Thursday, November 14, 2013

What I learned


Here is my first bracelet from the workshop in Wilmington last weekend. I started it there, but it took the quiet space of my studio at 2 in the morning to bring it all together.

The raku beads on the turquoise leather are some I made last week, the round disc they are attached to is mother of pearl, a piece of shell I found on the beach while having my meltdown, the antique brass birds nest I made in the workshop, the coin, melagro, and stones are from my pal Laura, the chain found in a junk shop, deerskin leather, and that's about it. This took a very long slow time to make, and I loved every minute, except for the sore neck I have right now.

This is a wrap bracelet or you can wear it around your neck. If your neck is tiny it will go around twice. I might make the next one a bit longer....




A whole new kind of workspace.... so exciting. new tools, new techniques, new stuff. I'm convinced I just like the process of learning and then I have to move on. Might as well get used to it, this seems like a pattern I will never outgrow.
Quick story: see the piece of wood way up in the top of the frame that says I love you? My dad worked in a furniture plant and there were always loads of scrap wood around. He would save them up for me to use as firewood. One day I got a UPS shipment and it was a box of this scrap wood. On the top of the pile was this block of wood and he had written I love you on it. I am almost crying just typing this. It was very unlike him to do that, but the funny thing was him shipping all that wood. It must have cost quite a bit, even back then.



One of the demos in the workshop was this little birds nest. Look for many more of them to come, I really love making these and they are really pretty, so many possibilities too.

So, on to more bracelets and learning. I have tons of stuff to work with, now to put it all together. I hope I will have some made for the studio tour but it's coming up really soon. I see some late nights ahead.....


4 comments:

Dennis Allen said...

I like it.It just moves from one little interesting thing to another.Kinda like, well you know...

Trish said...

Hi Tracey...what a wonderful collection of meaningful pieces, and the result is beautiful!! Enjoy! T.

Lori Buff said...

The joy of learning is something wonderful to have. I hope you never loose that.

I love the story about the chair. Thanks.

Unknown said...

I love your work. The centerpiece at the bottom is chip/money, from mahjong, the Chinese game of the winds. It is ancient, but Jewish women play it a lot. It developed a cult following here in the 30s / 40s. I am certain there is much more on it available. My beautiful artist Aunt, Tina Winters taught the entire family in the 50s. Due to Tina, I became an artist, potter and glass artist. I don’t sell. I only make for the food bank, loved ones gifts and fun! I have been digging into your blog for 2 days to get to some ^6 glaze testing I saw online. I am almost there!
Marshalynn3@earthlink.net
San Diego CA & Maypearl TX