"Confident Bird" January 15, 2012


This is a little encaustic painting by Anna Podris titled "Confident Bird". I bought it for George for christmas and just got it back from the frame shop. Im feeling that as of today I can turn the corner of the new year. Finally, Im done with all my 52 earrings. I need to read this post next year and remind myself that it is usually the second week of january before all the holidays are over and Im ready to take on new things. These are my last three pairs of earrings that were finished using my new magnetic tumbler. I will now be on a journey of gathering ideas for a show I will be having at the Mahler Gallery next November. "Memories: Reflections and Shadows". It will be interesting to see where this takes me. I was awarded a United Arts Council grant for this body of work. I've applied to a couple of outdoor shows and had my work accepted in a juried show in Texas titled, Materials: Hard & Soft. All journeys begin with the first step which for me will be cleaning and reorganizing my studio so I can get started.

Earring Challenge finishing touches.











Finally finished three pairs of the "red rock series" this pair is red rock pebble and Lemon Quartz. The Earring Challenge show will be up by Jan 15. We have been working on the documentation, display and a few more earrings to complete the 52 each. Here is a sampling of the documentation that we will have for each of the five participants. Also I will collectively post all the earrings on the blog I have not posted yet.(there are quite a few) This poster is a draft I still have 6 more to insert which is why you see duplicates.

Happy New Year 2012

January 1, 2012. So much to be thankful for.. Great day spent working in studio and hanging out with George, Edward, Devin, Sophie and Woodstock. All the christmas decor has been put away. A new year, lots of things to look forward to. Mostly I hope I remember to live in the now, pay attention to the things that are important and relish in the simple beauty that abounds. Cheers:)




Rauschenberg, Caulder & Hammonds










Excuses, excuses been too busy to post on my blog and too busy and distracted to keep up with the blog documentation of the earring challenge.. and now its new years eve,eve and I have got alot of catching up to do. Yes everyone has been keeping up with their earrings. It was really difficult especially nov. & dec. But they will all be compiled and documented by Jan 15. So I wanted to post some favorite holiday images. 2011 was a really good year and has opened some interesting possibilities for 2012. So here goes with some of the fun distractions that have been keeping me busy. Had a great time in DC, very cold, (freezing) probably walked 10 miles. It is interesting that the art you love continues to speak to you. I am almost at the end of my second year of blogging, I find it gratifying to use this form of journalling to remember and analyze daily/weekly and sometimes mundane events and occurrences.

One week til christmas.

George got an iphone, so we are having fun with that. Nice night after shopping, sitting by the fire watching the movie The Station Agent.

Week 45, 46, 47 & 48












So far these are Suzanne Krill, first four. Megan next four then 3 pairs from Julie.

I just realized Christmas is 11 days away, not ready. Personally 3 weeks behind on earring challenge. 2011 is almost over, great year, looking forward to recapping the high points, lots of them will flow into and help shape 2012. I'm posting all the earrings that I haven't posted yet. After which I will insert mine. Just need to get moving on holiday traditional rituals. Tree up, lights up, some cards sent (might let that be late). Many thanks to everyone who came out to the shows, they were well attended and fun to do this year. Red rock earrings on the way. (this post in progress:)

Demystifying the journey





These photos were taken by Mary June Jones. Her photos really show the path, the fun, the cabin, the dorm, the fall color beauty, the rim with a little snow, and finally the sunset that we enjoyed that evening as we dined at the lodge. The waiter assured us no matter how tired we were that night after the hike we would feel great in the morning he was right.







week 43

Here we are. Betty, Sterling silver and aquamarine, Suzanne, nugold and silver rivets, Megan, sterling silver , Julie, enamel and sterling silver and Lillian, granulation and pearl. Nine more weeks boy has this year flown by. Next year, 2012, I plan on compiling these images, ideas and inspirations into a book. The show for these pieces will be at Pullen Art Center Jan-Feb with the opening reception Feb 9, 6-8.



Nature a blaze on the Company Mill Trail

Such a beautiful hike out at Umstead today. Everywhere you looked there were pretty colors and shapes. Next week Ill be hiking the Grand Canyon, and I look forward to photographing the bridge over the Colorado River, the final leg of the hike before arriving at Phantom Ranch. Ive done my research and trained by walking and hiking , this will be quite a physical and mental challenge for me.






week42


This is week 42. Oct 24-30. Somehow weeks and numbers got confused. But im hoping to go back on track. Sorry for confusion . I think this is a good looking week, Im so excited about this process and how well we have stuck with it, the next few weeks should be challenging.


Week 41


More later on this post we are actually on week 42 everyone but Megan was late and still waiting on Suzanne. Any way, here is what we have for now. In order of lateness:) Betty, Julie, Lillian and Megan. Just added Suzanne on to week 42, only 10 weeks left to the year and this earring challenge.


Favorite photos from last week


Busy week, lots of things going on this week. This ever so cute, young girl is a current printmaking student at Pullen. We all just loved her colorful batiked outfit. Hat and shoes to match, and her shoes even lit up. She is just as pleasant and smart as she is adorable. We are having our fair tomorrow and this is my son Devins' first show. He really likes to make mugs and jugs. Raleigh is growing with lots of construction going on, all of the inside the beltliners are watching the Cameron Village demolition.(Photo credit Devin Mckim). Here are some more portraits of poet/painter George Mckim. I couldn't resist the butterfly. I really don't have a great sense of color and when I saw that image I had to snatch it. It was a real test in reflexes, I couldn't quite catch it with the wings open. I have been trying to add a little zest to my earring photography. The little studs are on one of Anna Podris show cards. Now she really has a sense of color. Many years ago George studied painting at Skowhehan which is a painting and sculpture school in Maine. One of his colleagues who is currently a New York painter was doing a visiting artist program at UNCG. So we went to his art opening, lecture and reception. It was interesting. Enjoyed seeing his work. On display until Jan 8 2012.








Pullen/Sertoma - Craft Fair / Arts festival..

Lots of really good work will be on display at Pullens' Craft Fair this weekend Sat. October 15 10-5 at Pullen Art Center. My son Devin will have pottery. There will be over 50 exhibitors. There are so many things going on this weekend, State Fair, downtown festivals etc. The weather should be nice so if your in the area stop by. Megan Clark, Suzanne Krill and Julie Brooks from the earring challenge will be there.

Week 40 New album






Always learning new stuff on facebook . The jewelry challenge, reached 200 earrings. I was getting frustrated because I couldnt upload this weeks pictures and lo and behold only 2oo per album. It hard to believe we have made 200 earrings! Here they are pretty colorful week.

Week 39


October is here! Started the month with a visit from Marlene True . She is a friend who works in tin. Her workshop was actually at NCSU craft center. She is off to Penland, doing a workshop next week. But she will do a 4 day workshop at Pullen in January. Her Kentucky Club piece was a demo piece for her students.
Little slow getting this week posted, even though everyone was on time. We are busy at the Art Center getting ready for our annual crafts fair. Their will be alot of nice work available for sale.
Current events are pretty bleak and disturbing right now. I think it is a shame the way the news is showing such tasteless photos of Michael Jackson. It's sad that the genius behind Apple computers has died. I love my Mac Book Pro. All the political campaigning is starting, fortunately Sarah Palin is not running.
The fall weather we have been having has been awesome. I always feel lucky to live in such a nice area. Been doing alot of urban walking and local park hiking, good way to get reacquainted with your surroundings.
The earring challenge is still going strong.
All the members of the group really feel they are getting satisfaction from the commitment they have made to this weekly obligation. I'm looking forward to seeing each of our pieces in their progression, and idea/style development, the way they are presented now sort of fragments the idea development. So far, for me, the photographing has really helped me to see the piece differently than you do on a person, card, or display. It becomes more about the image . For a little variety one week I will ask each participant to photograph their earring on a model.
Lillian stopped by for a visit this week, the granulation earrings she makes are so nice. The blue enamelled sparkle matches her blue eyes. The earrings are truly a gem, and they look lovely on. She has been featured on the cover of Jewelry Artist magazine and has a nine page spread in the magazine. Megan and Julie will be at first friday this friday at artspace, and Suzanne is working on some things with Lee Hansley Gallery and Frank Gallery in Chapel Hill. While Eliza is out Im acting director and hoping to get ready for Carolina Designer Craftsmen , Boylan Art Walk and a Trunk Show at Cedar Creek. Oh yeah fall is definitely here.



Tribute to MAKJ, New baby and Making Multiples

This week was full of activity at the art center . We had a room dedication reception for Mary Anne K. Jenkins who taught painting at Pullen for almost 49 years.There was a huge crowd of former students. Martha Stewart punch and cake were served. Mary Anne seemed to enjoy the party as did Leslie Pruneau (current painting teacher) pictured here with Mary Annes' daughter Grace,







































































The night bloomer bloomed on Sept 28 and Eliza (Art center director) finally had her baby on the 29th. Laurette Elizabeth Kiser. 8 lb. 14 oz. 22 inches.






The long awaited workshop with Jayne Redman was a huge success. We made steel blanking dies. These were made to produce multiple shapes for forming and connecting for jewelry making purposes. Jayne is from Portland Maine and does beautiful jewelry, skillfully engineered and inspired by nature, particularly flowers. She will be coming again next Fall to teach a jig making workshop for making connectors and ear wires. Thank you Jayne and Elizabeth Lyne.