Tucson

Tucson was amazing.  Unless you are a masochist I don't think anyone could see it all.  It's 38 shows in one town...all at the same time.  This is an aerial shot of the Kino show.  And let me tell you....those tents are huge.  It had to take weeks just to put those up.

It was raining when I arrived but after that it was sunny and beautiful.  I understand now why my parents used to spend winters in Arizona. It was a great break from the snow here in Cleveland and it was really difficult to come back to the cold weather.

We stayed at a great place called Lodge on the Desert. The grounds were lovely and I spent a lot of time taking pictures of cactus.  I think the employees thought I was crazy.

 

The first stop was the Gem Mall.  This again was huge.  This is just one tent of many that were there.

One great booth we spent a lot of time in was Joe Loux.  He's a dealer in Asian and Tribal Art.

I bought these.  They are carved on both sides. 

More later.

Tucson bound

On my way to Tucson for the gem and mineral show. Slept all the way from Cleveland to Houston. I'm a jumper when I sleep on a plane. Any loud noise or the intercom will make me jump out if my seat. Thanks God for seat belts...otherwise I would have been on the ceiling a couple times. It really sad when you make the person next to you jump...LOL. He deserved it a little bit. One of those guys who thought the arm rests were put there just for him and sits spread legged so he was knocking up against my knees.  And he wouldn't turn his phone off.  That drives me nuts. What is so important that you have to text after you are on the plane....that you couldn't have done before you boarded.

Oh well.  Time to catch my next flight.

Bead and Button 2015

Just a few short days before the new year begins. Registration for the Bead and Button Show is on January 6th.

Below are the classes that Cristina Leonard and I will be teaching.  Cris and I actually met at Bead and Button in a class.  It was the first year that I decided to go to the show alone...rather than drag Lou with me.  We met in a class and ended up going to Meet the Teachers together...with Paul.  The rest is history.  A great history.  We became the best of friends and took all our classes together each year.  We came to a point where we decided to teach together.

This year we have 4 classes over 5 days.  We will be teaching you lots of techniques and have a great time in the process.

The first class will be a two day workshop in metal clay.  We will be working with both bronze and silver metal clay in designing a multi-layered pendant.  Other techniques covered will be various types of bails, filing, riveting, patinas and finally, the creation of a necklace using beads and artifacts that accent the pendant.

 Bronze and Silver Metal Clay Necklace

The next class is a one-day workshop.  We will be forging bronze wire in the creation of bracelets, rings and earrings.  Multiple techniques for finishing will be demonstrated including riveting, filing and twisting the metal in your desired shapes.

Forged and Twisted Bronze Bracelets, Earrings, and Rings

We will be offering the twisted bronze class a second time in a shortened version.  We will be forging bronze wire in the creation of bracelets.  Multiple techniques for finishing will be demonstrated including riveting, filing and twisting the metal in your desired shapes.

Forged and Twisted Bronze Bracelet

Our last class with be a fabrication class where you will design a metal pendant and matching earrings.  Techniques will include texturing, stamping, forging, riveting, and patinas.  We will then create a necklace using beads and other artifacts to accent your pendant. 

Forged and Stamped Pendant and Earrings

Little black beads....you vex me!!

When I go to beads shows, I pick up beads that catch my eye....sometimes not knowing what I will make from them...well...most of the time not knowing what I will make from them.  I collect them. That's what we bead whores do.  Below is a picture of my bead wall in the studio.  The wall I managed to drill quite a few holes in to hang these all up....only to later realize it would be have been simpler and less destructive to hang up some peg board.  But the deed is done.

Most of these are the showy beads...large, hunky, ethnic beads.  I have boxes with beads in them too...usually smaller bead strands. I needed some smaller black beads so I went to my boxes and found this strand.

Black cubes that were made so they fit together.  They were perfect for what I was making...in fact, I liked them so much I pretty much used them up on a couple of necklaces.  And now I want to cry because I don't have anymore of them.  It was one of those strands that I saw in passing, picked them up for "someday" and filed them away.  If only I had known I would like them so much I would have bought more. And these aren't the type that are mass produced so I haven't had any luck in finding more of them.

My photo assistant, Sophie, decided that these were going to be hers.  Actually, she likes the raffia they were strung on.

Nom, nom, nom!!

But beads, for the most part, shouldn't be hoarded.  They need to be set free in the world for others to enjoy.  Good bye my lovelies.  It was sweet while it lasted.

Africa in Paris

One of the reasons we went to Paris in September....besides being a great time of year...was for the Tribal Art show...Parcours des Mondes. This was the 13th annual show.  Dealers from all over the world come into the Saint Germain arrondissement and set up in ~60+ galleries to exhibit. Collectors, museum curators, and enthusiasts (like me) come to Paris to see the latest these dealers have to offer. You could tell by watching the people in the galleries that most were serious collectors and there was some big money involved.

I made sure I looked in most of 60+ galleries...although I had to leave Lou in a bar for part of it...he was getting bored.  Some galleries allowed me to take photos and other absolutely did not.  I always asked.  Most were polite about it...a few were put out that I even asked.

The first gallery we looked in before the show even started was Galerie J. Visser.  We talked to the owner...Joris.  He was great. He explained how some of the pieces weather by the lichens that attach to the wood...and let me take pics....and he was good looking :)

This fetish was 4-5 feet tall.  It has hair, horns, beads, and a cheetah loin cloth.  It was fabulous!!  The next time I stopped in this gallery, this piece was gone.  I'm glad I got to see it. 

Shields...I am assuming.  Great designs. 

A Hemba mask from the Congo

Funerary sculptures, carved on the death of a leader, are placed at the entrance to the village for protection.

This was my favorite piece.  A fetish of the Songye people in the Congo.  Up close it seems to portray such pain.  The eyes were just gouges...which may have been how it was made or may have been an artifact.  But it still gave me that impression

Dramatic pieces.  I like the masks.

This was another favorite.  An initiation mask from the Congo.  I especially like the little guy up top with the big boner.

Terra Cotta from Mali

Another terra cotta...I'm thinking Djenne from Mali.

I can't remember what these were or where they are from.  The carving was interesting.

An amazing Songye axe.  The iron work was great.  Looking at this I was trying imaging how they would have forged it. 

The Icon....La Tour Eiffel

When the Eiffel Tower was built it was hated by just about everyone in Paris.  Today it is iconic.  Even the most jaded of people have to melt when they see the tower twinkling at night.

Gustave Eiffel

We took The Romance Tour of the Eiffel Tower.  This was our tour guide.  Cute as a button!!

Did I tell you he was cute??

Part of the tour was seeing the hydraulics that life the elevators.

Another part of the tour was getting to go up on the roof of the restaurant. 

The gold dome building is Les Invalides. Among other things it is the burial site of Napoleon

The Champ de Mars

Here he is again....my Sweetie Pie in Paris

Panoramic shot on the tower. 

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Across the Seine..The Trocadero

It's magical at night!!