Where did OCTOBER go???

Today I got around to flipping the calendar page over to November and was perplexed that October had slipped away.  It went by so quickly and yet so much happened.

 I had knee surgery to fix the tears in my knee the first week of October.  I didn't fall, didn't do anything that I can remember other than put my shoe on and bam out went the knee.  It hurt like, well, I don't say those words, but it was bad.  So after MRI's, x-rays and the back and forth medical merry go round, I finally had my surgery to repair the rips.  So glad I didn't need a replacement, I lucked out.  I have a long way to go yet before its healed but I'm getting there and doing small things along the way.   I had my surgery at South Bend Orthopedics and I would highly recommend them to anyone! I've had 7 previous operations, and they treated me like I was their only patient!  Great staff of nurses and doctors.
I rested and behaved a week (I thought that was long enough) and weened myself off the walker.  Was walking pretty good and even ditched the cane .  Since I was doing so well, I decided I'd be able to teach my recycled tin can jewelry class at Buchanan Art Center.  Had a great time but realized I had a long way to go yet.   Patience has never been one of my better virtues but an ice pack has become one of my best friends lately, that and the recliner and a good hot cup of tea!








The second week of the month rolled around and it was time for the family Pier Jerk!  The weather was nice, cool, but sunny. We went on one last pontoon ride and one trip on the jet ski's and then the hard work began.  Out came the boat lifts, the pier, kayaks and boats. The kids and grandkids did a great job helping Ken with all of the work.  Couldn't of done it without all their help. 

Ken took me over to Corey Lake Orchards the following weekend and we bought a bushel of apples and got cider and yummy donuts from their bakery.  Then home to make lots and lots of applesauce for the winter.  We have gone to this orchard since the kids were little and each year they expand and add new things.  I love how it has evolved over the years! 

So fresh apples means, homemade apple pie.  Of coarse, remember my knee is still wrapped up and I need to get the rolling pin which is in the high up cabinets I can't reach.  Couldn't climb up on chair like I usually do and had to come up with another solution. So, what's a girl to do, but improvise!  I thought a wine bottle made a perfect rolling pin to make my pie crust and by golly it worked really well!  Oh, and the pie was good too!

Then it was time for a hair cut! Couldn't take the long hair anymore.  My dear friend Sue, came to the rescue and came over and gave me a new hair do and brought me some banana bread too!  Gotta love  that kind of special friend.  

Spent the last week of the month cutting glass, and more glass for the Kris Kringle Craft show in November.  Had both kilns going and the wet saw humming.  I made 51 new pendants total and even introduced a new "reflections" tree to my work .  

Have some ideas for new designs for next year and can't wait to work on them and see if  whats in my mind works when I put it into practice.  We will see.   

All in all, I think 

OCTOBER

was 

GREAT!!!!!!

Here's a sneak peek of a couple of my new Bronze Necklace designs!

I've teamed warm bronze metal with luscious

creamy fresh water pearls!

Come see what else is new at 

ART BEAT 2018

this Saturday 8-18-18!

Just a few days away from Art Beat!

You can find me and my Magdalena Moon jewelry designs

in booth # 126 just a few booths north of 

the Chocolate Cafe !

The weather looks good, hope you can make it out to the show!

CHESTERTON ART FAIR

JUST ONE WEEK AWAY - LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING MY CUSTOMERS FROM THIS AREA!  LOOKS LIKE THE WEATHERS GONNA BE GREAT! SEE YOU NEXT WEEKEND!

New Designs

Just a few new pieces that are ready in time for the 

Chesterton Art Show next weekend!  

My Next Show

Looking forward to returning to the Domain Berrien Cellars Art , Wine and Music Festival. Thought I'd post the information now before I get busy in the studio again tomorrow and forget.  

Hope to see you there!

CAA Art Show

The 4th Annual Cass Area Artist Art Show is over and I came home with a very unexpected 3rd place award last weekend!  I covet this award as much as my blue ribbons knowing it was from a very special judge, Marie Remington from Buchanan.  She is fair but tough, so when my name was called for 3rd place it was a real surprise.

As a member of the CAA artist group I can say we've come a long way, but have a long way to go yet.  This year the  COA pavilion was completely finished and made a nice location for many artists to set up their displays. I usually set up my own booth at shows, but two weeks ago, I blew out my right knee so being able to set up in the pavilion was a big advantage and a lot less work.

Door prizes, music and pleasant weather made for a good day.  I wish the attendance would of been better, and getting people to realize this is a great little juried show is going to take time. One women I know told me her neighbor, our president Tom Rose, had been bugging her for years now to attend.  She said she was shocked to see the caliber of artwork and had no idea what a great show was right in her own back yard! 

Each show I do has its special moments and this show had one of the best.  The CAA has door prizes that are drawn every half hour and I donated 3 necklaces.  There was a father and his two daughters who stayed most of the afternoon and after each drawing his youngest daughter would go up the door prize table and say, its still here.  They stayed most of the afternoon until her name was drawn and she excitedly went up to the table to collect her prize.  It was one of my necklaces!  Her father told me she had wanted it so bad and so he stayed in hopes she might win it.  He asked if he might take a picture of the two of us as she had wanted to meet the artist.  Another goose bump moment in my life as an artist.

I want to thank my daughter Kelly and granddaughter Keirsten for giving up most of their day and helping me get through the set up and show with my bum knee.  You both made it easy for me to continue doing what I love to do.

If you weren't able to attend here's just a bit of what you missed:

The Color Purple

My favorite color is purple, and when a special someone pulled up in my driveway and handed me a bouquet of gladiolus for INSPIRATION it just made my day!  Can't thank my cousin Dawn enough for her support and encouragement!!!

JULY 14 - CASS AREA ARTIST ART SHOW

Save the date, July 14th.

Local home show in Cassopolis, MI with

some great artists.

It may be a small show but its a might good one!

Hope you can make it out to this one.

 I will be under the pavilion canopy this year

and will not be in my normal booth!!

Save the date

May 26 & 27th

LEMON CREEK ART AND WINE FESTIVAL

Berrien Springs, MI

This will be my first show of the season

and I'm looking forward to being outside,

listening to great music, sipping a bit of wine and 

talking with my fantastic customers. One week till this fun

show in wine country.  Hope you can make it to the show!

Show Hours - Noon - 6:00

2018 ART SHOW SCHEDULE

Yes, I'm doing art shows this summer!

I haven't posted my schedule till now because acceptance letters are coming in very slowly this year and I won't know on several shows till some time in June.  With that in mind I decided to post my list anyhow that way you can mark your calendars.

Keep checking  for updates as I may have to delete or add more shows!

MAY

May 26 & 27     Lemon Creek Winery - Art, Wine & Music Festival Berrien Springs, MI    

    

JULY

July 14              Cassopolis Area Artist Art Show - M-60 Cassopolis, MI      

July 28              Domaine Berrien Cellars - Art, Wine & Music Festival   11-7:00 p.m.

AUGUST

August 4 & 5   Chesterton Fine Art Fair, Dogwood Park

August 18        Art Beat - Main Street, South Bend, IN

August 25        Oakwood Fine Arts Festival - Syracuse, IN  10-3:00 p.m.

SEPTEMBER

September 22  Art at the Riverside - Leo/Ft.Wayne, IN

NOVEMBER

November 3    Kris Kringle Art Show - St. Theresa/Little Flower Church - South Bend, IN

I've been a bad blogger!

Yup, I've been a bad blogger!  There's never enough time to do all the things I want to do and that includes blogging!

Loved this photo with the Mae West quote!  Not sure I'm ever "very" good but I do try.  The good Lord knows I try!

Blogging was waylaid in lieu of medical issues.  This just hasn't been my year as far as health goes.  The list has been long and the tests have been numerous and I figure I have done my share of supporting the medical field with well  over $10,000 in medical tests alone this year and I'm still not done.  Never knew that turning 65 would be so full of medical problems but also a blessing. Who would've thought that medicare and supplemental insurance would be an exciting thing to have - not me that's for sure!

Even though its been a roller coaster of problems, with its highs and lows this year I was able to attend several shows.  Couldn't of done it without the help of my hubby and family!  Thank you for all of your help and manpower, couldn't of done it without you!

So to all my new customers and oldies but goodies too, hang in there, don't give up on me, I will blog when I can and post pictures too! 

Kris Kringle Holiday Craft Show

 This is my last art show for the 2017 year!

All crafters and artists at this show!  

I will have several new things and also some close outs too!

Also, all purchases over $50 will receive a $5.00 discount - just tell me you read my latest blog to get your special offer!

I look forward to seeing your there!

This show is held at the St. Therese Little Flower Church

on

54191 Ironwood Rd. - South Bend, IN

Saturday November 11th

9 am - 2 pm

MOON TREE STUDIO

Nestled in the back roads of Donaldson, IN you will find the most unique art studio around!

MOON TREE STUDIOS

I am excited to announce I will be teaching a two day experience in June at this fantastic facility! 

Here you can create and draw inspiration from the vibrant display of nature as you are enveloped in color, texture, and the sounds of nature around you.

Moon Tree Studio is a unique kind of "artful living" place...a peaceful environment where you can get more in touch with your creative side and deepen your understanding of 2D or 3D visual arts.

Take time to slow down, open your heart and discover something new, out of your creative imagination from a wide variety of art experiences led by master facilitators. 

I will be leading a wonderful, fun filled two day experience here on Saturday and Sunday

JUNE 24 and 25  

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m

NATURE INSPIRED SILVER JEWELRY

BOTANICAL CREATIONS IN PRECIOUS METAL CLAY

In this experience, we'll use Nature's bounty to create beautiful jewelry designs in precious metal clay.  We'll walk outdoors to gather leaves, pods and grasses, as we discuss using plants and learn what works and what doesn't.

I will demonstrate step by step along the way over the two days of how you'll be able to turn your

chosen plant materials into fine silver jewelry designs using metal clay paste and then design a bail that compliments your leaf.  

Students will learn proper techniques on how to kiln fire, brass brush, tumble and add patina to your fine silver creations.  I will also share and provide molding materials that will allow you to create leaf designs throughout the year.

You will leave this two day experience with a beautiful finished nature inspired fine silver pendant.

Class includes lunch each day and all materials!

Fee $225 members/ $250 non-members

PLEASE REGISTER BY JUNE 12

Call for more information or to register by charge card: 574-935-1712

For More Information: 

http://moontreestudios.org/

2017 Catalog of Experiences and Events:

http://moontreestudios.org/index.php/2017-schedule

Spring is Here!

Spring has finally sprung here in Michigan!  Tulips, daffodils and hyacinths and so many flowers are unfolding and presenting a glorious array of colors.  Fills me with joy and sparks my creative juices and is spurring me on to get back into the studio after several months off.

I have so many people ask, what do you do over the winter? Good question, I’ve wondered the same thing over and over the last few weeks.  Where has the time gone that I’d planned to redo my studio and get things organized?  Then I realized I’ve worked all along.  The months of January & February were devoted to creating oodles of new vintage designs for a show that I did in February.  Then March rolled around and I grumpily gathered all those receipts and bits of paper that I’d failed to record last year, and forgot to enter into my books along with the yearend inventory for the tax man.  April, well that was set aside for a studio do over, however, my body had other ideas.  Several trips the doctor’s office over the winter, MRI’s and then on to the Spine Clinic to decide what to do with this deteriorating spine of mine.  Four new bad discs with more cracks and bulges than the hills of Kentucky lead me to having spinal nerve blocks.  As I write this I’m am recouping from the procedure they did this week.  One down one to go and I should be ready to go for my summer shows. 

Speaking of summer shows, I have applications out and am awaiting acceptance.  I will post them later today.  Yes, Spring has sprung and I can’t wait for summer to unfold!

Happy New Year - Here we go!

The new year is moving so quickly already, and my first show for 2017 is just 4 weeks away!

I'm  really excited to have been accepted to this Vintage Antique Show in Kalamazoo at the Expo Center.  No, I won't be selling antiques, but I will be showing my vintage repurposed jewelry line.  
 
I have scoured antique shops, auctions and garage and estate sales over the last two years collecting a large hoard of unique old jewelry for my upcycled vintage line. I'm like a kid in a candy shop creating with these old pieces that each have a spirit and a story of there own.  

Kalamazoo's Vintage Market will certainly have something for everyone including: antiques, painted furniture, home decor, signs, vintage clothing, boutique clothing, jewelry, shabby chic, and MORE!  This is a large show with 170 vendors for your shopping pleasure.

Be sure to put February 12th on your calendar!  Show hours are 10-4 at the Kalamazoo Expo Center

You'll find me and my Magdalena Moon Vintage Designs in booth #13!  

I hope you can make it out to this exciting show.

Admission to the show is $5 at the door.

The Kalamazoo Expo Center
2900 Lake Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49048

It's Fall Already - Where did my summer go?

The leaves here in lower Michigan are later than usual and have just started to pop. By next week I think we will be in a full blaze of glory.  It's like God has His own box of crayons and dailey adds new touches to the scenery.

With the weather being in the high 70's  the past few weeks, it just doesn't feel like fall.  That's fine with me cause warm is good, considering what is next to come on mother natures agenda - "WINTER", oh my!!!

However, winter provides me with time to plan new designs for the coming year, work on new techniques and plan out my summer show and teaching schedule.
I attended a few new shows this year and I had a great time and will add them to my 2017 line up.

BEFORE MAKEOVER

Summer 2016 was full of new adventures. Good changes, and not so good alike.  They made my summer season a challenge to say the least.

AFTER MAKEOVER 

I started the summer out with a new booth and a new look.  My old EZ up had been hammered by the wind one time to many the year prior and the cost of repairs outweighed the purchase of a new used tent. Those bright white walls and small banner just had to go!  So, it was time to make new table covers and make some changes.  It was time well spent and if I have to say so myself, the new booth below looks great and I love how it feels now. The new booth feels so spacious and I believe its the open domed top without all the cross beams like my old EZ up.  I just love the new tent and its getting easier each show to put up.                                                                              
The addition of a corner stand made a great change in the booth also and gave me more room to display my dichroic glass pendant designs. The sun hits them and they just glisten now.

Of coarse this new stand, also took up more space in my little HHR, but by gosh, I got it all in there.  I have one more item that I want to add to the wall on the right side, if I can figure out how to get in the car! No one tells you that once you start doing art shows you also need to be a master packer, a body builder to lug it in and out and a fashion designer to make it appealing.

Then in my spare time I make incredible jewelry to fill it up and walla, you have Magdalena Moon Jewelry Designs!



Along with the good comes the bad!  Two of the gallerys that carried my jewelry designs closed their doors this summer, it was unexpected and so sad to see both of these beautiful stores close.
D2E in Crown Point and Nido Bianco in Three Oaks were two fantastic stores,and their owners were both genius in the field of store merchandising.  I will miss them both so much!

D2E Artist Gallery Crown Point, IN

Looking back over the summer its hard to say which show is my favorite, but two shows come to mind right away, and they are the Chesterton Art Show and Oakwood Fine Art Show.  These two shows brought new friends and new experiences for sure.
I was hesitant to do the Chesterton Show since they were moving to a new location.  That is not always a good thing for a show, but in this case, it was a great move.  The new park is lovely and I really like the new location. I liked the new booth  layout, and as usual set up and take down was a breeze. Another plus was the addition of a food truck, this got a big thumbs up from us.  By the way, it wasn't just any ole' food truck, it was Reddamak's and the burgers were oh so good! I'm thankful that Kathy M. encouraged me over and over to come back and give the Chesterton Art Show another try, I'm glad I did!  I WILL be back next year.

The other show that really is at the top of my list is the Oakwood Fine Art Festival in Syracuse, IN .  It was the most memorable of all!
This one day event is held on the beautiful ground of the Oakwood Resort.  The setting could not be nicer.  The staff was increbile and helped in any way they could to make our experience great.  The photo on the left was the view out of the back of my booth. The lake and a mass of lily pads and a few swans every now and then, beautiful.  What a nice change from the concrete streets at other shows.
You would know that the rain came in buckets that day, wave afer wave.  That usually is the death of a show but these people waited in their cars till the rain slowed, just to support the artists that had come.

They came out in rain coats with their umbrellas and they didn't let the rain stop them from shopping and talking to the artists. It was such an enjoyable show but that wasn't the best part for me.  Mid-afternoon a group of about 8 ladies ascended on the booth, I thought they were all together, but I learned later they were not.  They asked how things were made, complimented me on my work and were just a joy to interact with. One of the ladies commented that she loved an angel neckace I'd made.  The women next to her then took the necklace, stand and all and handed it to me and said, "I'd like to buy this".  I first thought how rude, to take it from another customer!  Then I thought, no, they all came in at the same time, they must be friends.  

The women purchased the angel necklace and asked me to be sure to take off the price tag, which I do anyhow.  Then she turned to the other women and said, "here I want you to have this, you liked it so much".  The look on the other women's face was priceless as she said, WHY?  I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU!  The lady who purchase it just smiled and put the necklace around her neck and said, it was meant for you!   The other ladies in the booth stood awestruck at this act of generosity and kindess.  It was all I could do to keep from crying!  It was the highlight of my summer and renewed my faith that there are wonderful people out there.
I have one more show to do in November and then I will take a few weeks off before I start to work on new vintage designs for a new show I"ll be doing in Kalamazoo in February.  So stay tuned, come back often to see what's new and what I"m up to.

 HAPPY FALL EVERYONE

ART BEAT - SOUTH BEND

Just one week till Art Beat!  

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Hours 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

I'm looking forward to going back to my home town for this expanding show.  

You will find me and my jewelry designs in Scene B - the green section on the map below.

Booth # B149

  

When one door closes - opps make that two doors close!

How's that old saying go?  

When one door closes, another opens. 

For me, its two doors that have closed and a wonderful chapter of my life has come to an end.  

D2E Gallery and Gift shop in Crown Point, IN closed their doors the last week of July.

I can't tell you how much I loved being a part of this lovely gallery! Michelle and her husband Chris put many long hours into creating one of the most beautiful gallerys ever!

I am so sad to see them go out of business, but I know they have so much more to give to the community down the road.  Keep creating Michelle, you are so talented and I can't wait to see what the future has in store for you and Chris.

Having my designs showcased at this lovely store for the last two years has been a great experience and the owners were a joy to work with.  Thank you for the opportunity to showcase my work at your store!

Farewell, D2E, Crown Point, has just lost a precious jewel in the community!

Nido Bianco, another great gallery and hot spot in Three Oaks Michigan is making big changes and will be closing their gift shop and aritst stores the last week of August!

I met Heather last spring and loved her bubbling personality right away.  I was so excited to be asked to be a part of their store and set up a shop with my vintage line of repurposed jewelry.  I loved being a part of this spacious and unique gift shop and artist community, I will truely miss everyone there.

Heather has an incredible vision and we will see her new store opening in Union Pier this coming fall.  I can't wait to see the new store she has named "Ruby Slippers" along the Red Arrow Highway.  I'm sure it will be as incredible as Nido Bianco!


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