New pieces in my shop!

Check out my etsy shop for more! I am super excited. I think this summer is going to be great. Many fairs and many more pieces yet to be made for my new line.

The first image is a preview of that collection, “Akkadia,” and is based on ancient Sumerian flower motifs.

 

I’m also working hard on a mini-collection called “Syzygy,” which is all about crescent shapes. Beta testing has revealed that this is my most poplar design so far:

 

I also just opened up a section in my shop called “Sundries.” It’s a general catch-all for designs-in-progress and things that don’t fit into any particular collection.

Renegade SF Holiday

A meh photo shoot

The beauteous L and I took some photos tonight.

Unfortunate lighting situation didn’t give me quite what I was going for but L still looks stunning as always. Wearing crystal circle earrings and forthcoming heraldry necklace.

Baz Biz steal my heart!

Full report will follow shortly! Until then here’s a peak at the general madness… and some of my own, as well.

Only two weeks to get the rest of my shit together before my first Bazaar Bizarre! Ha! It should be great fun. I’m looking forward to seeing all the strange and mysterious work!

More display goodies!

I really really tried not to want these… but I had to have them. Recycled glass jug and wooden tray with  steel handles, plus two adorable votive holders. I think the lovely bars on my windows give the shot a nice Oakland flair (oh Oakland).

I’m excited about how my display is evolving! I’m extremely scatterbrained as far as style goes, so it’s been a big process to sort of pare down what I want my visual aesthetic to be. I think I’m getting closer.

I’m excited to start accumulating more bits and pieces for my photography. I did a lot of studio photography when I was in school, but I mostly took portraits. My product photography skills still have a long way to evolve, so I’ve been looking at a few catalogs for inspiration in how to style shoots as well as light them. I’ll be getting a pair of soft boxes soon, but until then I’ll have to make due with the tiny bit of natural light coming in from my living room window…

ALSO———

My new Moo minicards arrived today! They’re 1/2 size  and I got them with three different designs as a test of the print quality. I have to say I’m in love with them! I’m going to pass out the ones with photographs, and use the ones with my little dragon as display packaging for my production pieces!

I love expenses like business cards and packaging! I get really excited about buying special paper, or designing letterhead and things like that, I can’t say why. It just makes me happy.

:]

My first….Renegade 2012

Thinking about displays, I realized that I never posted final thoughts about either Renegade or ACC this summer. Mostly I think that is because after both were over I was DONE and commenced with faffing about for about a month and doing absolutely NOTHING to make up for it. In retrospect that might not be the best way to have spent the summer after getting my BFA… buuuutIdon’tcare….

ANYWAYS
So here was my display for Renegade:

And a few details:

I made my own displays in a hurry when I remembered that it would be horrible to have things just laying on the table. To make the displays I got  wooden plaques from Michael’s and spray-painted them black. I cut cork-board into the shape of the plaque, covered it with muslin, and used rubber cement to adhere it to the wooden plaque. The cork made it easier to use brass nails to position my jewelry inside the shape of the plaque.

Side note: those little dragon pins were my best-sellers that day (much to my surprise). I also think a lot of people were taking my business cards just for my little winged dragon. He IS quite dashing, if I do say so myself…

Since part of my aesthetic is drawn from mediaeval european heraldry, I thought the shield shapes were a nice touch, and I would definitely keep using them… only I would take more time to make them, because these jury-rigged ones just had a hard time balancing on that little point on the bottom .

Meanwhile Angela’s display seemed pretty effortless and very cohesive. She was my classmate at CCA and I absolutely love her shop Estu324coffee. We will be doing the upcoming Renegade Holiday SF and Bazar Bizarre together as well.

So basically the whole experience was good for learning (bad for sales, but whatever). And it’s true what people say about boothmates! Sitting in a hard little chair for two days while you really can’t do anything but try not to look too desperate for sales is always better with a buddy. Plus, pee-breaks and stuff. I think overall I succeeded only in being extremely n00blike at the whole craft fair thing, but I’m still glad I did it.

For the holiday show I’m focusing on having  a better display. I will also be making christmas ornaments and a few small houseware-type items.

AAAAND——-Be on the lookout for the unveiling of Allegory’s First Annual Creepy Christmas! Coming soon!

They’re creepy but I’m super excited about the busts I just bought for display in my booth this year!

Historical Tidbit- ancient jewelry

Did you know that in Ancient Greece and Rome, most people actually wore bronze jewelry? Gold was (then as now) too expensive for many people to wear, especially in the heavy bulbous-shaped styles popular at the time.

Cheaper, but still in the favored gold hue, is bronze (they weren’t so big on silver, though they did use it occasionally). However, bronze corrodes so much that not very many examples have survived.

It makes you wonder what else has been eaten up by time…

A marriage portrait ring.

Isn’t it cute?

lol

I don’t know….

“Fresh Craft Here”- Handful of Salt

“Fresh Craft Here”- Handful of Salt

article reviewing California College of the Arts’ participation int he american Craft Council San Francisco show. My classmates and I worked so hard to put out work and out displays together! The show ended yesterday, but pictures coming soon!