Come Visit Us!

I just wanted to invite everyone who is able to come visit us at our booth at the Spring Festival in Powell, WY on May 3rd! For any of those of you who may be local to us, or who happen to be traveling into our area that weekend, we will have a booth set up at the festival from 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM. It will be at the Park County Fairgrounds.

This is my first show, and I am as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof! I'm afraid I won't have enough product on hand, I'm afraid I'll have too much product on hand, I'm afraid I'll sell completely out, I'm afraid I won't sell anything at all.... did I mention I'm nervous? Lol.

I signed up for ProPay so that I will be able to take credit cards during the festival, so I'm hoping that will help boost sales... it should, as I hear time and again from those who say offering to accept credit cards has increased sales exponentially for them.

Wish us luck!

A BIG Thank You, Thank You, THANK YOU!

I'd like to say a big THANK YOU to all of my customers who've helped me kick off my new line at Midnight Gypsy with a BANG!

Whether you've purchased from my shop at Etsy or directly from my studio, I sincerely appreciate the fact that you've chosen my work to adorn yourself with. There is no greater compliment!

I have to admit that I'm finding so much satisfaction working with the antique brass & filigree that I've begun to neglect my other line just a tad... for whatever reason I find working with the brass much more rewarding and inspiring. And if sales are any indication, the same is true with my clients. Perhaps I've finally found my niche...

What is an artist, after all?

I'm not sure what made me think I could become a jewelry designer. And yet here I sit, I've just created a blog to outline my daily attempts - sometimes hits, sometimes misses - at creating something that another person would want to wear. It seems somehow odd to me that I, of seeminly no artistic talent, could accomplish such. And yet it happens. Over & over again.

I don't remember when, why, or even HOW I became interested in doing what I do now. I love what I do, but it's been an interesting evolution in a manner of speaking I suppose. I think somewhere deep down I've always had a love for this kind of thing, but never in a million years dreamed that I'd be able to do it myself. Look, drool, and pine over gorgeous works that I've seen others create? Sure! But create myself? Are you kidding?!?

I think the roots of it may very well go back to an amazing art teacher I had in high school... Mrs. G. Well, actually, probably further back than that to start. With my wonderful Mom. She encouraged me when I was a youngster.... reading, writing, drawing, painting. The whole gamut. Any wild-hair I got about wanting to try something crafty or artistic, I was encouraged to pursue. I'm 35 years old & I'm quite sure my mom still has every last little scrap of any form of 'art' that I created for her stashed away in her hope chest... which I think just happens to be my old pink wooden toy box that my granny had made for me. My mom is a very crafty, artistic, gifted person. I, on the other hand, never felt that way. I think I felt relatively intelligent, and I enjoyed reading & writing... and I enjoyed creating my little works of 'art', I just didn't feel like I was talented. Seems like my Mom was always working on something crafty. The woman can make the most adorable holiday snowmen out of tube socks, lentils, some buttons, and hair clippings from a Great Pyrenees dog. No, I'm not joking. At all. LOL. So that is where it all started. But, I've digressed a bit....

I am not a talented drawer, painter, or sculptor. But in order to graduate high school it was required that we complete two credits in Art. Oy. What was I going to do? Sheesh. "Studies In Still Life".... "Advanced Charcoal Techniques" .... "Painting With Oils - Intermediate to Advanced Students" ... these were the kinds of choices outlined in the art class listings. Where in the world were "Play Dough For Dummies" or "Paper & Paste - Beyond Kindergarten: They Aren't Just For Snacking"? Those were more my speed. I was mortified at the thought of having to take an art class, surrounded by a bunch of 'arty' kids who were waaaaay more talented than me, working in their handy dandy little sketch pads on pencil or charcoal renditions of fruit in bowls. I was horrified. Oh, the agony. What would be the least embarrassing? To display how terrifically untalented I was at pencil, at charcoal, or in oils?

Ah...... but then Mrs. G, sweeeeet Mrs. G, came to the rescue of those of us who are artistically challenged & created a class called 'Crafts & Design'. Basically an art class for those of us who weren't what would be considered 'artistic' in the traditional sense. When I first saw an overview of what the class entailed I was still skeptical. And still scared to death. Didn't I have to have SOME KIND of artistic ability to set foot in an art classroom? Leaded glass, coiled pots, basket making, using the potters wheel... these were just a few of the subjects mentioned in the course synopsis. I was fully prepared to be the laughing stock of an art class, but thought maybe this type of class would harbor a few others like myself. Hopefully I'd be in like-minded, or 'talent-lacking', company.

Well, interestingly enough, that class piqued my interest in a wide-array of 'arty' areas. I was even able to take an advanced version of the class that was offered the following year in order to complete my second art credit. I received awards at our school art fairs for my works on the potters wheel as well as my leaded glass work. It was refreshing. Encouraging. Exciting.

Thanks Mrs. G, wherever you are. You opened my eyes to a whole new world of 'art'. And thanks, most of all, to my Mom. She encouraged me to pursue those things even when I didn't feel like I had the talent.

Ultimately, I think what I've finally come to learn over the years is simply this: Art can take many forms. It's not simply pencil and ink, charcoal, or even oils on canvas. It's not just Michelangelo's work in the Cistine Chapel, or Monet, or Picasso, or any number of other great artists out there. It is so much more than that. To me, art is at it's very core, simply an expression of oneself, and that expression comes out in many, many different ways. An infinite amount of ways.

So, this cowgirl's hat's off to all of the 'artists' out there. The next time you look at something another person has created & you're secretly wishing that you were that talented, know that you are. Just remember that we're ALL artists in our own way. So find YOUR passion. Find what makes you happy. And just pursue it. Even if the rest of the world never ever sees it. Do it for yourself. You just might be amazed at the satisfaction it can bring you.

Creative Settings with Brass....

I have recently fallen head over heels for the vintage inspired filigree jewelry. I use to be a die-hard silver fan, and while silver remains one of my favorites, I can't deny there is just something about these vintage-inspired pieces.

I've started slowly, and simply, working with 'creative settings' constructed from brass filigree and I'm really enjoying myself. I can definitely see this becoming a new passion of mine. I have my budding line set up in its own Etsy shop, Midnight Gypsy, and so far I've had nothing but positive responses. I'm really excited at the new possibilities this opens up for me and my business.

We have a Spring Festival coming up May 3rd that a friend and I are sharing a booth at. It will be my first ever show, and while I'm excited I'm also scared to death. I'm hoping my newest creations will sell well for me.

You can see a few items from my new line in the photos on the right, or come visit me at Midnight Gypsy!

I do have to say that discovering Etsy was one of the greatest boosts I could've given my jewelry business. I love the Etsy community!