Fundraising raffle for Nyght Storm

Nyght Storm is a 25 year old Arabian Stallion, who was given a new chance at life after his previous long time owner could no longer care for him. Storm was very weak, emaciated, covered in wounds from his pasture mates beating up on him, had mud fever, parasites and his fur was melted in some areas from trying to keep warm by laying on a burn pile. Thankfully a new home was found for him just in time, and in just 3 months Storm has made a full recovery! The next step to allow Storm healthy and happy golden years is castration. This will allow Storm to be kept in herd situations and he will no longer be preoccupied with breeding which can be very stressful.

For every 5.00 donation you'll get an entry into the raffle. First prize will be this bracelet, copper byzantine with a handcrafted by me ID tag with "Be Brave" stamped into it. A sterling silver heart rivited onto it and some wonderful texturing make this a eye catching piece.

The bracelet measures 7 inches long and aprox 6 mm thick. All findings are copper.

Second prize will win this ring, a adorable daisy bead with a purple center, soft lavender petals with bright pink tips. Bead is of course made by me! All metals are sterling silver. The ring band is lightly hammered

You can paypal donations to nvalentine@shaw.ca Raffle will go to monday March 7th 7pm.

This is a wondrful cause, rescues can be expensive and every little bit will help!

Shenanigans in the snow this morning!

We finally got a chance to try skijoring (well our version of it) this morning! Indy is such a trooper, he slogged around for about 5 min huffing and puffing breaking a trail, then the inner tube started to slide and make noise WELL he scooted off, tail over his back, snorting like a dragon. After he spun around and got a look at the inner tube he shook his head, rolled his eyes and went back to pulling us around. He's such a great horse!

Featured artist - Karla Aron

The first thing that attracted me to Karla’s work was the birds, the sweet little bird pairs. They seem so magical to me. The Mama & Me ones are my absolute favorites.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/60016807/mama-and-me-print-5x7-or-6x6

Then I fell in love with her print! Love Makes Everything Better is so simple and sweet.

http://www.etsy.com/listing/50204039/love-makes-everything-better-print-8x10

I found myself repeating that phrase over and over while I wandered through my day. Have a look at her etsy, you won’t be disappointed.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/enrouge?ref=top_trail

How long have you been working in your medium?

I started drawing and painting about 5 years ago. My dad was a graphics artist, but it never occurred to me to consider making art until relatively recently. I spent all my college and grad school years in music . . studying to be a concert pianist. The thought of trying to become an artist was such a lofty idea to me. I am still a little uncomfortable referring to myself as an artist, but I surely do love making art. It's like another voice for me altogether that I can go to to either try to say something, or to try to hear something speaking back to me.

What drew you to this medium?

I like the illusion of two-dimensional drawing and painting. I like how paintings let me in to look around and get lost. . . to create my own world there. I may not even be seeing what the artist intended, or why he or she painted it, but it doesn't matter if I can find my own narrative there.

I suppose initially (and it's still true for me) I was drawn to painting and drawing for self-expression. That's all I've ever wanted to do is try to express what it is that I'm feeling or perceiving . . . I have a need to try to connect with people that way. Sometimes it works best to try to realize it in a painting, and sometimes it feels better to me to write a song.

What is your favorite thing about your art?

The feeling of permanence . . . I'm coming from a perspective of being a performing musician, where you practice for hours on end, give a recital, and then it's all over and done. All you have left is a memory and a feeling, which over time wanes in your mind. So, I just love that I can make a painting and have it near me to see again and again. I like that I have something tangible. I can move it around the house, put it in a show, or take it on a roadtrip if I want. I also like that I can see where my head was at the time I was painting it.

What's your favorite piece?

Hanging in our living room above the fireplace is probably my favorite painting--it's a cellist painting from a series of six cellists that I painted about two years ago. I sold all but one, "Forte".

What's the hardest piece you've ever made?

I have a big 5 foot painting of a jazz bass player and combo that took a lot of re-working. I stretched my own canvas which was really hard and time-consuming, then I set out to paint that huge thing with no real plan of where I was headed.

What’s the one favorite tool you cannot live without?

My Bob Ross palette knife. I make every painting with it.

What’s your favorite thing about your workspace or studio?

Well. . . I'm afraid I've got studio issues these days. My husband and I recently relocated, and this new house has plenty of room and fairly good light in the downstairs area, but I just don't feel inclined to paint there partly because it's cold. So, I've been working upstairs in the kitchen. I like it up here because we have big vaulted ceilings, windows and lots of light. And it's warm!

What is your other craft?

Music is my only other real craft . . . I'm working on my jazz playing right now with dreams of playing in a nice jazz lounge.

Who or what inspires you?

I'm inspired by Rebecca Rebouche . . by her work and the way she seems to be, which I base on her blog. She's got Deep South New Orleans roots, which is different from my Arkansas, Ozark Mountain, kind of upbringing, yet there's something that resonates with me so strongly. Looking at her work reminds me of my grandma's quilts, and what it's like to eat cornbread dunked in milk on a hot muggy evening in Arkansas. I have a good deal of Southern homesickness now and then and keep trying to find a way to express that in a painting. Rebecca does it beautifully.

What's your favorite inspirational saying?

"I am a thriving artist." Marisa Haedike of Creative Thursday has started perpetuating this philosophy on her blog and in some of her artwork on Etsy. I find myself saying it under my breath as a mantra.

What's one thing you've never done you always wanted to do?

Right now what I really want to do is make a music video using one of my songs. I think that putting film together with music can be so powerful, and I've wanted to try it for a long time. I'm in awe of anyone who can put those elements together. So, I'm just going to go for it and see what happens!

Snow!

I woke up this morning to a winter wonderland! My kinda day! It snowed a lot last night and is still snowing as I type. This is the view from my TV room window. The horses are enjoying it, everyone had a good roll in the snow this morning.

The cat however is not such a fan, he went outside for about 5 min this morning and has now parked himself on the couch.

Lofty Goals fulfilled!

I don't know if you remember me posting this post about Lofty Goals? I talked about one day going to a remote cabin in the woods. Well I think it came to fruition! On top of the mountain we went snowmobiling too there was this cabin! I never really thought much of it till we had got to the bottom and were buzzing along on a flat trail. I had time to think, watched a bird fly along beside me then BLAMO! I realized I'd visited my cabin in the woods!

Snowmobiling day three

The view from the top of the mountain we snowmobiled up day three! It was HARD work, but boy was it worth it.

See this steep hill? Well we had to go sideways across it! I fell over and really thought I was in way over my head! But Roddy and Terry got me out, and Maggie buzzed up beside me and pointed straight up the hill and said "GO!" good thing she gave me no time to think about it, I headed up and loe and behold I did it! Never underestimate yourself. This day was a wonderful day where I realized I really can do just about anything if I set my mind to it!

Snowmobiling day two

Snowmobiling day two was a bit harder. The snow was "punky" and we got stuck a bit more often. We found some great trails but then ran into a problem. A tree down that was too big to cut. Sooooo........

We had to turn around. I had already been stuck a few times so I suggested Terry turn my sled around for me to avoid getting stuck again. But Roddy thought he could do it so off he went. And got stuck! Well I could have done that!

After digging Roddy out Terry attempted to turn around, and he got stuck too! They looked like three little ducks trying to work his sled out.

Terry is out! And the rest of us all got turned around without too much incidence. What a great day! It started to snow a little bit as we headed back and it's so pretty!

Snowmobiling day one

We were in Princeton last week at good friends Maggie and Terry Turner. They took us out snowmobiling, snowshoeing and we got a good visit! I really miss them now that they've moved up North but seeing the gorgeous country this last week I can totally see why they moved.

Day One snowmobiling. I was slow and got stuck a few times. But everyone is friendly and happy to help you out. Can you tell my the grins on our faces we are having fun?

We went a was out in the bush up to a clear cut and everyone played around. I took pictures and got in a bit of a rest, the throttle was a bit tough on my right thumb. They found a little jump and everyone (except me) gave it a go.

Then we found a big hill and everyone took turns wizzing up and down it. I even gave this a go!

I had no idea it'd be so much fun!

Waxing and Waning

As an artist I find myself often flitting from one piece to the next. I look at my work bench and see several 1/2 finished pieces, some have been sitting there for a while. Glass may entrance me this week but next week it may be metal, sometimes the shift lasts weeks or even months. I never know what's going to draw me back to the other or when. While I never truly move completely away from either medium I do swap back and forth a lot. It makes me wonder if there is a more efficient way of working?

How I fell in love with creating

I'm not sure when I fell in love with creating, or if I was just born this way. I've always saved bits and pieces, cut things out, glued things together. I remember making journals when I was small, taking art in middle school and wanting to be a designer in high school.

There is something incredibly rewarding about taking something, anything and making it into something else. I pick up a rod of glass and can fashion it into many many different things. It's magical! I say quite often how lucky I am to be able to do something I love every day. It's pretty cool to wander to the studio and create, whether it be glass or metal.

I find myself loosing track of time when creating, often getting lost in the process. It's not uncommon for me to realize I've forgotten to eat lunch or that it's now dark out and horses need to be fed.

Bead Soup Goodies

I am finally home from my trip to Washington! I had a wonderful time. I took a boro class with Thomas from Glass Alchemy that was full of info, great great class. Spent many many hours in the company off good friends trying out some new things, laughing and having tons of fun!

I came home to find my Bead Soup goodies had arrived from my swap partner Lisa Godfrey! She sent me two color combo's and I am going to do my best to make something out of each combo. I admit the turquoise's are more me, it's one of my favorite colors! She sent me a whole lotta goodies!

Here's a quick picture of what she sent me.

Here's a quick picture of what I sent her. I'm really excited to see what she makes!

Seattle skyline

In Seattle tonight, the skyline is pretty here once the sun starts to go down. We can barely see the water from our hotel. Going to Wild Ginger for what is always a yummy dinner!

Give me some input?

Looking for some input from those of you willing to give it.

I'm really enjoying making penny charms. I find them really fun and oddly relaxing. My question is what pictures, sayings or photos would you like to see on them? Do you have any creative ideas on how to use them? I'm interested to hear what you have to say.

Working outside your limits

I'm in washington this week at good friends studio M & D Designs. I've had the pleasure of playing with boro all week and am really enjoying it. I've worked on a lot of things I'd have never thought I could have made! It's helped to have great friends to help me out, thanks to Chrisann, Pat, Terri, Andrea, Marion, Kari, Marian and Vicky!

It's made me think, what new things would people like to see from me? What old thing would you like to see done again?

Cape Disappointment Lighthouse

It's a gorgeous day here!

Featured Artist - Joan Miller

Featured Artist: Joan Miller – Fleetwood PA

Joan Miller Porcelain

Http://www.JoanMillerPorcelain.Etsy.com

　

Joan Miller has one Etsy artist I have had in my favorites since my very first days on Etsy. I must admit I was thrilled when she agreed to do this non Sateam interview.

The very first thing that drew me to her work was her sugar skull beads. Their toothy grins really made me want to smile a toothy grin, and her colors are always bright. Her dolls always make me wonder at the detail and I can see them hanging above a work station, sending good creative kharma.

My current favorite is her Ribbed Beads. I love the texture in them!

How long have you been working in your medium?

22 years

What drew you to this medium?

I have always loved working in clay. I didn’t really find my direction while in art school but it gave me a great foundation. After graduation I found myself drifting and not knowing what to do. I took a class at a local ceramic art center that was near my home and the rest is history.

　

What is your favorite thing about your art?

The unlimited possibilities of ceramic art. I think they are even broader on the small scale of beads because you can really push the boundaries of what clay can do.

What's your favorite piece?

It changes constantly. Usually whatever I am working on that is new to me or takes a little different direction.

What's the hardest piece you've ever made?

I really don’t think of any piece as hard to make. Time consuming: yes. Some of the pieces I make would have been hard for me to make five years ago. Longevity in a single media hopefully gives one mastery in a large number of techniques so there is usually a way to bring an idea into being without too much struggle.

What’s the one favorite tool you cannot live without?

Small detail and liner brushes. I buy them by the dozens and then there are still favorites as I break them in. Sometimes losing a hair or two makes them perfect, but it never lasts.

What’s your favorite thing about your workspace or studio?

Well there I am a bit lacking. My studio is a jumbled mess crammed in a 10 X 11 bedroom. Guess my favorite thing is a really don’t need much more than 6’ table space to do my work. My other favorite thing that is frequently in my studio space is my dogs.

What is your other craft?

Assembling jewelry, but other than wiring my doll pendants together I don’t get to do a lot of it.

Who or what inspires you? ( include links if you have them)

I am very process inspired but certain popular imaged always sneak in or a customer asks me to do something and I find I really like it.

What's your favorite inspirational saying?

I don’ t have a specific saying but as an artist working and selling for 2 decades there have been ups and downs. The downs used to really get me down until one day I realized when things are going really well business-wise you don’t have time to experiment and be really creative. You wind up doing what is already working and new ideas go on the back burner. Since then I have learned to cherish the slow times and take advantage of the creative opportunities they provide. So my saying would be "Cherish the slow times."

　

What's one thing you've never done you always wanted to do?

Right now. Electroform on ceramic beads. I bought supplies( three years ago) to do it but haven’t gotten around to it.

http://www.artisansaccomplice.com/artists/joanmiller

http://eastcoast-westcoastbeads.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/JoanMillerPorcelain