Jeni B's Buzz

My apologies...

2010-04-18T09:55:00.005-04:00

I'm very often working away from my blog and realized that no one knows when that is - it just looks like I'm not responding! I popped in to see if I had any unmoderated comments, was shocked to see I hadn't stopped in since February, and then saw how many comments were sitting in the comment box.

But wait, it gets worse... I read through all the comments (more than I've ever gotten before, of course), and then when I clicked to delete one of them, all of the other approved comments disappeared! Good grief.

Anyway, I am sorry to have been away so long; things can get really busy around here. Since the last show in Columbus I've had a tough time balancing making enough new work for upcoming shows and making several custom pieces along with having kids and life and stuff, etc.

I think it's fair to say that unless I have a special project a client wants to follow or new professional photos I'm probably not going to post - it's just too hard to find the time!

To answer as many comments as I remember: thank you everyone for the sweet compliments! The baby spoon wasn't a commissioned piece, I just really wanted to make one. It was recently accepted into the Ohio Craftsmen Best of 2010 exhibit, and is currently touring different gallery stops throughout the state. It's an honor to have my work chosen for the second year in a row.

The green amethyst ring just sold to a lady who was absolutely crazed over it, which is one of the nicest compliments of all!

And if you're interested in my work, need a custom piece, or want to purchase a piece you've seen, please contact me through the "about me" link and click on my email address - I'm not ignoring you! Artists always need new work and I'm no exception!

Again, sorry to everyone for losing the comments and slipping into a studio-driven coma!!!

~Jeni

Amethyst medallion

2010-02-15T22:34:00.005-05:00

Here's a new piece; hand-twisted filigree on sterling. The stone is pavilion set in fine silver with a small cut out through the back of the piece to allow light to slip in and give the stone extra flash. I also diamond etched the background for even more sparkle. I like the contrast in shapes, and my favorite part is the teardrop shaped bail.

Show circuit application time...eww...

2010-02-11T22:33:00.004-05:00

Here goes the show circuit application process cycle again... whew - what a mouthful! I've already sent out quite a few apps and have another round coming up.

This year I'm trying something new. I'm applying for more exhibits and fewer out of state shows. The economy's been a little wonky, some large Ohio businesses are still making fresh cuts and laying off employees, and I just don't have a good feeling that things are solid enough yet. I'll bet the rest of the US is experiencing similar issues, too.

Since I'm still young in this medium, my resume is a bit thin, and getting into some exhibits across the country would be good exposure without the cost of travel. I'm also beginning to work with more galleries to create a steadier cash flow. We'll see how it goes!

In the mean time, I've been resting on my laurels a tad. Two weeks ago I participated in a studio clearance sale produced by Ohio Designer Craftsmen, of which I'm a member. I very nearly sold out everything in my booth and was able to pack up in record time since there was so little to pack! A HUGE thank you to all I saw at the show, especially to those new to collecting my work! I have never seen a crowd more ready to buy great art and fine craft at such good prices. Too bad it'll take me another few years to build up excess stock before I can do that show again!

The new photo above is a baby spoon I worked in sterling. It's about 4.5 inches long, and is entirely chased and repoussed by hand. The flowers are a little cascade of forget-me-nots that create a wide textured area for sweet baby hands to grab. Sterling's also a joy for teething tots since the metal stays nice and cool on the gums.

Green amethyst ring

2010-01-28T22:41:00.002-05:00

Here's the latest off my bench, in all different stages - pleased to enjoy!

~Jeni

New ring to see

2010-01-27T22:26:00.006-05:00

Back on January 11th I posted a picture of a sapphire ring propped up with another ring to take the photo. Here is the process for that ring: a winding vine with hand hammered leaves and a labradorite cabochon. It's been worked off and on for the last couple of weeks in between other projects, and I started to polish it today.

Here are the leaves - hammered and in place next to the vine with solder bits ready for the torch. Next everything is wrapped around the mandrel to form a ring shape.

I like the way the vine undulates and seems to beg for something to

be added for ornamentation where the two ends meet. So, after a few minutes of thought and searching through gemstones, I added a bezel to hold a round labradorite cab, and then set the stone. The blue flash in the stone is a little hard to capture on camera, but I tried! Enjoy the pics. :)

Wedding rings - awesome photo

2010-01-24T20:28:00.003-05:00

The photo of the wedding rings just came last week and I finally had time to pull if off the disk. What a beautiful pair of rings!

Enough snow, ok!?

2010-01-11T23:14:00.004-05:00

The winter wonderland was really magical... can we have summer now, please? Here's a view from my studio:

The newest thing on my bench is this beautiful sapphire ring with a vine pattern similar to the wedding rings. One picture shows an unusual way to solder the prongs on (I was experimenting). The other shows it fully put together with prongs cut and leveled. The ring is resting on another ring design I'm playing with to see if I can get a more open design.

Then there's the photo of the ring completed and waiting for a final polish. The stone is a unique cut of sapphire, cleaved along the chatoyance, I suspect. In other words, I think it's been cut alongside what would normally be a ray from a star sapphire. The end result is a deep, dark blue with a wonderful flash along the face of the stone that makes you look twice! I really like this one...

Happy New Year!

2010-01-02T20:26:00.002-05:00

Just a quick note to wish you all a Happy New year and all the best in 2010! One of my resolutions is to post more frequently to keep everyone up to date on studio work and shows (yes, it's a carryover from last year *smile!*). It's a new year - let's go!

~Jeni

Signed, sealed, and delivered!

2009-12-30T20:01:00.004-05:00

I'm happy to say the rings are finished, photographed, and on their way to the happy couple! What a relief to make a short deadline with beautiful results, don't you think? I'm looking forward to peaceful sleep now, no more fitful nights working out how I'm going to place this piece of silver or keep this other area from heat damage.

Ahhh... that's a good feeling! As soon as the final photos are sent to me, I'll post them here. Until then, only the bride and groom get to see what they look like. ;)

~Jeni

prongs added, new updates

2009-12-28T09:45:00.005-05:00

This project has me jumping! Sue's prongs are on the ring, seats for the diamonds are cut and all leveled. The piercing design is drawn, drilled, and sawn out on her ring. All that's left are the lots and lots of filing, sanding, and polishing stages. Jon's ring is about halfway through all the stages, and both rings will be finished by the end of the day.

My photographer had to postpone until tomorrow, so I was able to spend more time cutting out the piercing design and then use today for polishing. It's better to take my time with it since it adds not only the open feel Sue wanted, but because I really wanted to add to the story of the rings. The piercing creates the third vine on her ring using open space. There's a quote in the Bible that "a cord of three strands is not quickly broken", and each vine on her ring represents one of the cords (which represents the two of them bound together with God in their marriage).

Here are pictures of the prongs on (they won't be cleaned until the final stages) with the vine design being laid out and then pierced. The other photo is of Jon's ring during the rough polishing stage.

closing the rings

2009-12-24T00:21:00.003-05:00

The rings are looking good! The tiny pieces on Jon's ring went on in one pass as well, although it took longer to heat up that much metal. I only struggled with one or two pieces before the flux settled down (even though it's dry it can still bubble up), but they behaved in the end.

Unfortunately, the thickness and width of the metal was more than I accounted for, which affects the ultimate size of the ring, so it didn't reach the right ring size. So, back to the bench to fix the problem, which added about two more hours to my day - but I got it right the second time. :)

Since I was on a roll I started putting the prongs on Sue's ring, which I hope to finish tomorrow. I'm still on schedule, but there is no room for mistakes now. I can't wait to get those diamonds in!

The pics are of Jon's ring first and then Sue's being hammered into shape on the mandrel.

ring update

2009-12-23T00:02:00.005-05:00

Ok... things are going very well - don't worry Jon; I'm on schedule so far. All of the pieces on Sue's ring soldered very quickly and in one pass. I've never had that happen before, and I work with tiny pieces a lot, especially when I work in filigree. It was beautiful!

I laid out all of the pieces on Jon's ring, and am letting the pieces dry before soldering to prevent the tiny bits from jumping. The flux paste is what makes it look wet in the photos, and once it's dry it looks powdery white. The first photo is Sue's ring before soldering (with bits of solder on it), and the other two are the slow and methodical process of laying out the motif on Jon's ring.

At first I had a thinner silver wire for the his vine (the same size as for Sue's), but the scale made it look too feminine so I beefed it up with an 18 gauge and less curl, which worked perfectly. The leaves are also slightly larger on his, 3-4mm vs. the 2mm leaves on Sue's. I also added extra leaves that are spread throughout the design since there aren't any stones (and it fills the space nicely).

Tomorrow I solder Sue's ring closed, size it properly, and work on getting all the pieces of Jon's design on the ring. Keep watching for updates!

~Jeni

Wedding rings

2009-12-20T20:59:00.003-05:00

Has it really been that long since my last post? Wow, time flew by... but also, if there's nothing to say, than why make something up? Sometimes I just like to hunker down, get lots of work done, and then step back to reassess where I've been, where I'm at, and where I want to be. And it's led to this... A serendipitous request for wedding rings by two very sweet people who need them made quickly! I try not to feel ill when I think of just how soon they need to be done!

Jon, I thought you might enjoy watching them from start to finish - although you might not want to let Sue see them so she'll be surprised on your day!

~Jeni

Chicago

2009-06-30T23:51:00.005-04:00

I'm back from my travels for awhile, and dearly looking forward to resting and spending time in my garden. Chicago was disappointing as far as sales go, but was also one of the loveliest settings I've shown at. This art festival was an Amdur production, and Amy was there in person to make sure everything went smoothly. I was pleasantly shocked to see her in an orange traffic vest directing artists and cars to their assigned spots. She even came around to warn us of high winds for Saturday night so we could buckle down extra tight. This is a woman not afraid to get in there and make sure things are done right!

Before leaving the area, we stopped at the Chicago Botanic Garden - what a treat! 360 some acres of beautifully maintained garden, including a gem of a Japanese garden on its own little island. That alone was worth the trip...

I'll be back in Chicago soon for another of her shows, and hope to see a better return on my investment this time. If not, this sort of thing drives me to improve my work, find better shows, and re-evaluate my direction and how to get where I want to go.

See you on the road,

Jeni

from tornado winds to the windy city

2009-06-26T09:29:00.002-04:00

Virginia Beach Boardwalk art show was a blast, if not an interesting collection of weather phenomenon. A tornado touch down near the show late Friday night tested the strength of every tent not to mention the nerves of each artist. This followed by sweltering heat in the 90's on Saturday, and then Sunday's high winds that culminated in a sand storm. Whew!

Smaller crowds and fewer sales surprised the veterans of this show, some who have been coming for over 30 years. Even so, I enjoyed myself completely, meeting new artists and patrons, jumping in the waves after show hours, and trying to body surf, too. I now have sand in places I didn't know were possible!

After restocking a bit, I'm off to Chicago to the Glencoe Festival of the Masters art show. Here's hoping for fewer tornadoes, cooler weather, and no sand in my teeth - am I asking for too much?

Artistically yours,

Jeni

Updates

2009-06-16T00:05:00.002-04:00

Show season's in full swing, so my posts will be a bit spotty as I scramble to fill orders, create new pieces, and travel the countryside.

Legacy Village on Cleveland's east side (near Beachwood) went well - and I got to meet so many new people! A special hello goes out to Linda and Lea who both have surprises coming in the mail very soon! Now I'm running around creating, cleaning, and packing for the big Va Beach Boardwalk show. The weather there is warm and sunny, but thunderstorms are a threat every day of the show, and coming off the ocean, sometimes they're pretty freaking violent. Let's see if I come back in one piece or if I have some terrific stories to tell you!

Relax, get yourself a lovely umbrella drink, and enjoy summer...

~Jeni

Q news and art successes

2009-05-02T22:47:00.002-04:00

It wasn't good news for our kitty. He has the aggressive kind of cancer that has probably spread throughout his body already, so there's nothing we can do for him. We decided to keep him comfortable as long as we can, but he probably won't make it through the summer. Evidently this kind of cancer can consume everything w/in 3 to 6 months. (sigh) I am glad that we get some time with him; and he's so happy! It feels like we were perfectly placed at the right time to get him from the cat rescue, give him a great home for 3 years, and love him to the very end. When he's gone and the time is right again, we'll give another cat a loving home.

On the art front, my oldest daughter won best of show for her category in a local art show, and my other two daughters placed in theirs! A good day for them, and tomorrow I go to the Ohio Designer Craftsmen exhibition for the artist's reception for a piece of mine that was selected to go on tour for the next year.

Our Q

2009-04-28T23:32:00.003-04:00

So many things happen every day that I end up not sharing anything at all. Bad habit - maybe. I try to keep things focused on my work, but sometimes other events just fill up and overflow into every part of my life and end up on here. Today is one of those days.

My sweet kitty Q (named after the Star Trek troublemaker) who just turned 3 has had a rough week. We found him limping around the house Sunday, and figured one of the little critters he tried to hunt must have fought back and scored a few points. I couldn't find any wounds on his foot, so expected him to feel better the next day. On Monday I found a lump on his thigh, and figured it was the source of his limp, called the vet and explained that it was pretty large and hard. I thought it was swollen from a bite or bee sting. Today he had an emergency biopsy, 54 cc's of fluid removed, and a large tumor taken out.

It seems that 1 out of 10,000 cats will react to normal immunizations by growing cancer cells at the site of the injection. Dear, sweet Q was number 10,000. By Friday we'll know if it's the very fast growing aggressive type of cancer or not. If it is, there's nothing we can do. If he narrowly escapes this horrible end, then they'll try to remove his entire leg to save his life.

sweet rewards and encouragment

2009-03-10T19:19:00.005-04:00

To pick up the thread hinted at the close of my last post, my hard work last year has really paid off. I'm not sure why I'm so surprised about meeting my goals and reaping the benefits of them - maybe because sometimes life doesn't always give back and play fair. I know that's happened to me before (lots of hard work and no return, or worse, negative return).

Focusing on a few design lines, getting professional photos, and creating a stylish booth were lofty but reachable goals in 2008. Because I stuck to it and did a good job of it, I'm now a happy recipient of too many show acceptances! I have the odd task of turning down shows that I wouldn't dream of missing last year. It's hard to do, too, considering all the application fees that my bank statement reminds of.

So far I've gotten 4 Chicago shows, one in Massachusettes, one in Virginia, two in the Columbus area, and two on the East side of Cleveland. Nearly every show I applied for was accepted! I've even had a piece accepted into "The Best of 2009" exhibition put on by the Ohio Designer Craftsmen. It'll travel for about a year around the state going to different locations until it comes back to me (unless the piece sells). There's a photo of it on my web site. That's a huge step from last year, and I want to encourage anyone else out there. If you're struggling to get somewhere, set your goal and then fill in the baby steps in between. The baby steps really make it do-able. I even put deadlines on each step so I didn't get behind.

Share your goals with people, too! Be crazy and let the whole world know what you're planning to do. Share it here on my blog or on your own - or if you're really nuts, post it on both! It'll hold your feet to the fire to have a little accountability, and when you final get that sweet prize at the end, we can all celebrate!

kisses,

~Jeni

Substance in absence

2009-02-20T20:57:00.003-05:00

The last couple of months have been a time for me to take a thoughtful look at who I am and where I'm going. While I'm sorry for the absence on my blog (despite all those helpful New Year's resolutions to post more often), it's been a necessary time to really explore.

A lot of fun and exciting pieces have come out of this rumination vacation, as well as some unexpected changes on a bigger scale (for my life). And not everything culminated in answers; I have new questions and some areas seem even grayer than before. I don't mind that kind of tension though. It's better to ask the questions and not have answers than to make them up, or worse, not even ask the questions at all!

So for now I'll leave you with knowing that I have had a wonderful several weeks discovering what I really want to do and who I am as an artist and person.

Content and very happy,

~Jeni

P.S. My hard work over the last year has paid off; I've already been invited to 4 shows in Chicago this summer!

Must see exhibit

2009-01-13T22:32:00.002-05:00

I saw an exhibit earlier this month that I never thought I'd see in my lifetime.

"Artistic Luxury" is currently showing at the Cleveland Museum of Art and contains some of the most amazing pieces. Imagine Lalique, Faberge, Tiffany (both father and son works) all in one building. I was so excited I could hardly focus long enough to see straight when I first got there!

The crowning moment for me was when I walked into the room where part of Lalique's original iron gate for his booth at the 1900's World's Fair in France. I am really in awe of all of his work, but it had such an impressive impact on me to see something he made especially for his booth display. I know how much work I put into my own display for art shows, and this blows everything I've seen away. I have a book with pictures of his work and entire display, but never imagined seeing it with my own eyes. What a pleasure!

If you have the ability to see this display, I urge you to go! Artistic Luxury

~Jeni

Thank you

2008-12-25T21:52:00.002-05:00

This year has been full of surprises; ups and downs both in my business and personal life. One thing stands out to me - I'm most surprised by the connection others feel to me through my art and craft.

What's life without getting to know the people who choose to come into our lives? For jewelers, we can choose to simply display a piece, take payment, and box it up. Sometimes that's all that happens. Or, we can choose to find out about the man or woman interested in our work, why they like a certain necklace, and learn about what amazing things in life we have in common. Ask questions, listen hard to the answers - spoken and unspoken.

I have enjoyed this process more than anything else this year. Thank you to all who took the time to share your lives with me this year. My art has taught me more about others and myself - and has become less about what I create with my hands and more about who I am becoming.

~Jeni

Bright and Twinkly

2008-12-13T18:14:00.004-05:00

Thinking of the holidays makes me think of shiny, twinkling things. Icicles, candles, tinsel, glowing stars...

Here's a sparkling Rutilated Quartz pendant on a handmade Roman chain. It's the first prong setting I've made by hand - quite tricky to figure out without any instruction; just trial by error. I'm proud of how it turned out and can hardly wait to make more and get over my fear of them!

turkey power and snow showers

2008-11-30T20:10:00.005-05:00

The turkey this week was plump, and now that I've eaten it and consumed its powers, I'm afraid I look more like it than me today. I think the turkey had this all planned from the beginning, plotting his phoenix-like return through this transfiguration!

If only I could grow wings...

Anyway, I thought I'd share these photos of our winter wonderland - so beautiful.

~Jeni

work update

2008-11-23T23:04:00.003-05:00

Are you busy yet? The holidays are coming and I'm starting to feel the crunch!

I didn't think there'd be much to do since I didn't sign up for any big shows during the holidays, but wow, was I wrong. My gallery sales have gone up, and I have to recreate pieces I haven't made in a while to restock their supply. A good problem! I also entered a couple of exhibits/competitions, which have resulted in some modest sales, too, but has impacted how many pieces I have on hand.

There'll be a lot to do in the next few weeks (not to mention eating turkey, and mashed potatoes, and corn, and sweet potatoes, and green beans, stuffing, pie, ...oooooh....ice cream!).

Gobble, gooble

~Jeni

Shower, anyone?

2008-10-21T22:55:00.003-04:00

While working on the bath renovation today, I discovered something interesting. Our plumber put a new type of valve on the water line for the toilet. It's designed to turn easily. Guess what happened?

I was putting down the new subfloor, realized I needed to add a brace underneath, and picked it up. Well, it bumped the oh-so-sensitive new valve that I didn't even know was on the water line. I thought the water line was capped. Nope.

Imagine an instant shooting geyser right in your own home. Ah yes, we had water. Water on the ceiling, water on the walls, water cascading through the downstairs ceiling. By the time I got the water shut off and surveyed the mess, I also realized I don't have an emergency number to reach my plumber.

We found a lot of towels, cleaned up, and had a good laugh! this will all be over soon, right?

Cheers,

~Jeni

Goals, work, and rest

2008-10-19T23:23:00.004-04:00

There's been a lot going on in the studio and at home in the last couple of weeks.

First, I've been working towards the goals I wrote out in the beginning of the month. I've joined Ganoksin, a wonderful resource for jewelers, metalsmiths, and enthusiasts, which has blown my ideas about how wide the jewelry community is clear out of the water! Visit them; they're an amazing resource I've used for a long time before joining.

I've also spent as much time as I could afford to building my line of recycled beach glass jewelry. A custom job came in - two loose peridot stones to be set as matching stud earrings. Unfortunately, one had a flaw in the cut that needed to be worked around, and the other stone was 25% smaller than the first. Wow, what a job! Thankfully it came out well in the end and my client was happy!

Then there's the huge project on the homefront right now... remodeling a full bath. Omigosh, I want it to be done now! I've completely gutted the ceiling, walls, and even part of the floor for the plumber to work in. It's finally at the stage where we can start rebuilding and feel like we're making headway. I say finally, but it's actually gone very quickly - about a week, maybe week and a half. By the end of this week we'll have our new toilet, vanity, floor, tile, paint... all the creature comforts I found I really like!

I took some of the weekend off to breathe a little and gather supplies to finish the bath, but more on that next time.

Ciao!

~Jeni

Who says what about art in politics...

2008-10-05T23:32:00.005-04:00

Ever wonder if the presidential candidates have an opinion about the arts? If they do, what is it? Can or will their opinions affect us as artists?

Go to Artsvote and read what this bipartisan group has gathered about Obama, McCain, and current statistics about arts and the government. Be informed!

~Jeni

time to think

2008-09-30T21:17:00.004-04:00

I've been battling a cold lately that almost won, and in the process took over two weeks of time away from me. I normally don't fall victim to germs this easily, but too many hours of work took its toll. I'm doing pretty well now; it's just a nagging cough that's left.

The nice part about being sick (there's a silver lining in everything!) is that I gained valuable time to read up on fashion trends, professional insights, industry news - all the good stuff I usually only skim over. I even had time to reflect on my professional goals and the direction I want to go in. That's very satisfying... a luxury I don't get enough of. I've listed all my goals and am working on a time line to plan out how to meet each one - exciting! I'm already starting to see some returns on these efforts!

I feel much more organized, re-focused, and chompin' at the bit to forge ahead (excuse the pun!).

Several new shows have come my way (actually, I've worked really hard to be able to participate in them), filling up the holiday schedule and keeping me busy in the studio. I'll keep you posted on the dates. This will definitely challenge my time management skills and newly laid goals to balance production, creativity, and business.

Bring on the holidays!

~Jeni

the upward climb

2008-09-13T22:21:00.003-04:00

Well, I've done a few shows and worked my hiney off for the last month, so it's been awhile since I've posted. I've had mixed reviews about the shows this year. It takes time to learn what works and who appreciates my pieces, but I'm steadily getting an education in both! I've learned not to do art/craft shows that have the name of food or drink in their title, and any focus other than art almost always falls short of success.

This coming year I've committed to apply only to the better shows, and won't give in to emotions or nostalgia for the shows I'm leaving behind - even if there's a hole in my schedule that is begging for me to jump back into them. There. It's in print and I can't go back on it (my husband says he'll hold my feet to fire on this one anyway!).

Applying only to better shows is a bit intimidating for me - but that's where personal growth comes from, right? This means I need to be more organized and focused on doing what it takes to get into these shows. Much of my free time this summer (what is free time, really?) has gone to building a better booth, complete with custom made display tables, tent zippered sides, additional display forms like neck pieces and earring holders, coordinating fabric, and soon nice backdrop curtains. Next on the list will be professional cases and lighting, I think. All of this will give me a better public image and photo for the juries who choose which artists get in and which don't.

So much money and time goes into this, but I believe it will pay off. I've done amazingly well over the last two years and should be very proud of what I've done. I just got my first gallery check (it's official!), people are starting to recognize my name and work, and I'm developing a following of jewelry lovers who really appreciate what I do. Even with this, I'm still amazed when some one gasps over my work and wants to know how a real live person could actually make something so beautiful! That's the best part.

Since my last post I've also taken the plunge to get professional photos. This is another step in helping me compete for a place in the better shows. Since I've paid a lot of money for them, I figured I would share them with you and ask your thoughts on them! Feel free to write me here or email me personally...

~Jeni

I like the found object theme a lot...

2008-08-11T23:15:00.002-04:00

I think the beach glass work I just did has really sparked something in me! I've been thinking of several different things I could use in place of the glass - and it's so exciting!

I'll keep you posted as I start bringing out new things. For now, here's a peak at one of my Roman Chains in progress. I just love the drape and feel of this chain!

~Jeni

Here's the other photo...

2008-08-07T22:17:00.001-04:00

Going Green

2008-08-07T21:46:00.004-04:00

You can tell that I'm busy by the lack of posts! Forgive me for not checking in for almost a month - the crazy schedule will lighten up in a little while, and then my fall routine can kick in. I keep telling myself there will be more time for updates then!

I've been whirling around ideas for a "Green Event" I'll be attending this weekend. I never really thought of myself as a green person, but it turns out some of my natural habits lend themselves well to earth-friendly practices. I use my old acid bath from metal working as a plant booster for the azaleas and rhododendrons in the yard, I melt down metal scraps to create interesting textures on pieces, and I'm a bit of a pack rat for certain things - trying to keep them for something other than obscurity, or worse, the landfill.

A glorified term might be... I'm a collector of nature's beauty, but let's call it what it is: I'm really more like a crow; collecting colorful, shapely, or shiny bits of things that catch my eye. I like my quirks, and lately I've harnessed that urge to save things with any hint of beauty or potential by creating something wearable out of it. Turns out that's a very "in" thing to do right now.

Here are a couple of artsy pendants I've made from beach glass around Lake Erie, and some sterling and gold scraps. I love how they turned out, and they'll be featured in my new "green line" this weekend. If you're near the flats this Saturday, I hope you'll stop by and say hello!

~Jeni

Seasonal musings

2008-07-13T22:30:00.003-04:00

Summer's starting to zip by, and I've enjoyed the last week or so meeting new artists at several different art shows. I finally got to meet Megan Auman, another blogger jewelry artist who's bubbly and into all kinds of fun! I also got to meet Noel Yovovich, Grace Stokes, and a few enameling artists that make stunning pieces. It's been wonderful to say hello to them in person, not to mention seeing their work up close!

I embarrassed myself and a couple of them by asking for autographs, but there was some need in me to have some physical proof of our meeting. :) I will enjoy following their progress over time even as I get better at my own craft.

~Jeni

2008-07-02T21:48:00.002-04:00

I've been MIA for awhile, and wanted to drop a quick note to say all is well. I've been having clumsy trouble in the studio off and on (I've been told that's common when you lose some one). No big accidents, thankfully; I'm just trying to find the good days when my head is clear to work on projects.

This past Monday we had the memorial service in Tucson. It's hard to believe I won't see my dad again... During the commitment ceremony the temperature was 110 degrees F, and as we said our goodbyes a single rock dove cooed above us in the garden. Everything out there was starting to bloom as the monsoon season trickles in. If you've never seen the desert, imagine everything in shades of brown and dull green suddenly popping out fuchsia, yellow, and day glo orange! Life was bursting out - beautiful and hard to see all at once.

Life is a funny thing...

~Jeni

new lives and missing dad

2008-06-11T23:59:00.005-04:00

This past weekend my brother got married to a wonderful young woman who is perfectly suited for him. They are just simply made for each other! Our dad, who's been struggling against cancer, was able to fly in with our mom for the celebration. It was so good to see him, although it was hard to see what cancer had done to his body just since our visit four months ago.

I took turns with mom staying with him in his hotel room during the reception because he was too weak to sit at the table. We borrowed a wheel chair for the weekend to help him get around the resort grounds, so it was easy to get him back to bed when he got tired. I stayed for the toasts and cake cutting, then switched with mom so she could have the first dance with him. Then I came back to the party for the late night dancing and overall silliness. It was so much fun... I even left all my work at home, including the laptop if you can believe that!

My brother and I saw mom and dad off for their plane, then packed to travel back to my brother's new house he just bought with his bride. As we pulled in the drive we got the call that our dad had passed at the airport. It's hard to get past the shock of what just happened - I feel a bit disjointed. I will miss him so much.

~Jeni

2008-05-26T22:21:00.003-04:00

Eleven pieces to the Gallery, several custom orders, and an art show later, I finally have time to write! Everything's been going well; there are so many stories I have to tell you, but the most memorable is one of a client I met at the show.

She was drawn to the necklace in this photo, and I wanted to tell her the story behind it. I made it after thinking about the proverb "A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver" - it turned out exactly how I saw it in my head. When she heard the proverb, she said her pastor had spoken that same passage to her several times before he passed away, and that it had special meaning to her. She said she had lost her parents not long ago, and while caring for her mom in a nursing facility during the final days, they stayed in the "Apple" wing.

We talked like long lost friends about caring for parents, cancer, pain, loss, and life going on. We were so teary-eyed by the time she decided to take the necklace, the exchange of money for silver and gold seemed superfluous. What happened surpassed anything I've ever experienced. It wasn't business, wasn't just art expression, wasn't just a client feeling a connection to my work. Something strangely wonderful on a deeper spiritual level will mark that moment forever for both of us.

enjoy deep happiness,
~Jeni

2008-05-12T21:19:00.002-04:00

With a sigh of relief, the gallery meeting today went fabulously well! In the next week or so I'll have 11 new pieces in there. It feels so good! I don't know why I get worked up over things like this; there's never anything to worry about. The owner had some really good feedback, and I appreciate the patience of the two purchasers that were there. I pummeled the one nearly to death with all of my questions, but she didn't care and was sweet the whole time!

Everything was laid back, fairly quick, and to the point. Nice. I am so tired now... I think it'll be early to bed tonight and start cranking out studio work early tomorrow. Until next time, enjoy our flowering quince bush in the photo.

I love this work

~Jeni

2008-05-05T22:54:00.004-04:00

Isn't spring beautiful? This is a photo of the grand old magnolia seen through my eastern facing studio window. Wonderful and gorgeous!

Just got done with a small art show this weekend, and met some interesting artists. I have to say the highlight was talking to John Jude Palencar, internationally recognized illustrator. Oh wow. He makes all of the dragon covers for the Sci Fi series Eragon, so if you've ever seen the very dark and regal looking beastie profiles, you'd recognize his style immediately. He also illustrates covers for Stephen King, TIME magazine, National Geographic, and holds two Gold Book awards from Spectrum. What else can I say - he's awesome! Unfortunately, he doesn't have a web site yet so I can't post his link, but here's a pic on Wikipedia and hopefully he'll get one soon so we can see his work in one place!

Mini Portraits

2008-04-28T21:57:00.003-04:00

Lots of people have heard of cloisonne; this technique is a related one called champleve. The difference is that the walls of each color section are formed differently. In cloisonne the walls are built up or added in, for champleve I create the walls by etching into a solid piece of metal until each section is the proper depth.

I mix my own colors and add them in drop by drop using a toothpick, adding patina to create age and depth. I love the vibrancy of the colors and especially the sense that I'm wearing a miniature portrait.

Enjoy!

~Jeni

Blood, sweat, and happy tears!

2008-04-23T22:20:00.005-04:00

The letter opener is finally done, and here are the results. The picture doesn't capture the detail the way I'd like, but you can still see quite a lot. I ended up adding in a sterling back plate for strength and stability, and then oxidized it to

create a dramatic back drop. I love how it turned out!!

I have just had a wonderful week since I last posted! Good news seems to come in bunches, and despite getting another rejection letter, I was pleasantly surprised to get an acceptance letter to a holiday show in Pittsburgh. On the heels of that I've been invited to show at an exhibition near Toledo that runs next month. It's small, but nice. :) ...And a trunk show I had this weekend did terrific and added to my list of folks who want show updates to see new pieces.

It's been good to be this busy with orders and creating new work - I'm going to really have to step it up so that I have enough to display at my next art show (and then the gallery meeting). That's why it's been so long since my last post. I've been working full speed ahead and balancing my home life; going to bed exhausted only to start again in the morning. But I'm so happy!

During my long hours this last week I also managed to run the drill through my finger not once, but twice. The second time it happened, the thin bit broke off and stuck out near the nail - hope you're not squeamish! I've never done anything quite like this before. I think it's important to expand horizons and try new things (snicker, snicker!). No stitches, thank goodness, but I'm wondering should I charge a little extra for the actual shedding of blood during the creative process?

~Jeni

There is no whine before it's time!

2008-04-14T22:12:00.004-04:00

So glad I whined the other day! I'm glad it's out of my system, although I don't want to diminish the real concerns about the difficulty I'm having getting into higher end shows. Of course, it's easier to say this after what happened the very day after I posted...

Almost a year ago I visited an upscale and trendy-ish gallery in a fairly large city. Impressed by the flood of sales they were having (on a Monday or Tuesday nowhere near a holiday), I asked to speak to the person in charge of purchasing to see if they would be interested in carrying my work. After speaking with her over the next several months I was able to send in a portfolio sampling. I tell ya, the waiting was like pins and needles up and down my legs!!! I waited as long as I felt I possibly could in polite society, called to see what they thought, and then found they hadn't viewed anything yet. (oh gosh. must not have made much of an impression?)

A week after that I got the most beautiful call in the world. I screamed! I laughed! I was near giddy hysterics!! An appointment with both gallery owners along with the instructions to bring either pieces for immediate purchase or samples with order sheets. What a change from the other day (I guess I should crab more often if this is what happens)!

As for getting into the shows, it dawned on me while I was working in my studio - totally out of the blue - that it wasn't my work that was the problem. I never took pics of my booth display last year, so I hastily set up inside my house for a quick photo. Probably the worst choice I've made yet. The light was yellowed, the background not professional enough, and it was slightly out of focus. It didn't seem to be a big deal in the moment, but it's proven fatal for my applications. I'm just glad I finally figured out what was going wrong. I won't make the mistake a second time, so I'll use the time off this year to prepare for all guns blasting in 2009 - watch for me!

Oh yeah!

~Jeni

Good and bad...

2008-04-08T22:45:00.002-04:00

This year I've committed to submitting to better shows, more calls for artists, and contests. As an emerging artist I still haven't settled on a single look; I'd rather explore different techniques and materials. That doesn't always work well when applying to the higher level fine art/craft shows. I've heard they prefer a strong, cohesive body which may not come through in my photos. For me that's translated into waitlists and rejections that I was not prepared for. Yes, the jewelry category spot is one of the most fiercely fought for, but that doesn't make me feel any less sore! My work is well-liked locally, and I've done great at the shows I've attended in the past. It gives pause for me to reflect...

On a happier note, one of the boutiques I wholesale with just purchased a huge order yesterday. I feel a bit redeemed! They've consistently sold my work with a steady increase in sales - they've more than doubled since this time last year, even in the light of the current economy. So how does it work? I do well in retail but struggle to get past jurors and into the better shows. Is it I'm out of step with the cutting edge trends or need a more cohesive look? Is it just not my year for shows, or will there be acceptance letters for the remainder still out there?

~Jeni

2008-03-31T22:35:00.002-04:00

Spring really is trying to peek out from under winter's blanket - finally! There are fattening buds on the quince bushes, crocuses (croci?) smile cheerily, and the iris' are sprouting quickly. I've had little time to enjoy it all the way I'd like because of a recent bout of flu, but thankfully spring has just begun. :)

Lots of custom jobs, project research, and new designs (in time for the starting show season) have kept me busy while waiting for warmer weather. I picked up some absolutely beautiful and rare stones at the Tucson gem show that I'm starting to use in my new designs. I've been looking forward to trying out some new styles and techniques, too. I'll post more as I get the photos in.

Here's a copper shovel with an apple wood handle to help bring in springtime. I had so much fun making it; I kept thinking of some tiny little garden gnome using it to plant his vegetables! I even took a specialized hammer to make miniscule tool marks on the shovel blade so that it looks real. Crazy, but fun!

~Jeni

I'll have some spring, please

2008-03-25T22:24:00.002-04:00

March came in like a lion and is still roaring... so where's my lamb?!? I'm really ready for spring. If I see one more snowflake I think I'll lose my mind!

So here's a pretty picture of green, at least the way I remember it! :)

Letter opener update - all together!

2008-03-13T21:36:00.002-04:00

It's getting there little by little (in between all the other projects on my bench right now). I've gotten all the pieces assembled, each little curly cue in its place, every silver granule where it needs to be, and only a small bit of skin was sacrificed on my rotary!

Today I started the rough and then medium filing/sanding on the blade and handle. All the rough spots have been taken off, alternating direction to make the deeper sanding grooves show better so that I don't miss any. My fingers are horribly sore, but I really wanted to make some progress on this project!

It's starting to look beautiful, just like I saw it in my head, and soon I'll work the patina and finishing polish, and then finally set the stone. There are so many designs I want to move on to - my ideas hit me faster than my hands can create them. And I want to get as much done right now as I possibly can. With so many shows this coming season I really need to plan ahead to have enough pieces in my high, low, and mid range pricing so that I don't run short. I should still be able to work in between the shows, but I'm going to guess that I'll be pretty tired!

Until next time,

~Jeni Buckingham

Inspirational

2008-03-07T20:23:00.002-05:00

I love it when life bursts in on you (in a good way!) and draws you into some one else's life. One of my joys in doing custom work is getting the story behind the piece. It helps me to connect with my client, it gives my intuition and creativity a boost, and there's somehow extra soul in the piece when I'm finished. Sometimes it's just the everyday "I need a necklace because I have nothing to go with my favorite earrings", or "I've always wanted something in turquoise!". Every once in a while I hear a gem of a story that really touches my heart like the one last weekend.

I got a call from a newer collector who breathlessly rushed into a story about her partner in a weight loss program. They work out several times a week, go to weekly meetings, and even talk on the phone for encouragement and accountability. Her partner has struggled with diabetes, several different other medical conditions that make weight loss more difficult, and was just recently diagnosed with one more very serious condition in which her pancreas is shutting down. Her doctor immediately put her on yet another medication (she's only in her early 40's!) to help slow down the process, but it has horrible side effects - one is weight gain. Imagine being nearly triple your ideal body weight, working your butt off for months to lose it, eating only 1,000 calories a day, and then finding out that your body is fighting so hard against you that you're actually gaining weight.

Does she complain? No. Instead, she still works out with my client, encourages everyone in the group to keep their heads in the game, and never says a negative thing about it. This month the group is going to honor the top "loser" by giving a gift, and my client wanted to do the same for her partner for her amazing character and winning attitude. She won't be the top loser, in fact she's already gained back every pound she lost during the program, but she's not giving up!

I'm finishing up the necklace that is to be the gift; it's a sterling and 18k gold star pendant on a sterling chain. I feel so privileged to be able to work on this project and haven't stopped thinking of the strength of this woman the entire time I was cutting and filing. She's an inspiration to everyone.

~Jeni

Letter opener update

2008-02-28T22:24:00.003-05:00

Getting closer, but lots of show pics and apps have been slowin' me down! The photo shows how all the pieces are assembled separately, and then they will be joined together as the last step. I decided to throw in the labradorite, which is a .40 carat beauty. It takes hours to get this far, and there's still a good chance something will melt and have to be rebuilt...

Thank goodness February has one extra day this year, huh?

Letter Opener project - new!

2008-02-21T22:45:00.002-05:00

It may sound silly, but I'm really proud of myself for keeping up with a blog. I'm incredibly busy and get a bit pre-occupied now and then, so writing 4 or 5 times a month is pretty stinkin good!

By the way, the pieces I posted for Valentine's Day sold out - my apologies for those who inquired about them. But the good news is I've got a lot of new pieces in process that should be available soon!

The last post was a hard one; I'll write more about the happier side of Tucson later - the gem show - but for now I have a treat for you! I've been working on a project that I sketched out in January for a letter opener. Funny thing, it almost looks like a lady's dagger - yikes! I wanted to design another table top piece and incorporate filigree somewhere. There really wasn't a better place for it than in the handle, so I created a fern leaf motif that swirls around inside a stronger, heavier-duty frame. Ferns grow wild in the woods around here, some of them even stay green all winter long. They're incredibly beautiful. After sketching it out a few times, I added in a small oval labradorite stone where the fiddle head forms. It just needed a little sparkle. :)

So, here's the final handle sketch and the pieces in progress... hope you enjoy, and I'll keep you posted on my progress!

~Jeni

Visit to Tucson

2008-02-11T22:37:00.000-05:00

It's been a very busy couple of weeks, and I've just returned from Tucson to the cold bitter weather of Ohio! The temperature difference was more than 70 degrees - and then add in the wind chill. WOW!

I originally planned the trip to attend the Tucson Gem & Mineral show and visit my family, but it turns out my dad hadn't been doing very well so the focus switched to seeing them. He's been struggling with cancer for several years, had half of a lung removed, and we thought he was out of the woods. Then last year he hurt his ribs, and when they didn't seem to heal up, the doctor did a scan and found lesions on his ribs and some shady spots on his breast muscles. He went through two heavy duty rounds of chemo and radiation only to lose his voice in early December to another area being attacked by cancer. By the end of December this evil disease had wrapped itself around his spine, causing him to lose feeling in his feet and lower legs. Within a period of less than a month he went from walking a few miles a day to struggling down his short driveway with a walker, stopping at the end to sit on the little fold out stool attached on it's frame. When I saw him this weekend, he was so thin and tired looking, and could barely catch his breath.

This man once considered playing professional baseball and wrestled criminals into jail cells. It's so sad to watch him disappear into the shadows with no voice. It's almost like he's already half gone. Although he hasn't said anything, he wants to go, I think. He's supposed to contact hospice - hasn't done it. The last attempt the doctors have for him would sequester him to a radioactive room with no contact with the outside world for six weeks. He cancelled the appointment.

I love him, told him so, and gave him a hug so big it nearly crushed his frail body.

Hot hearts!

2008-01-31T23:48:00.000-05:00

It is TOO cold today! Luckily, I always have my torch to warm me up...

Here's today's Valentine contribution - a pair of swirlie heart earrings just in time for the holiday! Instead of the typical traditional filigree I make, these were made with less tradition and more of a fun, modern feel.

Enjoy!

~Jeni

For the love of Filigree...

2008-01-30T13:19:00.000-05:00

Here she is! I am so proud of how this heart pendant turned out - it took long hours of work, but it's completely worth it when I see this photo!

I use very old traditional techniques based possibly as far back as the Middle Ages to craft in the filigree style, and it takes more time to yield results that are authentic to the historical roots. I then apply the techniques to design pieces that have an Old World feel, but still strike a modern edge. I get a wonderful satisfaction knowing that every single part of this pendant came from my own imagination! From the sketch to the final polish, it's completely original.

This weekend I have an invitation - only show to prepare for, another exhibition next weekend, and I haven't even posted the heart to my website yet. I love being this active, but it can sure be an interesting juggling act. Back to work for now, more to post for later!

~Jeni

Chilly day, warm hearts

2008-01-26T00:15:00.001-05:00

The day was frigid from the beginning, my breath hanging as tiny floating icicles in the air. If I were to toss a cupful of hot water out into the cold, it would have frozen before hitting the ground! The only saving grace was intensely bright sunshine - almost enough to make me forget the sub-freezing temperatures.

I planned a lot of work for today, mostly clerical, although my metal is calling me. Have you ever spent the day getting all kinds of things done and then looked back only to wonder what it actually was you did? It's all the details of life, I suppose. :)

I haven't worked my torch in a day and already miss it. I've just finished polishing a magnificent heart pendant in honor of Valentine's day. As soon as the photos turn out I'll post one to share. It looks so romantic and feminine... It's made of filigree, which I forged by hand and is probably my favorite technique of all. I love all the delicate twists and scrolls! Today it reminds me of the way the smoke curls wisp out the chimney. My next project will most likely be a filigree letter opener that I just finished sketching out.

Time to curl up like a kitten and get some much needed rest. Happy sleeping, and stay cozy!

Art show applications - yuck.

2008-01-08T21:12:00.000-05:00

Anyone who's ever had to deal with this part of the art world knows how tough it can be. While it's exciting to begin a new year, I do a lot of nail biting when I apply to juried shows. I try to plan my schedule well but several really good shows are at the same time. You never know if you'll get into the ones you really want, or if they all require fees up front with no refunds. If I get accepted to all of them at once and then have to cancel all but my first choice then I could be out $1,000 or more. And they're not free to apply to, either. Some are as cheap as $10 per category, while others go as high as $50 or more. Since I create both jewelry and functional metal pieces, my category cost gets doubled. Blah!

With over 20 hours spent combing through applications and schedules, I've just about finished my list of 1st and 2nd choice shows. Now comes the time to get photos and slides of all my new work and look for cohesive groupings. Then it's off to paperwork land again!

I have so many design ideas in my head that I try to at least get down on paper. With all the "background" work that has to be done to make it as an artist I sometimes feel like very little time gets spent on doing what I really love. *sigh* I know that one day I'll be spending less time on the background; pay dues now, reap benefits later. You definitely have to be committed to your passion to make something like this work. I have that dedication!

2008-01-06T22:11:00.000-05:00

It's a new year and time for some new stuff in my life. Artists have a reputation of having such a hard time expressing written thoughts, as though that somehow takes value away from their art speaking for itself. I want to challenge this reputation, provide an interesting view into my work, and begin opening new doors in my life.