I'm working hard to get ready for the Art Market Saturday. It will be at the South Campus Gateway, 1570 N High Street, across from Ohio State University. Starts at noon! I will have some new spoon rings on display, a perfect environmentally friendly Valentines Day gift. I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to a lot of spooning for Valentine's Day

Find out more details at http://www.artilleryohio.com/monthlyartmarket.html

It will be right next to the Shoe Box Gallery - a great space to check out ART!!!!!

An artistic friend and fellow etsy team columbus member told me about this event and I was so inspired by its gracious spirit. My giveaway is my handmade spoon ring! A beautiful vintage silverplated Oneida teaspoon, which I magically transformed into a piece of jewelry. The spiral wrap ring can will be made to order for the lucky winner. It can be any size from a 4 to 12. The ring will be made from an Oneida Community Tudor Plate teaspoon, which is silverplate on nickel silver. It will be a heavy, chunky ring, like the one in the picture. All you have to do to win is leave a comment with a link or e-mail so I can contact you if you win. Good vibes, and good luck everyone!!!!! The winner will be announce on February 15, 2010.

Walter designed this brooch for his wife Callie for Christmas last year. It is a very natural piece - the silver seed pod was made out of a sterling spoon and holds a cobalt blue beach glass jewel from the shores of Lake Erie.


Walter's sketch looked to me like it should be a fibula, so that the pin part would flow effortlessly from his graceful spiral design. He loved the Idea. The fibula is a style of brooch that dates back to ancient Rome, used to fasten cloaks. A common version survives today as the safety pin.

I created a modified wire wrapping technique to hold the baroque beach glass securely while still allowing light to pass through. The seed pod setting for the beach glass was made from a silver spoon. Both the beach glass and the setting were made from found objects.



I hammered the spiral from a thick piece of sterling silver, tapering it down to a sharp point for the pin. I wound a small spring in the pin part to create the tension needed to hold the pin in place when Callie is wearing it. I riveted the seed pod setting to the brooch. The 3 rivets are both functional and decorative. The last stage was polishing, which was a real challenge. The best part about making this piece was how happy Callie and Walter are. Thanks to both of you!

Cactus flowers are so luxurious and flamboyant. When rain falls in the desert, they give it their all, and their beauty is extraordinary. In the midst of a severe climate, these defensive survivors bloom BIG. It's a nice thing to remember in January...The cycle of nature with turn once again...into Spring!

In my mind's eye, I look out ahead into a gleaming new year and a new decade as well. 2009 was a year of sweeping changes that kept me so busy, I was only barely aware of where I was headed.

As I reflect on the past, I'm counting my blessings, noting the successes and failures of the year, and getting ready to forge ahead into new territories.

Lapidary love is calling me. I am so ready to start grinding away at some drop dead gorgeous old stock gems I've had hidden away for years. It's time to share those beautiful stones with the world, all shined up and set in jewelry....

Concrete, steel, and repurposed found objects are more inspirations whispering in my ear. The yet unformed potential is beginning to congeal. Machines - Nature - Crystals - Fossils... Better get to my sketchbook!