Attaching clasp components on a few earrings.

Hollow ring, fabricated.

Procrastination from Johnny Kelly on Vimeo.

found this among my things.
no clue as to where it came from.
i think it's better that way anyhow.

Triangle brooches.
Top: brass, paint.
Bottom: plastic, silver.

Some quick images of recent earrings (sorry, I know they're a bit dark). Made with old costume jewelry parts and antique glass stones with silver. Having fun while improving my setting skills! Love the colors too, of course.

It's always fun when someone includes you in a nice treasury. Thanks SomeOtherPrairie for thinking of me!

I saw this video first in class during grad school, I think it was the first semester. Several peers and friends have also made reference to it, even just a "you should really see this" kinda thing. So I was remembering this inspiring video over the weekend and thought I'd watch it, and now share it with whoever happens across my blog. It's a reflection on creativity and work and inspiration. Enjoy!

Chromophilia at Craftland

I'm going to be in this show: Chromophilia at Craftland in Providence, RI. Curated by Islay Taylor and Devienna Anggraini.

Wow, lotsa links all at once!

Anyways. I'm giving plenty of notice to clear your schedule. Show opens Sept. 9th with the official reception on Sunday the 19th. Check out the blog to see info on the other artists: Jimin Park, Anthony Tammaro, Emiko Oye, Amy Weiks, Mariana Acosta, and Mike and Maaike. Looking forward to my first show after school with these very talented artists. yay!

Classes are done and school is o-vuh! yay! Thought I'd put up a few images of my thesis work to show everyone what I've been up to. All the work is moveable and materials include silver, aluminum, and brass and most of the color comes from auto paints. Making mechanical work is fun but challenging- it requires many exact parts so that everything folds up and expands as planned. It's exciting to see how it all comes together at the end though. I love to play with the necklaces to see the different forms it makes and see how it falls on different bodies.

Thesis=Done!

some new work. I've been doing a few craft fairs and am posting things on Etsy soon too... Can this beat waiting tables? Let's see.

Some pics of the studio!

Yes, both these desks stay pretty covered with things. I try to clean every couple days but just a few good hours of work can render the whole space a disaster again.

Here I'm attaching parts of green plastic (originally was a bangle bracelet). Some other samples and pieces I was finishing up as well.

saw saw saw! Cutting out lots of things with my saw!

Things have been really busy here. Obviously I'm not used to this idea of blogging yet, but still the goal is in mind. So here's an attempt I guess.

We've had a ton of visitors and lots of activity at school lately. Interdisciplinary crits were two weeks ago. They were very helpful, helped me realize better the disconnect sometimes between the work and they was I am thinking about the work or the direction I want it to go. It's also nice to see perspective outside of the jewelry world view point.

Also we had Kim Buck visiting the same day. He seemed a sweet and kind man. It's just so nice to meet people and hear their approach to working. There's so many ways to think about things and a million things to make. A suggestion to me from Kim- focus more specifically onto one or two things, perhaps work in a series instead of being all over the place. He wondered if I get bored with an idea and move on to quickly. Really I just have too many seedlings of ideas and am still feeling like I need to have my art barf. I'm slowly reigning myself in though, I see a glimmer of light on the horizon. He thinks I move on too fast and should choose a piece or two to really develop my ideas around. I think I'll try that (as soon as I finish up the 3 pieces that were already started, oops!)

Also, Veleta Vancza has been around this week. We met yesterday one on one and I think it'll be great to have her around some. I just really love hearing others' perspective on my and my classmates work. I feel like having a variety of feedback helps you understand the way your presenting yourself and the work. So, as I said before, the more I'm talking about my goals I achieve more focus and understanding, along with just better articulating what I'm trying to do.

Lauren Fensterstock was here too to meet today and tomorrow with the grads. She lectured tonight too. Her work spans across many mediums and has a lot of historical interests. She is so articulate and clear about what she's trying to do with her work. I hope I can find that in myself sometime soon. I love making and have a lot of inspiration, it's just the "why" sometimes that doesn't make sense. Closer everyday though. I'm meeting one on one with Lauren tomorrow, so I'm looking forward to her insights.

I swear I've got some pictures of my work coming. I have a few snap shots of my studio (finally!) and am planning on making decent photos of my actual work by the end of the week.

til then, tata.

In the Beginning, There Was Craziness

So, here I am. I've long been a frequenter of what is called "The Web". I've wasted hours, days, weeks even, pouring over this info crack machine. I've participated in lots of checking in on things, but haven't ever contributed too too much. But I think I'm gonna try.

Lots of things are happening and changing in my life, so this will serve as part record, part interest, part experiment. For now, I'm just gonna throw whatever in here. It's gonna be me, here, figuring stuff out, getting pumped, getting weird, having fun, messing around, sharing (sharing is caring), and whatevers else.

So stay tuned I suppose. And welcome.