A Taste of Spring

Spring is easing in this year, slowly but surely.
The bleeding hearts are blooming. I haven't gone out searching for any wildflowers. I'm satisfied with the flashy, yet coy reddish pink of the dicentra.

I do love the wild, or half-wild, violets that grow in the margins between yard and woods.

Yes, I have gotten a little studio work done, silver ginkgo leaf pendants. Four of them are for a custom order.

They actually have more of a white silvery satin sheen. In the photo, they are reflecting too many of the dark colors around them.

In the house, I've been completely redoing the kids bedrooms. If I have any energy left, I will take photos. Son gets a big heavy old style tv, complete with rf modulator, so he can play Wii in his own bedroom, with plenty of space. Daughter of course gets lots of pink flowery fluff, so much fun for Mom! :). Now if I could just find some yellow eyelet curtains..... If you see some, let me know.

fyi- I am completely giving up any serious gardening this year. I am devoting myself to all of the little home finishing jobs that we've talked about for the past 4 years but not done anything about. We still need trim in some places. We need a total interior paint job. I'd like a minimum of landscaping around the house - that sort of thing. Let's not even mention that "temporary" railing in the loft. It's time to "finish" this house.

To-dos, a kimono pin, and a featured seller

I'm back.

And I have far too much to do.  I realized that I have about one month to complete these tasks, before I fly off to teach a 2 week workshop at Haystack in Maine.  I think it's all doable, except perhaps the railing.  This list is not truly complete and does not include all of the endless lists that my family makes for me as well.

I've been waiting awhile to tell you about my first (and only so far) alchemy commission on Etsy.  Greygoat had posted a request for an "obidome", a kimono pin.  Obidome are tied to the sash of a kimono, so they use 2 loops, like a belt buckle, rather than traditional pin findings.  My husband and I are fans of Japanese kimono pins and related sword ornaments, so I just had to make a bid on it.  Greygoat decided on a bronze ginkgo leaf and it turned out beautifully!  She took some photos of it modeled on one of her kimono costumes.  Take a look.

It's wonderful to see the piece in context.  Thanks Greygoat for giving me the opportunity to make such a beautiful piece and for letting me see it in on a kimono. 

Greygoat is also a very talented clothing designer and seamstress.  Take a look at her satin knickers, well not exactly hers...  They are waiting to be yours  .  I really like her vintage scarf shirts.  Here's the one that I want



Ria vintage scarf top - russet, orange and golden leaves on olive green - size S-M

by greygoat
or maybe this one



Ria vintage scarf top - yellow and gold Canadian maple leaves - size S-M

by greygoat

Hearts and Leaves, No Bunnies

I know.  I should have bunnies right now.  Instead I have Hearts and another Ginkgo Leaf.

The matching set of heart pendant and earrings are on their way to their new owner.

And here's the back sides of them. They are created completely with chasing and repoussé.  You can see the little tool marks on both sides.

Yes, I can create more like this.  Yet every single heart will be slightly different, each one unique because I freeform sculpt each one with my little chasing tools and hammers.  I don't use a mold or form.

I also finished a sterling silver Gingko Leaf Pendant for my online shop.

Again, every leaf is individually handsawn and hammered out, using no molds or forms.  Every one is unique and has its own special magic.

This and That

Spring is finally coming. The snow is just starting to melt and the back roads are muddy. The eagles are passing through, some staking out territory in the Mississippi River Valley. Some ducks are back along with a few gulls. I saw the first heron come flying in to one of the backwaters, also looking to stake his claim early. The vultures will wait until it warms up some more. There is still time for more ice and snow before the trees leaf out.

In these delicate moments between winter and spring, I find myself working on more delicate pieces, a little smaller, perhaps more intimate.

This piece was only in my shop for a day or two before it sold.

I've been teaching myself to spin

I have no idea how much yarn is there. I'm going to use large gauge needles and start knitting with the idea of a hat. If it ends early, then I've got some kind of headwarmer.

My son is clearly an artist and loves making tshirt designs with fabric markers. Yes, they do seem to hold up through the wash.

If he keeps this up, I'll give him a section in my shop.

Here's a selection of my husband's recent jewelry work

1. Bamboo Brooch by Bill Fiorini, 2. Silver Bamboo Ring by Bill Fiorini, 3. Bamboo and Fish Roe Brooch by Fiorini, 4. Bracelet by Bill Fiorini, 5. Silver and Bamboo pendant by Bill Fiorini Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

I'm not ready to give him a section in my shop yet. I think these pieces need to go out to exhibit a bit more before they find a new home.

A Little Carried Away

See what happens when I let myself get a little carried away.  I put in all of the curves and supple edges that I want.  I let the leaves gleam and dance. I don't worry about tastefulness or decorum or where to stop.  I work until they are done and overdone, supple and alive. 

Click on the pictures for more information.

Fiber Art Fun (and metal leaves)

First- the metal. Here are a few new pendants. I've got a lot more commissioned jewelry to work, several larger jobs to design and bid on, and a show opening in Monroe Wisconsin on March 6th.
I'm busy.

However, this potential work week has been completely consumed by snow days, sick days, no-kindergarten days, and a running errand days. I didn't get more than about 90 minutes studio time, but I did get bits of fluffy stuff put together now and then in the house.

Crocheted Pink Octopus, by special request, for my daughter

litte Embroidered Heart Ornament

Needlefelted Ball Ornament, made with Whimzypinzy's handdyed alpaca locks

The same ball ornament

I've got another octopus in progress for my son. I'm also teaching myself to spin- slowly with a lot of odd looking fluffy unreadable results. I'll post pictures of that if it looks like yarn when I'm done. If it doesn't look like yarn, I'll felt it.
I'm reading an Anne McCaffrey book and have a pile of several other non-fiction books to browse. And the internet...plenty of browsing on the internet.

ahhhhh... I'd better get that designing done now.

I'm still here!

I'm still here! just not taking so many in-progress photos.  Here are a few leaves.  I prepped a lot for the show last weekend and am now listing the rest in my Etsy shop.

About that show last weekend...
Well, let's back up about 3 weekends.  I came back from a visit to my mom's house with a horrible cold.  That cold turned into a bad cough.  After 3 weeks of coughing, the NP said I had reactive airways and gave me an inhaler and some other symptom treatments, with instructions to call back if I didn't improve.  A week later, last Friday before the show, I came down with the throbbing headache and fatigue of a sinus infection.  So I called in, talked to the nurse and got a prescription for antibiotics.  I did the show anyway, a Holiday Faire at a local Waldorf school.  I did alright, although I'm not sure the customers appreciated my juicy coughs and tissues. 
On the way home in Saturday I was driving home in this ridiculous wet snow storm, still miserable with my sinus infection.  I thought for sure I'd get stuck somewhere.  I made it all the way home and 1/3 the way up the driveway before the truck's wheels started spinning.  So I parked it and walked up the drive.  Husband tried to move the truck further, but ended up driving it off the driveway, where it was really stuck.  Next day, we try to plow.  That wasn't snow.  That was a 3 inch slab of snow-ice.  All we could do was stab it with a big shovel and move snow-bergs around.   I called around and got a local guy to plow for us. It was fun to watch him.  He would back his truck up the driveway, awfully fast by the way, to crunch up the snow slabs.  Then he plowed the snow back down the driveway.  He also pulled our truck out of the yard and back onto the driveway.

I'm feeling much better and have been working for the most part, despite all sorts of distractions like snow days, kid sick days, me sick days...  Someday soon I'll have a studio update.

For now, see what my son drew on http://crayola.com

Both my kids really enjoy the site.  To get to the digi-color, click on the spinning palette under the "About Crayola" link in the left hand sidebar.  Check out the games too.  Little kids love 'em.