My favorite thing I’ve made in 2020 so far! How nice that the new year is just getting under way. Sterling silver, 23K gold and Rocky Butte Picture Jasper serve as a brilliant base for one of my pronghorn forms. This piece is coming with me to my show in Jackson on February 22nd.

+Of The West+

https://www.thenoisyplume.com/blog/2020/01/25/15037/

I’m busy busy building inventory for the little show I am doing at my friend Christy Sing’s hatshop in Jackson, WY on February 22nd (come one and all!!!). And since this is the second show I have done in the span of a year, the other being at the Filson flagship store in Seattle last spring, I want to tell you what these shows mean to me as a working artist!

I’m not a full time, working artist living in an urban setting. I am a full time, working artist who is a jeweler, photographer and writer as well as a farm operator/manager and a smokejumper wife. I am alone here six months of the year — during the growing season, specifically — most of my best friends live a goodly distance from me in neighboring states and countries. I am alone. A lot. In short, though I do identify as an introvert and classify myself as a gregarious hermit (because I am also the life of a party), I am in danger of being too isolated. Last year I decided I wanted to try to do two shows a year wherein I get to meet and brush shoulders with faraway friends and supporters. And I hoped to be able to do those shows in shops and small businesses that belong to dear friends.

I am not planning on doing art shows on a regular basis but I do want to climb up out of my hide-y-hole a couple times a year to meet as many of you as possible, face to face.

I’d like to do a show in Santa Fe in the year to come and I would like to make my way over to the East Coast for a little show, too. Doing these shows, preparing for them, building inventory for them is tremendously energetic work. I really pour myself out. I must rigidly apply myself to a daily routine — eating healthy, exercising as much as possible, maintaining good sleep habits, while working at my bench as much as possible. I have to prevent my body from breaking down after hours and hours of hunching over my work while attempting to grow my inventory on a daily basis. I usually only have 1.5-2 months to build inventory for these shows and I build my inventory from scratch because I never have anything on hand! It’s SO MUCH FUN. I try to create batch designs so that I have some-of-a-kinds to offer as well as a fleet of one of a kind work.

Something I really like about preparing for these shows is that I allow myself to fully disappear into my work while I am creating and holding onto this much inventory. Life becomes very simple and clear.

Eat, sleep, run, create.

I know that not everyone can make it to these little shows and I can comprehend that that might frustrate some people but I am a better artist and jeweler for doing these shows as well as a better human. When I meet you face to face, it feels really good to my soul. When I get to watch you handle my work, try jewelry on and react to something you deeply connect with it’s extremely magical for me. You’re real!!! I’m real too. All of this is real!!! These shows really serve my own heart in a massive way. I am physically exhausted when they are over but deeply energized and stimulated by so much wonderful contact with amazing people. Thank you for considering coming to Jackson to see me. I can’t wait to see you.

I’m delighted to announce I will be slinging my wares on February 22nd at Sing Hat Company in Jackson, Wyoming. It will be a great time to shop with me in person and have Christy measure your head for a custom hat! I hope you’ll join us if you are able.

Thank you all for your amazing support since I reopened my shop at the start of November. I had the most incredible month of October in the field with my husband and I thank you for giving me your blessing to take leave. It wasn’t a vacation. Robbie and I worked hard every single day, filled some of our big game tags, prepared the farm for winter, planted a beautiful 2020 garlic crop, hunted backcountry with the horses and while we’re still behind on firewood hauls, we’re slowing ticking items off the to-do list which means more studio time for me! FINALLY!

It is wonderful to be creating again. I had these Pollinator Necklaces pieced out in September and am just managing to finish them up this week — I have a few more on deck for completion but I won’t get to them until next week (a cosmic cut of lapis lazuli and two more cobalto calcite stones will be employed). And owls!!! So much peace and quiet goes into my owls. Each one is one of a kind. I love seeing how they develop and change in tiny ways over time. In case you care to read the inspiration behind this piece, visit my Feather and Prayer post from a while back — I re-read that post from time to time because I find it to be full of stillness and power and peace.

I’m hoping to have new work up in my shop tomorrow morning around 10AM MST. See you there!

Looks like home. Feels like home.

Sterling silver, Royston turquoise and 23K gold.

+Of The West+

https://www.thenoisyplume.com/blog/2019/11/05/14941/