I'm pleased to annouce..........Week 11 of YOJ!!!!

I'm please to announce starting April 2th my participation in the creativity experiment called "Year of Jewelry"!! (website: http://www.studioheath.com/yojhome.htm , be sure to read the history, and if you want to see some amazing jewelry, as well as artistic growth, be sure to look at the pictures) Originally started in 2005, I learned of this in 2006, and I wanted to participate.. but I was afraid. Part of the experience is to post something every week, without fail. That seems a huge commitment to me, especially since I can't keep my website updated in a timely fashion!!! But I realized I was most afraid of exposing my own insecurities as an artist.. the little monster that lives inside of all of us, telling us we can't do this, or that, or we are worthless. So last year, for New Years, I made several resolutions that involved my art and my personal growth. One of them is to join a project like YOJ or better yet YOJ itself. Since YOJ is primarily focused on wire work, I really wanted to do it. It seems my jewelry is slanting more in that direction than any other. Fortunately YOJ set up in quarters now - though I fully plan to do this the rest of the year - because I missed the 1st quarter sign up. I actually put signing up in my planner!!!! Started to check the website in early March, and finally it opened up this week!! woo hoo!!!

I'm soo excited, that I"m going to follow along by myself for the last 2 weeks of 1st quarter. What that in mind, here is Week's 11's project: "Frosty Breeze"
This is a broach, it's only the 2nd broach or pin I've made to date. I'm really pleased how nice the back looks .. most of my wraps look awful in the back. At least I'm neat on this one! I made it intending it to be worn as shown, ie horizontally. However my hubby thinks it looks kewl with the spirals hanging down. The cab is probably agate, I've had it for awhile, and it's unlabeled. It's a nice snowy white with just a little inclusion patterning.. I thought it had that nice frosted look to it. the spirals are the breezy part of course. I guess I like it horizontally because when I first diagrammed it, I was thinking of old man winter blowing up a storm with his breath... think old cartoons.
Week 12 the theme ( which are only suggestions but I'm going to try to follow them.. it makes the challenge each week that much more challenging) is floating dandelion. I've already got a few ideas on that one!! This is going to be such a good year, I can just feel it!! I feel like I'm making so many positive changes, some of them baby steps, but all pointing me in the correct direction. I"m sure I'll find a few side streets along the way, but YOJ is about the journey after all, not where you start or where you end.