Happy Heart

Sometimes when I create something people ask me, "what inspired you to make that".

Sometimes it's hard to explain.

Especially if it's a mood or a feeling that was my inspiration.

Or maybe it was an experience and it was a personal thing.

Anyway...I felt like I needed some bright happy colors.

There it is.
I needed something bright and happy.

 I used an enameled copper charm that I've had for years.

 The glass lamp work beads were made by my stepdaughter, Janice.

 Janice also made most of the beads in this bracelet.

 Bright

 Happy

 Bone and Glass

What inspires you?

karen

Developing My Own Style

 Making Jewelry...

Inspiration can come to us in many forms.

Other artists, nature, moods, experiences, books, magazines, pinterest, flickr, etc., etc.

Inspiration is all around us.

 Sometimes buying a new outfit will trigger the urge to create a piece of jewelry.

Sometimes sorting through the supplies I've accumulated over the years will do it.
(Check out the cool fiber covered wire...and these ceramic beads are just awesome!)

 Treasure hunting in junk and antique shops is another place that I find inspiration.

 A little inspiration from a lot of different places and there it is...

My own style.

 A combination of tattered lace and handspun fibers.

 Glass, stone and mixed metals.

Broken vintage jewelry mixed with some new parts and pieces.

It's all coming together nicely.

Random Salvage

karen

Art Inspiration

Glass

 Metal

 Color

 

Shapes 

Clay 

Art

karen

Maine

This is the only photo that I brought back with me from my trip to Maine last week.

I decided to just take it all in without the inconvenience of dragging a heavy camera around with me this time.

The beauty of Maine and the comfort I find there remains the same each time I visit.

It's where I feel at home even though I've never lived there.

I try to spend at least a few days there every year or so.

It rained the first two days we were there, but that didn't stop us from loving it.

Our mission was to enjoy the beauty of the ocean and the fresh sea food that comes from it, and to stop at as many antique shops as we could.

We were successful at all of the above.

Some wonderful Maine honey was on my list of things to bring back. We found some still in the comb at a sweet little farmer's market.

I returned home with every item on my list and will try to share photos of them over the upcoming days. Wool, beads, and antiques.

I was in heaven!

The very best thing I brought back with me was inspiration.

Aside from gathering supplies to keep me motivated through the long winter months, I brought back enough inspiration to put those supplies to good use.

Thank you all so much for stopping by.

Please take a minute to leave a comment about your favorite place and the things that inspire you.

It gets a bit lonely living here in the woods and the comments you share with me mean so much.

Love and hugs,

Karen



Art Junk

 For some reason I find myself being addicted to junk lately. Instead of my usual trips to the craft store for supplies, I've been gathering junk to use in my art projects and to decorate my home. When I found these old wire shoes, they were filled with dusty dirty silk flowers. My daughter said she wouldn't have seen the potetial in these when I bought them. I'm thinking of doing something with moss and antique lace. It's funny how somebody's dirty, old junk makes me happy.

 I love this primitive old drawer too. I'm thinking it would make a good shadowbox.

I took down several paintings and hung these old printers drawers in their place. I'm pretty sure my husband thinks I'm losing my mind. All I know is, I'm having fun collecting junk and thinking of ways to use them as art.

Joy & Inspiration

Joy and inspiration. New friends and sharing. I am overwhelmed with the generosity and kindness that I have experienced over the past year through my journey of creating. I have met some of the most beautiful, thoughtful, creative women who have made my life richer in ways that I can't even put into words. These new friends have made me feel welcome and comfortable about who I am and what I create. I am no longer afraid to share my art with others. I feel like I fit in somewhere now. All of you, whose blogs I read, whose work I admire on Flickr and Etsy and those whose work has been published in the many books and magazines that I've purchased over the past year, I want to say THANK YOU! I love you all!

If you're wondering what the photos are...they are some gifts that I received in the mail yestersay from one of these dear friends. Thank you Sharon...I love everything!

The round stone earrings are something I made for myself.

Inspired by new found friends, I've combined crochet, metal and glass, to create this necklace. The copper parts were purchased pieces that I've taken apart and combined with a lampwork bead made by my step daughter Janice, and some copper wire. The rope is a wool cord made from a recycled sweater. A technique I learned from my dear friend Odile. I crocheted around the rope with cotton thread in freeform style. The entire piece was inspired by my new friend Sharon,  a multi talented, creative artist, who was a part of the "Round Robin" project, featured in the latest issue of "Belle Armoire Jewelry".