating more patina and texture. I find them more intriguing. The backgrounds, which I have been wanting to use for a while, are a selection of photographs I took while studying for my minor in photography.