Sunday, April 24, 2011

Sunday Coffee

When I lived in San Francisco, one of my favorite things to do on a Sunday was to roll out of bed, splash my face, then go to the nearest coffee house. I would order a latte - add shot - grab the most recent issue of The Bay Guardian, and if I was lucky, grab a window seat.

I would spend several hours reading up on life in the Bay Area and people watch.

This isn't so easy to do living in the suberbs. Rancho Cordova, CA is not a hotbed of edgy journalism.

So...now I roll out of bed, splash my face, feed my cats, make strong coffee and sit down and search for interesting blogs.

Here is what I discovered today. If you are interested in meandering along with me...just click on the names.

Austin Kleon - This is a fantastic read about how to steal like an artist. He points out that nothing new has been made...that artists just steal from each other. This is a long post - but worth the time spent. My favorite part is how 1+1=3. Today I subscribed to his blog.

Lavender Cottage - I read all over the blog and can not find the name of this artist. I love the work. Absolutely love the work. I have made it a favorite over on Etsy and desire to buy the dragonfly ring. I know I could make one...but I also believe in supporting artists. Oh...the quandry!

Michele Bowers - "Waves Arms Wildly" blog... scroll down and read her "About Me"... I feel like I found a soul sister. Yes...I sent her an email this morning. Haven't heard back.

Sakurako Shimizu - ok...this work is amazing. Lazer cut...designs are based on sound waves. How freakin' cool are the wedding bands???? "I Do" sound waves cut in the metal. Such clean gorgeous work. Oh man...I need a lazer cutter.

Zack Davis - I am seriously biased on this one. Zack was my first art teacher EVER. I love Zack. I miss Zack. Zack dresses like a chicken and guzzles beer during his art shows...or he used too. Sometimes he sits in a hot tub. Mostly...he is just an amazing being. He's in New York now...too far away to hang with.

Enjoy....read...wander.

(Lisa)

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Piece a Week #16: Getting closer

I almost completed a piece for this week. Visions of wire forged on the necklace mandrel filled my thoughts while trying to fall asleep.

I had a plan.

This is as far as the plan went:


Necklace mandrel with copper shaped and ready to forge.
My left arm and hand still doesn't have the strength I need to hold down the wire while I hammer with the other hand.

I stopped that plan and began to look at the copper wire. As usual, I began to see something else...two somethings as a matter-of-fact.

I ended up cutting the piece into two other pieces and plan to add in a third piece that I have already completed.

I sat down with my, now THREE pieces of silver-on-copper wire, bronze wire and some very pretty faceted pink opal beads - and immediately dumped out a container of findings. Ok...there's a mess to clean up. Next - the bronze wire won't go through the opals. Plan B - other wires do not go through the opal beads. Try another bead - how about a pearl?

How about I stab myself with the bronze wire ... ? Blood everywhere.

*sigh*

It was time to say "uncle" and push the pause button on this project.

Meanwhile I have the new Ornament magazine - I am always in awe of the work that they feature - and read a magnificent article about Charles Pinckney. He calls his work "wearable sculpture." Each piece has a name and narrative to go with it.


I've had an interesting idea for my work that I have not acted on...and that is going to change.

Stay tuned to future "Piece a Week" posts...I have a feeling they are going to be a bit different!

(Lisa Kewish)

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Piece a Week #15...still on metalsmithing hiatus

Still resting my arm.
Thinking a lot.

Coming to terms with many things. Making plans for other things. Time to throw out some things...
Moving on...stepping aside...looking upward/outward/inward.

In healing comes much change.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Sunday Meanderings (and where to find a FREE cup of coffee!)

A short business trip to Fire and Rain Gallery in El Dorado Hills turned into a fun photo shoot and a nice relaxing afternoon.

We parked the car in front of this scroll. My immediate thought was, "Hm...how can I use that design?"


Love the glass work and the design.

This reminded me of a galaxy-big bang kind of moment. Again, more yummy glass work!

Time for a coffee ... this sunny table by the window? or...

Nice big chairs in the corner?

An excellent reminder!

This may be one of my favorite shots! I like how the candle is in the center...and this glowing light off to the right...it's like how sometimes our mind/spirit is not quite in our body...and is sitting somewhere -----> over there.

Up high on the wall, in a nook, a teapot! Good place to hide secret messages!

Another nook, another teapot!
We took our coffees and headed outside. Norcal Sings was set-up. We heard people singing pop, soul and even opera! The man that sang opera was really quite good! Every time the wind shifted, the spray from the water wafted over us.

Josh decided to work on some chain mail. I people-watched!
By the way - Olympus Cafe (on Town Center Blvd, El Dorado Hills, CA) is serving cup a FREE cup of coffee through April 15. And not a little cup of coffee...a generous cup of coffee and it is quite good!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Piece A Week #14 - Pay No Attention!

I am still working on healing my arm. Studio work was limited and nothing came of it. That's ok...I was able to stir up some other ideas. Eventually those ideas will manifest in physical reality!

Meanwhile...a reminder:

Thursday, April 7, 2011

World Wide View


Did you know that I (Lisa) am a statistic geek? What is it about stats that geek me out? The patterns. I look for patterns in behavior…

I am fascinated by the stats for this blog…

Pageviews for this week:

United States – 99
Canada – 2
Switzerland – 2
Egypt – 2
Italy – 1
Russia – 1

Pageviews for the month:

United States – 188
Japan – 11
Canada – 6
United Kingdom – 6
France – 5
Russia – 5
India – 3
Switzerland – 2
Estonia – 2
Egypt – 2

When I chose the “all time” for stats…I also come up with views from Finland, South Korea and Czech Republic!!!

And the winning page for MOST page views…

“2010 Review”… with 75 Pageviews!

Makes me wonder who is peeking in from all over the world!
Who are you? I would love to hear from you!

Note: When you subscribe to this blog, or request to receive email updates...I don't receive information on that or you. On Blogger the only people I can see are the Blogger "Followers".
(and yes, this is actually a “test” of sorts … but I wanted to make it a little more interesting than just “testing, testing.”)

Testing testing!

I always wondered about blogs in my Reader that just said "testing"!! Now I know what they were doing!

(I am testing to see how this will look when someone subscribes via email!)

Thank you for your patience!

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Would you follow?

We are toying with the idea of slowing down Facebook activity and bumping up blog posts...

Facebook...has ........challenges. Ok...we are not real happy with it's "editing" of the news feed. Not happy at all.

We would put everything in our blog...what we are doing...ramblings, musings, special events, dull days, exciting days, photos, videos, how-tos...

You know, all that day-in-the-life stuff...

Interested?
Just subscribe... -----> over there on that new RSS box/feed...

...we will still do little ditties on Facebook...just nothing real important! ;)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Something Very Different (by Lisa)

Sharing something new. A collaborative piece. 
My friend, Tania von Allmen, handed me a moldavite...
I tossed in an onyx...
she said my favorite line, "Go for it...whatever you come up with."

I did some drumming and journey work and kept seeing the same vision.
I argued with myself...
"No...I don't do that kind of work..."

Repeat this scenario two more times!

At the end of the third journey session I realized that I needed to contact another to work with - and so I did.

So here is my design with the beautiful craftwomanship of North Marques. 
North did the wax carving, silver casting and stone setting. 
(Actually, she carved the hand and I did the surrounding work in wax...and she fine tuned it a bit.)



When amazing minds come together to create - amazing new life forms emerge!
Had I stayed "small" and argued with myself..."I can not do this..."
this never would have made it into the world.

End Credits:
Friend and amazing artist....Tania von Allmen... check out her work as a Symbolist.
Friend and amazing artist....North Marques... check out her artisan designed sterling silver sculptures.