Did you know we made a video?

A couple years ago we made a short video on "granulation." We have received several emails of people thanking us for making this short, clear and concise edu-vid on one of the processes used by metalsmiths. It has received 4.5 stars!

I thought it would be a good time to do a re-run! Enjoy!

Are there any other kinds of techniques you would like to see? Let us know down in the comments here...  :)

A short re-cap of our Art Fest weekend can be seen here.

Sacramento's 2nd Saturday "Art Party" at Clubhouse 24

This video pretty much sums up a great evening!

Two bands, four artists, drummers and dancers...One of the best "opening night" art parties I have experienced!

Good Day...or not!

On Saturday, September 10, the vendors at High Hill Ranch/Apple Hill received a notice that "Good Day Sacramento" would be filming a segment...and if we were interested in being filmed...be at our booths at 7a.m. "working."

Well...what artist wouldn't love some free promotion?

We did. As did others.
So, most of us crawled out of bed EARLY, to show up EARLY...and then wait.

Note: usually we show up at 8:30am-ish to open at 9am. So...many of us were minus sleep and coffee. By the way - not a drop of coffee to be found anywhere. :-/

To make a short story - shorter - We did not get on the segment...nor did most others. Just two. The candlemaker and the glass blower.

I can't find the segment to embed. But I did take some photos...just for fun.

Camera guy sets up while artists wait....

More set up....

And yet more set up...wait...it gets better...

LIVE!

More LIVE!

LIVE! Explaining how a glass bead is made...

Setting the glass bead in the clay to cool...

Wrapping it up...

"Did ya see us on TV?"

Mike vows he will never EVER show up early again. Three years in a row...he's done this and has never made it on TV.

Dazzling Dawn...I think she should win the most beautiful booth award...if we gave them out! She hand-paints all her glass!

Meanwhile, while most of us were just standing around being disappointed...he just kept working.

And Josh and Michael did some yoga.

And least our booth was pretty.

So...I think next year Good Day Sacramento should send someone up the day before...have him/her choose the artisans they want to film. That way only TWO will have to get up early...and the other TEN won't be sleepy, grumpy and without coffee.

(such are the things that make stories in our lives!)

:)

Pieces for week 34 and 35: Pictures DO NOT do these pieces justice

My buddy/artist/vendor friend Pennie suggested I do a paisley in my style. I am not a big fan of paisley, so I struggled with this one. The little purple one didn't photograph very well, but I'm quite fond of it. Silver on copper. Smaller paisley is inked. (Large paisley SOLD!)

My friend Toddy (since 10th grade) wanted to see a wing...and asked for a cross "that was different." Easy-peasy - I had JUST made the "different" cross...and a wing...next she wants a halo. No really...hers keeps slipping! Silver on copper.
(Spoken For)

Just for fun I made some hearts. Silver on copper, inked.

Here is my "love" for this week. Copper and silver on copper, inked. SOLD!

Here are some of Josh's most recent work...dragonflies...just made them last night! The stone in the lead dragonfly is a garnet. Silver wings on copper. The garnet dragonfly and one other dragonfly can be purchased at PeraDice.

Another one of Josh's pieces. I love this Heart and Skull. I think it will be available at PeraDice. Hangs on a double 18" chain. Sterling silver with copper swirls. Can be purchased at PeraDice.

AND Josh has been working on a LOT of wire-wrap rings. Most are in brass with stones and beads. A few are now in silver-fill wire. AND we have lots of earrings and beaded pieces that I have not posted. I am hoping to carve out some time next week to do a huge photo shoot (with the "real" camera and not the phone camera) in order to post things up on Etsy.

Afterall - it's time to start shopping for Christmas! ;)

C'mon up and visit us at High Hill Ranch at Apple Hill. Grab a fritter and relax!

Pieces for week 32: Something Old, Something New, Something Repeated

Just a peek! Pre-staging prior to a show. We keep coming up with new product and need to have new ways to display it. It is best to figure out space, how things work and does it generally "feel" right in advance of the show. Table coverings are kept tucked away until the last minute. Kitties are way too fond of sleeping on everything!

This moon has had many lives! This is my favorite. It is actually three separate turquoise necklaces. I like the look! I can't decide if this is what I want to start wearing when I'm doing a show....

 SOLD!

More keys, a bit bigger than the first round...and more dragonflies, hearts, flowers...some painted some not...these pieces will be ready for Midtown Bazaar tomorrow!

Pieces for weeks 30 and 31: Keys to _______ (and beads!)

Funky chunky skeleton keys...Keys to Love, Self, Joy, Wisdom and the Universe...and lots of beaded necklaces. Just for something different to do! update: ALL SOLD!

Pieces for Week 25: of myths and legends...and rebirth

I love old things. Old falling apart buildings, rusty junk, legends, myths and treasure chests.
This week's pieces reflect my love of old...AND have a sense of opening up, tearing away, new growth spiraling out...little seeds tucked away. Because, that's where I'm at in my life.

I just had fun. I either had A Perfect Circle or goth belly dance tunes blaring. I was HOT in the studio this week! (and you can take that in any direction!!!!)

I remembered to take a "before" pic this time! Here are the pieces. All hand fabricated, silver on copper, twisted, bent and fused. 

And then...I hand-painted each of them!

 "Bacchus", or "The Scream"....actually looks more like "Oh!"
SOLD!

"Old Tapes"

"Persephone"
SOLD!

"Poseidon"

"Torn by the Stag King" update: SOLD

"Torn by the Stag King" has already received many ooohs and aaaaahs even before it was completed.
Yes...there will be lots more in this style. I snuck in the studio and made two more this morning (sneeking because I don't usually work in the studio the day before a show...)

I still need to make leather cords for these pieces to hang off of (I am preferring leather over silver chains), but they should be good and ready to be sold this weekend up at Lake Tahoe!

Where Women Create/Where I Create

There is a delicious magazine on the market called "Where Women Create." Every issue is full of amazing female artists in their studios. Studios that make me say, "Really?" I presented the magazine to one of my art teachers and she, after drooling over the studios, slammed shut the magazine and said, "No artists studio looks like THAT..."

Imagine. What if...wow. I would never come up for air! Take a peek for yourself...click and check it out (I receive no monetary anything for sharing this..)


Where Women Create

The studios are magnificent...the articles about the artists, inspiring.

It seems that most women have taken huge risks to be an artist...many left corporate positions, tossed the Master's Degree...OR realized how to blend architecture into jewelry design. Love that!

In the spirit of the magazine, I thought I would share "where I create..."

I was inspired to write this post while sitting on my couch enjoying my clean living room. The mantle is filled with all kinds of shamanic type things. My photography on the wall...calendar with paperwork for shows...the usual cat.

The eclectic bookshelf. Old cameras, a teddy bear, a mask made of hemp, more photography, golden mouse ears and various crystals. Various important books and art magazines.

Really - I work a lot at this table. Catnip or squishy food often lures them away for a few minutes.

...but they always come back.

Here's a sneak peek of the work we are taking to Tahoe this year! The cat is staying at home.

I am beginning to define my space more that I have more time in the studio. Josh began a 40-hour a week job today...now it is my turn to fine tune my skills and "find my voice..." This is gonna be fun!

Piece a Week #18 - Waterfall

Last week was a "white rapid/going over waterfalls" type of week. Many, many things changed...our beloved cat, Booger, had to be put to sleep...Josh made a decision (more on that later, it's a good one) that will dramatically change our lifestyle...opportunities were added in and other choices were taking out.

All I could really do was to go along with the flow - talk myself into relaxing and just going...sometimes the stream was peaceful, a couple times it felt like I was going down a waterfall...and thus, this piece emerged out of all the white rapids. It is called "Waterfall."

The Waterfall

Kewish Designs at Rediscover Sutter Street Celebration Saturday, May 7!

Fire and Rain Gallery is opening a second location!! Join us on Saturday, May 7, from 10-2 on Sutter Street for the Rediscover Sutter Street Celebration! We will have a small trunk show out in front of the gallery! I am busy working on some new designs...flowers, hearts, butterflies, dragonflies...and whatever else we may come up with!!

Note - this is not a "street fair" with a lot of vendors. Fire and Rain has asked us specifically to do a small set up in front of the gallery...and to bring in balloons!!! 

Fire and Rain is at the end of the street in the red brick building, a few doors away from Planet Earth Rising and across the street from Chicago Fire Pizza!

Everything begins at 10 a.m. with colorful Chinese Lion Dancers, the WellsFargo Stagecoach and a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Attendees have a unique opportunity to be a part of history by participating in a community photo in the 700 block of Sutter Street immediately following the ribbon cutting.

The street will be alive with activity including James Garner's Johnny Cash tribute band on one stage, and more live entertainment on a second stage. A series of 9-foot-tall graphic totems depicting Folsom's fascinating history will be unveiled. Tours and historical re-enactments will be on-going. Vintage cars, the City's antique fire truck and project construction equipment will be on display.

For your convenience, catch a shuttle at the Walmart parking lot (Glenn Drive behind Chevron) between 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., or ride Light Rail.  There will be limited parking available in the Historic District Parking Garage.