AJE Earring Challenge, (and a challenge I posed for myself!)

PART 1
My entries for this week's AJE Challenge:

Rolled clay rustic beads by me. Discs  I shopped from SmallAndBeautifulBeads, @ Bead Bonanza, Michigan.

Beads waiting!

Foldformed, Flame Patinated Copper Charms made by me, wire wrapped with a ruby rondelle.

Charms waiting! 

I have these components up for sale in my Etsy shop, if you want to buy a pair, and support me in maintaining my business!

PART 2

And once upon a time I had challenged myself with a task. A task somebody faraway has also taken up, and that somebody might reveal it according to her design 'sparks' tomorrow, on BSBP 7!! And that someone is Lori Bowring Michaud. And what I am posting below, is my version of the design, with EXACTLY what I had sent her in her soup. (She got an OM charm, I had a Budha charm, only difference, but I think both resonates the same feeling.)

Sneak Peek!

NOPE!!! Nonononono Sumi.... You are not supposed to take away the fun behind a reveal. But hey this is my very own challenge. To make the same soup twice, and then to make something with the exact same soup I had sent to my BSBP partner, and share it. But I think it will be more fun, if you guys could go directly from here to Lori's blog and check out what she did! For that, I should wait for her to reveal her creation. For that, it should become Saturday-tomorrow! So, until you wait, this is one more teaser from me. Be sure to check back tomorrow, to see what I have done with the soup she had sent me! 

Also, I will share a goof-up I had with the soup she sent me, but that will be the second part of the suspense tomorrow. 

For now enjoy this - A custom clasp in the above 'something'! 

C'mon, I know you guys are smart enough to guess it is a necklace! Do come back tomorrow.. Until then,

Keep it beautiful! I too have learned to say- XOXO!! (Namaste!)

AJE Earring Challenge Reveal , March 17

My entry for last week's Challenge:

I had read a LOT about African Designs last week, and this is highly influenced by some rustic ancient design elements I read about. Its really fascinating to see how they took pride in adorning even their armors and self protection equipments.. The ancient pictures, the weathered archeological findings all throbbed inside my head, that I had to incorporate it in atleast one of my designs.. This is what came out. What do you think? Labradorite coarse nuggets, ruby glass rondelles and heavily patinated rustic copper shields with dimples, on antiqued copper earwires. I love it.

You might wonder why I suddenly became interested in African culture? A visit to a nearby Ethiopian Resto! Yup. The pictures I saw there, the samples of jewelry on their display, the food. It all tempted me to dig a little deeper into what they are made of in the core. Happy that I took the first step towards that journey. I am on it. I just started. Its so very interesting!!

Here are few pictures of what I saw in the restaurant:

Thats all!!

Focus on Life 11/52

 My Life : Week 11 : Photo 11

Before beginning, pardon me for staying away from the challenge for the past 2 weeks! Reason? Here.

So, this week Sally Russick's prompt was " The possibilities are endless".  And a photo that reveals what opens our heart to endless possibilities, and fill our hearts with the "Hope" - It doesn't end here.. And "Keep going".

Retrospect.

These are what pumps me back to creativity, every time I feel "There it ends". They, though not alive, has so much 'Life' in them. So much of 'my' life in them. Like-'mess with these and you die'. The ones I hold on to with so much possessiveness like a teenage girl!! Have a look.

My Sketch-books, Idea-books, Note-books!

And they are useless without that 'Broom' of colored pencils / sketches / pens / or whatever with a point or with which I can write / draw!

Just to let you know, these are what I hold with me right now; atleast another 50 is there back in India. But it would be like digging a treasure, when I finally settle in a place on earth, where I belong, and open up that big iron box which my father took back with him when he returned home finishing that episode in his life to serve his Country. The big iron box on the staircase landing in my home back in India, where all those diaries with memories, dreams and poems scribbled, are buried..


Okay now, this is something which makes me see endless possibilities:

A stack of yellowed artist's paper! The older it is the more inspired I feel! :)

And here are some pics I took, some peeks of whats inside some of my books..

This does matter!

I remember, I did this on a boring day at my very first job!! haha! I was a 'Trainee Interior Designer'.

Why not!

One of my Notebook Covers: I love that Indian attire, and that lady in 'thought'!

I guess I was happy on that date!!

Art Burst!

Accept all aspects!

Self motivation!

My daughter - "I" will never end with me! You will understand this better when I say there was a period in my life where I thought I really would end with me. If you can read what I mean..

Possibilities of Faith! (Our 'Elephant God' Lord Ganesha, the way I like to depict. Drawn for a contest for office, during 2008)

Infectious Inspirations!

Stories!

Humble Ideas!

Simple starts!

Temptations!

Instant cheer!

THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!!

PS: I have no idea how to align the photos a bit more orderly! Bear with me please..

Now, lets see what endless possibilities mean, to other Creative folks out there, at The Studio Sublime!

Artist Undercover

I haven't been blogging for a few weeks now, and I had to stay away from both the "Focus on Life" series and AJE challenge. But that was for my good. I was overwhelmed, tired and uninspired. The only way to bounce back, was to back off. And I am feeling MUCH better already. Its good to take a break at times. This is not so uncommon of me though. I go undercover many times. But that is how I keep sane, and of course fresh. Okay, I did not sit idle or anything. I enjoy what I do, but things got a bit boring, and I thought of honing some more skills. So, I went ahead with metalworking, a bit more advanced that what College(have I told you I study Jewelry Design?) has introduced me to. I have felt many times, that its when I feel hopeless that I go forth and study new things seriously. Thank God I dont feel like a rotten sack! So, it let me productive and I am so damn happy that I took the break!

Here are the outcomes(?)(Here is the outcome : good English anyone?) of my undercover activities:

Flower Pendant

Riveted Earrings(Need to perfect this technique)

Heart Pendant

Foldformed Earring Components

Stamped "NATURE" Pendant

Stamped "CREATE" Pendant

Foldformed Leaf Pendant

By the way, "NATURE", "CREATE" and the above leaf are listed in my Etsy shop. 

"SUNSHINE" Bracelet

And I thought I would show you a pic of my set up at one of the Craft Fairs!

@ O'Kelly Banquet Hall 

I am seriously hoping to jump back in to both the "Focus On Life" and AJE as soon as I can! 

And, there is some yummy soup brewing on my bead table. Adding some essential Indian herbs to it!! Yay. Hope Lori Bowring Michaud, who sent me the lovely soup elements would'nt mind!

PS: Whatever big thing we do, some people around us always seems to be like "Aaw, Big Deal!!" and some others always make us feel like heroes. I love to surround myself with samples of both creed, but the balance is ultimately crucial! 

One more PS: Every human being, in every given moment, has the capacity to create a miracle or cause a disaster. Check your conscience. (I told)

Okay, this is the last one : So, Last PS : India is known for its alternate medicines. Like Ayurveda, Homeopathy (Homoeopathy is also correct, word, don't give me a spell-check),  Acupuncture(not of Indian origin I guess), Naturopathy, etc. Now, "Aswagandha" is a very very effective medicine in Ayurveda, that fights and prevents Alzheimers. Good to know, dont you think? Why did I write it here? Don't know.

Sumi, stop. No more PSs. Okay, I told that was the last..! (Mumble mumble)

So, what techniques have you guys learned recently? I would love to know!

A blog hop and a memory

As I was doing the blog hop last week as part of Sally Russick's 'Focus on Life' photo challenge, I came across a photo - of Flowers - by StudioWaterstone. (I am so fond of the blog name itself, it reminds me of  "The Fallingwater" by my favorite Architect Frank Lloyd Wright. (Wink) The Interior Designer in me is a fan of Mr.Wright )

I wondered how can somebody totally disconnected from me pluck a sharp memory from my life and represent it in a photo! That photo was all me. And the very few words written about that photo is like making us concentrate completely on the photo itself. Those are wildflowers, flowers alongside a road, as she says, seeing many passers by, many of them not even noticing them. But they still bloom so beautifully, just for sensible observant people like Lori.

The minute I came across this, I contacted Lori to ask permission to tell the world - This is the photo I liked the most in the series - beauty of Flowers - by Sally Russick. She replied with such a sweet message giving me consent to go ahead. Happy I am, like a kid! I wanted to link it somewhere I could always come back to. So, this post.

One visit here and you will understand why I will tell she has magical fingers. Art, Creativity, Photography.. Total Inspiration!

Thankyou Lori.

And, I have another Lori in my mind to whom a huge 'Thankyou' is due. I will save that, for another post! Surprise.

Focus on Life 8/52 : Monochromatic

My life : Week 8 : Photo 8

Monochromatic. That setting which immediately takes us to the mood 'good old days'. I think that feeling of relating lovely old days and memories with monochromatic has ended with my generation! 

The below photo is of a metal work I got from Michaels. It reminded me of shields that warriors used in olden days, and the minute I made it monochromatic, I knew this had some 'time machine' or 'Jumanjee' effect on it that it appeared a 1000 years old.. I liked how it transformed.

 This one in a bluish grey monochrome.

This wall sconce at home makes me feel - well, 'at home'. Doesn't this look kind of serene?

The below two photos, the 'mischief button' in me was turned on somehow, and these are original photos. A silver flower basket on my black coffee table! :) It says : "Dont dare turn me black and white, I wont change". Stubborn. But good. Oh, if you are good enough, there is no issues with you being that stubborn and never agreeing to anyone trying to change you. Dont you agree? Thanks, Lady Flower Basket.

Thanks to Sally Russick to making us experiment so! Lets see some monochromatic pictures here on her blog.

Focus on life 7/52

                                           My Life : Week 7 : Photo 7

I might be the last one to tie myself up here!! (*grin*)

Yeah, you guessed right! "Life took on": An upcoming Craft Fair, last minute stocking up, and setting things up early hoping to avoid the unavoidable stress!

No more long stories, here is the pic that was waiting all these days to smile at the world- the ones which always smile at me, at my creative-nook!

Oh yes, that vase is recycled by me, from a Pringles can! Just sticked adhesive vinyl counter-top protector sheet on it! A neutral base for my flowers!! And that 'White Lady' behind was originally a "Merry Christmas" 'red and green busy pattern' lady. I gave her a wardrobe change - one coat of white acrylic, two coats of pearlizing medium! Voila! (I might paint her red and green again, come next Christmas! But I am sure she will be happy..!)

And these are pics I had taken while I was in India....All from my parents' garden!  Love all these!

I know most of you might have done a bit of hopping around, but come on, roaming places is much more fun, with a friend holding your hand!! Lets go to Sally Russick's!!