Elements Shop

(It took me most of the morning to figure out how to make this slide-show-and get it formatted to post here---thankfully my 14 year old daughter got up, and gave me a hand....)

Just a little peek at what's happening in my Elements Shop. After many requests for custom jewelry-or custom charms, I've decided to offer up a sort of DIY assemblage of goodies over at ADE. I'm always hesitant to do custom work...often telling many of my customers NO. I know that for many artists, custom work is your bread and butter, and that you welcome custom work. It seems to have the opposite effect on me. I freeze up, worry that expectations won't be met, and usually under-charge for what is extra time and/or money spent on the custom request. I love my customers and I love to make them happy. But I can't help feeling like a child that doesn't want to be told what to do when I accept a custom order.-Weird I know. But one of the things I cherish about this line of work, is that NO ONE tells me what to do. NO ONE is the boss of me. I guess that says something (maybe not so positive) about me. But it's the truth. So I'm going back to something old---and making it new again.



Once upon a time ago, (when I did art shows) I asked my husband to build this display for me. He custom built every box and made a long tray and lid for them so I could easily transport them. It was 3.5 feet of charm goodness.
My Charm Bar.
These days, I don't do art shows anymore, and the charm bar is filled with my own stuff, but in it's day, it saw a lot of action. I had handmade charms of every sort, soldered glass, soldered marbles, collage charms, beads, houses, keys,....you get the idea.
I also made "base" necklaces and bracelets. Customers could walk up to the charm bar, and within minutes create their own custom piece of jewelry.
It was alot of fun. I've had some charms available in my Elements shop for a few months now, but I've decided to amp up my offerings with some of my favorite handmade pieces, and even a few commercial charms.



Over the next few weeks I will be adding more charms, and base pieces. This is a new way to shop for my jewelry. And it's easy. Each charm or pendant will have a lobster claw clasp on it. Each of my base pieces (necklaces,bracelets,key chains, etc) were made to accept the charms. It's custom jewelry my way. I hope this will help bridge the gap for those of you who are looking for a more custom approach.
Remember -this is not my regular jewelry shop, but my elements shop!
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New this year, I will also be offering gift certificates in both the Jewelry and Elements shop. I've got to create the certificates yet but they should be listed later this week-end. $50.00 Gift Certificates will come with a special charm.
I'll be offering free shipping on the certificates.
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And last but not least-if you haven't signed up for my newsletter yet, please do. I only send a newsletter out a few times a year, and I'll be sending one out next week, with a coupon code for the Jewelry Shop.
I've got more to tell you, but it will have to wait for a fresh post!
light and love
amanda

Today is the big reveal for all the hundreds of participants in this fall's Bead Soup Party! I'll try to make my post short because I know there are many other artists to visit...

A quick shot of the soup I sent out to my wonderful bead partner Patsy Evins.

When I first found out I had Patsy for a partner I was both excited, and a little scared. She is such an amazing glass artist, I knew it would be hard to send her something special. Her glasswork is like none I have ever seen...the depth and color she achieves with glass and a flame are nothing short of magical. I've collected art glass-both beads, sculpture, and marbles for the last 12 years-and nothing I've ever seen compares to her work. So when I opened my bead soup and found this treasure chest of handmade glass art, I about dropped....


I wish I was a better photographer-it is hard to capture all the beauty in this glass...

I was challenged to create something that both suited the beauty of her handmade beads, but was also wearable-and "me." I was so happy that I was able to create earrings, a bracelet, and a necklace-




Earrings...

Bracelet...

Necklace!!!

I really wanted to capture my Piscean Nature-my love of the water, and my love of nature-a few of my own charms and pearls-and some beautiful Sari Silk-and now I have an heirloom piece of jewelry that I will cherish for years to come. Thank you so
much Patsy for such a splendid Soup Mix! I can't wait to see what you made!

And to continue on the Party Trail...please visit these wonderful artists who also participated in this fall's Bead Soup Party...and also a huge thank you to Lori for hosting, organizing, and keeping us all updated-you really did an outstanding job---hope you have a vacation planned after all this! light and love
amanda

The Hostess, Lori Anderson and her partner, Manuela Wutschke

     Welcome to my first post for the Stop-Think-Create Design Challenge.
If you want to read more about the challenge-click here.
Here are the prompts for this month (September)
 (remember-we're working a month ahead):

"The breezes taste
Of apple peel.
The air is full
Of smells to feel-
Ripe fruit, old footballs,
Burning brush,
New books, erasers,
Chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive,
Well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts
Chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean
With suds, the days
Are polished with
A morning haze."
-   John Updike, September

Welcome to my first installment of Feature Fridays!



Kitchen Grater Jewelry Stand
---------------------------
Today I welcome artist Irit Cohen of  
Outstanding Stands and QuirkyCreatures.




Irit E. Cohen is an Israeli born artist who now calls Venice, California home.
Her engaging photos were the first thing that caught my eye when I "bumped" into Irit on Etsy. Irit considers herself an artist, photographer and designer, and has studied a wide variety of medium including- art ,ceramic design, photography,
film ,and print making.  She has a fun, quirky style that I was immediately drawn to. Both of her shops feature unique, one of a kind pieces including artful jewelry displays in her OutstandingStands shop, and jewelry, artwork, photography, magnets, cards and prints in her QuirkyCreatures shop.



Truck Driver Goat

"I always had a great passion for contemporary design ,weird objects and images.
Humor in design is something I'm greatly attracted too."
Irit has been selling her artwork on Etsy since 2008. When I asked her about finding inspiration-she tells me that she gains inspiration from walking the city streets-reading  about future science and space, and  other artists and designers she loves. Irit enjoys contemporary art and design, and Surrealism/DaDa.

One of the other things I like to ask other artist and creatives about are dealing with creative blocks. I was surprised when Irit told me that she hasn't had any creative blocks for many years. "The last time was at art school .But when I did, what helped was to just get to work on whatever project WITHOUT TOO MUCH THINKING and let IT take you to another place. Another great way that worked for me is to try a new technique or art form, to get you excited, and out of your comfort zone that made you fall asleep."
 This is great advice. I know many of us who "overthink" something-whether it's a jewelry design, creative writing, painting-etc...I've noticed when I over-think or over analyzed something, it's hard to see the beauty in the creative process. It just becomes another addition to my "to-do" list.



Grand Canyon Necklace

        Irit tells me about being an artist: "My favorite part about being an artist is the fact that I'm never bored. I'm my own boss.That age isn't a factor and I can do it till the day I die and just get better , unlike so many other jobs with age limits. The fact that I can wear what ever the hell I want always , no dress code what so ever. Yes, all the above , but mostly I think what my favorite part is I get to deal with the beautiful things in life on a daily basis .Sometimes I have serious guilt feelings about this , but that might be also because I'm Jewish and we're SO good with guilt.
     Lastly I want to add- I couldn't possibly do what iI do and survive in this lousy economy without the support of my husband who is a very talented artist himself and truly believes in me."

Irit's work can be found on Etsy at:
OutstandingStands
and
QuirkyCreatures

     In addition to her two Etsy shops, Irit's work is on display at several galleries in LA Mindfulnest in Santa Monica and one in Burbank.
and soon to be featured at the
 Very Venice ArtReach Gallery on Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice Beach
which opens August 5th.

If you are in the Wilshire Blvd Area you can find her work at the
Craft and Folk Art Museum Shop
5814 Wilshire Blvd, LA, CA 90036
 www.cafam.org

Find Irit on Facebook here:

www.facebook.com/pages/OutStanding-Stands/236396429708567

And don't forget to visit her website:http://www.quirkycreaturescards.com/

I just want to tell you how honored I am that Irit allowed me to feature her on my blog. I appreciate the time, your honesty-and I'm forever a fan of your work. Thank you so much for allowing me to peek inside your artistic life!
(all photos taken by Irit Cohen)

Want to be featured on a future FEATURE FRIDAY? Just click on this link, and sign-up for my mailing list. Thanks!
light and love
amanda

ps...don't forget to stop back on Monday when I will be posting my first Stop-Think-Create Design Challenge.

The Wheels are Turning...
Big changes are in store for my blog...I hope you will come along with me as I add some new features, challenges, and showcase some of the wonderful creative people I have found along the way. Here's a quick look at what's to come:

1. "Feature Fridays"
-a peek at other Artists/Creatives Work-
2. Monthly Design Challenges
-not just for jewelry designers-
3. How-To's and DIY
4. Reviews
-tools,books,magazines-
5. Marketing
-tips and tricks-

and whatever else I can dream up.
Your ideas and input are really important to me, and will help guide my selection of topics. Don't be shy-let me know what you'd like to see, or if you know of an amazing person that should be featured-send me a note. I will still post about my own work, but I feel that adding some interesting articles would be a great way to reach new friends...
This Friday will be my first "Feature Friday" about an artist I met on Etsy. She makes amazing jewelry displays from found objects. Stay tuned...


light and love
amanda

  Yup-I know it's hot outside...but it's always a good time for some Bead Soup...Lori Anderson is once again graciously hosting another round of Bead Soup. I've participated in the last few parties, and really had a wonderful time...I would encourage you to hop over to her blog and find out how to participate in this fun swap and blog hop...Registration starts on August 1st!!! It's easy-it's fun and a great way to meet new jewelry artisans and connect with other creatives. Hope you will come!