A clean workspace so I can begin a new piece – in this case a new pattern pillow. I start with a line drawing of the pattern – I’ll make each side flat before forming and putting the piece together.

as promised, here are a few images of what I’ve been working on in my studio the last few days.

layered steel hoop earrings – 2″ in diameter

earrings with steel links and sterling ear wires – 3″ to 4″ long

5″ long pendant on 16″ cable

Because I’m incapable of relaxing, I spent the better part of the last 4 days in my studio. (I can’t think of a better way to end the year or kick off a new one.) The result: several new pairs of earrings and a few pendants. Pictures forthcoming.

This is me working in my studio the last few days (courtesy of one of my students.) So I’ve relocated to the (slightly) warmer basement, but not before making these necklace components. Each is approximately 6″ high. (No chains yet, those should arrive next week.)

(Sorry for the poor image quality – the lighting in my basement is terrible.)

I’m looking forward to next week, when the semester ends and I can finally work in my studio. First on the agenda – some new production work. (Most likely an expansion of the leaf series and a few new designs.) In January I’d like to start on a bigger project – more to come…

On Saturday, I headed over to the Wayne Art Center to see Craft Forms 2006, and to hear juror Gretchen Keyworth, of the Fuller Craft Museum, speak. Not surprisingly, my favorite pieces were two chairs by Steve Litchfield (pictured above), that were in a second exhibition of previous award winners. (Steve is married to my grad school adviser, Kathleen Browne, so I’ve been a fan of Steve’s reconstructed chairs for a few years.)
Keyworth talked briefly about her selections for Craft Forms, then elaborated on the mission of the Fuller Craft Museum. The museum often allows visitors to touch the work – creating an interaction between viewer and object. This made the inability to touch objects at Craft Forms a bit frustrating.

A different variation on the steel 3-petal earrings – I’d forgotten I’d made them until I was inventorying for the sale.