Welcome to Studio
Saturday! Each week one of our contributors gives you a sneak peek into
their studio, creative process or inspirations. We ask a related
question of our readers and hope you’ll leave comments! As an incentive
we offer a free prize each week to bribe you to use that keyboard. The following week we choose a random winner.
This week’s winner is Kiwiken! Congratulations, Kiwiken! You’ve won a Fused Glass Donut!
I have been working all week on this post. Taking pictures and getting something interesting together to share with you. It’s not often we get to look into a specific artists process and see how they work or how they create. I will be sharing some of my process, but not all. If I give it all away you won’t have a reason to come shop with me 😉
My studio has somewhat changed since the last time I posted. There have been a lot of changes in my life in general! I gave up the Den so my oldest daughter could have her own room. That was where my studio was and I had a lot of light even in such a modest space. Emma has been a huge help to me since I was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast cancer in May. She deserved a space of her own. So my studio is now in the dining room, a much smaller and darker space. Can’t take too many good pics in there, you would not see much for the darkness! Working on figuring something new out, but in the meantime, I work where I can and that includes the kitchen table where these pictures were taken…
I am working on something that has been a customer request for awhile now. Earring pairs tags! I am starting with these in a new shabby chic style! I have a few customers that love the shabby chic style and I have not had much to offer them so I have been trying to come up with something new to satisfy this need.
The pattern is called Toile. It is from the original style of Printing a story onto fabric that was started by the Irish and adopted and made popular by the french in a place called Jouy, France. Hence the actual name of Toile “Toile de Jouy” These Toile images normally came in complex pastoral scenes and floral arrangements. The long sheets of fabric would be printed and laid out in fields to dry. Imagine the beauty!
These are the charms, all ready for a top coat!
Here they are drying. You can tell from these last two pictures that once I add the top coat they become more vibrant and the colour stands out more.
Here they are along with the Raven charms I posted the other day. All done and some still drying! You know what that means, I should be taking pics and listing right away! It has taken a little longer than normal to get them completely finished, but that has a lot to do with this week being “meet the teacher” at school! That and my anniversary. Life goes on even in the studio!
Here is a closeup of the finished Raven tiles! Looking forward to getting these listed and in my shop for you! The Shabby Chic/Toile earring pairs will also be listed…just have to decide how many pairs I will list to start.
So that is what has been going on in my studio this week and a lot of the rest of the time. Creating these takes 3-5 days with proper drying times. I don’t want to send you anything that might not have had enough time to cure. They should not stick together if given the proper curing time. No sticky or tacky top coat and especially no streaks! These have a very smooth finish.
I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about what I do. Please feel free to ask me any questions you might have and I will do the best I can to answer them!
Leave a comment and you win a pair of my new Toile Charms! I’ll even let you pick your color!
Hugs,
Marie
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Cassi
September 22, 2012 at 11:30 amThose are so charming –I love how their old-fashioned look. I like the ravens too 🙂
Alice
September 22, 2012 at 12:44 pmMarie,
Your raven tiles are just fabulous, and I love the old romantic feel of the earring tag pairs. It looks like you are keeping busy and making do no matter where you create.
Erin S
September 22, 2012 at 4:00 pmLove the ravens, Marie. I'll be watching to see how the earrings turn out when they are finished.
sandi m
September 22, 2012 at 4:02 pmKitchen and dining room – I know the feeling too well. Even though I do have extra rooms these two just have the best light (or maybe it's the thought of setting up and moving everything to a new room!).
Those ravens are spectacular, and I've alway been a fan of toile fabric. All beautiful, Marie.
Thanks for the peak into your studio.
Lynda
September 22, 2012 at 4:14 pmWhat a treat to take this peak into your studio. Love the new toile earring tags. Thanks for sharing a bit about the history of this print, too.
Lynda
Ella Bouchard
September 22, 2012 at 4:25 pmThese turned out so pretty! Love <3
Kathy
September 22, 2012 at 4:41 pmMarie, these are beautiful! I continue to pray for your health and wellness. It's great that you feel well enough to continue doing what it is you do so well…creating beauty!
Malin de Koning
September 22, 2012 at 5:06 pmMarie, So nice to read this post and look at your pictures. The new Toile design looks so great. I'd love to win.
Gina Chalfant
September 22, 2012 at 7:01 pmI am so sorry to learn of your cancer diagnosis and will be keeping you in my thoughts. I love the new Toile Charms and I thank you for the history. I've always gravitated toward Toile, but never knew the story behind it, now I love it more. Your Ravens are fabulous and I may just have to help myself to a few of them!
Donna Bradley
September 22, 2012 at 8:25 pmLove the new Toile design! Those earrings tags are so sweet and feminine. Beautiful work!! <3
Roxanne Mendoza
September 22, 2012 at 9:53 pmAll your tiles are so beautiful! Thanks for sharing.
Penny Neville
September 22, 2012 at 10:22 pmBeautiful pieces Marie and so glad to hear that you are feeling up to creating.
Lisa Cone - Inspired Adornments
September 23, 2012 at 12:26 amThanks for a peek inside your workspace. I'm stalking your etsy shop so I can get my hands on a few of those ravens. Maybe I'll get lucky and win a pretty pair so work with too!
KayzKreationz
September 23, 2012 at 1:54 amThis was very interesting. I love those new ones. The shabby chic look is very sweet. Your customers should love them.
Ashleigh Becker
September 23, 2012 at 3:18 amThanks for giving us a peak into your world! The ravens are really cool.
Sharyl
September 23, 2012 at 3:31 amThese are so gorgeous! And it's fun to see so many lined up in rows! I see one laying there I JUST bought a couple of minutes ago! …and one someone "snitched" from my cart before I could make the purchase! ha! I love using your art tiles in my jewelry! (And I must be grateful that a drawing here at ABS lead me to your work in the first place! Many thanks!)
Renetha
September 23, 2012 at 3:42 amI really love the raven tiles!
DESPINA
September 23, 2012 at 10:33 amI love the Toile pieces!!
So many ideas coming
🙂
DESPINA
[email protected]
Joanna-Gloria
September 23, 2012 at 10:34 amI love the ravens and the Toile tiles are amazing, discreet design, beautiful palettes…
Joanna-Gloria, [email protected]
la roulette
September 23, 2012 at 11:04 amGreat post! Thanks for sharing!
AntiquityTravelers
September 23, 2012 at 2:59 pmI love the pieces that I ordered from SJ – they are beautiful! Will keep you in my thoughts Marie, and hope you are doing better
Angi
September 23, 2012 at 9:34 pmI love the new earring tags! Thank you for a peek into your creative process!
I hope you are feeling better!
Louise
September 24, 2012 at 3:02 pmGreat post! I'd love to win some of your beautiful pieces. So glad you've been able to keep on doing what you love. Thinking of you always, across the big pond x
Jewels By Ine
September 25, 2012 at 5:33 pmthose tiles ar SO gorgeous!
Rebecca
September 26, 2012 at 9:13 amAbsolutely beautiful Marie, if I wasn't an abs editor I would love to win! They are so charming and quaint.
Sabine
September 27, 2012 at 2:27 pmWow! Those are terrific! I love the toile. How large are the tags?
Ann
http:mycriticaleye.com
Olly
October 3, 2012 at 4:01 pmHi!
I'm new in your blog!
Your works are very good, and these Toile too!!
I have a similar fabric in red (industrial things), but I didn't know the story of the Toile and it whose very interesting to know it, thanks!! 🙂
Olly
…excuse my english!