Retro Rose Design

Roche Harbor Again

I am off to Roche Harbor on San Juan Island to sell my jewelry again.  I had a full week in my studio and had a very productive time.  I will be out at Roche between  10-4  maybe a little earlier.  Hope to see you there.

Wish You Were Here

This is pretty much the view I will be vending near this weekend.  This is Roche Harbor on San Juan Island.  I am what you call an Umbrella Artist.  This is an artist that can come and set up any day of the week in designated areas.  I love the freedom.  Although my name is on "The List" for an artists booth I really don't know if I want to commit to being there everyday all summer, so I am an Umbrella Artist.  I set up with a table the Harbor provides and get an umbrella for coverage, pretty cool !  Oh and did I mention the view?                                     










I have been making stuff in my studio this week.  I don't have any pictures because I lost my eyeglasses and cant get a good picture without them.  I did come up with a few pictures of my tables at the San Juan Island Studio Tour.











 

San Juan Island Studio Tour

This weekend on San Juan Island is a wonderful Studio Tour.   I am so honored to be the guest of Matthew Gray Palmer and Danielle Dean Palmer.  Danielle took the professional picture of my necklace in the photo to the left here.  Her photography is amazing. 

If you live in Western Washington this is a great event to attend.  YOu could probably visit all the Studio's in one day so day trippers are encouraged.  Check out the website for the Studio Tour  and spend a wonderful day on San Juan Island. 

My Heart with Wings

I made this heart and the wings about 6 months ago.  I have been going through my old jewelry journals in which I sketch all my designs and ideas and notes that come to mind.  Sometimes I color render the sketches and sometimes the thoughts are just scribbles and doodles.  I have a small chest of drawers in my studio that my husband James made for me 2 years ago at Christmas. I use it for all those half finished projects that are ready to be finished when their time comes.  I still haven't finished this piece.  I am trying to decide whether to bead it or just add some thick sterling chain.  I am leaning towards the chain.      

Creative Insomnia

I awoke this morning at 4:02 am and instantly began thinking creatively.   I couldn't go back to sleep but the ideas were flowing like molasses in the summertime.   After about 40 min of my mind just racing with ideas I heard this faint tinny sound like a car radio off in the distance.  I listened more carefully and the sound increased.  I laughed when I realized that it was a song bird. The following picture is the realization of one of the idea's that were coursing through my brain.

Belle Amoire May/June 2008

This is my article in Belle Amoire this month.  I am anxious to read it and see it. 

Branch in a Bottle

I made this bottle last week in my studio.  I have decided to just use a nice silver chain with it, which I don't have in my supplies. 

I got the idea from a store on Etsy.  I was surfing and happened upon a simple branch of coral in a vial type bottle.  The image I saw had just a simple brass finding for a cap .  I instantly saw it in my mind as having a antique looking sterling  cap on the top.  I wish I knew who made the one I spotted so I could give them credit to for this wonderful idea.  I couldn't find any long branch coral in my bead stash so I found a necklace in my jewelry box and yes, I broke a branch off the necklace!  I just had to complete the idea.  Now I need to order some long branch coral so I don't destroy my necklace.

So what inspires you?

R 

Another Day Another Necklace

It seems that after work I can manage to finish a necklace.  So far, so good.  I love how this turned out.  It took quite awhile to knot but I am always happy that I put in the extra effort to add knots between the beads.  It just gives my jewelry a lighter airy feeling.

Goth just in time for Spring!

I found this wonderful old piece of handcrafted repousse metal at a local Flea Market and had to make jewelry out of it.  Since it was a more primitve piece, silver and part of it was St. Andrew slaying a serpant I felt it went well with the dark goth-i-ness of garnets.   

Spun Cotton

This is the spun cotton girl that I made at Art FEst in Michael Jon Petersons Spun Cotton Animal class.   I loved the process and am excited about future creatures and beings.  I have collected the vintage examples of these for a long time and cant wait to make more.  With just a trip off island or an online shopping day will get me the ingrediant to begin making these and maybe even part with a few for my etsy store