Art Clay...a new line?

'Been away for a little while, sorry!
I have a lot of posts in mind that I want to make, so I'm hoping to bring them to you soon...over the holidays!

I do have a preliminary photo of one of the pieces that came out of my first Art Clay Silver class that I took back in November.

I had to look for some polishing tools (perhaps another class will be necessary!)...but this is the piece that I'm really inspired by!....

I think it speaks to the lines that are currently in my repertoire, though perhaps a little simpler.

I still have to finish this piece off, adding an extension chain & charm (as per usual detail)...but I can tell you that the pendant sits nicely at the nape of the neck, on a 14" long sterling silver snake chain.

I've already worn it several times! If anything, this is where I can see my work heading with Art Clay...but give me time, I still have another two pieces from my class that I need to finish off...so the rest is yet to be seen!

More photos to come soon!

Take care everyone, & have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

-Karen

latest preoccupation...

Just waiting for all my image files to move from one drive to another (I've run out of space!)...but I'm really excited to download the latest!

I've been working on a collection of Li'l Decor Trees!

Most or all of them will be available to purchase this Christmas season from
Meta4 Contemporary Craft Gallery in Port Perry, ON.

I'm glad of the opportunity/incentive to make so many at once, as it allows me to have some fun with the photography, and hopefully provide me with a few good images to use for my latest product, greeting cards.

He he! Here they are!....



This is one of my favorite designs! Simplistic, fun, and whimsical.

Sold as a set of 3.



Bye for now...I have more creating to do!

messy studio!

So, I've finished off my last big craft show for 2009, ending on a +'ve note! Yay! But am now desperately trying to regroup!
I have a couple of custom orders to fill & ship (yay!), and a big order for Meta4 (they're going to carry my Li'l Trees this year...yay!)...and so even though I'm done with the shows, I've continued to be quite busy with deadlines...leaving my studio in one huge mess of an aftermath of car unloading!

another pre-show night...

and I'm finally organized!

It's a miracle! I have (virtually) all of my things packed (just a couple loose ends...but nothing big, honest!), and I'm just about to sit down & finish off a couple of extra ornaments.

Yes, I am making "just one more" item for sale tomorrow, but I think I'm finally doing it the right way...after everything else has been taken care of.

Can't wait to get my good night's sleep, so I'll be bright and cheery (ha! as if that will ever happen) tomorrow morning, take my last few remaining product photos (of the ornaments currently under production), load up my car, then take off to the Heintzman House!

Speaking of, I'm off!

Next time,
Karen

a new clay?

Back from taking my first precious metal clay class!

I'm not really sure what I was expecting, but I can honestly admit that I have a new found appreciation for all artisans out there who use this medium!

Having worked with polymer clay for so many years, I have come to understand the feel of the medium...even when using different brands (such as Sculpy) from my usual FIMO. So I suppose that I may (may) have had a slight advantage over the other students in the class when it came to working with the precious metal clay (we used Art Clay Silver)...but it is very different from what I'm used to!

From the little tidbits that I remember of using pottery clay (in grade school perhaps?), I imagine that this is much more similar (though a LOT more expensive!). For example, it actually blends with water, creating pastes and various other consistancies for moistening and binding...not at all like polymer.

This is still very new to me, but I still have hopes that it may be a new source for design oportunities, and I'm eager to experiment a little further!

Interested in your thoughts, if you've tried it before, or are wanting to give it a try.

For information on classes, try these sites:

www.beadfx.com (where I took my class yesterday)
www.finesilvergirl.com (art clay instructor: Heather Bell Denison)

precious metal clay

I'm so excited about taking my first Precious Metal Clay class tomorrow!

I hope I love it! I'm thinking of all the wonderful possibilities for new designs!...

Will keep you all posted!

Fan Page!

If you haven't joined already, please come to www.facebook.com/home.php?filter=nf#/pages/Richmond-Hill-ON/Subtle-Details/170787796120?ref=nf , the Subtle Details Fan Page on Facebook, and sign up as a "fan"!

We're really excited about this new page!

Come for updates on craft shows, loads of pictures to look at in our albums, and upload your own (showing off your Subtle Details purchases) to help us build our "fan photos" album!


Can't wait to see you there!


-Karen

The Night Before....a Show

'Twas the night before craft show, and all through the house
not a creature was stirring, except for the...artist?

Ok, so this isn't going to rhyme...

I just finished off another day at the craft show, this time the CBC Charity Craft Show in downtown Toronto, and was so relieved to discover that I was not the only one who was running on pure adrenaline. The two vendors on either side of me also managed to squeak in perhaps 3 hours of sleep the "night" before...if they were lucky!

It seems that every time I work up to a show...lets say about a week before...I promise myself that I'll be prepared, packed, and in bed by some reasonable hour....lets say about 10:00pm, the night before...do I ever? No.

Maybe one of these days I'll learn that perhaps it isn't so necessary to create one more ornament, or jewellery piece, or whatever! On that day, I will actually pack my things in the morning, load the car, then kick back, relax, and have a restful evening before the hectic events of the following day!

Ahh, one can only dream!

OCC Gallery Exhibit

I confess I'm a little late getting this posting out, in fact, I have another all written up that is just waiting for a picture...I must improve my attendance!

This display / exhibit has been up now for nearly two weeks, but there is still another three weeks left for viewing!

So for the remaining days of April, I invite you all to see my Li'l Bouquet jewellery, currently on display at the Ontario Crafts Council Gallery...

990 Queen Street West, at Queen & Ossington

Hours...

Tues - Fri, 11:00 - 5:00

Sat, 11:00 - 6:00
Sun, 12:00 - 5:00

A humorous / tragic story about display (more follies):

When first invited to prepare a display at the gallery, I was asked to visit the gallery to see the space. So I did, and so I measured out the case, with intentions of preparing yet another new display device for my work! After much scribbling in my sketchbook, then as always, the final decision maker I like to call time (or lack there of), I resolved on the display you see here.

With only a few hours left, and another order to fill at the same time, these shapes were cut out of foamcore, packed into my portfolio with the bio/logo/image cards, and off I set on my downtown trek.

A rather unfortunate set of circumstances happened that day (which I'd rather not have to repeat), leading to a month-long delay in my set-up.

Having been rather defeated, I came home with my display, leaving it on the floor of my studio...which was subsequently flooded with the melting snow and additional torrential downfall of rain. About half of my display was now water damaged.

All things turning out for the best in the end, the exhibit was rescheduled for April, giving me time to complete the display to my original plans, which conveniently also disguised the water damage (I laminated textured white papers to one side of the shapely foamcore boards)!

As it stands (literally), I'm really pleased with my display...but I'll let you be the judge...when you come to see it in person!

Exhibit runs until May 3rd, 2009.

A great find on my snowy Queen W. walk

I only spent a few short months living downtown, but that, coupled with my university years & stint at a downtown architectural firm, was enough to make me miss the hub of activity, proximity of everything, and among other things, the unique boutique shops!
Having been born, raised, and still living in the burbs, I occasionally find my way back to the old haunt of Queen Street in search of art supplies, etc.
Yesterday was just one of those days.
Even though it was freezing cold, windy, and blowing snow, I enjoyed a fantastic, fun, and productive walk from Queen & Dufferin to Dundas & McCaul.
After replenishing my stock at Made You Look, and stopping by the OCC office/gallery, I window-shopped Queen W!
Attracted by one window in particular, I stepped into Champagne & Cupcakes dress boutique!
Taking in the sights...the walls lined with dresses, the funky desk made out of white-washed speakers, the classy-looking fitting area...I also noticed a shelf neatly displaying the business cards and miscellaneous marketing materials of other local artists and artisans. So I took a chance, introduced myself and my product to the attendant (who happened to be Caroline Lim herself, the designer of all the lovely dresses), and she kindly took a stack of my Li'l Newlyweds postcards to leave on display for her customers!
Thank you for the support Caroline!
So now, while I can't say that I tried anything on (starving artist that I am, I can't go around buying random cocktail dresses), I'd like to give a well-deserved promo to Champagne & Cupcakes.
If you're young, hip, going to prom, planning your wedding, in a wedding, or going to a wedding, you'll want to stop by here! Caroline's designs are unique, using fun and unexpected fabrics, with quite frankly, fantastic prices! Stop by sometime, and support your local artist.

8 New Exciting Stores Soon To Be Added!

Wow! What a way to end off the first month of 2009!

After debuting a new booth display at the Total Wedding Show (what an improvement from 2008) on the third weekend of this month, I followed it up with the first trade show for Subtle Details this past weekend!

Thank you, fellow jewellery designers and artisans, for recommending the By Hand show to me last year!

What an excellent show to participate in, you can be sure that you'll see me there again in 2010.

The identity of the new locations that will be carrying my Li'l Bouquet jewellery will be added to the Subtle Details website when the product is due to arrive at the store.

Yes, I've been a little busy, and certainly will continue to be so through at least the early months of this year, but I promise to be back to my blog soon with (hopefully) some new and interesting topics to read!

-Karen