antilles school holiday bazaar

special thanks to Rory from Texas, my first customer!

setting up at my son's school's annual holiday bazaar for the first time was an intriguing experience.  my dear friend jena and i took the barge over to st thomas and sold our studio jewelry together to a very small but appreciative crowd.  my son xavier's copper and silver forged metalwork was a hit.  i was modeling a pair of his earrings and they were purchased right out of my ears!  i'd been working on a new form of metalwork called fold forming and most of those earrings sold.  steel pan music, kids selling $1.00 candy grams, cake walks, and end-of-the-day 50 cent cupcakes--it doesn't get any better for my first public venue!

the art and design of metal clay jewelry calendar 2012

i am profoundly honored that my automaton necklace was one of the pieces chosen for this beautiful calendar, which showcases such breathtaking metal clay jewelry!  

The 5^th Annual Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry 2012 published by Holly Gage of Gage Designs is scheduled for release at the end of October 2011. The beautiful 28 page collectors calendar features a variety of jewelry pieces created with silver, rose gold, bronze, copper, and steel from today's most up and coming Metal Clay artists. Each page beautifully illustrates the diversity, artistry and pure magic of transforming a moldable metal into fine jewelry. You can also expect to see pieces mixing a wide range of media, techniques, and levels of complexity — truly an innovative selection.

Holly’s motivation for creating the calendar is from the perspective of a metal clay, metal smith, artist, educator, and advocate of this exciting medium, and uses this pictorial diary to show how Metal Clay can enhance the work of a jewelry artisan by adding it to their existing toolbox. 

Holly Gage, and three respected metal clay artists served as jurors. Emma Baird, Tracey Spurgin, and Lesley Messam gathered during Holly’s teaching excursion to Scotland, a wonderful backdrop for viewing selections for the 8 ½ x 11-wall calendar. Emma Baird said, “I regard The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry, publication as a showcase of the best work in Metal Clay around the globe. 

The artist’s work that you can expect to see are Terry Kovalcik, on the cover, Amber Ravenscroft, Angela B. Crispin, Anna Mazon, Barbara Simon, Chu-mei Ho, Deb Steele, Donna Lewis, Gail Lannum, Hadar Jacobson, Helga van Leipsig, Jared Sanders, Jennifer Smith-Righter, Jonna Faulkner, Joy Funnell, Juanita Burton, Julia Rai, Julie Beucherie, Karen L. Suarez, Kate Qualley Peterson, Katrine Tan, Kimberly Nogueira, Linda Grisham Jean, Liz Hall, Lora Hart, Lorena Angulo, Lorrene Baum-Davis, Marie A. Gniazdowski, Marnie Elhers, Michelle F. Glaeser, Michelle Loon, Samantha Braund, Sondra Hirssig, Susan Ellenton, Vickie Hallmark, Wanaree Tanner, and jurors’ Tracey Spurgin, Lesley Messam, Emma Baird, and Holly Gage.

The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry 2012 is a must-have for jewelry lovers and makers alike. There will be a limited printing of the calendar, which will be released at the end of October 2011. The calendar will sell for $23.50 plus shipping. For a sneak peek and to reserve your copy, go to http://www.HollyGage.com .