Lets review...

So lets review what has been going on the last month... it's quite a lot. I am learning more about enamel already than I though I would. I am picking it up well. So well in fact, that tonight, I met a lady who swore she did not like enamel; well I changed her mind with one piece I was wearing. :) Not bad for a newbie to the art form. I have to admit I am loving it so very much... color, fire, art, jewelry, all combined into one wonderful medium! I got all the colors to sample, so I am experimenting like crazy... I simply LOVE this! And so far, it IS selling... which is really great, because not all mediums I have done were easy to sell.

I get my line into TWO new shops this month, both really great places in downtown Phoenix area. Both artisan places as well, and I have a meeting with another shop this weekend. I managed to finish a tutorial this month as well, and designed something I believe is going to end up a bread and butter type item for me for spring/summer at least.

*Fingers crossed that my intuition on this one is right.*

I am kicking the idea of expanding into wedding jewelry around, but so far it is just an idea in my head.

I did a TON of research this month, on everything from places I can sell at, to packaging tips, promotion ideas, ways to get published, and numerous other things... I feel like I am doing what I should be. Some days I have doubt creep in, because it is not an overnight thing to do, what I am doing... going back to being a fulltime artist, WITH an income, not just pocket change. But I do feel I am on my way. I feel a tug in my soul to do this, and those are the things I succeed with.

Oh and I made a PINK shabby chic enameled flower, to turn into a necklace this morning. It is GORGEOUS... looks porcelain like.


Anyway... there is my review. Next month, I will focus on more clothing type boutiques that also carry handmade jewelry, and of course I already have a meeting with another artist friendly place this weekend, so hopefully that is a good fit for me, and I have that going here soon.

Whats new?

Well well well... So I've been reading a really cool book on enameling. I was reading about a technique that uses thin washes of white over a black base, each layer building up the color of the white, until you have the colors you want... each layer must be fired between, so it is a rather long process. But, it brings me back to my roots of visual art, which to me is fabulous! So last night I did the first piece with trying this out. I added a bit of transparent color over certain places... This pendant measures 1 inch across.

 I found out later in the process, you need to use very soft brushes to get a nice blending... and since it is powdered glass, not normal paint pigment, it behaves a little differently. Still, I like the result.I need new brushes and more practice... :D

So flowers are always a love of mine... and I have been doing some poppy type pieces. I think some of these are going to a local store. I really love this line! This picture does not capture the real feel of the enamel... it has an almost porcelain feel to it.

I decided to try making something winged, and since that was the week that jewelry of the year was doing music, I decided to do a guitar. I love how this piece came out, however it was a little over-fired, so I decided not to sell it. I will revisit this design in the future.

One feature I LOVE LOVE LOVE is that I made the wings hinged, so they move.

The hearts were created with pieces of glass I melted into the guitar, and then drug the colored glass out into heart shapes while keeping the piece red hot.... fun stuff! BUT I think that might be why the guitar is over-fired, and the wings are not. Regardless, I got a cool new guitar necklace, and a sweet design which can be used is so many new ways! :D My "feathers" on the wings even worked out better than I had imagined.

More new things I've been creating recently...

A bunch of enameled earrings, some of these are going out locally, and some will end up online for sale!

A few hollow bronze hearts... I LOVE these!!! These are all for sale on www.metalfuze.com

And yes, I painted a new piece... this is a recycled panel. My first piece of finished visual art for 2013.

I went out last week and got a sample set of enamels, which gives me a little of every color pretty much.... so I am like a kid in a candy store with this stuff. :D 

New year, new stuff...

So this year I am really feeling the pull to get my stuff out there in shops and brand my jewelry, so hat I can make a living off of it, and make a positive impact on people. I am going about it in a similar manner as to how I did this with my supply shop. Meaning I am doing it by letting my intuition lead me. A lot of business people would probably tell me that is stupid, but really I don't care. I have tried going along with what others told me would work, and it never did work for me. Or not in the way I thought it would. Once I made a firm decision to do this, this year... it seems I am finally finding the places that do sell handmade local artisan jewelry. Before I searched, I just was not finding many places.

So that leads me to this last week. I decided to search some other ways... and I found quite a few places. I was starting to think this city just didn't want handmade jewelry, unless it were Indian made. I didn't understand this, and thought it was strange, but I was close to writing off this city as a place I can make enough, just selling locally. Now that I found all these places, and found ways other than killing myself trying to get online sales... I also found ideas for ways to sell in even more stores and areas. So despite my self doubt sometimes... things are moving forward, and probably faster than I realize right now.

Another thing that seems to be happening more for me, is I know when I do a piece that is a seller, and not just something for people to wow at, but for them to BUY. AND I am finding those seller designs that make the buyer happy, but also my muse. That is not always an easy balance, but I am determined to find it... without others telling me how I "should" be running my business or doing my art.

Stay tuned for a look into what I've been creating in my studio these days... some exciting new lines, lots of learning, and I am in love with both new mediums I picked up lat last year.

Happy New Year!!!!!

So the start of this year has already started with a whirlwind of activity for me. I got a new vehicle, got Metal Fuze into a local shop called "Made" and am going to be selling there tomorrow in the courtyard during first Friday art walk. How many days are we into the new year now??? 3 days??? Not a bad momentum to start out with!

I also am really enjoying this bronze clay, despite the earlier mishaps with firing correctly. I am starting to find out how to fire it right, and when yo re-fire it. Enamels are also fascinating and I can not wait to get my hands on more colors, but for now I am experimenting with the ones I have, and seeing if the ideas I have to mix mediums will work well. :)

I'm going to keep it short, because I have a gazillion things to do before tomorrow this time... but HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!