Fall, Start of Festival Season!

Don't you just love when Fall comes around!!!  Cooler weather, excitement in the air, Mother Nature showing off her colors...

It's also when towns, villages and cities get busy with the start of the holiday season with festivals, bringing out the food, music and arts.

My first festival of the season is tomorrow and Sunday at the Central Carolina Pagan Pride Days Festival.  Would love to see you if you are in the local area!  Come out and support your local artists!

For the past couple of weeks, I have been rushing around preparing for it.  Even though I have done many shows in the past 3 years, there is so much in preparing for a one - no two shows are ever the same.  Depending on space allocation, venue location, venue type, etc., display setup is always a challenge.  I do stage my displays before each show.  Decisions on what items to bring, number of tables, table coverings, signage, how to display...

If you do shows, what are your challenges and how do you overcome them?

One challenge I have is making sure EVERYTHING fits in my car.  I take out the 2 back seats and store them away until the end of the show season.  That gives me optimum space and ease of packing.

When I first started shows, my car seemed not be large enough but with each show, packing has become more efficient, having learned what works and what doesn't.  

So now I am READY for my first show of this season!

Upcoming shows:

Festifall, Chapel Hill, Sunday October 7, 2012

Cooke Street Carnival, Raleigh, Saturday October 13, 2012

Boylan Heights ArtWalk (pending acceptance)

NCSU Crafts Center Art Fair (pending acceptance)

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Awesome Makers Faire:NC - June 18, 2011, Raleigh

Several members of the Triangle Jewelry Makers (TJM) and I participated in this Makers Faire.  

A great crowd turned out for this amazing showcase of different crafts, from fiber craft (spinning, knitting, quilting, t-shirt modifications), robotics, wood craft (laser cut wood structures, walking sticks, hand etched wood ornaments) to jewelry making.

It was a great opportunity for our group to showcase our differing skills in jewelry making and to just show "how" hand made jewelry is made.  We provided demo sessions on wire work, chainmaille and metalsmith techniques.  


Jen, who is the founding member, demonstrated how to make wire rings and showcased her latest book featuring her steampunk jewelry.  Jill does great chainmaille - rings, bracelets, necklaces.  Jennifer made bird's nest components and Becky did a fabulous session on making a bangle with silk and copper.

I was kept busy all day with showing and discussing metalsmith techniques - sawing/piercing, filing, metal forming with the doming block, use of the flex shaft with drill bits, deburring, and polishing, etc.  Advocating safety issues - wearing safety glasses and dust mask and keeping fingers out of the way of the flex shaft drill bits and burrs (use of the ring holder).  One man closely examined the wooden holder on how simply it was made (maybe he was tinkering with making one himself?).

Fall Arts Fair @ Sertoma Art Center, Oct 2

Join us on Saturday, October 2,

from 10am - 5pm for the Sertoma and Pullen Arts Centers' Fall Arts Fair at Sertoma Arts Center and Shelley Lake!

Visit our indoor & outdoor art markets, enjoy live entertainment, watch artists' demonstrations, enjoy a kids area, fishing derby, try out a music together class or Nia class and much more!

If you are in the area, come by, visit me, and help support the local artists.

I will be indoors at the Sertoma Arts Center. Other artists to look for - Jill of LivnGood Jewlery, Christina of ChristinaBellaBeads, Jill of OrangeCatArt, and Elena of TrendFemme.

My Latest in MetalSmithing...

It has been a while since I posted any of my projects from the Beginning Metals classes that I took at the Raleigh Pullen Arts Center.

My latest is this carnelian cab set in fine sterling on a sterling backplate. The 20g sterling sheet was first annealed, run through the rolling mill until it was approximately 24g, then it was textured with a piece of old lace on both sides, cut and filed to shape. I cut the leaves from a piece of sterling milled to 24g, stamped the details and soldered it to the backplate and bezel. In my hurry to set the stone I totally forgot to solder a bail - can't do that after setting a stone - duh! Not to worry, I drilled holes and wire-wrapped carnelian beads to sterling chain, and formed the front-closing clasp. Pendant tumbled for shine.

BTW, I made 2 of these pendants, initially thinking of earrings but... Now I have 1 to sell (soon to be added to my Etsy shop) and 1 to keep for myself!

Designers Downtown Market, May 8, 2010

Come see me at the May Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh, NC, on Saturday, May 8, from 9am - 3pm. I will have my fine jewelry AND my fabulous fabrics!

The Designers Downtown Market features fine locally made arts and crafts with an outdoor big city feel. Our vendors showcase some of the finest handcrafted arts and crafts in the area: jewelry, pottery, apparel, stained glass, paper crafts and more! Every show is different, with new artists and craftspeople coming in every event. Browse the vendor list on the site to find out who will be at the upcoming Market. Hope to see you there!

NC Triangle Street Etsy Team Spreading the Love!

When I checked my emails this morning, I was pleasantly surprised that both of my shops have been featured in blogs of fellow NC Triangle Street Team members!

First, FlowerMash (who makes handmade purses and bags) stopped by my booth at the Designers Downtown Market this past Saturday and purchased a piece of my Asian print fabric. She featured my shop on her blog and pictured here is the bag she custom made for her friend - please stop by her Etsy shop and view her items. Her shop is fairly new and would love some Love!

And, SatinStitchery (maker of embroidered purses, clothing, patches, key chains, art, clocks, & customizable gifts), features Sunday shopping on her blog.

The current shopping trip featured several members of the NC Triangle Street team:

-- Janice of BlessedBeadJewelry - creates handmade jewelry incorporating her polymer clay bead designs

-- Jill of OrangeCatArt - presents fine art photography of North Carolina - and beyond!

-- and me, Linda Searcy Jewelry Designs - handmade wire jewelry. Pictured is my Byzantine Chainmaille Bracelet of red brass and copper.

Photos - Designers Downtown Market, March 2010

Just a few photos of the first Designers Downtown Market for 2010 - it was my first time for this venue.

The last 3 pics are of my booth setup for both my jewelry and the fabric stash.

Designers Downtown Market, Raleigh, NC - March 13, 2010

The spring Arts and crafts season is about to start for me! My first is the Designers Downtown Market in Raleigh, NC, on Saturday, March 13, from 9am - 3pm.

The Designers Downtown Market features fine locally made arts and crafts with an outdoor big city feel. Our vendors showcase some of the finest handcrafted arts and crafts in the area: jewelry, pottery, apparel, stained glass, paper crafts and more! Every show is different, with new artists and craftspeople coming in every event. Browse the vendor list on the site to find out who will be at the upcoming Market. Hope to see you there!

Beginning Metalsmith

Just completed a 6-week course in beginning metals at the Pullen Arts Center in Raleigh.

It was a challenge to move beyond wire work but I enjoyed it. I can now say that I can use a torch (got over the dreaded idea of burning down the place!) and did not saw my fingers off while trying not to break too many saw blades (I broke 5 in the first sitting). Drilled, filed, oxidized, and buffed. Learned many new terms - flux, anneal, pickle, etc. I think my favorite is the metal mill - stretching metal and creating many textured surfaces.

Here are a couple pics of my 2 items from class - a pendant and pair of earrings.

Ruined one earring because the finding that I had was NOT sterling - it melted and wrecked my hard work! I know now to try to make sure I don't have crap metal. Got lucky and got into the continuing 6-week class in 2 weeks.

Post-Brier Creek Holiday Bazaar (Second Chance Pet Adoption)

A few photos of sellers at the Brier Creek Holiday Bazaar, a benefit for Second Chance Pet Adoptions.

MEA Designs

Linda Searcy Jewelry Designs

Just Beautiful Designs

Shore Debris

Just Dogs

Acanthus Beads

J & S Handcrafted Treasures

Old Broom Street

Scentsy

Second Chance Pet Adoptions Holiday Bazaar, Dec 5 and 6, Raleigh

"Kristine Mayberry, president of Second Chance Pet Adoptions (www.secondchancenc.org), has announced that the organization is sponsoring a Holiday Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 in Brier Creek Commons. More than 25 vendors will be selling items such as candles, jewelry, and handmade quilted and carved items. Event attendees can also participate in a Chinese raffle, with a chance to win a 27-inch TV. All proceeds will benefit the animals of Second Chance."

Please look for a few Etsy NC Street Team members at this event: Shore Debris, Just Beautiful Designs, Old Broom Street, Linda Searcy Jewerly Designs

Post-Raleigh Jewelry Art Show, Nov 14 - Photos Part 1

Jewelry artists ...