A Dream Without a Plan is just a Wish.

This 5 a day challenge, sure is a challenge! It is keeping me super busy and someday's I think....WHY did I do this challenge right now?!....Why did I promise the WHOLE month...This is not a good time, I am too busy!

Well, it is never a good time to work hard. It is never a good time to push towards a goal. But, if you don't MAKE the time then you will never accomplish anything.

I heard a great quote the other day that's been helping me stay inspired... "A dream without a plan is just a wish."

This was such a great reminder for me as to WHY I started this challenge, because I have a dream. I want to be successful with my jewelry and I want people to adore it. I want to create beautiful things that can be worn and shared and past down.

So, this challenge I have learned a lot about myself. One thing I learned is that I try to make things WAY more complicated then they need to be. I just need to list 5 things, the purpose was mostly to get the hundreds of pieces of jewelry I have ALREADY MADE out there. No Kendall, that does not mean MAKE 5 new things every day. That is surely a good way to fail and that has almost happened several days this week. I spend the whole day created, making, experimenting, with new ideas and designs. Then its 9 pm and I haven't listed a thing.    I have to keep reminding myself WHY I started this challenge and just put out there what I already have.

There are a lot of new designs in process but you will just have to wait! ;)


To catch up on my 5 a Day Challenge read my original post here.
Also, you can see all my new work on my etsy shop listing every day until the end of the month!

"Rad Dads" Wear Jewelry

Custom ring; flames and skulls, sterling silver (top/side of ring)

 "Rad Dad" what his 8 year old son referred to him as for his Fathers day poem. After making this custom ring and getting to know him and his family, I'd say I completely agree!  I knew it would be a fun project after meeting and discussing what he was looking for in such a unique piece of jewelry. He and his wife had been to several shops looking for options to replace his simple wedding band. They wanted something that was a little more him for his guitar playing hands but couldn't find anything that they loved or wasn't manufactured with billions more out there for others to wear.

Custom sterling silver hand carved mans ring (bottom)

"Don wore a Costco platinum band for 15 years and 10 months while we shopped for a band more suitable for his style. One plain ring on the left hand while the right rocked some seriously large rings. Kendall designed a custom, one-of-a-kind ring fitting for a "been in a rock-band now in a church-band " guitar-playing, God-loving, software architect with tattoos and earrings!! He wanted Kendall to create a big ring with skulls and flames. Not cheesy, but cool. Black accents and handmade, not done by machine. I couldn't imagine what she would come up with and the final design is amazing! From 18 skulls with faces to the flames and texture, the ring turned out amazing and fits Don's personality perfectly." -Wendy (the equally rad wife)

Sketching and looking at images of flames and skulls... two things I don't normally spend my time doing and certainly different from my style as a designer. I tend to lean more towards "pretty things", natural organic shapes, inspiration from the ocean and objects from nature, movement of the body and feminine beauty. This design posed as a challenge conceptually and technically; depicting flames and skulls realistically in metal without looking cheesy, like a bad tattoo. 

The overall process of researching, sketching and creating something beautiful for a dainty woman or a rugged man proved to be the same. My aesthetic is still evident in this heavy mans ring. The use of texture, the organic movement of the flames and the depth and detail of the skulls are details that are just as evident in much of my previous work. Whether its a pretty butterfly on a flower or a fire breathing dragon you will know they were made by the same two hands. My artistic expression naturally stepped in as my fingers went to work and I am happy to know it was not lost in the fire. 

As an artist it can sometimes be difficult to create something specifically for someone else. I worry that by creating what other people want me to make instead of what I want to make I may lose myself as artist. The artistic freedom and creativity that comes with experimentation, inspiration and ides; never to worry about satisfying a boss, instructor or client. That idea that sounds so appealing when you decide to quit your job or go to art school in the first place. 

Flames; Sterling Silver (Top view)

I realized after this project that creative freedom still exists even when doing a custom design. I do have to satisfy a client but my design, my creativity and my aesthetic will shine through. Not only did they see my previous work and like my style but they wanted ME to create something like it just for them. I was able to express my ideas to them, demonstrate that through sketches, collaborate and make changes we agreed upon. Even experiment, fail, try again and have the creative freedom throughout the process to make something beautiful and enjoyable. I also realized that the boundaries can be pushed in my designs; for some reason I was unsure of my skill set to pull of the details but only showed myself what I am capable of, and more. 

Its nice to know there are still people out there that won't sacrifice personal expression when it comes to their jewelry, especially when it replaces the traditional mainstream wedding band.  Ibelieve this piece truly represents not only his personal style but their unique style as a couple and family. As his new and improved wedding band I'm happy to wish them a Happy Anniversary of 16 years today and I'm honored they can finally celebrate that in style. 

Black patina to highlight texture and depth (bottom view)

(side/bottom view) 

When I Grow Up, I Want To Be Me

 

 



"You're Free to Fly" Lithography Print Series 2009

Visiting Home is always a magical experience. Spending time with siblings, looking through your closets to find things you thought you needed only to be left behind. Everyone seems to fall into their roles growing up. My sisters bicker and I'm stuck in the middle. My mom takes on her motherly role caring for us all and telling us to clean our rooms. For me, I fell into the free spirited dreamer, the sensitive girl I've always been. Being away from my daily routine, daily chores, cooking, cleaning, errands and the never ending to do list I was able to clear my mind and open up to the present moment. I was able to find me again.

For the past 3 or 4, maybe more years I have been so focused on my goals. So focused on my Jewelry Design, graduation, senior show, soccer, moving, getting a job, my husband and my future. Somewhere a long the line I lost that Peace inside when I am creating, when I am drawing or making, the true cliché "artist" mentality.

I have of course been pursuing my dreams as a Jewelry Designer and Artist through college and now with my business, but its still different. Everything I have been doing, designing and making has been for a client, for a purpose, for an end goal. It doesn't have that pure innocent moment of creating with no agenda. To spend the whole day painting, just because.

Watercolor "Be You"

 

I pulled out many of my drawings hidden under my bed at home and remembered being in those moments of making, the process of drawing, whether you have an idea in the beginning or not it always transforms into something you never could have planned or imagined. My hands take over my mind and the magic of creating flows onto the paper. I am not worried about the world, if they will like it, if it will be good enough or if I will finish it in time. There is not timeline, no purpose and no one who needs to like it but me. Even then, If I don't love the final piece, the process fulfilled my craving and I can always change it or make it again... because its mine.

I think I have lost and found this passion over and over again temporarily consumed by commitments, the daily grind or flirting with the ideas of other "dreams." Its good to explore these interests, learn from them and continue to grow. As long as you can always come back to what really makes your heart beat, what truly gives you that peace inside and lets you be you.

"You're Free to Fly" 2009 Lithography Print Series

Have Faith. Everything else will fall into place!

Got the Mondays? Normally Id be just like everyone else getting up early and getting my self prepared for the first day of another long week at work. The weekend went by too fast and there just never seems to be enough time to really enjoy it fully. Especially Sunday, you end up spending the whole afternoon thinking about the Monday and all the things you have to do that week.

A week ago I was doing the same thing, I was working for Jared The Galleria of Jewelry as a Clerical/ Apprentice Jeweler. Id been working there since February less than two months after I graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Metal/Jewelry Design. I always thought once I graduated I would have all the time in the world to create what i wanted rather than what i was assigned to make. In fact it was the total opposite. Once you are out in the real world, with a full time job, coming home to have a creative moment isn't even in the picture.

The past month has been pretty hectic. pacing in my mind whether I should leave my job and just go for my dreams. If I should try to find another job to have a steady income before I just up and leave. I battled back and forth and looked into many other options.

Thanks for everything Jared!

My situation became even more confusing when I got a promotion at work. I had been waiting for a while for this, I was being promoted to a full time Jeweler rather than just an apprentice /clerical. This was my chance to sit on the bench and work on jewelry every day and really get some hands on experience with the fine jewelry at Jared's. Strangely enough I was ready to put my two weeks in the same morning that my boss called me with the "good news." Don't get me wrong it was good news and I was very excited and proud of myself but at the same time I knew it wasn't what I wanted in the end. Once I had the opportunity to move up in the company I knew I needed to get out and make something real happen. Something that was not defined by a constraints of a huge million dollar corporation.

Kendall's new work space - where the creativity happens

3 days after my promotion I turned down the offer and put my two weeks notice in.I feared that everyone would be upset with me and Id be escorted out that day (after hearing other horror stories). Needless to say, everyone was very happy for the opportunities that lie ahead of me and I finished my two weeks on great terms. I also know that I left behind some very talented people and I can only hope that someday they too will be able to leave and pursue their dreams as well.

Now don't get me know, It is still Monday and I didn't quit my job to just sit around at home. I have a passion and a dream to follow and someone else to work with towards our goals. Every day will be a set of new challenges, a long list of things to do to get where we want to be. The one way you will never get there is by sitting back and letting your life pass you by. Take control of your future, have faith in your talents and your determination and do what your heart tells you. Everything else will fall into place.

Jumping back in..

Its funny how being an artist call fill your life with so many beautiful unique moments and experiences. At the same time, if you aren't careful life can catch up with you and the freedom to create will slip away. There are thousands of artists out there that this has happened to. Theresthe high school art fanatic whose told by their dad they have to get a real degree or they wont pay for college. They end up in a dentist office with nothing but magazines to fill their dreams. Then there is the kid who sort of took the advice and did "Art-Ed" Don't get me wrong there is absolutely nothing wrong with teaching art, its admirable and rewarding. However, how many of those teachers are REALLY focused on their own artwork and creative ideas. Then of course theres the BFA student who was so passionate about his or her work, come graduation its on to the big world with bills to pay and no more athletic scholarship to lean on.... That one was me. 

My last post was sharing my postcards for my upcoming Senior Show at Art Ave. It was my last big moment in school as a BFA student. From the moment that show started my life has been on fast forward, rushing past without a pause. After that show was packed up, the next day I drove 14 hours to New Hampshire back to my family. Sounds peaceful right, it wasn't. After unpacking an over packed Van full of stuff I compiled over 4.5 years of school into the house I set on to continue planning my second show. I planned a dual show to sort repeat my show from school at home for all my local friends and family to experience. It was only a week later so not much unpacking or visiting with family happened.

All of my artwork was up in the house for 3 or 4 days and then it all came down along with the suitcases again. Now I was off to Houston Texas. After only being home for about 2 weeks with not much relaxation or organization I was on a plane to Texas a few days before Christmas, first Christmas away from home, my family and my sisters. I was off to spend it with my Husband, our first Christmas on our own! Exciting right?!

Of course the adventure moving cross country sounds fun but it was difficult. We were basically thrown into the biggest state in the Country where we only knew a few people and they were all at-least 5 hrs or more away anyways. We made the best of it, started building our collection of things and used furniture, and got jobs of course! As you can imagine there wasn't too much artistic creativity happening but I guess thats what happens when you grow up, get married, move away and start a life with someone, right. 

Needless to say we finally started to get settled, I got my Jewelers bench set up in our bedroom and began organizing my tools and collections. Before I knew it we were packing our bags again and headed to Oregon for Juniors new job. To make a long story still kind of long we are now in Oregon I love it here, its beautiful and life is good. We are very busy with our jobs and building relationships and building our new home. Finally, its time to get back to what I really want to do....Creating. Sharing. Exploring. Making. Doing.

Easier said then done. I still have a full time job working for Jared, the Galleria of Jewelry! On top of that Im married, I need to exercise, make meals, clean my house, walk my dog, build relationships, go to church, etc. etc. etc. Life gets in the way sometimes and I have really been struggling with this. Not only my current situation but future as well. What will happen when I decide to have children!? Will I even have time to dream have creative ideas never mind put them into action. Its something many of us deal with, The balance. 

Until very recently I thought I had to give several things up to really make my dreams become a reality. However thats not true, it just takes a bit more focus, determination and planning. At this point I still have a job, a husband, a dog, a home, a gym membership, and most importantly my studio.

I made my space to work, I have everything set up to make. I am getting my blog back, posting images of work, reworking my logo, organizing contracts, building a web presence, drawing, designing, and planning events and shows. 

It will only happen if you jump back in and make it happen. 

Erin Gardner's studio visit!

So I had the pleasure while in Oregon for spring break to meet up with Erin Gardner and check out her studio. Although we only had a chance to get together for less than an hour it was totally worth it. I spent part of the day  in Portland shopping a enjoying the unique city then made my way to Erin's studio. She's got a great space with Meg and it was awesome to see how such a successful Jeweler sets up her space. It is pretty overwhelming when you are about to graduate from school and be pushed off with nothing more then a few tools you may or may not have purchased along the way. Its refreshing to see someone maintain that creativity and flourish in the arrt jewelry world like Erin does. I saw a sneak peak of some of her new work and I even made it out with a pair of her red silhouette earrings! I highly recommend checking out some of Erin Gardner's recent work and projects.

christmas gifts from an aspiring jeweler

its nice to be able to make all of my christmas gifts this year....and the best things come in the smallest packages :) Merry Christmas everyone!