Cold Connections and New Work

Cold connections. This means that fire/heating is not used for joining metals. Many metalsmiths have a love/hate relationship with cold connections. Some cold connections are easy. You make a hole in each piece of metal that you want to put together and then just run a material like wire, or leather, around and around. One can also use tiny screws and nuts. Rivets and eyelets may be the most commonly used by metal workers.

This wall art has cold connections all over it. From the wire holding the opal in place to the leather holding two large pieces of copper in place. ("Grandmother's Medicine Bag" by Lisa Kewish)

 Another form of cold connection vexes many a metalsmith. Rivets. This means that a wire is fitted between two holes and the size of the holes must be just right. If the holes aren't the right size, the entire process fails and you have to start over. Bonus points, the wire you are using is about the size of this "l" !!! Ok, maybe a tad longer and a bit rounder.

There IS a rivet in there somewhere. On the right. The tiny silver circle. That is a rivet holding a bezel with a stone in place! (Lisa's class project on connecting with rivets)

And then there are eyelets. Eyelets are basically metal tubes that are round and finished around the edge.

Lots of hearts with cold connections using eyelets! Josh has been working diligently on making these very cool hearts!

 Meanwhile, while Josh has been working away at cold connections, Lisa has been putting together earrings!

Sterling silver on copper hoops with beaded dangles! Ear wires are nickel free!

And last, an experiment! I was given a roll of thin copper. It is too thin to use on it's own...however, by fusing pieces together with sterling silver, I was able to create small sheets that I then could shape. I made earrings!

Sterling silver fused on to copper. Hand painted.

Sterling silver fused on to copper. Hand painted.

All these items will make their debut at High Hand's Art Fest on June 23 and 24th! More information on that next week!

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!

New homes...

Just an update on some of our pieces...and where they are now...

"Bacchaus" was purchased as a gift to a woman who has a tracheotomy scar. I am absolutely fascinated that this piece...a piece that came into being because of an error on my part...is going to cover someone's scar. (Copper got too hot and began to melt...the holes are a result of that! It was supposed to be a solid piece.)

This mermaid sold QUICKLY to a woman who fell in love with it....

Mermaid on the left is at PeraDice, mermaid on the right...made a trade with Pennie Pyle (of Pennie Wrapped Western & Wire Art Jewelry)for some amazing beads for our upcoming "ocean show" as Pennie calls it! :)

"Persephone" found a new home with a lovely lady...who wanted earrings to match. We whipped out a pair of earrings and gave them to the woman. I got a big hug from her! :)

I already told the story of this piece...about it being purchased by a woman who lost everything in the San Bruno fire.

Pieces for Week 22....

I decided that too many pieces were being overlooked with my "Piece A Week" focus...so I have decided to do "Pieces for Week......"

This week I really only had Thursday to work on pieces. Monday we were up in Tahoe, I don't remember Tuesday (!), Wednesday I spent the day up at Journey Spiritual Center (LOVE it there, I highly recommend going there if you need some meditation/energy work time)....so Thursday is when it all happened. I fiddled with a couple pieces today - but I am DONE. I need to get ready for this weekend's Tahoe adventure.

My main focus this week was on a piece that I have had in my head for several weeks now. I think to really do this piece like I envision it, I would need to have it cast. On the other hand...I challenged myself to see what I could do with fabricating the piece. The idea was a mermaid sitting on a crescent moon...her tail hanging over the edge...all flowy.

Before I share the pics with you...she was a royal annoyance. The EASY part was sawing out the shape...except I sawed out too much leaving the shape weak, with no reinforcement. So I had to change my plan...decided to fuse a full moon behind the mermaid, thus giving her some "support"...except my moon reticulated nicely with the heat....it just withered up....some choice words...then I decided to turn my withered full moon into a crescent moon. I also wanted to have some silver "bubbles" around her...so I made a bunch of silver granulation balls...all fell off of her but two. (no, I am not going to make a comment like, "My mermaid lost her balls....") At the end...somewhat success...but it was so "silvery"...it bugged me. Anyway - here is the shot of the silvery mermaid...rather difficult to make out:

Mermaid on a crescent moon...difficult to make out the details...

I really wanted some color...so I decided to rough up the silver a bit and add in some alcohol ink.

Mermaid in color!

Again, not a great shot - but I like how she looks. Her tail now looks like abalone shell! Anyway, this is one that looks better in person! She is going up to Tahoe...she needs a name...any ideas? I really like this style and will be working more with this.

I also made these yesterday and finished them up today:

Basic silver on copper dragonfly

This dragonfly was actually a "scrap"...I used the cut out dragonfly on another piece. The cut out was in silver. I took the silver and fused it on copper. Then added some alcohol ink for some color.

 Silver dragonfly. I felt artsy so this shot is in black and white!

Next week I have five full days to work on pieces. I have some ideas for rings and may focus in on that!

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. 

Discovered in San Francisco!

San Francisco buzzes with creative energy. There are galleries everywhere with unique expressions of how to view the world. The City keeps my senses on point and my own creative ideas take on new forms...even things that disturb me, intrigue me. Like this window display. There was a lot more going on in the display - but this shot is the one that creates a whole new story in my head.

"Creepy Baby Doll Heads"

Photography by Lisa Kewish

Not only are store displays edgy and unique...there are also all the fantastic artisans selling their items out on the streets. Out of respect I do not take pics of the artisans work, however, I DO collect business cards and web site addresses and I enjoy mentioned them in as many places that I can just to support their work.

Jimothy is a leather worker with an amazing spirit. He has founded Chi Stylez, handcrafted leather goods made from recycled resources. Yes, I purchased a gorgeous clutch and a wrist cuff..and had a GREAT time chatting with him. He came up from San Diego...HE gave us the tip on how to apply to be a street vendor in San Francisco.

We discovered beautiful fine handmade silver jewelry by Emilio Sotelo...simple and lovely. Very elegant designs. We like.

ok...and some work that completely captivated me...(and woke me up a bit...I'll be getting real busy soon) is the amazing copper jewelry by Astrid Walther and Christian Gardelle. What they do with copper is incredible.
The prices of their pieces is ridiculous low for the quality and beauty of the work...but then, that is part of the gift of copper!

I did get one tip...peanut oil. Dip copper in peanut oil and then fire it...apparently amazing things happens.
I'm going shopping today for peanut oil.

(authored by Lisa)

Pulling an all nighter

The nights preceeding a craft fair tends to be chaotic in our house...a'hem - studio. Ok...house. The kitchen is a mess...what used to be the dining room is ridiculous and the dining room table, which is in the living room is covered with product.

The reason why its so chaotic is because we have had back-to-back weekends of events. We will be selling our jewelry this Friday, Saturday and Sunday...and doing the same next weekend as well. And then...we both agree that we are going to take some serious time off and during that time off to slow down and create more complex pieces. We have pages and pages of ideas, just not enough time to bring them into this world.

Despite the chaos, there are moments of fun and frolic. It gets a little scary when the dining room table is covered in product and the frolicking begins...it looks like this...

That is Tarzan-the-monkey-cat above there demanding some quality time with his peeps. He is accustomed to "TV" time, and when that doesn't happen, he finds other ways in which to get attention.

In the shot you can see the backside of some of our new work...here's a front view:

Nice table, huh? We eat out a lot when we are prepping for a show!

Ok...how about a closer look and a sneak peak at some of my new designs:

I've been having all kinds of fun with alcohol ink on copper. Oh yeah.

The next piece was inspired by a recent full moon rising over the hills...I have a thing for anything Luna...and have been trying for some time now to capture it in jewelry. (And even a longer amount of time trying to capture a picture of a full moon!) I spent several HOURS tonight trying to put this piece on a beaded cord, but a beader I am not...that is, not yet. However, I am really liking the results I'm getting with the ink on copper series...

This one is called "Full Moon" -

And here is one more piece "The Rising Moon" -

These pieces and many others will be making their debut in about nine hours from right now (1:00am). I'm excited to see how they are received!

(authored by Lisa)

Sunday Shoot

Today was all about a photo shoot. Set up a light tent, took some shots. Wandered around the deck looking for shots. Wood on the deck was nice...but its been done. Leaves, layered leaves, soft focus leaves. Dragon sculptures and jade vases. And then...she entered the picture.

Finally found a model we can work with. Opal. She’s fantastic. Quiet, still, makes no demands, can stand in the sun for hours and not burn. Now we can continue on with a theme of sorts. Before all of our work was rather hodge-podge. A lot of work, but a good day.

Perspectives

"Fill your life with as many moments and experiences of joy and passion as you humanly can. Start with one experience and build on it."

Marcia Wieder

The old way: "How have you been?" (sigh) "Busy"

The new way: "How have you been?" (giggle) "Actively Being."

Lisa Kewish