Graffiti

We were in a restaurant in Tucson that used to be a favorite of ours, years ago when it was in an isolated, funky area of Tucson near the Rialito river. The restaurant was a riot of color and imagery.  From country side weird to big city chic. It was  fun to load up on chips and salsa and talk the night away while eating un-by americanized mexican cuisine. The place has since moved to an up and coming, newly developing area of Tucson and has definitely suburbanized itself but it still has an amazing collection of airbrushed graffiti. I am always fascinated by and have collected pictures of regional graffiti wherever I go. It is the new american folk art, accessible to all, easily done, supplies readily available and loads of surfaces that cry out for adornment. Just don't run out and paint up your neighborhood! I personally think american cities should provide places that you could legally graffiti-ize!

We could all be artists in our own right! We just need the space to create! But don't deface  property that is not yours!

Home

My jewelry display wall.

The sun felt delightful on my face, the desert wind especially charmed me and even the coldest temperatures in Tucson since 1899, were wonderful as I experienced them. I am sorry to see the days go. To be out of my routine from time to time is so refreshing. I could not work in the studio or shop or office so I was forced, I say, to enjoy myself and concentrate only on the moments at hand. To see friends again was absolute heaven! I also had a new neighbor next to my booth at The Whole Bead Show and he was nice to work with! I am looking forward to seeing him next year in the same spot and to doing some jewelry design work for him in the coming year.

Silver work and new designs. 

Trays of sterling charms and bronze toggles.

These are the first of my Tucson pictures I will post here. My booth, as it is called in Tucson, is 8 feet by 4 feet so I manage to carefully fit in a ton of my silver work. I featured my sterling charms, jewelry, new designs, new metals and classic standbys: the brass I bring in from India, my favorite resins and many cords twisted in an array of color and texture.

My new metals, bronzes and  britanium, were well received and I am thoroughly encouraged to keep heading in that direction. My new silver work excited many customers and the jewelry was loved and purchased by many. Thank you!

The odd part of the whole trip is I worked so hard to get ready for the show that now that I am home, I just want to snuggle under a down comforter and watch recorded TV shows. I need space, time to unwind from all the work and travel. I will give myself some of that time in the evening when the house is still and we each retreat to our own separate spaces. I will rest in my leather recliner and take in the small world that is on the television and use it for a vacation from the day. More pictures coming soon. I had so many adventures, I want to share them all!

Last Full Tucson Day

It is incredibly difficult to believe that this is my last full day to spend in Tucson as tomorrow I fly home. I should continue shopping today but instead I am going to help a friend pack out her booth and then spend a little time out in the desert sun, soaking up the warmth and atmosphere, desert sounds and sights. I am going to give myself a day to breathe and simply be. Every year that I am down here I fall in love again with the open spaces that the Tucson countryside shows me and I get a determination to move down here and begin again an art studio. Wouldn't it feel like heaven on earth to spend months holed up in the quiet and solitude, creating my jewelry and paintings, venturing out once or twice a year to sell them? Make enough money to return to my lair and creat some more? What artist would not really like this?

I am a person that believes if it is meant to be then it will. I am sending this thought out into the universe and we shall see where it lands! Much love - Lois

Tucson Time

It has been an exhausting few days so far here in Tucson. The shows for 2011 have begun and I have done a lot of shopping. The stones are big, bigger, biggest and the chinese crystal market has exploded in a riot of colors, I could not resist. Looking for just plain round, small stones is a fruitless ( stoneless? ) search as everything is definitely geared for large profile jewelry with chain being the go to item for this year.

With silver and gold prices being so high, there is not much of either about at the shows. I see the usual fake silver and there are many new names for " silver " none of which is actually silver let alone sterling. I am really enjoying all the fondling, of gemstones that is!

I am also having a great time visiting friends, eating too much GOOD mexican food and enjoying the desert colors and textures. evening finds me totally wiped out and ready for a good snooze.

This year's Whole Bead Show, at which I am exhibiting, promises new excitement as I have new neighbors beside my show table for the first time in 17 years. I am looking forward to meeting them.

I will be reagling you with pictures as soon as I am home! Goodnight for now! xo

The Final Tucson Pieces

Hand finished sterling silver charms and contemporary Czech glass.

More satin finished sterling charms and vintage lucite pieces.

Now this is a fun riot of color and pattern mixed with my satin finished sterling
silver charms.

I have finally allowed my self to have some fun, use some new materials, create new finishes and finish up new designs for the Tucson show. I love these jangles of color, pattern and noise! They are also light weight and comfortable to wear. I am so excited to show them off! Anyhow, this has to be brief so that I can gather my knitting and throw some clothes into a suitcase! Looking for the sun in the next couple of weeks.

Soft Nights

The James & Hastings Building - 1889
by Michael McKee

This is the building that I love, the seat of my soul, my heart's content, where many of my waking hours are spent in happy relationships with my beads, jewelry, customers and friends. I love being here and playing inside, moving things about, cleaning, displaying, futzing and more. I do not need to travel the world over to discover a sense of place, I am already here.

This picture is so glow-ful, for lack of a better word; I can make this one up. The soft, ambient light radiating out into the night on a slightly foggy evening, makes everything all dreamy and soft.

Such sadness does come over me when I prepare to leave home though. I feel a pulling to stay here and an anxiety and hopefulness to go there. No wonder I pack so much stuff to travel - I am trying to take a bit of  home, studio and self with me.

My little house charm pictured on Etsy.
I love making little houses and thinking about
the people that would live in sweet little houses.
I can create whole stories of lives well
lived.
Happy Weekend!