sale at my my pattie etsy shop -

marsha neal is having a sale this weekend at the my mom pattie shop... click on over to see work by various designers using marsha's pieces... just as importantly, please stop by the blog to read about the inspiration behind the boutique... 


details of the sale:: 
from 1/28 - 1/30 you will receive 20% off by using the coupon code "MMP20"... 


thank you -

another one -

finished - and the ideas are still coming... 

rings are very addicting to me - now if i only had the sense to make myself multiple bands, base discs, etc ahead of time... instead i do them each time... but then, i don't even have head pins made up ahead to use... maybe some day... 


in the comments on the love my art jewelry blog, it was mentioned that i must have been in my happy place... and it's true... it felt so very good to be working like that... the kids were off of school but entertained with friends... 


this ring is now available in the my mom pattie etsy shop - a fundraising boutique in memory of marsha neal's mother... 

'happiness is a butterfly, which when pursued,

is always just beyond your grasp,

but which,

if you will sit down quietly,

may alight upon you.'

~ nathaniel hawthorne

winding

'winding'

'may your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view.

may your mountains rise into and above the clouds.'

~ edward abbey

whether you agree with wishing this upon someone or not - the first part at least, i think we can agree that the most rewarding achievements and periods of growth come from times of difficulty... marsha neal's shard (this time) made me think of winding and movement... the subtle color changes on top of the chocolate clay flowed right into barbara lewis' enameled connector - both pieces had played with fire and come through it with great strength and beauty ... the ceramic and the metal, both with soft color, asked me to be joined... and so i acquiesced, because it really was such a great request! 

after manipulating a little metal myself, i had some etched copper rounds and findings... beautiful glass beads from mary ann at linden avenue designs and marie at bleu verre...

it became a bit elemental, greens, blues, ivory & browns... air, water, earth & fire all playing their role in the creation of each part... things that live & grow in the greens and spirals... masculine and feminine... 

all united in moving towards the most amazing view... 

shards

dictionary defintion: a piece of broken pottery, especially one found in an archaeological dig...
our definition: beautiful pieces of glazed porcelain or chocolate clay made by marsha neal...

she is having a september challenge to see how they were used, you can read all about it here...

at beadfest in philly i had the pleasure of meeting marsha... i got a centered hole shard and a few dangling ones... the word 'shard' takes me to a book i read called 'a single shard'... as an adult, i sometimes read coming-of-age books... and this is one of them... the word represents hope, courage, perseverance & growth to me ... so besides the pieces being so challenging design-wise, they evoke a powerful message...


marsha would also like to raise money to make a dedication for her mom at the tri-state bird rescue... the first shard i used in that vein, drawing on the emily dickinson poem 'hope'...

'hope is the thing with feathers

that perches in the soul,

and sings the tune without the words

and never stops at all.'

it is not yet finished, but i knew exactly how i wanted to set up the pendant...

 

 in this necklace i used pietersite and something my bead shop calls teal paisley - must be a composite... warm colors, varied textures are meant to surround the shard but not overwhelm it... 


the swirling in the clay makes me think of centering pots - when it is wet and malleable... how you yourself have to find quiet (or at least i do) and focus, or become centered, before you can ask the clay and wheel to cooperate and do the same... i think it's such a neat process... the potter who taught me said that if she became president, she would give everyone a lump of clay... i got that - it is relaxing to work with... not a bad idea!


if you are in my area, i will be at the hoboken art & music festival on sunday between 11 and 6...