New to the Baltimore craft scene and one of my favorite exhibitors this year was Tristyn Albright. My jaw literally dropped when I came across her booth, number 2006. The craftsmanship, color, and amazing detail of her series of Beaded Vessels drew me in to take a closer look. There wasn’t much of a crowd on Thursday, which is why I chose to go before the weekend chaos hit. However, her little corner sure did draw in an impressive amount of people. As I patiently waited my turn, everyone had nothing but positive things to say. Tristyn was there, standing off to the side, soaking in the scene of gawkers with slight apprehension and grace in her eyes. I was impressed by how young she was and how much she has accomplished already. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with in the future.

Another newcomer whose work caught my attention was Anne Barone. She had an award winning piece from the Smithsonians jewelry and craft show on display, which was quite impressive.

This year there are more items that are priced below $100. I’m not the only one who noticed, as The Baltimore Sun points it out as well. I bought a glass necklace designed by Caitlin Burch for $58. And to be even more accommodating, tickets are half price tonight if you arrive between 6:00 and 9:00 p.m.

Well, I kept plenty busy while the snow had me trapped inside. I’m working toward being in a craft fair and actually selling some of my jewelry this year. I am quickly learning new techniques, so hopefully I will have some strong pieces to sell. I’ll be sharing a booth with a colleague of mine, so I think that will help with my anxiety. We are shooting toward an event in the summer or fall. Stay tuned!

Last week I made a series of necklaces using dyed coral and another using gemstone chips—and a few others that were floating around in my thoughts.

I am obviously drawn to turquoise. It just goes with everything! I’ve heard artists say that they try creating a variety of pieces in order to attract a bigger audience. I think that’s good advice but working with turquoise makes me happy. Ideas incorporating this stone come more naturally to me than with anything else. It is also obvious that I like to use natural elements like gem, stone, shell, or wood beads. I’ve already explored paper beads, which I also love. Maybe one day my passion will lead to fabric, glass, clay, and metals as well. The possibilities are endless. I can already sense the wheels turning in my brain!

Other jewelry posts from ArtSense:

Pink October: Breast Cancer series

More Jewelry

Making Necklaces with Seed Beads

Handmade Mothers Day Jewelry

Paper bead necklaces

Handmade paper bead bracelet

October is breast cancer awareness month. Individuals and companies around the country have most definitely stepped it up this year. I have never seen so much pink! Even the NFL has taken an aggressive approach to raising awareness by introducing the color pink in their uniforms and accessories. It’s not just a subtle pink either. The continuing support of breast cancer research is critical. Too many women have died and too many are still at risk. I lost a family member to breast cancer and there are so many out there whose lives have been effected. This month I’ve put my gift of creativity to good use by selling jewelry that I’ve made. I’ll be donating some of the money I make to the Susan G. Komen foundation. I’m calling the jewelry my “breast cancer awareness series”.

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I am still on a jewelry kick! Taking a class or two is still my goal, but I had so many ideas in my head that I couldn’t wait to get started. Luckily, I’ve found a ton of DIY videos on youtube.com that taught me the basics on how to finish off the necklaces I was working on last week. However, I still have a lot to learn. As a crafter, I love being in this phase of the creative process. I feel as though I am at my highest point of passion with this creative mind of mine. It makes the world around me a lot brighter. Because I’m spending the majority of my time creating or absorbed in thoughts of what to create next, which is very exciting. I’ve also learned that jewelry is very tricky to photograph! It’s hard to get the camera lens to focus on every part. And I must have tested out 10 different backgrounds.

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With another birthday coming up, I’ve been thinking about all of the cherished gifts I’ve received in the past. One that I treasure the most is a gift that was given to me from my mom, a year after my grandmother passed away. My grandmother used to collect silver spoons and she gave each of her grandchildren one to keep. At the time I didn’t realize how special this would be to me. My mom took the spoon to a jeweler and made it into a ring for me! It is my favorite piece of jewelry and I never leave the house without it! It is my good luck charm; my token of remembrance. It makes me feel more connected to my mom and my grandmother.