Take TIME this season...

Take time this season, for a little breather...

Time does fly...

Every moment - is a moment we will never relive again - so make them count :)

I suppose if I think about that sentence above - that's exactly what I've been trying to do this year.  It seems more and more people become divided on the importance of the social and things on the internet - but I'm more about simply popping in and writing when I'm able to - and when I have something to share.

In late 3rd quarter of 2016, I started a Closed Group on Facebook called "Artisans Create Together" - it's about bringing creative people together.  Although it originally started out with a focus on Jewelry Designing and those that create Jewelry components for designing - it has slowly evolved into "more".  Not sure where it will all go to - but it's been such a lovely place for expressing and sharing opinions and creations when we have time.  One of the Group favorites is the monthly Inspirational Color Challenge - centered around photos from Pinterest that I create into a monthly theme/collage for our Members to be inspired and create from.  The photo here is December 2017 theme - and brings to my mind a peaceful and calm type of feeling - grounded in nature, and a way to celebrate the true spirit of the holidays and season.

If you'd like to join me there too...just click on the link:

ARTISANS CREATE TOGETHER

October 2017, I started a monthly "Inspiration Rejuvenation" post - that always has a message and assignment to help you balance and recenter things in your life.  Nothing heavy or things that require a text book lol - just a little common sense, and a reminder to breath and re-prioritize the things in your life.

This months Inspiration Rejuvenation is centered on TIME.

Time truly is precious - and it consists of little moments that you never get back

So my motto has, and always will be - make them count in the most positive and happy ways you can - with the people that mean the most to you.
Heart & Happiness in the mind and soul...

join me in the Artisans Create Together Group

 for a few more tips and fun exercises

Warmly, JLynn

 

What goes around - comes around, and comes back around lol!

Tribal Scrimshaw Woodburned ART Tiles

When I looked at my Blog - and saw my last post was June - I was like OOPs!  Let the ball drop on that - but fortunately it's a bouncy ball ;)

So the quick run-down...

Life is a rollercoaster - people and things change - we do Happy Dances and then are balling our eyes out - Fur Babies get sick - we get overwhelmed - someone left chewing gum in the pocket of their pants and it stuck to the inside of the dryer - are you in need of a vacation like I am - or maybe some devoted creative time with no interruptions?  Does that about sum it up for all of you?

Well - let's see...I don't like Rollercoasters (I did when I was younger) but not anymore.  I still love to do Happy Dances and still ball my eyes out for a variety of things.  Our little Maggie Moo (Dutch Bunny) is gravely ill - and we're not sure if she'll pull through or not - my son was the culprit of the gum episode (he's also going to be 28 this year lol).  AND time off for good behavior is coming in September for me (complete with creative time) :)

Which leads me to the creative new components for my Jewelry... and if you're part of any the Sales Groups on Facebook - you may catch one of my Showcases with my ART Tiles and other fun components for jewelry diy.  If not - join the JLynnJewels Circle (that's the Customer Group for Inspiration, Tips, Techniques and a quarterly Sale) and you'll always get a heads up before they happen.  So - here's the promised eye-candy and happenings from the Summer...

 

This was a snippet of some of the pieces that were sold in August - I've had a blast with doing some pre-orders for Fall ART Tiles - as well as creating a variety of Artisan Fused Glass (over 8 hours in the kiln to fuse and anneal) - if you paint...fusing is similar to painting - but just with little pieces of glass.  Next Showcase in the "Circle" will be in October (although I will have a 1-day Showcase in the Handmade Component Bazaar on 9/8 - and may do a Flash Sale in the JLynnJewelsCircle on the 15/16th) :)

 

These are the "Aged ART Tiles"

Snippets of my Watercolor Artwork, sealed on Antiqued and Crackled Brass

(general antiquing/crackling technique I was taught in the 90s)

  

Molten Metalwork

Shown in my Rustic Archaic Finish & Ombre Watercolor finish

(if you are familiar with a torch and like playing with fire in a controlled way...

there are so many different things you can create - these are copper & lead/nickel free solder melted to molten - then impressed and allowed to cool)

 

CraZy Color Dot ART Tiles

Wood-burned Hand-dyed and painted

with lots of tiny details

(doodling and relaxing by painting- life long thing) 

 

Tribal Scrimshaw Woodburned ART Tiles©

I've been woodburning since the 80s - but this

combined my love of painting with woodburning

in a very delicate and fine way.  

 

In the 80s...I actually loved to do wirework - so I brought back some of my 

favorite designs and components that coordinate with the ART Tiles

AND...more of my Artisan Fused Glass - this time petite Cabs

that I've paired up with distressed Brass Filigree pieces.

Well...creativity is part of life, and ever-evolving...

AND...Next on my list of to-do's is...

Revisiting my Polymer Clay days, Precious Metal Clays, and Enameling

  

It's funny but my husband is always like - OH so this is the new thing - what happened to the old thing (when discussing creative endeavors and mediums) - but then he adds - wait...the new thing, used to be an old thing, wasn't it??  And I'm like - it is the "new thing" now, but it's still connected to the old thing lol!  Of course I mean, what comes around - goes around - and then comes back around again (kind of like all the Musicians and Bands, that say, they are retiring...only to come back for a "come-back" tour) ;)

The beauty for me with creativity is that they REALLY are, all connected - through colors and expressing oneself through a variety of "Art" forms.  Of course I do admit to feeling a little like a beautifully aged relic, when considering how many things I've "retired" myself - only to bring them out to play again, while making the old - new but with a little contemporary twist!

With that my friends - I leave you - as my Creative Muse is calling me...until the next time - have a wonderful upcoming Holiday weekend and stay safe!

Warmly, J-Lynn

Summertime already??

Dance of the Mermaids

Summertime brings to mind the Beach, Ocean and yes...Mermaids.  There is something symbolic about a Mermaid to me - it's not about the legends, the stories, or the history of Mermaids.  For me - it's about the beauty, the flow, the free spirit, the gentleness, and caring heart.  Yes - I tend to see the positives in everything lol :)

My mind, truly has a mind of it's own if that's possible lol - and this higher mind has no problem taking over all other thoughts, in order to have me doing all sorts of crazy, artistic things lol.  The funny thing with my artwork, is that I never know when an idea for new artwork will hit me.  It's what I call being an Artist, that is blessed to have this thing called, "Squirrel Syndrome" - and although to some, it may seem like I'm all over the place - the creative ideas always seem to be connected in some way - and typically after a merry, little ride - we all return to the center with a new "Reveal" - in the case of the Mermaids it all started with a Heart doodle sketch.  Of course I then saw a Mermaid photo and I looked at my sketch and realized the heart would fit in the Mermaid's tail.  This of course had me drawing a lot of hearts and tails (sharing a few scratch ideas here)...which then evolved into a quick Watercolor playtime with various brush strokes with spritz's of water - which then had me taking some photos of what I did, and sitting down with my laptop for several days - tweaking my Art in order to do digital print-outs for the ART Tiles.   A labor of love - but I love how they turned out - between the heavier sketching to the lighter and flowing, watercolor version.  It's definitely a plethora of tails, colors, fins, and scales - in a variety of mystical and ocean inspired color combinations.

 

When I was younger, I tried to "control" this tendency to float off into my creative world...I was hard on myself, labeling myself a "failure" when at the end of the day, I only had a sketch or something I created in one hand - and my list of to-do's, unfinished in the other.  Those are what I call the "Creative Crusher" moments...and because of that - many dreams, ideas, and creative beginnings were put on hold, and placed in an Artist portfolio for MANY years.  There of course is a better way - but back then I didn't know what it was - so naturally there were a lot of internal battles and self talks that seemed to center around confusion and disappointment - because putting everything away - was like kicking a portion of myself out of my own life.

But you know what??  Over the years, I've learned that this is not something that needs to be controlled.  It's something that needs to have freedom.  It's something equivalent to watching the wild horses...where you can feel their free spirit as they roam and explore. 

 Wild Horses in Corolla, NC

 And yes...this photo has been on my horizon for a new series - 

but as creative ideas go - it's still simmering :)

You can see and feel the mind working - the wheels turning - so much, that sometimes it's hard to keep up with my notes and get things accomplished.  Do you remember me mentioning a 'better way' in relation to the reality of life and your creative life?  That better way, is simply about letting the "perfectionist" in you, have a day or two off.  Life is not perfect, and you do not have to be perfect.  So if you're feeling a little on edge, schedule the reality life to-do's for a certain 1-3 hour stretch - then giver yourself permission to think like a Wild Horse.  You may become so good at the new balancing thing - that your two sides start becoming friends and really appreciate each other.

The lesson in all of this?  You live, learn, and acknowledge that you are always a work-in-progress.  The rewards for creating a better balance between real life, enjoying life, and the creative life?  Pride in yourself for challenging yourself to do it in the first place...plus there are surprises and rewards in all three - those self pats on the shoulder for a job well done (even if it's getting three loads of laundry done)...those happy dance times when you take time off to go enjoy the sunshine...and those crystal clear moments of clarity and appreciation, when you see the journey and all the little stops.  From something that caught your attention, to the admiration, to the spark of and idea, to bringing that idea to life - to the finished piece in the end.  All things to celebrate - not because they are finished but because they are part of your personal story.  

Well that's all for now...I'm off to balance some of my own to-do's and finish up more of the Custom Mermaid ART Tile orders.  Speaking of which - since I sold out of the Mermaid Dance Tiles during the shows over the Memorial Day weekend - I am working on replenishing for the Etsy store - but no worries, the Dance continues - and you might be pleasantly surprised with the next set of dance numbers lol - so keep your eye on my Groups - JLynnJewelsCircle and ArtisansCreateTogether for more inspirational thoughts and creations!  Here's a little hint for my upcoming show on June 20th - think colorful beach cottages...when you think of little cut-out house ART Tiles ;)

Have a wonderful week everyone - don't miss the Artisan Marketplace in the Artisans Create Together Group (week long sales event for all of our Members) and a Photography Workshop in my other Group - JLynnJewelsCircle on Friday!

~JLynn

Happy Spring!

A view looking out my Studio window this morning...

Such gorgeous blue skies!

Although it's still crisp and cold here in Maryland (we started out in the mid 30s...and are slowly warming up to the upper 40s hopefully), there is definitely a promise of Spring in the air, and I'm looking forward to those first green tree leaf buds.

But since we don't have those yet - I'm sending out a 

HAPPY SPRING

with some of my floral photography :)

 SPRING of course, also signifies the changing of quarters...

Tax-Time (if you weren't one of the ones, to file early)...

and a time to Rejuvenate & Re-Energize...

Typically for we creative souls, first quarter allows us time to breath, dream up new creative projects, learn a new technique or skill, and get yourself organized for another year in both the creative and business thought realm.  For me...it was wanting to squeeze in all of the above...but working within the reality of doing Winter online Shows - which left my head spinning, and my Studio in shambles, from all the non-stop orders.  A very good thing - because I would much rather be busy then not...BUT...it also left me with the reality, that improvements need to be made in my scheduling, to include down time for R&R and Creativity!

 Which leads me to sharing a little "aha" inspirational moment!

In early March, my husband and I got caught in a bad storm...heavy winds, rain, and lots of lightning (yes we got soaked lol).  But on the way home, as the storm stopped - we saw the beginning of beautiful Rainbow in front of us - which quickly grew to a Double Rainbow.

 

And as the clouds began to break-up, and the rain stopped...

The colors became more vibrant...and the 2nd rainbow became more visible.  It was like our own personal rainbow lol :) 

Signs... 

Double Rainbows mean magic is on the way...

or maybe it's a reminder that the Universe is with you

and it is telling you, to trust your vibes :)

For me - it was a sign that I am on the right path for 

a number of things this year...

Personal & Creative Time with Business Time balancing

along with...

Making time to inspire and encourage others through my two Facebook Groups:

Artisans Create Together

and

JLynnJewelsCircle

One through Networking, and Inspirational/Educational Challenges

with Organizational & Business Building Thoughts

and the other through

My own Artwork, Components, Jewelry, and other Creative projects

Hope you can join me in both Groups this month...

Here's what's happening!

March Challenges in Artisans Create Together Group...

Green and Peach/Aqua Color Inspiration Challenge

and the NEW C5 Challenge which will be alternating with our Component Give-Away every month and will feature different ways to get inspired to create!

 If you'd like to join us in the Challenges (prizes & awards every month) and give your personal & creative Growth a fresh perspective and boost...

and

you would like additional opportunities to be creative in my private Group

(Tutorials, Give-Aways, Freebies, and 1st peeks at new Tiles)

Join these two Closed Groups (links above)

 In the JLynnJewels Circle, over our Customer Appreciation Sale over the weekend, I debuted a few new ART Tiles series...

Sea Turtles, Color Splash, and Marrakesh Pendants!

and Thursday/Friday - I'll be debuting the new

Mystic Magical Series and hopefully

some new Ombre Watercolor Earring pairs!

Well - that's all for now...

Have fun and be creative this week!

JLynn :)

It's a colorful New Year!

Molten Metalwork Impressions ~ Ombre Watercolor Finish

JLynnJewels ©

2016 was another year under the belt...

It was creatively busy...

It had some tough times, but equally good times...

But most importantly - it was a year where I tried very hard to regain my creative balance between my Family, Home, and Business.  I did just that :) And since I missed posting in December - I trust everyone had a lovely Holiday and great start to the New Year as well!  

2016 Highlights?
Well, if I had to give the most unusual highlight for the year...
It would be that I started two new Facebook Groups in 3rd Quarter!

Artisans Create Together

A fun place where I do Featured Artisan Spotlights on fellow Artisans and do a variety of creative events, Group Shares, Special Interest Articles, and Tutorials

900+ plus and growing :) 

and

JLynnJewelsCircle

A creative group for inspiration, special sale events for Jewelry/Tiles/Metalwork

and other Tips/Techniques and Tutorials

 

THIS YEAR...2017...

Promises to be a very colorful year!

It's a year of new and exciting challenges with my Business - and I'm hoping to improve my day to day schedule, in order to have consistent time for designing Jewelry again...while having dedicated time to create ART Tiles & Molten Metalwork pieces, along with time to paint, and all the other creative mediums I've been missing (Lampwork, PMC, PMC3, Woodburning, Enamel and more).  Wish me Luck!

 Continuing Education wise...

Tomorrow - January 30, 2017...

I begin two Courses (one for Art and one for the Jewelry Business)

So I'm looking forward to learning, and regaining the clarity, purpose, and meaning behind all that I create and do.

And lastly...

My Etsy store is in a bit of a transition...so here's the scoop:

From now until the end of February, it's a Celebration of Jewelry that will be retired to make room for the new Line & Collection debuting in March!

So...Jewelry is all 55% off with coupon code TAKE55

If you're interested in my ART Tiles and Molten Metalwork pieces shown above, they will be available on Facebook.  Next Sale is February 1-3 in the JLynnJewelsCircle Group

I'll be back...with progress reports and sharing of new creative projects!

JLynn