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May 212013
I’m fresh back from the Society of North American Goldsmiths conference in Toronto. It was three and a half days of intense lectures, panel discussions, presentations and demos all addressing a different facet of the jewelry industry. It’s going to take me a while to process all of the information that I stuffed into my brain over these few days, to be sure. Suffice it to say that it was very inspiring and I came out of it with a thirst for more and a burning desire to enroll in a Masters program. Or at least a class of some kind…
(View from my room)
(Some SNAG Members handling an Elsa Peretti sterling mesh scarf)
There were numerous jewelry exhibitions all over and I soaked in several while I roamed the city, most notably the Ferrous exhibit at 18k. Ferrous was visiting from Velvet Da Vinci in San Francisco and I was delighted when I realized it was going to be in town. I also managed to make it out to the AGO to check out the Patti Smith Exhibit as well as a portraiture exhibit called “Light My Fire” and a modernist painting exhibit. I had been dying to see Patti Smith’s photo exhibit since I visited Toronto in January and realized I was just a little too early to make it. I’m very happy to have been able to catch the tail end of “Camera Solo” and pick up the catalogue.
An action packed and successful visit to Toronto made possible by the generous funding of Arts Nova Scotia.
(The Art Gallery of Ontario in the distance)
(Nan Goldin, “My Bed at Hotel La Louisiane, Paris” from Light My Fire, AGO)
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May 102013
No, I didn’t fall off the face of the earth.
I’m still here.
I’ve just been swamped under a deluge of work, etc. These past weeks have been eventful to say the least.
I made this lovely Tudor Style engagement ring for the partner of an old high school friend last month and early this month he surprised her by popping the question in Central Park, NYC! How romantic. The ring is hand constructed from rose gold and sterling silver and topped with a beautiful rose cut diamond.
(Photo by John McCarthy of www.mostlythecoast.com)
Congratulations John and Shawnee! Here’s to many years of bliss.
It has been several weeks of Icons for me and following Nick Cave, The Preacher, in March I was fortunate enough to see Leonard Cohen, The Prophet, in April. I’m a lucky girl and I’ve probably mentioned a million times that The Favourite Game by Leonard Cohen is at the top of my “books I love” list.
(The Man.)
The Halifax Crafters Spring Fair was just this past weekend. It was a lovely event, as always, and it was a joy to see so many familiar, sun warmed faces. I took home some pretty serious treasures including a tie-dyed silk scarf from Taylor Made and some gorgeous lacey pottery from Therese Bombardier Designs.
I’m off to Toronto in just under a week! I’m headed there for the SNAG (Society of North American Goldsmiths) conference, Meta Mosaic. I can’t wait! The lineup of demos, workshops and lectures looks like it will be action packed. I’ll also be able to catch the tail end of the Patti Smith photography exhibit at the AGO!
Finally, I would like to say that we lost an old friend at the end of March and this loss took our breath away. I don’t want to say “me” or “I” because I’m just one of so many people who were struck breathless by the loss of our friend Jay Smith; An incandescent soul still burning bright in the stars and our hearts. He is immortalized through his children, his music and his spirit. You can listen to some of Jay’s music here, and if you find yourself moved why not visit The Jay Smith Family Trust and leave a tribute to his family.
Rock Ranger forever!
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Mar 262013
(Nick Cave, the handsome devil, on stage at Metropolis in Montreal)
I’m freshly back from Montreal after a whirlwind visit with my sister, Elizabeth. We wandered, ate, drank wine in the afternoon, rode the metro like mad, shopped and took in a Nick Cave concert as well as a student protest directly outside our hotel door. It was an action packed visit to say the least. I even managed to squeeze in a business meeting with a ‘by appointment only’ boutique quietly nestled on Laurier in Outremont. My brain is packed with images, sounds and general inspiration, but there is always room for a little more.
(Montreal Police march on protesters to separate and surround them, photo from elizabetharsenault.tumblr.com)
Sometimes I like to flip through fashion magazines to soak up all of the eye candy. I feel like it is an underrated part of my job that I often neglect. It’s a shame too, because every time I flip through a few high fashion magazines I always come away brimming with ideas for displays, fashion shoots and jewelry pieces. I like to borrow these magazines from the library because I don’t like to have too much “stuff” lying around - and I am one of those mythical beasts who still loves and frequents the library!
(DVF’s library! http://theestateofthings.com/tag/bookshelves/)
In a back issue of InStyle I read an article about Diane Von Furstenberg. She’s a designer I admire and the piece mentions that she “has archived every inspiration board, collection, advertising campaign and pieces of press” (December 2012, p.461). These she’s had bound in jewel toned volumes that grace her extensive library.
The idea really struck me - as simple and obvious as it may seem. To me, it feels like a an elegant way to organize your visions so you can go back and draw from your own acumen. I like it, and it looks a heck of a lot better than the rag-tag assortment of journals and sketchbooks I’ve got shoved in drawers at the moment. I think I’d like to adopt a similar system (and also grow a really big library)!
PS - I found this cheeky blog post while searching for pictures of DVF’s library.
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