DREAM SPIRAL ART » Jewelry

Good News, Bad News

Dream Spiral Art — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 04:30:50 +0000

The GOOD NEWS is…

That I had a very productive day in the studio today! I finished a commission piece for the ever-patient, SR.

Several months ago (I won’t tell you how many because it’s too embarrassing) SR gave me two loose stones – a rectangular lapis and a facetted citrine teardrop – to turn into one-of-a-kind jewlery pieces. Until recently, I had taken a long hiatus from using colored stones in my work. But the lapis stone hit a perfect note with my latest work and became part of my newest jewelry chorus, that features colored stones, set in a silver frame and finished with a handmade chain!!

What do you think?

I think I might be tempted to keep it. Shhh! Don’t tell SR.

Now for the BAD NEWS…

I was expecting the arrival of a little brown package today.
But 6 p.m. rolled around, and there was still no package. Where in the world could it be?

I had my suspicions, so I checked my handy UPS tracking number again. It told me that my delivery was scheduled to be on time, but an “EXCEPTION” had occurred. An “EXCEPTION?”

Okay. So I read a little futher and it said that our address did not exist. Oh no, not again! Our house has an unfortunate habit of being transported to the twilight zone whenever the friendly UPS man comes around (I wish it would do that when the not-so-friendly gravel sleaseman… I mean… salesman honks his horn in my driveway at 8:00 in the morning).

About 70% of the time, deliveries reach our house without a hitch. The other 30% of the time reminds me of one of the few cons of living off the beaten path, as in, not in a neighborhood. Well, if it doesn’t come tomorrow, I will have to hunt down that truck with my hammer and torch – a mad jeweler on the loose, LOOK OUT!

So sorry for those of you who are waiting for the arrival of your Dream Spiral Art Jewelries or Supplies. Rest assured, as soon as I get that package, I can put the finishing touches on your pieces and zip them off to you in the mail! Oh, and I’m doubly sorry for my grumpy face in the photos. Hopefully you won’t have to see that ever again (I usually save those faces for my Sweetie Pie).

Earth-toned Beauties

Dream Spiral Art — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:47:56 +0000

In order to explore the color-painted world of enamels, I took a two-year hiatus from working with gemstones. But lately these earth-toned beauties have been finding their way back into my work again in a series of necklaces.

Each necklace is designed to showcase the lovliness of each stone as a work of art that is framed by sterling silver and my signaure hammered textures. The motif that frames the stone is continued throughout the necklace in a chain that is hand-fabricated by me to relate the design as a whole.

Just like the stones I use, each necklace is one-of-a-kind. Be sure to visit my Etsy Shop to find these new beauties.

There are three necklaces in the collection so far. What do you think?

SEE YOU BY THE BAY!

Dream Spiral Art — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 13:59:38 +0000

This weekend I’ll be partaking in my first art show in Annapolis.

What: FIRST SUNDAY ARTS
Where: ANNAPOLIS, MD – on West Street
When: Sunday, June 7, from Noon to 5:00 p.m.

The fiance is working in Annapolis as I type this. He is the carpenter/caretake/plumber/renovator/whatever needs fixing extraordinare for one of the Historic Buildings in downtown Annapolis.

So, not only will you see ME on Sunday, but you will also get to meet the Mister, the Yin to my Yang, the amazing Fiance, SMB!

P.S. Due to the show in Annapolis, my Etsy shop will be closed on Sunday. So don’t delay if there’s something you’ve been meaning to snatch up; it might not come back from Annapolis with me, if it gets snatched up there instead. (:

A new ring to share

Dream Spiral Art — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 20:02:43 +0000

I just listed a new ring in my Etsy shop today. She’s a one-of-a-kind beauty.THE CORAL RING.

Pink coral blushes fervently amidst a bed of sterling silver in this ring, size 7. The oval cabochon measures approximately 8 x 6 mm. It is set on a unique U-shaped band that is ultra-comfy to wear. I’ve patterned the exterior of the band with a series of hatch marks, while the interior has been left smooth.

Perfect for a summer picnic, eating purple grapes on green grass at an outdoor concert, or for a wander through the art museum, I’m certain you will love this precious ring as much as I have loved creating it!

Live Fashion!

Dream Spiral Art — Tue, 26 May 2009 01:28:56 +0000

After a trip to Barcelona, Spain, where I soaked in the works of famous architect, Antoni Gaudi, known for such works as Sagrada de Familia and Park Guell, I created this ring, aptly named GAUDI Ring. This is a limited edition art jewelry ring, available in sizes 5 1/4, 5 1/2, and 6.

I am a big fan of Gaudi’s architectural designs that often reference natural structures, such as trees, caves, and even fruit. So I was thrilled to have my GAUDI Ring included in a collection of handmade works inspired by architecture.

Check out page 84 in the May 2009 edition of the online publication called, VIVA LA MODA. VIVA LA MODA is a new online publication that is filled with dozens of pages of eye candy on the latest handmade fashion-trends, that include clothing, art, crafts, and jewelry! Thanks to Ainhoa, Julie, and all the girls at VIVA LA MODA for choosing my ring and for putting this fun publication together!

New Blumes in the Etsy Shop!

Dream Spiral Art — Thu, 21 May 2009 15:06:24 +0000

For the past four weeks SMB and I have been working hard to put the finishing touches on our flower beds that generously encircle half the house. With so much ground to cover, we’ve been planting in batches.

I am happy to report that after a trip to our local plant nursery (support the little guys), and a heavy dose of pine-bark nugget mulch, we are content to stand back and admire our hard work. Dare I say it’s finished? I guess gardens, like everything else in life, require tending, pruning, refining, but for sanity’s sake, let’s call it finished.

We took advantage of an unusually warm weekend back in April and were able to put the veggies in the ground early this year. We already have little green tomatoes bursting from the vines. I love the smell of tomato plants, rubbing the green leaves between my fingers. If there were a tomato-vine perfume or soap, point me in the right direction, and I’d buy it!

In addition to the tomatoes, we have sugar snap peas, eggplant, three types of squash, string beans, peppers, and we even built a little section for our herbs (basil, cilantro, dill), potted strawberries, and fig tree. If the critters keep out this year, we should have an abundant harvest!

I guess all of the green-thumbing, coupled with my latest mantra “BLOOM WHERE YOU’RE PLANTED”, got me hammering out silver flowers in my jewelry shop. These little beauties are fresh off the bench and are for sale NOW in my Etsy shop today. I have four pair in stock.

Every flower needs a name, so after some pondering, I have decided to call them, “Modern Mums”. They are part of my ever-growing “Captured Collection”.

What’s in your pocket?

Dream Spiral Art — Thu, 14 May 2009 20:50:35 +0000

I’ll tell you what’s in my pocket! This cute little pocket-scale that I just ordered from Nile Corp.

It’s my first scale (ah – the thrill of new gadgets) and it’s perfect for weighing my silver scraps before sending them off to Rio’s refinery. The best part is that it’s on sale for only $7.99!

APRIL SPECIAL AND UPCOMING SHOWS

Dream Spiral Art — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 14:58:07 +0000

In celebration of Earth Day on April 22, my newest jewelry line, the “Captured Collection” is marked 10% off for the entire month of April!!! Please visit my Etsy Shop to see the latest additions to the “Captured Collection” that include dried rose petals in deep red and springy yellow!

If you are in the area, I hope you will come visit my booth at one of these upcoming shows:

Richmond, VA

Fool for Art at John Tyler Community College
Saturday, April 18, 2009
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
http://www.jtcc.edu/foolforart/

Annapolis, MD

First Sunday Arts Festival on West Street
Sundays – May 3, June 7, July 5, and August 2
12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
http://www.goweststreet.com/

Bethesda, MD

Bethesda Artist Market – in Bethesda Place Plaza
(Corner of Old Georgetown Road and Woodmont Ave.)
Saturdays – June 13, July 11, and October 10
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
http://www.bethesda.org/arts/artistmarket.htm

Hope you are having a hippity-hoppity Spring and a Happy Easter!

Toodles!

- Ann

Pixe’s Pick for April 2

Dream Spiral Art — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 17:56:19 +0000

Yep, that’s me! I am Pixe’s Pick for April 2, 2009. Author of Pixe’s Treasure Chest, Mich, selects her featured picks from the artists of Etsy. From woodcraft to quilts or handmade jewelry to recycled totes, you just never know what you are going to find in the Treasure Chest! Always a fun read. Stop by and check out my interview! Thank you, Mich, for the feature!

SPRING SALE – MARCH SPECIAL

Dream Spiral Art — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 15:51:07 +0000

♥♥♥MARCH SPECIAL♥♥♥

The entire “CrAzY WiReBaLl CoLlEcTiOn” is marked 15% off in honor of Spring!

The Crazy WireBall Earrings have been one of my best sellers for ten years strong. They are simple and elegant, versatile and unique. Earrings come in Gold, Gold/Silver, Silver, on Posts, with Wires, and now with Hoops, too! So don’t miss out.

Special runs March 20 until March 31.

BASKING IN A DREAM

Dream Spiral Art — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:09:22 +0000

Today, March 20, is the first day of Spring 2009. After a week of rain, the sun is finally shining, and I, like a cat, want to curl up and bask my bones in it’s warm light. Alas, I am stuck indoors, behind interior walls, the computer monitor the brightest beacon in this room. I’m pretty sure I know what the kitty-kids are up to at home right now, though, and I think of them with envy. Did you know that cats sleep an average of 22 hours a day?!? What a life of luxury! I honestly don’t think I could stand it.

Ruminating on my current fate, stuck indoors on a sunny day, I relate to this quote:

“How long can men thrive between walls of brick, walking on asphalt pavements, breathing the fumes of coal and of oil, growing, working, dying, with hardly a thought of wind, and sky, and fields of grain, seeing only machine-made beauty, the mineral-like quality of life?” ~Charles A. Lindbergh, Reader’s Digest, November 1939

Discounts on Dream Spiral Art

Dream Spiral Art — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 21:17:48 +0000

Thank you, Megan, for your lovely write-up about my DreamSpiralArt Etsy shop in the Richmond Magazine Blog!

Read the article to find out about a special discount during the entire month of February! The blog was posted on January 30, so you might have to scroll down to find the article.

Also, for you creative cats out there who love to make your own jewels and fabulous things, check out my newly opened DreamSpiralSupplies shop on Etsy, where I destash the ‘over-flow’ goodies from my studio like sterling silver bezel cups, beads, earwires, and various chains.

Etsy
Buy Handmade
DreamSpiralSupplies

EXPLORING THE PATH NOT TAKEN

Dream Spiral Art — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 21:07:01 +0000

Three and a half years ago, on July 4, Independence Day 2005, I relocated from my home town, St. Louis to the East coast. I had lived in St. Louis my entire life, aside from a brief, brilliant, seven month adventure living in Tasmania, Australia and traveling around the South Pacific.

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When I was 26, I remember the sting of several relationships broken, the stacatto screams of discontent with my current job, an aching in my bones to leave a city that generations of family called 'home'. Deciding to relocate was the easy part.

Where do I go, What will I do, How will I survive? An assalt of questions and self-doubt crossed my mind with a cold, burning sensation, like sleet on bare skin. Worse were the interrogations from family and friends, not wanting me to move.

A large part of my eagerness to live in a different city was my desire to continue developing my artistic vision in an environment that would provide opportunities to exhibit work, garner critical feedback, and grow as an individual and as an artist. So I decided to further my education in my field of jewelry/metalsmithing.

I narrowed down my search to three schools in three locations that seemed desirable to live in. I've always enjoyed smaller, pedestrian and artist-friendly cities, living among like-minded young people, in a geographically diverse setting.

I chose Fort Collins, CO (CSU), Savannah, GA (SCAD), and Richmond, VA (VCU). And to my surprise, I was accepted into two out of three of the schools. But for some reason, the one that I was truly drawn to, was the one that didn’t accept me, VCU. I had been put on a wait list for the program – only two spots available each year in the MFA metals program.

So in 2005, I took a chance and loaded all of my possessions into a medium-sized U-Haul truck, and with the help of my brother, I made the cross-country trek to Richmond, VA. Although, I was not accepted into the MFA program at VCU, I continued my studies there for two years, and realized that it wasn’t the actual degree I was after, merely the time and space to develop my work in an educational setting, with access to tools and instruction.

I have no regrets whatsoever about relocating to Richmond on a whim. I followed my intuition, going against what was logical, and in the process, I met a most wonderful man, who I adore, my Sugar.

For my 31st birthday last weekend, I wanted to explore a path not taken. I had already visited CSU in Fort Collins, CO, but I was still curious about Savannah, GA. I had, not only received an invitation to enter the MFA program there, but I had been granted a partial scholarship… to which I gave serious consideration. So we kissed the kitties (Potter, Albus, and Sprout) goodbye and loaded up the X-Terra for the 7 hour drive South.

I discovered that even on the coldest weekend of the year, Savannah, was hauntingly beautiful. There is no doubt I would have loved living there in the Historic District amidst the many parks, city river, and nearby sandy beaches. Savannah is a city rich with history, old architecture, art galleries, restaurants, and boutiques, Spanish moss dangling from every tree. And who could forget the alligators lurking in the marsh across the river, waiting for an unsuspecting coot or egret to venture near? In this case, my Sugar and I were the unsuspecting passers-by, initially mistaking a sunning 8-foot gator for a log in the grass… that is… until we got just a little closer to Mrs. Ali Gator and saw her toothy underbite.

As much as I enjoyed wandering around Savannah for my birthday weekend (even bumping into Ruben Studdard in the hotel elevator), I enjoyed even more, being able to share the experience with my most kindred spirit, and best friend, Michael, knowing I had taken the right path all along.

MY LOVE AFFAIR WITH ARTICHOKES

Dream Spiral Art — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 18:44:42 +0000

Inspiration can be a peculiar thing. At times unconsicous and deep, whispering in your ear like the winter wind, leaving no footprints in the snow for you to track. Then again, sometimes inspiration is very straight-forward and easy to trace. Such is the case with one of my recent rings, inspired by the artichoke.

Artichoke Ring is a one-of-a-kind, art jewelry ring that grew from my love affair with artichokes.

I hand formed the Artichoke Ring out of soft wax and then cast it in solid, sterling silver using the lost wax casting method.

The Artichoke Ring is hardy (just like the vegetable) with a healthy weight to it. The band measures approximately 5 mm in width.

One-of-a-kind, size 6.

RICHMOND MAGAZINE WRITE-UP

Dream Spiral Art — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:17:45 +0000

In October 2008, I was thrilled to be featured in the Style section of Richmond Magazine. If you didn’t get a chance to grab a copy of this great local magazine, the article has been posted online.

To see more samples from my newest jewelry line, “The Captured Collection”, please visit my Etsy Shop at http://www.dreamspiralart.etsy.com I hope you enjoy it and, as always, I appreciate your feedback. Happy New Year!