Letting Go

So, I've been thinking a lot lately about how much I've been "letting go".  I'm trying hard to let things go when I feel annoyed.  It definitely takes a bit of effort on my part, but I’m finding that if I can just try to lean into the part of myself that sincerely wants to feel lighter then some sort of magic happens. I’m finding that letting things go really isn’t the hardest thing in the world to do.  The more I do it the easier it seems to be.

I’ve been letting go of a lot of stuff lately too – meaning stuff in the garage, stuff I’m finding in drawers that rarely get opened – just stuff.  It’s everywhere.  Letting go is a good thing.

Vintage Florida Sea Shells

So many of the shells that we have around the house are old.  I love the way they end up looking over time.  When I was growing up we spent many years on our Florida beaches combing for shells.  We used to be able to find large conch shells but it seem these days the beaches are a little more crowded. So, I don't see as many larger shells as I did when I was young.  I'm really grateful for this super cool stash.  It's currently sporting the center of our dining table.  Things do move around a lot over here though.  Not sure where it will end up next but it will most likely always be somewhere with us in our sweet home.

Sewn Journal Pages

I love my new journal.  I sewed the pages and now they are the perfect playground on which to play.  I've been practicing all the super sonic drawing techniques I learned while attending Alisa Burke's Journal Making workshop up in Oregon this past spring.  Who knew using a simple fat black magic marker could be such a fun supply.  Well it sure is when you add the Signo uniball into the mix along with it..

Let the Jewelry Making Begin - Again

Can I get a whup-whup?  I finally got into my little studio and started making jewelry again.  Yay!  I’m an artist who makes jewelry but I make a lot of other things too.  For some reason, that I really can’t quite explain, I hit a wall with my metal making endeavors about 6 months. I’m sure you can relate to this if you’re a fellow creative.  It wasn’t because I was burned out or uninspired.  I actually felt enormously inspired, but just wanted to make other things.  I guess I’ve just decided that I’ll never be one “type” of artist.   And while that may not be good for a working artist, who’s running a creative business, it’s still good for me as a person.  I think it’s safe to say I make something every day.  Lately my studio has been over-run with paints, brushes, gesso, gel medium, pens and other supplies.  Pretty much you name it , and it’s recently made it’s way into my studio.  I’ve been having a blast with it all.  But it’s time to get focused – as much as someone like me can get focused at least.  I have some jewelry shows coming up this fall and I can’t wait.  But I really must start preparing.  Focus – Focus - Focus

My Creative Art Journal

I've been playing with art journal making techniques that I learned in Oregon.  That’s where I recently attended one of Alisa Burke’s workshops.  Since then I’ve been working with paints, pens and colored pencils.  And I’ve been trying hard to blend my own creative voice into all that my brain soaked up while I was there.  I think it’s important to mix all of the “me” that I can into whatever I learn from others.  I don’t ever want to be accused of copying other artists.  It’s hard because we all learn so much from each other and we get inspired by others.  But whenever I come back from a creative workshop the first thing I do is ponder and work to figure out how I can take all I learned and turn it into something that has a robust amount of “me” in it.  I don't know if my erasable Crayola pencil collection counts as a robust amount of "me" - but hey, it's a start.  

I also sewed my journal together rather than binding it with the metal binder machine I learned how to use up there.  I love sewing paper.  This to me was another perfect opportunity for just that.

Hand Painted Magnets

I love making things by hand.  Sometimes I really think the simpler the process the better.  Whenever I work with basic supplies and keep my process simple, I take the part of me that worries about the end result completely out of the picture.  And that's when I have the most fun making hand made things.  Making little painted magnets this way is so easy.

These little bags of wooden circle slices are inexpensive and available at your local craft store.

First paint them with a layer of white gesso.  Let that dry and then paint them with a layer of acrylic paint.

Once the paint dries use a Sharpie pen and a Uniball Signo white ink pen to add doodles and designs.

Glue magnets onto the backs of each.

The end result is an array of bright and cheerful magnets.  I just love these.  But most of all I love the process because it's a very simple and easy one. 

Painted Terra Cotta Bits and Pieces

Over the years I’ve potted A LOT of flowers and herbs.  And as a result, I’ve amassed quite an impressive collection of broken bits and pieces of terra cotta pots.  I keep them around because I put one in the bottom of each newly potted plant for good luck.  May sound weird but it’s just what I do. 

I was looking at my bowl full of terra cotta shards the other day and felt a little tug of inspiration. 

I cleaned them well with soap and water and once they dried I lightly sanded them.

I painted them with black India ink.  I’m sure you could use acrylic paint too. 

Then I sprayed them with a little bit of polyurethane spray.

I'm loving spring and I hope you are too.

Me and My Jewelry

Hi Everyone.  I'm just saying "hi" and I'm here to tell you something you may or may now know. And that's that I've been making jewelry out of silver plate platters and bowls for years.  So My shop is full of great earrings and necklaces right now.  To find out more about me and my artwork please go to http://www.marciamyricksiany.com.