I made several of these earrings for the Day of the Dead Festival which took place a few weeks ago in Old Mesilla, NM.  They were very popular and sold very quickly.  I'm glad I decided to keep a pair for myself.  Aren't they adorable?
I took a short trip to San Antonio with a couple of friends to attend the TAEA (Texas Art Educators Association) Convention and boy did we have a blast.  Aside from learning new things at the conference, we spent our spare time at the Riverwalk.  I always enjoy going to San Antonio, I don't know why I don't do it more often. 
I hope you are enjoying yourself as you prepare for the holidays.  Happy Thanksgiving!

It has been a while

It has been a while since I last posted, I do apologize.  I have been overwhelmed with work and play.  It is the busiest time of the year for me, with all of the fall festivals and art shows. I am pictured at the Dia de los Muertos festival in Old Mesilla, NM.  which was held this past weekend.  A couple of my friends and I had booths and sold our wares, we dressed up both days as Catrinas.  We received huge amounts of attention and took photos with many people.  It was so much fun.
 I have also entered into another two galleries and that has really kept me on my toes.  I think, though, that I have bitten off more than I can chew (once again) with those two galleries.  I think it is time to reevaluate my decisions.
I'm getting ready for the TAEA convention, which is a convention for art educators.  I am going to have a booth one evening and will be selling my jewelry, which means a few more evenings preparing for this event.  I don't know about you, but I have to be in the right frame of mind to get into my studio to do jewelry, and it has been difficult to get into that mood lately.  Don't get me wrong, I still get into my studio, but lately the painting bug has been knawing at me.  I have created a few pieces (which I will show you soon) and am about to start another painting.  I go through these phases from time to time.  I'm either into jewelry or painting or sewing or baking or...
Well, either way, I will be in the studio preparing for this upcoming event, but I will be back soon.  Good night.

It has been a while since I've been by, but it has been for a good reason.  As a teacher, I do the majority of my work during the summer, so I have been hard at work.  These two pieces are a small example of the work I have been creating.  I very rarely create anything in blue, reds are more my style.  I have to say, though, that I like this blue.
I have joined two more  galleries and have left one.  Life is always full of changes, isn't it?  I just keep my vision forward and keep working away.  One of the galleries that I joined is in conjuction with six other friends, we have rented out a space in an area where other artists are also setting up shop.  We are having our opening on Friday, I will post pictures of our opening this weekend.  Wish us luck!
I hope you are having a wonderful evening. 

I just love these colors.  El Corazon is a very popular Loteria card.  I like it also, it is timeless.

Etsy has a new "about you" page where sellers can write about themselves and their work.  I have been going back and forth on what to write and what pictures to post.  I think I finally know what I am going to say about myself and my shop, but before I do I am going to visit a couple of shops just to see what everyone else is doing with this page.  Have you done your "about you" page?
On another note, summer vacations have finally begun for me. My second oldest has graduated from high school (where has the time gone?) and things are beginning to wind down after the celebration.  Now it is time to clean house (literally) and spend some much needed time in my studio.  I am planning on doing four out of town art markets and summer is the best time to replenish my inventory.  I also want to try my hand at a few new techniques this year, I would like to learn how to create resin pendants and fire enameling.  On top of all of this I am hoping to complete linoleum print.  Let's see if I can accomplish my goals this summer.

I spent the weekend creating these new pieces, along with a few others.  I am trying to increase production now that summer vacations are quickly approaching. 

I have my sights on a few out of town festivals this year and I usually spend the summer trying to increase my inventory. 

  If all goes well I will be traveling to Odessa, San Antonio, Fort Worth and Hollywood.  I've never sold in these festivals, but there is always a first time for everything.

Along with my pendants I am also beginning to make the beads for my necklaces.  The Madonna and Child piece has polymer clay beads that I created.  My goal is to have jewelry pieces that have more of my handmade components than not. 

I hope you are having a lovely week.

Bloom

Bloom where you are planted.  I created this piece while proctoring an ap exam (shhhhh, don't tell anyone).  I was paying attention, I promise.  I only had some sharpies to work with, but I do like the end results.  The only mistake I made was laying down some silver sharpie down, then trying to write.  The writing keeps fading away.  I will probably collage the words later.  Oh, I almost forgot to mention that I created three of the flowers by tracing a pair of scissors, can you see them?
Well, as for my sketchbook prompt, I have been trying to bloom where I am planted, but there are times when I want to pick up my roots and look for greener pastures.  For now though, I will continue to bloom and grow right where I am.

Happy Mommy's Day

I was up late last night finishing up some last minute orders for Mother's Day.  I took these pictures minutes before I climbed into bed.  I'm glad I did because my customer showed up bright and early for the pieces. 
It gives me great pleasure to know that something I created will be given as a gift on such a special day.  I hope the lucky moms that receive these gifts will like them.  Custom orders always make me so nervous.  The pressure to please and to do well is so high.  Well, all I could do now is hope they become treasured gifts.
Now I am sitting here in my kitchen, drinking a cup of coffee, while the rest of the family is slowly coming to life.  We will be heading off to visit my mom and enjoying the afternoon with my family.  We usually have a cookout or feast on some traditional Mexican food, but not this year.  My mom insisted on a turkey dinner.  That's right...turkey.  Anything to please my mom, and well, I do love turkey.
Happy Mommy's Day to all of the mothers in the world, to all women that want to be moms, but can't and to all the moms that have lost a child. 

quote

"We never know the worth of water till the well is dry"-T Fuller.  So true and of course this quote is a metaphore about life.    This challenge was inspired by nature (can you see my whales?) a quote and gesso.  I used all three, although not much gesso.  This piece is a collage and I painted only a little bit.  I enjoyed the process, but I was left wanting to add more of my own work.  I will make it a point to draw more on the next one.
Enjoy.

I've been in a slump lately.  You wouldn't know it by looking at the pictures above, but it took so much of my will power to make those pendants.  Many of those pendants are still sitting idly by, waiting to be turned into necklaces. 
Is it just me?  Do you ever go through "blue periods", for lack of a better description.  I go through my "rose periods" and then without warning there goes my energy.  It might be that the school year is almost over (5 1/2 weeks left) and I am beginning to count the days.  I keep thinking that once I am done with this school year I can dedicate my summer vacations to what I enjoy doing. 
Another reason I feel so blue is that my second born is graduating from high school.  I am beginning to worry about college tuition now that I will have two kids in college and it is time to buy another vehicle.  I keep telling myself to put it in God's hands, I will find a way. 
I'm going to tuck myself into bed, turn off the lights and go blog hopping.  Hopefully this will inspire me and get me out of the creative blues.
Goodnight.