A delicious piece of Blue Heron Turquoise I picked up in Tucson. Accented with copper and citrine. Hand made 5 piece necklace.

Hello again! It’s been awhile since my last newsletter. I wish I had lots of good news to share, but it’s been pretty dull around here due to the Coronavirus. I usually would have 8 or so shows under my belt by this time of summer but I haven’t done one. I miss the show circuit! I miss connecting with old customers and meeting new ones, chatting with other artists, and the general buzz of a festival. I would have been in several new shows this year including Art Fair on the Square in South Lake, TX, and Omaha Summer Arts Fest but Covid-19 took that away. Some shows have invited the accepted artists for next year, other, we need to apply and get juried into the 2021 show again. Sadly, most of the fall shows are cancelling as well, but there are some that have not cancelled. Here are the ones as of today (Aug. 2) that are still a “go”:

Hinsdale, IL Aug. 15-16

Ethos Celebration of the Arts, Franklin, IN Aug. 22

4 Bridges Arts Festival, Chattanooga, TN Sept. 3-5

Cedarhurst Art and Crafts Fair, Mt. Vernon, IL Sept. 11-13

Edwards Place Fine Art Fair, Springfield, IL Sept. 19-20

Best of Missouri Market, St. Louis, MO Oct. 2-4

Please note that during shows I will adhere to following Covid-19 safety precautions:

• Wear a mask at all time (I ask that you do the same, please!)

• Have (and use) hand sanitizer before and after handling jewelry/cards/etc.

• Sanitizer surfaces frequently

• Jewelry is behind glass cases and will be sanitized before and after handling

• Keep as socially distant from people as I can (realizing that this is hard during art shows and sales interactions)

• Have acrylic dividers between me and my customers

• Try to keep my tent as open as possible to allow for air movement

How I spent my Spring

So I spent most of the spring gardening rather than preparing for shows. It was my escape from reality. Getting my hands in the dirt is therapeutic. I’ve been expanding my shade garden (lots of big old trees where I live) for several years and my vision is coming to fruition! Now I am moving plants around, like every good gardener. I was surprised by the bed of wildflowers I planted from seed. I decided not to try vegetable this year in my small raised garden bed (they never get enough sun) and sprinkled a $5.99 bag of pollinator seeds instead. I wasn’t hopeful when I planted them - it was an experiment, but I remember telling my husband that we should have a bed full of wildflowers by the time this Covid thing is over. (They took 45-60 days to bloom - and I planted them in March. Boy, was I wrong). I love the unique shapes, delicate edges and perfect colors of each one!

Stirup earrings - patterned with a rolling mill and paper

Optimist earrings - copper patterned with sheer fabric

Unnamed earrings - copper patterned with fancy paper

In My Studio

I have been experimenting with a new toy! I invested in a rolling mill - a basic but mighty tool. I’ve been exploring patterning metals. You roll the annealed metal through with something of texture - fancy paper, fabric, dried plants, and it embosses the pattern on the metal. You aren’t quite sure how it will turn out - the metal may take the exact pattern, or something only reminiscent of the textile pattern. I’ve been using this patterned copper to make a new line of earrings, simple necklaces, and cuffs. I love to patina the copper to bring out the texture.

I’d like to thank you for supporting me (and other artists) during this time. My motivation has waxed and waned since March. Whether you have been a patron of an online virtual art fair, my website, or commented and shared my social media posts, you give me hope that better days are to come and that people value art and beauty, and you motivate me to keep on creating.

So please, keep supporting artists, wear your mask, wash your hands, and stay healthy!

January flew by because I was looking forward to my trip to Tucson for the Gem and Mineral show. February did not go by so fast. Like so many others, I am soooo ready to be done being cold, to feel the warm sunshine, to work in the yard, and for my show season to begin!

Obligatory photo in front of a saguaro cactus in Tucson!

First, let me tell you about my trip to the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show. Actually, it’s shows. There are around 40 individual shows in Tucson during the first two weeks of February (some start earlier), some in huge tents, some in hotel rooms, selling rocks, fossils, jewelry making supplies and finished jewelry. This was the first time I have been to the show as an official jeweler. I used to live in Tucson and have been to one of two shows looking for beads, a piece of jewelry (I couldn’t make my own then), or volunteering as a graduate student.

Beautiful turquoise I picked up at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.

Turquoise and newly found azurite and malachite mix (bottom)!

Boulder opals from Austrailia - one of my favorites.

My goal this year was to purchase one of a kind hand-picked stones to create jewelry with, and I found them! I was very overwhelmed by the amount of beads, gems and stones I saw, but I am glad I did my homework before and knew what shows I wanted to visit and what stones I wanted. I searched through trays of stones, examining them to see which ones speaks to me, which ones are destined to become a piece of Likos Metal and Stone Jewelry - but I really don’t mind the time;).

An illuminated table made from banded onyx. Someday this will go in my kitchen.

This is a cut and polished slice of a meteorite with olivine crystals in it. So cool!

In addition to searching for the perfect stones for my jewelry, another favorite part of the Tucson Gem Show was seeing unique specimens such as giant petrified wood, giant gem crystals and meteorites with gems in them! The natural world never ceases to amaze me! I also got to visit with old friends (one I haven’t seen in over 20 years!) and eat the best burrito ever! The only thing I didn’t get to do that was on my list was to take a hike in the desert….I guess I’ll have to go back.

A new piece with Indonesia opalized wood with copper waiting to be displayed at my first show in April

Another new piece. This one is fossilized mammoth tooth with turquoise.

On another note, my first show of the season is in one month! I’ve been working hard to create new designs and build inventory. I usually do not do shows in the winter as I like the time to build inventory and create without the pressure of a deadline. It also gives me time for both me and my house to recover and (maybe) get some things on the to-do list done. But I do miss the anticipation and excitement that come with show season. Now it is March and I have to get it into gear! I need to keep on making jewelry, but also make sure my tent is clean, displays are freshened, and boxes and bags are stocked up. I am still waiting to hear from several shows about whether I am accepted or not, but listed below are the ones I will be at as of now. You can always go to my website on the events page to see an updated list with details. I hope to see you at a show!

Art in the Loop, Memphis TN, April 3-5, 2020

Art in the Square, Southlake TX, April 24-26, 2020

Artfest on Walnut, Springfield MO, May 2-3, 2020

Omaha Summer Arts Fair, Omaha NE, June 5-6, 2020

Lakeshore Arts Festival, Muskegon, MI, July 3-5, 2020

More to come! I will update my Events page as I hear back from more festivals.

I miss these sunsets. Catalina Mountains, Tucson.

The New Year has me contemplating about what I want for my jewelry business. Honestly, I am always thinking about what I want for my jewelry business, I guess the New Year just gives me the chance to reflect on the past year and officially set goals for the upcoming one. I had a great 2019! A dozen shows, dozens of new customers and friends. I can say I have grown as an artist, a jeweler, and an independent business owner. It’s been two and a half years since I have turned Likos Metal and Stone Jewelry into an official business rather than a hobby. Some of you reading this know that I was a science teacher for 14 years. I took a leap of faith and left teaching to pursue my dream (and calling) to make jewelry for a living. Well, I’m doing it! I’m living my dream! It wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of my husband and two girls, my mom, and my entire family! My customers, fellow artists, friends….I’m so blessed to have so many people rooting for me.

I’m on the right, with my two sisters. I’m the youngest:)

So….2020, what will you bring? I have learned that what “is brought” is only part of the deal - it’s what I make of it that really matters. My main focus this year is to be successful in the art show scene - bigger and better shows and all that is involved in making that happen (booth, display, photos, customer contact). I also want to stay updated on my social media posts and website updates (that’s always a goal!) . I am currently in one gallery (Artisans on the Loop) and would like to be in a few more, maybe even outside of St. Louis. The success of these goals is dependent on the jewelry I make.

This is one of my favorite pieces from 2019. I brought out the pattern in the stone with the copper accents and added a bit of sparkle with the citrine.I love the stone (VIstaite) and hope to find more unique stones like this at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February 2020.

I have developed two lines of jewelry - natural stone one of a kind pieces and simpler mixed metal pieces. I’d like to continue both lines in 2020. I will focus on pattern, texture, and shape in my designs. I’m going to the Tucson Gem Show this year specifically to find unique and stunning stones. Maybe add some more gold to the mix. Possibly incorporate some faceted stones to compliment the earthiness of the natural stones. So many ideas!

I feel like I am finally coming into myself as a jewelry artist. I look forward to 2020 being a great year! I invite you to join me on my journey.

PS - This is my first blog/newsletter! If you received this in your email, you have shared your email address with me at a show or are a customer. If you are reading this and would like to receive my future newsletters (1 -2 per month), event notices, sales, etc., please sign up for for my newsletter below!

The New Year has me contemplating about what I want for my jewelry business. Honestly, I am always thinking about what I want for my jewelry business, I guess the New Year just gives me the chance to reflect on the past year and officially set goals for the upcoming one. I had a great 2019! A dozen shows, dozens of new customers and friends. I can say I have grown as an artist, a jeweler, and an independent business owner. It’s been two and a half years since I have turned Likos Metal and Stone Jewelry into an official business rather than a hobby. Some of you reading this know that I was a science teacher for 14 years. I took a leap of faith and left teaching to pursue my dream (and calling) to make jewelry for a living. Well, I’m doing it! I’m living my dream! It wouldn’t be possible without the love and support of my husband and two girls, my mom, and my entire family! My customers, fellow artists, friends….I’m so blessed to have so many people rooting for me.

I’m on the right, with my two sisters. I’m the youngest:)

So….2020, what will you bring? I have learned that what “is brought” is only part of the deal - it’s what I make of it that really matters. My main focus this year is to be successful in the art show scene - bigger and better shows and all that is involved in making that happen (booth, display, photos, customer contact). I also want to stay updated on my social media posts and website updates (that’s always a goal!) . I am currently in one gallery (Artisans on the Loop) and would like to be in a few more, maybe even outside of St. Louis. The success of these goals is dependent on the jewelry I make.

This is one of my favorite pieces from 2019. I brought out the pattern in the stone with the copper accents and added a bit of sparkle with the citrine.I love the stone (VIstaite) and hope to find more unique stones like this at the Tucson Gem and Mineral Show in February 2020.

I have developed two lines of jewelry - natural stone one of a kind pieces and simpler mixed metal pieces. I’d like to continue both lines in 2020. I will focus on pattern, texture, and shape in my designs. I’m going to the Tucson Gem Show this year specifically to find unique and stunning stones. Maybe add some more gold to the mix. Possibly incorporate some faceted stones to compliment the earthiness of the natural stones. So many ideas!

I feel like I am finally coming into myself as a jewelry artist. I look forward to 2020 being a great year! I invite you to join me on my journey.

PS - This is my first blog/newsletter! If you received this in your email, you have shared your email address with me at a show or are a customer. If you are reading this and would like to receive my future newsletters (1 -2 per month), event notices, sales, etc., please sign up for for my newsletter below!