Festival Time

I can't believe summer's almost gone! I love to talk to the people I meet at all the events I do, it's so interesting to hear what different hobbies and interests they have.

We were in St. Helens last weekend at Arts & Eats. After dark I watched families walking into the town square carrying blankets and babies and holding toddlers by the hand. They set up in the park and the little ones fell asleep to the sound of the band, rocking, while moms and dads snuggled together, holding hands. I love Oregon.

I'm going to make sure to see the North West Blues Women again. I saw Sonny Hess and Lisa Mann a few weeks ago and was blown away. I need a copy of their cd. By the time I could leave my booth they were all sold out!

I'm meeting a lot of terrific artists this year. If anyone gets a chance to see Lorraine and Robert & their metalwork, run, don't walk. They do things with copper and fire that are crazy wonderful. Their copper leaves... just amazing.

And Rick, the glass sculpter had crowds around his booth all evening. He just asked people what they liked, and then went about creating it in glass. The guys with the Scottie dog were astonished at the 2" high glass replica he created for them.

I love going to new places and meeting artists skilled in such diverse areas. It's one of the best parts of the job. I love it when the customers ask questions that allow them to learn about the artisans whose work they admire. I always feel like I get double my money's worth when I learn the story about the piece I'm buying.

It's festival time in Oregon and Washington and I'm off to make some new rings for my up-coming shows.

Join me!

I'll be at the Yamhill Lavender Festival this weekend! The fields are in bloom, gorgeous to see, and heavenly to smell.


Several artists spent this past week in different local homes, painting the lavender harvest. The results of the week of plein air painting will hung at the festival. Come and enjoy nature.


Stop at my booth and say hello. (I'll have the royal purple tablecloths)

Take a look at one of the new pieces I'll be bringing with me. It's agate slices and onyx. It will take someone with a big personality to carry this beauty away. Will it be you?

See you June 20!

Take a look at these gentle misty vineyard tones... are these the colors that make your skin glow and your eyes shine? Or are you dazzling in royal purple? Lovely in summer pinks and blues? A fiery gal in reds and golds? Whatever makes you look like "your very best you" I'll make it for you.
See you June 20 - 10AM-3PM supports Kenilworth Presbyterian Church charities

Misty

This is just one of the lovely designs I'm debuting this weekend. Come find the ones for you!

Summer Solstice - the time of perfect balance.

I've been making the most beautiful summer flower earrings. They are gorgeous and light as a feather. Everyone seems to look good in these because I make them in such a variety of shapes and colors. What's the silhouette for you? See for yourself at:
10am - 3pm
Kenilworth Presbyterian Church
Saturday, June 20, 2009
4028 SE Gladstone Street
Portland, OR 97202

Spring!

Last Thursday I was out and about, astonished by the gorgeous foliage, buds burst open that very day to celebrate the first day of spring. Trees filled with blossoms, bushes aglow and flowers turning their faces to the sun. Oregon is now officially alive and alight with beauty.

I just had to make something that illustrated what Mother Nature was doing... what do you think?

Stay tuned...

... there are lots more new things coming soon. I'm having such a good time with the power tools. I can't wait to see what's next!

Thursday and Friday...

... I'll be at the Littman Gallery at PSU from 12 -4pm. Come see me.

Is it Spring yet?

No. But soon. In the meantime I've been enjoying working with the warmth of copper. What do you think?

Mermaid's Treasure...

Faceted mauve pearls are tucked in between abalone beads of all shapes. A pearl moon reminds us our feminine intuition is a gift.

The abalone flower pendant captures pink, blue and lavenders, making it a reflection of all the ocean's secrets.

The accompanying earrings are faceted mauve pearls framed in rich abalone.

Altogether, it's a wealth of delicate beauty. The mysteries of the deep, all for you.

Nefertiti's Dream...

Breathtaking peacock colored 'corn flake' pearls meet at the center at a hand-fabricated dream catcher ending with a sterling silver Eye of Horus.

This is truly a queen's collar.

Rose Queen -

Luscious mauve mother-of-pearl and silver beads come together to encompass a double strand of mauve 'corn-flake' pearls ending in a delicate sterling hand-forged rose.

A tumble of the cornflake pearls make enchanting earrings.

Dream Swirls -

Deep, gorgeous faceted Amethysts wrapped in swirls of rolled gold wire.

Notes from the Workshop

It's winter time in Oregon. Snow, rain, sun, we have it all! My little dog Foxcie is surprized every day when she goes for a walk. She spent 14 years in the Southern California sun and now she's in new weather every day.



While I'm enjoying the variety of weather, I'm also creating a lot of new things for springtime.


I'm also keeping busy helping people re-cycle jewelry that they no longer wear. I turn pieces that have been sitting in their drawers for years into fresh new designs. Often I'm able to make them a complete new jewelry wardrobe, as well as give them a lot of additional pieces to give as gifts for a fraction of the price of new jewelry. What a wonderful thing to be able to reduce your carbon footprint while staying fashionable current! This has been an interesting and worthwhile new direction in my jewelry making. My eyes light up when I see a woman coming with a bagful of old jewelry. It's like a treasure chest for me, and when I'm done, it's like a treasure chest for the client too!

Druidess...

... green coin pearls and peridot wire-wrapped with sterling silver. It feels alive with calming, peaceful energy.

Dreams...

... caught inside a frame of silver... "Midnight"

is created of Blue Goldstone and Mother of Pearl.

This piece is all about your inner self. Empowerment.

New for the holiday...

... is this stunning mother of pearl and sterling bracelet:
"Gifts of the Mother"

And after Fire?

Ocean, of course.

Abalone shells and freshwater pearls.

Soothing and hypnotic.

It's already mid-November...

... and it's all so beautiful here. The leaves are painting the ground garnet red, pumpkin orange and beaten gold. It's a new palette every morning.

I've been working so hard getting ready for all the holiday shows that I haven't put any of the new jewelry on this blog.

Here's my "Fire Goddess". All freshwater pearls, and a hand-made glass goddess that's all mine!

Can you believe it... ? This Saturday is the first of the holiday bazaars. I've chosen events that are ALL fundraisers for local schools, churches and hospitals. It's a great way to help the places that help up stay independent and thrive! Here's where to find me for the next several weeks:
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Sat - Oct. 25, 9 - 4pm
Tualitan H.S. Holiday Bazaar - 22300 SW Boones Ferry Rd.
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VAEA Holiday Craft Fair Nov 3,4 & 5
Mon Tues 6:30am - 6pm. Wed - 6:30-2:30
Portland Veterans Medical Center
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Agia Sophia Academy Artisan Faire -
32nd & Glisan @Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral, Portland
Sat - Nov. 8 - 10-5pm
Sun - Nov. 9 - 12-5pm
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Holiday Extravaganza
St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church - 2036 SE Jefferson, Milwaukie
Sat. - Nov. 15 - 9-4pm
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Girls Night Out Marketplace Bazaar
Southridge High School - 9625 SW 125th Ave, Beaverton
Thursday night - Nov. 20 - 4:30 - 7:30.
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Holiday Bazaar
St. Anthony's Catholic Church - 1660 Elm St. - Forest Grove
Sat. - Nov.22 - 10-5:30
Sun. - Nov. 23 - 10 - 4pm
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Band & Auxillary PTO Craft Fair
Tigard High CAFETERIA - 9000 SW Durham Rd - Tigard
Sat. Dec. 6 - 9am-4pm
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Holiday Bazaar
Butler Creek Elementary School - 2789 SW Butler Rd., Gresham
Sat. Dec. 13 - 9 - 3pm
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There will be a Dec. 6 event as well - I'll give you the details when I get them.
I hope to see you this week at Tualitan High.

It's the end of the farmers market season...

... and almost the beginning of the holiday season! Whew.
Orenco Station Farmer's Market has rolled up the sidewalks. I hope all the great people we've met there have a wonderful winter and come back healthy and happy in May.
Robert and I have 2 more Saturdays at the Art Court in Beaverton and then we're off to the next thing.
Starting during the Hallowe'en season Robert will be drawing caricatures at the Jantzen Beach Mall most weekends until Christmas. Look for him there in the center court with his easel. He'll be there when he's not drawing at all the private holiday parties and office parties that keep him moving fast this time of year.
Stay tuned because for a list of places I'll be this season. When my new computer comes back from the hospital I'll be posting some terrific new pieces I've been working on.
Hope to see some of you soon!

Saturday at the Market

This is a picture of my new booth setup - still easy to find as people love those purple tablecloths! I'm adjacent to the Beaverton farmers market on Saturdays. It's such fun, and I love the people.
This market is said to be the largest in the state and it sure seems that way when the market bell rings at 8am. It smells heavenly - I was by the fresh tomatoes and basil this week and it was wonderful.

Booth at the Market

Summer in the Pacific Northwest...

... is just as hot as summer in Los Angeles! (It just doesn't last as long)

We've been busy every weekend meeting people here in our new home. On Saturdays, between 8am - 1:30 you can find Robert and me side by side in our booths at the Art Court in Beaverton. It's run by the wonderful people at the Beaverton United Methodist Church (thanx Carin) & runs adjacent to the fabulous Farmer's Market. Needless to say, we've gotten healthier and happier since we've been set up there. Every week I pull Robert away from drawing caricatures & have him man the jewelry booth for a few minutes as I rush up and down the aisles getting organic produce for the week. The berries, butter lettuce and asparagus are things we never get tired of. I even know how to make a strawberry rhubarb cobbler now!



On Sundays, we have a whole different experience in Milwaukie, in front of the Masonic Lodge. Patrick Sheehan makes it fun to be on Main Street criss-cross from the Milwaukie Farmer's Market. We're there from 10am until 2, except for when I zip over to the Market to get the plants that are all over our balcony. I'm wild for hot pink & purple fuchsias, so I have several of them.(They always put me in mind of black & white Humphrey Bogart movies and arched doorways.) I got a big pot of miniature petunias in purple, white and violet. Last week I got an ornamental oregano, which I'd never before seen. It's foliage has very subtle coloring, lavender, green, cream - but the amazing thing is - if you rub the leaves it releases a heady oregano scent. Otherwise, it gives off a much lighter version all the time. It's heavenly to sit out there at night, smelling the pine trees & spice.



I've been making a lot of new jewelry, I can't wait to see who gets what. It's always such fun when people find 'their' special piece. It happened last week with a lady who stopped in her tracks when she saw a kyanite necklace I had on display. The stones matched her eyes and looked incredible on her. But it wasn't quite the right style for her... she told me what she thought would be perfect... but she wasn't sure she should splurge... Well, her husband was behind her, watching, and when she reluctantly moved on he came up to me and said "Make her the necklace you two talked about... it's her. She looked beautiful in it." I'd like to add a picture here of the lady "in" the necklace, but I think he's going to give it to her in a more personal setting. Meanwhile, I put the first kyanite necklace out again the next day and a woman put it on and never took it off. Don't you love it when that happens?

Spring Snow...

... Blossoms.
When we went to the library last week we were astonished to be in the midst of what appeared to be a snowstorm - bombarded by a flurry of white blossoms that drifted in the streets.
Oregon... fascinating.

December in Oregon

It's fresh, it's clean, it's misty, it's romantic...I love it! I'm happily awaiting the rains too, I just think that I'm destined to be happy here.
I'm writing this as I put the finishing touches on my displays for The Thirst Wine Bar tomorrow, Dec. 13 - 5-10 pm. It is a cozy, intimate place. I hear their customers are fun and stylish, just my type! Last show of the season.
I'm looking forward to being able to set up my studio again. I really miss my hammers and my torch.
We're going to have a Pacific Northwest holiday this year & we are delighted. Oregon is stimulating our creativity. Hallelujah!

It's the season!

I slipped out today to walk on Cannon Beach with our dog, Foxcie. She's 14, and ran like a puppy for about 3 hours. It was raining and smelled fantastic. The Oregon Coast is the place for me. I love everything about it. I'll have to go back after Christmas and get more crab dip at Cranky Sue's - that was the best.

Now it's back to work - I need to make some dragonfly necklaces - a lot of them flew away this past weekend. I'm having a great time meeting all the talented folks at the different shows I'm attending. One of the best parts of being an artist is - other artists.

What do you think of the new freshwater pearls? I made the pendant out of gold-filled wire, peridot and tiny pearls. I made the clasp too.

This is the most eye-catching shade of green.

"Ever Young"

This necklace is white mother-of-pearl beads.

The gold-filled pendant is graced with Swarovski crystals

and delicate pearls.

"Sun & Sea"

Here's where I'll be showing my jewelry. Come see me if you can!
11/3 Gresham Armory - great folks - fun gals in the cheer club - go Pink & Black! Done
11/10 Clackamas Park Friends Church -Milwaukie - warm, welcoming place. Done
11/17 Countryside Christian Church - Keizer - terrific people - and what a well-run show! Done
11/24 & 25 Winter Fest Bazaar - True Value Hardware - 9-5 - Molalla

11/30 11-2 Salem - private bazaar
12/1 & 2 Carnegie Museum - 606 John Adams St. - Oregon City
12/8 9-5 - St. John's Community Center - 8472 N. Central - St. John's Landing
12/13 Thirst Wine Bar & Bistro - 5-10 pm - 149 A Avenue - Lake Oswego

Robert's going to be drawing caricatures at the Jantzen Beach Mall near the carousel so go say hello! He's available for private parties too!

We're in Oregon...

... and it's even better than we hoped. It's an artist's dream, vivid colors, changing weather, and fun, hospitable, interesting people. For a painter and a writer... what else could we ask?
We got here just in time to do some holiday shows. My first is this weekend, in Gresham at the Armory. I'll add several other events as soon as I get the details for them.
I'm looking for more events at hospitals, churches, schools, & businesses. If anyone knows of any, email me, I'm ready. Everybody loves handmade gifts, I make them, people want them, we just have to find one another.
Robert is making contacts for drawing caricatures at parties. After drawing at Universal Studios, Knotts Berry Farm, and Magic Mountain for 24 years, he had a big list of repeat customers for the holidays. He took a real leap of faith, giving all that up to live our vision of "Artists in Oregon". It will work out because he's so gifted, and easy to work with. Once he gets the first job, they always call him back. One of his best work situations was his time at Film Roman Studios, painting backgrounds for King of the Hill, Bobby's World, The Mask and Mortal Kombat. He is a real cartoon & comic fan. I think teaching animation studies in Community College helped him too. It showed people how patient and pleasant he was. Talent and character, what a combo. Anyway, I'm trying to enjoy him now, because once Oregon discovers him, he'll be all booked up.
I'll write again, as I learn more about this wonderful place. I hope to see some of you in Gresham, at the Armory, this weekend. New friends are the greatest surprize in life.

Spinner Ring - 2 views

This is a reallyfun ring. It's silver, with a patina added to the main ring. The spinner is hand-forged sterling.

"Sea Lover"

Beautiful, soft mauve stick pearls drape perfectly to embrace a sterling heart frame with a web of garnets, silver and rose quartz inside. A sterling 'clasped heart' catch completes the mood.

"Mists of Avalon"

Three strands of different sizes and shades of gray pearls are held together by a hand-crafted heart created of sterling silver treated with a deep gray patina.

"Perfect Storm"

Silvery stick pearls are graced by a free-form sterling framed web of gray pearls.

"Primitive"

Mother of Pearl is not just sweet anymore! This one is as hot as the tropics. Just for perfection, it ends with a perfect blue paua shell enhanced pendant.