Entering Spring...shows and my first ever biz conference!!

Hi Wire Harmony Metal Arts supporters!

I am hoping that this is one of my last blogspot posts because I really am excited to make a comprehensive website which includes links to items for sale, cool pix and of course a blog.  I've been researching and it's coming along, but quality takes time, as you know.

 As I mentioned in my last post, I have officially set up my display at Mt. Yoga in Poway.  Mt. Yoga, run by Tracey Placencia, is an awesome place for yoga and Tracey has been an angel in supporting my venture.

Gong- Crazy

My most popular piece at Mt. Yoga by far so far, is my gong that I created after experiencing
Tracey playing the gong after yoga.  It is amazzzzzingg.  Here's my mini gong to wear an a necklace!  This is my own design and process and I am soooo blessed that people love it.  Keep those gong (and any other pieces you like) orders heading our way!  You can order through Tracey or me :)

http://mtyoga.org

 

If you are interested in owning a handmade gong of any of the other pieces you see on my blog, please contact me at:

DM me through Facebook or Instagram at wireharmonymetalarts!!

https://www.facebook.com/WireHarmony/

https://www.instagram.com/wireharmonymetalarts/

Or, just write me an old-fashioned email at wireharmony@yahoo.com

Here is another popular piece, a copper enameled pendant with a calm green background and lovely brown enamel swirly tree. I love it as a tree hugger, and clearly there are many more tree lovers out there as well.


 

 Here are another few popular pieces with lotuses, om designs, leaves, etc.  All made in my super cool kiln in my garage in San Diego.  To the right is a cool method of etching the metal prior to melting a transparent enamel on top.                          

 Cloisonne

I am also loving cloisonne, an amazingly fun enamel skill.  The results are so cool and the possibilities endless.  Can't wait show you more!  These are my Chakra earrings.  

         

House party April 17th

My lovely friend, Jane Rudolph, will be having Wire Harmony Metal Arts at her lovely home in 4S Ranch for a home party on April 17th.  There will be Pampered Chef, Beach Body, Rodan and Fields, and awesome ladies with dreams.  Invites to come.

Dear Handmade Life Craftification Conference April 7-10

Also, CAN NOT WAIT until my 4 day craft conference in Ventura. It's going to be so full of education and I hope meeting awesome new crafty friends.  Whoooo HOooo!!

http://dearhandmadelife.com/

Namaste to my yoginis and buddies,

Sarah                                   

Having fun with glass "threads" melted into a super cool red!

And Just for Fun, A dragon for my 6 year old son. 

  

2016 brings new ideas, new techniques, new opportunities!

Hello Wire Harmony friends,

New Brand

     Let me first say that I am updating my brand!  I started this journey about 5 years ago with wire, which I still use to a degree, but I have moved on to all sorts of metal techniques and using sheet for fabrication, piercing, enameling, etc.  So, "Wire" doesn't quite cover it anymore.  "Harmony", yes!  My connection with nature and the source remains strong.  In the last couple years, I have been much more focused on my yoga practice.  This has brought me more fitness, strength, flexibility, wonderful friends, peace of mind...and inspiration! So much has progressed.  So, I thought a more fitting brand is "Wire Harmony Metal Arts".  I think that says it all.

Education and Community

    I have been enjoying camaraderie, information and machinery at the San Diego Mineral and Gem Society for a couple years now.  That is where I cut my stones and use the rolling mill.  It is also a wonderful community of rock hounds and silver freaks! (Said with great love.)

sdmg.org

    In the fall of last year, I started my journey (with proper instruction, ha ha) into copper enameling.  I had been futzing and winging it with my torch and books,You Tube etc. at home but it was super frustrating! I am so blessed to be going to San Diego Continuing Ed. at Pt. Loma with Master Enamelist Rick Schneider.  You may see him at the Enamel Guilt in Spanish Village at Balboa Park. He is so patient with the students and is a never ending fountain of information. 

sdce.edu

   As 2016 came roaring up, I am determined to move into the official on-line sales realm.  I have been on-line posting for a while, but have not used a sales platform that takes me and my phone out of the equation. I am learning about Wix, which is an amazing site builder.  It also has a blog option, which will likely take the place of blogspot.  Time to pull it together with one interface.  I also plan to sell on crafty sites such as Etsy, but these days you need to spread yourself out there in multiple places.
 
   I had a brilliant idea while running one day (that's when they all come) to create a new blog with my new site that includes interviews with local creative inspirational people.  I have so many friends who are amazingly creative and pushing all kinds of boundaries.  This inspires me so much, I know it will inspire my readers.  It's all in the idea stage right now, but I can see how it is going to happen and can't wait to pick their brains.

New Retailer

   Speaking of which, I have been blessed (again!) by meeting Tracey Plascencia, a tennis instructor for my kids, and a yogini!  She is the owner and instructs at Mt. Yoga in Poway.  She liked my jewelry and has agreed to display my yoga inspired pieces.  I am so excited about this opportunity! I am hard at work building up work for a display.

mtyoga.org

   I am also working on getting into a handful of great art shows this year.  I think quality, not quantity is the key here.  But patience, drive, hard work and some luck also play into this.  It's tough to be told "no" sometimes, but it happens to anyone who extends past their comfort zone.  Who wants to join with me this year in pushing your limits???

Small Biz Conference

   My last note will be about a conference that I am attending this April in Ventura through Dear Handmade Life.  I heard some of their podcasts and I know of the Patchwork Festival in Santa Ana and Long Beach.  I get to learn from and rub elbows with guru creative entrepreneurs!  I am learning about the business end of this venture, which is all new to me.  Thanks to my amazingly supportive hubby Craig, for making this happen!!

dearhandmadelife

That hits the highlights, friends.  Thank you to so many of you who have supported Wire Harmony Metal Arts with kind FB and Instagram posts, coming to my shows and buying my pieces.  You guys are the best.

Here are a few new pieces for fun. 
Namaste,

Sarah

Gallery

 

 

 

 

 

   

  

Fall season preview, reinvention

Hello Wire Harmony fans and friends!

Yes, I seem to have forgotten about my blog.  (Oops!)  It's not because I've been slacking (well, maybe a little).  Hopefully some of you have seen my posts on Facebook of pieces I am making, and noticing that I am constantly using new techniques and tools.  I am still in love with finding new and exciting ways to manipulate metal.  I also started an Instagram account!  Search Wireharmony... follow me!

As the fall season of craft shows draws near, I am kicking into high gear with production.  I am playing with enamel for the first time and I love bringing glass and color to the metal.  It actually reminds me of old days, doing stained glass.  I love it when things in life circle back.  Over time, I have been refining the idea of the pierced

sterling over enameled copper and each iteration is a little bit better.  Finally sticking with one idea for more than one piece.

       

Reinvention

I love the fact that metal can always have a new life.  Sometimes I reinvent pieces that I feel are missing something.  I thought I would share a 3 time reincarnation piece... a sterling band cuff.  I poured this metal and shaped it up.  My original idea was to do a primitive stamped pattern on it.  Wellllll, it WAS primitive.  Yikes. 

It stayed that way a while.  Then I decided to just whack the crap out of it and texturize the whole thing, thus obliterating the pattern.  I also did not use patina and shined it up.  I actually liked this piece, and it was easy to wear.  But it didn't really POP as much it could.

After my husband's friend made me a sweet sinusoidal stake (huh??) to make anticlastic curves (don't I sound smart?? ;) I decided to reinvent my little cuff again.  I curved it up real nice and tried to get rid of all the pattern by sanding it for about a million hours.  

Now, YES!  I really like this little bugger now.  3rd time's a charm.  I feel good about the recycling part, maybe not the OCD part. he he.




SO! A list of the fall shows is in order.  It's pretty short, going for quality, not quantity this year.  If you like my work, get thyself to a show!!






Rancho Bernardo Community Presbyterian Church Craft Fair
Fri./Sat. Oct. 16-17 9 am to 6 pm, 9 am to 1 pm
www.rbcpcpreschool.org/craft-fair

Temple Emanu-El Artisan Festival 
Sun. Nov 1st 9 am to 3 pm
6299 Capri Dr. San Diego 92120

Talmadge Art Show

Sun. Nov 22nd 10 am to 4 pm
Liberty Station Conference Center
2600 Laning Rd. San Diego
Off of Harbor Drive and Laning
www.talmadgeartshow.com/home.html

Here's some more new pieces!  Thanks very very much for reading!
Ta Ta for now, Sarah

      

Long time, no blog. Find out what I've been up to!

Hi Wire Harmony supporters,

Bullet ware

Yes, it has been ages since I posted.  Bad Sarah.  But, I've been having a fantastic adventure in my jewelry making journey.  Everywhere you go, there is so much to learn.  It's overwhelming at times!

Since the end of 2014, I have been pursuing my goal to transition from wire wrapping and jump ring assembling to actual metal work which involves fire and all kinds of new skills.  It has been very challenging with plenty of flops.  But the great thing about using real silver/sterling is you can just melt that sucker down and start again.  Nothing wasted!  (Except tons of hours, but that's the learning curve for ya.)

Sterling cuff with texture $75

SOLD

I spent about 7 months going weekly to Jay Whaley's place in Hillcrest learning from the best, with the best equipment around. Wow, so awesome.  I have met so many amazing metal artists who just blow my mind.  I decided to try a new path after that and enrolled at San Diego Mineral and Gem Society in Spanish Village.  There, I learned the basics of cutting and sanding cabochons, which is a really fun, zen process.  Only $5 a lesson!! Can't beat it.  There is something really satisfying about cutting your own stone and then setting it yourself...it is totally a work of art from your soul.

Sterling domed textured discs $38

After a couple months, I was able to enter a silver club there, where a few of us just do our own thing.  Most of the artists there have been doing it for many years, so I have a wealth of knowledge to draw from.  Several of them have won top prizes at the Del Mar Fair jewelry making contest.

So, I am toiling away making new pieces with my new skills.  My goal is to have enough of a selection to show at some fairs later in the year.  My faves are RBCPC and Talmadge.  More info to come on those.  For now, I am working on custom pieces and selling here and there to friends.  More cash for old my Rio Grande orders!!

Please enjoy a brief gallery of some pieces.  Some I have posted already on FB, but not all.

Thanks for reading and much love to all of you and your creative/intellectual/athletic pursuits.

Please continue scrolling for some more photos!

Peace,
Sarah

Silver filled swirl bracelet and earrings. (Earrings sold)

Sterling wave earrings $36

Chunky brass chain with patina (sold)

Enameled copper dome with sterling harmony cut out, riveted (sold)

Sand Dollar pendant, sterling and brass (sold)

Enameled copper discs, pagoda style, copper chain $32

Brass back plate, sterling prongs with banded carnelian (sold)

Woven sterling circles (sold)

Sterling back plate and prongs, lacy agate cut by moi $45

Sterling rings with granite stones.  Every piece handmade (custom)

  
No, I quit smoking ages ago.  That's a big old silver tube that I make into thinner wire.

Holiday Fair Season is upon us...can it be true?

Hello Wire Harmony supporters!

I have been super lax with my blog, as you can see (last post July!) but that doesn't mean I have been slacking in the jewelry-making department!  In addition to my usual pieces, I have been working on my metalsmithing skills. I have learned a lot, but really it's only the tip of the iceberg.

I am excited to be taking part in a bunch of fairs and markets coming up.  I will be doing the Talmadge Art Show for the first time, and feel very honored to have been selected.  I will also be doing Kate Sessions Handmade in the Park for the first time, and I love this beautiful park that overlooks the ocean.  I will be back for a second time at Ray Street at Night, which was a hoot last time.  The crowd was amazingly eclectic.

Come one, come all, enjoy all these fairs have to offer.  The fairs I have selected this year are for handmade goods only, which means a lot to me.

Keep Scrolling to see photos of my new work! 
And thanks for reading.  Have a great holiday season.
Sarah

Upcoming Events for Wire Harmony:

Sat. Nov 1
Curie Craft Fair
Curie Elementary, La Jolla
7131 Rock Valley Court
9 am to 3 pm

Sat. Nov 8
Ray Street at Night
North Park, 6 pm to 10 pm

Sat. Nov 15
Escondido Saturday Market
Kalmia and Grand Ave.
9 am to 2 pm

Sat. Nov 22
Escondido Saturday Market
Kalmia and Grand Ave. 
9 am to 2 pm

Sun. Nov 23
Talmadge Art Fair
 Liberty Station, NTC, Pt. Loma
10 am to 4 pm

Sat. Dec 6
Kate Sessions Handmade in the Park
2150 Beryl St.
9 am to 3 pm

Sat. Dec 13
Escondido Saturday Market
Kalmia and Grand Ave.
9 am to 2 pm

Sterling hand cut, hammered, patina