Two New Pairs of Cluster Earrings, Blizzard and Leaves

As much as I keep thinking and saying that I'm going to slow down on making jewelry, I have been making a few pieces that I personally love and have been wearing quite a bit.  Which is the jewelry that I want to be making, if making any at all.  The above snowflake Blizzard Cluster earrings are large, bold, super-sparkly and fun to wear.  They have 3 snowflakes each and swarovski crystals for extra shine.  

I keep selling my favorite style of earrings that I make, they are tedious to put together, but are great to wear, so I am going to focus on making more leaf cluster earrings in different colors. I'm choosing to work on these rather than making small earring to have a smaller price point that are hit or miss if I even like them not less if they're going to sell just because they're cheaper. 

These latest cluster leaf earrings have 4 tiny leaves each (rather than the usual 3).  They're a bit more bulked up and more like what I want to be doing with my jewelry. 

I'm also pleased to announce that after showing my work in "Woven Together: The Influence of Sherri Smith" the Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey asked to carry my jewelry in their shop.  So my artwork can also be found there now.  Crooked Tree is a wonderful space and I encourage anyone up there to go check it out.

"Woven Together" Artwork by Sherri Smith and past students at the Crooked Tree Art Center, Petoskey

Last month I delivered artwork to Crooked Tree Arts Center in Petoskey for Sherri Smith's joint retirement show.  The show consists of Sherri's more current work in it's own exhibit and a joining exhibit of 14 of her past student's work, myself being one of them.  

This has been a huge honor to be part of Sherri's retirement show.  Sherri was definitely the professor that had the greatest influence on me as a student at the University of Michigan School of Art and Design.  She is the person who encouraged and pushed me to take my weaving and beadwork beyond the basics of crafting and into the realm of artwork and professional exhibiting. 

The day of the reception started off with a brunch with Guna, the current Dean of the Art School and a handful of colleagues (which was really lovely, thank you for organizing this Nan!), the opening reception at Crooked Tree and ending with a dinner outside at Leggs Inn that Shelia organized.  My boyfriend, Bryan joined me for the ride (and the trip to the U.P. between drop off and the reception), and my parents lets us crash at their place the night before and joined us at the reception (thanks for the extra photos Mom!)

I apologize for not having titles for pieces, but the first group are some of my favorites from Sherri's pieces and the second is her past-student show.

"Woven Together: The Fiber Work of Sherri Smith"

"Woven Together: The Influence of Sherri Smith"

Jenny and Bryan

Jenny, Mom and Dad