Hi all! I've been quite a busy beaver! I can't believe I even pulled together a meager Christmas for me and my boys this year. All the Christmas orders have been received...hopefully they are being enjoyed.

I love Christmas morning. Even though our families couldn't be with us this year (everyone still lives in the winter wonderland they call Pennsylvania), it brings me such joy to know that little black "Blazer Arts" boxes are being opened all over. It makes me feel connected...makes me so happy to know that so many people are seeing their new jewelry for the first time and being given their special gifts from a loved one.

It's been quite the year! We welcomed our new little boy into the world (he's the best, happiest little boy), my husband landed his Assistant Professorship position (I couldn't be prouder), and we've bought a house and moved. In the middle of that, my jewelry was selected to be featured in the gift suites at the 2009 Emmy Awards. So with all the craziness I never got the chance to publish "who got what" from the Emmy's. Morgan Fairchild received the 14K white gold and black silver Pearl Nouveau Cuff Bracelet (a personal favorite of mine) and Joselyn Pennywell loved the Tahitian Lotus Necklace so much she went home with it on her neck! It was a most flattering experience and I am so honored to have been a part of it.

So what does next year hold? Hopefully no more moving--I never want to do that again! At the moment, I am painting pretty much every surface in our new house. The walls were all a pale pink and in a household of three boys (my two little ones and my husband) pink just isn't going to fly. So here's to the slow methodical erradication of pink and here's to moving in an always possitive direction!

Emmy Awards Update

I have been feverishly working to get prepared with all my promotional material for the Emmy's gift suite! Professional photos of my work have been taken and promo flyers printed. Everything is packed and will be sent out tomorrow and on it's way.

We can't help but have high hopes...it's the Emmy's after all! I keep joking with my husband (who has his bachelor's degree in Film and Video) that I beat him to the Emmy Awards. He smiles and tells me how proud he is of me.

Even if nothing comes of it, at least I know that I put my best foot forward. I guess that's all we can do...as artists, as parents, as husbands and wives...do our best. That way we can sleep soundly at night. So, goodnight and good luck.

Blazer Arts is going to the Emmy's!!!

My jewelry has been chosen to be a featured in the "2009 Emerging Magazine Emmy Awards Luxury Gift Suite" (http://www.emergingmagazine.com/) gift bags and will be presented to Emmy Award Nominees.

This is a great honor and I'm thrilled to have the opportunity to share my work with Hollywood's finest.

I would like to thank...(hee hee, just kidding).

Stay tuned for photos and video of the event.

Living in a Beachside Condo...

...with two kids and four cats in under 600 square feet! Needless to say, our house hunt has become much more serious. It's nice to be close to the beach, but we need more space--and quick. My studio is currently residing on my parents' screened in porch with a tarp over it when it's not in use to keep the rain off. I also have to keep all the cords off the ground when I'm not there because they have a bunny that likes the taste of wires.

If I don't see another box for a couple years after this move, it will be too soon! There are about half a dozen that have taken up residency in our already cramped condo living room. We also have a ten by ten storage unit that's pretty well packed with them. As I mentioned, the sooner we find an acceptable home to buy, the better.

Update

Things have been busy...as it usually is with a toddler and newborn...and a business to run! I have been nominated to the Florida Society of Goldsmiths' Board of Directors and we had our first meeting last Thursday. New and exciting things are happening with the organization and I feel honored to be a part of it. Please feel free to visit my new blog for the FSGNE at http://www.fsgnortheastchapter.blogspot.com/.

Along with all that, we are preparing for our annual month long trip up north to Pennsylvania to visit the family. I'm very excited to go, but as I have been battling a sinus infection for the past two months (the 2 weeks of antibiotics haven't done a thing!) I'm hesitant to expose myself to the rainy, cold days of PA. I guess I'll muscle through. It's worth it to see everyone.

While I am home I will be working on a Power Point presentation for the library. I'm teaching Chinese Brush Painting to the local children. Along with that, I will be working on some jewelry tutorials to post here for anyone wishing to use them. That's my plan, but as we all know even the best laid plans...

Our Newest Creation

Samuel Wayne Blazer entered the world on Friday the thirteenth of February at 9:54 pm (EST) weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and measuring 21 inches long. He is perfect in every way and we are so very happy!

Zen in the Studio

As I was sitting in my studio this afternoon working on heart pendants (Valentine's Day is on the way!), I started realizing how much pleasure I got from meticulously sanding all the imperfections away. It struck me as a little odd. What kind of person gets so much happiness from such a simple act? Was it even what I was doing or was it just that I had quiet time to myself? Could it be the music playing (Angels and Airwaves)? Although they DO rock, it wasn't the music...and I don't think it was the time alone...I JUST LOVE WHAT I DO!!!
I love going into studio and losing track of time. I love going in there when I'm feeling overwhelmed and frustrated and coming back out feeling refreshed. I love the smell of my liver of sulfur. I love all the dirt and grime from my tripoli polishing compound. I even love it when I drive a bur into my finger and remind myself to keep my fingers out of the way!
I remember being in college and this wonderful professor of mine, Tom McGovern, had us read "Zen and the Art of Archery" in our intro. sculpture class. One part reads, "The archer ceases to be conscious of himself as the one who is engaged in hitting the bull's-eye which confronts him. This state of unconscious is realized only when, completely empty and rid of the self, he becomes one with the perfecting of his technical skill, though there is in it something of a quite different order which cannot be attained by any progressive study of the art...". It is this that has followed me to my studio...my losing of oneself in my work.