JSO Classes, Demonstrations, and Trunk Shows...Coming Soon to a Gallery or Boutique Near You

My classes, demonstrations, and trunk shows will be be coming soon to a gallery or boutique near you.  In North Carolina plans are in the works for appearances in Sanford, Southern Pines, Asheboro, Apex, Carolina Beach, and Beaufort; and I'm hopeful that other locations will be added to this list too. 

I recently taught two Hand Stamped Solid Copper Cuff Bracelet Classes
at Carolina Artists' Colony in Sanford, NC, and I enjoyed
every minute with my students there.





I also spent a delightful Saturday afternoon at Just Be last weekend
for a trunk show and demonstration.  The store is absolutely amazing,
and it's one of my favorites for finding unique gifts.
Sarah Margaret and her staff make everyone who enters feel right
at home, and it's reflected in their customers' love
of their shopping experiences there.
(You'll find more photos of Just Be and the event here.)



There's so much fun in-store in 2013.  Watch for six different jewelry classes, an art marketing class, trunk shows that will introduce you to my latest-fresh-from-the-studio-creations, and demonstrations that will give you a glimpse into the tools and techniques that I use on a daily basis. 

 

I'll provide you with more specific details as soon as they're finalized, and I'm looking forward to seeing you soon.



Where In The World Are Jean Skipper Originals? Galleries and Boutiques

What a wonderful year it's been so far!  One of my top priorities in 2013 will be to build and strengthen my relationships with the galleries and boutiques that represent my work.  Watch for more frequent deliveries of my latest creations and also the addition of trunk shows, demonstrations, and classes at many of these venues. 

Right now, you'll find my work at the galleries and boutiques that follow:

• Aria - Apex, NC*
• Artestry Hideaway - Beaufort, NC*
• Artful Living Group - Carolina Beach, NC
• Blue Pelican Gallery - Hatteras, NC **
• Books to Be Red - Ocracoke
• Carolina Artists Colony - Sanford, NC
• Circa - Asheboro, NC
• Just Be - Greensboro, NC
• NOFO@The Pig - Raleigh, NC*
• Painted Mermaid - Southport, NC
• Pea Island Art Gallery - Salvo, NC
• Plum Crazy Boutique - Duck, NC
• River to Sea Gallery - Wilmington, NC
• SaxArt Gallery - Saxapahaw, NC*
• Seagreen Gallery - Nagshead, NC
• Swank - Southern Pines, NC

If you're in the neighborhood, please visit these amazing independent local businesses.  (I promise that you'll be glad that you did!)  Behind them you'll find owners and employees who are witty, warm, and wonderful.  And in addition to my work, you'll also find many other unexpected delights...North Carolina Artwork, a fresh brewed cup of coffee or tea, brunch that's cooked to perfection, "meet-the-artist"opportunities, books aplenty, custom framing, yarn, and craft supplies just to name a few.

If you have questions about a particular shop, or my teaching and trunk show schedule, please visit these websites or contact me anytime.  I'm looking forward to seeing you in 2013! 

*   Recent additions to the galleries and boutiques that represent my work.
** Brand new to me!  My first delivery will take place in March 2013.

Georgia On My Mind

I continue to "enjoy the journey" to and from my shows, and last week's was an especially memorable one. My participation in The Telfair Art Museum Show provided me with the impetus for my first visit to Savannah.

My adventure is probably best told in a series of photos. While they won't capture everything, hopefully they'll provide you with a glimpse of the beauty that surrounded me and the eclectic experience that I had during my time there. You'll also find a few more photos from the road on my Facebook Page.

In addition to these photos, my favorite memories are definitely of the people I met along the way. My customers who shared their stories, their memories, and their generous spirits...the girl scouts who performed in my booth a song that they wrote about Spanish Moss...the talented artists...the volunteers and show organizers who epitomized the legendary hospitality of Savannah...the police officers who guarded us and our creations around the clock during our visit...and "Christine Sullivan" who kept me company as I rolled up my little corner of the street.

It was a memorable trip all around, and I'm already looking forward to a return visit.

Recapturing My Life and My Free Time Since Artist Alley

Since closing Artist Alley at the end of August, friends have been asking, "What have you been doing with all of your free time?!?!?" To be honest, I haven't had that much of it yet. As someone who genuinely likes to be busy, this is a good thing, indeed!

In the past few months, I've been cleaning and organizing my home, my studio, and my storage space. This is a work in process, and I expect that it will continue for quite some time. I have so many treasures and so many great ideas dancing in my head. Now I'm working to ensure that my digs are conducive to fully exploring each and every one of them.

I've spent time with family and friends. For me right now, this translates into more time at home with the ones I love. I savored an evening with friends and a First Friday Opening in Southern Pines...as a guest! Ken and I traveled to Greenville, NC for a weekend wedding, and we dilly-dallied through The State Fair and Vollis Simpson's whirligig farm along the way. I enjoyed a lively meeting with The Carolina Mixed Media Art Guild, a gallery-hopping day trip with mixed media artist Amy Smith and her kiddos, and a play date in the envy-inducing studio of of the talented Jeanne Rhea. (I've been posting photos of all of these adventures on my Facebook Page, and I hope to share more details here soon too.)

I've also been creating like a madwoman; I've been volunteering two days each month at Artist Gallery of Southern Pines; and I've joined The Carolina Artists' Colony in Sanford. And in the midst of all of this, I'm working to increase the inventory of my creations at the galleries who represent my work. This task often fell to the bottom of my to-do list during my days at Artist Alley, and I'm making slow and steady progress toward rectifying the situation. I'm ever so grateful for the nurturing women who own these galleries. They have been oh so patient with me, and my future blog posts will provide more details about each and every one of their creative spaces and the manner in which they support their fellow artists.

In the past month, I've been up and down the road bound for shows in Norcross, Georgia; Holden Beach; North Carolina; and Atlanta; Georgia. This weekend brings a trip to Savannah for a show at Telfair Art Museum, and I'm so looking forward to it! Each show has been an absolute treat, and in Holden Beach I had the privilege of spending time in the company of one of my favorite artists, Mary Neligan and her family. Mary and her husband Richard create the funky fish that adorn the walls of my home, and her family welcomed me into their home with open arms.

(This photos shows Mary's first-ever funky fish

as it's displayed outside of her sister's front door.)

During this time, I'm also rediscovering something that's been missing in my life...moments of solitude, grace, and gratitude. I'm listening to music again, and I've caught myself singing along. I'm pausing to be in the moment, and I'm taking photos along the way. I've shed a few tears at the sheer beauty that surrounds me, and I've found myself smiling for no reason at all. Dare I say it? Amidst the chaos, a bit of peace is creeping back into my life, and I'm ever so grateful for it.

It's a lovely way to spend my free time.