My Biggest Struggle With Creating Is My Mind....

I have been at OBRAS artist residency in Renkum, Holland since the beginning of April.  My goal was to create 30 new one of a kind pieces while I was here.  I'm not sure if I will reach 30 pieces...it will be close. 

My biggest struggle with creating here has been my mind.  Big surprise.  I keep saying these things to myself "Just play, explore, experiment, take risks, try new things"....."but, what am I doing? Is this going to become a sellable line? How am I going to make money?"   It's like the 2 sides of my brain are debating inside of me.  

I try to remember what Heidi Schwegler said when I heard her speak about doing 4 artist residencies in 1 year, at last years SNAG conference.  She said that the real work happened when she returned from the residency and she learned that her job at the residency was to take in as much information as she could - to take photos, to explore,  and to really take the time to see things.  

I've spent a lot of time creating at my studio space here in Renkum, but I have also taken the time to really see things.....

At a Farmers Market on my trip to Prague.  Hippy boys and hot metal.

Prague, earth, buildings, sky.

Prague, The importance of inviting beauty inside. 

Sculpture Park, Kroller Muller Museum, Holland. 

Telling The Truth

"Telling the truth is like spreading the underside of your wings, you see that part only when you fly" 

- Sabrina Ward Harrison. 

I brought the above words with me on my artist residency. 

I also brought images of birds in flight, wings, butterflies, flowers, flying sculptures........

Sculptures by Ranjani Shettar

Papaya Art

My life for the past couple of years has been moving.  At times I've been pushing it..... and dragging it forward. At other times its been tunneling right over me and I haven't been sure if I can catch up with it.  

Through-out all of this movement I've had my feet firmly planted on an earth that was familiar, my home, my life, my apartment, my street. 

Until now.  I needed to firmly step off of solid ground - on my terms this time......and fly.  

For these reasons my work while in Holland has been influenced by the ideas of flight, moving, propelling forward, leaping, taking risks, changing, evolving, wings, wheels, growth, petals, freedom, letting go, growth, renewal.......

"Telling The Truth", Brooch - copper, wire, felt, thread

Some Quiet Days in Renkum

Finding the Details in Amsterdam

In a city as spectacular as Amsterdam it is hard to stop looking at EVERYTHING and start connecting with something.  It took me some time and a lot of letting my eyes wander to focus in on the things that captured my heart. 

Video of My Artist Residency in Holland

The Colour, Pattern, & Textures of Holland

Every corner I turn this country keeps getting more beautiful.

I am surrounded by colour, pattern, and texture........

That's not who I am and that's just fine.....

I have been thinking about doing things simply. My work for the past number of years has been anything but simple. I am always adding more details, more colour, more pattern, more twists and more turns into my pieces.

I have thought that since my life is a little less twisty and turny these days, my work should also be less complicated. I love the look of modern minimalist pieces of jewelry.
But I was really trying.....almost forcing myself to think and work this way and of course, I kept hitting road blocks. I spent hours yesterday morning fighting with the Swedish sewing machine that I have here trying to make it do what I needed it to do. I was frustrated and annoyed and just tossed it all up to having a bad day.

Then a couple of things happened during my day and I was reminded to stop fighting myself. I love pattern, colour, textures, twists, turns, and lots of little details. I'm not going to make minimalist jewelry, that's not who I am and that's just fine.

I came across this Dutch fashion designer Winde Rienstra. Her designs are complex, with many shapes, textures, and patterns. Many people would look at them and think "how would you possibly wear them?" But I looked at them and thought "Yes, these are amazing and intriguing, and I want to see more"


Later in the evening our hosts here in Holland took us to an art opening at this little place called Telpost Millingen - It was this tiny little watch tower, originally used for counting ships. In 2011 they invited a number of artists to spend 11 days each in the tower to be inspired by their surroundings and create art while there. They recorded the results by publishing a little book where each artist showed the work they created and told the story of their creative process. What interested me the most about this project was how different each artists work and process was even though they were all at the same location for the same amount of time.





So.......my first finished piece while in Holland with all of its twists and turns and tiny little details.........


Necklace. hammered copper, hand fabricated brass chain, sterling silver beads.