A day of adventure with Mom

This poor little guy had lost an eye and ear to a bobcat!

A couple of weeks ago mom and I spent a day together having and adventure. We brainstormed several choices, and chose a visit to a local lavender farm. Mom suggested that the season was shorter there, and we should go before the flowers were gone. The farm is called Lavender Ridge Farm and it is in Gainesville, Texas. The farm was really lovely, they have a field of Lavender, obviously, as well as strawberries for picking. They also have a herd of super cute pygmy goats, two donkeys and three horses. It was nice to be surrounded by nature, and I had forgotten how much I loved the smell of horses. We picked a bunch of lavender to share, and I got a lavender bath bomb for a friend's birthday.

After the farm we headed into Gainesville's downtown square to visit Paige Davidson and her awesome shop. Paige is an talented painter, handbag maker, and all around awesome lady. Her eye for design is abundantly clear in her artful shop displays. Paige and her mom collaborate on a line of handbags made of vintage fabrics called Cahoots Handbags. They are all gorgeous, and I am a big fan of her paintings as well, especially the Airstream series.

A few of the Airstream paintings on display.

Inspiration

I'm interested in how those of you that have a clearly defined 'style' or signature style came to it? What inspired you to that signature style?

This has always been a difficult question for me to answer. I do think that I have a theme, or style running through my work. If not intentionally, then just as my personal aesthetic and taste working their way into my jewelry. There are several things that are very important to my design process and philosophy, color, contrast and clean, simple, modern lines.

Color
I have always loved color. I took watercolor painting lessons in high school and I think that playing with color through painting really had a big influence on me. My mom said she was surprised when I chose jewelry because of this fact. However, my jewelry professor, Harlan Butt, is an enamelist, and the facilities for enameling at UNT are great. I loved working with enamels in school, and though I haven't used them since I bring color into my work via several materials. I use gemstones, pebbles, and more recently polymer clay to add color to my work. In my pebble and collage series I really enjoy the color combinations that I create by mixing my materials. My design process often includes playing around with stone combinations until I find groupings that please me.


Contrast
I adore bringing contrast into my work. The contrast of the dull pebbles and shiny, luminescent gemstones. The contrast between pillowy and colorful polymer clay and hard edged oxidized silver. Or simply colorful and multi colored groupings of gemstones surrounded by flat and darkened silver. All of these contrasts are important to me.



Clean, Simple, Modern
I am definitely attracted to clean, simple and modern lines. Whether in Architecture, Furniture, Fashion, Landscaping, or Art. My preference for simplicity definitely comes through in my jewelry designs. Generally my work is not representational, rather it is about the materials and process. My metalwork is a simple frame work that supports and accentuates whatever materials I have chosen to incorporate. I enjoy coming up with new connections, and creating a work of art that is out of the ordinary.





To read more stories of inspiration, read these blogs, whose authors are posting on the topic for 6/5/09:
http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/
http://andescruz.ganoksin.com/blogs
http://andescruz.wordpress.com
http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/
http://sarawestermark.blogspot.com/
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
http://etsymetal.blogspot.com/
http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com
http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/

My other life as a landscaper

I spent several beautiful mornings last week cleaning up and planting annuals in my friend Robin's yard. Frank and I designed and planted these beds over the last several years and they have grown up really nicely. I love plant shopping whether it is for myself or someone else's yard. The weather was perfect for working outside, and the plantings turned out great. I will get more pictures when the annuals are full and blooming this summer. I did the shady side of the yard too but didn't get photos of that.

The fountain is one of my favorite features.

This back courtyard is my favorite space.

A botanical oasis in Stoney, Texas

Variegated Yucca in bloom.Mom had been telling me about this place since she visited last fall. It is the home of restoration expert Bill Marquis in Stoney, Texas. Bill's wife June is an avid gardener with immense knowledge of native Texas plants. The couple was holding an antiques auction that day, which is why we headed out there. However, I spent most of the time looking at and taking pictures of the beautiful gardens. June said that she doesn't water for the most part, plants have to be drought tolerant and fend for themselves!

Poppies!

Mom planted seed of this Standing Cypress and I hope to get some seeds after her plant blooms. So pretty, and apparently evergreen as well.

On my dresser

On my dresser are...

A handmade pin cushion made by my mom and given to me for Christmas. I don't sew much, but use if for dangle earrings, great way to show them off!


Handmade letterpress cards given to Frank for Valentines and his Birthday. I love letterpress and try to buy handmade cards for as many occasions as possible.

A lovely vintage Japanese dish from the antique mall filled with special jewelry. I had coveted this dish for months and Frank took me to get it for my birthday. How sweet is he?! Branch earrings by Sarah Hood.

New Work

I have photographed the new work that I made for Fiesta and some of it will be available in my etsy shop soon. Many of these pieces are on display at Art251 in Keller. They are having an event Friday night, so go check out my new work and get something for mom just in time for Mother's day!

Collage Pendants

Collage Ring

Polymer Texture Pendants

Bumpy Polymer Earrings

Finally Photographed!

I shared my progress on this piece along the way, so I thought you would like to see it all finished and photographed properly! I spent a good while taking shots of this necklace. It is larger than anything I have photographed before, so it was a challenge. Also, I was over thinking it, I'm sure! I think this one turned out well, and hopefully this shot will help me get into some upcoming shows.

Did I mention that I finished this piece the night before Fiesta?! I had set all of the stones before I left home, but saved all the cleaning til the last minute. I got it done and it looked great on the display that my dad made for me.

Oh yeah, I named it Threads Necklace. I came up with that because it has common threads throughout tying it all together. Also, the woven wire chain reminds me of thread, and it is sort of pieced together like a quilt. So what do you think of that name? Is it too simple? I always hate the naming part.