Nov. 30 Duke City Winter Arts & Crafts Show

Winter Arts & Crafts Show
presented by the Duke City Renegades Art Guild

Come on by the Factory and get a little holidy shopping time in!

What:

The Duke City Renegades, a local arts & crafts guild, is hosting their first-ever winter art show.

You’ll find original paintings, art boxes, photography, designer purses & bags, crochet handicrafts, vintage-inspired jewelry, assemblage, beaded and hand-forged jewelry, and even recycled fashion clothing–all under one roof! A wide range of prices and items will give you something to talk about!

The show is indoors in the main Factory gallery building.

When:
Friday, November 30th, 2007. 4 p.m. - 10 p.m.

Where:
At the Factory on 5th Art Space (in the main red brick factory building).
1715 5th St. NW
Albuquerque, NM 87102
(between Aspen and Haines).

From I-40, take the 6th st. exit (one way, heading south), then make a left on Aspen and a left on 5th St. (one way, heading north). The Factory is on 5th St., right between Aspen and Haines.

 

Refreshments provided. Free parking.
Contact: aunteres@juno.com for any additional info.

Hope to see you there!

 

 

You can also check out the Factory on 5th WordPress Blog.

Featured Artist: That’s Headley - Jewelry Designs

That’s Headley offers eye-catching, handcrafted beaded jewelry and fineries with seasonal charm. Whether it’s chunky gemstones, nature-inspired strands, or seasonal spice, Headley has it all.

That’s Headley is a member if the prestigious Self Representing Artist Jewelry Designer guild (SRAJD #231) and she strives to create wearable art that’s practical, beautiful, and harmonious.

She says of her work:

That’s Headley! Jewelry Designs is about a journey in wearable art in semiprecious gemstones, wire, and glass. Color, texture, balance, and richness are my design goals. I’ve been “beading” since junior high, and for the last couple of years have expanded my use of wire wrapping. I’ve also added silversmithing to my techniques. Silver is always bona fide sterling at the least, and sometimes fine (99.9% pure) silver.

This playful design offers a pleasing combination of color and practicality, and delicately echoes the natural world:

Holly Drops Necklace

 This winter treat is proof that tasteful, minimalist balance wins every time!

I’m also quite fond of this piece:

Dreamsicle Calcite and Citrine Necklace

 

Calcite is one of my favorite minerals and I was thrilled to see that Headley is unafraid to use it.

 

If you’d like to see more of Headley’s unique designs, visit her Etsy shop:
That’s Headley

 

 

Featured Artist: Lunachick Designs

Lunachick Designs offers energetic, creative, and delightful body adornments (and a few other goodies for good measure). With pleasant color combinations, a daring sense of fashion, and a fearless touch, she creates jewelry and accessories of heirloom quality. Her specialty is chainmaille and her artistic spirit is truly unbridled!

She says of her own work:
Each of my designs combines quality materials, including natural gems, precious metals, crystal and organics such as pearls, amber and shell, to make for a truly unique wearing experience. …

…My shop offers lots (count em…LOTS) of one-of-a-kind artisan jewelry pieces. From bracelets to chokers, earrings to necklaces, I’ve got something to please just about everyone here.

Black and Pink Stretchy Euro Cuff

Lunachick enjoys working with aluminum in natural and anodized colors. She creates bracelets, necklaces, earrings, cuffs, and other interesting wearables, with pleasing color palettes. Her work is designed to bring a positive change in the mood of the wearer, and in those who view the jewelry on others. She truly adheres to the idea that the more positive energy you put into the world, the more there is to share and experience.

Along with her chainmaille designs, she also does a lot of thematic and engertic pieces, like those calling upon astrology or encouraging tolerance and respect. Her “pride” items are beautiful, reflective, and illuminating. They remind people to love one another, whatever their life choices. I really admire her Pride work and hope that her pieces bring confidence to those who wear them and enlightenment to those who view them.

If you haven’t stopped by her Etsy shop yet, please do. She also accepts custom orders.

Lunachick Designs - Etsy Shop

Featured Artist: Sparkly Strandz - Handmade Wire Jewelry

Sparkly Strandz offers creative, elegant handmade jewelry for the discerning collector. Each piece is hand-twirled, wrapped, twisted, and shaped into pleasing shapes and styles, with gemstone beads added for bursts of color.

She is currently offering free shipping on all orders (from now until Christmas, 2007, to the USA and Canada only), so you can try some of her curvy, sophisticated styles without worry.

She says of her own work:
I’ve had a love for crafts, especially crochet for over 25 years ever since my grandmother taught me at age 5. It was probably the best thing she could have done for my parents because it would keep me busy for hours. During college, i developed a love for beads–not just because they’re sparkly, but because beads have such a rich history to them from around the world, and can be made from almost anything imaginable. Also, as an occupational therapist, I am able to use a variety of crafts and activities in my therapy to make it more fun!

I combined my love for crochet and beads and began making jewelry, baby onesies, hats, and all sorts of gift items about 10 years ago. “Sparkly Strandz” is an online store that you can visit and create your own jewelry by choosing the right color bead, wire, and length you want for that perfect piece!!

Rectangle Aqua Earrings

Chunky Green Agate Necklace

 

Want to see more of her designs? Check out Sparkly Strandz on Etsy

Featured Artist: Elements by Dawn

My featured artist (or should I say jeweler?) of the day is “Elements by Dawn,” a talented metalsmith with a penchant for all things geometric. I was planning a lengthy write-up, but was blown away by her own Etsy profile. She also appears to be quite the writer! I’ll share what she had to say about herself:

Sea of Serenity

*<<Behind the name: Elements by Dawn>>*

Element - refers to the shape, form, mass, line, texture, pattern, light, and color of a design.

*<<About the artist, Dawn Brandt>>*

Dawn is particularly drawn to creating pattern and texture in her pieces. Through pattern and texture, her designs take on movement, visual and tactile interest. Through the use of color and form, she communicates emotion and energy. Dawn’s pieces range from simplistic shapes and lines, evoking a sense of calm; to heavily textured with bold colors and lines, suggesting passion.

Her obsession with circles, spheres, disks, and symmetry is expressed throughout her designs.

Dawn is constantly learning new techniques, as well as perfecting traditional methods of metalworking and design.

Additionally, she is a full-time student, wife, and mother of two boys. She enjoys listening to music of all types, especially industrial, techno, a little ska, and classical. Dawn is a self-diagnosed coffee and cheese addict.

Flower Motif Earrings

 

I like the fact that Dawn works with Argentium silver (a nice silver alloy which resists tarnishing). She’s cutting edge!

 

To view more of her fine silver work, visit her Etsy shop:
Elements by Dawn

StudioMarcy - Lampwork Creations

Today’s featured artist is StudioMarcy (that’s Marcy Lamberson), a talented glass worker with a penchant for all things whimsical.

She uses Italian Murano glass in her colorful lampwork focal beads.

 Capt. Jack Stinger Bee is a fine example of Marcy’s playful, original design and color. His bright yellow body is eye-catchingly cute and his little glass eye patch adds the right touch of “arrrgh!” Each of her handmade beads are just brimming with personality–and each is a mini masterpiece of glass working, color, and character. I’m sure the Captain will make a fine centerpiece!

Along with quirky bees, funky fish, savvy owls, and elegant ghosts,  you’ll also find what just might be the most original of all lampworked beads in the universe: the Parasite.

He’s funky. He’s orange. And he’s guaranteed to turn heads. If you’re a jewelry designer, imagine adding this oddball critter to your next necklace design. I’ve never seen anything like him!

 

If you like Marcy’s glass work, be sure to stop by her Etsy shop. She has plenty of animal beads, holiday treasures, focal points, and glass sculptures that are sure to tempt.

 

StudioMarcy on Etsy

My Fairy Babies - Whimsical Designs by Hyla

Our world could use more whimsy!

My Fairy Babies is a talented seamstress, capable of turning ordinary felt and stuffing into extraordinary creations. Her delightful work brings the right amount of sparkle and wonder to the table. Smiles guaranteed!

Meet Gwendolyn, the Witch Fairy:

 Gwendolyn is brimming with personality. Her playful smile, enchanting wings, and quirky hat rank on my “super cute” meter. Super cute. Really. She’s expertly crafted of felt with a soft internal stuffing. Her sassy expression is hand-worked with permanent marker. Her minimalist design is bold, fun, and just detailed enough (while still allowing her to coordinate with her fellow stuffies).

Gwendolyn has surely slipped through the gossamer threads that separate our world from the extraordinary world. She’s also brough a few friends, including Alandra the Pirate Fairy, Guienevere the Queen Fairy of Autumn, and Carlie the Strawberry Fairy.

In addition to a miniature world of plushie people, Hyla (that’s My Fairy Babies mastermind) also does whimsical things to clothing. If I had an infant, I’d surely pop her (or him!) into this sweet and funky Fairy Wings onesie:

Wings are cool. And it’s a good thing this onesie doesn’t actually imbue your infant with the ability to fly.

If you thought My Fairy Babies was the Fairy Cat’s meow, do stop in and say hello. She’s a fellow Etsy seller and her shop can be unearthed right here:

My Fairy Babies Etsy Shop - your gateway to cool fairyness!

Tiffany Teske, Photographer

Tiffany Teske is a talented photographer who works in a fascinating medium. Her unique compositions are rendered in Polaroid, lending a sense of immediacy to each piece that just can’t be duplicated with traditional methods.

Tiffany captures the core image using slide film, then it is projected onto Polaroid pack film. She peels the emulsion sheet back prematurely and then hand-processes the photographic print with additional techniques. The result of her hard work is a gritty, complex, and utterly fascinating one-of-a-kind image.

 Hands with Birch Bark Cuff

As you can see, her images take on a weathered, altered effect. This particular photo has a dark, dreamlike quality–like a Victorian photo caught at the edge of a daydream, steeped in antique hues. Imagine adding this intense, artistic image to that special corner in your home. Think instant intensity.

Spanish Door 02

Here’s another example of her lush, textured touch. An intriguing Spanish door leads somewhere unknown, captured and altered by her philosophical eye. One can only image stepping through this into the dark chamber beyond–perhaps equally tranquil and antiquated.

Tiffany Teske is a fellow Etsy seller. Her work is available for sale through her Etsy shop: Tiffany Teske
Her pieces cover a wide range of subjects–from daring, off-kilter portraits to surprising snaps of the everyday, the surreal, and the unreal.

Silver Dragon Creations - Intricate Beaded Art

Silver Dragon Creations offers stylish, intricately seed-beaded handmade jewelry for the fan of fun, functional, and fanciful. Patricia C. Vener is the hear of this shimmering endeavor, lending her talented hands to delightful earrings, charming necklaces, and other baubles.

Grapes & Hyacinth

Seed beading isn’t easy. Expert beaders can make their creations look whimsical, elegant, and effortless, when in reality, the painstaking process of using seed beads requires focused mastery. Patricia’s beading skills are superb and she mixes enchanting color combinations and detail with an eye-catching sense of mystery. Her Grapes & Hyacinth earrings, for example, echo the intrinsically beautiful Grape Hyacinth flower, while also hinting at the juicy purpleness of ripe grapes.  A double meaning, it seems!

Her Solar Flare beaded chokers are highly affordable and very wearable. With a sleek, minimalist design, she draws your attention to a few carefully chosen beads. The eye-popping color finishes each necklace with the right amount of character (and wardrobing).

Her shop also has a section for “dragon bags,” which she doesn’t have filled right now. I can only imagine what they might be like and I look forward to seeing some.

If you’re intrigued by her work, please stop by her shop. She’s a fellow Etsy seller and I think you’ll enjoy browsing her wares.

Silver Dragon Creations Etsy Shop <<

Earmark Invitations - Creative Paper Greetings with Bite

Earmark Invitations may well be my favorite letter press. Their sassy greeting cards and sleek, contemporary designs are  worth framing.

The San Diego based card company offers quality handmade greeting cards, note cards, and other paper goods that are ideal for your fun-loving, intellectual friends. The cards are imprinted with unique, often outrageously funny designs and they’re ideal for men, women, boys, girls, dogs, cats, and even that crabby genius pal of yours who thinks Hallmark sucks.

My favorite card set has to be the “Contempt Collection.” A set of 6 stark white, blank-inside notecards is ready to shock, stir, and otherwise tickle the sassy bone of your slotted recipient. With card messages like, “a personal hygiene reminder,” “you’re an ass,” and “i had low expectations anyway,” how can anyone hate these devilishly honest digs?

I’m also fond of “Skully” (perhaps it’s the pirate in me).  Heavy duty felt-texture paper gives this polka-dotted, rum-glugging skull its dashing, dramatic look. I love the contrast here. I would dig getting one of these as a gift card!

On top of the classy & sassy cards, Earmark Invitations also offers other fun items like pencils and magnets.

Earmark Invitations is a fellow Etsy seller.
If you haven’t stopped by the shop yet, go on and visit! Adventure awaits: http://earmark.etsy.com/