Coming Out

I  know I said I didn’t have any resolutions for this year, but I do have a goal for this present time.   A goal is different than a resolution.   And, you can set one at any time, you don’t have to wait for New Year’s.   I set this goal right around Halloween.

Let me take a little detour for a moment and explain that for Wiccans, All Hallows is the end of the yearly cycle.  It’s a celebration of the fruits of the past year’s harvest and it’s also a time to think about future goals.   So it’s a really big deal, lots of reflection and contemplation along with the celebrating that everyday folk do, plus a lot of Thanksgiving for blessings of the year.  We usually try to “clear our fields” (being a nature based religion) and make way for the next year’s “crops”.  That means letting go of and getting rid of ideas or habits that aren’t working.   Staying inside my comfort zone is not working well for me.   I feel the need to push myself into new things that I’ve been hesitant to try or maybe even things I’ve never heard of.

Anyhow, I set myself a goal to creep outside my own box, my comfort zone.   It’s as much a challenge as a goal.   It’s a challenge to become a better me as a designer and as a person because I think that what we do as our hobby/art is a reflection of our personal self.

Okay, let’s not get too deep here, I’ll bore us all to death and that is not my style. Let’s get back to beads and baugles.

I’ve always been a jewelry maker who believed in simple, clean lines.  When I did wire wrap and my other friends started coiling and curling a lot, I stuck to my simple style.   There is something pure and natural about good clean  lines, just following what nature put there in the first place.

Last year, I did some experiments with coiling .   It was a definite challenge.  The biggest hurdle was to coil without getting kinky.   I liked doing the coiling and made some pieces that I had fun with and that accented the jewelry the way I wanted……….BUT……..I found that my natural instincts led me to be more kinky than coily. (Please, no quirky comments, ladies, I AM what I AM).  I do not have the patience to sit for all that time and make components and be happy about it.   I do like what I made, but it is not where I want to be.

I made this little owl bottle necklace for my grandchild, Jessie.  Lots of coils and chain.

A crazy ring I had fun making.

I tried some wire weaving also.

I think this agate bracelet looks so plain and in no way reflects the amount of time to coil and weave all that wire.

My next challenge to myself was to perfect my clay work.     I blogged about my workshop at Zeffers Farm Studio and am in the process of making changes and challenging myself with clay work.   I’m still sticking to simple lines and textures with the clay BUT, I”m trying to come up with ideas that will lead to more complicated pieces.   I used to be satisfied with a clean piece I could put on a chain or cord like this simple textured bead for a man’s necklace.

or maybe a simple textured piece with dichroic glass

Now, I’m working on small charms and pieces with texture and words that I can use on Veda style jewelry.  (More on this style in a future blog).

I”m still not far enough outside the box but now I am pumped!   My head is sticking out there and I’m peering around!

I’ve been watching a TV series (someone who loves me bought me the boxed set) called the Tudors.   I never get tired of looking at the elaborate costumes and the ornate jewelry.   I’ve been wanting to experiment and try some Tudor style pieces but still keep my own “clean lines” style.   Here are some “experiments I made with some filigree, some stones I had in my stash box and some chains.

Not the greatest pictures, but you get the drift.

‘m definitely outside my comfort zone and loving it!

My next plan is to try some gypsy beading.   That will be a challenge.   I have to have the right piece and use just enough beads and chain to use the opulent gypsy beading and still keep  my simplistic style.  I think I may use this bronze pendant that I made during my weekend at Zeffers Farm Studio.   I’m psyched!

I’m also going to try collage jewelry.   I see a lot of that for sale, especially on Etsy.  Some of it is way too much for me, but I’m going to try it and see what I can come up with that reflects my own way of doing things.

Where else am I going?   Steampunkery, here I come!   I’ve been in love with steampunk style and lifestyle for over a year now and scared to try even on a small piece.   I found some steampunk texture stamps at B’Sue Boutique and it looks like a great way to start. I can use them with the metal clay but I think I’ll start with polymer clay and maybe make a pair of earrings at first.   I’m also going to experiment with patinas and have found an awesome product called Gilder’s Paste that looks like SO much fun!!!   You can use it on metal and even on polymer clay.   I’ve got plans to do another weekend at Zeffer’s Farm Studio and play with resin jewelry.   There is no telling where I am going to end up!  I’m out of the box and rarin’ to go!