Craft shows for charity

beCAUSE Craft Show

Come visit this craft show on March 12 that supports local and global causes. A portion of the profits from vendors will go to the charity of their choice. Over 100 vendors at St. Michael's College in Colchester, Vermont

Made in Vermont Etsy Street Team

Check out this beautiful Etsy treasury which features handmade items from Vermont artisans.

Winter in Vermont by courtneyreckord on Etsy

Finding magic in the attic

When I was a little girl, my family lived in a two family home in northern New Jersey.  Since we owned the house, we lived upstairs and rented out the bottom floor.  The attic belonged to us.  My father worked for a demolition firm and brought home all kinds of paraphernalia from buildings his company was knocking down.  I remember playing in the attic with reams of ledger paper, yellow pencils, old school desks, fountain pens, ink, old books, barbie dolls, old games and tins of buttons. And of course, there were my mother's clothes from the 1940's in plastic bags hanging from a metal pole.   Even though we didn't have much money, I felt like I was rich.  As an only child, I spent hours playing in that attic, creating all kinds of fantasies with what would now be called found objects.

Sadly, all of those treasures are gone.  My father got rid of them when they moved to a one floor condo.  How I wish I had kept what he considered garbage.  Imagine the art journals I could have created!

new etsy shop!

Come visit my etsy shop  - coppercreationsvt.etsy.com

The zen of sawing

So, I try to avoid sawing whenever possible.  I grab my metal shears.  I know I can't cut out intricate shapes with these, so I am determined to practice.  But I rush through the process and I break blade after blade.  Well, today I decided that I needed to change my attitude.  I need to get into the process.  I need to breathe - to look where I want the saw to go, to slow down.  Maybe sawing is a metaphor for life?

Caring for copper jewelry

Just got back from a craft fair today.  As always, people ask me how to care for copper and brass jewelry. I always suggest using a 3M fine scrubbie for a nice matte finish and to remove tarnish.  In addition, here is a link for a quick way to clean jewelry using household items.  http://www.ehow.com/how_4473390_clean-copper-jewelry.html.  I also advise keeping jewelry in plastic baggies to minimize exposure to air.

Some people are reluctant to purchase copper jewelry and worry that it will turn their skin green.
Although some people may be sensitive to certain metals, I have found that this rarely happens.  It is very gratifying when I hear from people who have bought my jewelry in the past who tell me how much they enjoy wearing it.    Copper and brass patina beautifully with age.  With silver becoming so expensive these days, copper and brass are a wonderful alternatiive.

Womens Festival of Crafts

I'm frantically making jewelry for craft fairs this fall.  Being immersed in production is challenging when all I want to do is design new pieces.  Oh well, it's all good.

Come see my booth at the Women's Festival of Crafts in Burlington, Vermont at City Hall on Friday 11/26, 11/27 and 11/28.  It's a wonderful opportunity to see handcrafted items by women artists only.  Check out the website for vendors.

www.womensfestivalofcrafts.com