I Dig It Designs

The aspens have turned and the leaves are falling...

2011-10-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted in quite a while although I have been busy creating lots of new things, traveling and celebrating a birthday (a big one...) So I will have to backtrack a little and post some fun pictures of my birthday bungee bash and my fabulous trip to Paris. But for now, I will just post some simple things!

With fall coming fast here in the mountains, our aspen trees are bright gold and it is time to collect my stash for winter so I can keep on making aspen leaves throughout the winter. Below is a little necklace made of bronze and copper aspen leaves with pearls and chain. Each leaf is one of a kind. After firing they are hammered to give then a little curve. Then I let them patina naturally. Some have tiny holes prepared so that I can add tiny Swarovski crystal chatons for a little sparkle!

Hearts Wings and Stars

2011-08-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

I made a bunch of new designs last week using Copper Clay. I created some different bails using rolled out snakes of clay and attaching them to my pendants with little round balls. The problem I discovered is that when the copper clay shrinks (and it shrinks a lot), my little bails pulled away from the pendant. One of them actually broke off (winged heart) and two separated on one side but I have repaired them. I'm slowly learning about some of the limitations/nuances of the copper. Shrinkage does weird things!

Getting ready for shows, classes, workshops

2011-08-11T19:54:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last couple of day getting ready for a variety of things that all seem to be snowballing! Even though I have known about all of these upcoming things, I guess I sort of put them on the back burner thinking there would be plenty of time and then suddenly time is running short. This week I have prepared jewelry for an upcoming show at the Center For the Arts Evergreen, our local art center. I've inventoried about 16 pieces for that show. On top of that I have also framed three new paintings for the same show. And, of course because I don't have a lot of time left, I almost ruined one of the frames by drilling right through it! Fortunately, it was repairable. I still have time for this show except that all next week I will be in a workshop. Oops! Didn't quite have that date in my head. So after finishing the jewelry and framing I had to get everything ready for my workshop with Richard McKinley. He's one of my favorite pastel painters and it's so wonderful that he's coming to Denver to teach a workshop. But that isn't all, I also found out that Monday is the deadline for Winterfest - a local holiday arts and crafts event. So I had to prepare 4 photographs to be presented along with my application for jurying into the show. But wait .... there's more (I sound like a late night commercial) I also found out that I had missed getting in my class proposal for teaching at our local art center. Oops again. Jonathan at our art center was kind enough to accept my very late proposal (along with a photo and updated bio...). Is that it? Well, maybe for today.

So, I am posting a couple of images that went along with me Winterfest proposal. I wonder if I will get in? They are not professional photos, and I did spend quite a bit of time this morning trying to give them nice, neutral, white backgrounds. But in the end I used my artsy images. I think the pieces just looked better in a little bit of a setting. I could be wrong... we shall see.

Copper birdhouse

Fine silver pine needle pendant on silk cord with freshwater pearls

Oh my gosh, I think got befuddled...

2011-08-08T10:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I decided that I was getting a bit overwhelmed with all the new metal pieces I have created. I had put several for sale in my Etsy store and also put some in the gallery in Georgetown. Plus I had a bunch that were labeled for other things/projects/shows. Very confusing. Too many little bags with too many labels. So I decided I better go through everything and make sure I had everything in the right pile. To my surprise, some of my Etsy pieces made their way to Georgetown! Yikes. So, now I need to take a ride up to G'town and switch things out.

Does anyone else have a problem tracking inventory? When you have paintings, it isn't quite as confusing. When you have jewelry and components, it's a whole other world!

I wish a had a better tracking system than piles...

Turning the new pieces into wearable art!

2011-08-06T13:02:00.000-07:00

It's so much fun to make my new metal clay pieces, but honestly, I have a lot of pieces right now so it's time to turn them into little pieces of wearable art. I've experimented with several different designs using cord, leather and little beaded embellishments. Most of my beaded jewelry is about the beads and stones, these are all about the focal piece, and the necklace becomes part of the supporting cast!

Here we have a couple of birdhouses and a piney pendant. All the pendants are made from bronze metal clay and the little pine cone charm was made with copper metal clay. I have them haning on silk cord, knotted, faux-silk cord, leather and crocheted silk with pearls and goldstone. They all have that nice woodlands feel to them with the brown and green colors and knotted cords reminiscent of pine boughs and tree limbs. Fun! I will be listing some of these in my etsy store and others will wind up in my gallery up in Georgetown, Colorado.

My page at the Colorado Mountain Art Gallery
My Etsy Store

Before, during and after

2011-08-04T07:29:00.000-07:00

I've been working with copper and bronze metal clays for a couple of months now. I finally bought myself a kiln so I could work with these metal clays. So far the copper has been a dream, but the bronze clays have been giving me a bit of trouble! I've worked with the (slower) BronzeClay and also with the Fast Fire BronzeClay. But really, the fast fire isn't as fast as the directions say! Maybe it's because I live at 7800 feet, or maybe it's because I use a ceramic firing vessel in my kiln, but I've had a hard time getting the firing time right with the fast fire. But I think I'm getting closer! It's such a beautiful product that I'm bound and determined to figure it out.

The other thing that's been weird is the regular bronze clay looks quite different from the first to second package. The color was much darker on the first package of clay, but in the end, everything seemed to fire about the same. I do like the original bronze clay because I haven't had the problems associated with the fast fire, but the fire time (9 hours) is sort of a drag. When I first started using metal clay I only worked with PMC3 and fired it with my torch within just a few minutes. Just spoiled I guess.

Original BronzeClay - but look at the darker pieces! They were from a different package...

My pieces before firing

Here they are out of the kiln (notice 2 of my leaves split)

Here they are after tumbling. Everything came out great except those 2 little leaves that split. I'm not really sure why since I think 3 cards thick should be OK. But I'll have to experiment a little more. I do want some of my aspen leaves to be thin.

Inspired by .... my studio!

2011-08-04T07:14:00.000-07:00

I am very lucky to have a studio space of my own. When I first started painting, I was a Sunday painter because I was still working, and the only space I had was my dining table. But of course I always had to pack everything up when I was done so we could eat! Then it progressed to the basement and finally the garage. But I never had good light or enough space. Then my husband retired and we decided to build a new garage with an art studio above. He was totally on board with this because he got to use the old garage as his workshop! A win win all the way around.

It's now been several years and my studio has grown into a fabulous space both inside and out. My studio is now a big airy, bright space with lots of room for painting, jewelry making, friends, classes and home to my bunny Thumper.

Wecome to my studio!

Freckles in my lavender toile chair! I have 3 doggie beds in the studio, but noooooooooo! She has to have my chair!

Not only do I have plenty of room (and a bathroom to boot), I also have put out a lot of things that I have collected over the years including my vintage jewelry, antique micro beaded purses and my collection of mid-century lucite purses. I love looking at all of these things. My collection also includes lots and lots of stuff from yard sales including most of my furniture. My big sideboard came from an antique store and my cabinets were purchased with money made from my paintings! I love looking around my studio and seeing all of these things that provide endless inspiration. And of course, if that wasn't enough, all I have to do is look out my windows to see the mountains, aspens and evergreens, elk, mule deer, foxes and the ever-changing Colorado weather!

some of my vintage jewelry

beads, and vintage compacts in a vintage tool box!

My antique wooden tool boxes have lots of little drawers and each one has something fabulous. It's like a treasure hunt to open them up and see what's there. Little micro beaded purses made in France in the late 1800s, small dance purses from the 1940s to 1960s, old photographs. So many treasures collected over a lifetime and now they finally have a home where they can be seen and treasured! You'll have to come and visit to see for yourself!

The Queen Bee

2011-07-31T12:49:00.000-07:00

Two views of "The Queen Bee"

The Queen Bee - made with bronze metal clay. First I cast the bee and attached it to a 2 piece background with bezel, then I rolled out a really long snake, wrapped the entire piece to make the bail and bottom loop and then added the little bronze balls. It was then kiln fired, tumbled, dremel'ed (is that a word?) and then torch patina'd. Then I added a big fat Swarovski galactic crystal to look like a huge drop of gooey honey. It hangs from a suede cord with a hand made hammered hook and eye made from copper wire. Yummy!

This was a fun piece to make because it actually went well! Getting all the detail carved out of the bee was not easy. Actually I had to do it twice before I was happy with it. But all the rest of the construction went very well. Rolling out that snake made me really happy because I got it on the first try and it fit perfectly.

I wanted to enter this into a challenge from Humblebeads. The theme was bees. And here I was with a big fat bee just waiting to be fired. I wanted to tie it to typical bee activity - like making honey! And what could be better than finding a big fat Swarovski crystal in my stash?

Panning for gold.... (actually copper!)

2011-07-30T11:49:00.000-07:00

Shiny new copper pieces just out of the tumbler!

For the last 2 days my friend Kristal and I worked on some projects at my studio. We were creating a lot of pendants and beads inspired by my Hidden Fawn Collection. Hidden Fawn is one of my favorite little hiking trails at Three Sisters Open Space Park. For years I have taken my doggies there for our little hikes. It's a short trail, only a mile, but just right when you don't want a big hike and you just want to get the doggies out for some exercise.

A few years ago I started collecting little pieces of pine, juniper, bark, pine cones, leaves and grasses to make molds for my Silver Precious Metal Clay pendants. Now I have added copper and bronze clay to my tool chest and create a lot of beautiful pendants, charms and beads for my Hidden Fawn Collection.

Kristal and I spent the last two days creating some of these pieces together. The first batch was created with copper clay. After molding, shaping, drying, firing and tumbling, I spilled the tumbler contents into an old saucer and "panned" away the dirty water, revealing the beautiful copper pieces against the metal shot from the tumbler. It really felt like I was panning for gold. Now I know how those old miners must have felt during the Colorado Gold Rush! I truly felt as if I struck it rich!

Making molds for piney pendants and aspen leaves

A finshed Piney Pendant in Copper

These new copper pieces will be added to my Etsy store over the next few days.

Movin' Dirt for Nubby

2011-07-27T19:28:00.000-07:00

Nubby, June 2011, sitting in my new lavender toile chair

So here is my little sweetheart Nubby. She is 14-1/2 years old and according to the chart at my vet's office she is about 74. Don't do the math since it doesn't work for little doggies. Little Nub (she has a nub for a tail) has a hard time getting around these days. Her little leggies just don't have the control and so she slides around on the hardwood floors and slips back one step for every three steps she takes up the stairs. But, she is healthy and happy and gets around pretty well despite everything. But one of the challenges for this little dog is our dog run. It's bumpy, rocky and sloped. Plus there is a big jump from the doggie deck down to the ground due to years of erosion and poop scoopin'. So today we moved dirt for Nubby. We dug dirt, moved rocks, added terraces, reinforced the steps, and added lots of good smelling mulch to fill in the naked spots and create soft places to fall. It was hard work and will take days to complete the entire project, but she is worth everything! I love my doggies!

"My goal is to be the person my dog thinks I am"

Working away at the pile of mulch. So not fun.

Saving our trees

2011-07-26T08:59:00.000-07:00

Today our local tree service is here spraying our Ponderosa Pine trees. Here in the mountains of Colorado we have a terrible problem with mountain pine beetle. Once they attack your trees, the trees die - quickly! We had a big ponderosa that very suddenly turned brown. So we had it taken down and then decided we better spray the rest of our beautiful ponderosas in order to (hopefully) save them from the same fate.

I'm so lucky to live where I do. As I look outside my window I can see a robin sitting in her nest, aspen trees, white pine and Ponderosa pine, foxes, mule deer, elk. Just so much beauty. My environment has a big influence on my artwork. Whether painting or creating jewelry or working in metal clay, somehow these elements become a part of my work.

My little piney pendants are created directly from the pine branches. I press a section of needles into polymer clay and make several molds at once. Then I can use these molds to make my metal clay pendants. Sometimes I add a little hand sculpted bird, or a pine cone, or even a little owl sitting the the needles.

Fine Silver Piney Pendant on hand crocheted black silk with gray freshwater pearls.

Monday mornings used to be so hard....

2011-07-25T08:52:00.000-07:00

I remember dreading Mondays. It meant the start of the work week and getting up early to get ready for work. But these days I like Mondays cuz all days are like Saturday now! Retirement is great. Leaves you lots and lots of time to focus on the things you really love the most. My home, my doggies, my sweetie and my art! So, here are a few more items that I finished yesterday. I just added them to my Etsy store. Making these birdhouses is just so much fun because each one is a little individual piece of art. No two are alike even if you try to make them alike (not that I've done that).

Copper and Bronze Birdhouses with Swarovski bling!

They are actually pretty easy to make once you get a feel for the clay, and once you have all your tools ready to go. I have a set of tools that makes cutting out the shapes pretty easy. There are always variations of course and sometimes the clay gets weird and doesn't want to cooperate. Metal clays tend to dry out pretty fast, so you have to have your plan and work quickly and efficiently. The copper, bronze and silver all feel a little different and each one behaves just a little differently. The silver seems to dry and crack the fastest and takes a little more time to rehydrate. The bronze seems to absorb added water quickly although firing it is a *****. If you know what I mean. The copper has been easy so far - fires like a dream and has a beautiful shine. I love them all for different reasons.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

2011-07-24T13:10:00.000-07:00

Colorado. Just so beautiful. We wait and wait and wait for summer to come. Living at 7800 feet, winter lasts a pretty long time. It's so lush and gorgeous right now that we just revel in it. My little bit of garden has grass - yes, green grass. And flowers. Course, the only reason I have flowers is because we spent a small forture installing a huge, freakin' fence! Otherwise my flowers and plants would just be snacks for the elk and mule deer. I don't mind sharing, but come on!

My art studio and Thumpie's Garden

Welcome! Just enter through my moon gate to the little paradise...

and meet Thumpie! Actually, Thump lives in the studio. He just comes out for "hop time". Gotta watch out for birds of prey. They pay no attention to my fence...

How lucky am I?

New Etsy Store

2011-07-24T09:55:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I set up my new Etsy store. It can be found at AspenForestStudio.etsy.com. This is a new store that is shared with my good friend Kristal Wick. Kristal is the ultimate bling girl. And I mean ultimate! She makes fabulous jewelry, designs her own beads in silk, has written her own book, is on TV making jewelry for Beads, Baubles and Jewels, is an ambassador for Swarovski and on an on. I love to live vicariouly through her. Her life sounds so fun although I know that the truth is she has to work Really Really HARD to be where she is today. I love to hear all about her on-going projects, trips and ideas. So much fun. You can visit Kristal's web site at http://www.kristalwick.com.

Anyway, Kristal and I are cosmic sisters and share so many interests including, of course, jewelry making, dogs, chocolate and the Colorado mountains. We recently decided that making jewelry together is sinfully fun and addictive and we've kicked out so much fabulous stuff that it needs to be shared with the world of beading babes. So, we are setting up our Etsy store to showcase our designs. Everything is handmade using metal clay! Silver, copper, bronze. It is just incredible stuff. Then we add lots of little bling to go along with the metal, and voila! Treasures in metal and crystal.

Oh, and the Etsy Store is called Aspen Forest Studio due to the aspen trees all around the property. And after all, aspens are just soooo mountainy and Colorado.

Bronze bird house with amber and amethyst and ametrine crystals!

Handcast canadian cherry "floating" leaf in bronze on leather

Bronze leaves from the aspen tree next to my studio

New Blog! Woo woo!

2011-07-23T21:36:00.000-07:00

OK, I've blogged before, but so many things have changed over the years (including my name) that it really is time to start a new blog! So where should I start? Maybe start with today and work backwards??? Just don't know where to begin so I will begin at the end. Today I photographed all sorts of fabulous metal clay pieces which of course need to be posted, but there are so many! The result of weeks of work in fabricating all kinds of pendants and beads.

I have recently started working with copper and bronze clay. LOVE them both. So much fun. But to work on them I needed to own a kiln and to have time to operate the kiln and make the clay pieces I had to have more time and in order to have more time, I just had to retire! Yes! Retire. What a big life step. Took years of thinking about it to actually make it happen. But that's another story. For now, let me just post photos! Fabulous, beautiful photos of fabulous beautiful metal clay treasures!

First firing of Fast Fire Bronze

Yum... Copper Clay Pieces

Piney Pendants in Bronze

Bird Houses and little birds...

This is very addictive...