Fall Focus

I'm excited to share that beginning in August, I'll be learning more about jewelry design and fabrication from Roger Mathews. I briefly met him last Christmas when I bought glass from his shop. It was in his glass shop and from one of his employees that I discovered he is also a jewelry designer and teacher.

If you like the best tacos in Wichita, you've no doubt seen his gallery, his work; he's right next door to Taco Shop on East Central. I found this image and this image online. Look familiar?

I wanted to let you know my plans because this means I won't be participating in any shows this fall, or taking any custom orders. Many of you are loyal customers, especially during the giving season, so I wanted to communicate my direction plenty early.

If you are interested in giving personal, locally hand crafted gift items, you might check out the affordable items in Mr. Mathews' gallery/store at 4902 E Central. Then there's also the Wichita Etsy group I almost joined (lack of time has thus far prohibited it) that has local parking lot sales every now and then. I'm certain there will also be great vendors at Market Square and Hillsboro, again.

I'm still evaluating/deciding if I'll blog or list any items to Etsy during this time. Of course I want to do both, but I'm not sure I'll have time. Even if I did find the time to blog and list, I'm concerned it would distract me from what I've set out to focus on during this time. If you'll give me this time out, I'm sure I'll be able to serve you better in the future. I'm super excited to hone my skills and learn how to better fabricate your visions, and the visions in my head/sketchbook. Thanks!

Mire, Fire, and Rising Up

When you get a chance, you might want to listen to Ain't No Life by Pilot Speed:

I'll ask you to leave here tonight, you knew it was planned
When the world takes your heart from the fight
You do what you can
You're living here lost in the land
So brother don't force my hand
Please let's see the forest for the trees
Cos it's time to rise up;it's time to rise up from your knees

This ain't no life for us my brother
This ain't no life for us my brother
You're blind to all the colors, of the life you could discover

This house feels cold, abandoned and quiet
A son needs a warm hand to hold and home that's kind
A father who will stand in the light
*I won't watch you die inside
For a love that was lost in the mire
But it's time rise up, it's time to rise up from your knees

This ain't no life for us my brother
This ain't no life for us my brother
You're blind to all the colors of the life you could discover

The depth you've found, is a trick of the mind
Is there hope for the man whose life has let him down
There's enough of those ghosts in this town
I've seen it drag good men down
*Free up the shame in your pain
And let it rise up, let it rise up from the flame

This ain't no life for us my brother
This ain't no life for us my brother
You're blind to all the colors of the life you could discover...

*These two lines are my absolute favorite of this beautiful song that draws on age-old themes.

Over 2 thousand years ago, another great musician, King David, (no, it wasn't originally Bono)said it this way:

Psalm 40:1-2 "I WAITED patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit [a pit of tumult and of destruction], out of the miry clay (froth and slime), and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings."

The following two verses may sound harsh/judgemental, remember to Whom they refer. When I think about it I'm completely okay with God judging me (and no one else) and setting me right. He might know a thing or two about me, my life, a better life.

Proverbs 17:3 "As silver in a crucible and gold in a pan, so our lives are assayed by God."

Revelation 3: 15-19 "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.

18"Here's what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that's been through the refiner's fire. Then you'll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You've gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see.

Imagine being drawn in and out of the fire and still rising up! There's worth in the crucible no matter how much mire. It's a beautiful process, a beautiful result. It might take a lifetime, but it's there.

Girls! Girls! Girls!

Chi Art Gallery Studios is hosting an all-girl-artists show this Final Friday, June 22 from 6 to 9 pm. Local (& so very young!) recording artist Emily Scheltgen will be providing the live music.

My large shadowbox will be up for the show.

If you are going out for Final Friday and are interested in stopping by, Chi Art is located at 1007 W. Douglas.

Pilot Speed Video

See them live on Sunday night at Rock Island:

Don't miss THIS weekend: MUSIC heaven WICHITA!!!

Caught a great show at the
Vertical Violet last night. The Taylor Martin Band was awesome! SHEL was awesome!

Wichitans, don't worry if you missed it: the TMB will be playing more soon, and SHEL is here for the weekend paying two more shows. (See their myspace schedules.)



Speaking of the weekend: Tonight at Club Liquid, catch a big show with Vehicles and In The Wake.

Sunday night is Daniel's big shin-dig with Pilot Speed,
Vehicles will play a few songs in the middle and Toy Sails will rock the open (if they can all get past the guy carding at the door). Dang! It's also Brianna's birthday party. Seriously. Don't. Miss. This. Whole. Thing. The next time you try to see Pilot speed you'll be watching with binoculars (think of that first time you saw Coldplay or Interpol.) Thanks Daniel!!!



There are other great shows going on this weekend, too. See? Wichita really is cool! Get out and support these artists and keep them coming!

(I realy need to get some cool flash art going for Vehicles, huh?)

a little Neon Tiger

Dang it, lately my friends have been pumping out the kids faster than I can create. Of course I don't have a problem with it at all. I am lovin' the little guys.

Isn't this boy just the cutest? Until now, Eli Yan has lived in the Henan province in China; Zhengzhou city to be exact. For a few more days he is in China with his new family---and then he will finally head home to KC.

Eli Yan is a very lucky boy---because I know that J&L are the best parents in the world to protect and nurture him, celebrating who he has been, who he is and who he will become. Really. They really get how huge this little guy's soul is.

Eli Yan is only 19 months old and already he has such a rich story, such a brave, persevering, beautiful heart. A rare find in a sea of souls, I've decided to call him "Neon Tiger". (Hopefully that's okay with him and his parents.)





Go get 'em little Neon Tiger---it's a new day and age!

"brOKen" Leather Bracelet Tutorial

Items you will need:















* Sturdy Scissors
* Plain leather belt
* Piece of Notebook paper
* #2 Pencil
* Snap setting kit (Line 20 for thin leather or Line 24 for thicker leather)
* Cutting Board or other hard surface
* Hammer/Mallet
* Sanding Block
* B&W Sharpies, Paint Pens or India Ink and Calligraphy Pen
* Leather Sealant and applicator (if necessary)


Measure your Wrist: Using the notebook paper, cut and wrap a strip around your wrist to a comfortable fit. Overlap the edges by an inch. Tear off paper to size.












Cut out your bracelet blank: Lay the paper over your belt and cut the leather to the exact length of the paper.












Prepare your bracelet blank: Sand leather until any topcoat/shine is eliminated. Using a slightly damp paper towel, wipe off any dust. Mark holes for snaps 3/4" from both ends. Double check fit around wrist, make any necessary adjustments to hole markings. Using punch included in snap setting kit, center punch over marked holes on leather, atop your cutting board. (This works on any solid surface such as an anvil, scrap of granite, etc.) Hammer punch through leather (like a nail) to create snap holes. Wipe off leather again. Set aside to completely dry.































Prepare your template: For the example above, I used the Courier font in Microsoft Word. I then print the word "brOKen" several times in different sizes. Sometimes I only type the "br" and the "en" and then by hand write the "OK" in script. Decide on your favorite font and size for your leather. Trim edges of template to exact edge of design. On back side of template completely color over letters with pencil lead.



















Transfer design to leather: Center template on leather, right side up. Using adequate pressure, with pencil, trace design. Remove template to find design transferred to leather.













Ink design on leather: Using sharpies, paint pens, or calligraphy pen, permanently mark design in ink. Allow to dry completely. Repeat this step if necessary for even coverage.














Protect design and leather: Apply a thin coat of leather sealant. I use Fiebing's brush on Leather Sheen. The spray kind works, too. Allow to completely dry. Whatever type, several thin coats are the key. Repeat this step at least one more time. If you prefer a slightly worn finish, lightly sand over the entire leather strip twice. Then angle sand block and concentrate on roughing up the edges only.

















Set the snaps: This part is a little tricky to describe. Read the directions in the snap setting kit and then I suggest you follow my photos as well. Once the two sets are matched and laid atop leather be certain enough metal is left to "overlap" for sturdy setting. (You may have to push leather down around shafts.) You can use the tiny anvil included to hold in place while setting---smooth hollow side for top of snap, flip side with small column for bottom of snap. I usually hammer once or twice more without the anvil, just to ensure a tight hold.























Wear and share!

* Have fun trying this with your own meaningful words/designs. If you publish my "brOKen" design in photos or in other media, please give me credit for the design. Thanks!

* Most of the supplies for this project can be purchased at Wal-Mart or your local hobby store. You will likely be able to purchase pre-made leather bracelet blanks there, too. Otherwise have fun scavenging your closets and thrift shops. You might already have an aerosol leather protectant next to a pair of leather shoes in your closet. If you are going to make several of these, the three things I'd suggest you special purchase are a leather hole punch (pictured below) and the line 24 snaps and setter from your local Tandy leather or Tandy online store. I started with those three items; by now I own a bench hand press, but I've also set hundreds of these snaps. I have found the line 24 to be the sturdiest money can buy.