Enamel Stud Earrings and a New Shop in Norfolk

So between fireplace renovations, a week-long visit with my parents, a June birthday trip to the beach and an anniversary trip to the mountains, I managed to put together my first order for a little shop in Norfolk, VA, where I will now be consigning. The shop is called, Kitsch, and it features the handmade wares of Virginia artisans.

To stock the new shop, I fired up a batch of enamel stud earrings, expanding the color selection to include: Cherry, Cranberry, Lime, Lemon, Blueberry, Grape and Orange. 

This is how they look right before I fire them with my jewelry torch. 

This is how they look hot off the jewelry bench and ready to sell!

 

You can now find these colorful studs and more Dream Spiral Art designs on the shelves at Kitsch.  Support VA artisans and check it out!

SHOW SCHEDULE for FALL 2012

Wow! It feels like we've sprung into Fall like the Mad Hatter dashing off to his next tea party date.  I can hardly believe the art show season will begin again this weekend.  I have shows for three weekends in a row, then a small break to attend a wedding in the mountains, celebrate my hubby's birthday, and hopefully get started on our next renovation project, before another show mid-November and some holiday travel.  

Since that doesn't leave much time for social engagements (or much of anything else), I hope you will come visit me at one or more of these fabulous art shows! 

UPCOMING SHOWS:


Arts Around the Lake
University of Richmond Campus
Sunday, Sept. 30
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

An Occasion for the Arts
Downtown Colonial Williamsburg, VA
Sat. Oct. 6 & Sun. Oct. 7
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Steward School Spartafest Bazaar
Steward School - 11600 Gayton Rd., RVA, 23238
Fri. Oct. 12 & Sat. Oct. 13
Fri. 1:30 - 9:30 p.m. & Sat. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Southampton Baptist Church Christmas Bazaar

7521 Comanche Drive
Richmond, Virginia 23225

Sat. Nov. 17 

9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  And remember you can always find a selection of my handmade jewelry at Dream Spiral Art on Etsy and at GlassBoat in Carytown. 

Brand New Ring-A-Ling

Between home renovations and a nice, full slate of massage appointments these past few weeks, my little hands have been very busy... just not in the jewelry studio.  Finally last Friday, between working on a custom Captured Collection piece and hammering out some earrings that sold to a lovely customer on Etsy, I was able to carve out a few moments to create a fun, new ring!

And here she is...

I constructed this ring from sterling silver and set it with a 5 mm round pink tourmaline cabochon (October birth stone). This one of a kind ring fits a U.S. size 8 finger.

Now available for purchase in my Etsy shop!

Things Are Heating Up!

So it has been a steamy last couple of weeks with temps in the triple digits here in VA. We've also experienced some major storms at the farmhouse recently that resulted in quarter-sized hail (not good for the veggie garden or pear trees... not to mention my car), 80 mile an hour winds, a few tornado clouds, and power outages across the state. 

The poor pear tree twins take another beating.

 During the first power outage, our little generator caught on fire and almost blew up! The Mister managed to grab a fire extinguisher just in time and thanks to his volunteer firefighter training, he saved the day. Fortunately we keep several fire extinguishers in the house between my jewelry studio and his wood shop.

My favorite spot in the jewelry shop - where I hammer and use my torch!

In honor of the heat, I have been firing up the jewelry torch lately to create new enamel work. Experimenting with different colors and shapes, I fire each copper enamel piece by hand. Traditionally, enamel work is fired in an electric kiln that is set to a specific temperature so that you have control over the results. Preferring a raw aesthetic and an element of surprise, I fire pieces individually with an open flame.

Here are some of my latest colorful creations. Most of these elements will become either earrings or pendants. A select few may be set like gemstones in sterling silver, as I do in my Jetson Collection.

See any you like?

SUNDAY IN THE PARK

I will be exhibiting the full collection of my jewelry this Sunday at Forest Hill Park in Richmond,VA from Noon to 5:00 p.m. Hope you can make it out for:

Featuring:

 Live music; 

RVA Hoop Lovers & hula hoops; 

Yummy food, including free treats and ice cream for kids (while supplies last); 

Police, Fire and Sheriff' equipment displays; 

The famous Bike Rodeo by RCOP complete with giveaways; 

Children's activities including a moon bounce, crafts, games, magicians, Jonathan the Juggler, story telling and puppets;

 Tree climbing with Tru-Timber;

Richmond Raiders and Risky the mascot visiting and selling game tickets; 

Bruiser Wrestling Federation;

Environmental displays, programs and activities;

Urban Chicken display and educational outreach;

Nature walks, history & trolley car display, Stone House tours;

Catch and release fishing at the lake;

 and fabulous art/craft and specialty vendors. 

Whew, where else are you going to find all that in a lovely outdoor setting for FREE! 

See you there.

SHOW SCHEDULE for SPRING 2012

With my first 2012 Art Festival right around the corner (this Saturday), I thought I'd better list my Spring show line-up. All shows are held outdoors - rain or shine. Hope to see you there!

 UPCOMING SHOWS:

Fool for Art at John Tyler Community College
Saturday, April 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
800 Charter Colony Parkway
Midlothian, VA

Sunday in the Park with Friends 
Sunday, April 29 from noon to 5:00 p.m.

Forest Hill Park in Richmond, VA

Stockley Gardens Art Festival  
Saturday, May 19 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. &
 Sunday, May 20 from noon to 6:00 p.m.
Stockley Gardens Park, located off Olney Road in the Ghent section of Norfolk, VA

This year I will not be participating in any summer shows, but I'll be back for a few favorites in the Fall. And remember you can always find a selection of my handmade jewelry at Dream Spiral Art on Etsy and at GlassBoat in Carytown. 

Here's a sneak peak of some brand new earrings that will be available this Saturday at Fool for Art.

Beads are back! Paired with a careful selection of gemstones and pearls, braided sterling silver hoops shine in these dangly handmade earrings.

Last Show for 2011

It's been a great round of shows for Dream Spiral Art this year. But as the saying goes "All good things must come to an end." I will exhibit at my final show in 2011 next weekend. 

I am excited to announce that I will be displaying my work at Gallery5 (a non-profit art gallery that is part of the Richmond, VA First Friday circuit downtown). The show begins during first Friday on December 2, and runs from 6 - 10 p.m. If you prefer to avoid the crowd, be sure to stop in on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

There will be a number of local artists selling their wares both days. It will be a great place to load up on stocking stuffers and holiday gifts, while supporting artists and small business owners in the RVA community.

What's more? A portion of my proceeds will be donated to this dynamic gallery to support their mission: to facilitate and inspire creativity in our region.

Do I hear a Who-Who?

Sign of the Times or Just Bad Timing?

It’s that busy time of year again when the weather turns cool and the fall show season runs hot for Dream Spiral Art Jewelry. I just had my first two shows of the fall season – Arts Around the Lake (one of my favorite local shows, held at the University of Richmond campus) and Arts on the Grove (a sweet, little show hosted by the 7th Street Christian Church on Grove Ave).

All in all the first two shows were a great success. My only lament is that almost $300 worth of jewelry was stolen during these two shows. One of the “taken ones” was a one of a kind ring that I cast in recycled silver and set with a faceted ruby.

Have you seen me? I am one of a kind and I’m missing.

Missing. Last of my kind.

I was part of a limited Dream Spiral Art edition.

I was stolen, too.

Limited Edition Ring. Now there is only 1 left.

Stealing is wrong, no matter how you rationalize it. But it makes me very sad that someone would steal from an artist.

Each of the tiny treasures that I create holds a tendril of my soul. I design and fabricate each piece of jewelry from beginning to end, nurturing an idea from seed to tree. Everything is created by hand. I use only high quality materials, recycling metal whenever possible. There is integrity in my work. Most of my pieces require hours of labor to perfect and produce – there is usually sweat and aching forearms, sometimes blood when my jeweler’s saw slips from metal into flesh.

When you purchase a piece of jewelry from me, you are purchasing a piece of my story, a piece of my heart and soul, hammered into a precious metal keepsake. That is the journey of handmade.

Mine is a labor of love.

It is also how I keep food on the table, clothes on my back, and heating oil in the ravenous furnace at this old farmhouse.

I love doing shows because I have the opportunity to meet and form face to face connections with my lovely clients, to whom I am eternally grateful. I also love selling online in my Etsy Store as it provides me the opportunity to connect with people across the globe and to sell year round, day or night, regardless of weather. However, in the last 2 years, I have experienced more theft at shows than I did in my first 10 years combined. Is the increase in theft a sign of the times or just bad timing?