Happy October!

Hey all, I'm still here, spending my mornings horsing around, my afternoons working (and sometimes evenings if I horsed around too much), evenings with the fam and trying to squeeze in some jewelry making for the upcoming holiday rush in there somewhere. Most of my jewelry is heading to the Fragrant Mushroom Gallery here in town but I'm hoping to get some cool new stuff posted in my Etsy shop soon, too. I'm thinking Christmas already so I'm planning some cool ornaments and things.

This month is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The above bracelet has been sold but it's inspired me to start a new line of awareness bracelets (and possibly other jewelry). I have plans for breast cancer awareness and other forms of cancer (did you know there's a ribbon for many of them? I had a recent custom order from the lady who ordered this one and wanted a lung cancer awareness bracelet as well), support our troops, and autism awareness. Got a cause? I'd be happy to help you design something to commemorate it. If you'd like one similar to the one above (the ring, ribbon or clasp may be slightly different), just drop me a line.

I'm currently working on a black enameled copper viking knit chain for Thor, who owns the gallery, as well as a bead-woven choker, some new chainmaille in sterling and, my favorite, niobium. I'm making more wire-braided bracelets, and of course I have all these pretty rocks to do stuff with....

and the best thing is I'm inspired again after an entire summer of being distracted and uninspired.

Artists' Co-Op

This storefront (the brick one) has been purchased by The Fragrant Mushroom here in Sparta and I'm very excited to be a part of the Artists' Co-op Gallery that will be going in here, right on main street in "downtown" Sparta, across from the courthouse.

An artist's co-op is a visual arts association jointly owned and democratically controlled by its members. A monthly membership fee buys space in the gallery, and there will also be available classroom space and studio space. Thor and Cheri, who own The Fragrant Mushroom (Thor makes wheel thrown pottery), have a vision for Sparta: to make it an artist-friendly town that draws tourism. They plan to hold classes to show other people how to do what they have done, so that all these other little buildings (many of which are vacant and getting somewhat run-down, but are quite old and charming) will eventually be galleries, making this a haven for Appalachian artists.

I hope it happens. My and Russ's daydream is to run a little bed and breakfast in this area ; I'd love to have it be one that focuses on creativity in some way, be it a gallery or workshops or both. That's a long way down the road, but one has to start somewhere.

So! At some point in June (date to be determined) my work will be exhibited here and I will do my part to bring art to my little town.