Memory Wire Bracelet

I am a self taught artist and jewelry maker. When I find something I want to try, I read a book about it or, these days, study it on the internet. I enjoy making jewelry and wanted to learn new techniques. My latest skill is using memory wire, both for necklaces and bracelets. It is always fun to experiment with something new. It doesn't hurt to have lots of beads to work with.

This bracelet on memory wire uses square flat pieces of jasper with ceramic beads. All in 

shades of purple.

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Making Jewelry - New Beads

New beads equals new jewelry! Getting new materials to work with gets me all fired up. It's such fun to see what will go together. I have recently bought memory wire for making bracelets and am busy experimenting.  I am also making stretchy bracelets because they are so easy to put on.

A friend bought one I had custom made for her because her wrist is so small. It fit perfectly and she loved it. In In addition she bought two more bracelets for gifts. 

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Nancy Olivia Designs' post on Willimantic Arts and Eats

I am now a member of the Willimantic Arts and Eats on Facebook and this is a recent post by me. 

"I have been involved in crafts and art since I was in college in Boston studying interior design. I took a course in weaving, fell in love with it, bought a loom and started selling pillows and bags. For the last few years I have concentrated on jewelry making, photography and digital painting. One of my bracelets was pictured in "The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making" Edition 2 by Tammy Powley.
It has been a pleasure to be a part of the Lebanon Art Gallery this summer and to display in all three of their shows. I am a member of the Windham Garden Club and was pleased to present a program at their September meeting on "Photography in the Garden." November will bring a shared show with Joanne and Alex Sibicky at the Windham Hospital Gallery."

Here I am at an Art Festival in downtown Willimantic. My photo of the lily is named "Serenity."

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Photo Cards at Willimantic Food Co-op

I am grateful for another order for my photo cards (Nancy Olivia Designs)  from the Willimantic Food Co-op. Once a week I volunteer as a working member at the Co-op on Valley Street in Willimantic, CT. Rita, who is in charge of ordering the cards, has really boosted sales by emphasizing cards created by local artists, a strategy much appreciated by the artists. Locally created art sold in the community - nothing better. Check it out! All cards are reasonably priced between $3 and $4.

Printing photos for Nancy Olivia Designs cards.

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Nancy Olivia Designs' Jewelry Featured in Book

I am now published! No, I didn't write a book but my jewelry is pictured Tammy Powley's 2nd Edition of The Complete Photo Guide to Jewelry Making. I am very pleased and proud! When Ms. Powley told me she wanted to use the photo of my bracelet, it was summer of 2013. I impatiently waited a year for the book to be written and published! The day it finally arrived you can bet I was very excited!

This is how Amazon describes the book.

"This is a comprehensive reference book on all aspects of jewelry making. This book provides a reference for all methods, including bead stringing, wire work, metal fabrication, metal clay, polymer clay, fiber, and resin. Includes step-by-step instructions for all the basics."

Available on Amazon through Nancy Olivia Designs' Link in the right hand bar. Please use this link and help support a starving artist.

In case you can't read the small print . . . . . 

 "Clay Swirls"

" Hand-made polymer clay swirl beads in red and turquoise colors are combined with more polymer clay beads in solid red and accented with metal beads and silver bead caps. No clasp is necessary since the stringing technique uses elastic jewelry thread. "

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New Show @ Lebanon Art Gallery

The August show at the Lebanon Art Gallery (927 Trumbull Hwy, Lebanon CT) will open with a reception Friday, August 1, 5-7 pm. The new art is in the gallery and will be hung tomorrow. Join us for the party Friday with food, wine, music and great art!

This photo is one I used on my photo cards which will be for sale at the gallery.

There will be a variety of art  - oil paintings, jewelry, painting on glass or on wood, metal sculptures, wooden bowls, photography and more.

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Posters - Nancy Olivia Designs Photos with Quotes

I love finding quotes to go on my photos. What do you think? Would this make a nice poster?

Creating this felt very rewarding because I believe the quote.

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Technology for Buying Art - Pixels.com

Don't you just love technology!? My work is on for sale on Fine Art America and they have a new website - Pixels.com. There I can download a pdf sales sheet for each one of my art works. It even has one of those little squares you can scan with your smart phone and then buy online. I'm trying to think how I can print these and use them as a sales tool. Any ideas?

Pixels.com has a new iPad app that lets you see each art work on your own wall using the iPad camera. Neat! Now I need an iPad!!

Here is my page on Pixels.com.  Check it out and buy something!

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Still working on "The Big Cleanout"

When I moved into this house in August 2010, I promised my family to get rid of everything which would not fit into the house. I wrote a post about it - A Rash Promise. Now it is 2014 and I am still trying to fulfill this promise. It is not easy! After several yard sales, a load to the antique auction, many trips to the Salvation Army box and give-aways to family, can you believe there is still a "get rid of pile?"

At least I am past this kind of chaos. This is the way all my craft and art supplies were when we moved in.

I recently added my bathroom scale to the pile. No, I did not stop weighing and hoping to loose weight, but Mr. B had a scale and now we share. My son-in-law and I wanted to switch from plastic food storage containers to glass ones. When we bought the glass I got rid of lots of the plastic. The pile I put away just-in-case is now going out. I am serious about this clean out!

The fact that I have become so interested in exhibiting my photography and digital paintings and started Nancy Olivia Designs has created a storage problem. By reusing frames I try to keep the additional stuff under control.

The hard truth is that it is difficult to sell things which I do not want to give away. It is not easy to sell antiques or used items. I find it is easier to create a pile of it all than to deal with it. The Quest goes on!

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Working with Lines & Color

Here is something different.

"Order or Chaos"

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Clocks and Peonies on Pink and Teal

I love to save pictures of leaves, flowers, clouds, etc. and turn them into backgrounds for digital paintings. Here is a close up section of a picture of coleus leaves in which I played with the colors. 

Then this became a background for a creation of clocks (from the clock on Main St. Willimantic, CT) and peonies from a friend's yard. Thanks Carol!

So what do you think? Is my process clear as mud?

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Butterfly and Flowers

 When I moved here four years ago there were no gardens and no flowers in the yard. Friends have been so nice to share plants. The Garden Club of Windham, CT plant sale has also helped and of course all the wonderful nurseries in the area. Now my front yard is abloom!  Lots of birds and butterflies are enjoying the flowers as much as I am.

It seemed this butterfly was posing for me!

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Meet the Artists Reception in Lebanon CT

Great turnout at the Meet the Artists reception at the Lebanon Art Gallery in Lebanon CT! There is an incredible variety of art from digital paintings to wood turnings. This co-operative art gallery is run by a talented group of artists from Lebanon CT and the surrounding area. Gallery is open Friday, Saturday, Sunday from noon -  6 pm. All the art is for sale.

While you are there, check out a museum and the historic Lebanon town green which is a mile long. There is a paved path which circles the green.

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Pressing ahead with Art

There are opportunities for artists if you look carefully. I have been fortunate to land in a place that has a lot going on. Willimantic, CT is establishing an "Arts and Eats" district. Stores and restaurants are being asked to make their windows and establishments available for artists to display their artwork. I have come to an agreement with a new restaurant on Main Street, Jamacian-Me-Crazy, to use one of the windows in their building. To this end I have ordered some small photos on canvas, all in bright colors.

This peony will be in a bright red frame.

The show at the Lebanon Art Gallery has been hung and is being "tweaked." It is impressive how quickly this co-operative gallery was organized. First day open is July 5, 2014 and Opening Reception is July 11. Hours are Friday, Saturday, Sunday noon-6,

• 927 Trumbull Hwy
• Lebanon, Connecticut 062

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