Compulsive organization and preparing for a show...

Organizing is my super power.

Some may say I am a bit compulsive about getting things organized, keeping things organized.... but its just me. Virgo, former teacher me. As many of you know I do maybe a dozen shows a year. Indoors, outdoors, hot and cold, dry and wet... There are a few fantasy/faerie themed shows I do, and love... one of them was last weekend in Baltimore, MD: FaerieCon. In prepping for this show I do get a little compulsive in my planning and organizing...

My FaerieCon display from 2014. Post is here! 

Crowded, isn't it? For the three day show I have a space that measures 6' x 3', and it is a very, very expensive square footage. How to make the most of that and showcase tiles AND jewelry? How to make a visually appealing display that doesn't overwhelm the viewer? I plan it out. Every square inch. I review pictures of last years display ( seen at beginning of post) and do a mock set up in the basement.

2015 FC mock up in the basement. 

There are some years ( especially for Beadfest) that I will use the printed photo like a map. Number the spaces, create a map key... Other times I just refer to the photo and do a layout sketch on my journal/ Could I just skip the pix and sketch in my journal? Yes, but I like to make sure I have the proportion of the boxes/trays/display correct as that will influence what I place there.

Version 1. Jewelry grouped by style, tiles hanging in the back. Large dryad sculpture anchoring table. 

There are a few advantages of this mildly compulsive planning in my opinion. When I am setting up and may be stressed/late/distracted/tired.... I don't have to think. The decision are made. Thats really comfortable to me when there was SO much frantic preparation finishing work and packing for a Con like FaerieCon. So I arrive and I can settle into it. Im less stressed and more ready to enjoy the event when it begins. Its also faster. No try it/ change it/ rearrange issues. 

Thursday night - stage one complete. 

Once the show started Friday, I completely forgot to take pictures. Very happy Jessica snapped this one! My display worked well - and was actually a lot less crowded than other years. Things sold, and I restocked my Mythic Nature Tiles inventory for "Creative Procrastinations and Whimsical Necessities" shop in Shepherdstown WV! Now I need to head back to the studio and make. more. stuff.... 

Friday - all set up... 

We had a wonderful weekend, filled with amazing art, creativity, music, and costumes. The Good Faeries were good, and the Bad were oh so bad! Until next year.... 

A few faces from FaerieCon

Freeform Friday: Friends, fairies, and inspiration...

So last weekend was FaerieCon. Where else can you surround yourself with your creative tribe of artists and authors and musicians, frolic with the Fae folk for the weekend, sell, shop, and be merry? 

I have posted about this magical weekend before, and Diana showcased some of the exceptional artist/vendors in her Monday post. Today's post is brought to you by: 

 INSPIRATION

This mythic and magical community draws inspiration from myriad sources. Fairy tales. Folklore. Myths.  Fantasy. Dreams. Fairies, djinn, dryads, ogres, unicorns, nixies, fauns, goblins all roam the halls. We draw on the same sparks of inspiration yet fan the flames into our own unique interpretations. Our Muses speak the same language... Its so pleasant when there is room for a variety of offerings, with a similar theme - and no competition, but camaraderie instead! There is a joy in shared and yet diverse inspiration. It's a supportive community, creatives encouraging each other in artistic endeavors. It's a precious and refreshing thing of late. 

SJ Tucker, Kem OM Crampton and me. 

SJ Tucker is a bard. A singer/songwriter, magic maker. A pixie, a firebird, a pirate girl, a force of nature. We have become friends as our paths crossed many times, over many years. I was thrilled to see and hear her at FaerieCon. And I needed to ask her a question...

The first track on her Mischief cd has me thinking. Titled "Ravens in the library"... I want to do a series of tiles - the ravens and their antics in the library. One of a kind, detailed, and I was hoping to use her lyrics in the borders. ( I have her permission, and can go ahead!)

Did I NEED permission? Not to be inspired by her work, not to take that spark and go sculpt.  But as independent artist/musicians doing one's own marketing? As members of the same community? I WANTED to be able to make the connection and give her the credit for having inspired me. And I can credit her on the back of each tile and perhaps send new fans her way...

I had a strong sneaking suspicion that SJ would take kindly to this idea. Her most recent album "Wonders" is inspired by the work of her friend, the author Catherynne M. Valente.
" Is it the Wonders that you're after?
S. J.'s 2013 release is inspired, from start to finish, by Catherynne M. Valente's Fairyland novel, The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making! Get ready for a wild ride on the back of a big red Wyverary, or a Wild Velocipede, or a Glashtyn-powered ferry, across such majestic vistas as the Worsted Wood, the Barleybroom River, and the Perverse and Perilous Sea! It is our fondest hope that you will return from these adventures better than when you left." 
( from SJtucker.com)
These amazing women have worked on many collaborations in the past, and I was thrilled to hear them do a reading/singing at FaerieCon. What an opportunity! The words, read by the author, followed by the songs, sang by the songwriter...

And I have a necklace in my head. Fully formed. Designed itself really... a tribute to Key, a character in C. Valente's book.

1. 'Fairyland...' by C. Valente. 2.  "Wonders" by SJ Tucjer. Cover art by Chaz Kemp. 
3. Panel reading with Heath Miller - pix credit C. Orapello

Now - its not about needing ideas, being blocked, or looking for something to do next. It's about being seized and shaken and excited. It's a lightbulb moment, that makes you want to drop it all and dash to the studio. right. now. I have ideas percolating in my head  like an old fashioned coffee pot at all times. Some bubble up faster than others. And its a shared love for the art, the lore, the subject. Its making connections, mutual admiration, magic. 

I am thankful for this tribe, this community and the creativity we nurture in each other. I leave you with a quote by Charles DeLint - in response to my necklace inspired by his story... 

"I like to think of art as a conversation that we're all having with one another. It's especially nice because we can have those conversations across space and time.

That story was originally for an anthology to celebrate Tolkien so I borrowed a shadow of Tom Bombadil, kept Tolkien's essay "Tree & Leaf" firmly in mind... And now you've taken the inky scratches on paper and made a three-dimensional hello out of them. Which is how it's supposed to be. Now perhaps somebody will see "Whispered Tales" and write a song about it..." ( CDL comment on my blog) 

Charles Vess, me, Charles DeLint at Spoutwood. My piece "Whispered Tales" inspired by Charles' story  "The Conjure Man" from Dreams Underfoot. 

Wishing you magic...
Jenny

For further reading: 

Inspired by Music/Frenchy and the Punk 

Inspired by Literature/Charles deLint

Faerie Finery: The Handcrafted Jewelry of FaerieCon

I just got back from spending my weekend at FaerieCon East.  What is FaerieCon? "FaerieCon is a fantasy convention, featuring artists and authors working in the genre.  It's known for its Masquerade balls and marketplace of artist/makers."~Jenny Davies-Reazor

Yesterday, the last day of the show, I took a final walk through the vendors and chose several to share with our readers.  I hope you enjoy a peek inside this fabulous world...

One of the first booths I stopped at was Crafty Celts.  Crafty Celts creates historically inspired Irish and Viking-style jewelry out of sterling silver, bronze and copper.  Their work was featured on the History channels "Vikings".  I'm considering a Viking costume for next renfaire season and this shop will certainly be on my mind for accessories. 

The next vendor that caught my eye was Twisted Bliss Designs.  Twisted Bliss Designs specializes in sterling silver wire-wrapped jewelry.  I was very impressed by their wire-wrapping skills.  Incredibly detailed, especially the fabulous headpieces. Unfortunately, many of my photos came out blurry so you should check out their Etsy shop to see more of their beautiful work.

Seeing Vagabond Metalworks in person was a true gem.  I was blown away and very inspired by Kest Schwartzman's metalsmithing.  Organic and eccentric, I just loved this work.  In addition to amazing metal jewelry, Kest also creates spectacular metal masks...

I wish I could've come home with all of them!

For those of you that love polymer and resin, Art of Joanne Schempp had these wonderful dragon egg pendants for sale.  Joanne carved the original dragon egg and cast a mold. Then she used polymer clay to create the eggs and set and domed them in gorgeous blingy metal pendants using resin.  

My friend Lithia, owner of Lithia's Creations, was vending again this year.  Lithia recently started creating pretty soldered pendants by upcyling broken plates and tea cups.  She also had some art bead jewelry this year including those pretty dragonfly necklaces featuring pendants from Round Rabbit.

And for our metal clay fans, the stunning work of Silvan Arts was on display.  Silvan Arts features nature-inspired jewelry crafted from metal clay, with many of the pieces incorporating gorgeous gemstones.  If you'd like to see more of their work, visit their Etsy shop.

And last, but certainly not least was AJE's own Jenny Davies-Reazor.  How else did you think I knew about this event?  Jenny has been vending FaerieCon for several years and she had a wonderful display with her pendants, necklaces and tiles.  

I hope you enjoyed this little peek inside FaerieCon's jewelry vendors!  I can't wait to enter the realm of magic again next year!

Happy Beading!

Diana P.

Suburban Girl Studio LLC