Weekly Update :: Through November 21, 2015

In case you missed it, here's our features from this week at OOAK Artisan Showcase -  

News :: (#ooaknews)

We had a great opening reception for the Holiday Creative Challenge Exhibit! Want to see a little peek? CLICK HERE!

GUEST BLOGGER Call-out! Any artists who might be interested in doing a guest blog post, please message me. We are looking to hear about your creative process or any interesting story about your business.

CALL FOR ARTISTS! Star Trek Vs. Star Wars @ The Tech Garden, January 2016 For more info visit The Gallery at The Tech Garden.

Events :: (#ooakevents)

Through Nov 25 :: Alice C W Dennis has a solo show at Fusion Art and Gift Gallery which is part of The Photo Shoppe on Upper Turin Road, Rome New York. The hours are Tuesday through Sat 10-5. For more info visit https://goo.gl/4lUPZU

Dec 5 ::  Kathy Smith of Venice in the Valley will be showing at the upcoming "A Wonderful Christmas Craft Show" being held at the Folktale Winery   from 10am - 4pm. They are located at 8940 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel, CA 93924. 

Good Stuff :: (#ooakgoodstuff)

 :: "You Want Me to Charge WHAT!?" By Breanne Dyck

 :: Beautiful pairing of artistry!  From Art Bead Scene

 :: Check out these handmade finds! From LOVE MY ART JEWELRY.

New Faces. New Designs. New Art. :: (#ooakartisans)

...

"Men's Dog Tag" by OrganicRustCreation   "Tibetan" by Cheryl Zink of Artisan Jewelry by Cheryl Zink  "Sarah, the Seamstress" by alice c w dennis  "Elsa" by Earth and Moon Design  "Lagoon" by Cheldena Artwear  "Turquoise and Brown" by Tawny Reynolds of Sundrop Jewelry  "Creative Design" by Lisa Noel of New Again Design  "YUMMEEz" by Yvonne Irvin of MyElements  “Boho Chic” by Robin Kae Reed of Artistry:Handcrafted Bead Designs  "Ma'at Boho Rounds" by Melinda Orr of Bandana Girl  "Mostly void partially stars" by Rebecca Petrie Light Alchemist   "Connected" by Sharon Harkness-Dobler of Yellow Rose Art

 Thumbs Up ::

The following artists donated their work, with ALL of these gallery sale proceeds being donated to the AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION.

Dan Beltrand	Fine Art	Rome, NY
Susan Nelson Bowie *	Jewelry	Atlanta, GA
Solange Collin *	Jewelry	Nancy, FRANCE
Susan Couch *	Jewelry	Atlanta, GA
Diana Keever *	Jewelry	Raleigh, NC
Heidi Kingman *	Jewelry	Layton, UT
Janice Parks	Mixed Media	Rome, NY
Erin Prais-Hintz	Jewelry	Stevens Point, WI
Nancy Rocknich *	Jewelry	Estes Park, CO
Vicky Sophin *	Jewelry	Aurora, CO
Shelley Graham Turner	Jewelry, Cards	Rome, NY
Nicole Weltch *	Jewelry	Maricopa, AZ

  *Jilly’s Bead Posse Member 

Please watch for online auctions of their work (to be announced on Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/ooakartisanshowcase

Shelley’s Picks ::

On display at the Holiday Creative Challenge Exhibit, "It's a Wonderful Life", opening reception tonight at Ooak Artisan Showcase. 

Drawing by local artist, Dan Bertrand.

Got art*? 

• We want to promote your art related news (new designs, special sales or an event).  
• If you just create as a hobby you are still CREATING and we want to see it! Your work can serve as inspiration to the next artist.  
• If you create for charities, let us know. We want to do a shoutout!

* open to any artist or artisan because we consider "art" to be anything that you produce in your own creative time.

We'd love for you to join us, please complete the form linked below so we can promote you more effectively! 

http://goo.gl/forms/dLPDYn06tq

In the future, send us an email or tag us in your latest work!

We are OOAK Artisan Showcase – A place where we motivate, encourage and promote other artists.

NO STRINGS, just - New Faces. New Designs. New Art. 

OOAK Artisan Showcase is a PUBLIC forum.

We will be posting to these social media sites, so be sure to follow us!

Facebook :: https://www.facebook.com/ooakartisanshowcase
Pinterest :: https://www.pinterest.com/ooakartisans
Instagram :: https://instagram.com/ooakartisans
Twitter :: https://twitter.com/OOAKArtisans
Google + :: https://goo.gl/9Gq6MP 
Blog: http://ooakartisanshowcase.blogspot.com

Website COMING SOON!

Our gallery is located at 425 W Thomas St, Rome NY   *temporary
Tele. 315/225-0098 Fax 315/533-2823

We are fully insured.

Holiday Creative Challenge Exhibit - "It's a Wonderful Life"

OOAK Artisan Showcase extended a SPECIAL holiday creative challenge to jewelry designers, greeting card makers, photographers and visual artists (mixed media, ceramic artists, painters and the like). 

By Dan Bertrand

This year's challenge is based on our theme, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, the classic holiday movie. 

ALL submissions are on display in a SPECIAL holiday exhibit in our gallery, located at 425 W Thomas St., Rome NY. The exhibit opened on Friday, November 20^th at 6:30 pm with a public reception and runs through December 31, 2015. COME SHOP with us - SHOP Handmade!

Here's just a glimpse -

...

Our gallery will be open for your holiday shopping on both Friday, BLACK FRIDAY, November 27 and Saturday, November 28 from 9-4 pm.  Additional Hours will be announced soon. Watch Facebook for updates!  

The exhibit is being held at 425 W Thomas St., Rome NY.

A percentage of the sale proceeds will be donated to the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention.


Artists Include:

FINE ARTS & PHOTOGRAPHY

Dan Bertrand

Betsy Franz

Rod Best

Lynne Reichhart Linda Panes Linda Younkman

JEWELRY DESIGN

Susan Nelson Bowie

AmyRenee Cornelius

Vincenza Carter

Tina Clancy

Solange Collin

Susan Couch

Earth & Moon Design Tammie Tusher Everly

Gloria Ewing

Diana Keever

Heidi Kingman

Marissa Perkins

Erin Prais-Hintz Cynthia O'Toole Kashmira Patel

Nancy Rocknich

Vicky Sophin Lindsay Starr Jana Perez  Stribel

Shelley Graham Turner

MIXED MEDIA ART

Shelley Graham Turner Betsy Walcheski

Janice Parks

CRAFTS

Holly Cosimeno

Caroline Drake Heather Gulick Laura Reed

Betsy Walcheski

Shelley Graham Turner We look forward to seeing you!  Happy Holidays!

“Sunshine in a drop of glass” with Tawny Reynolds of Sundrop Jewelry

I had reached out to Tawny Reynold of Sundrop Jewelry to ask if she would share with us her creative process. I am happy to report that SHE DID!  

Sundrop Jewelry is handmade from recycled bottles and stained glass, and melted with sunshine and a giant magnifying glass!  My magnifying glass (technically a fresnel lens, originally designed for lighthouses) measures 2.5 by 3.5 ft, which is about as big as they get.  The larger the lens, the more light can be concentrated, and mine can reach up to 3000 degrees fahrenheit - but only on a clear day!

The biggest difficulty with using focused sunshine is that my work is weather-dependent, and the temperatures fluctuate quite a bit.  Is the sun high or low in the sky?  Is the sky hazy or crystal clear?  And most important - what color glass am I working with?  Dark-colored and opaque glass will absorb all the light (converting it to heat) on one side of the glass, while the other side of the glass remains cold.  In contrast, light-colored translucent glass lets more of the light shine right through and does not heat up as much.  Clear glass won’t melt at all!

In addition, glass often changes color when melted, and it sometimes depends on exactly what temperature it was.  Red glass in particular can do very interesting things - I have tried red glass that ended up yellow or orange after it cooled down, or red with dark streaks!  I find the glass-melting process very zen.  Sitting outdoors working under the magnifying glass is calming and repetitious, as I watch for subtle signs indicating the glass is starting to melt, and judging the right moment to pull out of the hot spot.  Until a cloud comes along to block the sun…

Environmental impact

Concern for the environmental impact of Sundrop Jewelry has been a mainstay since the beginning.  Though my original partners left to form an environmental non-profit, our shared vision of sustainability and creative re-use continues.  I use recycled materials whenever possible, using reclaimed sterling silver findings, packaging with recycled content, and minimizing and recycling the inevitable business paperwork.  And, of course, using glass bottles otherwise destined for the trash or recycling bin!  Since the color palette of glass bottles is generally limited to blues, greens, and browns, I fill in the rest of the rainbow with stained glass.  

Love of glass

I grew up in Alaska, which still holds on to a bit of the old "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without" motto.  That mentality really encourages learning to make your own... everything.  And to improvise as needed.  I took community classes with my mother when I was young, including stained glass, lost wax casting, pottery, paper mache, and more, and she was often working on some kind of project.  I did a little bit of everything, but only really got into working with glass as an adult.  

I am inspired by colors, and I love the way translucent glass glows in the light.  A new bottle color, a sheet of glass or millefiori rods in the glass shop - I want to try them all!  And I am always excited when I find a bottle in a new color! 

Pumpkin Orange Simple Earrings

My pieces have a bit of a bohemian feeling with the simplicity of the natural, free form droplet shape.  Anyone who has fallen in love with sunlight through a stained glass window will recognize the same vibrant, glowing translucency in much of my jewelry.  So many people are immediately attracted to the colors of recycled glass, even before realizing they were made from their favorite liquor bottles!  I’ve never met someone who, on hearing how my jewelry is made, didn’t say, “What?!  You’re kidding!”  I think the story appeals to the inner science geek in us all. Who can resist a chance to tell their friends, “Oh, these new earrings?  They’re made from Skyy Vodka bottles melted with sunshine and a giant magnifying glass!” 

Dusty Orchid Cameo Choker

Morning Glory Belly Ring

Find out more

My work can be found online in my shop, http://SundropJewelry.com, and I occasionally sell at craft fairs in the Bay Area, but my largest market is wholesale.   I’m currently in 80 boutiques and science museum gift shops around the United States, including the Mauna Kea Observatory and MIT Museum.  I’m always looking for more shops that focus on earth friendly products!

Follow me on your favorite social media 
(Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, or Twitter): @SundropJewelry

Here's Tawny in action !

Who would ever imagine that these delicate sundrops of color were created using such an interesting process? Seeing ALL that goes into each piece just makes these pieces that much more beautiful. Thank you Tawny for sharing with us!

Weekly Update :: Through November 14, 2015

In case you missed it, here's our features from this week at OOAK Artisan Showcase -  









News :: (#ooaknews)
This week we are ramping up! We will now feature TWO of our member artists per day… that means if you have signed up as an official member of Ooak Artisan Showcase, we will be looping back and featuring another of your works throughout the week via all our social media spots.

BECOME a member, visit http://ow.ly/Upupi

Coming in February 2016 :: Our next open creative challenge! The theme is using children's' game pieces in your art! If you want to learn more e-mail us at ailto:challenge@ooakartisanshowcase.com

Events :: (#ooakevents)

Nov 20 Opening Reception for OOAK Artisan Showcase’s Creative Challenge Holiday Exhibit, “It’s a Wonderful Life”. 6:30- 8:30 pm. Being held at the Gallery at OOAK Artisan Showcase located 425 W Thomas St., Rome NY. MANY of our members work will be showing! #ooakevents

Nov 21-22 Kristi Bowman will be at the Snohomish Holiday Market from 10-5pm. Being held at the Thomas Family Farm located 9010 Marsh Road in Snohomish, WA. For more info visit https://goo.gl/4lmk1v.

Good Stuff :: (#ooakgoodstuff)

Book :: A good read by Dave Conrey on branding, design and marketing strategies for small businesses - LIFE AFTER CHRISTMAS.

Blog Post :: Have you heard of the Jewelry Monk? Read all about it on Love My Art Jewelry's blog.

Article :: ”The Key To Being Creative Isn't What You Think It Is”

New Faces. New Designs. New Art. :: (#ooakartisans) 

...

 “Rustic Chunky” by Lynn Ferro of Yumma Bloom (Louisville, CO – USA)

 "Copper Tribal" by Gloria Ewing of Chrysalis Tribal Jewelry (Minneapolis, MN – USA)

"Wire Cocoon Bracelet" by AmyRenee Cornelius of Satorius Designs (Pittsburg, PA – USA)

"Promise to Myself" by Marlene Quigley of Markazo (Elliottsburg , PA – USA)

"Red Winter Berries" by Jodi Grove of Nature's Vista Photography (DeGraff, OH – USA)

"Abacus Yellow Jasper" by Heidi Kingman of Heidi Kingman Jewelry (Layton, UT – USA)

"Anken's Barn" by Lynne Reichhart of Lynne Reichhart Fine Art (Westernville, NY – USA)

"Be Unique: by Tina Stoll (Landsber am Lech, Bavaria, Germany)

Got art*? 

• We want to promote your art related news (new designs, special sales or an event).  
• If you just create as a hobby you are still CREATING and we want to see it! Your work can serve as inspiration to the next artist.  
• If you create for charities, let us know. We want to do a shoutout!

* open to any artist or artisan because we consider "art" to be anything that you produce in your own creative time.

We'd love for you to join us, please complete the form linked below so we can promote you more effectively! 

http://goo.gl/forms/dLPDYn06tq

In the future, send us an email or tag us in your latest work!

We are OOAK Artisan Showcase – A place where we motivate, encourage and promote other artists.

NO STRINGS, just - New Faces. New Designs. New Art. 

OOAK Artisan Showcase is a PUBLIC forum.

We will be posting to these social media sites, so be sure to follow us!

Facebook :: https://www.facebook.com/ooakartisanshowcase
Pinterest :: https://www.pinterest.com/ooakartisans
Instagram :: https://instagram.com/ooakartisans
Twitter :: https://twitter.com/OOAKArtisans
Google + :: https://goo.gl/9Gq6MP 
Blog: http://ooakartisanshowcase.blogspot.com

Website COMING SOON!

Our gallery is located at 425 W Thomas St, Rome NY   *temporary
Tele. 315/225-0098 Fax 315/533-2823

We are fully insured.