Transition and making changes

It's interesting how when the weather changes or it becomes, Autumn/Spring, especially I find that some pretty major life changes happen - especially for me.

Over the past several months I've weighed heavily on my work schedule and how to best manage my time.  Some of you, my dear readers, may or may not know that I juggle about 3 different jobs.  While of course my main focus is running Eilisain Jewelry, I also teach classes at Emerge one night a week, I work part time at a law firm and I also worked at a jewelry repair shop - whew! Just typing that out sorta stresses me out.

I love staying busy and I managed this for awhile however I never really felt like this was productive for me.  In comes a special email I received about a month ago from Ashton Neibel, a recent SCAD BFA graduate, inquiring if she could work for me.  Well, as you can imagine with juggling three jobs I was in no position to hire, however I was definitely looking for an apprentice and team member.

And thus I made the decision to cut down my work load and increase my hours in the studio and have Ashton work with me at Art Avenue.  I just started this schedule this week however I'm already feeling incredibly light and fulfilled.  Even though this could be a pay cut, I'm much happier with my work load and future - so stay tuned, the future is bright and exciting!

Life can be a basket full of flowers! Photo by Aileen Devlin.

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My new studio space at Art Avenue

Moving out of the ECU metals studio took a bit of a push but once I started packing my stuff I realized that I was very much ready for a new chapter in my life.

I'm so very excited about the possibilities at Art Avenue; currently we're awaiting a city grant to move forward with renovating the space for roughly 10 private studio spaces.   It's so necessary for a recent art graduate to have some kind of working space, which most of us have a hard time finding.  But with Art Avenue, there is so much potential.  Working with Jeremy Fineman, Claire Edwards, Andy Denton and Autumn Brown...it feels fresh and exciting!

And the Gallery space is huge, we have a great location and large windows to showcase handmade artistic work.  I'm praying to the art gods that we receive a blessing in the form of this grant!

Front Gallery

Side wall of gallery.  My pieces are still up!

BEFORE photo of initial set up of my studio (I get my own room!! for now)

AFTER my studio with all my junk!

Jeremy's lovely bowls...I need to get one eventually.

The ceramic side of the 'active' studio

The soldering and kiln area.

And in the most final and exciting news is that i'll be able to set up a casting studio!!! With the help of Autumn and my boss at the Jewelry Dr., I'll have the equipment and space to do it myself.  I love the process of casting, watch the metal melt and turn into something I created...it's powerful.

Stay tuned for more news about Art Avenue and thank you for reading!

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Inside Jim Cotter's studio

Isn't this a great video of Jim Cotter in his Colorado studio? Jim Cotter was a visiting artist almost two years ago at ECU and I missed his workshop....I could really kick myself! I'm hoping he'll come back one day...soon. For now I'll enjoy this video of all the amazing jewelry and art he's creating.

check it out...




Jim kinda reminds me of Bob Ebendorf, and ironically they happen to be good friends.


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