As the world is opening up again, so are art shows. We have completed two shows so far in the last few weeks and the response from patrons has been tremendous. After being cooped up for more than a year, people are shopping with enthusiasm and just as thrilled to be back in society as we are. 
I had been reading that jewelry trends for this year include big statement pieces. And my goodness, that has certainly played out in our case. The bigger and chunkier, the better. 

Pictured above are some of the many pieces that found their new forever homes. I hope this trend stays around a while. It's my favorite way of making. But I continue to work on petite pieces as well. Our 2021 show schedule is on the "about us" page. Unfortunately, we will miss some shows we have done for years, because a few spring shows were postponed to fall because of covid and conflicted with others. We are also doing some new ones - former Sugarloaf shows that are now organized by new event planners we have worked with other places. 
Happy Summer! Hope you are all getting out there. Back to friends and family up close. Concerts, beach days and whatever makes you happy!

If you are reading this, I'm hoping you are ok, thriving and hopefully better than just surviving. Bill and I are fine. We had our second vaccination and thinking about better days ahead. The last year was not fun, but we stayed home, wore masks when going out on a weekly grocery shopping trip, and watched way too much TV. But if it kept us off ventilators, I say it's a win. 

There are some new things in the webstore. Bill has always enjoyed wood turning and we have a few ring boxes and bowls there. We have also added some cast glass ring boxes and bowls. If you enjoy following our creative journeys, the place we most often post photos and general information is Instagram and the business Facebook page. Follow and "like" those posts to have them bubble up in your feed. 

We have also added a second website for glass buttons, beads and cabochons for designers to use in their own work. Manly Art Glass. I have established a Facebook page and Instagram for that website as well, but not quite gotten a running start at filling that social media with content. I'll be getting after it now. 
It's late here so I'll be signing off. More news about Fine Craft Fairs to come. All of my March, April and beginning May have cancelled. But more shows are looking hopeful later May and beyond. Get your vaccination when you can, wear your masks, and keep your distance, so we can gather again soon!

These days it seems to take very shiny objects to hold my attention. During this terrible pandemic we find ourselves fighting off anxiety while trying to make productive use of the time inside. I have to limit the amount of news I watch and audio books are my favorite escape as I dither around way too much. Focus has been somewhat elusive. Friends say how great it is to be creative at this time holed up inside, but I'm finding it difficult to follow through. Starting now, however, I vow to do better and work towards building up inventory for that day when life returns to normal (whatever new normal is) and hopefully art shows with it. If we can muster some concentration, its a good time to try new techniques. Ever hopeful, I'm keeping my show schedule up on the events section of this website. But every week I'm changing the entries as spring and early summer shows continue to cancel. Producers of fall shows have slowed down jurying and sending out results, somewhat wisely. We are all figuring this out as we go. We are staying in and following all the rules. We are wearing masks and gloves to go grocery shopping, buying what we need and not hoarding. I hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy and holding fast. This too shall pass and I can't wait to see all your smiling faces soon. 

I wanted to take a moment and say thank you for all the support this past year. We did 16 shows in six states. It was so great to see so many of our collectors and meet so many new fans of our work. We appreciate your enthusiasm and support more than I can say. 
Once again it was challenging keeping the webstore stocked. But with the very slow-going handmade nature of our work, I find I need all the inventory for the road. Since our last show in early December in NYC, I am slowly listing a few things. Our earring inventory is nearly depleted! (thank you !) One task at hand, is to make a new collection of work for jury photos. I hope to be invited to all the shows we did last year, but our category is very competitive with lots of good work, and only so many spots. So keeping my fingers crossed.
Bill and I wish you all the happiest of holidays and we hope to see you in the new year. XO

While in New York City in March for a trade show, we visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I was blown away by a new exhibit: Art of Native America - The Charles and Valerie Diker Collection. This exhibit of master crafts from fifty cultures across North America opened last fall and is ongoing. The most beautiful bead embroidery, weaving, baskets, sculpture and more that I have ever seen. The work spans pre-European settlement in the Americas to the early 20th century. My photos don't do any of it justice, but I'm hoping I'll entice you to either go see it live, or get the book. If you are a seed bead enthusiast, weaver, woodworker - and craftsman or lover of fine crafts of any sort - this is for you. 
My advice whenever you go to the Met is get there first thing as the doors open. This is an exhibit that will lure you in and you will want to marvel and savor each item. More enjoyable in some solitude than elbowing for a better look. By the time we left the museum early afternoon, the whole building was just mobbed. 

I hope some of you will be able to join us in New York City the end of November for Crafts at the Cathedral - Nov 29 - Dec 2. It is being held in the Cathedral of St. John the Devine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave, at 112th Street. Like last year, the booths are in the center of the Cathedral Sanctuary itself, making for a beautiful holiday setting. Refreshments and light food are available for purchase. It was so fun to see my customers from around the mid-Atlantic region show up for that event last year. It is a tradition for many folks around the east coast to make a trip to NYC at the holidays. So come to the event at the Cathedral and then go to the holiday village at Bryant Park, Union Square Holiday Market & Grand Central Holiday Fair. 

We had such a fun weekend at the New Hope Arts & Crafts Festival. The weather was picture perfect, and everyone was in a great mood because of it after the long, hot, wet, nasty summer we've had. We received some totally unexpected recognition for our work, for which we are so appreciative. Now its back to work to get ready for Occasion for the Arts in Williamsburg, Virginia next weekend. 

I admit it. I'm a cat lady.... After our last senior cat passed away last fall it's just been too empty around the house, especially working from home. I've always raised my cats from kittens, and have been patiently waiting for kitten season to start. At last, a rescue group I've been working with texted me that some kittens were available. So many older cats need good homes too, but I just can't resist the babies. So meet Bella & Beau. Absolutely adorable litter mates. I have to discipline myself not to play with them all day and get my work done! Show season starts in two weeks! I'm excited for that too. 

While in Cincinnati for Astrid Riedel's classes at Brazee Studios, she mentioned in passing having visited Thompson Enamels across the river in Kentucky. Astrid raved about a little enamel museum next-door to Thompson and enjoyed a tour of the enamel plant. Intrigued, we stopped on our way out of town to Thompson, to buy some enamel and got a little tour. Very interesting to see what they do, how they do it, and appreciated the institutional knowledge among a relatively small staff. Then we went next door to the W.W. Carpenter Enamel Foundation, which houses an amazing and unique collection of enamel art and more. We were so taken with this facility we had never heard of. The work on display is collected from all over the world and included fine art as well as craft. Really amazing. My photos below aren't great, but I hope they illustrate the variety and entice you to visit sometime.  

In addition to the enamel collection, the W.W. Carpenter Foundation includes a store for Thompson enamels and enameling supplies, classrooms and workspace for workshops and a metals working studio. Tom Ellis, resident instuctor, with a 30-year career as enameling expert and educator, juggles many hats to keep the facility going. The foundation is named after its founder, the late Woodrow Carpenter, who dedicated his life to the art and science of vitreous enamel. Carpenter invented lead-free enamel and other glass products. 

Tom told us he, Carpenter's daughter, and other supporters are working to raise the profile of the facility through social media, more classes, and other marketing efforts. Popular metalsmith Richard Salley is going to be teaching soon, and some well-known enamel artists are lined up too. The roomy space, great equipment and inspiration from the museum make this an underused resource. Help these great folks and spread the word! For more information www.wwcef.com.
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We just got back from close to a week in Cincinnati at Brazee Studios where we had the great good fortune to take 3 classes with the talented South African flamework artist Astrid Riedel. What a fantastic experience. Because she lives so far away, it was an opportunity that doesn't come along every day. We are still marveling over everything we learned and anxious to put a lot of new techniques into practice. 

All of Astrid's work is amazing and her large off-mandrel hollows are my favorite. The necklaces and lentil beads on the black sheet of glass were her class samples and a selection she keeps to wear. 

Bill did really well in the off-mandrel hollows class. He was blowing rounds and large flattened discs much better than me! The goal is to get to the quality of Astrid's hollow disc bead in my hand in the third photo. It was my souvenir purchase. I'll keep it at my torch as inspiration! 

Brazee studios is a roomy, friendly place. Josh Bass (center) was our contact, coordinator and guy Friday. A prince of a man. So organized and helpful. We received our supply list way in advance of the class, which we really appreciated. They supplied all but a very few things, like the XL lentil press and your own basic flameworking tools. The studio also carried the best selection of Bullseye lampwork rods I've seen outside of Bullseye Portland itself. They also had a nice selection of thin sheet glass too. So we stocked up on a few things. The studio is located in a fun neighborhood, with some great restaurants and coffee shops all a block or two away. 

Cincinnati has a nice skyline. It reminded me a little of Pittsburgh with the stadiums on the riverfront and the bridges. Bill took this panoramic photo from the Kentucky side of the Ohio river. We didn't have a lot of time to look around, but the folks are really friendly and they love their craft beer. On the way out of town we stopped at Thompson Enamel and got a little tour of the plant. I will do another post about that in a day or two. There is an enamel museum that I think is a little known secret. More about that soon. 
In closing I would encourage anyone to take classes with live teachers when you can. Not only did Astrid teach us new techniques, she also corrected some of my bad habits that will only help me in working more efficiently moving forward. We just loved her. Thank you Astrid!