The Pendants!

So I have been, in my spare time, been working diligently on creating my pendants.
I will post some pics, but I am quite pleased. I have not yet mastered getting rid of every single air bubble for the wood/resin pendants and am doing ok with removing the air bubbles from the glass... it IS harder than it looks!

I have purchased an embossing heat gun that is supposed to rid me of the air bubbles for the resin pendants. Hopefully I do not scorch the resin, as I did with the matches (no worries they are not for sale and in the trash).  For the glass you are just supposedly able to PUSH out the air...so far I still have at least 1-2 stubborn bubbles that linger behind. OH well, practice makes perfect. I have been using machine cut glass tiles but there is a thin line that outlines the top of the pendant. I am splurge and purchase Annie Howe's hand cut glass. Its more pricey but much nicer to look at!

I am also using BOARDMAKER software to create some of my pendants. This software is used to make picture symbols for tech devices and for the Picture Communication Exchange Communication System (PECS). These PECS are used throughout the country by teachers, speech therapists and families with Autism. One reason why I chose these, is that from an artist's point of view, they are begging to be made into art! They are simple graphics that are universal. The second reason is because many times I have heard (as a teacher), you don't see people using PECS out in the real world. Well, now PECS can be worn, seen in the real world and communicate ideas or thoughts at the same time! Hopefully this is going to take off like I hope it will!

Take a look at some of my work...and let me know what you think!

Traditional Autism Awareness Ribbon

Glass Tile Pendant

Boardmaker Autism Ribbon Symbol

Wood Tile Pendant

Autism Awareness Pendant

Custom Graphic by ME :)

Wood Pendant

I Love My Daughter With Autism: Left Glass Pendant

Right Wood Pendant. Both graphics by me:)

Boardmaker Autism Ribbon and

"mother" symbol

Who Doesn't Like Ice Cream?

Boardmaker Symbol

Custom design by me:)

Glass Pendant

Creativity: To create or not to create. That is the question.

The one problem with being a creative person, is that sometimes I want to make lots of different things. All at once. As a result of the onslaught of creativity, I do not know which project to tackle first! I have been on a scrapbooking kick ever since Katie and I went on our scrapbooking weekend in January.

Now those who do not scrap, do not mock! It was a fantastic weekend, and although my first 2 pages had much to be desired, once you get in the flow of cutting, pasting, arranging photos, it is so calming, relaxing and just enjoyable. Ask my sister, who was once one of those that mocked the art of scrapbooking, and hated the sight of a Michaels, and now L O V E S scrapbooking. I also made a scrapbook for Mike's birthday and just have the scrapbooking bug!

I also just got in a few supplies from Art Beads this week and am just itching to start some new jewelry! I ordered these funky Czech glass with a Picasso finish, that I turn into earrings, and have quickly sold out of at craft shows. I have a pair in three different colors myself. I also got into pearl knotting necklaces. This is incredibly time consuming and if I make a mistake, usually double knotting, I can't undo the knots and have to start over by cutting each pearl off of the silk string. So while I want to tackle the great freshwater pearls from Uncommon Beads, that little project is on pause.

I have already spent a few days designing my "Scrabble tiles" for my new project, Scrabble Tile pendants and Glass pendants. I have designed my own Autism Awareness graphics; the ribbon, a puzzle piece background with "Autism Awareness", I love my son/daughter with Autism, I love my Autistic son/daughter, puzzle pieces, and fun graphics (hearts, shamrocks, flowers). I will be ordering the supplies from Annie Howes this week. I cannot WAIT to get started. I think that these will be great. I am also going to make my own actual puzzle piece pendants as well (see previous post).

Finally my photography trigger finger is just itching to do SOMETHING. I wanted to take a few classes at the New England School of Photography (NESOP) but decided against it this winter. I really wanted to take the Advanced Night Photography class, since I completely fell in love it over the summer, but decided against it with the new school/job. But in the spring I will taking a class, probably the Archetecture class and Urban Landscapes. So for now, the photography craving will be put aside.

So here is hoping that I can create in the next few days, without life getting in the way.

Peace, Love and Recycle!

A "New" Idea? Puzzles, Scrabble Tiles and Rorschach.

My sister says I have irregular logic. Or was it irrational logic? She is a psychologist, and when she was getting her master's in forensic psych, she used me as one of her subjects. I took the Roschach tests. The below one, I thought was a dancing gnome. More specifically, a Russian dancing gnome because of the red hat and I just thought most gnomes must come from Russia.

Apparently having irregular logic is found among two main types of people: artists and those who are psychotic. Katie was the only one in her class to get these results, and her professor was a bit concerned as to where or whom she got the results from. Also the picture to the left is supposed to bring about feelings of violence, intense sexuality and blood (according to wikipedia). I didn't see any of that, but now that I said "dancing Russian gnomes" I am sure that   
                                                      you agree with me.

So what does this have to do with my new idea? Well my irregular logic brought me to my new idea (Scrabble Tile Pendants), which really isn't new but its new to me. FIRST I got an email from fusionbeads.com. When I read it I saw something about RESIN. I clicked on it and saw that you can use said resin to make your own pendants. THEN I thought of the Scrabble pendants which are really popular right now. Then I did a google search and found a great dealer, Annie Howes, who sells Scrabble Tile and Glass tile kits. THEN I thought of combining my photography and scrapbooking (I have an obscenely large amount of paper) into my jewelry making. AND FINALLY this brought me to my NEW NEW IDEA (which my lrregular Logic just made me think of as I was typing), to make Puzzle Piece Pendants. 

OK. You see, when I got into going to craft fairs I had a nice booth, with a tent and a sign that read "Puzzle Piece Jewelry".  Some people would stop by my booth they ask me " I thought "Puzzle Piece Jewelry" mean you sold jewelry made of puzzle pieces." I named my little jewelry biz in honor of those lives that have been affected by Autism.  Not actual puzzles.  My mom even suggested, after about 10 people asked where were the puzzles, to make jewelry out of puzzle pieces. But I didn't know how. But thanks to my Irregular Logic, I do now!

I think I can make puzzle piece pendants the same way as the Scrabble Tile pendants, with glue and resin! I can make a pendant from a puzzle with the Autism Awareness puzzle piece pattern, on a puzzle, with a name on it. AND other images too such as a dolphin, or put words on them and then connect them (like "Mom", "Dad", "Sara" and turn it into a necklace or bracelet)!  I could make a puzzle pendant with ANYTHING on it! OK I am definitely going to do this!

So in the end, I guess that having Irregular Logic, for me, is a good thing. Thank god I am not a psychopath. I am just an Suburban Artist.

Thanksgiving Is The Best

I love Thanksgiving. Its my absolute favorite holiday. More so than Christmas. Why? The food...and when I was little everyone came home. Aunts and Uncles, cousins and friends. After my grandma passed about 8 years ago, people stopped coming home. BUT the it didn't bother me as much as I thought it would. My grandma was central in the family, and every Thanksgiving I remember my grandma.  I miss her greatly.

On another note, Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Holiday sale happening at my jewelry etsy shop! Check it out!

www.puzzlepiecejewelry.etsy.com

October is All Done!

So the first two months of school are past! I just can't believe its November already.

I did a craft fair in Natick about two weeks ago. The road was under construction, yet open, so I think people that WOULD have come, didn't. It was pretty slow and the biggest disappointment was that the Elks Club Cafe announced they would be serving hot dogs and french fries. Katie and I was VERY much looking forward to that but, alas, they served tostitos corn chips instead. So Katie went off and got us, and the table next to us french fries. She is a good sister. Even given the slowness of the day we had about 5 or 6 sales, and the best, I got a custom order out of it!

This week, Mike is gone on a business trip. Me and the Bailster are home and gonna do laundry and watch chick flicks all day. If I get done with the monstrosity that is doing loads of laundry I may make a necklace or two. After all, I am a Suburban Artist.

Successful Show, and Some Confusion

This past weekend, I was at MAYNARD FEST, in Maynard, MA. It was a great time, TONS of people to watch. That paired with LINCOLN PARK DAY the weekend before, and my people watching has at an all time hight.

First, in my hometown of Lincoln Park, we had the good fortune to be placed next to a Tae Kwon Do studio. At first, watching a dozen children with weapons such as bo sticks, knun chucks (I KNOW I spelled that one wrong) and splitting boards, I thought my faithful car Red, had met her doom. Or myself or my sister or mother would receive a concussion from a flying martial arts weapon. The flip side? Watching the very nice and very attractive Sensei Scott all day long. I smile now as I remember trying to get my sister to go hit on him. My mother took care of that and got us all an invite for a free lesson at the dojo. Seriously.  But it was a good show and I made my money back on the show fee and had some scrumptious fair food and sat back and watched the interesting people go by. Both my mother and I are stout "Lincoln Parkers". We spent most of our lives there, I at the age of 33, spent half my life in good ole Lincoln Park and my mom is always telling us "kids, this is where your roots are." My sister and brother, are not stout Lincoln Parkers, and my sister was convinced that some of the more...interesting sights were a product of LP. My mom did not agree and neither did I...for the most part. But it was a great day. I sold a few Autism Awareness items and that made my day. Even if I do not sell a necklace and an Autism Item is sold then my mission is done. Awareness is spreading.

That leads me to Maynard Fest. It was beautiful weather. After a week of torrential downpours to have a crisp, sunny, New England day was just fantastic. There were tons of people and I made sales! MacGyver, Mike's friend from college and my friend too, showed up and bought us (my mom, sister and I) fried dough and really who doesn't like fried dough (although it was NOT a zeppoli, a reminder I am sadly no longer in NJ).

Here is the thing and here is my disclaimer before my statement: I fully support Gay Rights. People who are gay should totally be able to get married, have kids or adopt kids. I have family members who are gay, and seriously I am, and always have been, open and have had friends who are gay. Another disclaimer that will make sense in a few short seconds: Massachusetts, as a whole and as observed as a public school teacher in 3 different schools in 1 year, has no or little understanding of Autism. Traditionally students with Autism that may have not been able to function in the mainstream, have been sent to private schools. I have heard many times "Autism is new for us" in three different school districts. That statement alone sums up why I have had such a hard time in my new district, as the program I am in is in its 2nd year, and people aren't used to "those kids being in school." OK, SERIOUSLY?! Before I digress any further here is what happened.

I make jewelry, necklaces and earrings and bracelets. I also make AUTISM AWARENESS jewelry and bookmarks. To spread awareness in a pretty way,instead of those bulky rubbery livestrong type bracelets. I use a Sterling Silver PUZZLE PIECES (you have no idea how many people asked where where the puzzles that I was selling...that did not happen in NJ), and I use four colors from the Autism Awareness ribbon: red, yellow, teal and blue. I use these colors in Swarovski crystals and really they are very pretty.

The confusion was people where either: A) asking what the puzzle piece was for and not understanding my explanation, B) thinking my Autism Awareness items were  Gay Pride items or C)buying the Autism Awareness jewelry WITH A PUZZLE PIECE and said "Thank you for my Pride bracelet." Or they thanked me for supporting Gay Rights...Which I do support, just that was not the point of the jewelry.

I did sell two pieces of Autism jewelry to people who knew immediately what it was. I was hesitant to correct the other people. I tried at first, but no one "got it". "Its a rainbow" was the reply I hears often, and y e s....it is but its missing three other colors to make a rainbow. And there is a PUZZLE PIECE on it. My mom said, oh let them buy it and how silly will they feel when someone asks them later on "Oh you support Autism Awareness?" My mom has a point, does it matter how the Awareness is spread, as long as people see it and notice it? I have decided to make a few Gay and Lesbian Pride themed items, such as bookmarks and a bracelet or two, and have two distinct displays. Only because I truly wish to spread Awareness in a state that is so obviously lacking in knowledge of Autism. Another disclaimer: My signs that read "Puzzle Piece Jewelry" had photos of the JEWELRY that I make and a little statement about spreading Autism Awareness, so I was very baffled when people asked me where they puzzles were. They could read the sign but not process the images? And many people who could read and process images asked me why Puzzle Pieces are used for Autism Awareness.

So in the end two shows. A great time hanging out with my mom and my sister and MacGyver. And I am more determined than ever to spread Autism Awareness. Because if I FEEL frustrated as a teacher, person and artist, how do families affected by Autism feel to be living in an area where people are supposedly "just getting used to Autism"? I hope that those families know that they are not alone. Because there is at least 1 person who is trying her best to spread awareness both as an artist and as a teacher.

The Suburban Artist has FINALLY Arrived!

One of the reasons I named this blog, "The Suburban Artist", was to change the negative connotation to this term. Traditionally suburban artists are not well respected, frowned upon even. I guess one of the reasons are that we are not in the cities. We aren't selling our wares on the corner of Central Park West or have big fancy studios. Many of us suburban artists do not create art on a full time basis. I think mainly the last reason is the biggest reason suburban artists do no command the same respect as our full time, city counterparts. For that reason, I have always looked down on my own art. I didn't go to art school. I did not use art as my profession (I started out as an art teacher and heard that age old saying many times "those who can't teach). I took classes and even broke into the wedding photography business.

Many people along the years have told me that I have an eye. Or a good sense of color. Or that I am a good photographer. But they were always family, friends, professors or instructors. Gaining respect from professional artists was very rare. I remember once in college one of the BFA students (Bachelor of FINE ARTS) said "Wow, you really paint well...for an art ed. major."

I was never quite sure if that was a compliment or not.

10 years later, after leaving college, I have finally shown to myself and to others in the art community that; Yes I am an artist. This summer I dedicated myself to my art. Both with my jewelry and photography. I sold several pieces of jewelry and am gearing up for a fair this coming weekend. But the biggest news is that in the past 4 weeks, I have received 3 accolades.

The first was getting my work into the CIAO Gallery's "Call of the Wild" show, in Jackson Wyoming. Then was receiving and Honorable Mention nod from the Women in Photography International for their FACES competition. Finally, my work is one of 50 to be chosen for a juried show called "After Dark" at the Vermont Photo Space. To know that my work, is being seen by others in a real gallery, not just my own walls, is immensely gratifying. It is one of the best things ever to happen to me, aside from meeting my husband, getting engaged and married :) 

So thank you to my friends and family who have always believed in me, even when I did not.