The Art Dept

       Many years ago when I did art shows in Del Ray Beach, Florida, one of my clients brought one of her favorite pair of earrings to show me.  The earrings from her collection were a fascinating combination of different shapes and colors of vintage glass, wood and lucite bits, suspended from a circular piece that covered the earlobe. I was so inspired by seeing these very unique and artfully designed earrings that I started making a similar style. I was also impressed by my gracious and stately client, Lorraine. She was quite fashion minded and carried herself with elegance. She was a lovely silver haired women who would always seek me out to find just the right piece for her collection.       The last time I was in a Del Ray Beach show, her husband came by to pick something out, and told me that Lorraine was now in a nursing home, and no longer able to get to the show. I love that even at the end of her life, she was so co...

       So here’s a new perspective on harmonious blends and other musings....        I have been eagerly anticipating my first batch of fresh salsa ever since planting my garden, with the help of my daughters in law back in late May. Here’s how it started in the Spring. And after several weeks, this.      During the time of my salsa garden growing, so much LIFE has happened: I have had three successful art shows I have celebrated another birthday with my friends My husband and I have celebrated our 39th anniversary My mother in law moved back in with us after a year in nursing care, then  became ill and went to the hospital I have now lost my mother in law I learned how to operate a Scag zero turn mower (which is fun) A dear friend in my bible study fellowship who was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer four years ago  has announced that she is now cancer free! ...

       I had arrived at my art show for the day, unpacked my vehicle and found a parking space. My vehicle is a compact Chevy, which you would think easy to slide right into that parallel parking space on the curb in the heart of downtown. But no, I am apparently parallel parking challenged. I line up next to the car in the space ahead, then slowly back up while turning the wheel. Sure enough my little car goes in to the space at the correct angle. It’s just not close enough to the curb and much too far from the car ahead of me. No problem, redo. Up, back, adjust the angle, back, back, okay now forward, okay back, back, then forward, turn wheel a little bit, no too much, now back, angle is off, adjust, okay forward, then back,  now tweek, adjust, check the mirror. Oh dang I am right on the curb and way too close to the guy behind me. Re-do. (Jeesh, good thing no one is watching.) Finally after about ten minutes of up, back, angle, up and back...

To my loyal followers and future fans, here is where you can find me in the coming weeks.  After surviving strong wind gusts and damp chilly air in Palmer Park last weekend, I am happy to report that my booth as well as my inventory is intact and ready to do it again! I hope to see you soon at one of these venues:  May 20th          Brick Street Market, Zionsville IN June 3 & 4        Butchertown Art Fair, Louisville KY June 17 &18     Talbot Street Art Fair, Indianapolis (waitlist) July 7 -9           Art in the Park, Ft Wayne In  July 29 & 30      Glenview Art Fair, Glenview IL August 11-13     Salt Fork Art Festival (waitlist) Sept. 16 &17     Park Forest Art Fair, Park Forest, IL  Sept. 22- 24       Funky Ferndale, Ferndale, MI Oct. 7               Monument Circ...

     If you were to come to one of my shows, you may hear me refer to the jewelry pieces as collages of "all kinds of stuff from my studio.” And that is an accurate statement. After all, they are called Parts of Art, and they originated from the stuff in my studio.  Here is one of my favorite Parts parts, and the story behind it.       I occasionally make cards and frameable art pieces that involve hand stamped verbiage. The process is wonderful and fun, because the letter stamps have a uniqueness to them that adds to the one of a kind nature of my work. When I am stamping, I keep a piece of paper on hand to practice the stamp before applying it to the art. This paper becomes a story in itself, full of letters that spell nothing but look pleasing and random.     Because our art studio is out in the country, and because we had not yet plugged all the holes left from the years before we moved back here, sometimes unwanted visitors ...

      Greenery is the Pantone color of the year for 2017. Why is this exciting? According to Pantone spokeswoman Beatrice Eiseman,  “Greenery bursts forth in 2017 to provide us with the hope we collectively yearn for amid a complex social and political landscape. Satisfying our growing desire to rejuvenate, revitalize and unite, Greenery symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another and a larger purpose.” This Spring and Summer, Greenery will be showing up in fashion, jewelry and home decor. It is the must-have color for the season.        Here are some jewelry options for you: Forest Floor cuff bracelet Green earth dangles  Spring green dangles  All of these and more are available here Want to see more about Pantone?  Here’s a colorful trip down memory lane for those of you who have lived at least four decades PANTONE the Right Color: 40 Years of Color Pantone look...

      I have a reputation for earrings. If I ever show up without them on, I am just not dressed and something is terribly wrong.    I remember once when I was to speak before a large group. One of my friends was in the audience, one who always looked forward to seeing what earrings I would be wearing. We were doing volunteer work at a farm, and I would show up wearing earrings even if I was raking leaves or painting walls. So as I took my place at the podium, I reached into my pocket and dramatically pulled out and put on a rather bodacious pair of earrings. Looking straight at my friend Mario, I said, “Okay, now I can begin.”       To me, that is the importance of earrings. They not only complete the look, they are the look. The finishing touch. The expression of the moxie and mojo within.  Without them, something is missing, and I can’t possibly go into my day complete.            One morning at my ...