Follow Through

Upon my return from the recent Synergy 4 conference I had lists of goals, pages of ideas to try, and potential opportunities to follow-up on. I was totally jazzed!! But you get home and well life takes over and you fall back into routines. What happened to all those plans and goals!!

I am realizing that all those plans, goals and to-do lists need to be made a priority. How high up on the priority list they get depends. But, they at least need to be as high as getting groceries and doing laundry. They deserve to be put in the rotation and become a part of ‘life’ and given attention. How else are they going to get done, right???

So I started by going through my journal for the conference. Reviewing my notes, remembering what piqued my interests. Here are a few pages from my journal. It was primarily note taking from workshops and lectures. A few little sketches.   Documenting special moments. This is totally done for me. I don’t expect anyone to read this and make any sense out of it. So I was initially reluctant to share, but what the heck!

Okay the conference was one component. But I took three, yes THREE, workshops!!! They were fantastic workshops with superb instructors that could not be more different from one another in every way, except their generosity! Each one was so jammed packed, that we didn’t spend a lot of time creating. So I need to spend the time to explore each one in depth. Absorb the techniques and process. And see what clicks with my aesthetic and artistic voice.

Melanie West taught a class called A Unique Way of Organic Caning – Full of Depth and Color that explored the used of translucent clay. To be honest, I really don’t like translucent clay or working with it! But I have admired her work for years and was just thrilled to be in the same room to absorb anything she was willing to share! Okay, I will now eat my words . . . . wow, translucent clay is so cool, I love it! I have starting making samples and can’t stop!! Don’t know where I am going, but I am having fun wondering around.

Christine Dumont taught a class called Transforming Clay using decollage techniques she has developed. I had taken an on-line design class with Christine and was hooked on her style of teaching. Her approach to working with polymer clay is very painterly and just draws you in. I have only completed a few samples that are clearly not finished. Lots and lots of work needed here, but so exciting!

Jana Roberts Benzon taught a class called Nature Walk – Toadstools, Twigs and Boughs. Jana uses polymer clay to recreate some of her favorite things she has found during her walks in the woods. The realism is amazing and her energy is palpable. I find her work to be the furthest from mine. And I have only begun executing her projects. Yet every time I take a class from her I pick up various techniques for working with polymer clay that I can directly adapt to my work!

I hope that I have encouraged you to follow through after a conference or workshop. Embrace it. Make the most of your investment. Take fun notes . . . practice what you have learned and . . . . enjoy your own creative journey! I know that I am!!

Proximity

When last I blogged I was catching my breath and enjoying my beautiful surroundings. Well with hurricane Irma in close proximity to South Florida we are in preparation mode.

All those hanging plants need to be taken down, the yard needs to be cleared, supplies purchased, plans made. You get the idea.

My husband and I are a good team . . . . a great team actually! We are logical, methodical and tackle any issue, problem or crisis well . . . . . together!!

But as I travel through the stores, I can feel the panic and fear around me . . . . . it is contagious . . . . the proximity to the negative feelings envelopes you.

Proximity to such strong, negative feelings has a huge effect, whether we are talking about something serious such as storms and politics or something less serious like your creativity. So lets all be aware of our proximity to the negative.

Now I am not talking about hiding my head in the sand . . . . it is about making the decision to be positive . . . . . taking care of yourself, . . . . . covering your own behind and behaving like a functioning, empathetic adult. But luckily being positive is also contagious. So take care of family and neighbors, lend a helping hand where you can.

Be safe out there and remember, as long as everyone is safe, the rest is just stuff that can be replaced. Life is brief, and there are no guarantees of an easy ride. So hang on for the journey!!

 

Time to Breathe

While my head is spinning with things to do, try, plan . . . that is my normal mode of operation. I recognize that this drives people around me crazy . . . . but what’s a squirrel going to do??

I did take a moment the other day to catch my breath and appreciate my surroundings. My hubby loves his yard. He calls his plants, his green children. He has always loved orchids and has quite a collection. He gives them a good home and then lets them do what they do naturally . . . . . no special food, no special care . . .  just a good appreciation of what might come. This is what was blooming the other day . . . and that was just the front driveway!

 

And after our trip last year to the South Pacific and Hawaii, he is currently into plumeria. He found out they can be easily grafted to combine colors and make your own new combination. I can’t wait to see what he comes up with. Until then, here is some more eye-candy for you!

 

Whether it has made you smile, lowered your blood pressure a bit or provided some inspiration . . . my work is done! Enjoy your day!!

Say Yes and See What Happens!

Okay for the past few months I have been saying ‘yes’. Yes, I will submit to the competition ‘To Boldly Go’. Yes, I will have a gallery space. Yes, I will do a challenge for the conference. Yes, I will try and be less of a wallflower . . . . a lurker . . . and try to stand tall on my own.

Well here’s what happened at the recent Synergy 4 conference!!

I submitted three pieces to the competition “To Boldly Go’ and won the Member’s Choice Award for Emerging Artist in wearable art jewelry with the piece I called Ancient Journey. I couldn’t believe it!!

I put my gallery space together and while during set-up I was questioning my sanity being in the room with all the big names in polymer. But I recovered my spine with encouraging words from a few of my fellow attendees (thanks Beth, DeeDee and Katy!). The gallery was great. Everyone had the same amount of space whether you were a rockstar or a newbie! The diversity in the polymer clay work was mind-blowing . . . jewelry, of course, but sculptures, paintings, and home décor. And the diversity in styles showed an even greater range of creativeness.

I took the challenge seriously and put my ‘nose to the grindstone’. I was overwhelmed by the positive reception of my new pieces and the journey I took to get there. This was one of the most unique opportunities offered at the conference. To get guidance, constructive critique and support from a mentor was invaluable! Most of the work in the above photo was a result of my efforts on the challenge. Special thank you to Christine Dumont (again)!!

The Synergy 4 conference was a huge success as far as I am concerned!  The people were open and generous, providing a great community. I left with my head full of ideas, new techniques, tips and inspiration. I took three hands-on classes that included Melanie West, Christine Dumont and Jana Roberts Benzon. All three are rockstars but all so very different! And then there were three days of sessions covering creativity, our common ground, design hierarchy, new approaches to teaching, improving your photography, combining metal and polymer to name a few!

One of the most inspiring talks was by Maggie Maggio on the ABC’s of Color. She has clearly found her passion and is thinking big . . . . I mean really BIG! Rewriting the way color is taught to kids in schools. But it was her passion that radiated from her. You couldn’t help but be moved!!

Then on the last night of the conference there was a banquet. Everyone was in a playful mood, photo bombing when they could!!

The auction that was held was so much fun with our auctioneer, Christie Friesen. And the items up for auction are a great example of the diversity at the conference.

Thank you to everyone who helped put this conference together!! It was a great experience and you deserve high praise for all your volunteered hours and efforts.

So saying yes paid off for me many times over.  If you ever have an opportunity to say yes, go ahead . . . . .  you never know what might happen!!

Keeping It Simple

Yeah, I know, it’s a great concept but I rarely apply it.

It has been a last minute rush . . . . ok, a last week rush to get ready for the Synergy 4 conference. Supplies for three workshops, check . . . . . my new body of work priced, inventoried, photographed and packed, check . . . . my favorite jewelry selected to wear, check . . . . clothes that coordinate with the jewelry for a week, check . . . . a new journal for note taking, check!!

A few things to notice, I have made this event about as complicated for myself as possible! Yes, this was self-inflicted. But I am so excited about going it doesn’t really matter.  You also noticed that jewelry was selected before clothes. And if you need to buy accessories like shoes or belts to match, you go and do it!!

One of the products of this last week rush was an understated necklace of simple black polymer tubes that I extruded (see I can keep things simple . . . . well sometimes). The tubes were strung together using a simple pearl knotting technique. This created a single long strand that can be worn in various ways. Nothing complicated here, not a statement piece, but nice just the same. On a plain white shirt it looks great!

I added a simple pop of color on each tube by sliding on various colors of o-rings. Yup, o-rings!! I bet you didn’t know that they came in so many different colors and sizes!! And I don’t even have ALL the colors. My supplier is Yvonne at My Elements. If you like color and quirky, she has supplies for you!

And as busy as I was, I needed (or wanted) to make myself a new journal for the conference. It is my tradition to create these file folder journals with various papers to take notes in. I have 14 or so already on the shelf from past events, so why break with tradition! The process of binding it and decorating the pages is almost meditative for me and focuses my attention on the event. Weird, right?!?!

I love the rooster on the front cover!! Not sure why, he just spoke to me. Maybe I plan to strut my stuff at the show, haha! So a little paint, a few found papers, a few collaged sayings, a bunch of washi tape, and I am ready to go.  And when I saw the black and white ballpoint pens, I had to buy them.

Well I am off to Philadelphia in the morning. It should be a great week ahead. I hope to come home all jazzed. You know the feeling . . . . after you have been on a trip . . . . have had some time to soak in the surroundings . . . . . and your head starts spinning with inspiration and ideas.

Can’t wait to share!!

To Boldly Go!

I mentioned in a previous post (pressing the button) that I submitted three pieces of my polymer clay work for the IPCA Awards.  At that time, I couldn’t show you photos of the pieces, as per the rules  .  .  .  .  .  .  but the voting is over and I can finally share.

The theme this year was ‘To Boldly Go!’ in honor of the 50^th year of Star Trek and your pieces needed to be from your current work (no more than 12 months old). I have been spending a huge amount of time in the studio and have a fair bit of work to show for it over the last year.

The first submission was one of my succulents I created in my collaboration with Banyan Bay Studios. It doesn’t fit the theme very well but I thought the combination of wood and polymer clay was interesting. Apparently, the combination of wood and polymer was not unique and was seen in a few other submissions. They were all beautiful!!

The second submission is part of a challenge I signed up for at the Synergy 4 conference coming up in August. This was one of the pieces created along the journey inspired by Kandinsky.  I added a hand-forged silver chain to complete the look.

The third submission was also created as part of the challenge mentioned above but I seemed to take a tangent at more mid-century modern look.

I have to say the other submissions were amazing. I am soooooo very glad you don’t see anyone else’s submission before you submit.  I am not sure I would have participated if I had.  But I am glad I did ‘push that button’ . . . . . and was honored to be in the company of so many great artists!

Tangents

Tangents – a completely different line of thought or action. Yup, tangents. When you least expect them, when you can’t afford the time for them, knowing you can’t control them . . . . . they happen anyway.

But I might argue that sometimes, just sometimes . . . .  they need to be embraced . . . . even nurtured.

Meet Spike

He came to me one day in a doodle. And then out of my hands . . . . into the oven. I am not sure what he will eventually be . . . pendant or brooch.

Then there was Lizzie.

Iggy came next.

Ralph evolved and I love the texture.

Hazel is a sweet little thing. Beautiful, plump, dotted. Definitely a brooch here.

Spike and his friends evolved. Slowly. Without much thought. Just for the fun of it.

Even the names evolved. Not sure why I thought they needed names. Not sure what I am going to do with them . . . . if anything.

Sometimes it is good to just play! Hope you find some time to play!