Jewelry By Jessica at the da Vinci Arts Fair 2009!

I had hoped to participate in the Da Vinci Art Fair here in Portland last year, but what with having a baby and all, it didn't so much work out : ) But this year, I am in like Flynn, and very excited about it!

The da Vinci Arts Fair is happening Saturday, December 5 from 10am-6pm, and Sunday December 6 from 10am - 4pm at the da Vinci Arts Middle School, located at 2508 NE Everett. The fair benefits the da Vinci Arts Middle School, which is a very awesome school. Admission to the show is free!

As usual, there are all kinds of wonderful artists participating, including the folks below. To browse a full list of the artists that will be at the show, visit the event page right here.

Unless I decide to do a little trunk show at my house (i.e. if I decide to make myself crazy busy - something I'm prone to do...) this will be my only show this season, so if you're here in Portland, please do come by! Hope to see you there!

Collage made from upcycled wool by Jenna Robertson of Woolie Originals, www.woolieoriginals.com

Rainbow Web Clutch (made out of upcycled lawn chair webbing!) by April Alden, www.rosewebs.etsy.com

Lotus Luck - Gold Ruby & Pearl Necklace, by JoAnn Lupton, www.dolcetti.etsy.com (I got to see JoAnn's work at the Belmont Street Fair this year, and it is lovely!)

"Sunflower," Oil and leaf on carved wood relief, Tom Cramer, www.tomcramer-art.info

More New Designs!

I am cranking out new designs left and right, it seems. Here are some more new pieces that are up at my Etsy shop only for the moment. Enjoy!

Laurel necklace, square, on sterling silver bead chain, $23

Solid Circle Necklace, Grey + Grey, on sterling silver bead chain, $17

Olive Branch Necklace, square, on sterling silver bead chain, $23

Very Modern Flower in Slate grey, $20

Another New Design - the Morocco Necklace!

Another new design: the Morocco. A simple, sophisticated, colorful necklace with a hand punched design based on a traditional Moroccan motif. Perfect for everyday wear!

More color options coming soon - in the meantime if you have ideas, I'm happy to create a custom color combination for you! Available only in my Etsy shop, $15.

Little Creatures Necklaces

When I write for fun, I write funny. When I draw for fun, I draw cute. I can't help it! The illustrations on these necklaces are little creatures I have drawn for my daughter Sophie since she was tiny. They are beloved in our house and beyond. And now you can take one home for yourself in necklace form.

Pictured above (from left to right) are Bunny, Puppy, Kitty, Bear and Birdie. They are all 100% guaranteed to bring a major dose of cute-i-tude to your life and the lives of those around you. They are all hand drawn by me, and hang on a really lovely sterling silver bead chain. And at $15, they're a steal! Only available at my Etsy shop.

Lower Prices!

I have been able to streamline my production processes in some fantastic and satifying ways, and decided to pass the cost savings along to my lovely, lovely (or macho, macho, depending on who's buying) customers. Go have a look around the shop, and enjoy the savings!

How I Perform Demolition on Creative Blocks

{It's not too often that my personal blog and this jewelry blog intersect, but this post seemed to be relevant to both - particularly because two new favorite jewelry artists are featured! So it's here and it's there!}

Someone recently asked or input on how a creative block looks and feels to me, and how I get past it. The first part was easy: a creative block for me is apathy. There are no interesting ideas in the world - and certainly none in my brain, which is both disheartening and depressing.

The second part of the question, how I get past a block, was harder to answer. But after thinking on it for a while, I realized that — whether I do so intentionally or not — I am almost always rescued from creative blocks by immersing myself in excellent work done by others. And in fact, sometimes I get so inspired that I end up with the problem that lies opposite on the creative block spectrum: a tidalwave of new ideas so huge I'm nearly crushed by it. (I do prefer this problem, but it has its own set of challenges.)

All that to say I've recently struck gold (somewhat literally!) in finding three new sources of major inspiration, and they've gotten me all aflutter with new ideas. Thought I'd share them here.

Line Vautrin: A French jewelry designer who worked in Paris from the 1930s through the 1980s, Vautrin's work, life, and style are all so fascinating, beautiful and charming. I'm already interested in learning how to work with precious metal clay, and Vautrin's aesthetic is pushing me into desperation-to-learn mode. (More information about the bronze bracelet above is here.)

Heather Moore: Moore, a.k.a. Skinny LaMinx has been a favorite designer for a long time, but I just started reading her blog recently. Somehow she manages to be witty, fun, substantive, intriguing and inspiring all at the same time. Her work makes me want to drop everything else and start designing screens for printing. The above fabric (which you can find and purchasehere) was inspired by cave paintings. Cave paintings!

David Neale: An Australian goldsmith with a blog, his work and his ideas and his inspirations are just so resonant for me. He is also ridiculously smart, funny and charming and generous with sharing his process.

About the series of brooches the above image belongs to (see them all here) David says: "I realise that the making of botanical jewellery is so historic and commonplace,- like some sort of universal default decorative subject...which leads me to ask myself: 'is it boring if I do it too?' Well, I am never bored by plants themselves, be it the humble Lawn or the honoured Flower Behind A Girl's Ear. So a challange hangs over my work; 'Can I say something unique and valuable in the age-old conversation that is botanical jewellery?'" I believe that he has succeeded in doing so!

How do you get past creative blocks, I wonder?

Pretty, Awesome, Pretty Awesome Treasury

Etsy seller Damjana of Lodddelina curated this supergorgeous Treasury, and was kind enough to include my Laurel necklace in French Blue and Brown. She also included things from two of my favorite Etsy shops, which I might as well blather on about now:

Lotta Hellberg of Inleaf Design made those sachets on the bottom left. Her work reminds me a bit of that other Lotta (Jansdotter) in its subtle color palates and natural textiles, but Hellberg's work tends toward the more refined and sophisticated, and I really love it. Plus, she creates her designs by printing with *actual leaves* - a technique I've tried and love, though my results have been vastly inferior to Lotta's!

Sharon Montrose's photo of a goose is in the second row in the middle. I love the way her use of the glowing white backgrounds bring into stark relief some aspect of each creature's being. Plus, they're really, really pretty : )

And now thanks to this Treasury, I've got a new favorite Etsy shop - Kuutydruk! Shop proprietess Moonika who hails from Estonia (Kuutydruk means "Moongirl" in Estonian!) is making laptop sleeves (second row, far right) as well as CD organizers, iPod covers and handbags out of linen, and embellishing them with traditional Estonian embroidery designs. I love the juxtaposition of a centuries-old sewing technique on covers for new-fangled techno gadgetry.

So - thanks again Loddelina for this amazing collection, and for making me part of it!