Kathy Hunter's Artistic Expressions

Bento Bento On My Mind

2011-09-11T07:25:00.006-07:00

I just don't know about Polly. At least she doesn't need me to play with her all the time. She's quite content playing little games in her "padded cell"!

Since I am back at the Desert Botanical Garden, doing some seasonal work, I am working all day so I have to resume my lunch-taking adventures. For the past couple of years, I have been exploring my Japanese heritage - the Chopstick Culture of eating from a Bento Box. What is a Bento Box? It's delicious morsels of a variety of food geared toward eating with chopsticks. So, no supersized, giant pieces of whatever you eat. I thought, "What better way to control my portions!" The challenge for me, was to gather enough variety for a balanced meal. Some rice or noodles, some protein, vegetables and fruit, and yes, dessert. The portion sizes are small so you can have a decadent cheesecake but it has to fit in the Bento Box! That's the trick! The calories of a slice of cheesecake can be enormous, but a bite or two can be the perfect calorie count, never feeling deprived.

I usually cook a main meal to plan for leftovers that I can put in my Bento. I assemble it in the morning just before work. This time it was pork thingy's - um, dumplings, I guess. I've never cooked with gyoza skins, that's the outer sheet of the pork meatballs. The ground pork was filled with ginger, onions, mango, mango chutney, slivered chili peppers, snow pea pods, chili powder for an extra kick, and salt, pepper of course. My little steamer could only hold ten of them, so I baked the rest in little mini muffin pans. That actually worked out better because it didn't take as long to fold around the pork, which is a definite technique that needs to be practiced.

I have two Bento Boxes from a long time ago. They weren't used much because I felt like they didn't hold enough food for my satisfaction. Little did I know...
They usually have two separate layers, fitting one on top of the other, then the lid. The bottom, I fill with a small serving of rice or noodles - today, it's rice with pork dumplings on top, and I had some leftover roasted vegetables in the fridge. It's interesting too, how I save more leftover foods, even if it's a couple of tablespoons for my Bento. It adds color, some variety and nutrients too. The next section has pickled vegetables. I took a pear with me to work, so I opted for some pickled veggies instead of fruit. It was delicious, kept me from overeating and I like to make them pretty, laying out the foods in a very appealing way.

There's even creativity in making Bento Boxes!

My Featured Jewelry Piece ...

I made this green dichroic glass bracelet a long time ago. I took it out the other day to polish it. Since it's getting cooler (ha ha), I can wear heavier bracelets. I made each link from precious metal clay, made the dichroic glass cabochons and fired them together.

Even though the glass is green, there is a dichroic pattern in each one making them unique at the same time. I'm selling this for $250.00 retail. My blog special price is $175.00!

Have a Great Day. I'm watching the Memorial this morning, and have been watching it all week. New York's Memorial is so grand, so beautiful. It touches my soul.

Sunday Sunday

2011-09-04T08:16:00.005-07:00

It's been almost ten days since I was last here. I forget about all the ins and outs of posting. I am happy to say that I'm still been getting up early in the mornings and getting myself out the door to walk. This morning was a little difficult, my feet hurt, my legs weren't working like they should be, feeling achy... ah, yes, I was whiny about it. I walk to Chaparral Park and see my friends, the ducks, the geese, the swans, believe it or not, there's even an egret out there. And, there's "bob". My favorite, I look for him every morning. His tag reads B05, looks like Bob doesn't it? His brother's B08, I call him "Bob" too.

This morning was beautiful, a little cooler than it has been, reminded me of Florida, especially seeing that lone egret. What I used to do occasionally on Sundays was go to an oceanside restaurant/bar in the afternoons and listen to Reggae. That brought me back to my sweet memories. So I put on Taj Mahal's Sacred Island music in my IPOD, and walked a little less painfully, and suddenly, I didn't feel so whiny.

I finished my walk feeling so much better and ready for the day!

I am putting together a small jewelry case for my niece to take to her work. Maybe I'll be able to sell some things through her friends and coworkers. Always look for creative ways to show my work.

My featured jewelry piece today is one that I made a few months ago. It's a PMC covered porcelain bead, with one of my better lampworked beads, and an Egyptian eye charm. I like this piece because it has an unusual way of getting in and out of it. It has a soft 16" leather cord, it's asymmetrical which is what I love about it. And, it can be yours! Retail price is $75 but my blog special is $40!

My Next Class

2011-08-23T09:55:00.002-07:00

Teaching requires some level of organization in going through each process thoroughly to make sure that I offer very good quality classes. I made this crystal necklace, not necessarily intending to teach a class in it. As I was creating this, I began to think that this might possibly make a nice class where students would have an interest, be excited about making this for themselves, and offer some variations to the design. It has to be easy, simple, and the student will be able to finish the whole project or the majority of it in the three hours allotted. That's what I look for in my potential class. Can the student with or without experience be able to do this? I prefer this method of coming up with a class.

My usual process of working up a class idea is much more involved. It takes me days to think of ideas, work the process up in the head, answer all my questions, think of any difficulties that might be addressed with new students, make the piece, have handouts printed up, market the idea, and get some students! And, keep the costs affordable.

My next class will be teaching this project. Lean to make wire links to join chunky crystal beads together. With all the links that will need to be made, by the end of class, you will be comfortable with bending wire and creating your own links. No clasp unless you want one. This one fits easily over your head. I'll offer this twice in September. Saturday September 10th 10-1pm, and Wednesday evening, September 21st 5-8pm. It'll be in my home, and the cost will be $40 for the class and $40 for supplies.

This is my featured jewelry piece today! I made a pair of earrings to go with it! I sell this piece for $125.00.

The last couple of days have been quite difficult with my limited computer technological skills, bumping into so many obstacles to get to where I want to go, is a frustrating experience to say the least. I can say, though, through all that, I still managed to do my walk in the morning. I've even added two sets of lunge walks, or "death" lunges is what I prefer to call them. It makes me so sore but I keep thinking that I'll be lean and svelte in just a few more days! Yuk! Yuk!

This morning, I did my walk and got rid of the ju-ju that's been mucking up my life. Came home and baked. Ahhh, most excellent! All is well with the world.

TASTE TESTERS NEEDED!

I made these Red Velvet Brownies. Thanks for the recipe Tammy. This is a bit unusual as the ingredients are not your typical red velvet ingredients. I used red beets and red beans! So I'll need some taste testers! When I try a recipe out for the first time, I'm putting some extra ingredients in and changing them out. I want to make some changes in this recipe, using fresh beets instead of canned. This one now, it's de'lish!

Live Everyday Sacred

2011-08-20T16:54:00.004-07:00

Today was a great day. I accompanied Pam to her pottery class this morning. What a treat to be back in the pottery studio. I helped her glaze a pot while she glazed three. She was a production potter, me - I just glazed one pot at a time even if it took me hours! It reminded me of the many hours that I spent creating pots. One day, I will be back there!

We had lunch at the Farmer's Market, our favorite food truck The Mobile Hot Dog Eatery. Best hot dogs in the whole city.

My Featured piece is a Teapot Bracelet.

Live Everyday Sacred.

Tonite's Dinner

2011-08-19T17:54:00.009-07:00

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I'm dedicating this blog to my niece, who loves to read blogs about cooking. She's my muse when it comes to writing blogs. She asked me for a recipe for Chai tea that I used to make a long time ago. Ahh, but I don't have it anymore, and can't seem to find it. So, instead, I'll make dinner tonight in her honor. But first....

Some Sake...

I had some ground lamb thanks to my friend who gave me some for my birthday. A very wonderful birthday present. Thanks Pam. I don't often have jars of sauces and spices because I like to mix my own, but I saw Patak's Mango and Ginger Chutney and thought I'd give it a try. Maybe the lamb and the mango chutney might go well together as meatballs. So I chopped up more mango and grated more ginger because you can never have too much. Also added to that mixture was panko bread crumbs, an egg, and some red and yellow sweet peppers, a little salt and pepper. I'm not giving the amounts until I taste the results. This is just a "hmmmm, I think it'll taste good" experiment.

So here are my meatballs! Into the toaster oven for 35 minutes at 400 degrees...

I thought that maybe some pasta shells would go well together and I really should have some greens but nah, I think I'll just have meatballs and shells. I'll eat greens next time. I love my food in bowls. I made this one in my pottery days. It just tastes so much better as "bowl food".

They are finally done! Cooked to perfection! And, the chunks of mango show nice and bright. Yum!

Okay, so now, do I eat this first and then write my blog? Of course not. I'll eat first!

I'm back! It was very delicious. I could probably use less chutney, more ginger, and maybe something spicy. The meatballs were nice and sweet and light. I will try this again most definitely.

My Featured Earrings today are the crocheted metal wire earrings. I've been working on these for quite a while, making different colors, not just the ones shown. I have purple, blues, reds, oranges, in a variety of sizes. I sell them for $20 each.

Sweet Inspirations - Vintage Buttons

2011-08-18T17:18:00.008-07:00

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As an artist, I get inspirations from everything that I come in contact with, whether it is something that I've seen in nature, a texture from a modern building, or even an old building for that matter. It could even be another artist that speaks to me through their work. You'll see me blogging a lot about my "Sweet Inspirations" because they fuel my own work. I want art to be in my life always, even when I'm doing the most mundane of chores or tasks. I look for things that will carry me to my next creation.

I love vintage buttons and have collected them over the years, from purchases in antique stores, gifts, and found buttons (those are the best!) Even the smallest ones have a wonderful pattern to them. So I took the smallest ones and made molds from them.

Then using my fine silver Precious Metal Clay, I created a pendant with a gemstone placed in the center. They came out beautiful! I want to make more but I have to sell some first! From the buttons, to the molds, to a finished piece of jewelry, this is my heartbeat!

My featured piece is on of the biggest buttons that I have made. It measures 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch, and is on an 18" sterling silver chain.

I even spruced up the back and put my symbol on it, so you'll know who made it...

I love the detail that these buttons have and what it does to my piece!

Get Your "Warm Fuzzy" On!

2011-08-17T08:26:00.005-07:00

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It was particularly humid out this morning when I started my walk - the air was thick with moisture, and I was already damp. But that's what I'm walking for - to sweat out the toxins, to breathe deeper, and lose some poundage! I have to laugh to myself when I talk about humidity. Is this really HUMID? Ha! I think not. At least not compared to spending 30 years in Florida. This is nothing. I'll take this "Humid" and be fine with it.

When I walk, I like to think about my next blog ideas. I passed a few other walkers out for their morning exercise. It always amazes me how we can be the only two people on the sidewalk, passing each other within one foot and Bam! - No eye contact, No "Good Morning", Nothing. And that split second is gone. I remember someone saying a long a time ago that, "Everyone needs at least 257 Warm Fuzzies every day to feel good!" Warm fuzzies can be a smile, eye contact, a "Good Morning" from strangers. It can be a phone call from a friend, hugs and kisses from a child, and it can be reaching out to help someone. I happen to like saying "Good Morning" to everyone I pass, and I get to snag a Warm Fuzzy for myself. I stopped by to get my photo card from Beverly and she gave me a bag of kumquats for me from her tree - ooh, another warm fuzzy! How many can you get today!

I chose two earrings to spotlight today because they were both made of bronze coins, with niobium ear wires. Coins. For reminding us of how rich our lives can be if we let it!

This pair of earrings has suede strips, ooh, a "Warm Fuzzy"!

My "Left Brain" Day

2011-08-16T12:51:00.002-07:00

Feeling great today. I simply had to leave my creative right brain for a little while this morning to learn about how to sell some things on Ebay. Beverly is helping me. She and Shirley have a store and they are doing very well. I'm so thankful that she will be coaching me every step of the way. All of those little details of even signing up is not for the creative...not yet anyway. Those important details will need to be evaluated, checked and rechecked before I can be good at it. Learning curves can be very frustrating. So, it's time for my patience to kick into gear, reading everything carefully and thoroughly, and getting over my first listing. Then, it'll be a breeze. At least that's what I'm counting on. This is just another step for my Plan B, and I'm actually excited about starting this new adventure! So my morning is totally gone and I must get ready for work this afternoon. I'm exhausted - well my brain is. I have to figure out how to make this more fun and more rewarding. Oh, I know!...when I sell something!

So here's my featured jewelry. I know, they are not earrings. I had to deviate a little today. These are simple wire pins that I made a while ago. (I left my photo card at Beverly's so I had to rely on an older piece of jewelry). I love these whimsical pieces and the beads are lamp worked, hand crafted.

Ugly, Nasty, Crazy Day Turns Around

2011-08-15T13:26:00.002-07:00

Do you ever have one of those days where something happens first thing in the morning and it has the potential to ruin the rest of your day? Unless you back off, slow down and turn it around yourself.

I woke up this morning, got dressed to go for my morning walk and stepped outside. Hey what's this? My sprinklers were going, the ones that I had turned off months ago because I didn't have anything growing there. What were they doing on? Oh well, I'll just deal with it when I get back from my walk. Then I noticed that the water was all the way down the street, I decided to follow it. Oh my, it had been running for a long, long time. So I cut my walk short, half an hour instead, and came back to the house. I unplugged my timer, that didn't work. I turned off a valve, that didn't work. But I saw another one and turned that off, that did work. Then I didn't have any water in the house. I remembered that I had turned the first valve off but not back on again when it wasn't the sprinkler. My next chore was to bag some yard trash and the bag broke. I wanted to hang a wind chime and my drill wasn't charged, tried by hand, but that didn't work. Okay. Time out! Sit down, take a deep breath, and change my day...

I fixed myself some steak and eggs for breakfast. That turned out well! I created my featured pair of earrings for my blog. Hey that turned out well too. Got a call from a patron and she stopped by to purchase a pair of earrings. Now THAT was an awesome thing.

I'd say, this IS a GOOD day!

My featured earrings are made of mixed metals, bronze and silver, on a niobium earwire. I'll be wearing this today when I'm out and about.

An Early Morning Firing

2011-08-14T07:53:00.006-07:00

Early in the morning is a great time to fire up the kiln for a long 9 hour firing. That's what I did yesterday after the Friday night class in Bronze clay. It was Diya and I and we created pieces one right after the other. Bronze Clay has small particles of bronze in an organic compound and when fired becomes pure bronze. All the organic stuff burns away. It's a fairly new product, much like the Precious Metal Clay that I use for my fine silver pieces. The bronze is beautiful and I must say that I wasn't too enthused about it in the beginning. But the more I work with it, the more I like it. Since the firing is such a long time, I like to have a full kiln load and it isn't very often that I work with it, so we use up the whole 100 gram package. I made a couple of "test" pieces among these. I wanted to see if PMC silver paste would adhere to the bronze during the firing. And, I also wanted to see if decorative balls would adhere, as well as a cubic zirconia gemstone. This is what we came up with.

Our pieces get put into the carbon standing up on its end...

Into the kiln it goes to be fired...

And, nine hours later, the firing is complete.

The result of my testing was that the PMC Silver did not adhere at all on the bronze, but the cubic zironia gemstone did make it through the firing and stayed on my pendant. I'll be finishing that up in a few days!

My featured jewelry piece is the shiny bronze "Peace" pendant laying on top of the just fired piece. I call it my "Peace" pendant because it resembles the Native American symbol of an arrow, with the head of it pointing inward. Very Cool!

I did my walk this morning...am eating my oatmeal to which I added some Cheerios...and I'll be working this afternoon at the House of Rice, where I'll get my ingredients for the next green tea cookies that I'll be baking this week. I'm having dinner with the family tonight. It's going to be a good, good day...

A "Getting Grounded" Kind of A Day

2011-08-13T17:55:00.012-07:00

I have great friends!

My 6th Day of working out, and...I passed. Oh No! I didn't go out and walk this morning and I'm not sure why. But I'm giving myself permission for it to be okay. The downside is that my day was a bit discombobulated, and not quite focused and on track like I had been all week. So, I think I'll go for it tomorrow. I just have to remember how good I feel when I do work out! I decided to do some grapefruit hunting instead. Ha! Don't know what that is? It's the old grapefruit that should have been picked earlier before the 100 degree weather came around, and it's still hanging out in the trees. Now, it's "hunting" season, picking them off with the other end of the grapefruit picker and just hit them so they'll fall from the tree. Time to celebrate! I finally got them all. It's too bad I can't think of any good use for them while they're in this stage - really soft, really mushy. Face mask? Ahh... No! I will make sure I pick them all next year!

Dawn, my niece, and her friend, Alex, stopped by to drop off some batteries so I could finish taking pictures for my blog today. They were up for doing a taste test of my green tea cookies. Remember them? So they were all for the taste test. At first, Dawn was a bit hesitant because they looked "green"(?). I guess they didn't look like cookies. But she and Alex did the tasting and they both agreed that they were delicious. So far, I have five people doing the taste test and they all concurred that it was a very good cookie. And, good for you too, with the green tea! I have another cookie recipe to try next time. Thinking of packaging too, maybe incorporating a little origami! They would be perfect together.

My day was very relaxed and unhurried, and it felt great to not have to be somewhere and not have to really do anything. Getting grounded is a good way to spend the day. It allows for fresh ideas to enter into my head. One idea I had was to feature one of my "creations" every day, every time I write my blog. Feedback is always welcome!

This pair of earrings are made of Swarovski crystals. It was a quickie pair of earrings that I was inspired to make. I like the bling but in a subtle way!

Finding Time To Be Creative

2011-08-12T14:27:00.008-07:00

I believe my chocolate stash is complete!

This week has been very hectic and in a very good way. It's Day #5 of my working out first thing in the morning and it's going well. It hasn't been too hot and my walking has in fact been very pleasant at 5:45 am!
I went to Dozo last night. My favorite sushi restaurant. Mr. Robert-san and his wife Risa, always make us feel welcome. I was treated to a special birthday dinner from Valerie. We had oysters on the half-shell, yum, among other luscious foods, like aji, calamari cocktail, taro chips. Their happy hour specials are awesome. A great time, good food and good conversation makes for a great evening.

With all of this running around, going here and going there, celebrating and getting together with friends seems to sidetrack me from spending time with myself creatively. It grounds me and soothes the beast in me. So today, I took some glass pebbles, and made some earrings. Since the price of silver and everything else is going up in price, I like to make some earrings with a lower price point. I think these will retail for $15.

I like to make my own sterling silver ear wires. That way I can change the length of the earrings, add different details making each set of earrings different. I used a couple of different sizes and I love the colors. This is just the start. I will make more. And, as always, I am looking to sell these fast. So I'll post these on Facebook and those of you who read my blog, know that they are for sale!

Since I don't have a professional models at my beck and call, I am forced to find creative ways of taking pictures of earrings on my own ear, in a mirror. Ha! I think it turned out, don't you?

ALWAYS EEK OUT A LITTLE CREATIVE TIME IN YOUR DAY!

My Test Kitchen!

2011-08-11T16:30:00.003-07:00

Today I tested out a new recipe for cookies. Green Tea Matcha Cookies! I love the taste of matcha green tea and what a great idea to combine them with a simple sugar cookie.

For years, I have wanted to bake a variety of things and be able to sell them at the local farmer's market - Another avenue of income! - but was stopped dead in my tracks when I learned that you have to have a commercial kitchen for any food prep. Pammy, my friend, called me one day to let me know that the Arizona Dept of Health Services just opened a branch for baked goods. I can bake cookies now in my home. I just have to have a food handler's card which I do, and keep my baking simple with my name, ingredients, and baked in a private home. Hey, that's do-able!

So today, I tested out one recipe. This is just the start. I want to come up with a fantastic tasting cookie, and I think this one is very very good! So in order for it to pass the taste test, I most definitely have to have some tasters. Hmmm, I am going to dinner tonight with Valerie. We're going to DOZO for sushi. Perhaps I'll be brave and see if Robert-san would like them. Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid. I know Valerie will be my guinea pig for sure. And, I'll see another friend tomorrow morning, Billie. She'll be up for it too!

I took this picture, quite proud of my uniform shape. Notice I just had to break a cookie for my own pleasure!

Today is My Birthday!

2011-08-10T13:51:00.005-07:00

So, today is my birthday and I wanted to do something special. This is day #3 of my working out in the mornings. I actually decided that I have to have a workout routine in place by the time my birthday rolls around this year. Thank goodness, I started two days ago! Whew! I get up at 5am and do an hour of walking. But today, I thought I would go to the Desert Botanical Gardens. When I got there at 6:30am, I turned my music on...thought about something raucous, with a heavy beat, but then I passed "Beethoven for Relaxation". Well, it turned out to be quite suitable for my mood I think. It's quiet, peaceful, early morning, just me and the birds, and the lizards and jackrabbits - perfect. On low, as background music, so I can hear the birds and whatever else jumps in my path.

Taking pictures throughout the trails in the garden was great fun. I posed in front of the photo opportunity place for tourists, did the Desert Loop Trail and the Sonoran People trail twice. I was pleased with myself for thinking of taking pictures of me as the tourist and had some laughs - to myself - of course. No makeup, dressed like a bum, but what the heck...Dance like no one is watching, right?

I visited with my friends in the Call Center (still looking like a bum and no makeup) and it looks like they didn't hold that against me and I'll be back in the fall for their seasonal work. Yay!

It fits right in with my PLAN B outline:

Increase my income by working part-time until I get a full time job, or . . .
I become wealthy beyond my wildest dreams doing what I love! (Which is my Plan A).

Good Bye Mr. Lizard. Watch over the Garden til I get back there!

On to visit my mom. I bought a gi-normous cupcake to celebrate my birthday with her. She was a good sport even though she wasn't feeling all that well. But we had some laughs, she helped me blow out my candles and sang Happy Birthday! It was a good day! (Ah hem, still no makeup!)

I'm home now and writing my blog today. I'll be writing more frequently because I've got alot to say these days. I'm picking up with pieces of my life and want to share my PLAN B.

Tonight I'm sharing my birthday with some friends and I WILL have makeup on!

Small Victories

2010-02-16T18:41:00.004-07:00

I don't know about the rest of you but these last couple of years have been challenging with the recession, no money for enjoyment, and everyone feeling the pinch. I woke up one day and said that I was no longer going to live that way, I was going to make some changes. There are so many things on my plate, so many have to do's on my list of to do's, it gets so overwhelming sometimes. Even this blog, I couldn't believe that it's been so long since I've last written. But, here I am now and that's all that matters.

One of the changes that I did make in my life was to take my life in little bite size portions, chunks of things that I had to do. I called them my "small victories", because I believe that if I can fit enough of these into my day, that I will accomplish a whole lot more than feeling overwhelmed by it all and wanting to step out of my life, run away, and hide.

Since my commitment, I also decided that I would once again write in my morning pages as prescribed by Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way. Finally, things have been turning around for me. I am actually signing up people for my classes, making sales in the gallery, and all the while enjoying my "small victories". When I start to feel overwhelmed by my life, I say, "small victories" and it settles me down long enough to accomplish something. Try it. I made a bracelet to remind me of my newfound motto!

Happy New Year, Happy New Class Schedule!

2010-01-04T15:23:00.005-07:00

I always like starting off another year. January 2010, I think I'll say twenty ten, it's short and sweet. And with each new year, a new beginning, hope for the future, hope for the things I wanted to accomplish but didn't last year, leaving the crappy stuff behind, starting fresh.

I have been concentrating on getting my Precious Metal Clay class schedule up and going. I feel so much more alive and "together" when I teach; who would have thought... For the next three months, my schedule is done. I want small classes of four to six students, and I am offering full days of Open studio on Wednesdays with three hour Open Studios on some of the other days. Open Studio is where one could spend some time here, using the equipment, kiln, whatever I have to create jewelry, for those with some experience.

I have some beginning classes in Precious Metal Clay, with some intermediate and advanced classes. Guest instructors, Julie Harmon - Viking Weave, Terry Cook - Enameling, and Geri Colgrove - Bezel Setting in Precious Metal Clay, and Mary Heldenbrand - the Byzantine Chain mail bracelet class also added this month. These classes are project based; you will create a piece of jewelry by the end of class or at least get a pretty good head start on a piece.

My Riveted Cuff Bracelet workshop is being offered this month, Friday, January 22nd. It's a fun class that gives you a sample of working with Precious Metal Clay, Riveting, and working with sterling silver. Fun Fun!

I'm also teaching on the road this month at Brio Fine Arts Center. I like to teach just short and sweet classes when I am away from my studio. This month is the Hammered Cuff Bracelet.

I've made a class brochure to hand out and/or mail, but still need to put it on my website. A multitude of things to get done...but for now at least visiting my website (www.huntressexpressions.com), and clicking on the google calendar will take you to the most updated schedule and pricing.

Whew! Now that that's done, a million other things need tending to but mostly and importantly, I want to fill my classes. Spread the word for me or better yet come in for a class!

THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery - The Ghost of the Past

2009-11-01T16:41:00.003-07:00

Ever since moving into my space in the Kiva Courtyard three years ago, I have been intrigued by the occupants of those who began their business here and have moved on to bigger and better things. I have had the good fortune to hear individual stories about the past, about how a perfumer was here in the Courtyard, a furrier was here as well, and just this morning, I met a Mr. Bill Treacy, who happened to be the person that helped to create the fabulous stained glass door upstairs in my studio. Not everyone ventures up there but those who have have gone ga-ga over the door. It is beautiful. I spent about a half hour with Mr. and Mrs. Treacy and he related that he had just gotten out of the Army and came to work for Mr. Lincoln who owned GlassArt Studios back in 1965. He said the Courtyard was THE place to go in Scottsdale back then with the stores, the fashionistas, even having a chance to meet Claire Luce Booth who came in to his workplace.

Bill also explained how the door was built and the process. It's such a great door. He cut each individual glass and labeled them, chipped them, and put assembled them. There are hundreds of these pieces of glass. Then he put modeling clay on each glass piece, then poured resin and sand to make the frame. At that moment, it was Ah-Ha. Because the whole time I have been here, it has been a mystery. Imagine my excitement to find all this out! And, he told me where everything was set up and where the artisans worked. It was such a great story and I wanted to share it with those that may have an interest in downtown Scottsdale, especially those in the Kiva Courtyard. Built in the 50's, the Kiva Courtyard was originally artists' demonstration studios (confirmed by Bill now), and we are attempting to bring that part back to life. Bill and his wife live in Texas and were visiting Scottsdale for a conference, when they decided to just walk through and see what the changes were from his past. I'm so glad I came in early this morning!

What a great idea to have the entire back half of the courtyard be for artisans once again.

Doing Something Different!

2009-10-21T15:00:00.002-07:00

Since announcing that I will be closing my studio, I have had a chance to sit back and re-evaluate the last year and see what I was doing and what was actually happening. While it hasn't been pretty, it has given me a change to catch my second wind. And, someone approached me about turning this into an artist's co-op, I have received numerous emails that artists would like to be involved in the first meeting to see if it would be a good fit for them. I am also examining doing business a little differently, maybe if it doesn't turn into a co-op how I could keep this place up and going. Perhaps splitting the entire gallery and studio with a couple of partners and making into a working studio. So many options but one thing is for sure, I want to keep this place, I want to continue to teach, I want to sell my art - I just have to do something different in a different way. I must learn from this and move forward. And, through all of this, I have found my entrepreneurial spirit again and I am willing to go the distance. I am asking for help though. I found a financial coach and we are just beginning but I am again excited. I know I can turn things around! Economy, Sheconomy, bah. Finding joy through all this has been my wonderful lesson.

Building Character!

2009-10-03T11:37:00.009-07:00

Yes! I have joined the ranks of those that have had to close down their businesses this year due to the economic downturn. I am sad to say that THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery will be closing at the end of this month. I had such high hopes, envisioning artwork from our Arizona Artists flying out the door making people happy, teaching my jewelry making classes, getting other artists to teach their field of expertise, offering space to other artists as they work on their masterpieces. Ahh well, it was not meant to be. It's upsetting, sad, and scary all at the same time.
Now, after ten years, I will have to find an avenue of making regular paychecks, a J-O-B! (It used to be a curse word but now, it just might save my life!) Yikes, a job! Will I really be able to work? Is it going to kill my creative enthusiasm? It really has been a long time. Will I be able to get a job that pays me money enough to live on? Oh, dear, such fear!
So, for the next month or so, I must not even go into that "fear", I must just remain positive in the face of these uncertain times. (I'll just get into my "Zena, Warrior-Princess Mode".) I must find a job, find opportunities for me to show my jewelry, clear out my business space, let everyone know, and work, work, work. I'll have to enlist friends and family to help me get through this but you know, I do have friends, I do have family, and I will get through this.

I know that right now, this is a "character-building" exercise. This episode or phase n my life right now will pass. That, I do know for sure. What I do with it now and what I learn now will determine how well it turns out for me. Soooo, No Fear! Just do it! Stay positive and most importantly be happy, I have alot to be grateful for, and move forward.

I will keep you posted on my newly embarked journey! It should be a wild ride for sure!

By the way, stop in for a visit. Visit my website, www.theloftartstudios.com. We are taking 20% off all original artwork!

Labor Day Shenanigans

2009-09-07T15:21:00.004-07:00

Okay, today is Labor Day. We celebrate the laborers around the Nation. Some are lucky enough to have the day off from their work, some are lucky enough to work, and then there's the local merchants. Like me, I chose to work today, thinking that it would be a good day for those that are on a three day break, to do some shopping downtown. But the opposite is true, the streets are bare, and other merchants have chosen to go home.

So now that I have some free time... not really, I do have "work related" stuff to do but instead, I started playing with pictures of my beautiful cat, Polly. I call her Polly- Wolly- Doodle- All- Day! She loves it. She's two years old, is a polydactil, which means, she's a Hemmingway cat with six toes, big ole mittens on the end of her legs, and she's a rescue. Found her online through AZ Rescue. She's my company these days and loves to talk. I wanted to take a picture of her with emphasis on her feet and got this great photo, which turned out very blurry. But, a little adjusting in photoshop and I have a great picture! I think I will print a few of these up and sell as greeting cards, with the caption, "Polly Loves Toe Dangling".

So, that's the extent of my "labor" this Labor Day!

Class Handouts - Should We or Shouldn't We?

2009-08-31T15:14:00.007-07:00

I had the opportunity to be a teacher this week with seven students at Creative U in Cave Creek. I sometimes go "on the road" to teach a class. It gets me out and about in the community. I can renew my friendships and find out what is happening in their neck of the woods. Handouts were not given out at this class, mostly because I felt that it was more about the creativity; we were making a riveted cuff bracelet that required cold connecting three components with three rivets. Simple enough?

The weekend before that, I taught at MADE Art Boutique in Phoenix, the crocheted earring class. I didn't have any handouts for that class either because the process of crocheting with wire gave a lot of room for play as they crocheted. Simple enough?

In both instances, I received some "suggestions", or "advice", that I should have had a set of instructions for the class. Hmmm. Interesting.

I also participated in a workshop held by Kate McKinnon in my studio this past weekend. I was the hostess but more important, a student, learning along side eight others; all of whom are my long time friends, my previous students, and accomplished artists every one of them. Kate didn't pass out instructions either. Nor, did anyone expect them. Some jotted down a few points, some took copious notes, and some just watched the demonstrations.

Kate McKinnon Workshop

Which got me to wondering which was the better way? To give handouts or not to give handouts? I do not have instructions for every class that I teach, which is mostly Precious Metal Clay classes. I give handouts on specific information like firing schedules, firing with gemstones, and other pieces of information. I believe that I actually only have one set of instructions and that is the crocheted bracelet class because it has set steps that need to be taken in order to get to the next step.

So how do I really feel? I don't think I'm that into "instructions". I want the student to be creative with their own work. And, I also think when the student feels the need to remember something that she will write things down. Isn't it better for them to write it themselves so they will be able to reference back to it in their own hand, in their own words, in their own mind's eye?

So now what. Perhaps other people's opinions may be helpful here. Which I welcome. From the student? From the teacher? Anyone.

By the way, I'd like to thank Creative U, and MADE Art Boutique for allowing me to teach in their place, with or without instructions. And, Kate for coming to teach us at my studio, with or without...

Early Morning's Reminder To Live Everyday Sacred

2009-08-08T12:57:00.003-07:00

I'm in my routine now of walking in the mornings. It hasn't been so hot the last couple of mornings. How nice is that! I carried my camera for a change and when I do that I look at things with different eyes. This is my favorite spot in Chaparral Park under an umbrella of trees looking out over the water, an empty bench inviting me to sit for a bit. It's peaceful and quiet and allows some "being" time, time to just "be". It's also a reminder that there is beauty in the world - a great sunrise, cool breeze, ducks, geese, birds all around; it reminds me to live every day with gratitude and appreciate all that I have and all that I am able to do.

Then it was getting showered and ready for work, off to the farmer's market on Cactus and 51 to be back to my studio by 9:30am. Got some yummy veggies, put myself on a budget and didn't go over that. That worked out well because I want to buy so much more!

Have been doing paperwork most of the morning in my gallery, a few customers, printing up class brochures and getting back to business. It's time to write my blog, downloaded the picture and everything stopped. I remember...

Live Every Day Sacred!

Think I'll go create....

Summertime in Scottsdale Arizona - Support Local Merchants

2009-07-06T14:40:00.003-07:00

Summertime in Scottsdale Arizona means staying inside a lot to avoid the heat, the scorching sun, and slowing down - to avoid sweating of course. I'm actually reading more these days. We drink lots of water, eat fruits, and avoid hot meals (although I had some sweet and sour soup the other day that cooled me off; I did hear that somewhere). It's supposed to be 108F today!

And the streets are somewhat empty as I look out over the Courtyard at the Kiva Center on 5th Avenue. One thing that I have noticed, being a local merchant in downtown Scottsdale, is that there are more people out here in the afternoons than in the mornings. Why is that? 4pm happens to be the hottest part of the day in Arizona. On the east coast, Florida, where I moved from, the hottest part of the day was noon. Should we do some marketing and get folks to come and shop downtown in the mornings and hang out at the malls in the afternoons?

Well, I think I'm starting this campaign to shop downtown Scottsdale in the mornings. Support your local merchants in downtown Scottsdale during the summer. I have an art gallery, THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery, on 5th Avenue in Scottsdale, and I have morning art jewelry making classes, new works in the gallery, plenty of water to share. Come down and see me, take a class, or buy some art. Wouldn't it be great to start your art collection now? Uhmm, in the morning of course!

New Inspirations

2009-06-02T10:03:00.005-07:00

My main focus at home these days has been to get into cleaning my house, sorting out old magazines, art books, jewelry books, books everywhere. I love books but this has to a stop, I have to get organized. I have a pile of magazines, especially Arts of Asia publications, that becomes my source of inspirations. And so, it is at this point, that I stop my frenetic organizing to look through a magazine here and there, destroying my focus of cleaning and organizing. Being back in my creative mode is by far the better place for me to be.

I created this design from a samurai sword hilt, called a tsuba. This'll be the first of many I'm sure. I like to think that it goes along with my own "warrior" mode, at least I think I am sometimes. Ha!

This piece is made of Precious Metal Clay and measures about 1 1/2 inches in diameter with cubic zirconias around it. And, I have another one that I just finished that's in the tumbler. Stop by the gallery to see it - it's for sale!

Riveted Cuff Bracelet Class

2009-05-19T11:02:00.006-07:00

Kathy Hunter

Riveted Cuff Bracelet Class

I taught a class last Saturday with some of my favorite, seasoned, and talented students. I had such a good time creating, teaching, and bonding with my fellow artists. And now that I'm here to blog about that, I'm thinking about what it actually was that I enjoyed so much. Aside from the creating part and being with friends - that's always a given - it was the teaching. I enjoy that whole process. At first, we as students are not too sure about what to expect or what to even visualize for that matter, beginning with those first steps all the way to the final, completed project. There's anxiety and pressure to do well coming from within, which needs to be released before you start. Gotta let that go real quick! We have to trust that we'll be able to "see" that next step, and then do it. Then, as the class progresses, you can see a transformation as confidence builds, curiosity takes over, and the student finds themselves looking forward to the next step. And finally the finished project. To see each person go home with a completed project is my "warm fuzzy"!

For my particular bracelet, I used three components (I like simple lines); a couple of sterling silver sheets of different gauges, and a PMC (fine silver with 22K accent) piece that I didn't like as a pendant and made good use of it here in this bracelet (love that!). Riveting or cold connecting is a great way to put layers of metal together without the use of solder.

My next class is scheduled for Saturday, June 20th 10-2pm. Check my website or give me a call to register. We will use other metals, like copper or brass for our top design then rivet onto a Sterling Silver Cuff. The Class is $75 plus a supply fee of $50. www.huntressexpressions.com

Had a good day and keep learning!

Rings, Rings, Rings

2009-05-08T12:17:00.004-07:00

I like big rings! It makes my fingers look longer and thinner than they really are! This one is made from Precious Metal Clay, a glittery white cubic zirconia, and some gold leaf, and covered in blue enamel. Love the way the fine silver shines under the blue! I'm selling this adjustable ring in the gallery so stop in for a look. I have other ones too! www.huntressexpressions.com, www.theloftartstudios.com

Riveted Cuff Bracelet

2009-04-16T13:26:00.002-07:00

What fun this was finishing this sterling silver cuff bracelet! Sometimes I like to switch gears and instead of working on Precious Metal Clay, I like to practice on my metalsmithing skills. I have so far made about three of these bracelets, each with a different design but basically riveted, using copper, and brass. I like the different metals incorporated into this bracelet. The copper panel on the top has a square cutout pattern, loosely cutout because I'm not that into precision. I like things to look handmade. At the bottom edge of the bracelet is a square cutout - a little surprise at the other end!
I have this showing in my gallery so come by if you like.

Want to buy it? Give me a call! Or email me at khuntress@gmail.com! $250!

A Glass Act Artwalk at THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery

2009-03-24T14:27:00.007-07:00

A Glass Act Artwalk was held last Thursday evening that had participating galleries demonstrating featured artists and their love of glass.

I invited some of the gallery artists to come and spend the evening with me demonstrating their art. Mary Heldenbrand does lampworking and brought some of her beads to wire wrap into fantastic pendants. Pat Hardy came with her latest glassworks and demonstrated her art of stenciling in preparation for sandblasting her decorative glass pieces. Kathryn Guler demonstrated her lampworking techniques in front of her torch. She displayed her fanciful glass beads, that included mermaids and lots of colorful floral beads. Last, and certainly not least, Terry Cook was on hand to explain and show enameling techniques - enameling is fusing glass to metal. The kiln was glowing hot - which looks good at night!

It was a lovely evening under the stars and being in the Kiva Center especially, because we get to listen to the fountain! It was great to share our art techniques to those that were on the Artwalk route.

Thank you for those that came by...
and a big thanks to my colleagues in art! It was fun and we managed to have just a few more people know where we are now!

Figuring out My Creative Process ........or Step Out of Your Life for A Bit

2009-03-17T18:02:00.005-07:00

My great friend, Terry, took me to the Desert Botanical Gardens Sunday where we spent the late afternoon and early evening walking through the gardens and checking out the Dale Chihuly Exhibit. Lots of people were there but we were so enthralled with the beauty of the gardens and the beauty of the glass that we made no eye contact with the other people except to get out and stay out of their way when they were taking pictures. I liked the colors of the glass and the different shapes nestled in between cacti and desert plants.

I had been working a lot of hours lately because there's a farmer's market on Sundays and it is the height of the "season" here. So it's best to just grab it while you can, be open, and see if there might be a gallery sale, or someone interested in taking one of my classes. I was due for a little break...

When Terry asked if I'd like to go, I jumped at the chance. Not expecting to "see" anything other than what was in front of me, I was surprised to find that I was getting inspired by the colors and the shapes, and getting motivated about what my next project would possibly be.

Those four hours of getting out of my routine and focusing on something other than working and jewelry making (which by the way isn't "work" to me), made me feel like a new person. I will make my project and then show it to you.

I am also promising myself that I will "Step Outside" more often!

Take care and have a great day!

New Class This Morning

2009-02-04T15:49:00.002-07:00

I taught a class this morning in Precious Metal Clay. This was the first of four classes, my Introduction to Precious Metal Clay, where they will learn different projects each week using this special clay. I love the first class because sharing the discovery of this amazing material with other people always gives me a thrill. I love to show them the process, I love having them create something and then at the end of class for them to be able to go home with a piece of fine silver jewelry they made themselves. They are thrilled as am I. They can hardly wait til next week, and frankly, neither can I. ..Next week, we'll make a hollow bead, and yup, I gave them homework. ha ha! Just something small.

Fine Friends and Fine Silver Party

2009-02-03T12:08:00.003-07:00

Here's an idea for a Girls' Night Out Party! Invite your friends to come join you at THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery, and with the help of me, the instructor, you can spend an evening creating a piece of fine silver jewelry. It's a great way to catch up on old friends, and to experience a new medium in a casual setting amongst friends. You leave with a piece of "I made it myself" jewelry! Give me a call to book your party. $40 per person includes a small package of PMC, use of equipment and supplies, and if you book a party of four or more, you can come free! Call THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery 480-699-6723

Kathy

Huntress Expressions

2009-02-01T12:45:00.003-07:00

Today is the first day of posting a blog all by myself. I have a studio, Huntress Expressions, and an art Gallery, THE LOFT Art Studios and Gallery, where I do my art jewelry and teach classes in Precious Metal Clay. It's Superbowl Sunday and since I am here in Scottsdale Arizona, my team is the Cardinals. I'll be leaving work here at my studio soon and will plant myself in front of the television set with something in my hands, probably some knitting, while I relax with a football game and those greatly anticipated commercials.

No teaching class today but this week is filled with classes from guest instructors and myself. I am starting a Precious Metal Clay class on Wednesday morning 10am to 1pm, which will go on for four sessions. Learn all the basics of working with this great medium to make fine silver jewelry. I love teaching people who have not yet seen this fine silver clay and to see the surprise on their faces when it becomes a viable piece of fine jewelry!

Mary has her chain maille classes this week and will show the latest patterns that you can make just by linking jump rings to each other. This week is Byzantine pattern and the Half Persian Pattern.
Call me if you want to take a class! 480-699-6723