I wore my new necklace by Carole Axium today to RAVE reviews!
She was one of the featured artists at “Art In The Garden”… and as always, I love having talented friends. Especially when they want to “trade” their wares for mine. I think I might have gotten the better end of that deal with this little treasure…

Looking for something fun & artsy this weekend?
Stop by the Bucktown Arts Festival and say hello to my friend Sarah Chapman.
She’s got the coolest jewelry there. I’m just sayin’…

My favorite metalsmith Sarah Chapman is downstairs in the Lillstreet Gallery for the opening of her Jewelry Trunk Show. Stop by tonight to see her and her incredible jewelry!!! She’s here tomorrow too – teaching a workshop, showing in the Gallery… and we have plans for hot fudge!!!

And if you can’t make it to see her in person, her jewelry will be here for awhile. And there are PLENTY of these signs everywhere with her picture on them. Ha!!!

Once again, the weather was beautiful. And my “backyard” view was stunning.
The Evanston Lakeshore Arts Festival is always a fun weekend on the lakefront.

Sure, my booth was filled with a LOT of pottery. And it was so much fun to see so many supportive friends & customers passing through this weekend. I just love watching people pick up my pieces, caress them, fondle them, and eventually fall in love with them!

I was also lucky to meet another fun metalsmith this weekend… as she moved into the booth next to me! Carole Axium of Chicago was great fun to play with all weekend long. And her work is beautiful to boot. A weekend art fair is always so much more fun when you have good “booth neighbors” AND you admire their work.

Here’s a quick peek at some of her beautiful designs. Everything is easily functional, you can wear them everyday, and she OBVIOUSLY has a love of incredible stones! She has quite a collection of crazy “picture” stones with so many layers, colors and more!

But the funniest part of the weekend playing with Carole was on Sunday when her daughter Megan decided to “work” for the day to make some extra money. And I use the term “work” very loosely!!! I tried to get her to negotiate a deal & a contract with her Mom before she even started working. But as the day went on, it was apparent that she was eating more from the food vendors than she ever could be earning from “working”?!

Megan was adorable. And just as quirky & goofy as you would expect any pre-teen to be!!!

For more information on her website, click here for Carole Axium Designs.

I often tell people that it is great to have talented friends!!!
And here’s another one…

I met Sarah Chapman at Lillstreet Art Center. She’s a wonderful artist & metalsmith.
Although she works mostly with sterling silver, she has a heart of gold!
Over the years we have become good friends and love to share our work, our ideas
and our business experiences. We have often discussed that we have very similar
business philosophies and experiences… both of us trying to find our way as
full-time, self-employed artists. We have frequently discussed how we seem to be on the
same path, kind of at the same business experience level, making the same decisions…
only she’s using metal instead of clay!!! I won’t hold that against her… especially now
as she is currently getting dirty in my Tuesday night wheelthrowing class!!!

Sarah’s work is a wonderful combination of materials, textures & patterns.
In fact, the necklaces above are great as seen… but they are also reversible with a different
pattern and different metal on the other side – two looks for the price of one. Brilliant.
No wonder I love her work!!! Over the years, I have gathered quite the collection
of her work… including two bracelets that are my favorites!!! I love having those
“one-of-a-kind-just-for-me” pieces that she makes!

Watch for her out there on the art fair circuit. She does several shows in and around
the Chicago area, as well as several shows out-of-state. I can frequently be found hanging
out & helping in her booth if I’m doing the same art fair! If you don’t find her early on
this summer, she’s usually just two booths south of me at the Evanston Lakeshore
Fine Arts Festival. Be sure to stop by and say hello to both of us!!!

And if you can’t wait until summer…   www.chapmanmetals.com