i have something up my sleeve.

oh me, oh my.

i sure have been lackadaisical this last week.

BUT

i do have something to show you.

well, a few things really.

i made something. in silver.

she's kind of rough around the edges.

but sweet as can be.

AND

there's something else i want to show you...

but its not here just yet.

i feel they go together.

SO

i'll wait til the arrival of the latter

before i show you the wee jewel.

things have been relentless in my little slice of the world.

my husband and i just participated in the 2010 bridal expo...

(think massive amounts of brides and cake samples).

plus we launched a new website and moved into a new studio space.

we are hosting an open house monday night in that new space.

it's an old building which such breathe and character.

i'll post pictures tuesday so you can see our labor of love.

i guess that's it for now.

oh, did you know i love to illustrate?

well, i do.

she's from my senior capstone exhibition.

inspired by geraldine georges.

i've been dreaming up some new ideas lately...

experimenting with texture and incorporating symbolic imagery.

i must say, so far it looks pretty impressive (in my head).

i was set to re-open my etsy shop...oh, a few weeks ago.

but it didn't happen.

i'm not ready, and i'm not going to push it.

i don't need pressure.

i need practice and creativity

and to find my pulse.

plus, silver and supplies are mighty expensive.

thank you for taking the time to read what i have to say.

thank you especially to all those who have sent me messages

and left comments of encouragement.

this really is a great place to find my wings.

fly,

sarah beth

why?

last summer i stumbled onto etsy during a google search.

last winter i decided to do some Christmas shopping the

handmade way

and came across this:

Gentled But Not Broken Ring

by thenoisyplume

{{THIS IS NOT MY DESIGN.

IT WAS MADE BY THE TALENTED JILLIAN

AT THE NOISY PLUME!}}

so, i see this image of jillian wearing this

undoubtedly beautiful ring.

 intrigued,

i decided to look at her shop and read more about this

giant piece of turquoise.

i read the description

and something inside of me understood.

so, i purchased the ring.

when it arrived, i examined it.

for the first time, i thought about jewelry as art.

i thought about it as having heart strings.

it was no different than the photos and paintings i was finding myself drawn to.

this piece of metal and stone was breathed into life in such a way that

i knew myself better.

i've had jewelry that was important to me,

but not jewelry that was LIKE me...if that makes any sense.

so, even though the ring is a 7.5 and the largest size that fits me is a 7,

i keep it and wear it anyway.

because something still and sleeping was stirred up in my chest, and

 i wanted to know how to bend silver and

how to set stones, and

everything in me that i had been trying to pour into my art

was pounding around begging to be laid in metal.

i asked my teachers what they knew about silversmithing.

i looked up videos on youtube.

around the time i graduated college,

i remember telling my husband i found a class i wanted to take.

he agreed, and

in july i was there.

by the last few days, i stayed in the studio the entire day.

the teacher would leave for lunch and dinner...

my friend and i ordered in.

i just didn't want to stop.

since then, i have slowly been stowing away cabs,

collecting supplies,

hoarding sketches,

and trying to gain confidence.

and that's where i'm stuck.

i have a studio.

more than enough supplies to begin.

plenty of ideas.

an etsy shop.

notes from people i believe in tacked to my board,

ready to enourage and inspire.

but. i'm. frozen.

why is that?

why am i so scared to fail?

why am i not living my heart?

why am i blogging right now instead of playing with my torch?

why?

has anyone else ever felt this way?

ugh.

fly,

sarah beth

so it is.

at the beginning of july i took a risk.

the only things at stake:

a few bucks

a pinch of my time

and a slice of my heart.

my little etsy shop has been open for nearly 4 months...

with zero sales.

i'd be lying if i said i wasn't discouraged.

i'd also be lying if i said i had invested myself into all of my work 100%...

which has only been some of my photographs.

the truth is i've been in a stalling pattern, waiting,

for more time, more ideas, more money for supplies to create the work

that is spilling out of my soul.

the other bit of the truth is that i'm cheating myself.

i'm not pouring myself out.

as much as i want to be able to survive as an artist by making sales

and having people respond to what i'm doing,

this is also for me...

my spirit

and my mind that keeps turning

and the sketchbooks with all the ideas

and even those little slivers of paper i write on
 to get my ideas down

so i can sleep soundly knowing they are safely cemented

and not dissolving as i dream.

i love photography.

but there is so much more inside of me.

my illustrations are dormant.

my transfers are still unborn.

and my silver has yet to know an audience

(i guess that's because i haven't made anything except what i learned in class).

BUT

everything is coming into fruition.

i am just a few more weeks hopefully from having all of the silversmithing supplies i need.

however, until everything is ready,

my store is closing.
partly because i'm embarassed,
but mostly because i want a new chance at unveiling.

i hope to reopen in january with more pieces of me.

if there are still no sales...

well, that's ok.

the shop is a platform to ensure my creativity
doesn't shrivel up

under the weight of the real world.

that it doesn't disppear in the crowd of

housework, obligation, and one day "mommy."
as long as there is possibility,
i will try
and have fun making things.

i hope to always create.

i hope to always take photographs for me.

it would just be nice to be reimbursed.

it would be even nicer

to inaudibly speak to someone through an image

or a sleek silver morsel.

this isn't a poor me

or a shame on you.

it's a thank you for encouraging

and inspiring.

i'm still going to journal...errrr, blog...

because i have to unload my heart.

but the shop will close tonight.

and it i will come back alive in the new year

and, until then,

i will be pushing myself.

fly,

sarah

{{ i've used the word hope a lot, that's probably a good thing }}

first trade!

my first trade arrived in the mail the other day...

YAY!

it's nice for someone to be interested in my work!

"there - fine art print"

i traded with the lovely Isaac

from pictureitstudio

i traded for ...

well... you should look at his site:

"Filter Test-Yellow"

ok, it's not a "sale"
but it's a start!

ANYONE ELSE WANT TO TRADE?
:)

bonjour!

SHOP UPDATE TOMORROW!

stop in and take a peek...

please :)

thanks, friends!

xo

today's the day

i did it.

because today's the day.

i opened the etsy store.

i've opened the door...

invited excitement, disappointment,

ideas, inspiration, success,

and failure.

it feels good.

please stop in and take a look.

i could use your encouragement,

your support.

right now it's only photographs.

but you can count on more,

i don't even know where it'll go from here.

where i'll go from here.

but, i feel accomplished today.

today...

there's a lot of power in today.

don't underestimate today.

in the words of a very wise and inspirational man...

"I'm out there Jerry, and I'm loving every minute of it!" - Kramer

short & sweet & YAY!

The Mac is cured and home safely. This is very VERY great news.

So....without further ado...

My shop opens Monday July 6th!

In light of this extraordinary occasion...

I have scheduled for a nationwide fireworks display

tomorrow evening!

Hooray!

No, but seriously...

My little store will make its debut in front of

the etsy world and many like-minded artists.

I'm a little nervous.

I'm putting it out there.

Independence Day weekend...

a perfect time to start.

The first things hitting the shop

will be mostly fine art photographs.

Later illustrations.

Maybe metalwork.

There will be an opening sale of some fashion.

Basically, be there or be square.

{{ Have a marvelous 4th!

I'll be soaking up the love and sun

of Summersville Lake }}

you found me

My name is Sarah, but I guess maybe you already gathered that. I live in the hills of wild West by God Virginia. The pace is slow, the people are kind, the seasons change. I, in fact, actually live upon a hill in a brick home with my husband (Paul!!!) and our two little dogs (Armi and Jewels...photos of them soon!) that we love tremendously and practice our parenting skills on.

They fit us.

We are both artists. Commercial photography (boekell photography) is our bread and butter. I recently earned my BFA with a concentration in graphic design. Oooo. I have yet to decide what this is going to mean for me, except that I will freelance from time to time. In the meantime, or possibly forever, I love illustrating and fine art photography (especially alternative processes, plastic cameras and macro shots). This is what you can expect to find in my Etsy shop first.

But not yet, because the Mac is down.

But soon…real soon.

{{here's a sneak}}

First - because there will be more. Next month I am attending a workshop with a silversmith. I may burst! So, after a few months, expect to see some wonderful additions. I already have pages of designs sketched out and ready to be transformed into metal.

Hopefully anyway.

What else? I love to write…poetry, short stories, maybe one day a childrens’ book or two. I find great inspiration and comfort browsing through antique stores and flea markets. It’s like connect the dots with the past. I want to sew like my mamaw, play guitar like my mom, and travel like my dad. I also plan to try my hand at pottery, printmaking, and painting.

So, we’ll see where this goes. Where I go from here.

I’m learning to garden. My trial cactus has survived. My orchid, Lovechild, is going strong {yes, I named my plant, and I’d be amiss not to mention Legs as well}. So, now I’m progressing outdoors to test my green thumb...or lack there of.

Today: sunflowers and wildflowers (and a sunburn).

Tomorrow: herbs, tomatoes, and strawberries.

I have developed a strange affinity with buds, seeds, pods, eggs…shells. Lately, I’m mesmerized by growth; it’s shining out my fingertips in the form of art and in the spirit of life around me.

There has also been a lasting cling to all notions of flight...

feathers, flight, wings, moths, a brush stroked sky.
But you’ll learn this all, if you want, as it emerges in my art and my words and my life.

I think this is good for now.

This is good for me.

This is a journal, a documentary, an outreach…
Feel free to stop by anytime if you fancy.

FLY,

SB