My Logo/Avatar Has Changed

Hello, again. I really plan on keeping up my blog.  Since March of 2011, I have researched Celtic art and realize I am drawn to that type of art, especially jewelry, because of my ancestors on both sides of the family being Scottish.  I have created some new pieces that you can see on Artfire.com.  My avatar has changed to reflect my love of Celtic everything! So here it is above.  The dragon has a special meaning in the Celtic world...it means secret treasures. Kind of goes along with my URL site name..right?  Ha.

I also have recently found more books that have inspired me...on being Sharilynn Miller's book called, "Wire Art Jewelry". Her techniques are amazing and the book comes with a DVD which helps with showing her techniques.  The other book is more spiritual to me, but is a jewelry book just the same called, "INSPIRITU Jewelry" by Marie French.  I was so moved by the book that I emailed her to tell her so.  I also said I was buying a book on the meaning of stones and it just happened to be one on her list to buy as well.  The book is a journey of Marie finding jewelry notes, etc. in the southwest and how she has adapted the information to create her own jewelry for friends and family.  The idea is that stones have a healing nature and wearing the right kinds of stones together can hopefully influence a person's life in a positive way.  There are even recipes for teas to drink with specific types of jewelry.  All of this found in a journal kept by a special lady years ago in an old adobe in the southwest.  So needless to say, I have thought about jewelry-making in a whole new way.  Below are some of my Celtic pieces I have recently created.

I'm Back! Been so busy with Local Art...

Hello all.  I have been doing most of my art through the local gallery here in Muncie at Art and Soul by Phoebe Gallery.  The gallery closed at the end of last December of 2010 and so I am now getting back to the grindstone and creating for my artfire site.  I have transitioned from creating books and other paper things to jewelry.  Many like the jewelry I have created and am now focusing on mainly Celtic style jewelry. Being Irish and Scottish may be the reason for the appeal..ha.  Not sure but I love it.  I will soon redo my banner and avatar reflecting a Celtic look. I still am also focusing on wire and bead jewelry with some leather pieces mixed in.  I also love steampunk, I think mainly because of the Victorian influence to this type of jewelry.

So know that I will be back sharing new books I've found and maybe some "how tos" with what I'm doing.  Oh...also last summer I created a working studio in the basement.  The walls are all white pegboard and give me the opportunity to move things around if I need to or if the spaces aren't quite the way I need them.  Love it.  I have a paper/miscellaneous area, a jewelry area and a business area where the computer is located.  So I am set.  Connected to the studio is a 6 x 9 foot storage area in galley form with shelving on both sides.  Great storage.  The entrance is grand (of course) with french doors into the space.  I will share pictures soon here on my blog.  I also plan to submit my studio to the Studios magazine.  Cate, the editor there has asked for me to submit my studio info when I finished things.  So I plan on that.

Well glad to be back and hope all is well with those followers I have and that you are creating like crazy!

Take care...

Gregarious

Found New Books on Creating Jewelry

Well, I made another trip to Ft. Wayne yesterday.  Stayed overnight.  Since our town doesn't have a Michaels or Barnes & Noble, it's a treat to come and see what's new.  While at Barnes & Noble, I found some very interesting books that some of you may be interested in.  I've begun creating wire jewelry.  Just finished a copper wire bracelet that I did using twined copper.  So I wanted to see what might be available for different types of jewelry books.  I found, Beading Vintage-Style Jewelry by Marty Stevens-Heebner & Christine Calla.

I love antiques and moved from an Itallianate 10-room home not long ago.  I've loved antiques as long as I can remember.  And so recreating vintage jewelry appeals to me.  The book has many examples of reproductions from many eras and shows the "how-tos" for each. 

Another book that I picked up for reference is, Wire Jewelry Workshop by Susan Ray. Again this book, too, has great examples for using wire, which I enjoy.  And also has "how-tos" for creating wire jewelry and wire jewelry parts.  Speaking of...I didn't know about a form called a WigJig that allows you to create an amazing amount of decorative wire elements to use in all types of jewelry.

The last book (I know $$$$, right, but couldn't help myself), is called Beyond the Bead by Margot Potter. An amazing book.The cover says, "Making Jewelry with Unexpected Finds".  Very true!  Great ideas and this one, too, shows how to construct everything shown in pictures.  I know Juls does her flowers, but might think about expanding after viewing some of these special books. (Thought of you Juls) as I was looking through these books.   Anyway, for any of you interested in making jewelry, these are great references for your library.

I will post my new bracelet in my next post, hopefully soon. 

Happy Crafting,

Gregg

New Logo for my Art

Hello all! I decided I needed a logo for my cards, glass hangings, jewelry, and any of the other items I sell and send out so here it is: 

How about some feedback. What do you think of it? I use the small Avery circle stickers to add to all my items and so this is what it will be now.  Also used it as my Avatar on my greggsgoodies store.   Come and visit me!

Here's What I Have to Reorganize-For My New Studio

Today, I'm sharing. Even with the small space I work in, I have managed to get things done.  I've also learned how to organize many things.  AND a big concept I've internalize is that IF YOU PUT THINGS BACK IN THE SAME PLACE EVERY TIME, YOU'LL KNOW WHERE IT IS THE NEXT TIME YOU NEED IT. HA

In this group, the first is the pegboard I put up to house many of the silhouette card designs I use in my blank cards.  The second pic is one of a creative way to use one of the storage cabinets I had that I really needed to use for my computer and Cricut Expressions Machine.  So I put a slideout drawer for the computer, with shelves above and below to house not only the above, but an external hard drive and 1T drive for all my graphics.  The third pic is a corner of the area. The neighbors across the street had this small picnic-type table for kids that had a little shelf attached to the back and top of the table.  It measured then, 2 feet by 5 feet by maybe 2 feet high. They had the table out by the street and so I asked if it was a giveaway.  They told me to take it.  So I reworked it, by taking off the original legs and adding legs tall enough to be the height of my other work bench, which has an 8 foot length of countertop.  So it is countertop height. I also added a shelf underneath the table as well.  As you sort of can see, I put plastic drawers underneath, added a new wood top over the original wood which was like a picnic table. Then put two of those containers that have 18 compartments in each of plastic boxes.   Great for all the little stuff I use with paper flowers, jewelry, ink pads, medallions, glitter, etc. I also put it on rollers.  A great idea, because making different arrangments is easy.  The lower cabinet seen in this final pic to the right in the picture is another find.  Someone on the alley was taking out their old kitchen cabinets and I saw 2 30 inch by 30 inch wall cabinets out for the trash.  I snatched those up. Brought them in.  Cleaned them up and then attached rollers to one and set the other toward the back of the new cabinet I previously described (this 30" cabinet doesn't show..did that later).  But it has been so handy to have the lower rolling cabinet with shelves underneath and a surface to use for whatever I need.  So for now it all works...but I plan to create a better space on the other side of the basement where I can have more room and not be in the path of traffic getting to the door to the attached garage...duh.  SoI will post new pictures when that happens.

Happy Crafting,

Gregg

Hey All, I've Changed Where My Store is Located!

After some heavy thinking, I decided to move my store to Artfire.com.  I really like it and especially for the fact that you pay a set fee, the same each month!  Actually you don't even have to pay a fee if you don't want all the extra things it allows if you do go Pro. So we will see.  I had only entered items on my site the first day, when I got a sale!  So I was happy about that.  Juls, one of my followers is on Artfire and it is because of her that I took a look at the site, first looking at the wonderful flowers she has for sale on her site.

http://julsfantasyflowers.artfire.com/

 Oh, the other thing I like about the Artfire site, is that you don't have to pay Artfire an amount when you do sell something.  You retain all the profit.  Quite different from Etsy.

Well on another note, the weather has been crappy here in "Funcie Muncie".  Although, at least today it rained rather than snowed.  So maybe we are getting closer to Spring.  It seems that way when I look at the exposed ground and try to find sprouts coming through the ground and snow.  Spring is my favorite time of the year.  Aside from my birthday being in April, the fresh smells of the earth and all the bird sounds.  I'll be able to walk the Whiteriver trail again (boy do I need to) with my neighbor, Sarah.  The trail has now been extended to the west about 3 and a half miles.  So a great option from taking the same trail (to the east) each time.  I always see so much life near the water.  There are blue heron living in the area and they swoop down to the water or roost on a branch to stay out of harms way.  Beautiful creatures.  They almost look prehistoric and sound that way as well (not that I know what a teradaktyl (sp) sound is like..ha). 

Well, I was at Hobby Lobby again just the other day..can't go into that store without finding something I want or need..ha. I found a magazine on studios.  I'm wanting to remodel in the basement to make my studio area as functional and as much as a sanctuary as possible.  This magazine by cloth-paper-scissors had wonderful studio examples from all over the country giving me many ideas. I've included the front cover of the issue here.  Lots of great pictures of storage ideas, etc.  Love it.  Didn't feel so alone as a guy doing my art.  There were several guy artists among those in the special issue showing their studios; lighting, storage, inspiration, how they put their places together.  It was a great issue.

Well, I can't wait to have the chance to redo my studio area. It actually is only about 6 feet by 10 feet.  And to make it worse, the door to the garage from my basement area is in the direct path.  So I definitely need a new plan....which I have created, but have to wait till spring arrives.

Hope I haven't rambled too much.  Love to journal, though.
Take care & happy crafting.

Gregarious

Where I Got My Talent for Art & Latest Project

I decided that today  I'd write about one of the family members who has passed on her genes to help me to become the artist I am today.  My grandmother on my mom's side was very artistic and painted oils.  She lived in Rockville, Indiana. Her maiden name was Woodworth.  Yes, we're related to the Samuel Woodworth who wrote, "The Old Oaken Bucket". Ha.  Grandma Gregg (that's how I got my first name from my grandpa's last name of Gregg, which originally was MacGregor.  So yes, I'm Scottish.  Grandma was a pretty stern sort, but I loved all the art she did. Besides painting oils, she created hats.  She loved making hats..and had them all over the house.  She would sketch little pictures for us, too.  Sometimes she would send us a letter with a little book inside for us to color the sketches she made.  Her name was Kate, but she didn't like the name and so wanted to be called Katharine.

This picture is her with one of her hats she made.  I think she looks proud of her work.  I don't think she made megabucks selling her hats, but enough to keep the career going.  My grandmother had 12 children.  I can't imagine having that many children running around.  My mother, her daughter, had half that many...and that was plenty for me. Being the oldest I had many responsibilities.

I always thought grandma's name was Katharine, until I began doing genealogy for the family and found out her true name.  Anyway, she always encouraged me to keep creating my art and loved to see the things I produced.  As a high school student, I worked with clay, throwing pots, did weavings, and painting and drawing.  So her encouragement and interest kept me going. In college, I continued in art with weaving, ceramics, and painting.  I did create a woven basket that traveled the country in some show. I felt honored.  While in college, though, I changed my major to elementary education, because I kept complaining about the state of things. My friends all said that I could still do my art in the classroom.  They were right.  But now retired, I'm glad to get back to doing more of the art I enjoy.  

Well, my latest creation was a custom bridal shower album for a New York lady's sister.  It was created using a cotton material backed with paper so that I could run it through the computer and print a blue hydrangea photo on the 4 sheets needed to complete the project.  I used a great punch by Martha Stewart that had a hearts design edging.   I edged a royal blue cardstock piece with the punch runing horizontally in the middle of the front and back of the album covers.  On it, was stamped a saying in white pigment ink.  I also cut a peek-through on the front cover to reveal a silhouette of a couple kissing.

The pictures show the front cover with details showing more with the second and third picture.  I added the mini-bouquet of hydrangeas  under the peek-through, since I have the ability to create flowers (see my etsy.com store) that have been given a sparkle with very fine glitter...(doesn't show up so much in the picture).    My grandmother would probably be in awe if she were still alive and could see the album. I know she would have loved it.

Well, I promise to blog more often.  I love to write and have two journals going of my own right now. 

Take care and happy crafting,

Gregg