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Big World Studio is now Studio McManus
These past few months have left me breathless. The pace has been non-stop and the energy is moving so quickly I can almost feel the breeze. I’ve got lots to share and it will take several posts to fully catch up. Today’s big news is that I am re-branding my jewelry business. Big World Studio…
Ready to Learn
This week I’ll be in Manhattan for a National Mango Board photo shoot with food photographer Lou Manna. These shoots are always fun, fast-paced and challenging. We will get seven shots in a day and a half, which is really a crazy pace. Fortunately, Lou and his team are amazing, so I know it will…
Enameling Demystified
There’s just no substitute for a good teacher and a hands-on learning opportunity. This was true when I took my introductory week-long metal clay class from Pam East in 2009, and it was certainly true of this weekend’s enameling workshop. I’ve read enameling books cover to cover, but I just haven’t had the confidence to…
Full Circle
I took my first metal clay class with Pam East at the John C. Campbell Folk School in 2009. The first day of the week-long class was the very first time I touched metal clay, and I was HOOKED. It was such a great way to start and that fundamentals class gave me the confidence…
Opportunities and Challenges Abound
This weekend, I’ll be checking out the ACRE (American Craft Retailers Expo) Orlando show. They have a Las Vegas show that’s been running for years and this is the inaugural show in Orlando. I considered applying to the show as an emerging artist, but it’s a big investment and I’m not quite ready to make…
I Blinked…
…and then it was December. What a busy, productive, exciting time this has been. I’ve been making and selling lots of jewelry. I haven’t participated in any formal shows, but have created (or stumbled into) some out-of-the-ordinary sales opportunities. One of my pieces was selected for publication in the Art & Design of Metal Clay…
Vermont Workshop Adventure
I’m in rural Vermont right now taking a class with Celie Fago and having a great time with my metal clay buddies. Celie’s studio is very comfortable and she makes her students feel so welcome in her slice of paradise. Pictured above is her teaching studio. To the right is the view from the studio. …
Latest Work
Here are a few random pieces I’ve been working on over the past couple of weeks. One week from today I start a 4-day workshop at Celie Fago’s Vermont studio. Between now and then I need to finish a website update, pack and participate in a board meeting in New Jersey for my day job. …
Remember That Feeling?
I stumbled across these photos of a vase I made in early 2007. I had just gotten into polymer clay and was toying with the idea of layering the clay on a glass vase. Of course, I couldn’t start with a small vase. No, I had to commit myself to a 14″ tall piece, and…
Butterfly Earrings and the Lessons Learned
A friend asked me to create a custom pair of earrings for her. She had a pair that she loved, but they were made of cheap materials and were starting to look quite worn, and well, cheap. I didn’t feel comfortable making a direct copy of these earrings, but we talked about how I could…