beaded stone revisiting

a piece that was finished in 2005 water themed..laying on a scarf Larissa made for a client in Pittsburgh.
getting in the mode again to bead myself some rocks ;)

getting new promo material together

My work will now be in a new shop in Ridgway at 'The Shop on Main' owned by Ridgway native Heather Mader. I will carry an entirely new line or two of my jewelry and fiberart in this space.
Mader will be floor manager to an ecclectic mix of artists, antique dealers, food artisans and others. The grand opening I think is when the town has their "Flavors of Fall" to be held on Saturday, Oct. 17. http://www.ridgwaychamber.com/chamberweb/
Next week I will be moving in yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, funstuff :)

Abbi, Executive Director of ECCOTA in Ridgway, carried away many new designs and 'stuffs' out of the Flemish House today in Johnsonburg to put in the ECCOTA gallery in Ridgway on Main Street. Sooo...getting in the studio tomorrow to bend more wire! Stop by to see me in the morning to see what I am up to ;)

~enjoy

Some Autumn/Winter designs

Decided to forge fibula pins for the scarves and shawls coming into the gallery very soon!
These are very go with the flow type of design just need a body, spring, pin and hinge!


playing with different designs to see what I like...I really like the safety pin with the swirl,
I used 16 gauge for the that the others have 12 or 14 gauge.
These pins are used on loose knit material such as in scarves, shawls and sweaters. I am going to make 2 inch pins next, these are 3 and 4 inches.

the largest one :)


Here you can see the filed tip close up along with the clasp.
I file and polish each pin to take care of every little rough edge ;)


excerpt from http://www.wikipedia.com/

Fibulae were composed of four components: The body, pin, spring, and hinge.

Body
The body of a fibula is known as either the bow or the plate, depending on the basic form. A bow is generally long and narrow, and often arched. A plate is flat and wide. Plates could be solid or openwork. The body was often decorated. The head is the end of the fibula with the spring or hinge. The foot is the end of the fibula where the pin closes. Depending on the type of fibula, and the culture in question, the head of the fibula could be worn facing up, down or to the side.

Pin
The pin that is used to fasten the clothing, is either a continuation of the fibula’s body or a separate piece attached to the body. The fibula is closed by connecting the end of the pin to a catch plate, or pin rest.


Spring
The body and pin meet at either a spring or hinge. The earliest design is the spring which provides tension to the pin. The spring could be unilateral or bilateral. A unilateral spring winds around in one direction only. Unilateral springs are the earliest type, first appearing around the 14th century BC. Bilateral springs that wind around to both sides of the fibula body, appeared around the 6th century BC. Bilateral springs can be very short, with only one or two revolutions per side, or up to 10 cm long. Most bilateral springs are made of one piece of metal and therefore have a spring cord, a piece of wire extending from one end of the spring to the other. The spring cord can pass in front of or behind the fibulae body. Bilateral springs wrap around a pin or axle. These are usually made of iron even if the rest of the of the fibula and spring is copper alloy. In the 1st century AD some fibulae had springs that were concealed under a metal cover that was an extension of the fibula body. These are known as covered springs, or hidden springs.


Hinge
In the late 1st century BC or early 1st century AD a new design appeared in some bow type fibulae. A separate pin was attached to the head-end of the bow with a small hinge. In the second half of the 1st century AD, hinges were introduced to plate type fibulae. One or two small plaques were cast on the back of the plate and a pin was attached to them by a small hinge. Previously, plate type fibulae had bilateral springs attached to the back. In the 3rd century AD, the hinge was placed in the centre of a long transverse bar creating the famous Crossbow fibula design. A few fibulae from a much earlier date also had hinges, although this design feature was very rare and soon died out for nearly five centuries. For example, the Asia Minor Decorated Arc Fibula (Blinkenberg Type XII Variation 16) dating to the 5th century BC.

It is important to note that different types of fibula construction were used contemporaneously. Though the introduction of the hinge was later than the introduction of the spring, the spring remained in use long after the hinge was introduced. Therefore, a given fibula with hinge is not necessarily more recent than one with a spring.

Use
Fibulae were originally used to fasten clothing. They represent an improvement on the earlier straight pin which was less secure and could fall out. While the head of the earlier straight pin was often decorated, the bow or plate of the fibula provided a much increased scope for decoration. Among some cultures, different fibula designs had specific symbolic meanings. They could refer to a status or profession such as single woman, married woman, man, warrior, or chief. Some Roman-era fibulae may symbolize specific ranks or positions in the Roman legions or auxiliary. In some cultures, fibulae were worn in pairs and could be linked by a length of chain.

Peppermint Geranium Love

At one time I sold scented geraniums but, now I am at the mercy of what our area provides for I am not special ordering them.A good friend, who has an herb shop, did share some cuttings with me late Spring and they finally are rooting.I still need a rose geranium...any one out there want to be so kind.I have Mabel Grey(lemon), Fair Ellen(woodsy) and an Apple scented :)Many different variaties of Herbs also.

Great class last Saturday

We were provided with a toolkit, container included, along with extras.
Extras were available for purchase and I provided beads, stones and cabachons
in the gallery also for purchase.




Torch enameled piece from our instructor which, will be a future class!



Some of her work for examples



Sara using her bench pin with Johna looking on :)



Sketches from Sara



Finished piece



Julia working



her lovely finished piece including handcreated rivots and beads from her collection



Erin cutting her's



finished botanical inspired pendant



Erin and I



my pattern and cut out



Finished hammered, textured, filed, sanded and steelwooled pendant. I was a bit behind with having customers in the gallery and stayed after everyone was finished to complete ;)
I cut off the ring going through the bail yesterday and ran a black cord through and then finished it off with my created swirl finding crimps.
Go to my http://www.flickr.com/photos/mossnbeads/ to see more photos from this wonderful class!

NEW SHOW and reception this Saturday the 11th

A reception is being held this Saturday for a combined show featuring John Pearson's mixed media art, Bill Warmbrodt's Kinzua Bridge series and other photography on the walls of the gallery for the month's of July and August. ARTIST’S STATEMENT “The Label Goes in the Back” is a catch phrase for teaching children with mental retardation how to distinguish the front from the back of their clothing. It may, as we are using it, also reference how inadequate labeling is in determining the interests and abilities of Special Education students. John, who was born with Down syndrome, enjoys much success in the very new field of digital photography. Because photographs can be taken at essentially no cost, as well as the immediacy of the medium, it is an ideal means of expression for John. From his humble beginnings as family photographer, he went on to photograph events at his high school for publication, for local club events, and school and work calendars. Eventually John found his niche as the photographer at Warren County Summer Music School . His photographs for this organization are regularly displayed during the summer program and his slide show has been used to entertain the guests at the school’s Open House and as the basis for a CD used in grant applications since 1998. John is employed at Bollinger Enterprises, Inc., a sheltered workshop, where he enjoys being part of their full-time work force. His photographs encompass the many areas of interest in John’s life: sports, dance, music, local scenes and people. “The Label Goes in the Back” was the title of a successful one man exhibit of digital photography, illustrations and sculpture by John Pearson at the Wright Conference Room & Gallery, Jamestown NY , sponsored by the Arts Council for Chautauqua County in the fall of 2005. “Collaborations” was the title of a second exhibit at the Wright Conference Room and Gallery in September 2007. “Collaborations” was chosen for the show title as a way of emphasizing how important working with others was in making the show a reality. John worked with his former art teacher and interim volunteer director of the Wright Gallery, Rebecca Thomas and with a group of fellow workers at Bollinger Enterprises, Inc, a sheltered workshop. A special Brown Bag lunch was held in conjunction with the show to allow persons with an interest in the disability community and arts programming to meet and exchange ideas. This exhibit was made possible through support from the New York State Council of the Arts & the Arts Council for Chautauqua County .

• In November of 2007 John participated in an art exhibition at the Adams Gallery in Dunkirk , NY . It was a show on “Healing Arts” and featured artists from all over Warren and the Chautauqua areas.
• In April of 2009 John participated in the Community Art Show sponsored by the Dr. Gertrude A. Barber National Institute in Erie, PA , “Celebrating the Possibilities,” exploring the artistic achievements of all person.
• Most recently in May 0f 2009 Café 905, a part of the Warren Community Center in Warren , PA hosted a one man exhibit by John. The entrance to the café was turned into a mini-exhibit area for his digital photography. He created a special edition of magnolia prints which were sold to benefit the center.

John is a member of the Warren Art League and regularly shows with this group

JOHN'S NARRATIVE:

I started taking digital photographs in 1998. We purchased a Sony Mavica at the suggestion of a friend, who realized the potential impact this new technology could have in my life. He and my mom thought I would enjoy being the family photographer. I am on my third Sony digital camera. I have the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-F828. I use Google’s Picasa to edit my photos. It is easy to use and it is free, which is a good thing. I like my photographs to be clean and simple. We print them at home with a HP inkjet printer. I try different papers and effects. My photographs have brought me recognition and help people to see me as a capable person. I have made many friends through my photography. It is something I like to share. How can I separate my disability out from who I am? I see the world as I see it. I do not know a world where I do not have Down Syndrome. Art was important for me during my Middle and High School years. It took me outside my special education classroom and into the mainstream of school life. Eventually my photographs were used by the local newspaper and in the school yearbook. Once I got to photograph the cheerleaders. I liked that! When I was a student at Warren County Summer Music School , I took some pictures that people liked. I became their official photographer. I learned how to work quickly and quietly under pressure. I made wonderful friends and they offered me my first paying job as a summer intern. I have just completed my eleventh year as their photographer.

(As told to and witnessed by John’s mother)

Art in the Wilds

Lots to do, see, taste, and experience in Kane this last weekend of June, Saturday the 27th & Sunday 28th...

Art in the Wilds, a fine arts show in the town's shaded park,
*open Sat & Sun 10 -5pm http://www.artinthewilds.org/
~Tell me you received this email from me and receive a 10% off of anything in my booth at ART IN THE WILDS this weekend!!!!

Art Depot & Gallery is located near park, featuring "Close to Home" art show, and pieces for sale in gallery with Kinzua Bridge memorabilia this weekend 10-5, and then along with their Artisan Market on the grassy knoll outside of the Depot on Saturday from 10 - 5

Taste of Kane at Kane Area Community Center located on Main St will have local restaurants' tastes and seating,
*open Sat 11 -3pm

Herb Fest 2009 at Edgewood Herbs Gardens & Gift Shoppe located on 87 School St directly off of Rt 321 in East Kane, tour the beautiful gardens and herb beds, sample herbal refreshments, check out the artisans, gift shoppe and vendors, and get a reading from me!(Sat only 10 to 3-4ish)
*open Sat & Sun 10 -6pm

And don't forget to check out Flickerwood Wine Cellars just up the road from the Herb Fest!
*open Sat 10 -9pm & Sun 12 -6pm

Enjoy!!!

Stephanie Distler
http://www.stephaniedistler.blogspot.com/
http://www.stephaniedistler.etsy.com/