Just Finished Mosaics

I recently read about the Museum of Biblical Studies in Dallas and learned that they were having a passover show in which they wanted to show Old Testament inspired mosaic art.  Since I love mosaics and am religious, I decided to make a few to submit.  I don't know if they will be selected but here they are.
**UPDATE**  The wheat one was accepted to the show!  

This one was inspired by Joseph and the 7 years of plenty.

This one is called "Save Us This Night" and is inspired by the story of the Passover.

This is called "2 by 2" from Noah's Story.

I think my favorite is the passover one.  The door tiles were so much fun to make.  I'll have to make some more of them and maybe they can be magnets.

Keep Creating!
--Kathy

Fuller Lodge Art Center, Los Alamos, New Mexico

A few weeks ago my family got away for the weekend to Los Alamos, NM.  Best known for the Los Alamos National Labs, the town is well known for its scientific development.  What is less well known about it is how quaint and beautiful it is.  It is at a higher elevation than Albuquerque and has more rain, so it is a lovely little mecca of pine forests and friendly people.  We stayed in a little B&B there, got to know the owner a little and met the soon-to-be principal of the local high school.  While we were there enjoying the place and to quench my unending thirst for creative inspiration, we went to the Fuller Lodge Art Center.  It is the main art center for the town and hosts a number of art classes, activities, and craft fairs.  The art center even had coloring pages for my kiddos while I looked around.  Their gallery exhibited a variety of artists showing lovely work ranging from wood marquetry, to bird sculptures made from spoons, to textural paper water color pieces.  The front of the center has a gift shop which sells pieces from local artisans--all kinds of items.  The place piqued my interest, so I inquired how an artist like me could be a part of it.  They were so helpful and before too long I was sending in pictures of my jewelry pieces for the art center jury to consider.  To my delight, they accepted my work which is now for sale at their gift shop.  I thought I'd share some of the pieces I have for sale there.  Here it goes...

 If you get a chance to be in the Los Alamos area, be sure to stop in to the Art Center and check out their lovely pieces.
Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Sea My New Pieces!

So, in January I started on my beach collection.  Unfortunately my kiln broke down and took forever to fix, but now I'm up and running.  I didn't get to finish all that I had planned for my collection, so here are some of my new additions.  I hope you like them!  All of these items can be purchased at pajegoarthouse.etsy.com.  I'd love to see pics of what you have been up to.
Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Beachy Theme for January!!

I had one of my customers request "beachy" themed jewelry components, so I've been working diligently on this and I'm having a blast.  I've just finished a line of original connectors that look like tide pools with sea anemones and I'm so excited about them.  I thought I'd share with you here.  I'll be listing these before the end of the month.  Hope you like them.  I'd love your thoughts or ideas...

Happy Creating! 
--Kathy

Fall Is In The Air

Today the weather cooled off and reminded me that autumn is definitely here.  To mark the season change I've come up with a series of new pieces in my etsy shops.  Most have some kind of browns and feature some of my new designs which I'm really excited about.  Here are some pictures:

I'd love to see what autumn has inspired for you...

Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Hand Carved Animal Tiles

Several years ago I carved a series of tiles that featured animals.  I recently found the mold of them, so I decided to make a few to list on etsy.  Here are two examples that I glazed with a really cool matte glaze (when it pools it gets glossy).  Check them out.

I have a friend who loves roosters.  I decided to carve this so I could make a magnet set for her birthday.   Adding the loops to this tile allows it to be a pendant.  It is glazed on all sides. 

I

My daughter loves elephants, so of course I had to do one of these.  I like how these creatures extend slightly into the frames.  I also like how the glaze accentuates the piece without overwhelming it. 

How do you come up with the textures and patterns in your jewelry?

Happy Creating!
--Kathy

Organic Pattern Ceramic Jewelry Connectors

I was doodling one day and really liked one of my designs.  It was simple, organic, and I decided it could make a cool design for a new set of jewelry connectors.  So, I set to work making a stamp which I then pressed into balls of clay.  I wanted the pieces to be really textural but to lay flat, so I made them domed on top and flat on bottom.  I finished them off with wire loops.  Next, it was time to pick the glazes.  I've been really inspired by fall colors, so I decided to come up with a fall-inspired color palette.  I picked five colors (or color combos).  I was amazed at how each glaze, with its own characteristics, completely transformed the same piece into something distinctive.  Here is the whole array...

First I tried out a new color--a slightly matte turquoise color.  I used this specialty glaze on the largest of the connectors.  These look soft and organic. 

Then I used one of my favorite glazes, a dark blue/brown glaze.  The blue doesn't look very blue in these, but they are still dark and pretty.   These look old and worn.

On to a reddish brown glaze.  I was hoping that the design indentations would turn yellow like they did in the polka dot recesses of a previous bead I made, but they ended up being an interesting almost olive color.  Hmmm.  That's the great thing about ceramics is that it is not always predictable.  These look like confections.  Chocolate anyone???

I had recently picked out this salsa red glaze because it matched one of the fall color trend colors reasonably well.  It is a runny glaze, so it really enhanced the pattern.  These look busy so they would be great paired with solids. 

Finally, the smallest of the pieces got a two-tone treatment of some of my favorite glazes.  I used a yellow/brown glaze on one side and a sea blue/brown glaze on the other.  They blended beautifully.  I just put all of these connectors up on etsy and this two-tone variety got the first "favorites" status.   These look like a rainbow gone autumn.  While the design adds to the pieces, the color is the main attraction.  Pretty.

 

Well, I hope you've enjoyed seeing my latest jewels.  You can check out these and my other ceramic jewelry components at www.pajegoarthouse.etsy.com.  I'd love to see what new things you are up to.  Has fall inspired you like it has inspired me?  

Happy Creating!

--Kathy