Jewelry thats in the shop

Happy New Year!

As happens with life, a family crisis interjected itself amid a whirlwind of shows and orders and holiday preparations at the end of 2019.

Dec. 4 my  husband suffered a severe acetabular fracture - his pelvis and the socket of his hip joint being broken in four places.  I cancelled my December show and our our life shifted gear to focus on his care for the 18 week recovery. Yeah. Five months.

My show schedule will stay as it is (ACC Baltimore coming up next month) and what is in my shop is all ready made but limited meaning, what is there is all there will be for another month.  While my husband is doing really well but his limited mobility means I am running the show around here and there are only so many hours in a day.

Jewelry on site

I am finding that restriction is often a component, in some way, to my creativity.  I'm a complicated human being though so you might catch me at the right (or wrong) moment also whining about restrictions, inevitably in regard to money as it is the vehicle for making so many other things happen.

This piece started out with all brick but then I found several stones, including the focal one, that were just right so I changed gears. 

I relied upon my "stash" collected throughout the week and built this necklace on the ledge that holds the cottage.

The in situ pieces in this series of work act as an exercise in making peace with this concept - restriction in materials, time, even daylight in some cases. When working on these at the beach, high tide becomes my focus as each one brings with it a new set of "supplies".

I make most of my pieces life size - this would have been lovely to wear if it had been real...and not quite so stinky. 

The beach that comes along with the cottage is a dream and most mornings I was down there before anyone was up.

Artful Home

"A great opportunity came my way" is sort of my tagline for 2019 thus far. Not that every bit of life is perfect but gosh, good things have been happening. I am immeasurably thankful.

I met a buyer for Artful Home at ACC back in February and they recently started carrying a selection of my work. I can't recommend them enough (to other artists and shoppers alike).

Their once/year site wide 15% off sale continues until Sunday.

Gallery Show

So excited to be able to tell you that I've been accepted to UNTAMED: National Exhibit of Contemporary Jewelry Art at Gallery Route One in Point Reyes, CA!

Sadly I won't be able to make it to the show but if you are on the West Coast June-July and can visit, I'd love to see it through your eyes. Conversely if you know a very inexpensive way to get across the United States that would be good too.

The opening is June 22 and it runs to July 28.

Ansel Adams Gallery

Over the past year I've had quite a few unexpected events in my life one of which were the shop contacts I made at the ACC Baltimore show.

One of the first people to visit my booth happened to be Jeanne Adams, daughter-in-law of Ansel Adams, and the person who now runs the family owned Ansel Adams Gallery in Yosemite National Park.

Jeanne had been traveling for weeks and had various business stops to make on the East Coast one of which was ACC. We talked for quite a while on a variety of subjects (walking sticks, the future of the National Parks, oh and jewelry...). While I would definitely say Jeanne is someone who knows her own mind, she was also keen to have my opinion on what I thought might interest her shoppers and not surprisingly I found myself really liking her.

And so...I'm delighted to say you can now find a small selection of my work at Ansel Adams Gallery. And as I'm currently being considered for some other projects in that same area maybe, maybe... I'll finally get out there too!

Craft and Design 2018

The big week has arrived! In just a few days I leave for Richmond, VA and the Visual Arts Center's Craft + Design show. It is all systems go around here and I'm very thankful for the help and encouragement of my friends and family.

I have so much new work to show and it will be great to get feedback in real time. Many pieces are variations on a theme or one of a kind because that's my favorite way to work.

You can buy tickets online including for the Patron's Preview party 6pm - 9pm Friday night which I believe includes drinks and hors d'oeuvres and the and Rise + Shine breakfast Saturday 9:30am - 11:30am which includes, as you'd imagine, a lovely catered breakfast. General admission runs 11am-6pm Saturday and Sunday.

Hope to see you there!

Coming to life

At the request of a very good, long time customer, one of my "found" necklaces is coming to life. The original piece was formed on a blustery day at Dolphin Beach last June.

Construction is coming along slowly so I'm thankful for her patience. I'm finding the look not terribly difficult to mimic (components were formed in the bowls of three sizes of spoons to achieve the shape) but the engineering in getting the pieces together in a way I'm pleased with is rather tricky. 

June is winter in South Africa and its typically cool and rainy although last year Cape Town was experiencing a terrible drought. In this photo, you can just make out the base of Table Mountain there at the horizon line. On a clear day, this beach has an amazing view, which has no doubt gained for the neighborhood its name as Table View.

Found jewelry

I enjoy assembling found jewelry pieces so much that I've started to arrange travel plans around locations that might prove to have engaging"ingredients". And I'm married to a person who fully goes along with this though so we're good.

See over there

A created splendour

Made by one individual

From things residual

- Patrick Kavanagh

Although I use anything available and sometimes, in all honesty, trash can be disturbingly compelling, I was relieved to have found very little trash in Maine a few weeks ago. What was there was mostly fishing/lobstering related (not surprising).

I dispose of the trash (recycling when possible) but often leave the natural pieces in place. (Yes, I bring home a few treasures sometimes but after 50 years of picking up stones and shells I've become rather discerning.)

I watched this particular piece get washed away by the rising tide. Will plan ahead and film this part of the process the next time.

In Saint Helena last year I arranged a necklace of fish scales that blew away in the wind before I could even get a decent photo, "temporariness" certainly being part of this process. It can be both melancholy and freeing at the same time.

I hope you have a great week! I'm taking a couple days away from the studio to savor the dwindling summer before my husband goes back to work next week.

Gathered in the cleft of the rock.

Water views and respite

Headed out for some water views and much needed respite first thing in the morning. Although we hadn't planned on any sort of vacation this year, I'm so pleased we sorted out a week in Maine. Below are photos from the day we spent a day Calvert Cliffs on the Chesapeake Bay last week to help us get in the mood. 

We'll spend part of the week camping (please, please let the weather forecast improve!) and half the week in an Airbnb...that includes fully stocked studio space! 

Per my usual though, I will spend as much time outside as possible. I may do a bit of drawing and painting along with some beach combing and arranging of stuff found on the beach. Nothing too strenuous, save a bit of paddling maybe. (And I will do my best not to check news on my phone but I can't figure out at this point if that is foolhardy or absolute wisdom. I'm counting on my family to text me if there is something I absolutely have to know. ) 

You can find me on Instagram (at gwilliamson) as internet allows.

Catch my work in Colorado

Those of you from Colorado, or folks just visiting the outdoor mecca of Salida this summer, can now find my work at The Rosy Finch.  They're in the process of moving to 139 F St., excited to be sharing the big, old downtown hardware store with Yospun yarn shop.

The owner, who's been so great to work with, used to live just 20 mins. from me but we never met. Now, when she's 1,689 miles away, we found each other on the internet. How do these things happen?

Find my work in NC

Here's the break down of work headed to Visual Index in Winston-Salem. I love NC and haven't been there in quite a while so I'm hoping to visit sometime later this year.

If you're a local,  in the area frequently or plan to be passing through on summer vacation and would like to be on the mailing list for new artists and special events you can find that link here. The gallery owner only sends one email a month so no worries about your inbox being flooded.

New work coming to Visual Index

For those of you in North Carolina and surrounding area I wanted to let you know that my work will soon be available at Visual Index on Trade St, NW in Winston-Salem. The owner Toni has been so encouraging  and I'm really looking forward to this opportunity. Check out the great video on their website.

I'm just finishing up a selection of my pieces from the Longest Year collection for them and I also be sending a bunch of one of a kind Redeemed earrings.

And don't forget...my the Stacking bracelets are now ready and will post to my  shop later today! They're available (top to bottom in the photo) in Verdigris, Ocean, White, Translucent and Black. 

Bellefonte Art Museum Gallery Show

I'm honored to be the featured jeweler for March at The Bellefonte Museum of Art in Bellefonte, PA. (For reference this small town is just to the north of State College, home to Penn State.) Its  charming - the county seat for Centre county with a largely intact Victorian era downtown.

The museum itself is in a beautiful limestone structure built in 1810 and is on the National Historic Registry. It contains multiple galleries with rotating exhibits and a permanent Underground Railroad exhibit.

My work will fill three cases in the upstairs jewelry gallery.

I had this same opportunity back in 2015 but I wasn't able to attend the opening. This time, my husband and I will be there. Opening is 12-4:30 and I intend to be there for at least the first couple of hours. I'd love to meet you if you can make it!

Paper Jewelry

I managed to fit in some time working on my own jewelry here. I'm sure it wasn't the best to have the kitchen table also serve as my studio but my son and husband never complained. Not once. I let myself daydream a bit about a longer stay here and a full studio and what that would be like. (Might that happen someday?)

Triple wrapped beads.

By and large I just worked through ideas, techniques, sizing, but I did produce a few finished pieces and I'm offering one for auction with all money going to SHAPE.

Being a charity in one of the most remote communities in the world SHAPE is primarily dependent on aid, grants and donations. They are amazingly good at making due but the needs are many. For instances right now, they do not have a nurse staff. They have no medical aids to help with everyday life skills and none are available on island. Beyond they need simple things like a paper cutter, bead storage, school supplies, good crayons – all of these things are either not available, ridiculously expensive or must be ordered from somewhere far away. And for Saint Helena, everywhere is far away which means $$$ (or £££ as the case maybe be).

So I'm doing two things, small things really, right now to help with their needs.

I'm auctioning off this necklace with a reserve bid starting at $25. Its all recycled denim paper on nylon cord and at 32 inches slips right over the head. Incredibly lightweight as you'd imagine. If you are interested, please email me your bids by Friday of this week. Highest bidder is the winner and money will just go through my Paypal (as SHAPE has no means to accept off island donations right now) and I will deliver the full amount in cash before I leave Monday, August 7.

Denim recycled necklace

Also I'm able to offer a few of the recycled bangle bracelets that I designed for them made with one of SHAPE's main raw materials, cereal boxes. They are just $20 USD and that includes shipping from the US. They are 2 5/8 inches (67mm in diameter) which is a medium size bracelet. Again, if you are interested and can let me know by Friday, I can leave your donation in cash for them. 

Cereal box bracelets

 If you have any questions please be sure to let me know. Thanks so much!

Recycled Paper Jewelry

Its now been over a month since we left home and it will be another month until we return. I have to resist the temptation to fret over all the things we'd like to do but might not have time for on this trip. 

I've been getting up early in the morning, when there is less competing for my attention,

to work on some of my own paper jewelry using SHAPE's recycled paper. I don't typically work this early at home but I'm considering starting to try getting into the studio at 5:30 – 6:00am every day. Will I be able to do it or will obligations, distractions and old habits creep back in?

At any rate...here I am now. I spread everything across the kitchen table and watch through the open door as the sun comes up over the house and hits the ocean. 

I'll be selling one of the pieces I've created while here with all money going to SHAPE. It will most likely be a necklace but I'm working on some brooches as well. My shops are closed so I'm trying to work out a way the funds will go right to SHAPE's account. Hope to have that sorted by next week.

Happy Monday!

I brought a small box of simple tools with me - a small paper cutter would have been nice too. Maybe next time....

The Sale that I almost forgot

Time is getting away from me as I squeeze in all I have to accomplish before we leave in just two short weeks.  Admittedly its easier than for our first trip to Saint Helena nine years ago (there'll be no Legos to pack this time)  but in the flurry of activity I almost forgot to announced my Pre-hiatus Sale!

Use Coupon code Summer20 in my Etsy shop now through May 30 for 20% off total purchases, jewelry and beads, no minimum purchase.

 Everything will ship asap and my shop will close May 31 through the end of the year.