gallery February-March show

As it turned out, I got to Oxide with eight pieces (including one set), and I just got the notification that they took them all. If every one of them sells, my share will be about $215; I guess I still need to bump my prices higher. Some of these, especially the persian chain, are real bargains. Of course, if I worked in sterling, higher prices would be no problem. I missed the day, Dec 29, when it went down to $27, grrrr. I was running around trying to get my Jazzfest application pictures done, and didn’t get into town in time to get an order in. Of course silver was still under $30 for a few days after that. But I didn’t really have the money free, and by the time I did, it was getting on up. Resolve-- if it goes under $30 again, act!

After almost three weeks without word from the Festival Foundation, Chery e-mailed, and got a prompt message back apologizing that we hadn’t gotten postcards; we’re all in! Whee! Must make MORE STUFF.

Here’s what goes on display at Oxide for Gallery Night, February 4. I didn’t get the end-pieces done for the DNA lariat, so it turned into a 25” over-the-head endless chain. (Amy came on a last-minute-planned visit for the week, which was TOTALLY delightful, but did delay the making.) I threw in the dark-oxidized persian chain -- thought it could use another viewing, and the jury agreed. The most interesting piece is the copper-wrapped fossil ammonite, but my picture of it is very over-exposed, and much of the detail of the fossil is washed out in glare. A small photo of what it looked like before I wrapped it begins this entry.

actual sales!

This has been something of a red-letter month, in terms of sales (Of course any normal-scaled business would die laughing,) But hey, ten items sold in one month is a LOT, ok?

September 10 was the Arts, Autos, and Antiques event on the Square. Warren organized 5 booths staffed by 10 Oxide artists - I shared with photographer Pam Hughes. Sold six items, one, the silver leaves chain, fairly high-end.
Also Rhonda picked up her sterling bracelet (AND with Chery treated me to a Denton Co Independent Hamburger.)



Then the next morning I discovered I had sold a couple pairs of handmade earring hooks and a bag of jumprings to an Etsian in Nova Scotia, who confirmed to me today that they arrived last week.


And to top it off, Warren sent me an e-mail that my torch-colored spiral bronze earrings sold in the Gallery!


The new Gallery Night is this Saturday, and I have 14 new pieces waiting hopefully.

inspired to earring

Three weeks again since I posted. Yipes! Well, I have been keeping pretty busy. Was inspired by some big FW pearls and some astonishing amethyst drusy geode beads from Bead Renaissance to make earrings.

bronze

I've been sporadically busy, but no posting for months. Especially when I am spending most of my time at the Ridge. Good for working on the green, breezy upstairs porch, but no internet except on the not-quite-stupid phone inhibits online documentation.

I made several things in the February blizzard. Then when the snow all melted and spring came bounding in, I pretty well stopped in favor of outdoor pursuits. Another spurt of activity came juts before the May show I did in Prosper, and then this past week, preparing goodies for my next offering to Oxide Gallery.


Got some true bronze (copper/tin alloy) wire from Nancy Wickman a few weeks ago. I put together a pair of earrings with graduated paisley (sort of) motifs, and then worked up a 4-metal box-chain necklace, bronze, copper, silver-surfaced and gold-surfaced German wire. It's about a quarter inch thick, out of 20-gauge 5/32" rings.

This picture in the sun shows the four sides of the box chain; from the top they are bronze, copper, gold, silver. In the lowest section, with the silver links showing full face, the edgewise rings at the top are bronze, and those below are the gold.





Having turned all the rest of the 20-gauge wire into jump-rings, I was unable to fix the situation when one of the earrings made its escape at the exceedingly windy, and also muddy, Prosper Founders' Fest. Evidently, the table cover flipped in the wind and tossed it into the hay-covered mud underfoot, where I could never find it. I just yesterday received more wire, so I will try to manage a matching one.





Then with the 18-gauge I made a bunch of 1/8" links for the pendant heading this post, with a crystal eye and small crystal dangles. The silver pendant like this, with a blue crystal, sold at DHS in December (with no photo taken, bah!) So I hope the right customer comes to Oxide for this one, always assuming that Warren takes it.

uncomplicated things

In an attempt to have more nice things at a lower price point for Oxide, I have worked on pendants and earrings with interesting shapes and colors, but not hours and hours of work. I kind of have the trouble Robin McKinley has with short stories. Things just naturally seem to grow into time-consuming necklaces! But I have managed a line of simple spirals, furnace glass beads, and small shapes in earrings and pendants.

Here are the six pendants (Warren accepted the lot!) and several of the earrings. He took half of the ten pairs of earrings, and all the five chains I offered. He didn’t go for the furnace glass for some reason -- maybe looked too much like assembled findings? -- but I’ll get the first of those up on Etsy this afternoon.

new starts

I had a flush of jewelry-making back in May of last year (but not quite in time for the Oxide summer show). Then when the heat moderated in September and I could work on the upstairs screen porch I made a number of things.

Amy’s visit and purchase of the zig-zag earrings from Oxide sparked her order of Christmas presents for Cathy and Janine. The DHS craft fair moved things along, and I also got my Etsy shop reactivated, and sold a bracelet! after just a day or two. Finally just after the new year I dipped back into CWJ, and found a new YOJ just starting up, so I took the plunge and joined in.

I’ve posted twice to YOJ so far, and I have an appointment with Warren Tuesday morning to show new work for the spring show. I have about two dozen pieces, which is probably more than he’ll want or have room for. So all the rest will go up on Etsy, where I have 28 items so far.

I’m excited, though actually, I have had very few actual sales yet. But enough to get me moving. Warren bought my 16-gauge chain in October and Amy got the earrings, Also the rectangular “earrings for Isabel” variation sold, I believe to the same customer who bought my “Verrakaien Pendant” at the DHS sale. Then that Etsy bracelet sale out of the blue, and Amy’s commissions, add up to a fair fall.

Onward!