"If you ask me what I came to do in this world, I, an artist, will answer you: I am here to live out loud." ~ Emile Zola
A few weeks ago, I received a convo via Etsy from asking for permission to use one of my painting images on the cover of a Buddhist journal!
A representative from the Society Of Mountains and Rivers Zen Institute in New Zealand had stumbled across one of my bird paintings online, and wanted to know if I would mind if they used it for the cover of their journal. Of course I sad yes!
Manawa, The New Zealand Zen Journal ended up opting for another image for their cover due to a "bleed" issue, but I was still thrilled and honored to learn that they still wanted to use my painting for an inside page. Yay!
I received a copy of the beautiful, zen-filled journal in the mail today! Have a look! :)
Thanks so much to Geoff Moore (who so kindly contacted me) and the Society of Mountains and Rivers for the extraordinary honor!
New Etsy shop listings- awesome window lockets (I love playing with these) holding tiny art collages! Each little collage has a different theme, and images created from vintage and antique materials like glass jewels from the 1940s; a page from a 1920s calendar; an old botanical journal; discarded encyclopedias, children's and art books; rare little copper stampings, fabrics from vintage sample books; handmade paper; bits of chain, jewelry, and millinery; and natural materials like dried leaves, flowers and twigs! I've been having a ball with the whole process, especially hunting for old materials in thrift stores, at flea markets, and online vintage shops.
I shared pics of a couple of these a while back. Two of those are now available in my shop, plus more- hope you like the new ones, as well! :)
"Autumn Woodland" (This one is in an autumn-themed creative contest on the EtsyVeg blog- please go vote for it!)
"Heart Song"
"Madame X"
Just got done vending at a string of awesome shows over the past few weeks! Lots of interesting venues, environments, people, handmade eye candy, and colorful sights! :) Thanks so much to Steel City Rockers vs. Mods, to PCC for a terrific Crafts N'At, to Friends of Ohiopyle for a delightful weekend at Music in the Mountains, and to the Steeltown Shakedown for the most colorful, old skool-ified weekend I've had in a while. :) And a big welcome and fat 'thank you' to all of my new customers!
Check out some of the best sights!
Cuties in the Rockers vs Mods pin-up contest!
Testing my new display setup at Rockers vs Mods.
Adorable rocker baby with her rocker daddy (who just happen to be my brand new niece and brother-in-law- lol).
The fabulous space and artisans at the Pittsburgh Craft Collective's annual show, Crafts N'At!
Can you believe this view of the Monongahela River from my tent at Ohiopyle' Music in the Mountains? It looks photoshopped! It was beautiful!
Crafty pal Rachel in her flirty and fabulous hand-altered dress at Steeltown Shakedown (that she helped organize). You should see the awesome flame applique she handsewed onto to the bag to match her sweetie's car! :) 
Old-skool cool!
This weekend will be my last show until the holidays! Come and check me and lots of other fabulous local artisans out at Art Harvest on Sunday, September 26th from 12-5 at the East End Food Co-op! :)
Months ago, I purchased some awesome handmade glass lockets from my friend Lynne who had extras, not exactly sure of what I would do with them. Well, I finally got around to seeing what would happen when I set out to try creating something with them, and here are the results! Introducing the latest line from SilentLotus Creations... Collaged Window Lockets!
On each locket, one at a time, I began gathering bits and pieces and images to create a collage. I used images and words from vintage and antique paper ephemera like books and magazine illustrations, vintage rhinestones, bits of artificial dried flowers and leaves, pieces of nature like twigs, old enamel pieces, fabric from vintage fabric sample books, and tiny jewels and ornaments from vintage millinery. As the subject emerged for each piece, so did a theme, which let me add just the right touches to create the mood of each finished locket.
I am so pleased with the results, and am super excited to unveil them at this weekend's Crafts N'At indie craft market by the Pittsburgh Craft Collective (PCC) on Sunday! I've already ordered new lockets in both this crystal shape and new shapes (diamonds, and house sort-of shapes), so look for more to come soon (like at Music in the Mountains on Labor Day Weekend- see my events list on the sidebar)! :)
Speaking of Crafts N'At, please come and support the PCC's fundraiser for Animal Friends this Friday night at 6pm at Wildcard in Lawrenceville! The Crafts N'AT Pre-Party will be serving free food, beer from East End Brewery, music, raffles of awesome local handmade goods, and a meetup with adoptable Animal Friend's animals! Please come on out!
I've finally been catching up on listing in my Etsy shop, trying to add all of my inventory that I've been making for shows and haven't gotten online. It feels good! Most of my stuff never makes it to my shop because I sell it at local events before listing.
I haven't really been making the sterling silver jewels I used to spend so much time focusing on, as I have found working with old findings, components, and jewelry so much fun and so rewarding. Not sure when I will return to that, or how much.
You'll see in my new pieces some very unique and colorful vintage (likely antique) enameled pieces- flowers, butterflies, owls, and more. These were an extremely lucky find at the Yart Sale (artisans selling used and/or unwanted supplies) at Pittsburgh Center for the Arts a couple of weekends ago, and are very rare! I have found them incredibly inspiring, which makes me triply excited to be meeting tomorrow with the woman who sold them to me to see what other treasures she has tucked away.
I've also been using a new background for taking my pics- vintage book plates of Art Nouveau images, black on white. Not sure I quite have it down yet, but I'll continue to play until something works. I would love feedback on the new images, whether it be praise or constructive criticism. Please share!
Anyway, here are a few favorites from my new listings (a couple aren't listed quite yet). Feel free to check out the rest in my shop!
Alice in Wonderland-ish, don't ya think? The little butterfly on this vintage locket is one of the enameled pieces I mentioned above. It's so little and sweet!
This is one of the pieces I posted about a couple of weeks ago, made from a mysterious, key-like brass or copper piece I discovered at local used building materials retailer Construction Junction. One of the best things about this necklace is the amazing vintage plaque chain it is hanging on- I love it!
One of my first attempts at upcycled men's accessories! This tie clip also uses a random hardware piece from Construction Junction. I used the silver steel piece as a base for an antique copper bird stamping adorned with an old glass stone. The steel has this cool iridescent coloring that goes really well with the deep-toned copper.
Both the lovely enameled flower and the silver heart came from the local woman from whom I bought at the Yart Sale! The tiny copper butterfly is a vintage stamping that is also very rare, and part of a lot of tiny copper birds, hearts, and leaves from a recent purchase. I adore them!
A very antique brass escutcheon (key hole) forms the centerpiece of this necklace. It's heavy and very beautifully detailed. Over the key hole I added a vintage West German glass cabachon in a fantastic iridescent color called "black iris." The key hole is still visible if you flip the pendant over. This one isn't listed in my shop yet.
This isn't listed yet either, mainly because I am having trouble parting with it! The setting is heavy and solid with a dark patina that has naturally occurred from age. With the vintage glass cab (also West German from the 1960s-early 70s) and unusual vintage copper and brass filigree chain, it is sweet indeed!
I hope you enjoy all of the new stuff! :D
Oh, and before I go I have to mention the awesome new widget I just got for my blog from Craftcult that displays all items in my Etsy shop in a super cool slide show, as well as links directly to my hearts and other shop info. Take a look at the upper right corner of my blog. :)
