Gotta love Love and Knit

Circular Vest by Love and Knit on Etsy - one of my new favorite shops featuring hand knit chunky and whimsical cozy scarves, hats, shawls and more! Just beautiful!
Check out their Etsy store: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveandKnit?ref=seller_info

The inspiring Sarah Sze

Sarah Sze, one artist I was following a few years ago, who's work still strikes something inside of me. Light, air, movement, color, form, line, texture, space, chaos, organization, disorienting and coming to...
Today in my studio I uncovered an old 3 ring binder that I kept while in Art School. Inside were computer print outs, magazine images and articles, and sketches and notes of images and ideas that intrigued me. I feel that I have yet to address the intrigue that I felt back then, or, maybe that my intrigue was strong then and is still strong today. This is exciting to me, because, you see, I have a blank canvas, newly stretched, propped up against the wall of my studio! And, this fervent desire to paint! (smile)

A striking ETSY post!

I love browsing through the infinite creative abyss that is ETSY. So many ideas, artists, designers, crafters, creators, inventors, shoppers, resellers and collectors - it is a place one may easily spend countless hours drooling over colors, materials and original ideas!
I found the above posted image today and love its color, attitude and fun! Perhaps I have never seen such large earrings! Oh my, work it girl!

New Studio!

I recently moved to a new studio space within the Switchyard Studio Warehouse in Southeast Portland. I am no longer crouching over my knots and beads under lamps clamped to the top edge of the 5'8" walls built by the previous artist. Today I spent all day in the studio with not one lamp turned on. I felt peaceful sitting by the window in natural light, no longer feeling disconnected from the outside world.
The framed painting on the left of this photo montage is hanging on a wall Noah and I built. Well, we used the wooden easel made from 2' x 4's also built by the previous artist in my former space as the frame for the wall. We then bought more wood and a 4' x 8' sheet of drywall, which we cut into smaller sections and screwed onto the wooden frame. It was good practice for what might be an up and coming project - building a wall to close our space from the communal area. I share this space with another artist, a painter. Her space is in the background on the right of the picture.
After a full day in the studio, I feel worn out, but definitely fulfilled by my productivity. I have a three day holiday fair in about a month and the Portland Saturday Market.
Here are some photographs of some recent pieces.

Rings!!!

Ring-a-ding-ding, honey!

Summer Styles

Hand painted and hand cut canvas circle earrings on sterling silver chain and ear wires. These earrings are lightweight, fun and fresh. Miniature paintings dangling from your earlobes!

I am currently working on some new canvas necklace designs. The necklace above is one of my favorites. Gypsy Style!
Delicate. Simple. Elegant. Mini canvas circles on antique brass with Calcite dangle attached with hand formed and filed sterling silver wire work. I am enjoying filing metal wire to create a more raw, matte and unfinished surface.

My goal this summer is to experiment a bit with my jewelry lines and paint. As soon as I wrote that sentence I thought, "two months off of teaching is not enough time!!!!!" But an artist has his or her entire life to work - its an ongoing living, breathing entity, an artist's body of work. I sometimes stress on time lines, deadlines, lines binding to time, but great work was never made in a day or two. Ongoing... Everything an artist sees affects his or her work. An artist is never not working.

I will be participating in some summer fairs, too! Of course, there is the Portland Saturday Market, and then I've got First Thursday in the Pearl July 1st, The Mississippi Street Fair July 10th, The Gresham Art Walk July 17th, First Thursday August 5th and The Hawthorne Street Fair August 15th. What a summer!
Hope to see some of you at one of these family friendly events!
Who loves the sun?!?!?! I do, I do!
Ciao for now!

I just love ripping fabric!

Beside my desk sits a large clear bin over flowing with scrap fabrics, a bin I have had my eye on since I moved into my studio. It's home was first under the desk closest to my easel and farthest from my main work surface. I then rediscovered it and moved it a bit closer, under the desk in the middle of the room. Once again, my eyes laid upon it and felt a need to bring it just a bit closer to me. I was not ready just yet to rip it apart! Until now! Oh, how much fun it is ripping fabric! And that raw frayed edge - ah, be still my heart!
You can twist one side for a subtle flow, or let them hang wild and light. Check back in to see some more soon!


My delight in making art for the ears, neck and wrist has crept its way up to my head - and yours! The first headbands in the AMiRA jewelry collection are here and going fast! Ripped canvas, Tibetan yarn, and antique brass chain with various stones and crystals dangling on the side. These funky head decorations may also been worn around the neck with the dangle at the side for some asymmetrical fun!