More Aurora Ravens ~

More Aurora Series in the Ravens ~

Are you sick of it yet?

Each piece is different. 

Even if I use the same powders the watercolor effect looks different.

Glass is a liquid so as it heats up in kiln & melts it moves around a bit and flows

together creating a wash of color.

I've tried to cool the process down & not fire to a full fuse as a way

to get a little more texture in the glass.

That also seems to keep the images a bit crisper.

The ravens above are slightly more transparent probably due to less

powdered glass.  It's hard to judge how much has been sifted

onto the blank unless I weigh the glass first.

I think that's an unnecessary step.

No time for that!

Alaska Gift Show!

The Alaska Gift Show is over

but orders continue to filter in while 
catalogs & shipments are going out daily.

Even though the weather was horrible in Alaska & the Seattle airport was

closed my Seattle rep, Kathy, managed to fly into Anchorage (albeit a bit late).

 Some retail shoppers weren't so lucky & were stranded or delayed.
As a result, I've been getting lots of email orders & things are picking up
on WholesaleCrafts.Com.

Quick shot of my booth.

I had a nice compliment on my booth set-up from my friend Skookums.

Skookums is an amazing & well-known harpist but

her other job is to rep a few well known Alaska artists.

It was great to see her ~ I should have gotten a picture of the two of us!

Anyway, she liked my booth set-up.

I usually set it up so it's a bit askew..

.to createa triangle. 

 I have a small table & two chairs facing the booth so

my shoppers can sit & look at all the samples while we chat & write up orders.

Taku Graphics is one of my neighbors.

They rep an amazing line of famous Alaskan artists including

Ray Troll, Karen Beason, Teresa Ascone, & now ME!

This beautiful peacock was residing in the booth next door to mine.

It belongs to Lynn of Horse Island Traders from Juneau, Alaska.

 Lynn is one of my favorite booth neighbors ~ full of positive
energy & kind to everyone.

Kathy & Lynn comparing notes!

I think Kathy was buying some samples?

Lynn placed this stunning beaded peacock between our booths

& it stopped shoppers in their tracks. 

It helped to pull people into her booth & mine.

What a conversation piece!

Shows over but the now the work begins!
Las Vegas is next!



Gift Show!

Whew!

Too busy to post as I'm at the

Alaska Gift Show!

Busy  ~ Busy!!

If you're a retailer please stop bye & see all the new work!

Tomorrow (Saturday) is the last day at the

Anchorage Convention Center.

Hours are 10 to 6 pm.

Here's a few pictures of a new line I've created

~ Modern Metals ~

all handcrafted metals with glass bead accents

Lampworked beads with sterling core.

Botanical earrings...of course there has to be a honeybee.

Spiral Bracelet.

Simple Silver & Glass Bracelet

(I can't get the photo horizontal even though it's

formatted that direction ~  any ideas??)

Silver, crystals, charms necklace.

Alaska Wholesale Show

The Alaska Wholesale Show is January 15th & 16th at the Dena'ina Convention Center in downtown Anchorage. The hours run Friday noon to 8 pm & Saturday 10 to 6 pm. My booth space is #35-37.

It's the place to shop for the spring & summer season in Alaska if you own a gallery, gift shop or road house! It's also the place to be for me selling my work & new lines for spring 2010!

See you there!

Production Work

It's spring time in Alaska & if you're an artist who sells your work to galleries (like me) you know what this means....it's production time! The tourism season is right around the corner & galleries & shops all over the state are gearing up, sprucing up & getting for the summer season.

It's always on my mind...I've got to get to my studio & get to work. It reminds me of this poster by Fred Babb. It's my mantra this time of year...go to the studio & work, make stuff, get into the groove, um mm...

You know the groove where you're gathering materials...

With a smile on your face...

Deep in thought, start creating your masterpiece....

Experimenting & trying new techniques....

Ahhhh....Sweet success!

OK ~ Here's the real thing ~

Here's a load of glass ready to become magnets, buttons, & other small fun collectables.

For the most part, these have Alaskana images. When I've ventured off into other realms it doesn't sell & I can't afford to stock pile images of skeletons, modern art, & abstract images, you know...the stuff I really like. If you want to survive as an artist in Alaska you have to produce work in what I call the "big three"...bear, moose & fish. That's another whole subject.

.

Image this... there's whole stores in Alaska that only sell Alaska Christmas ornaments! Here's a peek at some of those.

OK ~ back to the studio groove....

namaste'