These new earrings have been a long time coming, and I have them ready for Three Rivers in Pittsburgh. They’ll be available from Wednesday til Sunday this week.
My creative process for these earrings began by cutting copper sheet metal with a flower punch and die.
I’ve been working up to this for years, and it’s finally come together. I’ve designed a pop-up booth for exhibiting my work at art fairs. The first voyage and installation was to the Chautauqua Institution in western New York for the Fine Crafts Shows at Chautauqua. The weather was beautiful and sunny, which was a blessing.
I have plenty of tweaks to make to my setup, but the overall idea was well-received. People came up to shop with me and sales were good. I’m now working on adding an awning because the weather won’t always be so perfect.
I sold quite a few pieces at the show, but I still have these earrings. Asymmetrical designs like these are my new direction and I had fun talking to people about wearing different earrings together. In fact, several people mixed and matched their own earring pairs. That was unexpected, but I loved it. I’m so grateful to everyone at Chautauqua who attended the show. I’m also grateful to Crafts Alliance for organizing the event and including my work.
In a normal March, I’d be preparing for another summer of art fairs. That seems like a different world already. I’m wrapping my head around this new reality of Covid-19 while I make earrings in my studio. I have my dog for company. I get that feeling of accomplishment as I finish pieces. And I think about how to reinvent myself in response to these new times. I’ll be posting what I come up with as time goes on!
In the mean time, here is a new pair of sterling silver earrings. They are asymmetrical. I’m having so much fun making earrings that are unique yet harmonious with each other. Satisfaction in the face of uncertainty. I hammered the silver shapes and polished them. I’ve chosen baroque lapis lazuli gemstone beads to compliment the silver, securing them with decorative wire knots. I made the ear wires myself. I hope to make the most of this time of solitude and push new creative boundaries. For now, I’m liking these new earrings.
English