Thriving in Seagrove

Just back from the Catawba Valley Pottery Festival. It was another good year for me in Hickory, and it was great to see old friends again. Thanks to all who came to the show!

In other news, I recently received some very nice publicity!

THRIVE MAGAZINE, Volume II, Issue 4, April 2013

Mary Anderson of Thrive magazine did an article about me for their recent issue, with lots of photos by Paul Church. They both did a great job, thank you to both of them!

And The Winners Are

The Official Contest Drawers! Look at Ruru..he couldn't jump up there on his own but he tried (and I helped him). He is doing so well and this event was dedicated to him!  Wes drew the names and Ruru purred.  We had 12 names in the drawing and the winners are (and this was a truly pure drawing):

Necklace-Leslie
Sterling Hoop Earrings-Kathy, Michelle, Hal
Bunny earrings-Tami

I may need your addresses, so e-mail me jennie@jlkjewelry.com.

This is a pay it forward, if you have a blog, please do a give away like this. If not, then commit yourself to doing 4-5 random acts of kindness (above and beyond the ones that you normally do!!)

What a fun thing this is and I know you will all enjoy "paying it forward"!!! Keep it going, think outside the box!

Rainy Friday

We had a fun, though way too brief, visit from friends from Atlanta. both incredible artists. Susan does pheomenal stained glass and Michelle is a clay artist. So I got a day off!!! Hopefully they got enough of a peak at Seagrove to come back soon and spend more time. And maybe bring our friend Kathy back with them too:)

I've been in a bird state of mind. Today it may be leaves though.

Art and Nature

16 days....That is all that is left until the Celebration of Seagrove Potters. If you haven't gotten your Gala tickets, go directly to the web site and buy them on line!

I am working away on some new designs. Here are a couple that I have just finished. This is such a busy time of the year for all of us here in Seagrove, and of course all artists and craftspeople.

Yesterday morning our dog was at the pond barking like mad. Wes went down and thought he saw two beavers swimming around, and I joined him. Of course, Bacchus launched himself into the hyacinth filled water, the lab in him suddenly kicking into full gear. He swam in circles all around the pond, completely oblivious to the fact that these "beavers" were more adept in the water than he was. I was afraid he'd run out of steam in the hyacinth and go down. We finally coaxed him out and back into the garage. We were thrilled! Beavers eat water vegetation, and we have a ton of it! The water hyacinth is very pretty and horrendously invasive! (And people will pay $2-3 per plant for it, in nurseries.) We thought perhaps our answer to getting rid of it had come....two cool resident beavers to clean out the pond!

After a bit more research on line, after Wes saw them on the bank cuddling and noticed that they had long straight tails rather than big flat ones, we discovered that they were a pair of NA River Otters. That had been my thought when I first saw them swimming, they reminded me of the otters I watched in the Shed Aquarium, years ago. River otters are not vegetarians, they eat fish and sometimes small mammals. We had about 200 small koi put into the pond earlier this year (though we soon acquired a resident Great Heron right after, so there may not have been any left in there). I don't know if they got any koi, and I seriously doubt they wiped out our huge mole and vole population. They may not have been really keen on seeing 5 of us on the hill by the pond armed with cameras and binoculars, while they cuddled together, wrapped arond each other. I don't know what the deciding factor was, where they came from, or were they were going, but this morning as soon as it was light I went looking. No otters to be seen. We were thrilled though to have their 24 hour visit and hope that they'll be back to see us one day.

Home Again

New England in October is always such a wonderful time. We drove up on the 10th and spent some time on Cape Ann before heading to NH. I love the New England coast and all the great seafood that goes with it. Then back to NC with my parents and Max the cat, and spent a week here goofing off.

Now it is only 4 weeks til the Celebration of Seagrove Potters with the Jugtown Holiday Kiln Opening following right behind, on December 4th. I have come back with my mind bursting full of ideas and now need to organize myself to get everything produced! Though it is hard not to head out for the yard and garden with this beautiful weather!!

With my mind on the Dunes at Crane Beach, off to the studio I go!

Shows and Galleries

Still here and making things! This is a teapot made by Pam Owens I did the lid and handle. Tea Time magazine was here on Tuesday and photographed lots of teapots for an article in 2011.

I have been busy at work and also working on computers. I lost my hard drive on my main computer so I am sporting a new laptop which I am loving!

The Grovewood Gallery in Asheville is going to be carrying my work again, so if in Ashveille look for it after mid-June. I am very pleased to be represented by them again.

Free Hand Gallery in Los Angeles is owned by Carol Sauvion, the producer of the Craft in America series that I wrote about last fall. They will also be carrying my work starting in June. So if on either coast please stop in their galleries. In Dallas you can visit Carlyn Galerie.

Next show scheduled is the Mint Museum's Potters Invitational on September 11th.

Looks like I'll have a busy summer getting things ready for all these! And if you are near Seagrove, stop in at Jugtown and say hi!

Stop the Madness, I Want to Get Off

This is a departure (to start off) from my regular topics, but one that many people don't pay attention to.

It's January. Do you know where your thyroid is? This is from http://www.thyroidawarenessmonth.com/.

Your thyroid is actually your master gland of metabolism and energy. January is thyroid awareness month, but every month should be. I know, being a hypothyroid suffer.

My friend, Susan, told me about the web site www.stopthethyroidmadness.com after I realized late last year that I was feeling really tired and out of sorts. I thought it was all the hours being spent on the Celebration and trying to fit in some jewelry making on the side. I've been on Levoxyl for years, letting my Doctors tell me if my TSH was within range and prescribing my dose. After spending a LOT of time perusing this site I pulled out my lab results and discovered, yes my TSH was in the "normal" range, but my FT3 and FT4 were no where near the bottom of the normal range. Well levoxyl is a T4 synthetic only. Can't produce FT3? Then you are probably feeling bad, and you would be AMAZED at the range the symptoms can take. I learned how important it is to be your own health advocate with these things, especially as many Drs., including endocrinologists, are not all that well trained on things.

I have a fantastic Doctor that works with me and knows the research that I put into this. I told her I wanted to try Natural Dessicated Thyroid. OK! Prescribed a dosage that ended up being too low (by about 1/2), but WOW, even with a low dose I felt a lot better within a day. A day!! Then two weeks later, most all the US pharmacies ran out. But, not to worry the pharmacy could compound me something similar (so they said, but all synthetic something). 4.5 weeks later: I'm feeling like I was feeling last fall, icky, crabby, tired, vision off, foggy brained, fat(ter and fatter), unfocused. Turns out, I, like many people didn't absorb any of the expensive compounded stuff for over a month.

Talk about some bad numbers, did you know your TSH (normal range 0.5-3.0) can go over 75. My Dr. said you can become comatose at the levels I was at-I almost felt that way. What to do, still no NDT in any of the pharmacies.

Thank you again for the web sites and facebook's Save Natural Thyroid. Canadian pharmacies have plenty of NDT, and everyone says it is like the original Armour. Back to my Dr., worried she'll say no, not Canada, but as always she was right there for me. So now I have a new script on the way. I can't wait! It was magical the difference that I felt (and Wes immediately saw it too) when I started NDT. I might feel really good again and it has been quite a few years since my FT3 and FT4 were in a normal range. Hopefully once the brain fog lifts new things will be coming fast!!

I do have new ideas though and am working on them. Stage 1 in a totally new endeavor worked pretty well, so progressing down that road. No announcements yet but hopefully by Feb.

Wes and I have lots of ideas for the garden and new endeavors there too, now that he will be retiring this spring. Stayed tuned to that one too!

2010, buzz words are FOCUS and progress on JLK Handcrafted (Jewelry and more) and the garden! So, stop all the madness of 2009, I'm getting off that crazy roller coaster, this is a new decade and a brand new focus for me!

New Year's Day Gardening and Ideas

Wes and I decided to try an experiment in the garden. We built this tunnel over our lettuce patch on New Year's Day. We also did a more make-shift one over the Swiss chard. In anticipation of this week of cold weather we wanted to see if we might be able to prolong our produce harvest. I looked in this morning after two nights in the teens and the lettuce looked great. So did the Chard.

I harvested the baskets on New Years Day. Arugula, cilantro, daikon and turnips.











I am slowly breaking back into work, starting with phone calls and editing and uploading holiday photos! I've got lots of new ideas for many things I would like to accomplish this year and add to my line this year and so will be working on my business plan as well. Time to turn my focus back to creating my work.

This year I hope to do some different shows. I have been invited to do a show in Dunwoody, GA in May. The producer of this new event created and produces the Norcross Art Fesival. These shows are by invitation only so I am looking forward to exhibiting there, as I have long wanted to do a show in Atlanta. I have also been asked to set up in the beginning of April at a large International Horse Trials event not too far from here and a beautiful stable and B&B. As I have done some equestrian jewelry in the past that will give me another new outlet for ideas!

I have some other ideas percolating as well incorporating other media than clay and metals, or should I say adding another media to those. I need to test my skills and buy some equippment first though on that front.

So here I sit at work, plotting out the future as Tasha and Chester lounge behind the Jotul (the best gift they could ever have received) and Bacchus takes a snooze. Our pets are not spoiled, not at all!

Leaf Fetish Continues

I have really been on a leaf making binge in my jewelry lately. These are some I've had in mind for a long time and finally hammered them out. Comments are appreciated as I try out these new designs! I am trying to build up a lot of inventory (HA!) for my upcoming shows: Potter's Invitational at the Mint Museum on September 12; Artsfest in Historic West End, Winston-Salem on September 26; Art on Main in Hendersonville, October 2-4 and the Celebration of Seagrove Potters in Seagrove Noveember 20-22. Check out the web site www.CelebrationOfSeagrovePotters.com as I have been adding potters photos and the collaboration pieces will be posted as they come in.

Fresh From the Oven!

I just love it when they open the reduction kiln! Refires and new fires! Except for a couple jumping together these all came out great! Now what shall they become in life?

Miss Frog

Miss Frog, who lives with two other frogs and two fish in our patio pond has become an inspiration for me after she posed so fetchingly (see prior post). I drew her on some poly-shrink and baked it to become the center of the pendant of this mixed media necklace, Contemplating the Frog pond.

This piece will be on exhibit (and for sale) at the Randolph Arts Guild for their upcoming show Art Couture, Wearable Art. August 4-28 with an opening reception on August 4 from 5:30-7:30. Their card is posted below!

Sipping and Selling on Saturday

We spent the weekend in the mountains where the weather was fantastic! It was 50 degrees on Saturday morning. This was my first time at Winefest. The big tents were set up right next to the north fork of the New River (2nd oldest river in the world!!) People started checking in around noon for the afternoon festival that ended aobut 5:45.




Gayle Winston is the owner of River House and a wonderful hostess. The restaurant has great food and the setting and ambience are very relaxing. If you want a retreat to the mountains near West Jefferson, make a stop there www.riverhousenc.com).

One tent housed the wineries and with your green wrist band you got a glass and unlimited tastings. They were also selling wine by the glass and bottle, which I think everyone paticipated in! What a way to do a show. Beautiful setting, cool weather, sipping wine with your customers all day! Great music by several different bands.










Warren and Brenda with Wes, were our hosts for the weekend and each morning Warren had a fire going in the fireplace, in the middle of July!!

and when we got home, more tomatoes!!!!

Winefest Preview

Just a couple of the things I've been working on to take to River House for Winefest on Saturday.

New stuff

lots of necklace pendants just waiting to be made! These are a couple of the new items I am preparing to take to Winefest and my upcoming shows! More to come soon!!

Buy Me, Buy Me!!!

Friday evening and Saturday 8:30-4:30 I will be set up (as will Pam and Travis from Jugtown Pottery) at the Best of Our State at the Carolina Hotel in Pinehurst. Celebrate North Carolina’s unique music, history, humor, art and storytelling. The marketplace is open to the public and is located just outside the Grand Ballroom. So if you are in Pinehurst on the 4th of July, stop in and see us. Here is a new cuff bracelet that I will have along with me!

Bracelets

Etched sterling sweat soldered onto another piece of sterling with pottery stones. Two in back are men's large (8"+), 3 remaining fit 6.5-8"

Tuesday morning

Yesterday afternoon I went to STARworks Ceramics for a plaster mold making workshop with Hitomi. It was excellent and I learned a lot. I have made a couple molds in the past, but nothing like this! Lots of little things I didn't realize!! Takuro or Hitomi put some pix on their blog http://starworksceramics.blogspot.com/. I was really pleased with how my two molds came out!

Now back to the bench. Trillium Gallery in Little Switzerland is expecting a selection of work from to be sent out by Friday and the Green Hill Center in Greensboro has devoted a window case to my work. If you haven't seen the current show it is well worth it. We went for Tom Suomalainen's on the 1st of May. He and Wes were neighbors years ago and it was nice for Wes to reconnect and me to connect with Tom. We look forward to his visit to our home! It was a wonderful exhibition and his installation is really amazing. Even better after you hear his talk and the opera that went with it!

One more big bracelet. I am having fun with these. OK time to make some watches!