Intentional Stones

Because I want to be more in touch

Life is overwhelming.   Whose isn't? 

I promised writing today, here I am.

It's the time of year for things to be waking up.  The flowers, the birds and animals, me.

This year I'm working much harder.  Period

I'm working to be more true to what I really want to be doing.  Working in gemstone.  Working in metal.  You won't see anything from me that's metal that anyone else has made, unless I've had it a while and I've drilled holes in it or added findings to it or taken it apart and put it together.  (see bracelet above, yes those beads were pretty, but only one hole?  Really?  for such a large bead?  they're almost an inch wide!  So I fixed them.)

I spent today working on findings and on the trinket rings that people seem to love.  Thank you all! 

I'm also working much harder on the kids' school.  It's like I have three full time jobs. 

Hence the blog falling off the face of the earth.

We went to Florida and saw breathtaking things, above and below the water.  I hope I'll have time to write about that. 

And the summer is starting to shape up beautifully. 

Save the Date on April 14th, we'll be showing at the Soutside Works I Made It Market's Chili at the Works!  More on this tomorrow.  I'm really excited.

 

Lovely Laurel Highlands

(Sunrise over the Laurel Highlands.  I never see this hour of the morning.  It was worth it)

These past couple of weeks I've done something entirely new.  Two shows in the Laurel Highlands during leaf peeping season.

This means a lot of driving.  I know, these places are only a little more than an hour from home, but arriving there without my family, they seem forever away.  Setting up in little towns, Bedford and Ligonier, in the chill of mid fall was something different. 

Bedford was a family effort.  Adam and I drove out and set up while the kids hung out at home with a friend.  Saturday morning, when I took this photo, I set out eerily early, long before the sun was up, and launched the jewelry shop amidst the crowds in summer-like heat!  The family joined me on Sunday to help break down.  Persephone wanted to help watch the tent and to wander the fair and to eat all the food.  And they let me go do the same.  I definitely want to go back next year.  Maybe I can participate in both weekends of the Bedford Fall Foliage Festival!

Just as I got home on Sunday, I got a text from my friend AR asking what I would be doing the next weekend.  She found us a little spot at Fort Ligonier Days!!!  I wondered if Adam would forgive me causing this craziness two weekends in a row. 

We set up inside the new bead shop started by Andrew a month ago, Allegory Gallery on the main street of Bedford, PA.  (This is my dream shop, Andrew Thornton has beautiful beads and artwork in the front and Laura of Second Chance Books has used books and childrens books in the back)

It was kind of quiet for the type of weekend we'd been expecting, but the weather was lovely on Sunday and we set up outside.  I made a big point of trying to get people into the shop.  And we loved the people of Ligoiner and the costumes of the festival!  I also got to spend more time with Maria of Lost Marbles.  (funny, her marbles don't seem so lost!  or maybe it's in comparison with me) 

Anyway, it was lovely to meet so many people and have so much fun.  Now it's time to get ready for the holidays.  And it was great and very very positive to have these experiences now.

-Simbelmynë

Jewelry in the woods, down by the river

Cheatfest 2011 has come and gone.  And I already miss it. 

It's a place of fun and community, a party that goes from the minute we arrive to set up until we pull out Sunday morning. 

For all the vendors, it's a long and fantastic day on Saturday.  (it's always the first Saturday in May.)   From 12 noon until 11pm we enjoyed music and laughter and talking to people about the things we love best-  our art and active outdoor fun!  My favorite band was the last of the night, rocking from Pittsburgh- Rising Regina

Meanwhile, Adam and the kids, with a few friends, enjoyed camping, hiking, dancing, hooping, climbing and hanging out by the campfire. 

I had some new things in my tent.  Hand made trees for the earrings, much less likely to fall over or poke someone in the face.  And I've hung my most complex pieces as art on the walls of the tent.  These are simple memory boxes and worked beautifully to highlight the new skills I've worked on in Jewelry class.

 

I cannot think of any better way to celebrate and support the hard work to clean up the Cheat River!

Please support the Friends of the Cheat.

Thank you again, West Virginia!

 

 

New Year 2011

Happy New Year!

My post is a little late.  Life has gotten in the way of blogging.

Too many pieces to make, too much fun and family.  I surely do not complain!

As you can still see, time management is a new years resolution I still haven't conquered.  I won't even make it.  That would be unrealistic.  I do resolve to take stock of the time I spend, giving a realistic time estimate is essential to taking commissions.  My current work is for friends and family members and they are extra special understanding as they share some of my holiday schedule.  Next year I will officially call the holidays "vacation" and not give myself any due dates during that 2 or 3 weeks.

Currently on my bench I have a ring, three necklaces of woven chain and wire work, and some interesting non-pierced earrings.  Look forward to posts about these.

This week I'm looking at the list of art fair opportunities I've collected and choosing some.  The summer is way up in the air!  Over Christmas I visited a heritage event down at the Waterfront shopping center on the river and I hope I'll hear more about future events in these old steel-industry buildings.  Pittsburgh will definitely see more of Intentional Stones at art events this year.  As for traveling to shows, I'm pretty sure I'll be at the Cheat Fest in West Virginia again.    I'm going to look for a show in New York and a couple further away in Pennsylvania in the Laurel Highlands.  (If you're local to either of these places, please recommend your favorite art event!)  I'd love to go out to Florida or someplace warm, but I'm sure school and work schedules will make that complicated. 

I also plan some stone hunting trips.  These are very much tentative still, the Southwest hosts a rich array of lapidary and jewelry events in the spring, so I'd better get my ducks in a row! 

I'm only taking one class this semester, Jewelry Making 2.  Yes, I  can learn from past mistakes!  I have goals to do more drawing, I feel like I owe it to myself and my instructor last semester.  I even promised one of the kids' friends lessons in drawing people.  Improving my art is extremely important. And I'm not managing props for any plays.  If my daughter decides to continue with dance, I'll help out where I'm available, but no all-semester commitments. 

I feel ready to run right now!

-Simbelmynë

 

West Virginia Loves Us!

Intentional Stones will be showing at the West Virginia Arts and Crafts Spectacular in Morgantown WV on November 5-7th 2010. 

We're pretty excited.  This will be our very first big arts and crafts show!  I'll do my best to keep you up to date on the projects we're preparing and the special pieces we'll be making for this show. 

We look forward to making new friends and enjoying West Virginia once again.

 

Refreshing Monday

School's back in and my days seem so much more organized. I'm getting much more done, so here's today's rambling list.

I've joined a gym, and today was my first time going.  I even found workout buddies!  I don't plan to restrict my visits to times when people can come with me, but it's really nice knowing they're there and available.

I'm taking the time to carefully set up the Intentional Stones booth display.  Both for the purposes of formally photographing it for show applications and practicing to optimize my setup time.

Setting up at home gives me a chance to rethink the look of the booth.  I think some sewing is going to happen in the near future, to tighten up the corners of the tablecloths and smooth the edges of the buntings.  Also, pendants and charms are very difficult to display!  I've got these little cards that stand off the table (empty cards visible above), and I may set some larger wraps on jewelry trays full of pebbles.  Frequently people hang them from frames or on paper cards- which puts the smaller items in a more visible place.

Weight is a huge issue in this shop.  The mirrors, which add so much depth and light to the experience of the stand, are really heavy.  They're difficult to store and if I put them all in one box, I cannot lift it!  I cannot imagine what people do with the larger glass/plexiglass jewelry display cases when they're on the road.  I almost feel like I'd have to buy a truck or van just to transport my booth.

Maybe finished photographs will have to wait a couple more days.

On top of all that, community college classes have started for the fall and the drawing and jewelry classes I'm taking include *gasp* homework.  Reading, drawing, even bench work. Goodie! (That was not sarcastic.  Homework at my bench is really exciting.)

And I'm getting my sleep schedule on track finally.  I don't want school to be suffering just because I fail to get to bed.

House?  What house?

-Simbelmynë

 

 

 

 

A Show! Kelly Strayhorn Bazaar

Fourth of July Weekend will be low key, but we've got a show! Saturday, July 3rd from Noon-4pm The Kelly Strayhorn Bazaar is celebrating this historic theater and the neighborhood it's in. Admission is free.

The Theater is located in the center of Penn Circle in Pittsburgh. Mina and I will both be there and we'll bring plenty of things for working custom pieces and personalized Intention Jewelry on the spot.

And our friend Victoria Maze will be showing her handmade postcards. We're looking forward to seeing you.

Art Abroad in West Virginia

I'm giddy to announce that I, Simbelmynë, will be at The 16th Annual Cheat Festival with all of the Intentional Stones jewelry!  The festival takes place on Saturday, May 1st, and we'll be arriving in time for the race on Friday, April 30th. 

We will be participating in the Art Market, juried by the Arts Council of Preston County.  Our very first juried art show. 

While this will be our first visit to this particular area of West Virginia, we've been stunned by the beauty of the New River Gorge and we've been eager to explore more of the state.  The festival benefits the Friends of the Cheat a group dedicated to the mission to "restore, preserve and promote the outstanding natural qualities of the Cheat River Watershed." 

And my family and I will be supporting our friends in the Cheat Canyon Kayak Race, taking place on Friday evening before the festival.  See who loves this race on facebook.

I cannot wait to see you there!

-Simbelmynë

Work Behind and Work Ahead

Now that we know what we have, we know how to complete the picture. 

Getting Ready

The spring craft sale season is here! 

Mina and I had so much bad luck with sales a few years ago that we swore off all of it, in favor of online sales at Etsy.com and Artfire.com. 

It turns out jewelry just plays better in person.  We can't be everywhere in the world.  But meeting our customers in person can give us much more insight into directions we should be taking our jewelry and our business. 

I've spent the last week preparing a tent and displays.  Mina's been working on shiny new business cards and a banner.  This next week I'll be pricing and reviewing our old stuff, remembering how beautiful it is, and making some new to fill in holes.

Look for announcements and dates to come!

-Simbelmynë