"Quince"

Its been a while since I picked up my brush and for no good reason except that I was emotionally spent with another part of my life. It felt good to lose myself once more in the canvas. This image
actually came from a friends Bed and Breakfast (see earlier post). While touring his beautiful Victorian home I spotted this row of quince on his kitchen sill. He quickly took the picture for me
and sent it for me to use. I'm happy with this piece although I know its not my strongest but it represents a coming home party in my head!!!

B and B Tour and Artisan Faire in Rome New York

What a great place. Can't wait to set up in this warm and cozy space. We're not usually interested in
doing faires but this year we've done both the South Trenton Falls and now this venue. I'm really excited to be a part of local activities and will post pictures of Fred's Italian Victorian B and B.
   Artisans include,  a weaver, sculptors, fiber artists, jewelers, potter, painters and much more.
Please come out and support a local business and in the process you may find the perfect place to celebrate someone's special day with a summer luncheon in the gardens or even a reception.  See you there!

Ock Hee Gallery Show

It's a lovely little gallery in Honeoye Falls, outside of Rochester, New York.
Ock Hee is a lovely woman with a very keen sense for beauty and spirit.
I met her through friends who live nearby and I knew this would be a gallery I could
call home for my work. I feel honored to have been selected for this show and can't
wait to see how she puts it all together.

New Sterling Silver Earrings

Grey Moonstone Earrings with hand stamped scallop design and applied pattern wires. Approx 1.5 " from top to bottom.

Rutilated Quartz and faceted Black Onyx. Smaller than the Grey Moonstone earrings. The squares are only 1/2 inch and the whole earrings measures only 1 inch long.

 

Rainbow Moonstone earrings with textured hand cut flower shape. These are smaller than the size of a dime.

Carnelian and Mexican Crazy Lace Agate Pendent

I found this Agate at the Gem Show this year in Orlando Florida and loved the colors in it.
If you look closely there's a little druzy in the center of it. Carnelian is becoming the new Onyx
in my list of favs. I've always liked the contrast of Black Onyx and Sterling. Carnelian, if its
a good quality stone, has a stunning deep dark orange color that looks great with silver. It all
came together one day in the studio when I was playing around with cabs and sketching. Here it
is. I especially like when my sketch book plans turn out so well.

Green Amethyst Earrings

Well, I've been playing with different stones as of late and found these beautiful little 6mm green
amethyst stones on Etsy from this shop: lilpengeeGems.
  Heidi has very good products and send your purchase quickly, I highly recommend her shop.

 

Silver Silver Silver

I have been setting stones lately but I still love playing with textures and applications with just my sterling. As of late, I've been reticulating silver and using it to overlap with. My love of funkiness creeps in when I'm in a playful mood in the studio so squiggles and spirals, stars and circles find their way to the surfaces as well. Here's what I mean:

Trenton Falls ARTS FESTIVAL www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I-ahJOKPBQ

Here is some of the work that I'll be exhibiting in the Gallery Barn this year.
I decided to show my "Encaustic" Paintings. Not only does the subject matter
of nature work for the show, but I would like to take this opportunity to introduce
this technique to those who would like to know about it.

Trenton Falls 2013 Arts Festival

Well, Fall is back again and with it comes the second annual local Arts Festival
which represents the wonderful local talents and home grown, home made products
from our beautiful upstate NYS area.
  Bruce and I will be participating again and I think we have found our one Crafts/Arts
Festival a year to call home. Since we have our own shop and representation in various
galleries, we don't travel with our work, but this venue is just too good to pass up and
I think I feel confident in saying for both of us that other than the Barnfest, which pulls
from many parts of our country, this little gem venue represents our local artisans,
artists, musicians, bakers, cooks, farms, etc.
HAVE A LOOK;

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I-ahJOKPBQ

Fundraiser for Nicole Canavan in Syracuse, New York

 

 My daughter Katie's boyfriend's sister, Nicole, has a rare disorder that is taking a serious tole on

her and her family. If you are reading this and can do anything to help and would like to contact me

please call or email and I will be happy to make it happen...315-826-7162 or Forest@ntcnet.com.

 

 

 

There will be a fundraiser held on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at the Tipp Hill American Legion, Syracuse, NY to raise funds for Nicole Canavan who suffers from a rare genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).

Description

Nicole is our neighbor, friend, daughter, sister, wife and mother. She has spent her life serving others and loving deeply. At 38 years old, she has endured 17 operations, has made countless trips to MD, sometimes weeks long and without her family, and has been disabled for the last five years, now nearly bedridden.

Nicole's two children, Casey and Haley, have also been diagnosed with EDS. Thanks to Nicole's background as a physical therapist, she has been instrumental in working with her wonderful surgeons and specialists making in-roads to new treatments for EDS and her unique variation of this disease, but much remains unanswered.

Nicole's spirit cannot be broken and she has remained a beautiful role model for her children, and for all of us. To know Nicole is to love her. Her husband, Erik, and her mother, Bonnie, have been with her every step of the way, taking turns traveling with her to MD or staying home with the kids, giving selflessly of themselves and their time.

Now it's time for the community to rally in support of Nicole and her family to help defray the ever-increasing medical bills. Nicole's home will also need to become handicapped accessible.

You can help in any number of ways:

1) Donate a raffle prize
2) Post flyers
3) Sell raffle tickets
4) Attend the fundraiser
5) Donate to Go Fund Me
6) Prayers for Nicole and her family

The fundraiser promises to be a great time, with a DJ and lots of prizes along with good food and good friends.

Thank you for your support, in any way you can.

Gifts from Lake Michigan

 A year ago, Bruce and I visited two beautiful friends living in Wisconsin. What a wonderful time we had and so much to do. Among the precious time we spent in galleries and shops and restaurants, we walked and explored the beaches near their home. Wow! Lake Michigan should have a new word to describe it. Lake doesn't do it! I thought I was looking out at the ocean.
  OK, before I go on and on about our fun times and totally out of control, I'll reign myself back in to the subject at hand. Lake Michigan's wonderful gifts...........stones! I got a bit carried away (much like I do in Italian delis and markets!)

 I started working at my bench as soon as we arrived home. Sooo many colors and forms. I'm posting some of the creations I came up with using them.


Any one reading this post or following Bruce and I on this blog can contact us about anything you see here. Our email: forest@ntcnet.com
our blog: foresthollow.blogspot.com
or my Etsy shop: Etsy.com/shop/foresthollow.
Thanks for looking! And of course we always enjoy reading your comments.

Clean Modern lines

 Size 11.5 Men's Ring. This design appeals to me because I enjoy a simple geometric design. You'd never know that by my home decor! I wish I could be less attached to things so that my environment would be less and not more but after 39 years together and two children there are too many memories trapped in "stuff"!

I used 18 gauge sheet to make the band and a heavier gauge triangular wire to solder across the opening.

This ring is very masculine and usually I don't gender my rings, even the large rings, but this ring just wants to be on a man's finger!

Hexagon Ring Shank? Really?

 OK, you'll have to excuse these rather mediocre photos. I was obviously behind the camera this time and its obvious that I'm not as good as Bruce. I took a chance with using the hexagon for a shank but I think its pretty cool! The best part is that its comfortable. The angled parts actually fall somewhere just under the finger, rather than between the fingers.

 The blue moonstone I used was a purchase from the gem show in Orlando, Florida. Its flash is great and the size is just under 3/4 of an inch long.

Porcelain and Celadon

 This piece is a 6 inch tall Vase. It's been hand carved with a flower Art Deco Design on both sides. Signed on bottom with "B. and C. Thomas"$40

 This is a Blue Celedon Vase made with porcelain. It is 5.5 inches tall and has been carved and stamped with an all over design by Cathy. Signed on the bottom with "B. and C. Thomas"$35

 Another porcelain and celedon Vase. I do like this glaze a lot and find that Cathy's carving and sculpting are enhanced by it. Its 6" tall. $45

This mug was actually decorated by myself!! I've been told it looks like dragon scales! $25

New pottery

I discovered this form is something I enjoy making and it seems to work very well with Cathy's love of Art Deco. This piece is made with porcelain clay and glazed with Amber Celedon. This
piece is 6 inches high. $40

I made this "jug" form from stoneware clay and I applied the design with white slip. It's 7 inches high and glazed with Amber
Celedon as well but you can see how the different clay body effects
the colors. $45

A trip to The Hedges

What a wonderful couple of days at this great Adirondack Lodge and Resort. The weather was
great for kayaking and the food and drinks were awesome. Best part was the friends and company we were with. Thanks Blanche and Tootie!

My Etsy Shop

Go to my Etsy Shop
Etsy.com/shop/foresthollow
to view and purchase my
original sterling jewelry

WOODLAND SERIES

I've been working on this "woodland series" for awhile now and I know I should be happy that
I keep selling from it, but the time its taking me to stock a good inventory seems to be endless!
Because you know I love to experiment with imagery and techniques I will continue to find
textures and forms to fit this theme. The reticulated rings are so much fun to do and I've been able to
hand cut from stock a group of different Adirondack birds. Some of what you see here have gone to
loving homes but others are still available.

Reticulated wide band

Reversible Pendent(single tree on reverse side)

Tufted Tit Mouse Bird Earrings

Winter Wren Bird Earrings

Raven against moon earrings

River stone and chainmaille bracelet

Picasso Jasper with tree Pendent

Picture Jasper and Sterling Pendent

Reticulated Branch ring

Cardinal Bird Earrings

Reticulated Medium Ring

Sterling trees with black onyx earrings

Small river stone (unchanged from the way I found them on the beach) post earrings

Sterling tree earrings

River Stone and sterling hoop earrings