Visit Greenville

I just discovered this video and I LOVE IT!

Greenville, NC is small but we're a big lil' city.  Watch and see why so many people love Greenville!


Pin It

Song of the day: Winter White Hymnal by Fleet Foxes

This is one of my favorite songs and holiday songs and also by one of my favorite bands.  It's just so pretty and melodic.  This live version is even better. 


Pin It

Precious Mettle

Just so, so proud of my good friend Tara Locklear for her recent interview with the American Craft Council. 

As you know I've posted several times about Tara and for good reason.  You can watch this short interview with Tara and read the article here.


Pin It

The Bast Collection video

It's only been one week since the launch of the Bast Collection and the response has been wonderful! With the release Aileen and I worked on the video for the collection, this time Aileen shot the video along with the photos. 

We're super pleased with the outcome, the song reflects the darker mood of the jewelry and theme for this collection.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!


Pin It

See thru someone else's eyes

How brilliant! I love his ingenuity.  
Pin It

Know thyself

As you know, Diane Von Furstenberg is one of my big shero's, and her words make so much sense in this video.

I love that she wants her employees to 'work with her, not FOR her'.  Watch and learn.


Pin It

Being grounded

What a lovely conversation and truth to our world and connection to the earth.



Ruudt Peters is fun and so observant, and of course his work is amazing.
Pin It

Mapped: A Survey of Houston Contemporary Jewelry and Metalwork

I got notice of this new video posted by SNAG Television.

It's a fun video showing all the great pieces in this exhibition inspired by the landscape of Houston.



Hope you enjoy!
Pin It

One small change

can have such a huge impact on our world.

I shared this on my personal FB page but I'd like to share it with you.  Once you watch this video it will give you many reasons to not buy bottled water.

Here are the simplistic ones:
1.  You save money
2.  You protect the planet
3.  You are ensuring these companies don't get more money to trash the earth.

Pin It

Vexta

Last week my friend Tara Locklear (she's posted on here I'd say every couple of months!) introduced me to the street artist Vexta (Tara will be working on a joint project with her sometime this year) and I really enjoy her pieces and invitationals. 

So I thought I'd share some of her videos of the projects she's done.  Vexta is known in the graffiti community as super talented for cutting her own stencils. Below is a video of a momento mori project.  I just love this idea of the eggs and painting birds on them. 



As always thanks for visiting!
Pin It

The Brigid Collection is finally here!

After much buildup and anticipation I'm very pleased to unveil the Brigid Collection, a collection of jewelry for the lovers and the dreamers (you definitely don't need to be a bride to purchase them!). 

For many reasons I'm very proud of this collection and the project that went into it.  Especially when quite of bit of energy and preparation goes into it, such as the video and photoshoot.  But I'm so happy with the outcome and most especially the people that worked with me on it (read the previous post here for all the deets).  

This collection is also very close to my heart because of naming it after one of my patron deities, Brigid.  I've prayed to her and sought her guidance many times in my life.  And for what she represents (smiths, poetry/inspiration and fertility) those are big aspects of my own life.  Oh and Ostara (Spring) is my favorite time of the year, the earth is reawakening and shifting, birds are chirping...it's beautiful!

So here I present to you the video we shot at the same time as the photoshoot for the collection.  I was very fortunate to find Ryan Shackleford (through my previous videographers) and as a videographer he was super professional and great to work with. 

the love in this video is real...Chris and Ashleigh are partners in life, aren't they just the sweetest???!!!

Pin It

Florence & The Machine is coming back!

Not as if they died but I've missed them so, Florence is akin to Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks in my eyes.

This new track is truly stunning and exciting to hear...one can only imagine how the rest of the album will be.



I love the dancing and expression and fight between Florence and herself, whom hasn't felt this way?
Pin It

Recommended reading, my shero Diane Von Furstenberg, The Woman I wanted to be

You may recall my admiration for Diane Von Furstenberg in a post from years ago.  She's just amazing and she seems so down to earth.

I recently purchased this book for a friend and have yet to give it to her....so I've been reading it! haha, it's what happens.  But the more I've read, the more enamored I am of Diane's full life.  She married a prince, moved to the city, divorced and then remarried, began her own business while raising two children and then running an empire!

Here is a lovely video of her recounting her amazing life.

My personal review is 5 stars, it's an easy and informative read about how Diane does what she does; being amazing.
Pin It

Shopping small can be big!

Shop Small in a Big Way from Old Town Boutique District on Vimeo.

I used to work in Old Town several years ago and I loved the feel of walking through a tight knit neighborhood where much of the business' are locally owned.

You can do that this Saturday where ever you go; your gifts are more meaningful and you get to know the people that make up the community.

Greenville has that same feeling as Old Town, you walk through the shops and visit people and they want to give you something special.  
Pin It

Owl den

Post by Over Grow The System.

Pin It

Goldfinger

This vid is fun and entertaining but I can't help but wonder why all the goldsmiths are so clean and not dirty from polishing and finishing their jewelry? 

Pin It

Lovearch

An inspiring video about connection in a different and not impossible way.  My friend sculptor Andy Denton (also former Art Avenue Gallerist) created this popular sculpture in 2009 and it's been in heavy rotation, being displayed throughout the United States.  I can see why, it's an unconventional yet meaningful way of connecting two bodies.

Much of Andy's work incorporates yoga poses with Budhhist meaning.  You can view more of his work here.

Pin It

Penny in your pants

This is pretty darn cute and clever! 

Penny In Yo Pants from Johanna Holtan on Vimeo.

Pin It

Collaboration and how it can help you grow artistically and financially

I just had a thought dawn on me about 10 minutes ago, as I was asking myself what my next blog post should be and it came to me; write about something I know and that has helped me grow immensely over the past two years.  Collaboration!

It seems obvious I know, but sometimes the obvious still needs explanation.  Working well with people comes naturally to me and working with a team helps me to find new ways of showing my work and turning it into a story.  So here are several points that will help you see how collaboration can be huge for your business!

Collaboration helps to:

1.  Expand my group and audience. I expose my craft to a new audience when I work with a printmaker, galleriest, photographer, videographer, model, make up artists etc. the list goes on and on.  In turn I've traded and sold my jewelry to these same artists and their friends.

2.  I learn so much from watching other artists and how they see the world; this in turns broadens my perspective and method of working.

3.  I also learn what NOT to do the next time; this isn't negative but it helps doing something wrong to get it right the next time.

4.  Patience, oh this one is so hard for me but it takes time to process photos, ideas and concepts when working with others.

5.  Reaps benefits infinitely; and you learn to work in a team, being an artist can be lonely so working in group or team every couple of months shakes up your daily work life.

Outtake from the Valkyrie photoshoot with Brian Korff, videographer and photo by Aileen Devlin.

Just some of the projects I've collaborated with other artists:

• Aurelian Nights Fashion show (Paula Chrismon of the Closet Consignment boutique, Art Avenue and countless others.
• Momentary Myth Exhibition and photoshoot with Sim Asher and Spike Hoban (videographer)
• Art Avenue Projects
• Preyed Upon Exhibition
• Valkyrie Collection S/S14 with Aileen Devlin and Brian Korff
• Upcoming collab: Asteria Collection F/W14 Exhibition and Photoshoot with Amber Burnette of Dekay Photography
• Trifecta Trunk Show with Tara Locklear and Sarah West

Pin It

Molding silver

Awesome video of a Spanish metalsmith that does chasing and repousse  work, I love his studio, it's so clean and tidy with all the different stations of work. 

And at the end, when you see all the silver....it's alot.  Definitely worth the twenty minute viewing.

Thanks for sharing this on your blog Arthur Hash!

Pin It