inspired and renewed

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a while.  May was crazy, emotional and hectic.  It definitely was not a great month for me, although there were some wonderful moments amidst the chaos.  But after my daughter's wisdom teeth and then getting both girls packed and off to camp, I was able to get away for a week and have some real time for just myself.  In June I went to New England and connected with some old friends and familiar places.  As a result I am feeling renewed and inspired! 

The last few weeks I have been spending a lot of time in my basement studio.  But don't feel sorry for me.  The heat in St. Louis is oppressive, so the basement is a very nice place to be, and with few interruptions I have been able to make some very exciting pieces.  I've made four new mezuzot, which I will feature on my blog in the following weeks.

I am focusing on making objects that inspire me.  Sometimes that is Jewish Ritual pieces, other times that is jewelry pieces.  The important thing for me is to have my heart and soul reflected in the piece.  I think that it shows in my work.  I know that when I feel that I have to make a certain amount of, lets say earrings, for a show, they are not as successful as I would like.  I am pledging to be to guild first by my creativity and whim and then by other factors. 

I also have some exciting news, One of my pieces, The Hidden Star locket, is featured in a juried Art Jewelry show in a Gallery in Oklahoma City.  I won an Honorable Mention for the necklace, please visit this link for more information on the show. Spiritual Juried Jewelry Metalsmith Show

six necklaces

Locket

Tribal Necklace

  I have been in the studio the last couple of weeks trying out some new things while also clinging to the past.  The result is six finished pieces.  Some you may recognize, like the "Floral Lentil Necklaces" and the "Ring of Periwinkles Necklace", these styles are popular at shows.   I experimented with some new designs which I strung the metal clay elements on bead wire with gemstones and Hill tribe silver.  Both of these necklaces are 16" shorter styles with motifs that encircle the entire neck.  The "Tribal Necklace" combines hand cut silver tab beads with faceted Indian rubies.  The "Spiky Necklace" is just as it sounds.  A series of hand formed silver spike beads, in various sizes, with small Hill Tribe silver beads in between.  I have Test driven (worn) these styles and they are pretty comfortable to wear, so no worries!
I also attempted a working locket style, which I think is a bit rough around the edges, but I guess that's part of the charm?  Maybe, I don't know.

Spiky Necklace

I made some things for my girls!

                                                                           
You know the old saying, the shoemakers children never have shoes, well it's sort of like that with me.  I hardly wear any of my new jewelry, because its all priced and in little plastic bags, and my kids almost never wear the jewelry I make.  They have their excuses, Abby doesn't like to wear jewelry and Tamara wants post earrings and I don't have those.

So I decided to make somethings just for my girls, a hair clip for Abby (not jewelry) and post earrings for Tamara.  Here are the results.

custom work

I'm finally back in the studio after a month or so of being busy with everyday life.  I went on an awesome vacation with my kids, and I am pretty sure I am ready for another one soon.  Next time I should not wait so long.  After the trip it was time to prepare for Passover, which was my favorite holiday when I was a kid, but is the one I dread most as an adult.  It's just a lot of work!  The sedars ended up going well and everyone had a wonderful time, and is well until...next year.

So I am busy now catching up on some custom orders.  I made two personalized Yads, and a special personalized needle case necklace.  The later I made with a new technique I learned in a Craftcast online class from Donna Penoyer.  I really recommend taking these online classes if you are serious about learning metal clay techniques and don't have local classes.  Here they are just out of the kiln before polishing and patina.

bronze mezuzah

I have exciting news.  I now have a mezuzah available in bronze!  One of my handcrafted solid silver designs has been caste in a more affordable rich warm bronze.  The original silver mezuzah I created has been made into a mold and then caste in bronze.  Not only is it less expensive, but it also is a gorgeous color and it will not tarnish, so it can be used outdoors.
 I am premiering this design at the Moriah Congregation art fair this weekend in Deerfield, Illinois (see previous post for details).  It will retail for $120.

spice box necklace and Chicago show

I have been adding some different styles in pendents lately based on the feedback I got at the URJ show.  I crested the "spice box" necklace.  It is basically a slightly larger secret keeper necklace with lots of holes in it.  I fill the vial with cloves, but any fragrant spice or herb will do.  I also made some temple building which look like miniature versions of my mezuzot but open up, so you can put anything small you like inside.

These items are not in the Etsy shop, but they will be, with me, at the Moriah Congregation Judaica show in Deerfield, Illinois next weekend.  I would love any Chicago area friends to come by and check out this biennial juried Judaica show, which features more than 50 artists.  Moriah Congregation is located in Deerfield at 200 Taub Avenue.  The hours of the show are as follows:
Saturday 2/25   8:00pm-11:30pm
Sunday   2/26   10:00am-5:00pm
Monday 2/27    9:00am-1:00pm

the story of the needle case

original needle keeper

my new version

shown open

About 25 years ago, I was a sweater designer visiting the Orient a few times a year to work with factories. Most of the time, I was in Hong Kong, and most often I was in some bland office working, but every so often, we would get a chance to get out and explore the city.  I don't actually remember where I acquired the case, it may have been on an out of the way street market, or it could have been in a fancy antique store in the vast shopping malls.  But I do remember that I had never seen anything like it.  It was not expensive, it may not even be silver.  But, it is beautiful.
I wear the needle keeper from time to time.  It is always noticed, always a conversation starter.  It has been the inspiration for many of my own creations, like the tiny secret keeper necklaces.  I finally decided to make a more literal version of the necklace.  My own design is constructed just like the original, though slightly smaller.  It also has a skinny leather cord.  I used my own floral textures for the design and added applique silver flowers.  It is of course fine silver.
The first time I wore it it was noticed.  It's been purchased and is gone.....until I make another incarnation.

kitchen stool transformation

Just a short break from metal clay.....

I had these sad looking faux leopard  upholstered kitchen counter stools since I moved in to this house.  They were a gift from my annoying real estate agent.  I never liked them, as I am no fan of animal prints.  I finally got around to changing them up to modernize the look and get with the mid-century modern look of the kitchen and den.

sad chair :(

happy chair :)

The hardest part was finding the Missoni inspired fabric.  I searched local upholstery fabric outlets with no luck until I found this fabric at an Etsy store made up as a pillow.  The store said it was a Schumacher fabric, and I was able to order it locally thru a decorator  store.

 I just ripped off the old fabric and stapled on the new one, and they look fantastic.  Now I will just finish it off with a good spray of Scotchgaurd and they will be ready for many meals in the kitchen.

The URJ Biennial

Last week I had a wonderful time at the Union of Reform Judaism Biennial Conference.  I was part of the vendor's in the Exhibition Hall which was open during the conference.  My booth was simple and I sent most of the display materials via Fedex to the hotel a few days before I arrived.  I think that it turned out pretty nice, but I should have invested in some lights.

The event was at the Gaylord Hotel in National Harbor, Maryland.  This beautiful Hotel located in a artificial community called National Harbor which is full of shops, restaurants, hotels and residences.  The hotel atrium house a 15 story atrium with a beautiful faux candy glass Christmas tree.  There are overpriced restaurants and shops beneath but a nice place to people watch or grab a snack.

After the first night of the convention I invited to a meeting for the American Guild of Judaic Art .  It was wonderful to finally meet all these people I have admired for the last couple of years.  The Guild provides a support system to the artist involved and also information and inspiration for artists and collectors alike.

Another exciting event at the Biennial was that Pressident Obama came to speak.  The security was high, and to tell you the truth, the sales at the Exhibition Hall that day were pretty dim as most of the attendees were in line starting at 10am.  Still, the president's speech was a highlight.  Although I didn't actually go into the hall to see him speak, I watched it  on a computer hookup with many of the other Exhibitors.

Saturday the Exhibition Hall was closed for Shabbat so I went into Washington DC with a couple of fellow Artists to visit some museums.  First we went to the Renwick Gallery, the Smithsonian's American craft museum, which featured pieces from the white house collection.   It was wonderful.  Then we visited the Textile museum which had an exhibit of African textiles from the Kuba people who reside in area of the Republic of Congo.  The textures and designs of the weavings were so inspirational.

I met so many great people at the conference.  I have many new customers and I loved to hear their comments about my work.  I also met a lot of  artists.  I want to thank each and everyone of them who were so forthcoming with information and help.  I feel as though I have many new mentors and I am so grateful.

Next to my booth was Claude Riedel, who makes the most beautiful Eternal Lights (Ner Tamids) for Temples and Synagogues.  The lamps are a combination of metal and glass.  He works closely with the temples and their architects to create a Light unique to the space.

Karla Gudeon's hand colored engravings are incredible.   Her artwork is featured in musems and galleries as well as books. There is. nothing else like it.

Speaking of unique, check out Joan Edelstein's scarves.   They are so amazing I had to get one for myself.

Simcha Textiles is the name of Elaine Phillip's work.  Her  handwoven tallit and wraps are are luxurious.  When Elaine and I visited the Textile Museum we were like kindred spirits.

Finally, I want to thank Jim Cohen for all his support before and during the show.  I had never met Jim before, but had bombarded him with questions via email which he gladly answered for me.  Jim is a master metal smith.  His designs are what I can only describe as modern classics. 

I also want to thank my sister in law, Francie Kranzberg for her incredible help during the show.  Francie got me to and from the airport, helped me unpack and pack, and kept me company during most of the show.  Franice knew a lot of the Biennial attendees due to her work at Washington DC's Jewish Federation.  It was a pleasure to have her with me.





Well, I am already excited to attend the URJ Biennial in two years, which will be in San Diego. 

URJ Show

Well I'm packing up for my biggest and most exciting show of the year.  It's the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial Conference in Maryland.  December 14th-18th at the Gaylord Hotel Complex in National Harbor.  This important Jewish convention is a great opportunity for me to expose my artwork to 5000 plus people from all over the United States.  President Obama will be speaking at the conference as well as other Political, and Spiritual leaders.  I am especially excited to meet my fellow artist from the American Guild of Judaic Art.
If you, or anyone you know, is attending the URJ Biennial this year, please drop by booth #323 in the exhibition hall and say hello. 

announcing the new rachelmilllerartist website!

I am so excited about my new logo, branding and website.  Now it will be easier to find me on the web and be able to see everything all together.  At rachelmillerartist.com you can find galleries of my past and present pieces in Judaica and Jewelry.  There is also my bio, my artist statement and resume of my work.  Plus there is an easy link right to my Etsy shop to purchase items.  On the home page you will also be able to see exactly were I will be exhibiting and selling in person.  And I especially excited to have this blog linked to the rest of the site, so you can read about all the new creations and inspirations.  Special thanks to Ran Mano of Manointeractive.com for putting this all together.
Please let me know what you think of the site.  Comments and criticism are welcome!

questions answered

I've been doing some local St. Louis craft show and I get a lot of comments and questions from people.

What are you doing here?  This is a craft fair.
Well That's true, my things are more artwork then craft and the prices are a reflection of that, but most of the local fairs I participate in are in Temples and Synagogue.  That a good place to meet Jewish people who are more likely to purchase my mezuzahs, yads and Jewish star necklaces.  Even though they may not be interested in buying anything today, they will take my card and remember me when they want to get a special gift or piece for themselves.

Is everything you make Jewish?
No it is not.  I make a lot of jewelry.  My fine silver jewelry is a reflection of my personal style and aesthetic.  I like jewelry that is causal.  I am a former sportswear designer so I keep current with the trends and try to incorporate styles that are up to date but still stand the test of time.
There are a lot of wonderful Jewelry Artists out there who work in PMC.  One reason that I started to concentrate on making Judaica is to keep myself unique and find a niche in the market.  Of course, through that process, I found I was able to express myself even more creatively and making the Judaica became my focus.

Your stuff is so beautiful, why are you not showing at Laumeier or the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton?

Well, first of all thank you.  I really appreciate that you like my work.  I would love to be a part of those shows, but there is a short answer on why I am not.  I do not have a booth.  A proper tent (booth) with lights and display costs $2000-$4000.  In order to be considered for these shows you must have a picture of your booth in your application.  These shows are juried and the competition is fierce, especially in the Jewelry category.  So you must have a professional display and booth to be considered, and no you can't just rent one.  Buy my work and I will invest in the booth, I promise.

busy in the studio....

Ive been very busy working in my basement studio making all sorts of pieces for my upcoming shows, especially the URJ show in December in Maryland.  It has been incredibly fulfilling to be creating all day.  I just hope everyone likes the pieces as much as I do.
I haven't added anything to my etsy shop yet because I have too many local shows coming up, but I thought I'd just post a few pictures to show you what I have been up to.  I also have been experimenting on some new ways to photograph the mezuzot, I like to show them hanging instead of lying flat.

mezuzah with amythest

This ancient building necklace opens up

If you are in the St. Louis area I will be at the Bnai Amoona Chanukah Bazaar, this Sunday October 30th, 9-1.  Come by and see me!

a work in progress

Well, my daughter's Bat Mitzvah is behind us (she was awesome, by the way) so it is time for me to concentrate fully on my metalwork.  There are a lot of changes in the works, a new logo and branding, a new website, and probably a new destination for this blog.  It's a lot of work, both inside and outside the studio.  I've been constructing some new awesome mezuzot and yads and some have been snatched up even before I could post them or add them to my etsy shop.   I am mostly preparing for a big show in December.  It is in Maryland at the URJ Convention, Union for Reform Judaism.  But I have some local St. Louis shows coming up in the next couple months.  So I better get back down to the basement studio and start creating!! The I hope to unveil what I have been working on in the next few weeks.  Please stay tuned.  I plan to return, even better.
I want to post a picture, but seriously I haven't actually photographed my work for months..... so much to do, so little time.

it's never good enough....

Recently, I a couple of my mezuzahs have been getting some attention.  Having a picture of one of my pieces in print or on the web is a real honor and a thrill.  The Brownstone mezuzah, which is a part of the Mizel Museum's collection, has in featured in Metal Clay Magazine, The Metallurgy Online Exhibit on Crafthaus, and was chosen to be in the 2011 PMC Annual Book.  The Zentangle Mezuzah is also featured in these publications.  I am very proud of both of these pieces, but I suffer from a common problem many artists have.....It's nice, but the next one I made was so much better. 

When I finish a piece, at first I am usually a bit disappointed.  Most of the time, the result isn't quite the same as the original vision.  Maybe I am a bit hard on myself because after a couple days, I get excited about the piece again.  Sometimes I have the piece professionally photographed.  Getting a professional pictures taken of your work is always a good idea.  I wish I could afford to do it more often.  I am quite sure that the quality of the photographs of the work was as important factor as the work itself in getting it published.  But as I examine the work I am constantly looking at the flaws in workmanship, and the improvements I could make in the design.   And, if I make a new piece based on what I think I have learned from the previous, it too has it's own list of flaws and design problems.  I guess this is what artist go through and why we are constantly challenged.  It one reason I love my work.  I love to create, improve, problem solve and then make more problems for myself.

Here is a new version of the Brownstone Mezuzah, fresh out of the kiln and ready to be patinaed and polished.  Don't even get me started.

Butterflies

Well, it's Bat Mitzvah time for me again.  This time it's my daughter Tamara, who is an extraordinary artist.  She is very talented, but I am most impressed by her lack of restraint.  She always is coming up with a new and different way of looking at things.  I have to admit that I wish I had a bit more of this quality.  She does not always follow the "rules"which makes her work magical. 

Tamara designed original artwork for her invitations, and is now helping to create the centerpieces which will be used at the Luncheon following the Bat Mitzvah service.  We have decided to use butterflies to symbolize the metamorphosis that has occurred this past year as Tamara studies for and becomes at Bat Mitzvah.  Tamara created the colorful butterfly wings using window paint and copper wire.  I will fashion then into butterflies and then make then "fly" on branches (some of which come from our own garden).

 

2011 pmc annual

I got news this weekend that two of my mezuzahs will be in the the 2011 PMC Annual book!  I am so honored to be a part of this collection of artists.  The mezuzahs featured are some of my favorites.  The Zentangle Mezuzah. which features a doodle texture I created with symbols of Israel and Judaism, and the Brwnstone Mezuzah, which is part of the permenant collection of the Mizel Museum of Jewish Art in Denver.

my mezuzuah is part of a museum collection

I am honored to have my brownstone mezuzah selected by the Mizel Museum in Denver to be a part of their permanent collection.  The mezuzah is fine silver and is inspired by brownstone homes that I used to walk by in Boston and New York. It features a bay window and a street lamp.  I am honored to be a part of this wonderful Jewish Museum.  The mezuzah will be displayed as it was meant to, on a doorway. 

To read more about please check out the museum's newsletter, The Mizel Tov, and click on the link for the museum newsletter (It is the Spring 2011 edition).

new mezuzah

My latest mezuzah case takes the form of a house.  The original texture of the walls of the home I created myself.  It is a wallpaper like pattern of flowers reminiscent of the arts an craft movement in the late 1800's.  I also included a raised scroll design.  There are three arched windows, one of which is open so one can see the scroll that would be put inside the mezuzah.  A dormer juts from the left wall of the structure and a chimney is on the roof.  But the most spectacular part of the mezuzah case is the door, which I made tiny silver hinges when opened reveals in Hebrew, the word,"Shema". 

As usual, piece is one of a kind, fine silver.

the price of silver :(

I just checked the price of silver and it is hovering just below $40 an ounce.  The cost of silver has sky rocketed in the last year, with no sign of slowing down.  The predictions on just how high it will go are frightening!  I regrettably, have had to adjust my prices accordingly.  I love to work in silver and would like to continue to do so.  I hope that my customers will understand the what I have to do in order to be able to function in this market.   Silver clay or PMC, is nearly twice as expensive as sterling silver.  But the wonderful detail and technique I am able to achieve with this medium is definitely worth the price.  Some metal clay artist are switching to copper or bronze clays.  So far I have been disappointed in my results in this medium.  But I will continue to explore the possibilities.

 I hope that you will drop by my shop and check out what things I have been working on.  I just completed a couple of new yads and I now can personalize your yad in both English and Hebrew!