ONE MORE TIME ...

I DID SAY I WASN'T GOING TO BE CREATING JEWELRY
ANYMORE BUT ...

CHOCOLATE HEAVEN

I dragged my hubby down to our storage unit to help me bring all my beads and tools back home.  I will be 'Artist of the Month' in July for Angel Gallery in Coeur d'Alene and I decided I want to have some pieces for that show.  So. here. I . am.   This is a front closing Piece.  I have a Turquoise Necklace, in this style, that was a gift to me many years ago.  I love it and always receive compliments on it.  I've since done several in this style (in different bead combinations) over the years and I decided for this show to do several more in this style.  Maybe I'll do them all in this style.  That could be a fun challenge ...  (this style really does look nice on most anyone) 

  A close-up of the Toggle/Focal

More information on this Piece can be found HERE

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CLOUDS OF THE DAY ...

I see a Turtle!  He's letting out a Turtle roar!   (Do they roar?!)

This is another of the beautiful clouds from my trip up to Entree Gallery last week.  My friend said she is glad to find someone else to be in the 'Sisterhood of Clouds'.  :)

TRY TO BE LIKE THE TURTLE ~ AT EASE IN YOUR OWN SHELL.

~ Bill Copeland

Charleen

FEEL THE HEAT ....

'FEEL THE HEAT.  DANCE OF THE SERENGETI.'

I actually did the background on this Piece quite a while ago.  I had an idea for a collage but when I drew it out on the background (chalk) I was't enamored.  I put the background aside and recently brought it back out again.  What I saw this time was totally different.  The background was done with a brayer; the tree ... a brush and a sponge; and the sun is actually collage.  A lot of different elements coming together to create simplicity.  :)

To view this and more of my work Please Click HERE

I HAVE JUST THREE THINGS TO TEACH:  SIMPLICITY, PATIENCE, COMPASSION.  THESE THREE ARE YOUR GREATEST TREASURES.

           ~  Lao Tzu

Have a great Day!

Charleen

'OH . . . HAPPY DAY !'

     

'Oh . . . Happy Day !'                                'To Market we go . . .'   

Mixed Media Collage on Wood Panel

These are two new pieces which just headed north to Entree Gallery in Nordman, Idaho.  A little different size for me ~ 6 x 12"  I enjoyed this format so have another set this size started.  I think I'll call this series 'The Backside of Life!'  :)

I have a Gallery Show opening on July 11th at Angel Gallery in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho so I am busy trying to get work done for that.  Below are some new Necklace Designs I've recently finished for the Show.  They will be accessible through my Website until about July 7th.  After that they will have to be purchased through the Gallery.  

    

Cherry Blossom Moon

More information on this Piece is available HERE

Royal Princess

More information on this Piece is available HERE

(A full size view of this is shown on my Website ~ just scroll down a bit when you get there)

Jwahir  (Golden Woman)

This Piece is not on my Website yet.  (It should be on by this evening)

To go to my Website Please Click HERE

I am now back in Idaho full time.   Missing my Friends in Wenatchee but it's great to be closer again to Friends and Family here.   And, I don't miss that 4.5 hour drive each way if I wanted to come over here!   I think of the days when I traveled and did Art Shows around the country and didn't think anything of driving 8~10 hours in a day to get to my destination.   I always enjoyed the traveling to the Shows ~ it was the drive back home after the Shows that wasn't as much fun!  By then, you are tired and just want to be home.  :)

Charleen

SOMETIMES WISDOM PASSES SILENTLY ...

Did you ever think later 'Why didn't I understand that at the time?'  Because, sometimes that little bit of Wisdom passes right by us without us even realizing it until later.  At least I know that has happened to me . . . Sometimes the lessons take a little time to arrive!  These figures are part of my WiseWalker series which is all about age and wisdom.

The WiseWalkers:  Sometimes Wisdom Passes Silently

18 x 24" Mixed Media on Wood 

For more information Please Click HERE

Two new Necklaces recently finished are below . . .

Black Magic Woman

More information can be found here on my Website

The Cats Meow

More information on this Piece can be found Here

If you remember, the last Blog I mentioned a great little Restaurant and Wine Bar in Wallace called the Fainting Goat (scroll down to read about it) and I included some photos.  I said the only one I didn't get was the Bathroom.  Well, I've been back since and did get a photo of the sink I mentioned ~ the one made out of an old wine barrel.  Photo is below.  :)

I decided I was going to start a Blog about our new adventure of building our home in Mullan.  I have it set up and titled but nothing posted yet.  I get a lot of questions about 'how's it going?'  so I thought this would be a good way to answer the question and at the same time keep a chronology about the ins and outs, the ups and downs, and what I sense is going to be a comedy of errors!  So, when I get it together I'll post a link on here and if you are interested you can Click on over.  :)

til next time . . .

Charleen

I'VE BEEN BUSY ON THE JEWELRY SIDE OF MY STUDIO . . .

Entree Gallery up in Nordman, Idaho opens for the Season this weekend.  As I think I mentioned last time they will be carrying my work again this year. :)  I brought all my Paintings up about 2 weeks ago but didn't realize they also wanted to carry my Jewelry  : /  so I've been busy working on that since I got back from our Washington 'home' (the RV :) on Monday.  I was able to get the Jewelry mailed off yesterday afternoon so it should arrive today, in time for the opening in 2 days.  I had several new Pieces done for my Show in Wenatchee (which wound up being cancelled at the last minute) but needed more.  Also, some Pieces needed to be different for Entree.  I don't know whether I over think things too much (well, actually, I know I do ~ really bad habit most of the time!) but depending on how the Jewelry is going to be displayed, makes a difference on what I like to send.  I feel Presentation really makes a difference in the sale of the work.  Some pieces just really need that Black Velvet Bust (like I use in most of my photos) to make the work stand out and some Pieces are fine and look great draped across a piece of Driftwood or a Glass Block.  I had too many of one kind . . .  :)  

Here are some of the new Pieces I did for Entree Gallery.  I'll put the link to each ones spot on my Website below it if you would like further information.  

                     Shima  (True Intentions)                                                 Adisa

                    Shima:  http://charleenmartinfineart.com/workszoom/1460962 

                    Adisa:   http://charleenmartinfineart.com/workszoom/1462136

       

                         The Angels Trumpet   (Sold!)                    Just Call me Fun!

            Just Call me Fun!:  http://charleenmartinfineart.com/workszoom/1455319

There are several more which should make it to my Website over the next few days.

On the highway between Wallace and Mullan, Idaho there is a bright Yellow Fountain sitting all by itself in seemingly the middle of nowhere.  It was designed and built out of old Mining equipment by a gentleman whose name was Elmer Almquist.  It is therefore called 'Elmers Fountain'  :) The Fountain runs continuously all year round ~ even in the middle of Winter when it turns itself into the most marvelous ice Sculpture.  We seem to be always hurrying past so unfortunately I didn't think to stop and take any photographs until most of the ice was gone.  Usually it's frozen all the way to the top and you don't see any of the Fountain itself, just this magnificent ice creature standing by the side of the road.  (You'll have to use your imagination!) Below is one of the photos I took about 3 weeks ago.  The History of it is somewhat interesting so if you'd like to read more about it you can click on the link HERE.

Elmers Fountain

That's it for my Geography/History lesson for today.  Maybe it will inspire you to build your own Fountain or . . . then again, maybe not!  :)

Charleen

SPRING IS WHERE EXACTLY . . . ?

I don't know how it is where you are, but I woke up to snow this morning.  Not much, but enough that the grass was white and the puddles from the rain yesterday were covered with ice.  Not what you would expect from the 3rd week in April.  Of course, I am back in Northern Idaho  (this week!) so it is a little cooler here than over in Wenatchee where my husband is enjoying warmer temperatures and a little more sun.  

It has been a crazy month to say the least.  Last I wrote we had (unexpectedly) sold the house.  I know, you put your house on the market  ~ isn't that what you want to happen?!  But we just thought for sure it would take a lot longer than it did.  Wrong.  But we did manage to find a 'little' apartment in Wallace, Idaho, which is not too far from our property.  By little I mean that, besides the apartment, we have 2 more storage units filled to the brim with most of our furniture and belongings.  The apartment is comfy, and I think you could even say 'cozy'.  But, this at least gave me a place to set up my studio.  :)  So, for now, we are both taking turns commuting back and forth between Wallace and Wenatchee (the W's).  This is my week in Wallace.  Next week I'll be in Wenatchee for a small show I have opening on Friday, May 2nd showcasing my Jewelry.  

   

Wallace is a place of Beautiful old Doors with lots of leaded Glass  . . .

and also just 'old doors'  :)

            A little bit of trivia . . . Wallace is where the movie 'Dante's Peak' (with Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton) was filmed.

In between the packing, moving, partially unpacking, and setting up of my Studio, we also had to go back over to Wenatchee and dismantle my Studio.Gallery in Cashmere.  I hated to have to do that.  I wasn't there that long, but I did make some nice Friends while there.  Of course, how do you not make friends when the Businesses all around you are hosting Wine Tastings all day long!  

Once I got my Studio set up I started working on pieces for Entree Gallery in Nordman, Idaho.  They will be opening for the Season on Mothers Day weekend and my work is due up there this Friday.  On Saturday I will start working on some new Jewelry pieces for my Show.  I don't have any Jewelry to show on this Blog but should have some new pieces by the beginning of the week.

This is one of the new pieces that will be heading to Entree Gallery . . .

Sharing the Bench

14 x 14 Mixed Media Collage on Cradled Wood Panel

Sides are finished and comes ready to hang.

For more information on this piece Please Click Here

I think the Gallery situation in Wallace is somewhat . . . how can I best describe it  . . . 'creative?'  :)

  Happy April!