February 2014 Component of the Month...Fluttering Hearts!

Hi dear readers!  I jumped in and signed up to host the February Component of the Month challenge, here at AJE!  I decided to go with hearts!  Yes, I know hearts are a bit cliche for February, but I promise, my hearts are anything but cliche!

Here are a few I created for this challenge!  All hand-fabricated copper, with enamel and glass frit....

All  hearts are just over an inch in diameter and are organically formed of copper, enameled and embellished with glass frit.  Connector holes are varied...3 for a y-shaped connector, 2 vertical holes, 2 horizontal holes, 1 hole for straight top hanging, and 1 hole for a skewed hanging.

Would you like a chance to create a design with one of my hearts?  I will be giving away 3 hearts to random designers.  Please leave a comment below if you would like a chance...I will choose a heart for you, similar to the pictured ones above. You must have a blog, commit to creating a jewelry design with the offered component, and blog about your design during the designated blog hop date which will be on the last day of the month, or thereabouts (subject to change via the AJE blog).  I will choose the winners and announce them on Wed, 1/29/14!! Good luck!

Melissa Meman
Melismatic Art Jewelry
Art. Life. Love.

Are you a Creative Contradiction...?

I don't normally re post other people's blog posts here but when this one came up in my Facebook feed earlier in the week, it resonated so much I thought it was worth sharing with you. The writer Matthew Schuler talks about the theory of Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s as to why other people sometimes have trouble understanding us 'creative' types  - which is in fact that we have complex and contradictory personalities.

Every one of the points raised in this article are true of me to a greater or lesser degree especially that rather than being at one end or the other of the introvert/extrovert spectrum, creative people combine and balance the two characteristics equally. Ask anyone who has known me any length of time and I bet they will tell you I'm the extrovert 'life and soul of the party' type and yes, I have that in me. But I also have a deep seated need for long bouts of 'alone' time...to be with my thoughts and ideas and of course to work and I know other people often struggle to understand that dichotomy. The concept of the "big Brother House' is probably my worst nightmare. A ride might look like great fun but if I can't get off at a time of my choosing then I won't get on in the first place.

Have a read and see what you think...If you're creative I'm sure you'll find something here that's relevant to you and if you know someone like this then maybe it will help you understand them a little better...I'll certainly be getting a few people to read it and am even considering buying the book...

http://www.matthewschuler.co/why-creative-people-sometimes-make-no-sense/

Lesley
The Gossiping Goddess