Monday, January 28, 2008

Shiny Things

Buffalodickdy at Opinions and Rectums, We All Got One said...

I'd like to hear how you started making jewelry! Is that what you do for your job?


Hey Buff,
Sadly, no that's not what I do for a job. I'm an office manager for my family business. Bohr-ring. I'm an artist trapped in the body of someone who likes to live well. You can't have lobster in TN off of what I make on my jewelry.

I have always loved glass. In 2000, I took a stained glass class from Prism Studio and fell in love. Not with them. With the glass. Then one day, as I was spending my paycheck at their store, I saw a necklace on a woman. It was stunning. I asked her where she had gotten it and she told me that she had made it in her kiln AND that she taught classes. I took a few classes from her and here I am.

My next venture is learning silver smithing. I'm taking a class in April, so that I'll be able to set my own stones. Ima so excited!

Now I just need someone to come over and help me organize my glass table. It's a disaster. Typical artist style with stuff strewn EVERYWHERE. I'll give you a free bauble!

35 comments:

Leighann said...

I wish I had your motivation. There are tons of things I'd love to learn how to do, but no motivation to get the ball rolling!

Real Live Lesbian said...

Leighann: I have the opposite problem! Too much motivation. I take every class I can find.

captain corky said...

Once you get the hang of silver smithing, could you make me some silver bullets? The Lone Ranger must ride again!

Jay said...

There are a lot of crafty and artistic things I would love to try, but since I don't really have any talent I don't think it would work out. Someday I'm gonna try pottery though. Don't know why, but I think that looks like fun.

Real Live Lesbian said...

Corky: Anything for the Ranger.

Jay: Pottery's damn hard. That wheel thingy looks easy, but I'm such a cluster...well, it was hard for me. Here's wishing you a little Demi to help you learn!

Kathryn said...

Well, as someone who has the pleasure of working at a craft for my living, I have to say that I wouldn't swap it for anything.

(and yes, I know how lucky I am!)

Real Live Lesbian said...

Dash: Lucky devil! ;)

Spiky Zora Jones said...

Good for you...I've started a portrait of my friend Mia from England. It feels good to get back to doing some art work. I found I had to put it (artwork) in my schedule or I would not get to it...if it's important to you and you love it...do the things you love even if it's 30 minutes to and an hour a day.

Unknown said...

I wish I could take the silver smithing class with you.
Hubby wants to become a true Blacksmith.
I want to relearn enamel and metalwork to add decorate style to some of his work.
Honey you do not need to organize your table, if you know where stuff is it is organized....that is our creativity showing. When I am organized in my supplies...you know I am not doing anything.
Hugs,
Mama Bear

katy said...

When do you want me to start? Oh and i want a free bauble and a free plane ticket and food and drink and beer and more beer, and i promise not to break anything hinest i do!

Real Live Lesbian said...

Spiky: Damn, that's good advice. I need it so bad. You have no idea! I try to do 1 hr. per week. But it's just not enough sometimes.

Mama Bear: Come on, girl!!!! And that's a good point..but I don't know where anything is right now! I drive my girl nuts with my mess.

Katy: Um, that plane ticket thing is the only problem! Free beer...I've got plenty of THAT!

g-man said...

"I'll give you a free bauble!" Is that a euphemism for giggling ones balls? ;) OR letting a bob almost slip from your grasp? :)

Learn lots, post pictures. Don't be constrained by organization!!

Real Live Lesbian said...

G-man: Bauble all you want, Baby! Yes, sir~!

Diva said...

I so wish I had some sort of creativity coursing through my veins. None. Nada.

Real Live Lesbian said...

Diva: But you have fun toys! And I bet you get creative with THOSE!

Anonymous said...

dang see I could come over and help clean up, I always wanted a Bauble!! I don't know what it is but I'm sure I always wanted one.

Dana said...

Well, you know how I feel about your baubles AND you know I'm available to model any of those "special" baubles. It's always good to have a portfolio *wink*

Schmoop said...

Silver Smithing, eh? You are a regular Paul Revere, only hotter. Cheers !!

Real Live Lesbian said...

Southern Sage: You'd look real nice in one of my baubles!

Dana: It's also good to have a model on hand! ;)

Matt-man: Just call me Paulette!

R.E.H. said...

Any kind of hobby is important to have, I believe. One needs something that's fun and inspiring to do if we're going to be able to cope with our daily lives...

...and stay sane!

Fortune Cookies said...

LOL to your " typical artist style with stuff strewn everywhere..."
you otta see my painting area, it's a real gem ;) brushes, paints, pallet knives, pencils, total anarchy. I love it! Every now and again I organize it all, only to totally destroy it within an hour of starting on a new painting.
I love new classes of all kinds too. stained glass classes do sound like fun, now that you mention it so does the silver smithing...hmmmmmm

Anonymous said...

I am not a good candidate to work with glass.I'd have to buy stock in boo-boo covers!

Jeff B said...

I feel your pain of too many interests and not enough time (or money).

I learned a bit about stained glass several years ago, but haven't done anything with it in quite some time. Ahhhhhh

Christo Gonzales said...

keep it up your jewelry looks great

buffalodick said...

Well, thanks for a good answer! I am indifferent to Art, what I really love are artifacts! It takes a talent to turn something into pottery, jewelry, carvings, etc.! This is not a lost art, simply one that needs its' worth rediscovered.. I so wish the world would value these things above shuffling papers, so people like you could become rich doing what you want to do!

Anonymous said...

ok I'm game for Bauble modeling!
hmmmmmmmmm
i might better find out what it is b4 I commit huh?

The Mistress of the Dark said...

If I were closer I'd come help :)

The Patriot said...

Are you part of the revolution?

Coffeypot said...

My birthstone is sapphire and my brother, who is gay, said I should get a pair of sapphire studs for my ears, which are pierced. I can’t do it. So I though about a sapphire cross, but who in the hell has that much money? So I guess I’ll sick with my little pewter studley balls (in my ears.)

Tequila Mockingbird said...

that's so awesome. i love to paint, but i just dont have the time for it and it's always a mess too. tell you what, you help me organize my painting stuff and i can help you with your glass table.

Seraphine said...

I don't have enough time for classes. I love taking them. Some people like to learn a little bit of everything. I'd like to do something- anything- well. I feel like I need a certain level of commitment to do something well enough to be satisfied with it. Commitment is another way of saying time.

Deb said...

It's like the story of Van Gogh - where he was in the stock market business dying to become an artist...so he did and his wife left him because he wasn't making any money painting... he lived a frustrating life trying to do his passion. I think we can all relate to wishing to make our money from our passions...but sometimes it's just so friggin' hard!

Jen said...

I can draw in pencil, pastels or charcoal. I can't paint to save my life - walls with one color paint are different. People used to pay me to paint murals on walls - I never understood why. I always hated the murals upon completion.

I love pottery, but haven't done it since before I had sexy-times in my life. I'm looking to sign up for a pottery class!

I don't think I'd be any good at glass, but I'd love to take a few classes. Silver smithing. . . I never thought about it. Hmmmm. . . I bet you'd be absolutely fantastic! I love your glass jewelery!

Anonymous said...

You are really something.. blog is great. Regards

tt said...

Out of chaos comes creativity. Maybe having things messy isn't such a bad idea afterall.

Where's your jewelry? I wanna see :)