Triple Pod Earring Variation

I regret that these are the only photos I took of this 3 pod earring variation, but I'm happy I thought about it when I did.  I finished them on Tuesday to go with what I wore to the Arts Council's Holiday Glitter event and they just sold last night at REACH Art Studio's "A Not So Silent Night" fundraiser.

These are more difficult to put together to make them match than the ones that hang in a row, but I really love their size and shape.  

I have to admit, I was sad to see these go so quickly, but it certainly makes me feel like I should make more of this style/shape!

Outfit by Helen Welford

Snowflake Cluster Earrings

It finally snowed here in Lansing last night.  It was glorious, and some even stuck despite the warmth today.  I have hope. I also, have been making a lot a snowflakes for holiday events and decided to make a pair of cluster earrings with the extras.  I've only made one pair of these in the past and they sold right away, so if you want these, I'd suggest emailing me (I shop for free) or come to REACH Art Studio's Holiday Fundraiser "Not So Silent Night" and see them there.

Jenny Schu's Holiday Shows 2016

That time of year is upon us where Holiday events, shows and receptions have me running all over the place.  Where can you find me toting around my on-hand jewelry out of my display trunks?  Here's your answer!

November 19, 2016

Ann Arbor Fiberarts Guild Holiday Show

Washtenaw Community College, Lawrence Building
9am-5pm

December 10, 2016

Not So Silent Night at REACH Art Studios
Early Entry 6:30pm-7:30pm, the event goes until 9:30pm
Preview Party Tickets are $40 and Benefit Tickets are $20 ($25 at the Door)

December 14, 2016

Speaker Law Firm Jewelry showing

Conference Room of Speaker Law Firm
10:00am-4:00pm

Galleries that are also carrying my work currently:

Loop Swoop + Pull, A Fiberarts Exhibit
Art Supply Depot
Bowling Green OH

From Marbles to Minecraft
Annmarie Sculpture Garden Exhibit
Dowell, MD

Lansing Art Gallery
Holiday Market Reception is this Friday, November 11th, 2016, 5-8pm
Lansing, MI

Holiday Gallery Shop at Textile Center
Minneapolis, MN

Angelwood Gallery
Grand Rapids, OH

Cappaert Contemporary Gallery
Door County, WI
(they have special hours for off-season)

Paige Wiard Gallery
Calumet, MI

 and coming SOON

Higher Art Gallery 
Traverse City, MI
(I still need to send them a box of goodies)

Striped Metallic Blue and Gold Jewelry Set

I'm still playing with this metallic blue and gold blend, but I thought I'd get this simple little set up on the blog sooner than later.  

Bracelet $65

Earrings $35

Lariat Necklace $200

Pokemon for Halloween 2016

This Halloween I have had so much going on that I fully intended to re-use an old costume, maybe make some edits to the Bloody Mary or something.  My plans to take it easy were foiled when I became addicted to playing Pokemon Go with Isaac.  The more drawing of human adaptations of Pokemon I saw, the more I wanted to accept the challenge of making a fun Pokemon costume.

The rules were to use fabric I already had.  So I poured through my stash to see what I had, then started looking at ideas.  I had nearly everything for Victreebel.

The green crushed velvet left over from my Poison Ivy costume (2006?), I have no clue where the yellow even came from (someone else's stash?) but I had plenty. I had a sliver of pink for the top leftover from a dress I made in 2005, and white stiff poly for the eyes and teeth.  The only items I had to purchase was a yellow zipper, a bullwhip and pipe insulation.

Stitching the leaves was the easiest and most fun part to make.  Since I wanted the top to loop open, I hand stitched the pipe insulation into the pink fabric first, which made any more sewing on the machine difficult later.  I managed some sloppy darts, but they pressed out somewhat.  I have to remind myself that I'm the only person who notices the issues anyway.  I always feel that Victreelbel has a red mouth so I pinned this to a red bra and wore a neckscarf that I already owned.

I put off stitching the snap at the base of the pink pipe insulation last as I cut the actual foam insulation back a few times for a better fit.  

The eyes and teeth were added last and I attached a leaf to the end of the whip (which pretty quickly was snapped off....thanks Ryan).

When I really think about it, I need to just accept that I'm making a costume every year.  Although under stress of getting jewelry shuffled to galleries, getting into the office more, demands of my house....this was the perfect short-project-with-a-deadline to make me feel better and get back into my artist groove.  I'm about ready to take on holiday once my house is clean(ish).

I did make a Pokeball for Crush this year.  He stayed in his aquarium though.

Added a new decoration idea with a bike that I'm never going to get back to and a posed skeleton, which I have been wanting to start posing skeletons for quite a while, this was a good start...

My friend Kathy sends me a Halloween gift box...this year's had these lovely black martini glasses that say "be wicked" in gold on them.  I think they'll be staying out year 'round.

I'm terrible at remembering to get photos at a party....ah well.

Purple and Gold Hex Set for Holiday Jewelry

I've been all over the map with jewelry making, but I always seem to not have enough purple.  I suppose I'm just mixing my dark gold tiny seed beads with everything for holiday.  So here's more hexagons!

I'm having fun using bugle beads and the ones on this set are "twisted" for some added sparkle.

Holiday 2016 Blue Jewelry Set

These photos are too back-lit, but it's been a long week and I'm rolling with them. I picked up this lovely light blue when I was in Minneapolis last summer and decided I really like it with dark blue and navy.

This single strand St. Petersburg chain necklace has 2 pearls to be able to wear it at two different lenghts.  It can also be wrapped around your wrist to become a bracelet.

I was originally going to leave this bracelet with a more open, lacey look, but it wasn't looking just right, so I filled it all the way in,

Beaded Blob Earrings

It has been a few years since I've made any of my "beaded blob" earrings and I realized that I don't have any of this particular style left, which I used to wear all the time.  So this past weekend I made a pair.

They are somewhat in a style of how I do my Uprooted sculptures, I used varying sizes of seed beads and cuts to gain texture.  I have a lot of purple, brown and golds out right now for holiday jewelry I'm working on, so that's the direction these went.

New Mouse for Pain Relief

In the past year I have been spending even more time at a computer (picking up more hours at the office along with staying on top of my blog, marketing, social media, emails and applications for my artwork) and in the past few months been having some paint in my wrist and elbow.  I am aware of the many issues with my type of work from growing up around other fiber artists.  I pay attention to my gangleion cycst, and I try to always stretch to keep carpal tunnel and tendonitis away.

I must have been stretching or rubbing my right arm while standing in line at the UP Beerfest because the lady next to me inquired.  I told her about the recent shooting pain into my elbow and she told me her story.... She works at a computer and had hit a point where her tendonitis was so bad, she was wearing a sling for a year...it still didn't help. She said that a more erginomic mouse was suggested, a vertical mouse.  So I dropped one into my Amazon wishlist while waiting in line so that i wouldn't forget what it was called.

I am at a computer at work most of the time (4 days a week), so I ordered one from Staples for the office computer.  It's been a few weeks and I have had zero pain shooting up into my elbow. My wrist is still a little sore, but that could be from all the beading. (I have 2 new show spaces for November/December, gotta get on that.)

UP Vacation and a Revisit to the Porkies

It's been two years since I have made it back up to the Upper Peninsula, or taken a week of vacation for that matter.  this was the trip I've been needing.  It's a bit of a trek to do alone and I feel very fortunate to have been invited up to the UP Beerfest in Marquette with Isaac.

We visted the brewing site of Blackrocks Brewery 

(any beer they put lavender into is my favoite!)

Isaac and his dad.

I agree with this statement, I feel this way about my artwork.

The Cabin, handbuilt, lots of stories here.

I finally understand Saunas....I wonder if the city would notice if I built one...

Ore dock behind us walking into Beerfest.

Lansing represents! Found Lisa amongst the rain and 5,000 people

Rainbow over Marquette

Then more rain.

This is me being sad that my favorite bead store in Marquette has closed (building behind me)

Blackrocks

Isaac cliff-jumping...maybe next year for me.

He's a bit drier by this photo.

It was an extra trek, but I really wanted to get back to the Pocupine Mountains (and Isaac had never been).  I found out that you can't book the rustic camping sites over by Dan's cabin online or over the phone, so I booked it over there to get our camping site.

The waterfall outside Dan's Cabin (the cabin I lived in for the Porkies Residency in 2014) 

Dan's Cabin

I also had to book it over to the Porkies to see my weaving hanging in the Porkies Visitor's Center

This guy is great.

Lake of the Clouds, it's the first I've seen it grey.

Ahhh, the amazing bark up here

Lake Superior Beach 

On the way home we visited Kitch-iti-kipi Spring, the boat allows you to see straight to the bottom and allll the huge fish. 

Cut River Bridge and the hike down is absolutly worth the stop.

And the sunset at Cut River

It was really hard to leave this time, Eventually I'll stay.