Persimmons Gal

On it's way....

2012-01-25T19:39:00.000-08:00

I took 10 illustrations to the printer today and will have copies of my coloring book soon! They will be printed on standard 8.5 by 11 cardstock so you can color them and frame them! I am going to bind them myself and the cover will be a surprise. Cost will be $15 plus $4 for shipping. If you want to pick them up from the shop you can buy one now and include will pick up in the notes to seller and I will refund the $4 shipping fee. Delivery will be in 2 weeks or less and will include a personal little original doodle in every book!

Remember....

2012-01-23T11:05:00.000-08:00

This is particularly hard for me to live up to. I am very impatient when it comes to wanting things to be done right away. Making all of these black and white illustrations and collecting enough of them to make a fun coloring book has been so hard. I just want to fill them with color but I need to just be patient.

What happened to Thursday???

2012-01-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

I think I missed the whole day. Sheesh...anyway here is a daily drawing for today...Friday. Still shaking my head trying to figure out Thursday.

You don't have to agree just.....

2012-01-18T05:29:00.000-08:00

oops....

2012-01-17T08:22:00.000-08:00

Forgot to post a doodle yesterday. Hope this one will do. I scanned 10 of my images last night and think I need to make about 5 more and then I will start working on my coloring book!!! They will be printed on heavier paper so you can color them and frame them yourself! How fun is that.

Aw Yeah.

2012-01-14T11:36:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of chatter on Facebook recently about an article that was in PLUS model magazine about plus sized models and regular size 0 models. The article included a photo of two models...one the standard size zero and one a "plus sized" model who was a size 12. The article went on to talk about the average woman in the US being a size 14 and still "plus sized" models are still usually only size 6 to 12. Now that is absurd to me. There is no way anyone who is a size 6 should be considered plus sized but then again the bigger part of me thinks who cares anyway. Who cares what the fashion industry says, who cares what the bitchy perfect snob says, who cares what the bully at school says...who cares. The minute you feel the need to defend everything in your life and justify anything including your weight to anyone ... is the minute you surrender yourself to living the life you deserve to live. Let's all just stop trying to be pretty and start trying to just be PRETTY AWESOME!

Under the Sea.

2012-01-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

A little part of a sketch I plan on filling a page with. Just some funky under the sea adventures happening here.

woodland creatures

2012-01-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

A fun little page of woodland flora and fauna. I am looking into making some stamp lines with these and other designs. Will keep you updated!

2012-01-11T08:37:00.000-08:00

Today's doodles are my new banners! The one for my blog seen above and this one for my Etsy. I just drew them, used watercolor to color them, scanned and resized them to fit and whalla. Happy new very me banners! It makes me smile.

A whole page of doodles...

2012-01-10T08:24:00.000-08:00

Wouldn't these make great stamps...hmmmmm maybe...maybe not. :)

Hey you....

2012-01-09T09:24:00.000-08:00

Yeah you... I am talking to you. You are awesome. Oh and if you are a guy...hello awesome guy.

All we need is love.

2012-01-08T19:20:00.000-08:00

Just remember that.

Think you can't ... think again

2012-01-05T08:59:00.000-08:00

Nothing is impossible.

By the way I don't think I need to remind anyone but these images belong to me and any use of them without my permission is prohibited. Thanks <3

Just Imagine.

2012-01-04T12:01:00.000-08:00

Just imagine if we could ride whales while holding a bunch of balloons! Oh what a world that would be and oh what a world it is that lives in my head. :)

Doodle every day.

2012-01-03T09:10:00.001-08:00

So my fabulously talented and super fun friend Joanne Sharpe posted on her blog that she is going to post a doodle every day! What a super duper idea...so I am copying her. :) While I will try my hardest to do it every day I will say I am for sure going to try and do it during the week. I do doodle on weekends but I don't always do computer stuff...so here is my first doodle. Used sharpies and watercolor paints on mixed media paper.

An artsy gal.

2011-12-30T19:20:00.000-08:00

What do you want to do? I mean really want to do. If money, time, life had no chance of getting in the way what would you do with your life. I want to make art. I want to inspire others to make art. I want to make a difference in the world. I just want to be me...an artsy gal.

If you want to be an artsy gal join me for these classes....

January Classes!!!!
1-11 6-9pm Poppy polymer pendant $30
1-18 6-9pm This is your life collage $40
1-14 10-5pm Art Journaling Basics $60
1-25 6-9pm Metal stamping $30
... Class minimum is 3 people and maximum is 10. You must pre-register by emailing Kim Geiser at gkgeiser@yahoo.com. Please include your name and phone number and the number attending. Payment can be made through paypal (I will send you an invoice) or by cash or check the night of the class or mailing to Persimmons Studio 314 N 8th Street Manitowoc WI 54220

Create yourself.

2011-12-27T16:17:00.000-08:00

Wow 2011 is almost over and what a year it was.
For me it brought my very first large retreat teaching gig and also my first large retreat as a host. I appeared on Good Day Wisconsin 4 (or was it 5) times and through that experience developed new friendships that will only encourage more goodness to come. Molly lost her first tooth this year and also developed a fine sense of sarcasm which both makes me a proud mama and drives me a little nuts. In my personal life I lost 30 pounds (still working on that) and did it through working out and really paying attention to what I am putting in my body. It has been a good good year.
All these experiences made me realize even more than before that my path to finding my place with my art and in life is ever changing and that I am just better off when I accept that. I like that.
2012 is going to be a year of even more...I can just feel it. With a possible huge exposure gig coming up and retreats in Chicago and Connecticut to a visit from a long time art sister Jodi Ohl in July I am super excited for the year ahead.
Most importantly I am going to continue to find my creative voice. I promise to feed it. I promise to embrace all it brings and I promise to allow it to bring me the financial success I have always kind of put off because I hadn't felt I deserved it. Doing what I am in love with doing (creating things) is so rewarding I often do those things for free but no more. I need to start looking at my ability and talent as something to be rewarded for. This is the year. I am excited!

January Classes.

2011-12-18T07:34:00.000-08:00

January Classes!!!! It's been awhile but classes are back! This time around I have decided I am going to host Wednesday night classes and once a month a full day Saturday class that is a little more extensive. So here is the list...if there is anything else you want to learn just let me know and I can try my best to make it happen!

1-11... 6-9pm Poppy polymer pendant $30 Bring 3 colors of polymer clay and create one of a kind simple and fun poppy pendants. If you have never used polymer clay this is a perfect beginner class!

1-18...6-9pm This is your life collage $40 You bring a canvas and little snippets from your life like photos, ticket stubs, cards and other ephemera and turn them into a fun wall hanging that can be enjoyed for generations!

1-14... 10-5pm Art Journaling Basics $60 This is the first 6 hour class and we will go over turning an old book into a new art journal. This class will cover techniques like painting, assemblage, collage, doodling and more!

1-25... 6-9pm Metal stamping $30 Metal stamping is a great way to create personalized jewelry and in this class you will learn the basics!

... Class minimum is 3 people and maximum is 10. You must pre-register by emailing Kim Geiser at gkgeiser@yahoo.com. Please include your name and phone number and the number attending. Payment can be made through paypal (I will send you an invoice) or by cash or check the night of the class or by mailing to Persimmons Studio 314 N 8th Street Manitowoc WI 54220

Good Day Wisconsin Christmas Crafts!

2011-12-06T10:36:00.000-08:00

My pal the fantastic Rachel Manek from Good Day Wisconsin spent a little time in my studio this week and we put together a couple of segments with some fun crafting ideas for Christmas. One segment I give viewers some great and very simple and of course CHEAP ideas for making fun garlands. The pom pom garland shown in the picture above is one of them. It is so simple all you need is strong thread (embroidery floss or thicker) a needle and craft pom poms. You just string the needle through the center of the pom pom and keep going until you have a long string to decorate your tree, mantel or staircase for a fun Suessesque decoration. The kids will have fun helping too! I also showed a pipe cleaner loop garland and a granny square garland which I think is the most fun. Of course if you don't crochet it could be difficult but as a gift to yourself this holiday spend some time with someone who knows how to crochet and learn! So go to the website for Fox 11 and Good Day Wisconsin and check out the video if you miss the airing on Thursday!

Craft O Rama

2011-10-09T16:37:00.000-07:00

Whoooo Hoooo Halloween fun and making! All ages are welcome for this afternoon of crafts and candy eating. Kids need to be with a grown up and you can reserve your spot by emailing me...Kim at gkgeiser@yahoo.com. We will make at least 3 fun projects to make and take!

Busy busy busy busy.......

2011-09-12T17:21:00.000-07:00

Yikes poor blog. Been so neglected as of late. It has been a crazy busy summer with so much fun stuff happening I just simply forgot to blog! I am kind of bad that way. Like when I do events I forget to take pictures. Recently I spent 4 glorious days in Lisle Illinois for the CREATE mixed media retreat put on by the fine folks at Cloth Paper Scissors magazine I met so many people who I instantly bonded with, laughed so hard my face hurt, did a little synchronized swimming, ate lots of great great pizza...oh and made art! I took THREE pictures the entire weekend. 3. I am so lame.

This was my Life collage class. I had a blast with these fine ladies. Each one of them became my friend in just 6 hours that we spent together! Missing from the picture is my sidekick Mel who was so helpful the whole weekend plus she drove. Thank GOD! I would have had 32 panic attacks on the tollway. I would have likely had to have a police escort to make it to Lisle. Mel is a fantastic artist, wonderfully talented blogger and all around swell gal. I also got to meet some great people I have long admired online and visit again with my bff Sue Pelletier. It was so much fun. Work should be that fun all the time.

So much more that happened...my 25 year class reunion, my Inspire My Life retreat, lots of family fun and journey to a healthier me. All of which I will write about very soon! It was a great summer and with lots of new plans ahead I can't wait for the fall and winter too!

Treating yourself to a Retreat.

2011-07-14T13:12:00.000-07:00

Retreats are so great they even have the word treat in them!!! I recently heard a lot of different studies that say you should spend your money on experiences rather than things. The memories you make taking trips with your family or spending quality time with good friends is far more valuable and beneficial to your health than hoarding more and more stuff. Life is so full of craziness that just relaxing and taking time to enjoy life is not only wonderful it is necessary. So often we get caught up in work work work and forget to stop and play. Well I decided to end that this year and apply to teach at a few of the retreats that are offered all over the country.

I also decided to host one myself! Coming very soon I am putting on a little weekend of fun...which also happens to fall on my birthday. 9 of my awesome friends from all over will be joining me in a weekend of 15 classes, lots of laughs, new friends and good times. There is still time to join us and you can find all of the classes on the blog at http://inspiremyliferetreat.blogspot.com/

Last year I attended my very first retreat in Chicago for Cloth Paper Scissors CREATE...but only as a vendor. There I met one of my very favorite artists and now friends Sue Pelletier. The energy of all of the women who were there to take classes was incredible! It was one of the best weekends of my life and all I did was sell stuff for 3 hours. I decided to apply to teach for this years event and I got in!!! I will be teaching two classes...one is my life collage painting where I will teach you techniques to create a one of a kind collage that features ephemera from your life. The other class will be orphan bead bracelets. The idea for these came out of my sometimes chaotic jewelry bins full of beads that lost their place in my organized bins. I will also be showing people how to do basic metal stamping for this class so they can incorporate that in with the mismatched beads. It is sure to be a great time! CREATE is in Lisle Illinois this year and will run from August 24-28th. Visit the site here for more info and to sign up!

Next on my calendar of fun places is East-West Coast art retreats in Petaluma California. Sallianne and Ellen are the fabulous women behind this getaway! This is the first time they are trying the retreat on the West coast and the lineup and setting are fabulous. Not only will I get to play but I will get sample wine in the heart of wine country...I believe that there is a wine tasting event going on in town the same weekend??? For this weekend of fun September 22-27 I will be teaching 3 fabulous classes. One is the leather belt bracelets seen above. I tell you I cannot wear this thing without getting compliments! Next is basic metal stamping and last is padoodling...painting and doodling together! I am so excited to meet Sallianne and Ellen and all the other artists and friends coming to play with us...and a little nervous for my first solo trip across the country ever...but I think the whole thing will be a life changing experience I cannot wait for! The blog for this Art Is.... event can be found by clicking on this line.

They also host reatreats in COnneticut and Australia so visit the blog and see!

So I hope to see you at one of these life treats....remember the sweetest things in life don't include calories.

Juicing is yummy. :)

2011-06-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

I have been trying really really hard lately to focus on my health and to get myself back on track.I've been working out 5 times a week and watching every single thing that I eat more closely. Really examining what I put in my body and taking note of how that food makes me really feel. One of the things I have added to my routine maybe 2 or 3 times a week is juice. The nutrient rush I get from drinking this fresh and colorful and yummy cocktail of natural goodness is amazing. Maybe (a big maybe) even more of a rush than coffee. The beauty of the natural colors of fresh strawberries or organic carrots makes me wonder why in the world artificial colors even exist. I took a quick picture of the juice I made the other day which included...strawberries, blueberries, carrots, apples, oranges and a little spinach... for the nutrients only....you don't really taste it at all. Of course when I mixed it the colors were not the same but the taste made up for that big time. Not only does the juice make me full and satisfied it really really helps digestion and makes such a difference in my day.

The only downfall to juicing is that it is time consuming and when buying organic fruits and veggies it is a little expensive but the way I look at it ... my health and the health of my family is FAR more important than having things. So we sacrifice fancy anything and we eat well.

Tons of fresh fruit and veggies and very little processed food all make real differences in the way we feel. Of course there are days when pizza or a Friday fish fry is just what has to happen but for the most part eating with a conscious 80% of the time makes real real changes in your mood and body. Changes that are well worth the extra money spent.

I know that it is not possible for everyone to do this but making the choice to eat well often comes with sacrifices that are easy to make when you start to research food and how it really affects our health. Grow a garden, compost, buy from local farmers, visit your farmer's markets...I promise that you will feel better not only from the food but from the feeling of doing good for you, your family and your community.

Tooting Your Own Horn.

2011-05-11T07:41:00.001-07:00

I like myself. Maybe a lot. Some people think that means that I am self absorbed or think that I am better than others but anyone who knows me knows that could not be further from true. There is a very fine line... that I am sure I sometimes cross ...when telling people about things that have come my way through hard work and determination.

Those who listen and are confident in their own lives get inspired and those who are not happy think I am tooting my own horn.

Which makes me think about how funny life is and how trying to please everyone is such a laugh worthy goal. Depending on the stage of your life we all see the same situation in our own way. In the last few years of my life I have tried very hard to always remember that when dealing with people. I say tried because well I am human and have bad days (or even weeks) too.

One of my bad weeks was just recently when I had been feeling a little off my game and in transition which always makes me feel a little insecure. I have feelings of not living up to standards and I miss meetings and I worry about my body image and it is just not good. Well I happened to have a survey out there for an art group I founded to find out why membership is down and how we can change it to improve that. It was an anonymous survey so it was full of constructive and honest raw criticism which was great and then there was this comment when asked what you would like to see more of at the meetings.... "Less talk about how great Kim is and more about community projects" Yikes. Of course this hit me in a bad week where I was doubtful of myself and every move I have ever made in my life and I let it get me even further down. Why would someone say something like that other than to be hurtful?

HOW UNFAIR. You know why....

Because I am great. I do great things mostly out of the love of my community. I do great things because I want to surround myself with other great people. I do great things because I find that by doing great things I feel complete which to me is far more rewarding that a paycheck (which is a trait many if not most find unbelievable)

The comment was even more unfair because I honestly 100% think that....

YOU are capable of doing great things and feeling good about them. YOU can like yourself without worrying about what others think about you. YOU can do great things. YOU are great.

That includes the anonymous person who commented and tried to ruin my day. Although that must have been one of your off days...YOU are great xx.

Bicycle season!!!

2011-04-23T06:47:00.000-07:00

Created this illustration for the upcoming event Bike In The Park. June 18th Washington Park will be taken over with bicycle lovers. The day will include a ride from the Park to Stumpjack in Two Rivers and back. A vintage swap meet, kids art, bike art, raffles, food and more! The proceeds for this event being put on by my pals George and Jason from the fabulous Broken Spoke bike shop are being given to Melanoma research.

I created this little piece for an art display at Stumpjack in honor of the event and I will also have prints available at the park along with some cute bike themed jewelry and other prints.

Coincidentally the theme over at Illustration Friday also happens to be bicycles this week! So head on over and check out everyone's interpretation of this fabulous subject.

Now hop on your bike and ride.

Good Day Wisconsin!

2011-04-06T16:36:00.000-07:00

I will have a little appearance on the best local morning show Good Day Wisconsin Thursday for the Thrifty Thursday segment! I have been on a couple of times already and this time I will be showing everyone some thrifty Easter ideas including this egg carton flower wreath. Please print it off and share it with your classrooms and friends. The egg carton flowers are so fun to make and remind me of being a kid except when I was young we made them with the Styrofoam cartons. The paper ones are much fun because you can paint them. I will be showing this project and a couple of other things you can do with the paper flowers. In addition to the egg carton craft I will also show you how to decorate a buffet table for very very little money. In fact if you spend $15 for this table setting you will be a big spender. So tune in tomorrow morning and remember it is live TV so I may make a fool out of myself and that would just be funny.

Inspire My Life!

2011-04-01T10:09:00.000-07:00

What started as a devious plot to get my artsy friends to come join me for my birthday weekend has turned into a pretty awesome retreat! I am so excited for my birthday this year and that I will get to spend it with friends from all over the country who are coming to teach amazing workshops and create new bonds through art. You can visit the blog for more information on the teachers and classes right HERE

It was important to me being a starving artist that I keep the prices of the workshops really low and offer them in an a la carte fashion. That way if friends come from afar and need to allow money for travel they can still afford to take as many or as few classes as their pocketbooks allow. Our little town is also super affordable so accommodations are plentiful and range from $60-$200 a night and are all within walking distance of the studio! If you come with a friend you can stay for as little as $30 a night! Craziness. If you are thinking of coming from a far and need a roommate just let me know and I can set you up!

Not only is this 3 day weekend full of great art opportunities it is also a great weekend to just relax and open up your creativity. We will be meeting for morning coffee and arting and also after hours stargazing and campfires in the beautiful backyard garden. It will be a time to just talk, form new friendships and just laugh. To participate in any of the extra activities all you have to do is take just one class! How fun is that?

So register today...no need to pay right away or if you want to work out a payment plan that is cool and you can just email me at gkgeiser@yahoo.com All the instructions are on the blog along with an area info page with all the yummy restaurants, great attractions and lodging.

Oh and being right on (well 2 blocks from) Lake Michigan in July is usually a pretty kick butt place to be. See you in July!

Live Without Labels.

2011-03-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Labels annoy me. Why can't we all just live without them?

Roadblocks.

2011-03-02T08:25:00.000-08:00

It is kind of hard to see but the word on this bracelet is happy. I tend to make things with positive and uplifting words because well to be honest I am just a happy person. I enjoy life and am blessed to be creative in not only the art sense but in every aspect of life. So my outlook is usually rose colored and maybe to negative Nellie's a bit annoying. I in fact was once called an annoying cheerleader but an pessimistic local crumungen who was just so put off by my positivity. Sad sad boy. But I digress....life is just good.

Like everyone out there though I struggle. Since closing my store which for 6 years was my identity has been tough. I kid you not I sometimes meet someone and they say "oh you are PErsimmons?" Um well I guess but really I am just Kim. Before Persimmons Manitowoc I had a store in Baraboo for about 4 years as well so 10 years of running a store and suddenly having no place to have to be pretty much everyday has been a shock to my used to working every (well most anyways) weekend system. I closed shop and had no idea really what I would do. Yeah I knew a little ... I would continue to make my art for local and regional shops that I adore, maybe a little Etsy on the side and just volunteer a little for my community. It is all great in theory but in reality it just was not working. I had no structure and while I continue to work in the studio and create things almost everyday it is just different. I am finding myself at a roadblock.

See I don't really know what I want to do. I love making art and I hate selling art. I love being around people but I don't always love being around people. I love inspiring others and I love teaching. I am well...a typical artist. The only thing that is a little different is that I have a much easier time helping others develop their art and direction than I do my own. I get told a lot that people are inspired to go out and do things whether it is making art or taking a step in the right direction to get that art into the world, after talking to me. I love seeing that spark in people's eyes being lit. I love inspiring people and I love it even more than making art to sell.

Don't get me wrong there is very little more exciting than creating a piece of work that just makes you want to run to your neighbor to show it off not because you think you are great but because you are so excited that you just cannot hold it in. (I think that is why I love facebook) Let's face it though marketing is tough and I don't like to sell stuff. Which is fine but when you make as much as I do you have to figure out ways to sell it or you end up on shows and people laugh and point...no fun.

This has been my roadblock. What do I do. How do I do what I love and maybe even make some money doing it. Because truthfully the way that I work is not conclusive to making money. I sell art and I use the money to buy more art supplies. My artwork is a hobby that I sometimes get paid for. Those who know me know that I am so not a money person. I really really do not care if I ever get a new car again and to me a thrift store junkie, shopping at Shopko is a splurge. However after closing my store which gave me a steady influx of income (not much but still) I need to make some money and I have invaluable skills!

So today it hit me. I want to help people, artists and businesses to be more creative. I did a little poking around and the official title I have found is Creative Consultant. The idea of helping people set up a creative space in their home, or helping an artist start their online presence through social media and other venues, or going into a business that is stuck in a rut and giving them tools to get out of that rut is well, extremely exhilarating to me. I am putting on my thinking cap and researching for the next few months and I am going to do this.

Finding my roadblock has been challenging but now that I have it out of the way I am really really excited for my next creative chapter! So stay tuned because I am going to make as many people as excited about living and being creative as I possibly can!

Are you ready to face your roadblock?

Live with Love.

2011-02-17T10:23:00.000-08:00

There is so much turmoil in the world and our fine state of Wisconsin right now. I want everyone to take a look at what is happening and then remember what is really really important. Yes standing up for what you believe in is huge...but I have seen it turn ugly and personal and that is not good. Remember that we all have ideas of what we think the world should be like. We all perceive life in different ways and live our own truths and that should be embraced. Listen to each other learn from the viewpoints different than yours and most of all do not base your opinions on things based on the influence of others. Stand up for what you believe but do it with grace and dignity. When you resort to name calling and hate it just makes you look uneducated and uninformed on the real issues. I just think it is times like this that we all need to realize that the world is not going to end because a bill is passed. The world will however end if we do not start listening to each other and only continue to belittle and hate. Peace to all of you.

magnificent.

2011-01-31T13:52:00.000-08:00

My idea on how to be magnificent...

*live with passion
*enjoy this very moment
*respect others and nature
*accept failure as a learning experience
*laugh at yourself
*smile a lot
*encourage others to do what they love to do
*help those in need without any expectations
*admit you have faults and then embrace them
*find joy in the small things

A fun project for you!

2011-01-15T06:53:00.000-08:00

I am a pretty severe bead hoarder. I have hundreds of thousands of the sparkly colorful little buggers. While my stash is mostly organized in neat little compartments I also have 3 rather large bins of was has come to be known in the bead world as bead soup. You know what I mean the last couple of beads and findings that are on your table until you can no longer take it and you just swipe them all in the bin. Before you know it there is an entire bin full! Well when I look at it and think of sorting all I can think is ARGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH but when I look at it without those darn organizing eyes all I can think is OHhhhh ahhhhh. The colors! The textures! The shapes. Yummy. So I started making these bracelets. Created with all of the orphans and forgotten treasures, giving new life to the bead soup! Being a color addict not only do I love making them I love wearing them! I am hoping to go around the country this year to teach everyone to look at their disorganized beads in a new light. Hopefully a couple of people will even get inspired to create right now! That would make me happy. Hey if you create an orphan bead piece of jewelry put a link in the comments! I would love to see it. Happy Beading!

Artful wording.

2011-01-10T18:22:00.000-08:00

I love words. To me just writing a word the right way is art. Sometimes when I doodle before bed (I know most people read but not me) I get fixated on a word. I will write it 100 times in different handwriting, cursive, printing, block or bubble letters. When I find the right feel for that word I work on how to bump it up even more giving the word the feeling I want it to give. When I get THE word down I come up with a little ditty that has the word in it and do the same with all of those words. Add some doodles (in this case of noodles) a little color and walla you have a little word art. I am hoping to teach this creative word class in a venue or two this year. Actually am even thinking of doing a little retreat right here in Manitowoc in spring. If that sounds fun to you let me know what other classes and what teachers you would like to see in a Midwest affordable retreat! Now go get some paper and doodle your words away!

Padoodling in Petaluma.

2011-01-05T13:54:00.000-08:00

I am so excited that I will be part of the faculty at the first ever East Coast Art Retreat on the West Coast! I am going to be in the company of so many talented artists and it will be my first major retreat gig and I am giddy. Registration opened today so get on over to the ARt Is ... You site and do just that! I will be teaching 3 workshops at this fun art getaway...Padoodling, Leather belt jewelry and a basic stamped metal pendant. I would love to get away with you for a weekend of fun and art and laughs and new and old friends. ♥

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

In honor of all of the women who have inspired me this year (ok a few guys too but this is a girly picture) with their strength, endurance and passion for life I created this piece to share with all. Please print it and give it to a friend who has inspired you this year! Of course this offer is for personal use only and cannot be used for any commercial use at all without my permission but you already knew that :) I have sketched up quite a few of these inspiring little paintings and hope to paint them and get them up in my etsy very very soon. Happy holidays to all and thank you for being you. ♥

Hip Hop Holiday Happening.

2010-11-29T17:14:00.000-08:00

Mix great art, good food, and music and what do you get? The Hip Hop Holiday Happening! Come for this tour of my studio in the Art and About Holiday art tour. It will be 3 days of creating and filling stockings with real good presents!

Select jewelry will be marked down as much as 75%!!!

Hours for this weekend of fun are...

Thursday December 2nd 3-8 with 6-8 Paper Mache art night...$25 (you must reserve your spot)

Friday December 3rd 12-5 Make and Take an ATC and tour the studio.

Saturday December 4th 10-4 Make and Takes for the young and old, refreshments, great art deals galore!

I heart paper mache and teaching

2010-11-21T07:23:00.000-08:00

I have been having so much fun creating little beings out of paper wire and glue. So much fun in fact that I have to have a class to show all of you how to do it! So join me on Thursday December 2nd and we will get messy and make adorable little people and animals.

Classes have got me thinking. I have had a few requests from out of town friends who want to come to classes but don't want to drive during the week. I totally understand that! I hate driving at night much less in the winter in Wisconsin. So I decided in January once a month I am going to hold mini workshop events. One Friday evening a month we will have a little art social where we can have coffee or wine and make a simple project and then all day Saturday will be workshops. I will be happy to arrange accommodations for you to stay at a local hotel and being in the heart of downtown there is a nice selection of great restaurants to choose from for lunch. You can participate in Friday, Saturday or both! I still have to sort out the details but I will post these mini getaway weekends very soon right here! If you have any ideas or suggestions for classes you are interested in please please leave a comment!

Have an artful day!

Classes!

2010-11-14T06:50:00.000-08:00

Classes are back!
Come join me in the studio on Thursday nights for an evening of fun, art and friends. My art nights are 6pm to 8ish (or later) and all supplies are included in the fee. With Mojo coffee co next door now you can enjoy a tasty coffee or byo drinks! You must preregister at least one day in advance by giving me a call at 920-684-3006 or shooting me an email at gkgeiser@yahoo.com

December 2nd....Paper Mache People (or dogs or cats or ...) $25
December 9th...Pun Intended Painting (as seen below) $25
December 16th...Pinwheel Crepe Paper Ornaments $25

All classes are going to be listed in the workshop tab at the top of this very blog! I promise a fun night of art, laughter and new friendships!

Halloween Happening.

2010-10-27T06:51:00.000-07:00

Join me for a spooktacular open house this weekend! The ghoulish fun starts on Thursday 2-8 with $5 ATC night 6-8. Friday 12-6 and Saturday 12-4 there will be an open house where you can tour my new studio space and see what Molly and I have been making. The kid painted a pumpkin and it bears a striking resemblance to Lady Gaga...you have got to see it. So be there or be square!

I will be having open houses about 8 times a year so all of my local friends can shop! The next open house will be a Holiday Open House the first weekend of December so mark your calendars now. Classes will also begin in the next few weeks and I will send the list out in my email newsletter...so if you do not get my email... sign up today!

Chicken Mango mmmmm.

2010-10-11T10:55:00.000-07:00

Realized when I was grocery shopping this morning that I forgot to eat breakfast. Hate it when that happens. Everything looked sooooo good. I remembered I had some grilled chicken at home right when I was passing the mango's. I have not really embraced my love of mango's until a few months ago when I whipped up some mango salsa but now I am a little addicted. Here is how I made this totally delicious salad which I managed to polish off just a little bit ago.

Dice one mango, part of a green pepper, part of a red onion, and half of an avocado. I would have added a little cilantro maybe a tomato or a jalapeno but I didn't have any. Mixed that up and then added a splash of olive oil and a splash of vinegar. A little salt and pepper to taste and then tossed in some diced heated up chicken breast. Tossed it together well and poured it over some fresh romaine with a sprinkle of Parmesan and a few tortilla chips. Seriously yummy. Go try it now!!!

Things I know.

2010-09-29T06:23:00.001-07:00

So with my Molly being in school now I have developed a routine which believe me was much needed. After years of kind of letting the day take me where it will it is nice to have the time to do things daily. I drop off Molly come home and get Holly (I know the similarity in their names is odd) and we go off on our morning walk. For me a morning walk is not just exercise it is kind of my time to somewhat meditate. I am so not one of those people who wants to realign my shakra or anything but when we start our walk with a trip to our favorite beach it really feels good. The sound of the waves and the feel of the sand in my toes ... just wonderful. Besides the occasional gross dog moment of her finding something dead and rolling on it the time on the beach is stress free and perfect.
The other day I saw a friend who was walking by and she came down by me and helped me look for beach glass and heart rocks. While searching we started talking about our lives. For anyone who knows me you know how much I love to talk and I love to listen. I think connections we make no matter how small are so important to our lives. Way more important than we realize. So back to our conversation ... she said something to me that just stuck with me. We were talking about how I have this spot on my skin and I have a feeling it is cancer but am not worried because it will be fine. She said "You are just the kind of person who everything turns out alright for?" It made me think, as I often do that yes that is true. I have had a blessed life. Met the love of my life at only 19, lived my dream as an artist for about 10 years now, have a perfect little devil of a child and a wonderful family.
Things do fall into place for me but there are things about my life that are also crappy. I have this spot that may be cancer, my anxiety is just stupid sometimes, the love of my life and I have arguments, and my kid drives me nuts just like your kids drive you nuts. There are things like taxes and politics that gnaw at me on a daily basis. The difference is that I embrace those things as a part of life and choose to dwell on the good things.
We all have the ability to be happy. It honestly is a choice you make every single day. I can tell you without a doubt that if you live with an open mind and no expectations from anyone or anything you too, no matter your situation can also be happy. Forget the labels of everyday life, don't look down on ANYONE and smile. Do something you love every single day and as hoky as it sounds take time to smell the flowers. Look around ... this life is amazing. Embrace it all and you will have a happy life. I promise.

Padoodling.

2010-09-15T18:19:00.000-07:00

I love doodling I love painting I love padoodling! I start my padoodles with a vintage framed picture, you know the kind the landscape on a cardboard type material with no glass. I have started to look for really fancy frames and they have been abundant. I just prime the whole thing frame and all. Sometimes I use gesso but usually it is just Kiltz. Then I coat everything with a base coat of acrylic. When it is dry I whip out my ever trusty Sharpie and doodle away. The first doodle is just the basic drawing. If I am feeling a little uncertain I begin with a pencil. After the sharpie I fill the doodle in with paint. I really like the way paint overlaps the lines a little. When all the paint is dry I may go over some of the lines again or not. Then using a white gel pen and a fine tipped roller pen I finish the piece with swirls, words and lines...and walla...a padoodle is born.

Metal stamping for all.

2010-08-31T05:55:00.000-07:00

Metal stamping is so much fun and really quite easy. The fun thing is that with a little creativity you can begin stamping with very little money. Places like etsy and even your local hardware store can get you started in this very personalized fun craft. If you go to specialty stamping stores like Rings and Things , you can even get picture stamps like hearts, stars and so much more. Super simple is starting with copper washers, a metal letter stamp set, a ball peen hammer, and steel block. Simply line up your letters and strike with your hammer. I recently wrote a detailed tutorial for one of my favorite jewelry magazines so watch my blog for more information hopefully soon!

I promise....

2010-08-09T07:48:00.000-07:00

...to never let it be that long again before I post. Yikes it was almost a month! Time to get off my bum and back to bloggin like a good blogger should.

Here is a little pic of me and Kathy Cano-Murillo otherwise known as the Crafty Chica. I was lucky to meet and craft a little with her at the CHA Supershow in Rosemont Il recently. Between fun stuff like that, my sisters wedding, a ton of health issues in our family and just making art it has been a whirlwind of a summer so far ... and it is almost over!

Publishing Happiness.

2010-07-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a good year for me on the publishing front. I am always giddy when I receive my comp issues of magazines my work appears in and these two fine issues were no exception. In the new Belle Armoire you can read a little Q&A about my packaging and how important I believe how you present your work is. In the July CPS you can see my art bag in the muse flash section and as an added bonus my fabulous art friend Sue is the cover girl! Go Sue go Sue. So pick up these issues and support the mixed media art world!

Busy busy busy

2010-06-24T12:37:00.000-07:00

Almost a month since my last post! That is just crazy to me. Where did that month go? Well I can tell you I spent it making lots of new fun stuff, rearranging (again), spending good times with family and just overall enjoying life.
Except for the swimming pool that we got the day it rained 4 inches. Yeah not good. But all my plants survived and now are thriving in the heat.

Worked on some fun new soldered pendants using vintage jewelry. If I am going to keep buying all the vintage goodies I seem to hoard I best start using them and I like how these turned out.

Well and anyone who knows me knows I have entirely way too many game pieces. Not sure why this picture is sideways but you get it.

Then when I feeling punny one day I whipped out 14 little pun paintings. I really get great joy out of making these little pictures. How many people can say that things they do make them laugh out loud while alone? I can. I honestly love my job.

Mexico!

2010-05-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

What inspires me? Mexican Folk art. All the yummy color and outsider art appeal. I was lucky enough to visit once and it was delicious! Even the homes and buildings make you smile with their vibrant hues. Growing up with an uncle from Mexico may have influenced it a bit as well. My cousins would come home from their yearly trip to Nino's hometown and have such great stories and candy! We would play Loteria all the time with kidney beans as markers and before my Auntie Mary (Nino's wife) passed away last year I was lucky enough to get the set we played with. The best were the visits from Nino's mom and sisters. They spoke very very little English so instead of talking they would just cook. There is seriously nothing better on this planet than tamales made by people who know what the heck they are doing. Glenn made them a few years ago for a party we were having but they were different. Still good but not as good as the pros. Now I collect Mexican Folk art and when the mood strikes me I create art with my own personal flair but heavily influenced by my past and love for the art that is created by the wonderful people of Mexico.

Where has my art taken me?

2010-05-25T07:33:00.000-07:00

Oh the places my art has taken me. I decided it was time for me to create an art resume and as I look back on the last ten years it makes me smile. My creativity started to come out in 1999 when I opened a little consignment craft store in Baraboo Wisconsin with 3 other creative ladies. I quickly discovered through that wonderful learning experience that I would work much better alone and after 3 years broke off on my own. After only a year of successfully running my store alone Glenn and I decided to make a major life change and move back to my hometown to be near family and make some career changes.

Once in Manitowoc I was feeling lost and unsure of where I would fit in. I started making things. For hours and hours I would spend time in my studio in my parents basement and spending the other hours of the day working at a bank...yes a bank. One day while walking downtown I noticed a for rent sign in a store window. My curiosity peaked and I got home and called the number. The rent was so affordable I decided it was time to resume the business I loved so much in Baraboo and so Persimmons Manitowoc style was born.

Having the shop made me realize that our community needed more opportunities for local artists to connect and network so I talked to a few of the artists I met through my shop and my friend Jolene Funk and we started Art and About. It really allowed artists of all ages and mediums to meet and support each other and since that day in 2004 our group has raised thousands of dollars to further the education of young artists in our county. We also host art tours to open the community to all the wonderful creative spaces of the 40 or so artists that make up Art and About.

My store Persimmons has changed a bit since opening in Manitowoc in 2004. I have moved to my current location at 314 N 8th Street in Manitowoc. The building is a 1890's brick beauty with an original mosaic tiled floor and even more amazing original tin ceiling. My open studio was recently featured in CPS Studios and I was honored to be featured along with so many talented artists and craft people!

My art has taken me on a path of so many wonderful journeys. In the last few years I have been fortunate (well kind of fortunate but mostly because I work my butt off) to be published in so many wonderful art magazines! If someone would have told me 10 years ago when I was first published in a little blurb in ME Home Companion that someday I would be regularly published I don't know if I would have believed it. My work has been in Somerset Gallery, Somerset Holidays and Celebrations, Somerset Studio, Bead Unique, Cloth Paper Scissors, CPS Studios, and Belle Armoire! Actually putting it on paper made me go wow! I am a lucky lucky gal.

I am really excited for the future and hope that maybe someday all of my hard work will allow me to actually make money...he he. Which is why I am working on my little art resume. Putting down all of my accomplishments on paper has made me realize that I really have accomplished a lot in just a few years that I am really proud of.

I am surrounded by a wonderful network of wonderful artists and friends that support me and who I love supporting as well and that is by far the best result of my art journey. There are so many amazing and talented people in this world and I am happy to have quite a few of them in my life!

So get out there and put yourself out there! Share your art and enthusiasm with the world and I promise in 5 years when you look back on what you have done you will smile.

Don't forget the color.

2010-05-19T07:24:00.000-07:00

As anyone who knows me knows I love color. All my walls in my house are painted bright vibrant colors like apple green, Caribbean blue and bright orange. I get so inspired by layers of texture piled with colors of all hues and shades. I search out vintage pieces with that color I crave to reinvent into something a little over the top and vibrant. Like this rag rug placemat I found at my local thrift store. Some of you may have seen my art bag but I decided to let you all know a little more about it since it will appear in the next issue of Cloth Paper Scissors in the muse flash section. That makes me as happy as a giant rainbow.

I created this bag with a standard placemat that I folded in half and then crocheted the sides in the end loops. I added straps by simply cutting a small hole on each side of the bag and tying long pieces of fabric strips and even a vintage Peruvian belt as handles. I then took more strips of fabric and ran them through holes in the bottom and to the handles to create fringe. I hung some ATC's from the fringe and a few supplies like a scissors, sharpie, wire and ruler from the strap fringe so I am never without these staples of my craft arsenal. The bag is big enough to fit a nice assortment of supplies on a trip so I can journal on the go.

The wonderful color in the placemat also made for a nice background for a few of my new pendants that are now at Persimmons!

Studio.

2010-05-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

I am honored to be featured in the latest issue of Cloth Paper Scissors Studio magazine! This fantastic issue also features the studios of some of my art sisters like Jodi Ohl, Pam Carriker and Risa Tritabaugh. There are so many great ideas for storage, organization and color in your studio. Us artists are so very clever. This fantastic issue comes out on May 18th or you can order it on the Cloth Paper Scissors site. Big big love to my super talented friend Nikki Nishke for taking fabulous photos for the article ... she is a picture taking pro!

GIANT Shrine.

2010-04-27T04:26:00.000-07:00

While at my favorite store the other day I spotted this beauty. I instantly envisioned a giant shadowbox type piece of art. It is hard to see in the picture but the inlay border in this former radio cabinet was just too fantastic to resist and for only $8 there was not doubt it was coming home with me. For a few days it sat in the studio with hopes of striking inspiration into what I could turn it into but the more I looked at it the more I realized it was too beautiful alone to mess with. I hauled it upstairs and it instantly found it's place on my favorite wall in the house....my art wall. I put my only plant (I kill them but this one just keeps going) inside and the top displays some of my favorite things like a few Halloween folks from The Wilsons and a great tulip picture from my good friend Paula Radl. The large angel and peacock feather vase come home with us from our trip to Mexico quite a few years back. The perfectly fit on top of this new shrine that is sure to be a part of our home for the rest of my days.

COLOR

2010-04-13T06:21:00.000-07:00

I find myself longing for color lately. As my plants start peeking out of the ground....quite early mind you....I can hardly wait to see my garden bursting with color. The lilacs and peonies and their beautiful pinks and purples and oh lets not forget the sweet sweet fragrance that fills the backyard at this glorious time of year. But until then I will just create with lots of color and dream of spring splendor!

Furniture love.

2010-03-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

So on our recent trip to the Dells we stopped at Delaney's and got these great tables that can go from regular desk height to standing height with a simple crank. Mine has two shelves above (Glenn is working on stripping the paint off the other one right now so it isn't pictured). Also on the left side of the table is my new bin thingie that has 12 red bins that I am keeping different tools for jewelry, soldering, and metalwork in. After I finally got everything in place ... oh it was a mess bringing something this large into the studio .... I sat down and made a few things and realized I was in love. In love with furniture. Really it was that same squishy happy overwhelmingly elated feeling of being with someone you never want to be without. I know it ain't right but I never claimed to be normal. By the way the cost for this love was only $50 for the table ($600+ value new) and $27 for the bin thing. Yeah you need to go to Delaney's.

Stampin fool.

2010-03-24T18:33:00.000-07:00

So on our trip to the Dells this past weekend I stopped at one of my favorite places....Turtle Island Beads. Oh it is a glorious place. 9,000 square feet of beading paradise. I was so happy to see they had letter metal stamps in all different sizes. I do buy a few things online but sometimes I just like to see something in real life so I know it is exactly what I want. Especially with tools. Well I got two sets and could not wait to play with them. In the studio on Tuesday I cranked out quite a few copper pendants and had a whole lot of fun doing it.

By the way all these pieces are available right now in my Etsy shop.

Magical Places

2010-03-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

So we went on a little trip this weekend and visited many of our favorite places. I could hardly wait to share one of the most magical places I have ever been in my life....Dr Evermore's Sculpture Park. If you take highway 12 from Baraboo to Sauk City...which is a pretty magical drive in itself through the Baraboo hills....you will see one of the best junk shops on the planet Delaney's. It is just one of those places you have to see to understand. We found the most amazing tables for only $50 each...we bought 3. As you stroll through the outdoor isles of bins of junk you come upon this amazing sculpture park. It was so much fun to see Molly's face as we approached the gianourmous bug made from salvaged junk. We were mesmerized and took so many pictures. It was wonderfully overwhelming and made me want to go home and make stuff! Unfortunately the artist recently had a stroke and isn't able to hang out in the park as much creating. If you ever are in the area please do not miss this place.

On the way to Baraboo driving through Fond Du Lac is another amazing sight. An 88 turbine wind farm. Now I know many oppose the look of these but to me it was fantastically surreal and exciting. I hope to see more of them soon!

All of this was just a few hundred miles from home! Get out and explore and you too will find magic right in your world!

Fly fly away

2010-03-09T18:32:00.000-08:00

My new fly fly away earrings are now available at Weathered Goods at 1242 Main Street in Green Bay. I will also have some at Persimmons and maybe on my etsy. Love them...let me know! Oh and at only $15 a pair they will fly fly away!

Seam Binding.

2010-03-02T19:06:00.000-08:00

So I recently found a supplier for a brand of seam binding I have been searching for for quite some time now. When I got my huge rolls of this fabulous ribbon I was in LOVE! The colors were so dreamy and the possibilities of how to use them are endless. They add a perfect finishing touch to my soldered pendants and tied on the links of bracelets. I have only just begun playing with this fun new to me product and cannot wait to see what else I can create with it!

Snowy days.

2010-02-24T08:13:00.000-08:00

Since the snowflakes are flying here today I am going to be hanging out at home doing the dreaded task that I hate more than anything in the world....getting my taxes together. You would think that after 10 years of doing this I would have a system or even an ounce of organization but nope. Fact is I need a book keeper. I think I have denied long enough that I can do it all myself and after reading interview after interview of artists saying that is the most important thing you can do I think it is time to take the leap. So here I go to sort through boxes of receipts bills and bank statements....wish me luck!

I used to be....

2010-02-02T14:25:00.000-08:00

A silver platter that held cookies and other yummy treats. I just loved the filigree in this platter and so I thought I wonder if I cut it pounded it and stamped it how it would look. Well I like it even more as a pendant as I did as a platter. I was attempting clever when I stamped Becoming who I really am. Love this piece and hope to see it and the technique in a magazine someday????

Love is in the air.

2010-01-21T17:03:00.000-08:00

So I am putting together a little show of love for Valentines. There will be little works of art starting at just $3 for my little hand drawn and hand painted valentines. I have seen the originals Annette Wimmer has made for the show and they are amazing and amazingly inexpensive. So mark your calendars and make a stop at Persimmons for the opening Friday February 12th with your sweetie. We will have a meet the artist and goodies reception from 6-9.
I am taking orders now for personalized valentines so email me at gkgeiser@yahoo.com, go to my etsy shop or stop in when you see the open sign on!

A cool contest for cool moms

2010-01-18T10:48:00.000-08:00

So I found this great contest on the Storque on Etsy recently. While I highly doubt my little design will be picked I thought why not make a little foodie doodle just for this great little contest put on by the cool mom's at the Cool Mom Picks blog. If you are into drawing hurry up and enter. Deadline for this fun little contest is January 22nd!

A new year a new calendar....

2010-01-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

So I made my annual trip to the Dollar Tree this morning...no it wasn't the only time I go all year just talking about the trip to get my calendar/planner. Lord knows I will spend much time and many dollars over the course of the year there. But back to the calendar. They are super cheap...$1 and they are just as good as the day whatevers you get at the office stores for 20 times as much. After all you just need space to mark it up anyhow. Well this year I was super excited because they had them with plastic sleeves. The instant I saw it I thought oh the possibilities. It would also be a great way to work on one of my goals for the year to create something just for me. So I did a little pasting, and drawing and painting and have my 2010 calendar with a little bit of flair. It will make me happy every time I have to schedule a meeting (snore). I drew one of my girls who is supposed to look like me but she is much cuter than I and surrounded her with goals for the year to remind me of what I should be doing. So if you haven't gotten around to getting your planner yet run to the dollar store now!

Oh my calendar is nested in a lovely display of wallets from my pal at Gracie Designs. Check her stuff out. It is sweet.

Living creatively.

2010-01-09T14:55:00.000-08:00

You don't have to be an artist to live creatively. Fill empty spaces with a little whimsy. Tuck forgotten little pieces of silliness in your bookshelves or maybe a little porcelain gnome next to your toothbrush. It will make you smile every single morning....I promise.

Paint colorful squares or other shapes on your walls. Don't be scared. It is just paint.

Or better yet fill your home with art you love. Of course painting a great color like turquoise doesn't hurt matters much. All these things inspire happiness and will make you think a little on the crazy side to bring out that creative genius living in each and every one of us!

I love my dog.

2010-01-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

That's all....just took this picture and wanted to share. How could you not love this face?

Happy 2010!!!

2010-01-01T18:29:00.000-08:00

This year has been such a great year for me, my family and my artistic growth. I have been blessed to not only meet and become friends with so many talented artists online but right in my own community as well.

I enjoyed the honor of being published about a half a dozen times this year in some of my favorite magazines like Somerset Studio and Bead Unique. I have also enjoyed teaching at art nights at Persimmons, at Assemblage Studio in DePere and a couple of classes at the Rahr West Museum. Selling my work on consignment and wholesale to fabulous little stores like Anthology in Madison, Weathered Goods in Green Bay, The French Flea in Neenah and Something Fishy in Egg Harbor have also been very rewarding.

All of these wonderful experiences have lead me to a transformation that I knew would one day come. I started the redo of my shop into my open studio/classroom space a couple of weeks before Christmas and officially ended my retail space on Christmas Eve. While I will still open up when I can my hours will no longer be regular or posted. I will be working on my strengthening my online presence, wholesale accounts, getting published (fingers crossed) and teaching more both at Persimmons and elsewhere.

I just feel like it is time for me to be an artist and really let that take me where it will. The store is fun but being tied down 60+ hours a week can really drain the creativity and family time and I am ready.

Fortunately I am blessed with an incredible building that allows me to do so thanks to my fabulous husband Glenn. Without his constant love and support of me and my craziness I would never ever be where I am today. Not many husbands would put up with the hoarding that has made the organizing of my new space take weeks and maybe even months. I love him.

So to all of you looking to make some changes in the upcoming year I wish you much success! Follow those big big dreams with confidence and they will come true!

Happy happy holidays to one and all!

2009-12-23T15:02:00.001-08:00

From me and my crew a happy holiday to each and every one of you. No matter what you celebrate or if you don't it is a great time to look around and be thankful for all we have. I am so thankful for a wonderful year of so many exciting opportunities. My year has been so great that I am going to completely change the way I roll. Tomorrow December 24th will be the last day to shop at Persimmons in a normal retail way! After tomorrow I will be closed until January 19th when I will be here for my first Tuesday art night. A very small part of the store will remain my finished work but it will mostly be an organized chaos of all kinds of goodies to play with at my classes and maybe open studio time. Waiting to see how it goes before I open the space up for people to use. I am so excited about this big change and want all my good local customers to know that they can still contact me at 684-3006 or email me at gkgeiser@yahoo.com. If I am here and not too busy I will see what I can do about letting you in. Until then watch my etsy shops and blog for updates galore. Thanks again to all of you and Happy Holidays!

I'm Published!!!

2009-12-21T19:37:00.000-08:00

So my Sailor Valentine was chosen for the reader challenge for the January February issue of Cloth Paper Scissors (one of my favorite magazines) and I am super excited! Not only am I in this fabulous issue but so many of my Internet art friends too. Check out the article by Jodi Ohl one of my art "sisters" who I had the pleasure of working on a collaborative project with a bit ago. And Sue Pelletier's drop cloth girls are fantastic little pieces of eye candy too. Make sure to pick up this issue if you don't already have a subscription! You will love it I promise.

New stuff around the corner.

2009-12-17T07:57:00.000-08:00

So I have been busy busy busy getting my space reorganized as an open studio. It has really made me aware of how much great stuff I really have. I definitely should be on the hoarding show but they thought I wasn't hoardy enough??? Oh well I am fixing it myself. I will show pics when I am done but for now I am keeping it a mystery! With my new look I will be using my new name for my art and jewelry line I will be selling at other stores...Lost + Fond. I came up with this name years ago but thought with the launch of really getting into wholesale it was a perfect time to start using it. My earrings and jewelry will come in these cards and I hope to tag everything like ephemera packs, ACEO's and other little art in cello bags with a similar heading.
I am so super duper excited about all these changes and cannot wait until it is complete. I took a bread yesterday and made some stuff in my new jewelry station and am in love with my new found organization. Now I just have to prove everyone wrong and keep it that way for more than a week. The organizing is easy compared to that major feat. Anyhow stay tuned for pics of the newly organized space coming soon!

Foodie Doodles....framed.

2009-12-07T19:50:00.000-08:00

I did up a few of my hand drawn and painted doodles in little 4 by 4 frames and looooove them. So do others I sold lots and lots of them already ♥ Coming soon in my etsy shop!

Hullabaloooooooo!

2009-12-04T07:05:00.000-08:00

Be there or be square!

Classes are up!

2009-12-03T15:10:00.000-08:00

Basic Beading...$30...February 16th Learn techniques to make a pair of earrings and a bracelet and take home your jewelry and knowledge!

Collage Painting...$30...January 28th...Get a canvas and use ephemera and paper to create a painting. Learn the techniques to create a work of art...no need to be an artist!

Soldering Basics...$30...January 12... Learn how to make soldered glass pendants and bring one home. If you want to include a personal picture bring art/pictures that will fit in 1 by 3 inch slides. This class is almost full already so if you are interested let me know asap!

Paper Mache Snowmen Jars...$30...January 21...This is fun. Inspired by my friend Sue Pelletier's famous front page of Cloth Paper Scissors snowmen. I will have premade unfinished heads made (but still show you how easy it is to use this fun material) and you can choose your jar and fill it with goodies. Bring your own mementos to put in the jar if you like!

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-02T19:10:00.001-08:00

Just a little sampling of a few of the things I made for the holidays this year. A fun snowball fight shadowbox...I sold it tonight! :)

Sailor Valentine Ornaments...$8 ea

Snowman jar....$18

Tree people boxes....$12-$15 each.

If you love anything let me know and I can bill you through paypal! I just don't have time to list right now. Too busy getting ready for the Hullabaloo this weekend! It is going to be loads of fun! Remember 10-4 at Manitowoc Coffee.

e-newsletter are you in?

2009-11-27T18:32:00.000-08:00

So I have recently tried the Constant Contact thing and I love it! I created this little banner featuring some of my favorite pieces to head up my maybe 2 times a month newsletter. If you don't get it and want the scoop on all I am creating and teaching and giving away sign up right here on my blog! Right over there on the right there is a sign up for our mailing list box. I think if you enjoy reading my blog you will really enjoy my newsletter so go sign up now! :)

New work and a busy busy week!

2009-11-16T06:28:00.001-08:00

It's a good thing I had an inspirational week last week! I got a few paintings done, about 30 bracelets, a couple dozen pairs of earrings and some great little paper mache snowmen. All this in preparation for the upcoming Holiday on the Lakeshore. I am planning on a huge sale for this event with deals that I usually only give my wholesale accounts. Pendants will be just $5!!! and I will have $6 earrings and $12 bracelets. It is going to be a crazy good time so hope to see you at the Holiday Inn! You can shop Friday evening beginning at 4pm I believe and Saturday 10-4.

On Saturday at 4 when Holiday is done I have to quickly pack up and rush home to get ready for Chairs for Charity! I am so excited about this event this year. Heather Doucette the event chair and the whole committee did such an awesome job making this a fantastic event.
All in all we have 145 pieces to auction off on Saturday! That is incredible!

So get out this weekend and give and get. All proceeds from entry into Holiday on the Lakeshore go right back to the community and then at Chairs for Charity in the evening it is the same. What a perfect weekend to get all your Christmas shopping done and give to your community at the same time!

Holiday Hullabaloo!!!!

2009-11-07T13:48:00.000-08:00

So so so excited to announce a new little holiday show I am putting together for the first Saturday in December! So far the funky art and craft fair features 10 of my favorite local artists and I hope to get about 10 more to participate! There will be everything from natural bath products to recycled art to fine art to well you name it! It will be in the back hall at Manitowoc Coffee. Make sure to tell all your friends! It is going to be a hullabaloo you will not want to miss.

For more information visit the Holiday Hullabaloo Blog!

The fabulous poster was designed by the hugely talented Tina Kugler. Hire her to make your posters, children's books or logo. You will not be disappointed!

Camera Love.

2009-11-02T10:42:00.000-08:00

So I was playing with our new camera the other day. The light was so nice coming in the window I thought I would get out the tripod and try a few shots. Glenn♥ so sweetly gave me a few pointers about photography...I am a point and shoot kind of gal...and I took pics for about an hour. I love love love them! Tell me what you think!

Loved making this pendant so much using plaster of paris!

Did you know how much I adore trade beads? Well I do and used lots of them in this fun bracelet.

Mixed Media Monday

2009-10-25T16:34:00.001-07:00

I've never participated in the great Mixed Media Monday challenges but when I saw the theme was moustache I knew I had to include my crazy moustache ATC. Had so much fun making this one and cannot wait to see others moustaches!

Creative Growth.

2009-10-14T11:38:00.001-07:00

I've had an artistic awakening recently and the final step in realizing my path was the start of this art journal I call Creative Growth. The top pic are favorite pages thus far.

I mentioned in the previous post how doing an art journal has made me realize how therapeutic and free art can really be. No deadlines, no intentions of selling it, no pressure. It makes me giddy with creativity and excitement for the future! I have really enjoyed my almost 10 years as a shop owner but it is time for me to really go where my heart is taking me.

I have so many great ideas and with owning this fabulous building the options are endless. I want to paint murals and teach classes, I want to sell my art and jewelry all over the country and maybe write a book???? I am not exactly sure what the future holds but I am more than ready and willing to take it to the next level and I cannot wait to see what that future is! Changes will be slow and well planned but the thought right now is the store will close as a regularly open retail shop after the holidays. I may still have special events once a month or so but the store will really be open a few days a week to host classes taught by not only me but my network of super talented friends. It will be an open studio of sorts with lots and lots of goodies to play with and experiment with. So keep an eye on the blog I will let everyone know what is happening and please don't think of this as an end....it is a very very exciting beginning.

Ahhhhh vacation.

2009-10-12T18:25:00.000-07:00

Even though it is over it is still fresh in my mind. It was a wonderfully relaxing week that made me really think about a lot of things. I am very sure now that I am ready to make some major changes and make steps to becoming an artist instead of a store owner. These steps will be slow baby steps but they will come soon.

While staying in a wonderful cozy cabin I had the chance to start an art book. I bought an old book from a thrift store in town and glued pages, ripped out pages and started painting. It was so wonderful to do art just for me....well everything I make is in part for me but this was made with no intention of ever selling it to anyone else and I really really like that.

This is what we woke up to on Saturday...yeah it's snow. But back to art....I am ready. Ready to eventually close the shop and really focus on my art. While I have loved my 10 years owning a retail shop I just want to make stuff. I do own the building so it will likely be awhile before I close close but hours may change dramatically in the coming months. I will focus more on classes and selling my things in other stores...which by the way if you are in Madison check out Anthology on State Street...they carry my goodies now....super duper excited. I also want to work on more publications and writing articles. All of this takes quiet time...uninterrupted quiet time that having a shop just doesn't allow for. I have always believed that we should be open to possibility and change and this is really feeling right for me right now. So where it will take me is a mystery but I am looking forward to the future!

VACATION!!!

2009-10-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

Yeahhhhh it's vacation time! Time to embrace the peace and quiet. Time for starry starry nights, beautiful fall colors, hikes on the woods, and best of all no technology. Just Glenn, Molly, Holly and I enjoying our family. I can't wait to wake up and taking in the fresh cool air with a cup of coffee on the deck, explore wonderful little northwoods towns and check out beautiful waterfalls. Sounds great doesn't it?

Since I will be on vacation I won't have too much computer time. I think we may go into town to a coffee shop to touch base and honestly to check our Mafia Wars (slightly addicted to facebook in general) So enjoy the week....I know I will!

Inspiration

2009-09-30T18:14:00.000-07:00

I love when something comes back to me and gets me really really excited that I am an artist. That's what happened this week with a great book I bought some time ago called A Charming Exchange It is a crazy fantastic book with so many great techniques it makes me crazy. My head was just spinning as I re-read this fantastic and inspirational book. I have spent the last two days in the studio taping and soldering and stamping metal. It has been fun and here is some of the outcome. A few soldered pendants, some great little beach glass pendants, and a copper bracelet that I am keeping for me! It has been really fun....maybe I need to revisit more of my art books!

Spoooooky

2009-09-28T06:37:00.000-07:00

Getting in the spirit of Halloween I created these ghoulish characters. I started with old cabinet cards. After looking at the person for a bit and deciding which creepy character I thought they would be best as I painted the background black. For the devil I needed to create a hand but for the witch her hands were in the perfect position to hold her broomstick. It was a super fun project that was quick and would be great in a little frame for holiday decor. If you don't like the idea of using the old picture just make a copy of the original and mount it on some recycled cardboard from a cereal box (or anything really) with white glue. I used acrylics, a black sharpie pen and a white gel pen but use anything you use on these!

Christmas tag swap

2009-09-24T12:49:00.001-07:00

One of my favorite internet friends....and quite the talented lady....Pat is doing a tag swap and I was so excited to be a part of it that I started mine this morning and kept going until they were done! I started by painting shipping tags red and stamping some backgrounds on them. Then I drew Christmas pictures with a charcoal pencil and colored them in with prismacolors. A white gel pen and sharpie pen were used to add some details and then on most of them I used stamp pads to finish off the edges. Not shown on this photo I added some colorful ribbon and yarn to the top so they have a fun altered feel to them. This was lots of fun...a big big thank you to Pat for hosting. Go check out her blog it is super fun!

Getting my act together.

2009-09-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

To some it may appear that I have my act together. I make a ton of stuff and put it out in the store and occasionally list it on etsy and sell it to other shops. But what everyone doesn't know is that for everything I do get out there are piles of things I make that I kind of just forget about and they end up in a little box in my studio which then end up in bigger boxes and kind of lost. Like the 3 typewriters I took apart about a year ago.

I've been going through some of those boxes lately in my never ending quest to organize (ha) or at least de-clutter just a little. I have been doing pretty good at discovering these lost treasures and putting them out in the store. One of the newest things I have been focusing on in the shop is my pendant bar. I love making pendants and make tons of them. Out of clay, old beads, new beads, wire wrapping stones from the beach and so on. I put all of them in great old cupcake tins and my customers can pick their necklace (a chain, ball chain, or lovely silk ribbon) and then pick one or more charms to wear on the necklace. The fun thing is you can layer them, add to them or completely change them all the time. Or if you make jewelry you can just buy the totally unique beads I make in your own jewelry....like this great little number below. It is just good fun. You can create a very unique personalized look for as little as $5!

So in that quest not only have I gotten a little further in my de-cluttering but I have come up with a fun new way to buy jewelry at Persimmons. Come on in and check out the necklace bar! Oh and for my online friends...if you ever see something on here that is not in my etsy let me know and I will create a listing just for you! Have a happy day.

Fun times

2009-09-21T18:19:00.000-07:00

Me and Pato Banton at Stumpjack. Pato and the Now Generation played there and it was awesome! Thanks to them for coming to little ol Two Rivers and spreading their love.

We also went to the Manitowoc Company open house. My dad has worked there for 37ish years and I love going and seeing where he works. It amazes me to see what my dad does. It is so complex I can't imagine doing his job. I think it would be a great thing for everyone to tour a factory so they realize the importance of our fantastic labor force in this country and all it takes to make the things we use in everyday life. This picture of Molly is taken next to an unbelievably huge crane they made. I couldn't resist a pic of her in her hardhat with the Manitowoc behind her.

Still a little bit of warm weather ahead to enjoy the weekends but time is winding down. I will cherish all the wonderful weekends we had this summer. We are planning one final week long vacation up north to enjoy the colors and quiet. I long for that quiet and cannot wait!

Making making making...

2009-09-03T07:17:00.000-07:00

I am on a creative roll. Finished about 8 of these fab bangles

24 of these word beads and 30ish other pendants this week. My work space is such a mess it makes me dizzy but oh well it's the price I pay for a creative frenzy.

Now showing...

2009-08-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

At the fantastic Stumpjack! My work will be up for a few weeks so go and check it out while enjoying a nice cup of coffee or even better a bottle of delish beer (it may make my art look even better???)

Bangleishious

2009-08-27T14:07:00.000-07:00

I am seriously jonesing for more wood bangle bracelets right now. I saw this idea in a magazine I just got that I can't seem to place and it is driving me batty. I really want to give this artist credit for writing such an inspirational how to!!! If anyone knows what magazine it is please post it! Anyhow I only got 3 bracelets from Hobby Lobby the other day and I made them quickly. One of them broke but the other two turned out so much fun! I really want to close the store and run and get more. I just love the mixed media feel to these totally colorful fun pieces.

I started them by painting the wood with acrylics. Then I used decoupage glue to put some paper elements on them and used prismacolors to highlight and draw fun designs. I pre-drilled some holes and added some bead accents for a finishing touch. Love the Mexican Art feel that they have and I think I may just keep these two for myself! Watch for more in my store and on etsy!

Geiser-O-Rama at the Stump.

2009-08-24T07:47:00.000-07:00

A little poster I created for my second annual Geiser-O-Rama at Stumpjack. The opening on Friday was a smashing success and a super good time. I sold 9 pieces!!! Love it when that happens. I apparently forgot to turn my camera off after taking pictures at the opening so my camera is dead but I will post them soon. Thanks to my good friends David and Kim for allowing me to share my craziness with your customers! My stuff will be up for a few weeks yet so stop in have a great cup of coffee and look at my silly and sometimes sassy work!

Great Wall of Tomato!!!

2009-08-19T18:23:00.000-07:00

This is crazy. My tomato plants have taken over. There is going to be a whole lotta sauce being made in the Geiser house this year! Can't wait for these babies to ripen. We have black, pink, yellow plum, Mr Stripey, and regular and cherry tomatoes. It is going to make a beautiful tomato basil salad...which is right in front of the wall of tomatoes. Good stuff.

Also worked on some domino doodle pendants recently. Just a few sharpies, white dominoes and rumikin pieces and a little dremmel action and you have these fun little original art pendant, keychain, wine charm....whatever you want them to be. I am thinking the aliens will be a big hit at Sputnikfest...which by the way is September 11 & 12 and you should go.

Going on a little trip!

2009-08-07T14:29:00.000-07:00

I am as happy as a 4 year old next to a bubble machine! (Brilliant by the way..a store in Minocqua has one outside I want one for my store) We last minute decided to take off Saturday morning for Baraboo! I love love love Baraboo! It was kind of the place I really found myself and really really loved our life there. I think someday we will likely move back to that area...I love it. Well the Summer Art Classic is on Saturday so we will go to that and also meet up with a few old friends who I cannot wait to see. I am also bringing some stuff to my friend Mary's new space in an antique store. She had a shop next to mine when my store was in Baraboo. So excited about that! After our day in Baraboo we are going to Spring Green to spend the evening with our good friends Jeff and Laura. They have a fabulous house that they are letting us crash at. We are so poor right now it is very good to have those kinds of friends. We will likely have a great dinner, drink a couple of beers on the deck and watch all the kids play until they crash. I cannot wait!

So in case you didn't figure it out...the store is not going to be open tomorrow....August 8th. I will open back up on Monday at 10ish...see you then!

A studio makeover in progress.

2009-08-04T06:20:00.000-07:00

Some of you may recall my crazy pictures of the studio in complete and total chaos. While I admit it is a little out of control it still works for me to be messy but this is a little too much. I knew it was time to get things under control. So after weeks of purging, a few trips to the dump and St Vinnies my studio is now a little more organized.....

The next step is to paint the walls...I am thinking turquoise, putting in a new floor and maybe just maybe a sink? I do have one in the basement right off my studio but having one right in the studio would just be so much more convenient. I still have a little more purging and organizing to do but baby steps.

Unfortunately this little cutie has inherited my hoarding gene. If I really wanted to embarrass her I would take a picture of her room that looks strikingly similar to my before studio picture! Poor girl.

New Work and a busy busy gal.

2009-07-28T17:34:00.000-07:00

Blahhhhhh I have been soooo soooo busy lately. I have been totally neglecting my little blog. I have been getting a few things made though and managed to list a few of them on etsy. Included in that is this little piece that I just love. I know I always say that, but I just love making everything I make so I am not lying! I used an old earring for the skeleton of this one. Using copper wire I wrapped some turquoise and yellow trade beads and some tiny little purple pearls in the earring. I hung it from a recycled piece of denim braided with some colorful yarn and hemp. Love the look so much I decided to start using more fabric in my designs. Now I am on the hunt for rag rug balls of fabric yarn....because the dozen or so I already have are not enough???? Yeah I have a problem. Anyhow this piece does close in the back with a lobster claw and chain. I also am thrilled about the old atlas that you see in the background of the picture and look forward to using it for many more pictures in the future.

Tomorrow I am hoping to play in the studio after teaching a summer art class at the Rahr until 1:00....so don't come in until the afternoon because I won't be here. Have a happy summer day!

Going on Vacation!!!

2009-07-17T14:37:00.000-07:00

This is a great picture from our last family vacation in October of 2007! That just isn't right so we decided as an early birthday present to me we would take off for a few days. Heading up to my Great Uncle Tommy's cabin in the Rhinelander area. Love it up there and cannot wait. Best of all it is pretty much FREE! So the STORE WILL BE CLOSED MONDAY JULY 20TH THRU WEDNESDAY JULY 23RD. So enjoy the week I know I will!

Published again!!

2009-07-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

I got a couple of copies of the Fall issue of Bead Unique in the mail today. My article on a button bauble bracelet is on page 52. I love how it turned out and the pictures they took actually look like ones I would have taken! The best surprise about the article is that I got paid! It is my first real getting paid and published gig. I think I may be ready to make this a regular thing. I am thrilled that they also used my bracelet for the issue web page and it makes a little appearance on the page index in the beginning of the magazine. Oh happy day. :)

Ahhhhh fun times in the summertime.

2009-07-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

We went to Bay Beach on Tuesday. For those of you who live nearby you have surely all gone there and enjoyed a full day of amusement fun for very little money. We got $20 worth of tickets, went on tons of rides and still had $5 worth at the end of the day! Molly had a blast as you can see in the photo above.

In the studio I am working on these little dolls. I bought a frozen Charlotte from one of my favorite little stores...Assemblage Studio in De Pere. I used my new favorite material, no bake clay and created a mold of the doll. The first try shrunk quite a bit so the dolls were small and a little smooched. I made a second mold and it shrunk just a little but kept all the details and shape. I am just experimenting with paint and color and then hope to make necklaces with this little cuties. Tried to wire wrap a few of them but I am thinking it looks a little morbid for some reason. We'll see.

New work and Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas

2009-07-01T20:20:00.000-07:00

I recently got an issue of Belle Amore Jewelry and it really opened my eyes to possibilities in jewelry making. I think making soldered pendants gets so automatic that I forget sometimes that I can explore with glass and metal to come up with unique one of a kind art jewelry. Well today I had a blast doing just that. I shaped copper for this piece and backed it with a 1 inch by 1 inch glass pendant featuring one of my mini drawings. I hung colorful beads and vintage metal pieces from the bottom and used some of those same colorful beads for the necklace part. Finished it off with some vintage fabric that you tie in a pretty bow. In addition to this one I made quite a few other unique pendants that I hope to put together tomorrow.

The July/August issue of Somerset Studio features the Sisterhood of the Traveling Canvas. A fantastic project that I had the honor of being a part of! I started a canvas by painting it and doing a little transfer. With the canvas I ...and the remaining 7 talented artists ... created a journal page to document my time with the canvas. When I was done I mailed it to the next person and she mailed it to the next and so on. It was such a pleasure doing this project and seeing the canvas become the beautiful work of art it turned out to be! I would like to thank my "sisters" Pam, Jodi, Kathy, Denise, Glenda, Alisa, and Nancy for not only including me in this project but for being such a supportive and talented group of ladies I will forever call friends!

It's a Magical Place...

2009-06-24T14:33:00.000-07:00

My backyard is. Protected by the garden fairy that Glenn and I created with some stuff we had lying around the yard. I still have to make her a face but isn't she great. She is very perky.

Because it was about 7,452 degrees in the brick oven that is my store I spent much of the day in the backyard. I got out bottle caps and my metal tools and came up with these cute little flowers. If I get enough ambition I am hoping to get quite a few made for this weekends show downtown. If you know Wisconsin you know we love our beer so I am sure they would be quite popular! They are rather simple to make but figuring out exactly how I will assemble them is the tricky part. I want to figure out a way to hide the wires but like most things the thrill of the project is fading so if I actually make them or not is still undecided.

As I was sitting in the backyard I noticed the birdies had nowhere to escape the heat in our backyard. I went in the store and got some pieces of bamboo and some old bowls and e6000end them to the sticks. Of course being the completely impatient artist that I am I put water in the bowls before they were even close to set so a couple of the bowls are a little wompy but I just stuck them in the ground a little crooked so it works out great. Hopefully they hold up to the birdies if not I may have to work on the design a little more than 4 minutes!

Speaking of water this is Glenn's little fountain he made. I added a few plants that will hopefully take up the space. I am in love with my new grass too but I of course do not know the name of it. None the less it is a funky plant that has lots of height which I love.

So what did ya'll do to beat the heat? Hopefully you to were able to escape to your outdoor retreat!

A super fun weekend of music and art.

2009-06-22T20:13:00.000-07:00

This year's Metrojam was my favorite so far! Not only did I get to see my chair I made for the event get signed by all the amazing artists that played for the 2 day FREE festival but I got to meet and hang out with a few of them.

This is Danielia Cotton. She has an amazing voice and a very kick butt band. We had a blast with them at Shooter Malones. Glenn and I are however not rock stars and partying like we were was not good at all for us the next day. Oh well sometimes you have to suffer for a good time.

This is The Trews. They were Awesome! A great band with really good taste I may add. Jack the bass player with the hat on got a few of my pendants for himself and the band and I got a cd in return (which I love by the way). He is even wearing his pendant in this picture but you can't really see it. If you get a chance to see them don't pass it up. Better yet go out and get their cd.

Last of all these fun boys from a local Sheboygan band Cedarwell were really fun and goofy. I am thinking they will be playing for my summer party this year. Their music is crazy fun and I think would be perfect for a little backyard summer night good time.

The whole festival was filled with great music and Heather and I had our art for sale and a little chair painting party for Chairs for Charity. It was a fun day to make a little money, paint some chairs and soak up the sun. Since the headliners Fastball were not able to make it due to bad weather next year's festival will be even a little bigger and better so I cannot wait!!

Metal stamping.

2009-06-15T06:57:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to get the basic metal stamping tools when I was at the Bead and Button show last weekend but ran out of money. (boy o boy was it fun) So I checked on etsy and found a ton of great sellers selling the tools for way less than the show folks. I could hardly wait to get my goodies and made this little number as soon as I did. Now my original idea was to make personalized pendants for people. Just plain little copper discs with their names on them but I very very rarely do anything simple. I took a little inspiration from the book Semiprecious Salvage by Stephanie Lee and created this pendant and a few others. It is so much fun! I see it as my stepping stone to getting all the metal smithing tools and making jewelry jewelry. This one is on a great hand dyed silk ribbon from my friends at Class Act Designs. Those ladies are so nice I bought 100 of their beautiful beautiful silk ribbons to bring back to the store. They look so great with a simple pendant or mixed with chain...the possibilities are endless really. I have a nice selection of fantastic colors at the store right now. The best part is they are only $8 each! What an inexpensive way to showcase any pendant!