Thursday, October 3, 2013

Surprises in the Mail and Plans in the Making

It's been an interesting month since I returned from my trip to Maine.
I hit the ground running in my shop with a backlog of custom orders and what turned out to be a record breaking amount of components going out of my shop.
I was in full production mode as I knew I was going to be shutting down for all of October and partway into November. I did happen to let a few of my regular customers know it so that may have accounted for some of the rush.
I've had some interesting mail days with surprises from some very nice people.
This beautiful postcard made by Marcia Dunne from
showed up with this lovely snack pack of goodies. What's even more amazing is that it went to our address in Arizona first and got forwarded to me here in Alaska!


here's an example of Marcia's work 
(with some nice scorchedearthonetsy pieces used to quite an advantage))

and then I got these in a trade that I didn't know was a trade when I sent some headpins to Deborah of Tribalis to try out. This design knocks me out in its grace and rustic simplicity. She has more to sell too in her shop.
Check out her blog too.

And then Priscilla Moore of ReadBetweenTheLines was decommissioning some consignment pieces that she had recently gotten back and was GIVING these away! I spoke up quickly.


I literally only had a handful of beads left to sell at my next two shows, one of which is an actual bead show so I had to get busy and devote some time to some pieces I would not list in my shop.
Fortunately my next show is one that I can resell beads at too so there will be some other things to fill out the table. Oh, and I do hope some will be tempted to buy some of my jewelry too.

I had some little copper tube beads that I enameled. They are a little sharp edged for stringing and I'm not sure if I could command the price I need to make for these little numbers.  A buck a bead? what do you think?

I'm finding that the salmon leather and copper enamel are a winning combination especially for Alaskans apparently.



I thought I would show you one of my focal beads that I  have saved out as it is one of my favorites. I'm thinking of branching back out into making more of these. Focals used to be my primary focus in beadmaking. I kind of miss it.

And now I'm about to embark on my epic travel starting with a 300 mile trip to sell at a bead show in Anchorage and flying through the night to the east coast to meet up with my sister who I talked into attending Art Is You art retreat in CT. I'll be taking five days of classes with some of the biggies in mixed media like Michael DeMeng, Seth Apter, Cat Kerr and Richard Salley hoping to play a bit with the mixed media which I just haven't seemed to have much time for  in trying to keep my shop stocked.
I hope to pick up a few skills in soldering and metalwork too.
I also talked my sister into manning my table that will be set up for a day in hopes of introducing my work to some new folks.

After that I'm flying to Ohio to meet up with my husband who is driving up from Arizona and get to meet Ms. LoveRoot herself - Nikki Zehler on her birthday, no less!

Then it's off to check out my husband's old family cottage which he managed to re-acquire recently in Michigan and have a little reunion with his two sisters. 
Off to drive to Maine from there and have another visit with my family again and then simply drive back to Arizona with the intent of visiting and meeting a few more folks along the way like polymer clay guru Ginger Davis Allman of The Blue Bottle Tree and the illustrious Janet of AnvilArtifacts

We should be back in Arizona by the second week of November or thereabouts where I will be getting back in the mode in my Bisbee studio.  I do hope to be filling you in along the way with some tidbits from my road trip.

I did a post today over at LoveMyArtJewelry today too  discussing frit and some of its uses. Stop on by.
Until later, CIAO!
Kim





13 comments:

  1. Yay!!! I'm on the route! I can't wait to meet you guys! And truth be told, I would really like to tag along with you to meet people and see fun things and ooh..oooh. those mixed media classes. Wow, you know how to live!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I'm left panting just reading your dizzying array of activities. meanwhile, i sit at home in my pjs...
    but sooo much eye candy here!!! the little copper tubes are amazing. just tell buyers to rub the ends on sand paper. and make some bigger ones! wider than they are tall. oh dooooo!!! like rings or wheels... ack, too awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  3. So glad they got there safely, you must have a seriously strong homing device on! I really hope you enjoy your art adventure and get loads of inspiration. Loving the colours and rich textures in your newbies. Very safe travels x

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, what a fantastic couple of months you have set up!!! Can't wait to see pictures, and hope you have an awesome time at Art is You. I've been wanting to take a De Meng course for a few years now, after taking classes from Keith Lo Bue. How FUN. Hey, let's go on a multi media journey together - I've been moving in that direction too. Not giving up on jewelry by any means, just expanding as working with lots of color helps me with metalworking. Your new pieces are GORGEOUS. Those enameled copper tubes? I love those!!! Saving up some cash...ha!

    Have a safe trip, girl. Looking forward to bloggy postcards. :)
    xoxo J

    ReplyDelete
  5. Would you be able to come through upstate NY on your roadtrip from Ohio to Maine? Say yes! Guestroom is waiting.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love those salmon leather combo earrings, Kim (and not just cuz I am Alaskan). The tiny copper tubes are stunning!
    You have some great travels coming up sounds like. The workshop will be amazing- those are some very inspiring artists you will be working with! have fun traveling, safe journey to you and Man. -sus

    ReplyDelete
  7. My comment just flew on the wind...so good to chat yesterday, love the beady goodness, have a safe trip and I can't wait to see you in Nov. xox

    ReplyDelete
  8. This entire post is a visual feast! Mail surprises are the best! Love your components bouquet and new earrings. What a wonderful adventure you have ahead of you. So excited to be a small part of it. Looking forward to meeting you in person!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You inspire me with all of your creativity, Kim...such beautiful work!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, so much eye candy! :) Safe travels!

    ReplyDelete
  11. ciao, ciao bella!! give Cat a big hello from me... and how fun to meet up with Seth!! Enjoy yourself immensely! xo

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kim, you're totally amazing. I sure admire your art and your energy! See you when you get to Arizona. I want to hear all about the workshop. Sounds great! What an opportunity:-)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I am exhausted just reading what you did and will be doing !
    Fall in Arizona has been FABULOUS !

    cheers, parsnip

    ReplyDelete

You might have something you want to say about this!