Carol Watson Art Glass

Changes are a comin.......

2011-03-06T10:16:00.000-05:00

I just got my second rejection letter in two weeks. Krasl Art Fair in St. Joe, Michigan and the Talbot Street Art Fair in Indianapolis. My next question to myself was, "why not " ? It could be many different things, but I prefer not to dwell, and to move on. So my next question was "what's next" ? 7 years ago when I started doing Craft shows with my beads and jewelry I had set a goal for myself that someday, I was going to make it into the Penrod Art Fair. Penrod is THE Art Show in Indiana. Very prestigous. Well, last year, I was accepted. I was thrilled beyond belief. So once a goal is attained, you set new goals, right ? RIGHT !
So what is/are my new goal(s) ? I don't have the slightest idea!!!
Do I want to stay in glass? Absolutely ! Silver ? Check !
So, for right now, I have one show in May (Brickstreet Market in Zionsville) and possibly Penrod again. (I'll know by May 1st)
I'm thinking the rest of the time I'm going to concentrate on new skills that will promote new ideas. Classes, classes, classes. You don't know what you don't know, right ? RIGHT !
Wish me luck on my learning journey !!

Woo Hoo !! Getting ready for the "Chica Boutiqua"

2010-10-28T18:27:00.001-04:00

http://www.indystar.com/article/20101028/LIVING17/10280316/A-variety-of-gifts-all-in-one-place?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|IndyStar.com|s
Getting ready for the "Chica Boutiqua" It's the first year I'll be doing this show. It benefits the Zionsville Food Pantry , which is a great cause. My bracelet was featured in the Indianapolis Star- a little blurb about the show.
It put a smile on my face.

OH MY GOODNESS !!!!!

2010-09-10T12:03:00.000-04:00

I am throwing out to the universe the thought of NO RAIN TOMORROW. I just know it's going to get it all out of it's system tonight, and be a beautiful, clear sky-ed awesome day tomorrow. I am really prepared, every i has been dotted, every t crossed. NOW, if I can get rid of the poison ivy breakout I'm having, life would be fabulous !! I will be in Booth # Green area 41. Stop on by !!
PS- Penrod Art Fair- on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Saturday September 11th 9-5

Countdown............. 7 FREAKING days !!!

2010-09-04T18:45:00.002-04:00

Wow, I remember when I got the notification that I was accepted to the Penrod Arts Fair that I had 4 months to prepare. No sweat, right ? YIKES, did those 4 months go by quickly ! I'm now in countdown mode. Cleaning pieces, assembling pieces, and still making beads ! I had a friend tell me that for this Fair, if you think you have enough inventory, you probably DON'T ! Luckily, with Labor Day on Monday, I'm only working 2 days this week, Tuesday and Wednesday. I took Thursday off "just because" ! :)
Since this is my first year doing this show, I don't know what to expect other than huge crowds ! My wonderful niece will be helping me on Saturday, and I get to go the day before to set up my tent, and take my tables, so all of the big stuff will be out of the way.
I'm excited, nervous and a little bit overwhelmed~ It's all good though !

Best birthday present EVER !

2010-08-15T11:29:00.003-04:00

I was talking with my sister Jan the other day, and she asked how things were coming for Penrod. I told her that all was well, and that I hadn't talked to anyone to ask them if they would want to help me. I also told her how great would it be if my niece (her daughter) Liz could help me that day. She lives in Kansas City, and is an artist herself and has done smaller shows in the past. The next thing I know, Liz is calling me to tell me that she will be flying in on Friday night before the show to help me !!!
My sister had purchased a flight for Liz to come. I told her this could be my birthday, Christmas gift for the next few years !! I'm truly blessed to have family that is so supportive. Even though my sister doesn't "get" lampwork beads, she still supports my passion.
LOVE YOU JAN !

I can vacuum anytime !

2010-08-10T22:50:00.000-04:00

I had the day off today, and I had tons of things on my honey-do list (me, being my own honey) I decided that Penrod is going to be here before I know it, and I needed to come up with some cool, knock your socks off designs . When I'm designing, I "don't do" FAST. Pieces get put together and then taken apart multiple times before they're considered ready ! Here's a couple of things I came up with. I can't take credit for the bracelet design (Melissa Muir), but I changed up the design of the clasp closure, and added my own type of dangle.
The Wishbone pendant started out as a "ladder", but morphed into a wishbone. I just love the color combination of the peridot colored bead with the shiny silver. Yum ! Lemme know whatch think !

And this is what it looks like after completion !

2010-06-06T12:14:00.000-04:00

I'll be making more of these !

2010-06-06T12:05:00.014-04:00

Yesterday was "prototype day". I dug out my PMC supplies and went to town ! I REALLY enjoy working with PMC (precious metal clay) For those that don't know what PMC is, I'll explain it in a nutshell (or an acorn cap !!LOL) You start with "clay" that is made up of fine silver and a "binder" that keeps the clay together. You roll it, texture it, then shape it into anything that you want. After it is dried completely, you pop it into the kiln at 1650 degrees for 2 hours. The "binder" is burned out and you're left with a piece of pure (.999) silver. VERY COOL !!
This is what your pieces look like out of the kiln.

HUGE NEWS !!

2010-05-03T11:08:00.000-04:00

Oh my gosh....this has been a goal of mine for about as long as I can remember. Even when I wasn't making beads or jewelry, I would attend the Penrod Arts Fair and I would say to myself "I want to be in this show someday" Well, guess what ???? I got the notice on Saturday that I was accepted !!! I'm stunned, excited and nervous ! I have a show in Zionsville on May 15th, then am open till the Penrod in September. I"ll keep my blog more up to date as I get ready for this show !! Woooohoooo !!

Almost ready !

2010-02-04T13:03:00.000-05:00

Ever since after Christmas I have been preparing for my first "real Art" show.
Cathy (www.cathybrowndesigns.com) and I have been wanting to branch out and away from the shows where people say "you want how much for a bracelet"? lol Bottom line....they don't appreciate Art. I've been making beads like nobody's business, mainly BIG beads for Kaleidoscope bodies and bottle opener handles. Now I have to hunker down for jewelry beads.
I want to create a picture of some of my work to hang behind our booth space that depicts some of my favorite pieces. Here is what I have so far. Not quite sure about the text. I'll tweak it till I get what I want.
I kinda like it :

TaDa !!

2010-01-05T17:16:00.008-05:00

Here is the picture of the pendant that I made on Sunday @ Cathy's.

Gosh, I work slowly !!

2010-01-03T19:15:00.000-05:00

I spent my whole afternoon playing at Cathy Brown's house. I had such huge expectations of getting so much done, but only ended up making ONE (yes, 1) pendant. Granted, it was a two layer hand sawed copper/brass sheet that I riveted in multiple places. I guess it's ok to work for 4 hours on a project, but try to explain that to your customers. They'll look at a piece and can't figure out why it costs so much ! TIME !!!
Now, 4 hours for just the pendant part (not including the time it took to etch the metals, we'll just call that a wash), 15 minutes to make the acorn bead, another 8 hours electroforming the top, then another hour or so figuring out how to "string it up" No pictures yet, it's still tumbling, but it'll be coming soon !

What I've made with my acorns so far !

2009-12-27T10:28:00.001-05:00

Sterling Silver Viking Knit bracelet with etched copper Oak leaf focal.
Acorn dangle is a glass lampwork bead that the "cap" of the acorn has been electroformed with copper.
Each component (Viking Knit, making the lampwork bead, copper etching, electroforming) is a very time consuming process. I'm pleased as punch with the results.
$115.00

My second attempt is a copper etched oak leaf connected with a fused fine silver chain, and the acorn dangle is a glass lampwork bead that has been electroformed to show off a copper "acorn cap"
The bracelet and leaf have been oxidized to give the silver and copper an aged look.
$110.00

New Beads !

2009-12-15T15:45:00.002-05:00

A fellow lampwork artist (Julie Nordine) came for a visit a couple of weeks ago. One of her signature beads is an acorn. She was so nice to share her technique with me. Here are my results ! I LOVE them ! Can't wait to make something with them ! My business used to be called In the Woods Designs......fits right in ! lol

Got a few new ones in the kiln !

2009-12-05T20:58:00.000-05:00

I had a rare opportunity to torch all day long yesterday ! My friend, Robin and I flew an up and coming lampwork artist to Indy to be her guinea pigs. She's wanting to teach, and "doesn't know if she's good enough" WHAT???? Lol ! Her name is Julie Nordine (Credit River Art Glass) and she makes amazing beads ! Uses lots of Silvered Glass.(YUUUM $$$) She helped me "tweak" my style. I'm getting there ! All bead makers want a style that everyone can look at your bead and say "that's a so and so bead" Well, someday I want for people to say "that's a Carol Watson bead !" Not quite there yet, but closer !
I came home tonight to a driveway and part of the garage covered in OIL. Oil as in, the oil that I used to fry the thanksgiving turkey in. Guinness decided I was gone too long today, and got bored. He dumped the box that the 3 gallon bottle that held the used oil was in. Darn it ! I was supposed to go back to Robin's tonight for more play time, but when I saw that mess, I decided to clean it up and stay home. I got some torch time in tonight. Made a few of Julie acorn's with my twist, and a HUGE heart that I can't wait to see. It looks to me like a Carol Watson bead !!!! lol
I"ll go back tomorrow for more ! I'm having so much fun just creating and playing. Wish I could do it everyday !

Gobble Gobble !

2009-11-26T00:42:00.000-05:00

Well, I guess it's officially Thanksgiving ! I finally put the finishing touches on my "Grammy Mustard" , thickened and in jars to give out to friends. This recipe was given to my Mom years ago by my sister in law, Sara. My Mom kind of "made it her own" and all of her neighbors asked her for the recipe. She would never give it out, but instead would make jars and jars of this mustard to give away. It has ALOT of ground mustard and tarragon vinegar in it. Cleans out your sinus' BIG TIME ! I've decided I'm going to carry on the tradition since my Mom can't. All I have to do tomorrow is peel the potatoes, chop the onions and celery for the stuffing, and I'm gold ! I wish everyone a wonderful Thanksgiving spent with those you love.

Oh My Goodness !

2009-11-05T13:01:00.000-05:00

I had the day off today, and decided it was time to CLEAN ! I had boxes and boxes from my Mom's house that I FINALLY reboxed, and put in the garage !! I'm trying to get the house ready for Thanksgiving. It's only going to be my Mom and the boys, but still ! There's "nuttin betta" than a clean house !

We're in !!!

2009-10-30T18:03:00.000-04:00

What a fabulous topic to start off my new blog ! My friend Cathy Brown ( www.cathybrowndesigns.com ) and I were juried into our first "REAL" Art show ! We were chosen to participate in the Indiana Art Fair held at the Indiana State Museum on February 20-21st, 2010. For the past 5 years, Cathy and I have done mainly local Arts and Crafts Fairs. They have been a wonderful experience that have given us the confidence to do shows that cater more to the "Arts" than the "Crafts" Keep checking back for other shows that we will be applying for. Woohoo ! Can you tell I'm excited ???