Contest: Strangest Item

weird2It’s time for our next contest to start! What is the weirdest thing you have found in your studio? I have a diving wet suit.  Yes, I know–that makes total sense to have in an art studio.  What does not make sense are these typewriter ribbons or the David Foster and Yanni C.D.’s.  Who put those in here? Have you been finding funny and strange things hidden away in your studio? Well dig them out–they could win you a prize from Rio Grande!

mail.google.comNothing says “artsy” quite like some troll dolls hanging around for inspiration!  This bench is part of Rio’s Tech lab.

To enter photos of your “Strangest Item” click here.  I can’t wait to see who wins the $100 gift certificate from Rio Grande!

 

The “Forever Studio” (My Out of Shape Studio part 5)

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As I was flipping through a home design magazine I came across a follow-up article about a builder who a few years ago built his “dream home” and is now building his “forever home.” Is this the new buzz word in home design? Maybe people need more than a dream home. As I’m plowing my way through my stuff in my studio this idea keeps popping up in my head. I have a vision of what I’d love my studio to look like. But since I’m working with what I already own and plan on being in this studio for a very long time, I think I’m skipping past the “dream studio” and going right to the “forever studio”. I can say that this “60 Day Studio Challenge” is starting to feel like forever! Continue reading…

EuroSynergy2 Conference

bordeaux_la_nuitThe EuroSynergy2 team is thrilled to announce that the next conference will take place from the 10th to 13th July 2016, followed by 3 days of workshops!

The location is the Mercure Hotel, Bordeaux Centre, France and the programme format is exciting and brand new! http://eurosynergyconference.net/

Workshop proposals are being accepted now.

The “Oh!” Cone Ring By Angela Crispin

Crispin_Oh!RingHand Crispin_Oh!RingOpen The “Oh!” cone ring by Angela Crispin appeared in our very first issue of Metal Clay Artist magazine.  We were delighted to see Angela’s ring go on to win a Saul Bell Design Award.
It is only fitting to re-launch our project pages under the sponsorship of Mitsubishi Materials Trading Corporation with this elegant project.

Project and Images by Angela Crispin.
Editing by Margaret Schindel and Jeannette Froese LeBlanc

Contest: Studio Mascot

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From the studio of Colleen White: “My studio mascot, Ripper, getting ready to help out at the bench.”

 

The “60 Day Studio Challenge” is catching on! Artists all over the world are digging in and reclaiming their studios. My studio was sucking my creative energy. I didn’t really like being in there.  Having my pet cat in my studio always makes my studio feel happier. Many artists have a pet in their studio. The Studio Mascot contest is on now! Send in your images to cre8tivefire.com or tag then on twitter and facebook with #60daystudio and be entered to win a prize from our contest sponsor www.MetalClays.com.
Read on to see some of the images already entered. Continue reading…

Keep Your Eyes on the Horizon (My Out of Shape Studio Part 4)

hginthesea.wordpress“It’s for five days” my husband announced as he showed me the tickets to Mexico. He’d checked out a travel agency on his way home from work. (Remember travel agencies? Yeah, me neither…this story is from 1997.) With tickets in hand, we dug out our suitcases and made plans to scuba dive for five days. My husband and I had both taken scuba diving courses while in the military, however, the most exotic dive we’d been on was in the murky waters of Lake Ontario to find a sunken ship. Dream sightings of coral reefs and colourful fish danced in our visions. The travel agent had told my husband where there was a great scuba club. After a plane ride that seemed to last 12 days, we made it to our destination. We found the scuba club, and enjoyed three glorious days scuba diving. On the fourth day, the sea was a bit rough. I had spent time in Newfoundland as a child, and was pleased to discover that the salt water still ran through my veins. My husband…not so much. Oh was he sea sick. The instructor told him to “keep your eyes on the horizon”. So while I held on to my seat and enjoyed the roller coaster ride, my husband desperately searched for the horizon. It helped. He was able to “find his legs” later in the day and enjoy a nice dive with a sting ray and shark sighting, which were highlights of the trip for him.  If he had not been told to keep his eyes on the horizon, he would have missed the next few dives, which were the most spectacular and the most memorable. Continue reading…

I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours. (My Out of Shape Studio Part 2)

IMG_1672I am relieved to find out that I am not the only one feeling overwhelmed by the state of my studio. (Although, I am pretty sure I win the prize for the messiest studio!) I’ve heard from many other artists who are also looking at their studio space with a heavy heart. These spaces are sucking our creativity. I am certain that my lost mojo is in here somewhere. I’m on a mission to organize and reclaim my studio space.  I feel that my work is stale and that if my studio had a good airing out, maybe my jewellery would be better. But what to do with all this stuff?  It’s all good stuff.  I hope readers have some organizing tips for me!

Continue reading…

My Out of Shape Studio. (Part 1)


I am on a mission to reclaim my lost creative mojo.193092-Metal Clay Art_selected-pages-2_Page_1
Poof, right before my eyes a year (or more) has passed without me being in my studio working on jewellery. It’s been a year of ups and downs…many more downs than ups and I guess working in my studio didn’t seem important, or I wasn’t motivated. Whatever the reason, here I am standing in the door of my dusty and very messy studio. Amazing how this space became a “dump zone” so quickly. I love the light in here and the smell of my art supplies. But this is as far as I ever seem to get with reclaiming my studio. Feeling overwhelmed by the amount of stuff, stale ideas and stuff…. I usually just sit here and contemplate renting a huge container and taking every last item out of the studio and only putting back what I really need. But as I look around, I’m not sure what I need. It’s been too long. Continue reading…