So Me!

I am absolutely thrilled to announce that "So Me - Artisan Wares and Jewelry Studio" in Glenshaw, PA, will now be representing my work!  This is my first gallery relationship in the Pittsburgh Area, and I couldn't possibly be more excited. 

During my visit at So Me yesterday, I *meant* to take oodles of photos to share with you.  In fact, I even spoke this intention aloud. 

And then....... I lost myself in the variety of handcrafted goodness that fills this gem of a store. 

And then...... I pressed my nose against the glass of the window into the studio of owner, Amy Klein-McGinley.  (Amy is also a Goldsmith, Platinumsmith, and Jewelry Designer.)

And then...... we had the best conversation about the arts, my delivery, and the joys and challenges of gallery ownership. 

And then...... I met Amy's Mother and daughter. 

And then...... I floated out of the store with a smile on my face and absolute certainty in my heart that I'd found the perfect home in Pittsburgh for my work. 

And while I don't have photos to share with you today, I promise that they'll be tops on my list during my next visit.  In the meantime, please enjoy this single pilfered photo, and visit So Me for yourself.  You'll be glad that you did!

So Me -  Hartwood Town Center, Glenshaw, PA

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.

Perfectly Imperfect Right Now

Work in process.  Just in time for Valentine's Day,
these necklaces will be making their way to the galleries who represent my work..

Anyone who knows me quickly learns of my love of the hunt.  I was the kid who couldn't resist stuffing my pockets to capacity with any number of things that I deemed to be special.  Pretty rocks...check.  Lucky pennies...you betcha.  Rusty washers...only if they're good ones.  And they're ALL good ones.

As an adult, I've honed this behavior to an art.  And while my penchant for both found and purchased wabi-sabi treasures has served me well as a mixed media jewelry artist, there's also a fine line between "collector" and "hoarder".

These amazing pottery hearts are a shining example of what I mean.  It was love at first sight for me.  They're perfectly imperfect and what character.  I could think of a million ways that I'd be able to use them in my work.  I had to have them.  And if one was good, more was definitely better.

When I brought them home and unwrapped them, I loved them even more.  So...instead of immediately transforming them into fabulous wearable art, I kept them all to myself.  I moved them from place to place in my studio.  I lost them.  And I found them.  Probably several times over. 

This year, it's my personal mission to no longer save my treasures for the perfect project, the perfect piece, or the perfect time to use them.  There'll be no more acquiring treasures for the pure pleasure of craftily stashing them in my studio.  Instead, I'll begin to rediscover and appreciate all that I already have, and I'll use it to my full advantage.  In work and in life, this seems like a good philosophy to live by.

Something Old...Something New...

The Cover of Southern Weddings Magazine, Volume 5

I'm thrilled to announch that my "Bless Your Heart" Collection 

has been featured in

"Southern Weddings, Volume 5". 

 

This publication is pure eye candy from cover-to-cover. 

For those in a wedding planning chapter of their lives, it's an a must-read magazine, and the rest of us will find 

page after page of inspiration for graceful and romantic living. 

It doesn't get any better than that!   

Solid Brass Bless Your Heart Pendant from The Bless Your Heart Collection.
Please email jeanskipper@jeanskipper.com to purchase this piece, cuff bracelets,
copper pendants, and other custom creations.



Memories of Ocracoke and Books to Be Red

The porch at Books To Be Red is a warm and welcoming sight.

In November, before Mom came home to us, Ken and I were able to sneak away for a few glorious days in The Outer Banks.  We ferried from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke, and we visited a few of our favorite people and places on the way to the Hatteras Ferry. 

Books to Be Red, and our friends there, are always at the top of our list, and it was an added treat to see the work of some of our other artist-friends featured there.  A few of their creations are shown below; but somehow I forget to take a photo of my own collection.  :-) If you haven't visited Books to Be Red, you're missing an a treasure!  An Independent Bookseller... with the friendliest folks you can imagine... AND fabulous artsy finds.  In my book it doesn't get much better than that. 
 

A School of Mary's Funky Fish



Flying Pig Pottery by Suzanne Rehbock

  

Hoo created those amazing owls?!?!  Jodi Ohl, of course. 

 

Flour sack tea towels....love! Love! LOVE!!!

  

Coastal themed tea towels and the chicks shown above
made a perfect Christmas gift from Ken!

As always, the time passed too quickly, and we're hoping for a much longer visit in 2013.

"Something" Is Better Than "Nothing"

 

"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." ~ Carl Sagan

Swan Quarter, North Carolina, November 2012

For weeks, in my head, I've been writing my "end-of-the-year-blog-post-that-exceeds-my-wildest-expectations-of-all-that-a-blog-post-should-be".  It explains where I've been and all that my family's been through in 2012.  It paves the way for my return to real life, my studio, my online world, social groups, galleries, and art shows.  In my minds eye, the post itself is an amazing work of art.  It's revealing, entertaining, and sentimental...with a touch of the humor thrown in for good measure.

In my mind I've also been composing a "new-year-fresh-start-new-beginnings-post" for 2013.  It's equally amazing.  On this point, you'll have to trust me, as neither post has gone beyond the realm of my own imagination. 

Perhaps that's exactly as it should be.

Today, in conversation with a dear friend who's been struggling in a similar manner, I verbally committed to writing "Something" today on my blog.  As I explained to her, in this instance "Something" has to be better than "Nothing".

In our quest for perfection we sometimes lose sight of that.

Here's to more "Somethings" in 2013.  And to the realistic expectations that will allow us to enjoy them in all of their glorious imperfection. 

 

Happy New Year!