Purge

It feels so good to get rid of excessive stuff- makes my mind feel a little less cloudy. YEPEE!

Enamel Workshop

The Enamel Cluster workshop at Fayetteville Museum of Art went really well on Saturday. We had a great group- everyone's pieces turned out beautifully and remarkably unique.The time flew by and before we knew it- it was 5:00. The technique was fun and was a non-traditional approach to enameling, sometimes it is really nice to break the rules.

Thank you to artist-Leslie Pearson for the photographs. And thank you to- Connie, Lee, Nancy, Leslie, Melissa, Kim, Gail, Kathy and Lise- I cannot think of a better way to spend my Saturday.

Texture, Repetition, Asymmetry, Form

I am constantly defining myself as an artist, trying to get that artist statement just right. It seems like every time I think I've got it nailed down something really remarkable will happen, an epiphany perhaps, or just the realization that nailing myself down, defining what moves me is really hard.

So lately I am obsessed with some new things-birds, flight, decay, the ocean (creatures, the reef, fossilized stuff, the unknown) and bugs (macro-photography)- just to name a few.How does all of this play into me-the artist?

This is how I see it today- Texture, Repetition, Asymmetry and Form are the things that truly move me/ inspire me. And it is through all of these things- a piece of reef, broken shell, decaying rose, etc. that I find moments that for me are profound.

My conceptual work comes from somewhere completely different- I guess I will save that for another day.

I went back to the rose in my front yard thinking that it would be nice to have some photos of its various stages (full bloom, decay)- and look who I found, this little fellow was less than a centimeter long.

Form and Texture-Seaside

Our trip to Ocean Isle was fantastic. I spent a tremendous amount of time combing the sand and found some truly amazing things. I will guess that my bag of seaside finds would probably weigh in at about 10 lbs. I found that walking at different times of the day yielded vastly different finds. In the mornings I saw creatures- jellyfish, crabs, and even a shark (about 4' long) but in the late evening I would find fossils and urchins (my favorites). As always the experience has inspired me to get in my studio and make new things. Form and texture have always been my focus and a good trip to the shore just fills my head with possibilities.

The shore

This sunny Friday afternoon finds me readying myself for a trip to Ocean Isle. I am absolutely beside myself with excitement about this adventure. Time spent with my family and the opportunity to let the tides inspire me. I am always profoundly moved when I take a trip to the shore. On one of my many walks along the coast searching for something new I am inevitably stopped in my tracks- by a piece of reef or broken shell- the texture and form always evoke rapid fire jewelry designs- my mind just goes nuts, and I absolutely love it. I hope to come back with some amazing finds and great memories of real time spent with my family.

Natural Beauty

A blue bird on the streets of Greenville, South Carolina- so vibrant, each feather like a gem.She/he was a welcome sight in the hustle of the city.

I am constantly inspired by things that I see. The intense color of this rose, the delicacy and it is right in my front yard. I am so grateful for this amazing surprise every spring.