Barb's Branches 2014 Fall Events Calendar

Happy New Year! Here is my 2014 Spring Event Schedule (subject to change...as in add another show...or two)! :)  Hope to see you soon! :)

Fall Events Schedule 2013

Finally! Here it is, my event schedule for Fall 2013! I hope you will come see me at some of these shows! If the distance is too far, remember me on Etsy: www.barbsbranches.etsy.com

 



FGS 2013 Conference

Fantastic first day at the FGS conference! Too tired for words, but must say it was a great way to spend my 53rd birthday! :)

Why trees?

Why do I make Tree Jewelry?  Where did it all start?  I get asked these questions alot!  As I'm getting ready for the FGS (Federation of Genealogical Societies) 2013 Conference, I can't help but reflect on it all...

I've always loved trees, leaves, everything 'branchy'.

For a while I was making leaf jewelry using sterling silver, copper, and some karat gold accents, as well as making fused branch rings out of karat gold or sterling silver ... and I was happy with that.

Then after more than 10 years of researching my family history, searching for family where we had been told there was none, I struck 'gold'! I came into contact with a cousin in Israel! He proceeded to connect me with other family members: two 1st cousins of my mother's ~ a miracle!

We had a family reunion, we all corresponded, it was wonderful. The oldest cousin, Edgar, was the only one of the three 1st cousins who could remember details of life and other family members in the old country and I was in awe... Edgar passed away 2 years later, leaving us heartbroken with our loss and yet so grateful to have known him and have had him in our lives for those two years.

The morning of Edgar's memorial service, I awoke at 4:00 am from a dream. In my dream I was making fused tree earrings... I even remember the conversation going on about how and why to make them. I quickly drew out the design and made them within the next couple of weeks. Edgar's Trees: each with a sage green briolette-cut sapphire 'tear' dangling from below.

 

And this was the beginning. 

I made a tree pendant for both of Edgar's daughters, my mother, and my sisters and kept the original earrings (and wear them to this day). Edgar's Tree was my first tree... a remembrance tree.

I now make Remembrance Trees, Trees of Life, Lone Trees, Blowing In The Wind Trees...and it goes on! I occasionally make a fusion tree, but am now doing more with the hand- sawn/pierced technique.

Art reflecting life: a constant evolution of thought and action.

 

 

2013 Event Schedule

As the year goes on, I will update the Event Schedule, but for now ~ this is it (through August)!

 

Had a great day @ The Valentine Coffee & Luncheon at St Mary's Episcopal Church in Jasper, AL yesterday! Debuted my new Heart pendants ~ they were a hit! :)

If you're in the Tampa Bay area of Florida anytime soon, check out some of my pieces at The Plainsmen Gallery for their Winter Art & Jewelry Show: Winter Art & Jewelry Show Jan. 12 - Feb. 16 ...

A weekend's work

I'm a bit tired to be posting...but I must say I'm proud of the pieces I've finished up this weekend!  There's also a pair of earrings that didn't make it into the photo!
Two of the Tree pendants were sawn at the Time To Create event at the Tree of Life in Kimberly, Alabama ~ awesome time!  :)
Maybe I'll accumulate enough pieces to show this Spring?! ;)

Do you have a friend or fellow artist that you trust to critique your work? It's a great thing! :)  I drew out a tree on a piece of spoon handle...this piece has the potential to be fabulous, but the tree that I drew just isn't right...I wasn't sure what it was, but I knew I didn't like it! I took the piece with me to the Hoover Shelby Art Association meeting today. At the end of the meeting, I showed it to Carol Weston (a wonderfully talented Artist and Art teacher in the greater Birmingham area)...I said, "I'm going to redraw the tree, I'm just not happy with it", and Carol replied, 'Yes, it's too scrunchy'! Hah! That's it! The tree is definitely too scrunchy and Carol wasn't afraid to tell me so and I was happy to hear it! So, a critique from a trusted friend/peer can be a good thing! Hah! Now, I'm off to remove my 'scrunchy' tree and replace it with one that is truly beautiful! ;)

Check out my latest! It's a vintage Ladie's Art Deco Wrist Watch Case converted into a Locket pendant with a copper hand-sawn Tree of Life (or Remembrance Tree) in place of the watch crystal!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/119403931/tree-of-life-antique-art-deco-wrist

So, I've been doing the 'Art Show' thing for a few years now, but the Genealogy Conference was such a good fit with the jewelry I make...I'm wondering if there are any smaller Genealogy Conferences throughout the year that I could exhibit/sell at... anybody have any ideas?! I wuld really prefer to find some that are in the SouthEast... easier for travel... I'm all ears! ;)

Wow! What an amazing show this past weekend at the Blue Light Special Show at Earthborn Studios in Leeds, AL!!  Great sales, lots of incredible artists ~ and such a nice variety of art & crafts! I was very impressed and hope to be a part of it in 2013! I will keep you posted on all upcoming shows, but for now, I will try to get all of these last minute Holiday orders filled within the next week, and then take a couple weeks to rest before starting to replenish my stock!

I hope you've had a Happy Hanukkah, have a Merry Christmas, and may we all have a wonderfully blessed New Year! :)

If you're out and about this weekend, come see me (& 49 other local Artists) at the Blue Light Special Show in Leeds, AL! :) The map is on the photo, as well as a list of Artists! :) Buy Handmade this Holiday Season! :)

Tis the season of giving, there for I'm giving a 10% OFF discount on any item in any/all of my Etsy shops through the month of December! To receive your 10% off savings, just type: HOHOHO1 into the coupon code box at check out & have a Happy Holiday!

Etsy Shops:

www.barbsbranches.etsy.com

www.gemdesignsbybarbara.etsy.com

www.design1bybarb.etsy.com

 

 

I just have to share!  I went to a swap meet with my husband, Ray, a couple of weekends ago.  This is what I came home with:

 

38 sterling silver spoons! :)  I definitely have my work cut out for me (no pun intended)! ;)  This photo was taken with my cell phone, so please excuse the quality! I've already started annealing and hammering out several of the spoons...will start drawing trees this evening and hopefully will start to saw some of them out tomorrow...I've got to have some inventory ready for the Blue Light Special Art Show in Leeds, AL next weekend! I'll update with some photos of a few finished pieces next week! ;)

20% Off beginning on the 23rd of Novemeber! Use the coupon code: BLACKFRIDAY12 at check out to receive your discount! :)
Just go to either of my Etsy shops:
www.barbsbranches.etsy.com or www.gemdesignsbybarbara.etsy.com
on Black Friday to shop & receive your discount! :)

Thank you for your business! :)

Well here it is! The Talk of Alabama (ABC 33/40 Birmingham) segment online, if you'd like to view it!
http://www.abc3340.com/video?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=7899735#.UJE5WqdJL2s.facebook

Please feel free to comment and let me know what you think! :)

Well, the Bluff Park Art Show just keeps on giving....as a result of that show, I will have a spot on ABC 33/40's Talk of Alabama on Oct 30th at 9:00 am!  Very exciting! Maybe I won't ramble on too much...?! :)  Check it out, if you can get the station!

Here's a before & after photo of the tree pendants that I make out of sterling silver spoons...