Silver Feathers

Encouraging Creativity

Last week I taught two classes for kids ages 7 -13,  in Cooperstown, NY at their Art Association. Every year I teach at least one class somewhere in the vicinity of where I live....once upon a time teaching much more regularly. Now, with most of my time spent working on my own designs & building my own business I have less time to teach. Or rather, I make less time to teach. But I really do love it. 

I think creativity is vital to our well being, as humans. Just as exercise is to overall health, so is creativity. Even if it's not your main path in life, even if your career is in another field entirely, it will keep you balanced. However, when I teach, it's more often than not, to young kids. I love their ability to explore & play, their happiness in getting messy & using new tools. I love fostering that type of environment for them & hope that if I can make it fun.... than perhaps they'll hold onto that knowledge as they grow up and become adults.

Last week, the classes I held were a Collage/bookmaking class & also a Basic metalsmithing/Jewelry design class. Both went super well, especially the jewelry class, where I was worried slightly about the actual classroom layout & the fact that we were directly over the public library. We would be hammering for a couple hours straight, and I was concerned about the silent state of affairs below us. But it went great.

working away....

Collage & Bookbinding Class

This little fellow came in through the open window & hung out with us for a while too.

Metals & Jewelry Class

 Punching out brass circles

 Happy Camper with a beautiful necklace she'd just made.

Some super talented & creative kids in the class. 

And I shall be teaching HERE this week as well!

Camping in the Adirondaks

Summer Pinwheels

 As the temperature reached upwards of 90 degrees yesterday, my studio was a haven of coolness. 

And as I enjoyed the refuge of the cool concrete and brick, I constructed this fun, new series of pinwheel earrings from sterling silver, copper and enamel.

And these little beauties too:

My cats, however, spent most of the afternoon

attempting to stay cool in the shade of the picnic table.

Beautiful Blues.....

Inspired by my avian visitor last week, I went into the studio to create some new earrings. 

Hand cut copper feathers: 

Enameled with blues & whites and finished with a sterling silver wrapped rivet.

I gave one lovely pair to a friend for her birthday, and still have three left in the series.

(though I may have to keep a pair for myself!)

Super happy with the way they turned out!

Refresh

"Refresh"

Illustration Friday's theme

Blue Jay Visit....

                This was the view in my bedroom window, early one morning this past week.

How beautiful. 

Seriously. 

The color and the wingspan....sigh. And the beads that hang in the window, couldn't have been a better accent to the moment.  

It makes me happy.

*****

Have a wonderfully safe 4th!

New Earrings

For my craft show in Glens Falls, New York two weeks ago I made a new series of earrings that I love. Only a couple left of this wonderful bunch.  Hope to list them in my shop shortly.....