Stowe and Stowe Studio

Feeling the Love

2011-07-12T08:30:00.000-07:00

The Ragettes receiving the LOVE from Miss M! It is a good thing because I have been obsessed with making more ragettes. They will be looking for adoptive homes at the Saline Summerfest August 5th 5pm to 9pm and August 6th 10am to 8pm. Hope you can visit them.......

Introducing YeaYa's People

2011-06-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

I have always been interested in creating "people" - from my first sawdust puppet in second grade to my latest creations. I'm pleased to give you a first glimpse of the RAGETTES - they are part of YeaYa's People. It takes a village you know............

Meet the Ragettes

I'll post more pics at a later date. These are just the beginning of what Miss M named YeaYa's People.

I Love Early Summertime

2011-06-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

My yard becomes a mass of colorful, fragrant, beautiful flowers including tree peonies and roses in the early summer. Just wanted to share some photos with you.

Tree Peony

And we also have lots of visitors to our yard and pond. This little guy has been croaking so much - he must be very lonely!

But the best one of all is my little Miss Mady!

So CHEERS to Summertime ........

We are really toasting at West Beach on Orcas Island, WA, but thought it was appropriate for celebrating Michigan in the summertime.

Enamel Jewelry

2011-06-04T19:05:00.000-07:00

Love to torch fire enamel and anyone who knows me, knows I love hearts so......

Soft Summer Color Hearts

Hearts on Fire

Here are some dimensional hearts in cool summer sky and water colors. And some hot summer sun
colors!
I use a jeweler's saw to create a heart form cut out in plexiglass and hammer a piece of annealed copper sheet forming it to the pattern. This makes the heart shape puff out. After a few other steps the copper heart shape is ready to enamel. Lots of fun to create. Let me know what you think......

First Jewelry Open House

2011-05-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

Jewelry display - Molly did a great job on the display

We held our first semi-annual Open House Jewelry and Art Show last week. Wow - I was overwhelmed at the response! Thank you to everyone who came and supported our artistic endeavors. Due to the wonderful response and inquiries we will have another one in November. We ate tasty appetizers and sipped on cool drinks. My daughters were instrumental in making this a success - thank you girls. I have such a supportive family and friends - love you all!

Molly, Julie, Sarah and Mady

Needle felted journals

2011-03-27T18:00:00.000-07:00

Journal 2011

I like to make my own journals for visual journaling. This is my newest one. I love using cloth covered journals. They feel so good to carry around and are wonderful in which to write, create collages and drawings.
I will be teaching how to create such a journal this May at 212 Arts Center in Saline. Please see their website if you are interested in this fun and usable project. It will be offered in two sessions with a separate class to teach you how to start filling it with delicious colors and images.

Circle Necklace

2011-03-16T07:25:00.000-07:00

Losing one's paying job can be a mental change as well as a financial one. Trying to focus on working only out of the home studio is something I really looked forward to but I have been spending a lot of time just reorganizing work space. I did snap this picture of a new piece to share with you all.

Circle Pendant

I also made the chain on this piece. It is made with two discs of hand hammered copper sewn together with wire holding the stone in the middle. As I post this pic my front yard rose garden is starting to reveal itself from the two foot blanket of snow that has been covering it. It is so fun to watch the green clumps of grape hyacinths and myrtle appear through the snow. Before I know it, my roses will be in full bloom. Yes, time does sneak past me that fast. Back to work - beating up some more metal!

Etsy shop

2011-03-05T05:47:00.000-08:00

I have opened an Etsy shop. If this name is new to you- quickly it is an online shop where artist can sell their handmade items. I have only listed one pair of earrings so far. My computer guru son-in-law has been very patiently helping with the process. Old dogs, new tricks...I know some of you can relate! Anyway it will take me awhile to catch up but it will make my jewelry easier to purchase eventually.

Beach glass, etched and hammered copper

This piece is already sold but I wanted to post the design. I love the idea of "capturing" beach glass and stones in layers. Hope to create more of this style.

Side view

New Earrings

2011-02-21T13:39:00.000-08:00

Chain Mail earrings in copper with red coral

Beach stones and red coral

Curtis and I have been working away in our studio getting ready for vendor night at Artfest.
We are so excited to be included as vendors at this inspiring venue of artists. If you have a desire to travel to an art class venue you should check out Artfest (www.teeshamoore.com). This will be our 7th year of attending. We love Seattle and Pt. Townsend so Artfest is just the icing on the cake!

Love to All

2011-02-14T08:18:00.000-08:00

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

All you need is love....

Hope everyone has someone to give and to receive love from today!

Happy February

2011-02-13T06:57:00.001-08:00

I nice thaw is coming - at least giving us a little break from the snowy and cold winter. Curtis and I have been setting up and rearranging our metals studio. A new rolling mill and workbench arrived from Santa and it has taken us some time to work out a new layout. I LOVE our new rolling mill....well if you can love a cold steel object!

A new necklace- a piece of copper I patterned, forged into a tube, drilled and patinated. I attached a fresh water pearl, etched glass and turquoise beads on spiraled wires through the tube and hung all this with copper chain. There are links of beads interspersed in the chain that I did not show in the picture. Curtis also bought me a photo studio tent with lights to take better pictures of my jewelry. As you can tell I'm still working on accomplishing that feat!

A GRAND start to the New Year

2011-01-02T14:07:00.000-08:00

Mother Nature started the New Year full of color. What a spectacular sunset over the ice of Walled Lake. I have not enhanced or changed any colors - the sky, the ice - all of it was truly on fire with color! Mother Nature surely is inspiring. Here is to being inspired to create all the year! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

212 Art Center Sale

2010-12-12T10:29:00.000-08:00

Please take some time to shop at the 212 Arts Center Holiday sale. There are lots and lots of wonderful

handmade creations.

The Fritz and Friends open house and sale was a great success!
They may hold one again in June. I'll keep you posted.

Off to create some gifts in the metals studio. Hope you are enjoying this wonderfully snowy day Michigan is experiencing. It is beautiful when you don't have to go out into it!

Jewelry Studio Open House and 212 Art Assoc. Sale

2010-11-17T15:28:00.000-08:00

The Fritz and Friends studio Curt and I have been studying with will hold a Precious Wine and Metals Open House December 5th from 1pm to 6pm. We will both have pieces for sale. The studio is located at 32722 Franklin Road, Franklin, MI. Below are a new pair of sterling silver and freshwater pearl earrings that will be for sale. The studio has lots of creative, talented artists. There will be several pieces for sale from the Fritz and Friends staff as well as students. Curt and I have really enjoyed studying with Leslie DiPiazzo. I hope you can join us.

I will also have some jewelry at the 212 Art Association Sale in Saline starting Saturday, Dec. 11 and going through Saturday, Dec. 18th. More details to come.

Heart Felt

2010-11-09T06:15:00.000-08:00

With pun intended, I have been working

heart felt lately....creating lots of hearts from recycled felt.

Blogging again

2010-10-30T12:56:00.000-07:00

Family changes had me using my time differently. I am able to have more creative time and thanks for your interest in my jewelry and creative endeavors.

Mosaics from Art Retreat Weekend

2010-03-11T09:48:00.000-08:00

Star fish mosaic approximate size 12" x 9"

Flaming heart mosaic approximate size 9" x 12"

Art Retreat projects

2010-03-11T09:42:00.000-08:00

Journal cover and some inside pages from the art retreat weekend

My art retreat weekend journal is made with a needlefelted cover - ribbons, yarn, dyed cheesecloth and copper metal mesh pocket with a mailing tag inside, nail heads, free motion machine stitching and hand embroidery. The inside pages are made from canvas with a monoprint, leftover silk screen images and doodling. I will add photos and more memories to the pages about the weekend. I love visual journaling!

Bagettes Art Retreat Weekend

2010-03-11T08:59:00.000-08:00

What a great weekend we had snowed in at a wonderful home near Saline. We laughed and laughed while creating mosaics and deconstructed screen prints onto cotton. I am anxious to spend more time on the deconstructed screen print method. It is so exciting and serendipitous. I also loved just painting on top of the screen with a brush and dye. Thanks Kat for introducing me to this method! It goes back to my days of creating rainbow dyed wool roving and decorating paper with radiant pearls and wax pastel sticks. I could dye or decorate forever and never worry about using the end product - just creating color and patterns is very satisfying for me!

Baby Gifts

2010-03-11T08:46:00.000-08:00

My oldest daughter and I have been sewing burp clothes that make great presents for expectant moms. It is really fun if there are ribbons from shower presents that can be recycled as the decoration on the burp clothes. It is best to pre-wash the diapers and then sew on the ribbons. Can you think of other versions of a burp cloth?

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T18:28:00.000-08:00

I have been working on Valentine's Day gifts. In the above pic are the package toppers for cup cozies or cup warmers I needle felted for my art study group - the Bagettes - and my co-workers at Knitter's Kove.

Hugs and Kisses and Hearts for Bagettes

Hearts and Initials for co-workers to tell our coffee cups apart!

The cozies are needle felted from all felt, double layered, sewn and pinked around the edges with an elastic loop and button closure. They were a lot of fun to create! Happy Valentine's Day to all - Hugs!

Earth Challenge Show

2010-01-14T05:21:00.000-08:00

If you have some time in the next couple of weeks visit 212 Art Association in Saline to see the Earth Challenge show. It is a great mix of fiber, jewelry, mixed media, paint, and more. I entered two enameled jewelry pieces. Only remembered to take a picture of one....

The inspiration picture is posted at the bottom of the piece. My jewelry has a very organic feel to it all the time. I've always spent a lot of time outside. As a kid playing and collecting in fields and swamps and as an adult gardening in my yard. I even studied nature at college. It just comes naturally to me.....

More gifts

2010-01-12T12:46:00.000-08:00

My daughters supplied pics of the handknit gifts I gave them for Christmas.

Sarah took this pic of her fingerless gloves as we waited for a table at Slow's BBQ in Detroit. Yummy food - love the "yardbird" sandwich. If you get a chance to eat there don't pass it up.

Anyway.....handknit socks for Molly. I do love knitting socks.

"Birdie"

2010-01-12T12:37:00.000-08:00

I finally finished gluing all the glass onto my "Birdie" mosaic. The design came from one of my journal pages. Thanks to all the encouragement of my "bagette" friends, I stuck with finishing this mosaic. Now sometime Deb will have to help me with the grouting!

Journal page that inspired mosaic.

New necklace

2010-01-12T12:21:00.000-08:00

A new piece created from sea glass from Orcas Island, Washington. I really like pieces of sea glass with a little fold or lip. I like to use that as a "cap" to hold beads or pearls, etc. The piece is made from sterling silver and three sizes of fresh water pearls.

Gifts

2010-01-02T14:42:00.000-08:00

Now that all the gifts are bestowed I can reveal some of them on this blog. The sock monkey and sock monster were created for my son-in-law. He and I love sock creatures, ugly dolls, etc. This is only the first venture into this creative venue.
They were so much fun I really will make more of them!

Beach views

2009-12-13T10:36:00.000-08:00

Curt and I are making our plans for another Artfest trip. It made me think about the beautiful beaches where we find sea glass and stones. Thought you might like to see a couple of photos from those places. I love the line of red growth along this log. The textures of the log inspire some of my forging marks on my silver work.

The combination of sand and rocky shorelines make for some very interesting beach combing.

Messy Atmosphere

2009-12-08T06:45:00.000-08:00

Some people need order. Some need complete chaos. I seem to be somewhere in the middle. I have a nicely sized table to work on - probably 4' x 6' BUT I only seem to have about a 12" square space that remains clear enough for work. My girlfriend Gail and I were talking about our "messes". We have decided to cut ourselves some slack...our excuse... you can't clean and be creative at the same time! Works for us - what about you?

Earrings

2009-12-08T06:18:00.000-08:00

Earrings - I like creating them, but it is sometimes very difficult to make items created by nature close enough to be called a pair. BUT these were really good!

A new pair of earrings in the same idea vein as the pearl and disc necklace I posted before. I really enjoy texturing the metal... making marks in it to create a more organic surface.

I created this pair of earrings from a long rectangle of sterling silver with fresh water pearls. Sensing a theme here of silver and pearls? I do love them!

ATC published

2009-12-06T07:39:00.000-08:00

An ATC challenge from Artfest was published in a great book from J.K. Ludwig entitled "Collaborative Art Journals". I was lucky enough to be one of the participants chosen for the publication. I thought I would show a couple of steps of creating my ATC.

   I needle felted several owl faces onto one piece of felt. I loved the rows of eyes all looking at me as I developed the faces!

   Each owl had free motion stitching around the features to give more definition and texture. The ATC challenge forced me to experiment which is a really good thing!

Bee Shay was the organizer of the ATC trade. The theme was A Walk in the Woods. Thanks to Bee Shay for her wonderful organizing skills and to L.K. for including our Artfest ATC trade in her book.

Holiday Art Sale at 212

2009-12-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

Saturday, December 5th, was the first day for the Holiday Art Sale at 212 Art Association. It was wonderful to spend time getting to know some of the creative people that make up 212. They have a wonderfully active group. My friend Kat and I worked in the gift wrapping room. It was fun to see all the items being chosen as gifts. If you are in the mood for great gift items for your family, friends or yourself please check out the variety of items at 212. The sale runs through December 18th.

Sea Glass Earrings and Collecting

2009-11-30T13:37:00.000-08:00

Just one example of earrings I will have in the Holiday sale. These are made with sea glass from Pt. Townsend, Washington and fresh water pearls. The sea glass we find differs from Pt. Townsend to Orcas Island. Pt. Townsend glass tends to be very rounded while Orcas glass is mostly flat. Curt and I really enjoy the hours combing any beach for found objects.

I thought you might like to see part of our collection of rocks, shells, sea glass, etc. The sand dollars are also from Washington. Most of the shells are from the

Outer Banks of North Carolina. These jars hold only a small portion of our collection. We really are like crows collecting pretty baubles for our nest.

2009-11-30T13:07:00.000-08:00

Gallery Art Sale
I will be participating in the sale at 212 Art Association in Saline. The 212 Holiday Sale will kick off Saturday, December 5th from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. The sale continues everyday until December 18th. I hope you will be able to attend!

Black Friday

2009-11-28T15:49:00.000-08:00

Madness of the shopping hoards! I felt like this crow gathering pretty things for my studio "nest". Yes, I allowed myself to be involved in visiting stores on Black Friday. Just couldn't pass up the sales at Michael's.

The picture was taken at West Beach Resort on Orcas Island in Puget Sound, Washington. This beach and surrounding beaches are where a lot of my jewelry stones and sea glass are gathered. If you ever have the chance to visit the San Juan Islands spend some time on Orcas. Curt and I are visiting again in the early spring. Can't wait! Definitely no shopping hoards at this place.

2009-11-27T14:57:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It is great when you are able to be surrounded by people you love and give thanks for having such a truly wonderful life.

Pearl Stack Necklace

I've had some more time in the studio working on "sputnik cheeseburgers" as my girlfriend Kat has named them. They are fun pieces to make. The piece pictured is made from copper, sterling silver and fresh water pearls. The patina on the copper didn't show up as well as it looks in real life. I'm still working on my photography skills. Blogging is forcing me to record my work with better images. I will keep working on them!

Necklace for Molly

2009-11-23T14:58:00.000-08:00

Two sterling silver pieces with fresh water pearls. I love "beating up" the metal. I think the forging was my favorite part of creating these pieces. My least favorite was riveting the pearls! My daughter Molly proudly wears the piece in the upper picture. The other piece will be in the sale at 212 Art Association in December. Molly encouraged me to create these pieces. Thanks for the inspiration Molly.

2009-11-22T18:22:00.000-08:00

Necklace made from copper and a piece of beach glass from Lake Erie one of my wonderful knitting students gave me. I've practiced a lot on drilling glass and stone so I don't have as many mistakes as I did at one time. Today I set up my dremel drill press for drilling. Wow - what a difference it made to be able to lift the drill easily in and out of the holes to clear them of debris while drilling. Wish I had done that studio trick earlier!

2009-11-21T11:05:00.000-08:00

Earrings made of distressed copper, enamel and
fresh water pearls with mixed metal beads. The
enameling is a lot of fun. I revisited enameling with
Richard Salley at Artfest last March. I used to
enamel when I was in middle school. You never know when those early experiences will resurface.
I'm looking forward to my granddaughter becoming
old enough to play with all our art stuff!

Jewelry

2009-11-14T14:19:00.000-08:00

I finally snapped some pics of my jewelry made from sea glass
and stones Curt and I collect on our Washington State vacations.
The piece has a center shield design of hand hammered brass and copper with a copper bale.
I've been invited to join the Holiday sale at 212 Art Association in Saline so I'll have more designs to share with you. I'll include more
info regarding the sale when I have all the details.

Knitting Project

2008-08-01T18:03:00.001-07:00

I designed these bibs the other night when I needed a gift for a new baby. They are a lot of fun to knit - simple but keep your interest with the textured stitch. I've since made three more!

Collage stamped cards

2008-08-01T16:41:00.000-07:00

This is my first blog so as many others have stated before me..."What shall I post?"......

So I went back through some of my photos and decided to post some of my stamped pieces.

These are just a few of the sample cards I created while working as the demo artist for Ginny and Tim Carter when they owned Stampers Anonymous. These were created on matte coat paper with Staz-on inks. The color is added with a sponging technique with white or gold highlights. These cards were created in 2003 and 2004.