Friday This & That

In November I sponsored a giveaway on Garden mama's blog. I offered a custom Remembery Capsule to the winner, and Nicola, of Which Name? was the lucky one. She sent me an assortment of family photos of the past year, with a few captions, and I set to work.

Maybe it's the voyeur in me, but I really love going over the photos that will be included in the capsules. I start to feel connected to these people and, inevitably, it motivates me to make the capsule with great care and love. I have crafted a good handful of Remembery Capsules now, and they are my favorite piece to make. It could be because they are a break from the tiny intricacies of jewelry, but I have a feeling it has more to do with the attachment I form with the piece and the family. I think Nicola would agree that, in working together on this Remembery for her family, we have forged a friendship as well.

I shipped off her prize last week, and Nicola blogged about it today.

Also, I have been seeing Corner Views on lots of blogs recently, and I'm always intrigued. Jane, over at Spain Daily gives a theme each week, and folks all over the world post their interpretations. This week's prompt is coffee companion, and here's my 'view':

I don't drink coffee, so this is my morning tea. And I usually drink it unaccompanied. The mug, made by Olaria Studio (who makes mostly jewelry), is my absolute favorite. The handle broke off a while back (my fault). I could glue the handle back on, I know, but then it wouldn't be machine washable, and I'm not sure I want that compromise. Instead, I will continue to drink from it each morning and risk burning my fingertips. That's some mug dedication, there.

Have a great weekend!

CraftBoston

This weekend, I was excited to attend CraftBoston (presented by The Society of Arts and Crafts), a show of contemporary art, craft, and design.

I go to CraftBoston each year for design inspiration, to interact with other artisans, and to check out the various booth designs and layouts. I encountered artisans from around the US and had the pleasure of chatting with some local artists whose work I have admired from afar.

As I bounced from booth to booth I found my heart beating faster and my mind spinning with ideas awakened.

The number of talented and imaginative artists was endless, but I found a few that really lit a fire in me.

Kimberly Morris, fabricates silver and copper jewelry then adds colored pencil to embellish each piece. The result is a line of jewelry that has unexpected depth, interesting details and bold colors.

zpots is a pottery studio run by a husband-and-wife team in Vermont. I admired their Classic Large Mugs that were comfortable to hold, and their thoughtful Home Bowl, which would be a delight to put out at a family gathering.

Donna Veverka, of Donna Veverka Jewelry, handcrafts jewelry inspired by architecture and ornament. I was excited to try on some of her structural rings that, while substantial, weren't overly heavy or uncomfortable to wear. Check out her website to view some of her one-of-a-kind pieces. Unique and fantastic.

I left CraftBoston with a stack of postcards/business cards in my hand, and a catalog if inspirations and ideas in my head.