Year of the Dragon

I'll be participating in the Japanese Garden Spring Festival in Fort Worth this Weekend, April 28 -29th. This is a new show for me and I am very excited. I will be in the Meditation Garden and will be featuring some of my newer enamel pieces. Come for a day of fun in a beautiful setting. Brochure is available online.

Mothers Day Sale!!

This is an awesome opportunity to get the perfect gift for Mother's Day or to find that perfect something for yourself. Get 15% off online at participating Etsy Fort Worth Shops us the coupon code "momsday" at checkout. Have fun shopping.
Etsy Fort Worth Mom's Day Sale.

Spring Floral Enamel Pendant with Ilene Kay

Wow - what an honor to teach at the Dallas Arboretum! My students included other artists, staff members and an art teacher who was vacationing from Dublin, Ireland.

Eight students participated and each pendant was unique as the creator. It was so much fun to see how the same supplies could be used to create such a variety of color and style.

Themes that repeat

Most artists' work will contain themes or repeated images. I have a common theme that has been weaving its way through my jewelry as well as my graphic design.

Below is a bracelet that I designed with the whimsical motif of dandelions blowing in the wind. One of my favorite childhood memories is picking dandelions, blowing the fluff, and watching it sail far away on the wind. The enchantment of watching the fluff dance along the wind and wondering what faraway place it would come to rest is what childhood dreams are made from.

 

To create this design I explored alternative metals copper and aluminum. Since the price of silver has increased I’ve widened my repertoire of metals.  (Don’t get me wrong, I love how easy Argentium silver fuses and how easy it is to shape). I stamped the majority of this design using a block letter capital V stamp. Sometimes it’s fun to challenge myself to see how inventive I can with one tool.

Another dandelion motif that floated into my world of design, This Enamel Necklace - Spring Dandelion is an example of a sgraffito technique which is drawing in enamel.

I also used the same motif in my graphic design business card, but I expounded on the idea. The dandelion fluff doesn’t just blow along in the wind, when an idea (the fluff represents ideas going out via print, web and social media) is correctly illustrated or produced it becomes a light and catches the attention of all it encounters. My passion is to visually communicate my client’s idea and bring those ideas to the attention of their client.   

 

Connect with me on LinkedIn, I am looking to assist my clients with their visual needs.

Spring Floral Enamel Pendant

The sgraffito technique is drawing in enamel. Just like sgraffito in drawing or painting, it involves scratching through a layer of color to reveal the color below.

I'll be teaching this technique at the Dallas Arboretum on April 12, 6-8 pm. Sign up and make this Floral Pendant. I hope to see you there.

Etsy Fort Worth: February’s Birthstone

Etsy Fort Worth: February’s Birthstone:

Amethyst Facts

Amethyst comes from the Greek word "amethystos," meaning sober.
Amethyst is the purple variety of the mineral quartz Amethyst does not come in any other variety of colors like many gemstones do, but it does come in several different shades of purple.
Amethysts have a Mohs’ hardness of 7, which is about the same as a garnet or 1/15 as hard as a diamond.

Amethyst lore
The early Greeks believed that amethyst would protect the wearer from the effects of drunkenness when consuming wine. In ancient Rome amethyst was crushed and added to wine to prevent drunkenness. Known as the sobriety stone as it was also believed to assist with healing from additions and compulsive behaviors.


The intense violet hue of Amethyst appealed to early monarchs, perhaps because they often wore this color. Purple dye was scarce and expensive at one time, and so it was reserved for the garments of kings and queens.
Amethyst is also symbolic of spirituality and piety. It has been used to ornament crosses used in religious ceremony, and worn in rings and on rosaries by bishops and priests.


When given as a gift Amethyst is symbolic of protection and the ability to overcome difficulty. It is also believed strengthen the bond in a love relationship, so it is an ideal anniversary, engagement or even a valentine’s day gem stone gift.



Check out Brazilian Amethyst necklace by Art Masquerading as Jewelry, Amethyst Crystal Jewel Earrings by Peach, Plum, Pear, Amethyst Gemstone Sterling Silver Necklace by Be Spangled Jewelry or Amethyst and Silver Hoop Earrings By Art Jewelry by Ilene Kay.

Bright Blooms in time for Spring

These earrings will bring bright blooms into your life everyday. The inspiration for these blooms are from the  clematis, which is the aristocrat of climbers with rich hues and varied bloom time. These are more examples of torch fired enamels. Sooo much fun and a great way to work with color.