Feature of the Day #57: The North Way Studio

The Cora Earrings

Greetings!

Today's feature goes to The North Way Studio, aka, Maria and her fine jewelry. 

All of the jewelry Maria makes is inspired by nature, from designs to materials and colors; all with a little whimsy thrown in. Every piece has been hand crafted with the focus on simplicity and adding a bit of beauty into someone's life. As Maria says, "all the products in The North Way Studio are the results of too much coffee and a never-ending, compulsive drive to hoard fondle everything soft or shiny." She finds inspiration from staring out the passenger window at her beloved Upper Peninsula (Michigan), a place she describes as stunning but desolate.

Maria and her fiance live right on the shores of the vast fresh-water lake: Lake Superior. A lot of the jewelry she creates is a reflection of the North woods and life there, such as, "apple blossoms, the ruggedness of the area, and the rich history of the mining towns." Having personally spent many summers in the U.P. (Upper Peninsula), I can also attest to the muse of nature everywhere you look in the North Woods. From the agates hidden on the beaches to the long abandoned copper mines, or the overwhelming power of a storm brewing over the lake or the skies filled with the ethereal Northern Lights. Even the scent of unpolluted air and the sound of waves has been enough to inspire many artists in the past, and will surely do so for untold years to come. 

The Elle Earrings

When Maria creates her jewelry, she treads the line between extravagance and everyday wear. As she says, "You can do a lot of amazing things with wire, but at some point, it just becomes too extravagant to wear and enjoy on a daily basis. So I wanted to keep it simple, really trying to highlight the beauty of the stones rather than bury it." 

Each stone is carefully hand picked through the process of hours spent online searching for the perfect piece, and the separation between the right gem and nearly perfect gem makes all the difference in the world. For example, in The Cora Earrings (pictured top right of page), a "delicious bouquet of honey hues, golden amber and gilded caramel," dangle together in perfect unity. Their colors enhance each other without taking away. The gentle hues of the amber make the deep purples and light pinks stand out all the more. Tiny gold beads here and there are reminiscent of shimmering dew sitting lightly on a surface. The cluster itself echoes a handful of Lake Superior pebbles freshly plucked from the lake; they shine as though water is still dripping off them. They're elegant without being over-the-top and fun while maintaining an air of dignity. The piece is, "complete with an extravagant 32 Carats of faceted Citrine covered in tendrils of raspberry Garnets, pink Tourmaline, Hessonite Garnite, 14k Gold, bronze Keshi Pearls, and Champagne Citrine rondelles. A lovely hive of honey, all tucked under stunning 24k Gold vermeil rose ear hooks."

The Serafina Necklace

Each beautiful piece of jewelry Maria makes is as unique as the North Woods from which they were inspired. Some are more lavish and some are quite simple, but it's clear to see that Maria has put a bit of herself into every single one.

What inspires you?

Make sure to stop by Maria's Etsy store here: www.etsy.com/shop/theNorthWayStudio

Be Creative today!

~Squirrel Creek Creations

Our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelcrkcreations

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/squirrelcreek

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/SquirrelsCreek

The Alette Bracelet

Feature of the Day #56: Over the Rainbow

Spring Dew

Greetings!

Today's feature goes to Over the Rainbow fine art photography, aka, Katerina and her lovely photographs.

Katerina's photography is inspired by the beauty of nature, flowers, landscapes and her travels. She has had the love of photography every since she can remember. About 5 years ago she purchased her first DSLR and took a course on how to properly use all the manual settings. Along with photography, her passions also include flamenco, work with textiles, screen printing, reading, music and chocolate. 

This is how Katerina describes her creative process:

Candles

Usually when I plan on going for a walk and taking my camera with me with the intention to make some photos, I come home without any. But on other days I bring lots of photos. But the repeating pattern is, that I have to go photographing alone. When I go with someone else, I always have a feeling that they have to wait for me while I am playing with my camera. (For full interview, go here: http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=90780749bdfe582abfd8efefc&id=a64cdf5526)

Katerina covers a wide variety of subjects in her photographs; from sweeping landscapes to fine details. She also has a beautiful talent for capturing light in darkness such as in her picture, Candles (shown left). The dramatic contrast between the small flames and the vast darkness is intense. To make it even more eye-catching mirrors were employed to enhance the space.
The photo was, "taken during Earth Hour, when it is recommended to switch off all lights and electricity for one hour and try to live like the old days. The reason is to point out the necessity of sustainable living, saving natural resources and our planet Earth." Knowing this, the image takes on deeper meaning as it stands as a reminder of humanity's tenuous relationship with fire; it is necessary and deadly, providing heat, light and comfort in the depth of night.

Magic Forest

Seeing these five small candles sitting together shows how overwhelmingly bright the modern night is in comparison. With the flick of a switch our rooms are as flooded with light, as brilliant if not brighter than day. Yet during a power outage that privilege is taken from us and the overwhelming feeling of powerlessness sets in. If it's during the day, the streets suddenly become flooded with those who were content with being indoors only a moment earlier. At night, families make frantic searches for flashlights and candles, anything that can fight against the night as our ancestors did; we wait in the dark for the familiar hum of electricity: the signal that everything is as it should be once more. The simplicity of 5 gently glowing candles, and the weight of all they symbolize captured beautifully for everyone to share.

To see much more of Katerina's work, visit her Etsy store here: www.etsy.com/shop/overtherainbowprints
To see her textile creations, visit her other store here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/overtherainbowtextil
She regularly updates her photo-gallery here: http://katerinav.rajce.idnes.cz
Like her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Over-The-Rainbow-Photography/195353300542404?ref=tn_tnmn

And follow her Flickr here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/overtherainbow7

Be Creative today!

~Squirrel Creek Creations

Our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelcrkcreations

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/squirrelcreek

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/SquirrelsCreek

Will You Marry Me?

Feature of the Day #55: Hughes Pottery

Ceramic Teapot

Greetings!
Today's features goes to Hughes Pottery, aka, Charles and Rowan Hughes and their wonderful pottery.
Charles and Rowan met 13 years ago while selling their individual art forms; he, a potter and she a stained glass artist. They quickly became friends, and over the years a, "long and strange romance ensued" which resulted in their marriage in the summer of 2008. Charles taught Rowan the "way of the clay" and they've been, "happily covered in mud together ever since."
The Hughes' main focus is on creating functional stoneware pottery. Every piece is handmade without the use of molds or forms. As they say, "we don't make the kind of art that you put behind glass and never touch; we want our work to get covered in oatmeal, filled with your favorite wine and used to serve your grandmother's famous sage and cornbread stuffing." Why do they do it? Here's their wonderful response:

Wine Goblet

We honestly love what we do, and are blessed to be able to make a living doing what we love. And our business isn't just about selling people some mugs; it's about making beautiful things that become a small part of our customer's lives. Rarely can we wait for our kilns to cool competely before we're opening them up for a peek; often we are racing each other down to the studio like kids on Christmas morning! We are, quite frankly, addicted to clay! And we love hearing that our customers have to use "our special mug" for coffee each morning, or that our teapot graces the table at every family gathering...We're happy to be living our dream of being full time artists, and are thrilled to share our art with you!
Hughes Pottery is the home of a variety of functional table ware including: coffee mugs, tea cups, beer tankards, plates, pitchers, teapots, wine goblets, bowls, pie plates, butter keepers, berry bowls, serving bowls, prep bowls, yarn bowls and more. All of their pottery is completely handmade, "from ball of clay to finished piece." Their work is thrown one piece at a time on the wheel and finished by hand. All decorative elements such as oak leaves and acorns, are hand painted, carved/molded from their originals. They've worked for years perfecting the forms of their creations, such as the goblets that are the perfect mixture of strong and lightweight. The form is lovely and the glazes stunning.

Yarn Bowl

Their pottery's functionality isn't limited to dinnerware either. For example, they also create Yarn Bowls (pictured right), "at the request of (their) many fans who are also fiber artists." The bowl keeps yarn corraled, protected from rolling away and kept tangle free.
Whether you're looking for a simple bowl or an elegant teapot, Hughes Pottery is certainly the shop to stop by. They also take custom orders and create gifts for weddings favors and registries!
Stop by their Etsy shop here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/hughespottery
Check out their website here: http://www.hughespottery.com/
Like them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hughes-Pottery/96393995398?ref=ts

And have the opportunity to watch them live here! www.justin.tv/hughespottery 

Be Creative today!

~Squirrel Creek Creations

Our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelcrkcreations

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/squirrelcreek

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/SquirrelsCreek

Ceramic Bowl

Feature of the Day #54: Ronsick Originals

Greetings!

Red Lampwork Focal Bead

Today's feature goes to Ronsick Orginals, aka, Richard and Linda Ronsick and their beautiful lampwork beads.
The Ronsicks are a self-taught father/daughter team who specialize in lampwork. They've been creating for nearly 9 years and have sold their glass at trade shows and bead stores across the U.S. They've gained customers in over 25 countries, and well as every state in the United States. As they say about their designs, "Every piece of lampwork is unique by nature, but we strive to create truly "original" designs." Although their store currently contains only beads, they also make glass pens, pendants, rings and wine stoppers. Each piece is properly annealed in a digitally controlled kiln. To photograph their work, they utilize full spectrum lighting to get the best results.

I've covered lampworking twice in the past, but here's a refresher for those who don't know what it is: Lampworking, also known as flameworking or torchworking, is the process of making glasswork by using a gas fueled torch to melt rods and tubes of clear and colored glass. The molten glass is molded and formed by blowing and shaping with tools and hand movements. Lampworking manipulates glass by the use of tools, gravity, and by blowing directly into the end of a glass tube. Whereas glassblowing uses a blowpipe to inflate a glass blob. Lampworking can be used to create trinkets, figurines, ornaments and in the Ronsick's case, beads. (See full lampworking article here)

Handblown Pen

Borosilicate glass, the type of glass the Ronsicks use, is also known as "hard glass" and is made from silica and boron oxide. It's more resistant to thermal stress so it's commonly used for creating reagent bottles. It can also be found in fish tank thermometers, telescope and high-quality flashlight lenses, glass cookware, and many other items, including the Ronsick's works.
As for the beads, they're wonderfully intricate and mesmerizing to behold. Most of the beads have a similar twisting form, topped with dozens of small glass droplets. I couldn't help but to think of a snake coiling in on itself, covered in dew or perhaps sea foam. The colors are brilliant and the glass is a wonderful mixture of transparent, translucent, and opaque. Even though the piece is solid, the shimmer and glean of the glass gives the air of being on the verge of changing into liquid at any moment. Overall, the glass work is beautiful and thoroughly pleasing the eye.
What do you think of lampworking? What would you put a bead on? Would you use a glass pen? Answer in the comment section below!

Blue Lampwork Focal Bead

Make sure to check out the Ronsick's shop on Etsy, though there are only a few examples currently available. www.etsy.com/shop/ronsickoriginals

Be Creative today!

~Squirrel Creek Creations

Our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelcrkcreations

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/squirrelcreek

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/SquirrelsCreek

Mulitcolor Lampwork Focal Bead

Feature of the Day #53: Shelly Porter Artworks

Dragonfly Chatter

Greetings!

Today's feature goes to Shelly Porter Artworks and her vibrant and lively watercolors.

Porter received her Bachelor of Science in Interior Design at the University of Texas at Austin in 1983. However even before graduating she knew she didn't want to be an interior designer, but economic turmoil put a hold on her artistic dreams. It wasn't until 1992, when she was diagnosed with cancer that she changed her perspective from when she wanted wanted to be, to what she was going to be. 

Porter's work started off more traditional and evolved to contemporary and abstract as of 2007. She began to focus on, "shape, pattern & color and its symbolic, literal & psychological effects." Her work is so personal to her, she calls it "soul speak" because it "emanates from my subconscious and innate spiritual being, my soul." For her, "working in watercolor and seeing the infinite ways it reacts to and dries on the paper feels clean and pure to me and is a perfect way to let my own soul vibrate and to let it's own inner form take shape. All of these things give ma  voice to express the gratitude that I have for each day of my life as well as to express the spiritual connections that I sense and feel." 

Open to Truth

Porter's abstract watercolors are a captivating swirl of color and motion. In her piece, Dragonfly Chatter (above right), the smooth blend of cool colors glide across the page. One can tell the fun and playful way Porter allows the water to interact and take control of her work. Instead of fighting the water, the colors are allowed to flow and blend together more freely. This gives the whole piece a sense of movement and unity. The colors join and separate, blend and stand alone. It's a wonderful example of how, even without recognizable shapes, an abstract painting can still carry emotion and the sense that there's a story just waiting to be told.

Porter has a connection the circle and its various symbolic and spiritual meanings. This is what she has to say about it:

Tastes of Raspberry and Chocolate

While my work is not strictly limited to abstraction, I find it interesting to explore the circular form in a non-objective format because to me, the circle has so many varied meanings of a symbolic and spiritual nature. At one end of the spectrum the circle can represent spirituality, eternity and wholeness, while the opposite extreme can be interpreted to mean emptiness, isolation, containment and closed-mindedness. My current work represents the reconciliation of thoughts, feelings and events in my life on a more subliminal and cellular level.

Between color and the sublime level of free-flowing forms and shapes, Porter's paintings are hard to ignore. Make sure to stop by her Etsy store to see many more examples of her eye-catching and swooning colors.

What does abstract art mean to you? Do you see images in the shapes, or do you just enjoy the colors? What is your favorite abstract work? Answer in the comments below!

Porter's Etsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShellyPorterArtworks

Like her on Facebook: facebook.com/pages/Shelly-Porter-Artworks

Porter's Website: www.shellyporterartwork.com

Follow her on Twitter: www.twitter.com/shellyporterart

Be Creative today!

~Squirrel Creek Creations

Our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelcrkcreations

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/squirrelcreek

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/SquirrelsCreek

Pie in the Sky

Feature of the Day #52: Charmed Design

Greetings!

Luck and Protection Charm Necklace

Today's feature goes to Charmed Design, aka, Lori and her beautiful silk wrap bracelets.
Lori has always had a passion for design and creating, even during her career as a lawyer. After a series of life changing events, she decided that life is too short to not take the risk of putting her art into the world. Through this, she shares her love for life and joy of creations with every one of her customers. Her first bracelets came into being during the recovery from a sudden and life threatening illness. As she says, "Although I lost my job, home, and life as I knew it, surviving such a near death experience has made me feel and believe that I am indeed - CHARMED." Lori's silk wrap bracelets have been gifted to the cream of the crop in Hollywood, including the nominees and presenters at the Screen Actor's Guild Awards, the Oscar's, and the Kid's Choice Awards nominees.
One of the most popular charms Lori uses is called the 'Hamsa Hand' (seen on the far left of the charm, pictured above right). The origins and meaning of this symbol is deep and fascinating. This is what Lori says about it:
One of the most popular charms I use in my wrap bracelet designs is the 'Hamsa Hand'. This simple yet powerful symbol has roots all across the Middle East, and its symbolism is rich with meaning, power, and memory.

Silk Wrap Bracelet

One of the most ancient forms of the Hamsa Hand, called 'Khamsa' for 'five' in Arabic, is its presence in North Africa and Tunisia. In this area, the palm of the right hand symbolizes protection from on High, and it is worn and drawn to invoke protection wherever it is needed most. From jewelry and wall hangings to tattoos and drawings, the Khamsa Hand charm is embraced by peoples across the North Africa area as a reassurance that things will always remain under the hand of the Divine. 
Throughout the Islamic and Hebrew world, this same symbol is known as either the Hand of Miriam (sister of Moses) or the Hand of Fatima (daughter of Muhammed). In that area, it is worn as a symbol of protection, guidance, and providence. One of the most beautiful aspects to the Hamsa Hand symbol is that in a part of the world where cultures and the ideas are clashing in sometimes hurtful ways, a single symbol quietly unites and exists between them. 

Purple Braided Leather Bracelet

Throughout all of the Middle East and parts of Africa, the Hamsa Hand is known for protecting against the 'evil eye'. The evil eye happens when another person sees your happiness, success, health, or wealth and sends negativity towards you in the from of jealousy or anger. the evil eye may seem like an archaic superstition - but is it really? Many people believe that when other people hold negative space and you allow it to effect you, it really can cause problems. I think that having a symbol around you that reminds you to rise above the judgment, negativity, and anger that may come from other people really works!
For Lori, the Hamsa Hand speaks deeply about life, and just looking at it serves as a reminder that she is always protected and guided. She also loves how the symbol reminds her to rise about the 'evil eye' no matter what form it may take.

Wrap Bracelet with Japanese Chirimen Cord

Lori's bracelets vary greatly in colors and pattern. You can find muted earth tones, or vibrant patterns. The silk ribbons she uses are hand painted and are truly stunning. There is enough variety in her store to have a bracelet (or anklet, or necklace) for any event in any season. She also offers braided leather bracelets, and charm necklaces, plus a few other surprises.
What do sacred symbols mean to you? Do you have any symbols you believe in? Have you had experiences in your life dealing with the 'evil eye'? Leave your comments below!

Make sure to visit Lori's Etsy shop here:
www.etsy.com/shop/charmeddesign
Follow her on Facebook:
facebook.com/charmeddesign1012
Follow on Twitter:
twitter.com/charmed1012
Check up on her blog:
charmeddesign1012.blogspot.com
And check out her website here:
www.charmeddesign.com

Be Creative today!

~Squirrel Creek Creations

Our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelcrkcreations

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/squirrelcreek

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/SquirrelsCreek

Feature of the Day #51: Decoylab

Greetings!

Kirie 02

Today continues our special "Mother's Day gift week", and have we got a shop for you! Today's feature goes to Decoylab Shop, aka, Maiko Kuzunishi and her laser cut bamboo clocks, housewares and accessories.
Kuzunishi is the founder of Decoylab Design studio, and has over 10 years of experience in the graphic design field. Kuzunishi lives to be creative through her work and her interactions with her daughter, Leela. Being with her family and being creative are two of the most important things to her. She loves to experiment with new products in order to keep everything fresh and new. Because the operation at Decoylab is so small, they're able to bring personal attention and care to every customer and product. Decoylab also offers custom projects for websites, posters, invitations, catalogs, brochures, fliers, packaging, and illustrations.

Birds and Branches Bamboo Clock

Her work has been featured in a number of magazines including Country Living, Parents, Lucky, Nylon, Pregnancy and Newborn, and online blogs such as Design Sponge, Real Simple, Josh Spear, Dooce, Oh Joy, Fred Flare, NEET and many more.
One of the ways Decoylab stands out, is the waste conscious way they go about creating. This is what Kuzunishi has to say about it:
Let's face it. Our world is full of stuff. When you look around, it doesn't take much to see that there is a lot of waste of our valuable natural resources and energy. We care greatly about our planet and the future of our children. Which is why we only make our products "on demand" basis - only what is requested. This also motivates us to create products that are special so they will not go to waste. We've carefully designed each of our products to minimize waste through manufacturing process as well as selected materials that are sustainable. We also took our time to choose our packaging materials so they can be reused or recycled.

Fawn Pin

This same level of care and conscious effort can be found in every creation that comes from Decoylab. From intricately carved clocks to adorable pins, each product is crafted with care. Kuzunishi has even gone the extra step in her clocks by placing a silent, non-"ticking" motor in each one. In Kuzunishi's piece, Kirie 02 (top right of page) the style of Kirie is mixed with the functionality of a clock. Kirie is the Japanese art of paper cutting and served as the inspiration for this piece. As Kuzunishi says, "the design is inspired from it (kirie) since all images have to be connected in order for laser cutting to curve out the image in one piece." The white of the clock is ivory acrylic backed with bamboo to, "bring out its elegant and intricate design."
If you're looking for a unique and beautiful gift for Mother's Day, then look no further than the elaborate, delicate, and exquisite wood carvings of Decoylab.
You can visit Decoy's Etsy store here: www.etsy.com/shop/decoylab
Visit Kuzunishi's website here: www.deocylab.com
And follow her on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/decoylab

Be Creative today!

~Squirrel Creek Creations

Our Etsy store: www.etsy.com/shop/squirrelcrkcreations

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/squirrelcreek

Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/#!/SquirrelsCreek

Modern Whale Bamboo Wall Clock