Hello all, Happy Spring! Holy Smollies daffodils already!

Spring is here and I have entered into these longer sunny days sprouting an addition to my regular schtick.
Workshops!
They started as a Valentine's Day promo, "Make Your Darn Necklace". Designed so that your loving partner could buy you a gift certificate for a workshop because they had no idea what to get you for Valentine's! (It's a bit of an in-joke with my own Love)

That first call out to see if anyone was interested got an overwhelming response!
The 1 workshop that I was going to set up has now turned into 7 and I am still hearing from wannabe jewellers!

The workshop runs for 3 hours and I provide all the materials for you to create your own pendant using a variety of beads and wire. I provide a nice chain or cord to finish your piece.
I show you how to best manipulate the wire. We talk about inspiration and what makes a good piece. There is material set out for you to doodle and draw as well as visual information to find inspiration from.

They have been a hoot so far! I have been so impressed with the creativity and utter focus people have brought to these workshops! It just goes to show you how we are all so creative and all need to find space to communicate through different mediums!
Everyone was amazed at what they had made! It was really great watching and helping people create their pieces! I was so inspired!

So these workshops have turned into a whole new thing............I just have to figure out how to do all the administration stuff that goes with this new job.

Stay tuned!
If you would like information on when you too could come and Make your darn necklace, e-mail me @ info@mimijewellery.com.

If you want to register for a workshop go here: http://mimijewellery.eventbrite.com/

Michelle

PS: pictures are some examples of pieces made from the past workshop..........pretty nice eh!

 

So it's true I am a bit slow!
 But this not so new fangled cyber world takes a lot of my time! HoIy! I can spend hours figuring out how to set accounts, figure out links and how the heck to design it all!!!!
 Finally, I've entered the 1st stage of my new on-line store @ bigcartel.com. To find me search for Michelle Miller jewellery. I have a whole 5 items that you can purchase! But soon I will upgrade my store with many more jewels that you can easy purchase. And after I get a little help from my friends, it will look amazing!!!!!
I'm excited!

Cheers and Happy Fall!
Michelle

 But the rewards?.........Plenty!!! This is the key reason d'etre! The reason why we all do what we craft people do. It's the complete and utter satisfaction of people telling you later how happy they were to receive something that you had made as a  present. Especially when someone you hardly know makes their way across a crowded street, just to tell you how thrilled they were to receive one of your wares! How the piece you made goes perfectly with their new coveted top and that they had already received many compliments. How each time they wear your piece they feel great!
I keep thinking it seems so trival to spend my days finding the right beads, the right colour, size and shape. So much time and thought making sure each bend and turn enhances each item I choose to be apart of the collage I create. But I still love it after all these years.....17 of  them. Holy!
In this Holiday Craze of making..........I am grateful.........I am thrilled and feel proud to be able to offer something in this crazy world of consumerism that is made by my arthritic hands, my sore shoulders, my neck aches, my failing eyes and my full heart and soul.

Vast, bright, beautiful, quiet...........luxury!
There was resistance @ first but I must say it's pretty darn nice going to work these days!
How fortunate I am!
My focus is connection; to myself, to my work, to my materials, to each bend and swirl, each bead size and shape chosen, each colour and hue. Breath.... be...... make.

Works inspired by the thaw........

"Fire In The Head"
Mar.14th-Apr.14th
Barber Glass Gallery
167 Suffolk St. W,
Guelph, On
519 824-0821
Opening Sat.14th 2-4pm
live music and dance

Expand your space, expand your mind.

That's what I'm banking on! I've been working in a hovel for years now squished into the dining room unpacking and packing up @ day. Happy to have my own cabinet with some shelves. Just enough space to cram all my thousands of beads, wire, tools, all the old broken and unwanted jewellery that has been passed on to me from customers and friends eager for me to be able to breathe some life into their discarded memories. Just enough to get by to do the tasks I need to do, to fully utilize the few hours I have to work. Why move? Why expand? Why spread out? Do we really need a lot of space to create? It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I'm comfortable in my uncomfortable little set up. I'm used to the disfuntion!  It's been slow.......but I'm finally getting excited. The desk has been purchased, curtains have been made and hung, old things have been made new, floors have been sanded the date has been set. Dec.5th and 6th

Liz Noble will also be showing and hopefully selling paintings.

 

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Cheers, Michelle
www.mimijewellery.com