I just finished posting a few more necklaces on etsy. I actually have several more necklaces that I want to post but I am still struggling witht the photography aspect of the business. I purchased a photo tent but half of the pictures that I take still do not come out like I'd like. I've been thinking of making a dress form out of papier-mache to use as a prop but I already have a thousand things to do. I guess I will continue to try new things, hopefully something will eventually work.
Any ways, these necklaces are two of the newest pieces that have been posted. I especially like the silver one. I'm always tempted to keep the pieces that I like, but I have to remind myself to let them go.

Hope you're enjoying your summer!

Batik

This is a new batik I am currently working on. It is in preparation for the Virgen de Guadalupe Competition and Exhibit that is held here in El Paso in Dec. Yes, I am several months ahead but I am hoping to add some embroidery to it and I really want to dedicate some time to it. I won 2nd place several years ago and I havn't entered since. I actually had another idea in mind but several of us got together last Sun. to batik and out of the blue I decided to work on her. I'm sitll learning and I hope some of the embroidery will take care of my mistakes. The colors look amazing close up. To get a better view of the detail click on the pic and zoom in.
As I mentioned before, I had jury duty the very first day of summer vacations, luckily I was not picked. Not that I'm complaining about doing my civic service but I was up late on Wed. with the worst stomach cramps. I had never experienced so much discomfort. By the time I got up on Thurs. doing jury duty was the last thing on my mind. I'm still recovering.

I'm counting today as my first official day off. I want to accomplish three things this summer: art, clean my house and sleep.

I'm about to do one of the three, good night.

This is not Photoshopped

I was in my studio yesterday working on a new batik when my son yelled for me. "Quick," he said, "get your camera!" I went outside and was mesmerized by what I saw. My camera did not do the sky justice. We had a terribly hot day yesterday (108) and then had rain late in the evening. This was right before the rain fell. I've seen these colors in the sky before but the intensity of the colors was amazing.

The picture reminds me of the art project kids do in elementary school. The one where they watercolor the background and then put black construction paper landscapes in front. You know the ones?

On an even better note, two more days for summer vacations! Wait don't get so excited for me, I have jury duty the next day:(

Oh well.

UVAs in UTEP Magazine article

I've mentioned before that I have an artist group called the UVAs. All of the members are females and are practising or retired art teachers. We were featured in an article in the UTEP (University of Texas at El Paso) Magazine. I finally look good in a picture. Here's the link if you'd like to view the complete article. http://utepmagazine.utep.edu/ Just scroll down to the article titled "Art Swap" or page 46.

I just returned from a trip to Santa Fe with a group of students. It was an enjoyable trip but now I am exhausted. There's 5 school days left!!!

I'm getting together with some of the UVAs this weekend and we are going to do some batik. I can't wait, art makes me unwind. I have a few pendants waiting on me to be turned into necklaces. I'll get to those soon. I also have a few clay pendants that need to be glazed. Sooo much to do.

First things first though, I still have to clean my studio :(

Happy Arting!

Time to Clean, again!

I swear I think it was just yesterday when I last cleaned my studio! It feels as if I spend more time cleaning it than actually working in it. Something is obviously not working for me. I think I'm going to buy one of those magazines that shows personal studios of artists. I need some ideas on how to set up my studio. Before you ask, I purge every time I clean, so how is it that it still looks like this? I don't feel like working when I know that I have to clean first, this is why my new painting has sat unfinished for the past two weeks. Havn't even touched the brush. I keep telling myself that I will clean when vacations begin, but that's two weeks away and I can hear the paint brush calling my name.

As for my new painting, well it's something I'm playing with. Not something intended for sale or exhibition. Just something for me. I also want to work on some new jewelry pieces. That will have to wait. I have to clean my studio first.

Chalk Art

I had my 2nd annual Chalk Art event at my school last Fri. It was such a great break from the usual schedule. The students enjoyed themselves and the event allowed me to blow off some steam. We started at 8am and finished around 12pm on a very hot day! We had mild weather all week and the heat arrived on Fri. Poor kids, they were quite hot, but persisted until they were done. I hope to make this event a yearly tradition.
If you'd like to see more of the chalk art you can do so by going to my teacher web page.

Three more weeks to go! This has been a very difficult school year, alot of little things have happened and with only a few weeks to go, they continue to happen! I can't wait to have one un-eventful year. Do those even exist?

This is one of my latest pieces. This is a more "quiet" piece and I am especially enjoying working with copper. Actually, I've been working non-stop and have created dozens of necklaces. I hope to post them on etsy as soon as summer vacations begin and I get my new photo tent. I've never been able to take good pics so maybe a photo tent will help me.

This past week has been a "doozy"! My water heater sprung a leak and by the time we became aware of it the carpet was completely drenched. No hot water for a day was also quite difficult. Luckily I was able to have a new one installed the next day but it took a while to get over the sticker shock. It's been a while since I had one installed, I spent a good $500 for the water heater and installation. OUCH!

Then, I got word about graduate school. Good and bad news. I was accepted into the Art Ed. program but I was not accepted into the studio classes. I was going to minor in studio. I know the kind of pieces this university looks for. More contemporary, non-objective kind of pieces. I was going to do some abstract work before I applied, but I've been sooo busy. I hoped they would be satisfied with my pieces. I graduated with honors and I hoped they would remember my work ethic. What's ironic is that I am being featured in the universitie's magazine because of the work that I do. Oh well, I will be applying else where.

I'm going to look forward, not backwards, so on I go...

Grad School

It has been a while since I've blogged, I have been sooo busy. The artist's studio tour is this coming weekend and I have been working diligently on my jewelry and paintings in preparation for the tour. I have to tag everything by tomorrow so I could concentrate on cleaning up my studio this week.

I am also hosting the UVAs meeting at my house this Fri.! Like I said, soooo busy. One great piece of news is that my group is going to be featured in a magazine. I can't wait to see.

I've also been asked to have a jewelry show at the store where my jewelry is sold. The only bad thing is that the show would be on Mother's Day weekend. I am going to try and work on some new things for that show. I have several ideas, but I haven't had time to sit down and experiment.
I am looking forward to summer vacations. I am eager to paint and create new jewelry without the added pressure of work. The piece that is pictured is a small watercolor collage that I made just to relax and keep the creative juices at bay. I have several paintings I'd like to start on right away, but I have to take care of business first.

Oh, I almost forgot, I find out this week if I have been accepted to grad school. Keep your fingers crossed.

'Till next time :)

I'm sitting here, listening to the wind roar outside. We have 60mph winds and so my allergies are having a field day. Since I don't feel up to working on my jewelry I thought I'd just show you the last few pieces in my collection. These were some of the pieces I had at my exhibit. I added some enameling in my pieces and I have to say that I really like how they look. I especially like the one with the blue. I think I might just keep it for myself.

I want to create some bracelets, I just havn't quite decided on the style. Maybe I'll sit and sketch while I watch Project Runway with my daughter.

I'm still preparing for the Artist's Tour which is three weeks away. I have my house to clean, my studio rearranged and jewelry to make. Yes, I am stressing a bit. I hope to have my bracelets in time for the tour. Wish me luck!

Stained glass necklaces

I have signed up for the "Artist's Studio Tour" in April. Artists open up their studios for two weekends and the public is welcomed to tour the studios. I will be selling several different types of necklaces and prints of my paintings. I should've spent spring break making new pieces but I spent the whole week working on the house. If I work two hours or so after work I should be able to have enough pieces for the tour.

One thing I am struggling with is finding a new supplier for chains. I havn't been very happy with the chains I've been using. Any suggestions?

The UVAs exhibit is still up, but this is the last week. I wish it could stay up forever, it is such a beautiful show, if I do say so myself. If you type in "Union de Viejas Artistas" into your search engine you will find several articles written about us.

Well, time to get ready for bed and prepare to face my students once again. Eleven more weeks until the end of the school year :)