Jane Wynn's Studio

Hummus and belt-sanders

I am treating myself to some hummus and crispy pita bread- having spent the evening out in the studio sanding my metal bezels. My fingers are so tired and dare I say- numb from all the vibrations. Such as life. The hummus makes it all better. I am also still trying to fight off that sinus infection which I had a few weeks ago. I took my antibiotics and thought it would have done the trick- but ever since Friday- I have felt kind of under the weather- with the same feelings as I have had. If things are still not better by Monday- I will go back to the doctor and see if I need something else.

Virgil was such a bunny-love tonight. He seems to like the attention. You know- he (and Vespa) have been a member of my household for a year now and he really has come around and has become a truly changed kitty. I can not imagine returning him to the shelter- as he was- twice.

I think he just needed the right home- and WOW- did he score quite a home~! Very patient people and his very own studio to live in! (Well- he actually comes in now a good bit and has taken to sleeping under the blanket of the spare bed!Haa!)

Tomorrow I will share more photos of these little metal pieces of candy. I will drill holes and then begin to turn them into the finished pieces...
I also have hearts to finish too.

Next Sunday I will be sitting outside at ArtScape vending my things. My fingers are crossed for good weather. So far it looks good.

Well- I think I better get into the shower and wash off all my studio mess. Tomorrow is another day~
More to come...
XoxoX

Happy Leap Day!

Ah! I love strange days like these...
Leap Year! What fun~
Lucky for me- it is a Friday and I have been working in my studio.
My package from China arrived last night and I am thrilled...
See:

HA~!!!
Yes- That is my new Tattoo Gun!
No- I am not ready to change careers just yet...

BUT it is for something very nifty! I will share bits and pieces with you as I go...

And the new issue of Juxtapoz came last night- so I have some reading to catch up on later as well.
Later tonight- dinner with the boy...
Tomorrow we are going to go and look for a recumbent bike. I have this crazy idea of getting into shape~ Haaa!

Okay- I better get back out there- I had to take a quick break, clean up a little, refresh my coffee and pet some very needy kitties.

More in a little while!
XoxoxoX

Doing what I can...

Just trying to keep busy- and trying not to think too much...

See more on my Flickr- Here
Tomorrow I will catch up on email- to thank all of you who sent me your thoughts and love at the sad time.
More in the morning...
xoxoxo

Things that go BUMP in the night...

Good Evening~

I found myself inspired this weekend, to begin a big new series of jewelry pieces- perfect for this time of the year- It will be based on Shelley, Lovecraft, Poe, and Stoker to start...
Add to the mix, a few more of these delicious oddities! (See below)

Which will become something like this which I made a little while ago:

And I also have a few more strange delights on the horizon after these are complete which contain:

Tis the season!
Anyway- I should get to bed... More tomorrow.

Painting...

It's funny- but after doing a whole lot of one thing- like teaching and focusing on one section of this creative world- I come home and feel overwhelmed and itching to do anything but what I was doing.
This being said, the first thing I did after I came home and settled in, was go out to my studio and clear off a table area where I had been working feverishly on jewelry, and set up my easel and paints. Last night, I worked on trying to finish up my Octo-Dolly painting.


I added in the spots and now I am left with the details. I need to work more on her face and hands and of course the bottom where she is standing on the wooden folding yardstick. I then plan on moving onto painting my Siamese cats- like the drawing I did. I just keep seeing it as a painting. I am really excited to try out something which should prove to be very detailed. I will be working on a nice small square panel box which is about 3 inches deep!

After that painting, I have a couple of others which I want to do- including a few from some little old dolls I acquired as well as a painting for Thomas which is an organ-grinder monkey with a fez... I just hope to work a little faster.

Painting is a challenge for me. It is never easy or predictable. I like that. I have dreams of becoming a famous painter. More so than anything else. Well- I also have a serious passion for photography which I hardly share. Although I did get a Flickr account and I am trying to take interesting photos for myself. I like the history which accompanies these art forms.

Last night, while I was trying to fall asleep, Thomas noticed I was having a serious moment of pouting followed by fussy- frustration by the way I was hiding under the covers. He asked me what was wrong and I said that I was feeling particularly dark and frustrated and mad.

I had gotten a rejection email from the local Craft group for vending in December. I actually thought I was going to get in. I even paid up-front. But no... I got rejected. Which made me totally feel horrible. I feel like I did when I was younger and didn't seem to really "fit in" with the in crowd. I was really looking forward to vending locally and meeting people from here. I also thought it was great to do before the Holidays.  Ahhh rejection. Yes... I take it so personally.

So Thomas asked me if I was going to continue on with my pity-party or if I was going to move on and not let something like that get me down and to find something to replace it- followed by- a reminder of what I have accomplished and a kiss on cheek... ONLY Thomas can get away with this kind of honesty with me. I hate that and appreciate it all at the same time. Haaa...

I think I just need to be self-motivated and not driven by deadlines. So I am going to "try" and focus on making some small shrines as a series and maybe I will find a place to show them- It has BEEN too long since I last had a show...

Okay- well- I have some delicious brewed coffee and I have some paperwork to do. More about my inner struggles will have to wait until later today...
Thanks again for sticking with me.

XoxoxoX

 

P.S.- I put some things up here: WynnStudio's shop

I'm Easy To Please...

Hello Friday!

Remember that lovely Nickel I was working with? (Above photo)
See how deliciously dirty it looks in this photo? (below)
Well- as much as I like things dirty... I do like things- Clean and Polished too!





Amazing uh???
And this:



Ahhh... a little sanding and buffing... and it becomes lovely and warm.
After I got all of my little dumplings in tip top condition- I managed to fill them with resin, without issues... (Go figure)

Pardon this photo- it was taken late last night- in very ambient lighting- but I am sure you get the idea. Tonight I will begin to turn these into necklaces. That is the part I love- it is like putting icing on the cake. More photos to come...

Before I go- I wanted to share with you an email I received last night. (*I asked her if I could post it and she said Sure! hee!)

" Hi Jane,

I ordered your book Altered Curiosities and received it yesterday. I absolutely love this book. I have purchased others only to be disappointed. You give in-depth instructions and it is awesome. I recently found I have this desire to create altered jewelry (I have always been an artist) but needed to do something different to express myself. This book is such a treasure for me. Thank you thank you thank you for writing this book. I hope you will be writing more. You certainly have a following with me.

Sincerely,
Cindy
cindyforrester.etsy.com "

AND she is THANKING ME? HA! I am the one who needs to be thanking her (Which I did... in fact I think I might have gushed with too many Thank you's!). She made me STOP and take the time to really think the things I have accomplished and to stop from racing from one deadline to the next. I seem to be living my life one step ahead of myself these days...

Not only was I thrilled that she liked the book- But I am happy to learn about her ETSY shop! I LOVE her work... so it was a funtastic discovery.

Anyway- I am glad I took a moment to reflect on things. I understand how life can really get in the way of living at times- and we all need a moment to stop and breathe deeply. Might I suggest that you take a moment to do the same too? Thats right... Do it now... Take a minute and breathe deep.

More in a few..

Virgil's world... and me!

This is what I walk out to every morning now... Virgil loves a good morning stretch on the concrete. Then I scoop him up and it is back into the studio with me... I love me dear little man.

So this weekend was a lovely hard working weekend- mixed with amazing Indian food on Saturday and a trip to my jewelry supply guy. I bought a sheet of NICKEL to experiment with which is exciting. I also managed to get a lot of bezels made.




THESE little lovelies are featured in the book! They can be very tricky to make- however you can learn all about it inside! (HA! Hopefully this will entice you!)

Anyhoo- I will be taking more photos of the New things I am making for Art & Soul- Vending night! When I get back- I will be getting ready to make more for ETSY...

Okay- I better get moving.
I will chat more in a few...
XoxoxoX

Studio day!

(Detail image from an art piece in my book! SOON it will be out...SOON! Heee)

Ahhh! Hello FRIDAY!
For me that means it is my studio day!

Now that I have off one day a week from work I... go to my studio- just like my office job- and I work!

Although, it is totally different. I think I drive myself harder when I am in the studio. AND I treat it like a job- I wake up, get dressed, make some coffee, kiss the husband as he goes off to his job, and I go out to the studio and -after a quick cleaning and straightening, which I love to do to start my day- I work. Around 4-5 in the afternoon, I slow down and begin to finish.

I never see my Friday's as Free Day's off- as I am sure a lot of people from my day job may think that it is- at times. Like what I do at home in the studio on Friday's is easy or flexible or that it is just art-playtime. It is pure work, mixed at times with stress! (I have one big looming deadline coming and I need to really focus....) I honestly see what I do out there, as my true work. But then again- I know all of you- GET THAT~!

Anyway~ I am thrilled it is Friday!
Now I should get busy out there-
Virgil is waiting and I should not keep the STUDIO CAT waiting!
More in a few...
XoxoxoX
J a n e

(FOR THOSE OF YOU who love photos- Here are a few photos from early this summer when we went to see Willie Goldman (Duff's brother) from Ace Of Cakes or for you Locals- Charm City Cakes! He is friends with my best friend Jason (You know- Jason and Lisa who live down the street from me...) Sadly- I think I really need to be on Camera more- I love that world of TV! Heeee!)

(That is Willie)

(LOOK! That is HIS DRILL!!! A Drill for Cakes! Swoons...)

(And that is Jason being GOOFY and Thomas looking off into the distance... and well- me- getting too excited!)

(I am telling you- I NEED TO GET OUT MORE!)
Haaaa- Have a Pleasant day!

Less the Man he was...

A lovely storm is approaching outside as I type. I am greatly anticipating it! The sky feels like a pool cover collecting rainwater which is about to sink into the pool... I hope we get a downpour!
Anyway- gray days always make me happy.

So lets play catch up- shall we?

So Thomas' procedure went better than well. He is still waiting to feel the pain that never came! It was over and done in two shakes and he is fine.

The doctor put on his iPod and got down to work and the next thing I know he was Less the Man he was when we walked in! (hahaa!)

He spent the weekend off of his...feet. I got a little stir crazy since I like to get away just a little on the weekends- even just to grab a bite to eat.

I spent all of my time working in the studio and came away feeling like I didn't get as much accomplished as I had hoped- (although that thought is clouded in a haze of negativity from PMS).
I did convince Thomas to grab a quick lunch with me on Sunday- which was lovely.

This week I am feverishly working on finished an Altered Book! I am excited about it although I need to withhold photos- as you will be seeing it in a bookstore near you- soon!

I also am trying to get together enough things to Sell at ART Unraveled In August!
I have a number of other little things going on- which need finishing this week too-
which I will be sure to update you on when I get them finished...

Here is a quick look at some of my progress in the meantime:

(This is a metal box I made for a project...)

(and the lid...)
 
 
 

(I made this a while ago- and I gave this away...
as a trade. More on that later...)
 
 
 
(These are my chunky Bezels I made- now resting in patina!)
 
 
 
AND last Friday, I went up to Terra Firma in Pikesville and bought some supplies! WOW their NEW Bead and jewelry room opened and it is GREAT~! Anyway- Bill told me about a jewelry artist named Deborah Dubois who worked for the Smithsonian- SHE repaired Napoleons Crown and worked on the HOPE DIAMOND! Anyway- she is retiring from jewelry and is moving to North Carolina and is going to make whimsical furniture (?)

So what does this have to do with HAMMERS?

Well- these are HER hammers~! I bought them from Bill- It is my way of transferring many positive years of work into MY hands!
I love history- and so these two sweet hammers mean the WORLD to me! I love them so...
 
On a Side Note: I have been heartsick about my kitty Virgil- he has been having a terrible time adjusting to our home. He now hides in the basement all the time and refuses to eat or do anything. The others just seem to overwhelm him. We have tried all sorts of ways to try and build his confidence but it doesn't seem to work. Our cat is 100% EMO! (heee!!!) However- he loves the studio. When I walk him out there, he runs in and throws himself on the floor and rolls and stretches and is a completely different cat! He eats and plays and sleeps in the big red chair. He loves to sit in the windows and watch birds and I am thinking that he is going to have to just live.... out there. Uuugh... He spent his first night out there on Monday. When I went to check on him in the morning he greeted me with a meow and seemed fine- if only a little bored. Last night after a spending over 24 hours in the studio- I brought him in and he hated it! Ran to the basement and hide until this morning. So... the answer seems clear. He will be my studio kitty for now and when he is a little older I will try to bring him in again. WHAT weird luck I have with kitties... I do not need children to feel the anxiety and sadness the way a Mother would... I HAVE IT ALREADY with all of my cats. They are a true part of me. I think of them all day and worry about them when something is not right. Ahhh fur babies.

(G- your photos should be edited and sent in the next day...XoxoxoX)
      

Working and Playing...

I need to get some work done in the studio this weekend:

BUT not before I go to this:

Charm City Craft Mafia's "Pile of Craft!"
More later...
Happy Weekend...