I went to sell at the downtown art market yesterday morning, but even with all of the advertising from the city, the weather kept people and vendors away.  It was too cold and wet for people.  It started to snow the second we arrived and didn't stop all day.  We left after a short while, went home to mom's and made tamales for dinner.  We had breakfast here at home and opened up gifts with friends and family.  I hope your are having a very Merry Christmas too.

I created these pieces just yesterday in preparation for a private party where several artists were invited to show their work.  We had a wonderful time, until the temperature started to dip that is.  My husband came along and helped me to pass the time while we watched the festivities go on around us. 
I always enjoy meeting new people and what I enjoyed more was meeting people that have bought my work at one of the shops where my work is sold. 

Now it is back to the studio, I am still trying to replenish all of the pieces I sold a couple of weeks ago in Galveston.  I have two more shows coming up and we are still selling at the El Paso Artist Market.  The market is a bit slow going, the temperature does not help.  Starting the market in the winter time is not an easy task.  There have been weekends when their is great attendance and then we have a weekend like this one.  Very low attendance.  Still met some great people and my work is always well received. 

Til next time!

moon series

I don't know why I like creating "series" of pieces, but I do.  The name "moon series" came to mind for my new jewelry pieces.  Although I'm not really sure it fits my new pieces I did enjoy making them and have a few more coming soon.  I imprinted some words on the back, but forgot to take a picture of them. 
I participated in a new venture this past weekend.  The city of El Paso now has an artist market down town.  It was long over due and I sure am glad I have another outlet for my work.  I sold out of my jewelry two weeks ago in Galveston and so I am frantically trying to make more pieces.  Very difficult to do when I have a full time job, am the director for our city UIL visual art event and am the founder of a female artist group.  Whew!  I need more hours in the day.
This is why I love creating art and making my jewelry, it is my therapy, my saving grace.  Along with my kids, of course.
Hope your week is going well.

I spent a few days at Galveston, TX for the annual TAEA conventions.  Art Educators from around the state gather and give workshops and share ideas.  It is such a rush to be surrounded by such talented people.  I love it!  This year TAEA had its very first artist market.  I participated and sold my jewelry on Fri.  I had a wonderful response to my work and quickly sold my pieces, with the exception of just a few.  I also made many new acquaintances. 

While in Galveston I visited many great attractions, but my favorite place was the Antique Market.  Oh, I was in heaven.  So many great things to see, I think I might have giggled a bit.  If you are ever in the area, the Antique Market is a must to see.

I saw this in a blog recently (sorry, can't remember the name of the blog) and I just had to look for the video.  I really needed the boost.  I know there are times when I feel just like that....I know what I want to do, but it is taking me a long time to get there.  Sometimes I feel like I am calling out there and asking, "Hello, is anyone out there?" 
When does everyone get a piece of the pie?  I won't give up, it is not in my nature, but there are times when I slow down considerably and the doubt starts to settle in...

Day of the Dead Festival

I spent the weekend selling my work at the Day of the Dead Festival in Old Mesilla,  NM.  Day of the Dead celebrations are a pretty big deal in the Southwest, people dress up like "La Catrina" and get out their best skeleton outfits.  I regret not dressing up, but I was in such a rush making the hour drive on Sat. morning that I did not have time to prepare.  I shared a booth with three of my dearest friends.  We all had great sales and had a great time seeing all of the festivities.   Altars were also set up around the plaza, some of them were quite elaborate. 
It is hard to believe that my neighbors to the north are under severe freezing conditions, here I am in a t-shirt enjoying the nice weather.
I hope you are keeping warm.

This is a variation to a piece I made last Feb.  They were very popular and I decided to make some for next weekends art show.  I am extremely behind, I don't think I will be able to finish all of the pieces I had wanted to make.  I also want to make new displays, but I'm not sure if that will happen either.  Too much going on this week. 

I am looking forward to this show.  After taking a brief hiatus from art shows, I have decided it is time to get back to them.  When you sell to shops, you miss the connection you make with shoppers.  I have missed it.  I hope they have missed me to :)

Soldered Necklace

I made this piece from an old Loteria came gard.  The mermaid is my favorite game piece and I always made it a point to get a Loteria game card with her on it when I was a child.

She really takes me back to my childhood.

Polymer Jewelry

Here is another polymer piece I created recently.  She looks so pretty, doesn't she?  I long for spring, for the days when I can wear a soft blouse and a flowing skirt...and this necklace.   No, actually this is a piece I created for the jewelry show that I have  coming up.  I have a few others that I will be photographing soon.  I hope your Monday is going well.

New Polymer Pieces

It has been a while since I last posted, but I have not stopped creating new pieces.  I took a bit of a sabatical from my jewelry during the last part of August and September.  The start of the school year takes up much of my time and energy.  Now that the dust has settled and the school year is well under way and my art students are in full swing, I can now dedicate some time to my jewelry and my shop.  It is time to get back into the flow of things.
I'm preparing for several art shows and craft shows.  I created the two pieces pictured above with several left over polymer beads that I had created for another piece.  I hope they are received well by buyers.
Until next time.

Hanging Out

I share Frida's sentiment.  We are just hanging out today.  I've returned to work and every new school year takes some adjusting.  I havn't touched any of my jewelry for a good three weeks, but I'm planning on returning to my studio on Monday. 

I made a difficult decision last week.  I have decided to pull my jewelry out of one of the shops where it is sold.  My jewelry sells in six shops and I just can't keep up.  I find that I am so busy trying to produce enough work, that my work is beginning to suffer.  I don't want that to be the case.

The shop owner did not take it to well, and even though I have tried to explain my decision she became rude and defensive.  She asked me to leave my work for another month, so I am left in an akward situation. 

I just hope things work out well in the end.

In other news:  I've lost 7lbs!  I know, doesn't sound like much, but i feel and look so much better.  I've been going to a gym three to four times a week and doing better at watching what I eat.  Even though I am still baking these delicious cakes.  It is all about portions.

This particular cake has melted ice cream mixed into the batter.

Delicious.

When I was younger I worked in a bakery for five years.  I was a young mother of two going through a difficult divorce and work was my only outlet.  Sixteen years later and I still enjoy baking.  My husband and my three kids went through this cake in record time, it lasted only 30 minutes. 
It is truly a chocolate lovers dream.  It has chocolate fudge, chocolate pudding and 1 1/2 cups of chocolate chips. 
That piece you see there is waiting for me along with a cup of milk.  Extra time at the gym tomorrow.

Encaustic

I took an encaustic workshop last week and created these two pieces.  I enjoyed myself and enjoyed the whole process of creating paintings with wax.  I found it difficult to lose control to the medium, hot wax wants to do what it wants to do.  Hopefully this won't be my only venture with this medium. 
Hope you are having a nice night.

New Pieces

I've been playing around with different designs with polymer clay and came up with these new pieces.  I feel as if I am on a time crunch because I only have one and a half weeks left of summer vacations.  Hopefully I will continue to feel inspired in the small amount of time that I have left.
I still have so much to learn, aside from a couple of tutorials and books that I have read, I havn't had much exposure to this medium. 
It sure is fun learning, though.

Project Runway!!!!

Yay! Finally, it is on, Project Runway.  I very rarely watch tv, but I sit down and make time for this show.  My mom was a seamstress and I took fashion design classes straight out of high school.  I didn't follow fashion professionally but still do some sewing for my family.  I especially love to quilt and cross stitch.  I see the designers on this show and I think, "damn, could've, would've, should've".  I suppose jewelry design allows for a small bite into the fashion world.
OK, enough of my musings.
I created these new pieces and have yet to decide where I should place them.  Etsy or one of the shops? I'm creating a "line" of the pieces shown above and am creating some "cultural" pieces also.  I have slowed down a bit lately, I better get with it because I will be returning to work very soon.

Estate Sale



I went to an estate sale today and found this lovely painting.  The little birds are painted on silk fabric.  The frame is large and heavy, so for now it leans against my wall.





Just listed

I just added my latest pieces on etsy.  These pieces are actually going to make their way to a gallery very soon, so they will be on etsy for a limited time.