Fall 2007

This newsletter is long overdue, a lot has happened since I posted my spring update. The most important change is that I have moved. I have taken up residence in the village of Fairport, one of the quaint Erie Canal towns that surround Rochester. Fairport announces itself as Trail Town USA, a claim that is not overstated.  I have been an artist-in-residence at the Fairport High School every fall for five years now, and  have been pleased with Fairport's transformation. Just out of college, I followed my employer here almost thirty years ago to set up a satellite Lift Bridge Book Store at the Fairport Village Landing. At that point the canal was just beginning to be seen as an tourism asset in these villages.

After thirteen years as a city homeowner, it was time for change. I decided to radically downsize while I was at it, with less to maintain I have more time to devote to my work.  My decision to move was not without a great deal of soul-searching. Many supporters were heartbroken at the idea that I was letting go of my sweet little house. But I was unable to continue justifying the toll living in such a neighborhood took, to say nothing of my growing concern for the safety of my customers and students. For over a decade I fought the good fight, but finally realized that the daily violence was something no one seemed to have an answer for, least of all me.

My trip to Memphis in June for the SNAG was exciting and inspirational. The Society of North American Goldsmiths is populated with some of the best creative minds in the craft world. After years of admiring their work, I was awestruck to be able to interact with some of those talented people. The National Ornamental Metals Museum was the local host for the conference, which took place at the historic Peabody Hotel. I guess I was about the last one to learn about the humorous “ducklore” of the place. Tim McCreight was signing his new book PMC Decade a stunning book that I am proud to have had three pieces included.  My jewelry was also included in exhibit at the Metals Museum that represented some of the work in the book. A instructional article about the making of one of those pieces “Throw of the Dice Necklace” was published in the spring issue of PMC Studio.

In September the Friends of the Public Market sponsored the third annual “Artist Row” show. It's an event that just keeps getting better. Remember the days when you didn't have to pay a gate fee to get into an art and craft show, the booths weren't very slick, and you could always count on finding something new and original? That's this show. With great market food, dancing and drumming, it's a Rochester way to spend a fall afternoon. I was delighted to win “Best Jewelry in Show.” Bookmark their schedule of events and put it on your calendar for next year.

The Metro Justice is coming up Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1. Shouldn't holiday shopping feel good? I bet you will be surprised how many people you run into you know. There is a wide arrange of gift items; from third-world crafts, organic food products, fair trade coffee, handmade soaps and local crafts. Friday night is the traditional fund raising lasagna dinner, complete with live folk music. This show is at the Unitarian Church on Winton Road in Rochester, and it runs from 6-9:30 on Friday, and  9-30-3 on Saturday.

Call or email me for an appointment for holiday shopping and special orders. Shop when it's convenient for you. All purchases are gift wrapped. And don't forget that gift certificates are available for workshops and classes.

One of my best discoveries this year was craigs list. I offered a barter of jewelry for a pedicure for my mother for Mother's Day. I found Jeanine Bigelow at Grand Facade, on Empire Boulevard.  We not only bartered for my Mom's pedicure, but for a number of them for me as well, I have become completely spoiled. Check her out.

Oh, and the picture this month... I was called at the last minute to be the spokesperson for the annual Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show that our local lapidary and mineral clubs put on at the Dome every October. I got to met the infamous Brother Wease on radio WCMF. It was a lot of fun, and I begged him for a photo, telling him that my boyfriend wakes up with him every morning!

Be well, and be silly at every opportunity,

Elizabeth.

Spring 2007

Spring is an intoxicating time of year. I think everyone is itching to shed their skin, emerge from their cocoon and fly. I added a total of ten new items to the catalog to help you with that metamorphosis.

I am going to be a guest artist at the Anderson Alley Spring Gala, April 13 and 14, outside the studio of Richard Margolis on the fourth floor. You can check their website www.andersonalleyartists.com for times, details and directions. I will be demonstrating enameling while I am there. I've received a lot of interest in my enamel workshops and this will give you an opportunity to see what it is all about. My next workshop will be Saturday, May 5th. For more information please go to my workshop page.

The  Friday evening of the gala I may be a little out of breath if you arrive just at five, I am going to be a witness at the wedding of Dona and Dan, a wonderful couple I just finished making  wedding rings for. Congratulations you two! 

In March I participated in my first “Festival of Ideas” at Brighton High School. This is a fabulous program that has been running annually for over twenty years. Kids sign up for an afternoon of workshops, three in all, that each run for 50 minutes, for the astonishing price of $5! The variety of workshops available is impressive I counted 56, with everything from fencing to cake decorating. With the help of volunteers I was able to get a classroom of very eager kids through an enameling project start to finish in that 50 minutes, three times that afternoon. Phew! I'm already looking  forward to returning next year.

I received an SOS grant last month from the Arts and Cultural Council that will allow me to attend The Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) conference in Memphis, Tennessee this June. I really appreciated all the help and support that Claire Gunther provided, she is a valuable resource at the Council.

I had an enjoyable evening with Chris Darway recently, a Philadelphia based jeweler and teacher who was in town to teach a Precious Metal Clay Certification Course. He is one of the key members of the Advisory Board for PMC that I was asked to join in January. I am honored and excited to be part of this new adventure. Internationally thirteen of us were selected to configure a Masters Registry in PMC.

Here comes the sun,
Elizabeth

After finishing up my round of holiday shows, I was reflecting on all the glowing comments about how much new work I had to offer. It made me realize why, in part, this year has gone so fast. It’s been an exciting year of hard work and wonderful rewards.

Tim McCreight’s luscious new book “PMC Decade” will be released in the next few weeks, and I am honored to have been included in this overview of the first ten years of Precious Metal Clay. It contains three pictures of my jewelry. Looking forward, I am excited to be one of the artists from the book to be included in an invitational exhibit at the annual Society of North American Goldsmiths (SNAG) conference. It will be held at the Metals Museum in Memphis, Tennessee this June. I’ve written an article for the PMC Guild Magazine that will be included in the spring issue, just prior to the conference.

A long time ago, (I will not embarrass myself and say just how long ago.)  I got interested in enameling on copper, and it just fell by the wayside as other more urgent studio work nudged it off the R&D list. I decided to try again. I dug out my old notes, did some experimenting, and signed up to teach some workshops this last summer and fall, then looked over my shoulder and realized there was a new tidal wave of interest sweeping across the country. I could say it was good timing on my part, but it was just dumb luck! I have a few workshops coming up, and have also been conducting individual sessions in my studio. Everyone has been delighted with the pieces they have taken home. I swear it is more fun then going to a day spa! (Check the workshop page for more information about my upcoming workshops in PMC, polymer clay and enamels.)

Enamels have a quality all their own, the beautiful colors are hard to duplicate in any other way. My favorite way to use enamels at the present is in linked bracelets because I consistently default to repetition in design.

People who have ever been to my house can attest to this. Anything I take a shine to I have in multiples, from the row of whisk brooms hanging on my porch, to my collection of sock monkeys, bowling pins, world globes, teapots, or miniature chairs, they all please me more when they exist as a repeated, but not necessarily identical, pattern.

Oh, and my latest collection of “things” are the beautiful etched porcelain vases with a celadon glaze by Molly Oliver, that I joyfully received at a holiday swap party. If you are interested in seeing her beautiful work yourself, she works at the Memorial Art Gallery Gift Shop, and has some on display there.

I was thrilled with how many of you found my website a good place to come for holiday shopping. This was my best year yet for last minute shoppers. I also want to extend a special thanks to all of you who stop by my site and email me nice words about my jewelry. It’s very touching that you take the time to do that. I worked hard this year to tweak a few things under the hood in order to boost my search engine ranking, and it seems to have made a big difference.

Still praying for peace and wisdom,
Elizabeth.