Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Holiday Sale: 20% off plus free shipping on AnnaKayCreations Jewelry 11/24-11/30





Take advantage of 20% off plus free shipping on all Anna Kay Creations Jewelry at Storenvy from Thanksgiving Day, Nov 24th until Nov 30th, 2011.  Free shipping will automatically be applied at checkout. Use coupon code HOLIDAYSALE to receive the 20% discount.


Wishing you a Happy and safe holiday weekend!



Saturday, November 19, 2011

New! Cream Ivory Fabric Flower Vintage Necklace, Bridesmaids Necklace

 
Handmade by AnnakayCreations.
This beautiful necklace features a handmade cream/ivory fabric flower with a decorative crystal bead glued to the center of the flower.  

The flower is attached to 10 (12mm) hand linked glass pearls on antique brass wire.

The end pearls are capped with antique brass flower bead caps, finished with a antique brass chain, and a lobster clasp.

Necklace is approx 18 inches and flower is approx 3 inches.



Thursday, November 17, 2011

New! Deep Red Flower Rose Vintage Necklace, Bridesmaids Necklace



Handmade by AnnaKayCreations.
This romantic vintage style necklace features a deep red fabric flower handmade with 100% cotton with a decorative crystal bead glued to the center of the flower. 

The fabric flower is attached to 10 (10mm) hand linked glass pearls. 

End glass pearls are capped with antiqued brass flower bead caps and finished with antique brass chain and lobster clasp.

The necklace is approx 18 inches. Fabric flower is approx 3 inches. Other colors and custom orders available, please do not hesitate to contact me for more information.




Tuesday, November 08, 2011

Sneak peak at Anna Kay Creations new Jewelry!


I wanted to share a sneak peak of what I have been working on. I don't have a name for this beautiful necklace yet, ideas anyone?? Once I get that part figured out, I will be adding it to my new shop here.
 
Ever since I figured out how to make fabric flowers, I have not stopped making them, so you will be seeing more of them in my jewelry designs. (I absolutely love flowers).
 
Unfortunately, this picture is not all that great, because I took it at night and could not wait to share it with you!! Hope you like :-)
 
 
This and more coming soon at http://www.annakaycreations.storenvy.com


Are you using Pinterest?

Pinterest is a virtual board that allows you to share all the beautiful things around the web. You can use it for gift ideas, planning, making a wish list, inspiration and pretty much anything. If you have not joined it yet, you must check it out.


I joined Pinterest a few months back and have been using it to save pretty pictures of fashion, jewelry, home decor, words of inspiration and the like.  I absolutely LOVE it! I have to warn you though, it can be addictive. ;)

Below is a sample screen shot of my pin boards. If you would like to see more, you can follow me here.

Source
If you follow me, let me know and I will do the same. Happy pinning!



Friday, November 04, 2011

Featured Artisan: Kelly Lowe Glass

Hello! Today's featured Artisan is Kelly of Kelly Lowe Glass.

First off, tell us a little about yourself!
 
Well, my name is Kelly Lowe, and I’m a full time professional glassblower out of my single artist studio, which I’ve imaginatively named “Kelly Lowe Glass”. I know, I know, I could’ve went for something a little more esoteric or interesting, but I thought this name would very simply describe what I do… and if you’re wondering how THAT panned out, well, you can talk to my disappointed would-be customers over the years who have phoned to see if I can fix their windshield. I guess if I were writing a book on business, I could probably use that as an anecdote or something on “communicating effectively”, but I’m still happy with the name since it’s mine... it’s my business, and I’m proud of it.

I’m primarily a local artist, working for businesses and individuals around Hamilton, Ontario, making awards, fine art, ornaments and pretty much anything else, it’s possible to make by slogging hot molten glass around my workshop. I don’t use molds, so everything is fully handmade – usually blown or sculpted – which is important to me, and to my customers. 

There’s a certain special feeling I think, buying from an artisan who is either handmade or local, in that you know your purchase keeps a unique spark alive in the world rather than everything being generic and mass produced. I’m very grateful to my customers for keeping my spark alive, since I get to do what I love full time, but I’m also grateful to anyone who chooses to buy non-generic.
 
Oh yeah, I’m also in my early thirties, have black hair and my favorite color is blue. I play way too much Plants vs. Zombies, am a lifelong vegetarian, and a lackluster dancer at best.

How did you start creating your artwork, and how long have you been doing it? 
I started by going to school for it. Yeah, there was a glassblowing program – I remember meeting other students in the cafeteria and them laughing and saying stuff like: “yeah right, and I’m in the basket weaving program” before they realized I was serious. It was a great time, and I learned a lot. So that was three years, after which I apprenticed under/assisted some very talented artists throughout the Southern Ontario region. 

Basically, anyone who would let me work around glass and who I could learn from while earning a living, I was there. Finally, I had the opportunity to strike out for myself, which I did – excited yet terrified, I’ll confess. There’s no safety net under artists if we fall, and I’d put all my eggs in this basket – and was amazed when things went really well, and continues to do so. We’re all our own harshest critic, I know, and on bad days I’m still confused as to how this has all worked out. But I’m also confident in my work: I believe that if I give it my all, the customer is going to be very happy with the result. I think we have to think that way, as artists, or we won’t last very long before doubt drags us down.
For the second part of the question: I’ve been a full time glassblower for 13 years, including my time at school. 

Where do you get your inspiration from?
I know it’ll probably sound trite to say “everywhere”, but it’s the truth. I like to hike in the woods around Hamilton, and nothing is a greater inspiration than nature. 
My family, for sure: they all see the world so differently that talking to them I’m constantly having to tie my mind in knots, in a good way, realizing that: “oh, that’s a different viewpoint… and totally valid.” They’re unique, strong people, who leave such a mark on me that I can’t help but bring that influence to my art. My boyfriend, who is a photographer, makes me want to try to see the world differently: we’ll be somewhere and out will come his camera and he’ll take a shot – and I won’t have a clue what he saw until I see the picture on his screen, and even then I often scratch my head and wonder if we were in the same place. Actually let me just say “people” influence me. How can they not? They’re the most impactful things we encounter in our day to day lives, and they each leave such a mark.

But inspiration can also come from negative places too, of course. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a suffering artist by any means – I’m quite happy, honestly. But some of my work was my way of dealing with something negative in my life. My Kritters (http://www.kellyloweglass.com/Glass/Kritters/) for example were my own response to something really hurtful that happened to me. 

Well, Porkutort was, the rest have been pure joy to make since they make me laugh so hard. Today Porkutort is nothing but a positive thing as well, and that’s the great thing about focusing negatives into your art: what you make will eventually seem so much more important than whatever negative is happening to you right then. Troubles have a way of passing, work you’re happy with and proud of stays with you.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
  Haha... is there any more space? I think I’ll just finish this off with a thank you to Anna for featuring me. If there’s one way independent artists are going to continue making our work available to the world, it’s going to be through exposure and the support of each other. Thank you, and good luck with your jewelry!
 
Extras:
 
Kelly Lowe Glass Website/Online Portfolio: http://www.kellyloweglass.com
 
 
 


Thank for the lovely interview Kelly!




 

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