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2019 in Review: A Year of Making Art

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Making time for making art

Creating beautiful, colorful things brings me joy. If your life is like mine, you can get to the end of a busy year and wonder if you got anything accomplished. 2019 was such a whirlwind! Even when the schedule has been hectic, I still found time for making art and using color in fiber, cloth, and especially wire and beads.

As this year draws to a close, I wanted to share some of my favorite creative endeavors and highlight projects that appeared even amid occasional chaos.

Advanced wire techniques

In January, I taught a class on how to take wire embellishments to a new level. In the image below (the sample I created during the class), note the techniques of using pearls, scrolls, rhinestones, and wire-wrapped wire to add interest, volume, and sparkle. My focus was on teaching techniques rather than creating a specific project, so the resulting creations from the class were as unique and fun as each participant.

making art and learning wire wrapping techniques in Melanie Schow class

Recognition for my art

At Chris M. Sorenson Gallery this year, my piece “B Illuminated” was a particularly fun challenge and won second place in their Love of Letters show.

This year, I was invited to participate in the Fresno Art Museum gift shop. They requested that I bring my showstoppers, and it was exciting to display some of my high-end, fine art pieces in support of this local location! (I love this gorgeous “older” work featuring dragons by Robin Poff and a pocket watch works along with the hand forged wire and interesting beads).

Fiber and fabric

Attempting this complicated shawl made me one grumpy knitter, but after it was lovingly blocked by a more experienced knitter (Help Me Meg!), it now looks great. It’s such a great feeling when items move out of a project bag and into my closet to wear!

One of my biggest accomplishments this year was completing a quilt. After rediscovering my love for beautiful fabrics in a local quilting class, I got really motivated to finish a quilt for my own home.

Like a lot of creative people, I often work best when I have uninterrupted time and space. Well, I took the quilt project with me on vacation to Pacific Grove with a dear friend for company, determined to attempt a new and easier method of binding. We worked away on our respective projects, cheering each other on. Now it’s bound and on my bed! I call the back “technicolor zebra.” Every time I make my bed, this colorful quilt makes me smile.

A trove of wire art pendants

As the holiday season approached, I felt a new wave of inspiration to create with wire and my stockpile of beautiful, fun, and festive lampwork focal beads. In a matter of weeks, I created over 60 pendants for three local galleries to display.

Stretching my skills and local visibility

By far the piece of which I’m most proud this year was my entry for Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts. Since orange groves line nearly every road in the San Joaquin Valley, this piece celebrates our local farms. Entitled “Central Valley Slice“, my necklace uses stunning slices of lemon and orange forged from glass, that somehow look juicy. If you’re interested, this piece is now for sale ($395).

It’s always good to pause to celebrate life’s accomplishments. I wish you a bright holiday season and a colorful new year!

All that glitters

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Art glass pendants galore

As the holidays approach, I’m turning out lots of fun and colorful glass pendants using lampwork focal beads from some of my favorite glass artists.

From wise owls and cute pups to seasonal, wintry themes (I love the steaming cup of cocoa), I’m having a blast creating lots of swishes and scrolls to embellish these fun pieces.

Just a few of the dozens of glass pendants on my work bench

The wire in these pendants is copper that’s coated in colored enamel. It comes in so many shades, so it’s easy to find the perfect match with specific hues in the glass beads.

The wonderful thing about pendants is their simplicity. You can wear them with nearly anything—from dressing up your jeans or adding a little pizzazz to your favorite turtle-neck dress.

I’ve been collecting lampwork beads by various talented artists for years,  and it’s been so fun to revisit my favorites. I am always amazed by how much creativity, sparkle, and whimsy they bring to creating focal beads. I might have trouble letting go of a few of them!

With creative embellishments and colored wire to highlight each unique piece, each one becomes wearable art for everyday or the holidays!

I’ve created about 50 pendants in advance of the holiday season and will be displaying them at three different local art galleries. If you’re in the Fresno area, you’re invited to visit and take your favorites home with you!

It’s an honor to have my work featured at these creative local galleries. If you need a little more sparkle in your life (or know someone who does), I hope you’ll come by!

Bubbles, failures, and creative squirrels

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Following the creative process

If you’re like me, you know that being creative is a mixed blessing. The creative process sometimes takes you to unexpected places both as inspiration and distraction.

You have to follow your enthusiasm and let the creative process work its way with you. In fact, sometimes the most amazing ideas come when you’re not expecting them. However, there always seems to be something new and shiny and interesting—SQUIRREL! It grabs your attention away and prevents you from finishing the original project.

The creative muse is a mythical siren, calling you away from completing the last slow steps of that important project. Or at least, that’s how things are in my studio!

I thought it would be fun (or a good distraction) to show you what I’m in the process of creating these days.

The quilt class

I knew almost immediately that I was in over my head with the three-month quilt class I’m taking with a friend. We create a new, gorgeous squares every class, but each one is made with zillions smaller pieces – think 2 7/8″ triangles.

The finished quilt will eventually have twelve 12.5″ square pieces plus lots of “low volume” background. I’m just not that diligent! But I signed up and, fortunately, the instructor is really kind and doesn’t mind (too much) if I show up without the fabric pre-cut for class.

The other day, I was at sewing at home and got on a really wonderful roll with one square. It started to look like I’d have it finished in time to bring to class. I was so excited, that is, right before my sewing machine jammed on the final seam. Then, when I couldn’t fix it, I had to go to class without my good machine. (Note to self: Pay attention to what you sign up for.)

In the process of taking this class, I did make a wonderful discovery: foundation paper piecing. Instead of the normal measuring and cutting fabric with a ruler and cutting mat, this process uses a printed sheet of paper in which you sew simple fabric rectangles on the dotted lines, repeat, and—voilà!—you end up with a gorgeous star! How on earth did someone come up with this? Gorgeous points and perfect stars just by connecting the dots.

Although it may be a SQUIRREL!, I will not let myself feel guilty for deciding that, instead of going on with 40-piece detailed quilt squares, I just want to make squares of New York Beauty (the name of the star pattern) with paper piecing. I am choosing to celebrate the discovery!

Creating new lampwork settings

When you play with wire techniques like I do, you’re like the guy who trips and drops his peanut butter in the chocolate. In following the creative process, you make happy discoveries about what works well together, quite unexpectedly.

A while ago, I created new wire fabrication links for a soap-inspired show at Mixed Messages in Sanger, CA. “What would bubbles look like made with wire?” This question led to me creating a tiaras and necklace (sold!) that featured springs with big, wrapped loops and bubbly beads spaced in between. Soapy, bubbly, and fun!

Creating bubbly-movement was an idea, but I wasn’t sure it could be used for my other art. It seemed more like a one-time fluffy idea.

However, I was creating a setting for a new class with a pink dragon lampwork bead (more on that later) as the focal . And just then, inspiration struck! I thought it would be interesting to try using the bubbles a completely different way in this new setting. That’s so fun for me—to stumble upon a creative connection and see where it leads.

Disconnected sections of looping wire in white and silver that will be joined into a necklace

One of the steps in the creative process

The new class idea is employing all sorts of techniques I have used elsewhere. Last year when I made the wire dog house, I surrounded it with “weeds” to soften and fill in the base. Those same weeds turned into “reeds” on my lampwork heron focal. Once more, an idea used one way was translated to work in another “setting” (jewelry humor—get it?).

Fiber fury

When it comes to art-making, the truth is that most people only show off what works. But I’m happy to show you the realities too. I’m currently knitting something, and I’m hating it. This is also normal in the creative process.

The pattern called for contrasting solid colors which would then be blended to fade from one yarn to another. However, the hand-dyed yarn I chose to work with has a spattery-splotchy treatment that is just not contrasting enough. Not. At. All.

And this is the dilemma: in knitting you usually don’t have a feel for how the piece will come out until you’re hours and hours in. Unless you’ve knit it before and know the pattern well (but what’s the fun in that?). Every time you cast on, it’s a gamble.

The failed knitting project in the bag.

Now I’m so far down into the project, it’s almost painful to ask myself (but I do), “Am I going to keep going? Or am I gonna rip it?” It’s projects like these that make a new SQUIRREL! project so appealing. When I go into my stash, I find half-finished knitting projects like the one in this canvas tote three years later. Perplexed, I wonder, “What is this? What was I doing?” It failed, but I couldn’t quite let it go.

The truth of creativity is that not everything you try will work. In fact, it means being willing to try a lot of things that don’t work. You have make peace with the process (and possibility of failures) to discover what will work.

There be dragons

Recently, one of my favorite lampwork artists posted a pink dragon for sale or bid online. SQUIRREL! I love Kerri Fhur. I love pink. I love dragons. The creative muse was squealing: I want to play with the pink dragon! “Bid or buy it now? That’s gonna go. Buy it now!”

Now that project is on my bench, getting the royal “bubble” treatment before it heads off to be just one of the samples for my next new class.

So that’s a glimpse of my creative process lately. Whether your medium is fiber, fabric, paint, or clay, it’s good to remember that creating is worthwhile. Even the distractions and mistakes inherent in the creative process teach you something new!

In the doghouse

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I wear lots of hats—artist, farmer, dog mom—but this year the farm has moved from the back seat of life to the front. Correction: The farm is actually driving.

For that reason, it’s remarkable that I’m still managing to work on an art piece for an upcoming show. In fact, it’s one of the more fun pieces I’ve created in a while. I’m sharing it because it’s cute and also to hold myself accountable for finishing it, no matter where the farm takes me.

A weekend with my art group

For a busy artist, there’s nothing more helpful or encouraging than time away with other creative souls to get stuff done. There’s fun, banter, and conversation while each person creates her own project.

When I spent a weekend with my art group recently, I started a new piece for the 25th annual Celebrate Agriculture with the Arts Show put on by the Madera County Arts Council or as we say, “the Ag Show”. This is a juried show with five competition categories all related to agriculture and it even has cash prizes.

The theme is “Agriculture’s Animal Friends”. I imagined a black-and-white farm dog in a rustic dog house, resting in the shade. In terms of structure, my inspiration was the woven owl box piece I created for the 2017 Ag Show (recognized with an Honorable Mention and sold!), only larger and more rustic.

When you create art with wire, you have to think beyond its finished appearance to the sturdy internal frame on which you build color and embellishments. Not only does this piece need to stand up on its own, the doghouse itself will hold a pendant when it’s not being worn. A hanging pendant needs good support, so I am considering a base of antiqued wood.

The engineering of a piece is often the biggest challenge. Creating component pieces that work together and display art jewelry for everyday enjoyment is an especially fun challenge.

The dog bead (made by the lovely lampwork artist, Tammy Mercier) will have a red collar made from wire I special ordered. I was at a local craft store when I found some really unique blue wire, but I really wanted red. Imagine my delight when an online search revealed a line of 12 colors in the same style. Eureka!

While I proceeded with weaving wire into the structure I built, it looked too fragile. I debated taking it out and redoing it, but things have a way of working out. I tried switching to thicker, 21-gauge, half-round wire. Now it looks sturdier, and the different color wires give it a rustic feel.

I created a prototype to put grass and plants in front of the doghouse. Although the copper one I created looked great, I remade it in green wire. This conveniently covers the smaller-gauge wire too. I love it when it works!

When it was time to add a roof, securing the textured copper sheets proved challenging. The doghouse has a steep peak with a lot of space between wire. Without too much trouble, I used the vertical wires to create rustic-looking nails, wrapped down even and tight.

The pendant itself will be simple with a collar under the face and a dog tag. I’m also considering paw-print earrings to complete the ensemble.

Want to see the dog house when it’s finished?

Be sure to follow me on Facebook! I will submit it to the Ag Show by August 1. Hopefully it will pass the jury, and you can see it in person at the opening reception on September 13. Wish me luck!

Buying art glass beads from across the world

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It came a long way

Getting boxes in the mail is a common occurrence at my house, but a package from Lithuania is something special. Especially when there’s art inside.

And chocolate!

Being an avid lover of art glass beads, I frequent a number of lampwork artists pages on Facebook to find unique creations from all over the world.

With so many diverse styles in one place, I get lots of variety to put into my necklaces and art.  Sometimes I see a treasure I just can’t pass up. And with a buy-it-now option, those handmade works of art just wing themselves to me. When I know one is coming, it’s exciting—like a present for myself.

However, when something comes all the way from eastern Europe, there’s no instant gratification. I can take weeks to arrive. Somehow this makes its arrival even more special.

My most recent treasure is this piece made by Viktorija Vait (Vilnius, Lithuania).

art glass beads

When I opened the envelope, I oohed and ahhed over the colors, the painted details, and the amount of skill it takes to create textured glass beads like this. The best part? I get to make it into a wearable necklace as a present for someone else to enjoy.

Turning lampwork beads into wearable art

First I matched it with a variety of beads and wire in shades of red.

Then I got to work (it gets a little messy as I experiment with different arrangements)!

Finally, it all came together in a finished piece!

More jewelry ahead

Just before I finished the red bird pendant, another package came in the mail from a bit nearer to home (Michigan) from another talented artist Molly Cooley. The eclipse and waves are just stunning!

I wonder what this gorgeous treasure will become!

Dozens of art glass animal pendants

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Every artist needs her muses

Kathleen Mattox and Laura Fraedrich are local artists and friends of mine who met years ago in a class and continue to encourage each other’s art-making. This fall, they got an inspired idea to do a themed show called Baker’s Dozen at Kathleen’s gallery, Mixed Messages in Sanger, CA. Each each of them showed thirteen different original artworks featuring animals.

I got so excited about their idea!

Lampwork art glass animals are some of my favorite beads of all. I went through my mental list, thinking, “I bet I have…” As luck would have it, I did! Although the goal of thirteen pieces seemed like a stretch, I thought it would be fun to try to achieve it. I was even more excited when Kathleen agreed to let me participate and show off these art glass animal pendants.

Creativity under a deadline

A lot of artists work well under a deadline, and it’s definitely the case for me. I got together twelve pendants and necklaces–and one sculpture–at the last minute. Yes, I literally ran in the last few the morning the show started. It was a great challenge. My menagerie of glass animal pendants includes more-or-less exotic creatures including a unicorn, dragon, hippopotamus, otter, mouse, two owls, chicken, four cats, and a dog.

Laura’s paintings and Kathleen’s collage paintings are beautiful and creative. They did an incredible job with the show, two events, and included animal-themed cards, bookmarks, tote bags, and other accessories for sale. Kathleen also participated in Inktober and drew a different dog breed every day. It is so fun to be connected with such prolific, talented, and collaborative artists.

The bakers’ dozen of art glass animal pendants I created

Here’s a glimpse of the show and all the glass animal pendants and necklaces (plus a sculpture) that they inspired me to create!

Glass animal pendants by Melanie Schow at the Bakers Dozen show at Mixed Messages, Sanger California

My pendants and necklaces in the center island of the gallery.

One of the four baker’s dozen kitties.

The other three hilarious cats.

The otter sculpture.

The whippet pendant… or is it a greyhound?

Who are you calling a chicken?

I’m pretty sure this is the cutest baby hippo ever.

Of course, I had to add a tiara, but Kathleen’s dog painting is incredible!

And finally, the glass unicorn!

Many of these pendants will be available for purchase when the show ends on October 31. Please feel free to let me know if one grabs your fancy. It was a great project, and I’m glad to have art friends who inspire and challenge me!

Here there be (friendly) dragons

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Befriending a dragon

Dragons are magical. Their scales glimmer. Their eyes shine. Their wings take us soaring to far-off, mystical places. Of course, they do have the ability to breathe fire from that huge snout or slice with fang and claw. But the dragons of my imagination befriend us humble humans for exciting adventures.

Given my love for fantasy and embroidered tales, it was only natural that dragons came into my art bead collection. It was a lovely day, perusing the work of my bead-maker friend, Robin Poff, when I saw her dragons made in art glass.

It was fairy-tale love at first sight. Ivory in color, her glass dragons are pure whimsy and imagination. Three-dimensional and weighty, and each one has its own personality and facial expression.  I had to have them.

Another lampwork artist, Kerri Fuhr, also conjures dragons from glass. I began to collect her beautiful beasts more recently. Her two-dimensional portraits have lots of texture and dragon colors like gorgeous blue-green, emerald, and chartreuse. And those quintessential fierce eyes!

Dressing with dragons

I love using dragons in my necklaces. Wearing one helps you be feisty and fanciful at the same time. Dragons help shy people express their bold alter ego. If you want to feel brave, keep a dragon close to you. Their big, powerful presence will inspire you to be courageous.

I dream of dragons

I once found The Dragonology Handbook, A Practical Course in Dragons by Ernest Drake.  It lists all the different kinds of dragons—just like an Audubon bird book—and includes Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Dragonology lessons.

If I had my own dragon, it would be pink and sparkly with wings. It would breathe fire with glitter. My dragon would fly at sunrise and visit me to be scratched behind its ears and fed hard-boiled eggs. Until that happens, I’ll keep including glass dragons in my art.

My dragon necklaces

Because the dragon beads are glass, the pieces I make with them are heavy. (See my article on how to wear dramatic art necklaces with confidence.) My dragon necklaces are carefully balanced, designed to rest on the breastbone, rather than hang (or possibly pull) on the neck. Several of the lovely beasts pictured in this article now belong to collectors and inhabit a shadow box or a neck stand perch for viewing.

If you had a dragon, what would yours look like?

Quirky cats as art jewelry inspiration

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A lifetime of cats

Maybe I was destined to choose cats for my art jewelry. Ever since I named my first kitty Lilac Starlight when I was really little, unique cats have been parading through my life with tails held high.

  • Champ was an orange tabby from the apple farm who got increasingly nicked-up ears earning his street cred after we moved to California.
  • Bob came to us with a tail that didn’t work, but with the care of an attentive vet, regained full use to get into all kinds of mischief.
  • Young Mr. Puss became an annual fixture in our holiday card when he jumped into a photo his first year with us. Later years he did not volunteer and we had to hold him down for the photo moment with predictable flying fur.
Mr. Puss, Art Critic

Mr. Puss, Art Critic

In addition to their unique personalities, most of our cats have gone by two names. Upon their arrival to the ousehold, I’d come up with a moniker I liked. But as the cat grew on my husband, he’d christen it with a second name—the one that usually stuck. So CK became Bob. Bug became Mr. Puss. In any case, they never minded the extra attention.

Not exactly catless today

We have myriad dogs (our own and others’) underfoot and farm animals too, but I still love cats. My favorite thing about them is their independence, personality, and character.

Although our household is catless at the moment, I get my feline fix using the hilarious and quirky cat beads created by Kathleen O’Connor in my necklaces and pendants. Each of her characters are hilarious and unique. Like Professor Specs, for example.

professor-specs

And these two purr-fectly innocent (but probably mischievous) Halloween cats.

full-moon-fairy-tail

Can you see how the pink Wicked Witch cat below has a playfully square-kinked tail?

wicked-witch-cat

I mirror the same quirky angles in Kathleen’s art in my accent wirework and hand-forged links. And just look at those eyes! What personality!

Artistic inspiration

Kathleen is a talented artist and a great person. When I asked her how she makes these glass beads, she explained that she first lampworks the tab bead base, and then paints the scene with very fine ground glass. She sometimes fires the piece several times to add layers of color. It’s a complicated and unusual process because lampworkers usually finish a bead and then fire it once.

An exciting announcement

As of this month, my collection of necklaces and pendants featuring Kathleen O’Connor’s Scaredy Cats is on my brand new online shop. Even if there’s no Lilac Starlight, I hope you’ll take a look at all the fun, quirky cats in my life!