A Change Will Do You Good

So much is going on! I didn't know how appropriate my last post about my Transformation Angel would be to what is going on now. Change. So much has changed in just a few short days. Most people don't like change. Comfortable seems to be preferred to the unknown. I understand that. The unknown is well... unknown. You really don't know where you will end up, but I have found most change is usually for the better even if it doesn't seem like it in the moment. So many things have happened so quickly, it's hard to know where to begin. I will do another post soon regarding some of these other changes and developments. A good friend of mine, Donnette, had not seen me for 2 days last week. When I finally caught up with her she said "I have only been gone two days and your whole life has changed!"  It's kind of overwhelming and crazy. So to start, I did my 1st show this weekend on my own at Whimzy. Tara and I have decided to go our own paths. Everyone that hears this news says "what happened!" The next thing out of my mouth has been "it's not a bad thing!" It is interesting to me how everyone is so quick to assume something awful has happened. What happened is simple. We are at different places in our lives and have different goals we need to accomplish. We had a grand time together starting Serendipity Salvage and learned so much! The experience was invaluable. We will continue our friendship as well as to hunt for hidden treasures! 
  We could both feel the change coming, but we didn't know exactly how to handle it. We were sad on some level we had to part, but life happened! Things changed in a years time. Once we admitted to each other that we both felt we were being pulled in different paths, it was easy. Doors are opening left and right for both of us and a new phase has begun. In a weeks time I booked 3 shows, including Pasadena Bead and Design Show this July, and I have more in the works! People are crawling out of the woodwork asking for me to make them jewelry,a piece of art, or to find the perfect vintage piece to complete their project. All it took was  letting go and going with the flow.
And so a new adventure begins!...


I had the most fun this weekend at Whimzy's very 1st Artist's Junque Trunk! We were asked to clean out our studios so we could make room for the new! Perfect timing!

The gals from Whimzy hosted this fabulous treasure hunting adventure in the same lot they do Jamestown Flea last Sunday. I met so many cool Artists and fantastic patrons!

 I was telling stories about the history of some of my pieces and parts I was destashing and people were genuinely interested in what I had to share! So, the coolest thing happened! I met 3 different people from Glitterfest who had purchased something of mine. It is so crazy the day of Glitterfest there is no time to talk! I got to chat with these kind folks about what I made and hear what they thought. It was really too much fun! I had a ball and I got to unload a bunch of stuff I am no longer using and pass my finds on to other creators who will put them to good use! 

I have to say that the highlight of the day was talking to two different teenage girls. I was showing them a few different ideas for using the pieces they were interested in. They both had the same reaction. Light. It was just like someone had flipped a switch and given the permission to ignore all of the rules. Nothing is as it seems. The options are endless. I hope some day I will see them selling their creations at Glitterfest. Dianne said they plan to do another Junque Trunk in the Winter. Be sure not to miss the next one!
Until we meet again!
Crystal :)


P.S. I am going back to my old supply name Vintage Fairy Finds if you are looking for me!

Have you seen this Angel?

Transformer by Crystal Basica Fall 2011

Things never go as planned. I learned this lesson a long time ago and I try my very best to roll with the punches. Our lives can change directions in an instant. When I made this piece last Fall I started out with just the soldered wings made of gears. For once I loved how they turned out on the 1st try! The various patinas I used actually were reacting the way I intended them to. I knew I wanted to attach them to something, so I decided on soldering them to a figure... A Steampunk Angel. I wanted the piece to make a statement about technology and how everything changes so quickly now, but somewhere in the midst of all of the chaos it seems there is someone still guiding us. I finished the Angel and kept staring at it. It wasn't done. I couldn't figure out what it needed so it just sat on my work table as I continued to make new pieces for Glitterfest. One day I took a creating break and headed with a friend to my favorite Antique store Treasures and Junk for a little change of scenery. That's when we found this little vintage train transformer...it was perfect! The perfect size, weight, not to mention it said the word transformer which went along exactly with what I was trying to convey AND then the dial that read off low med high.This was it! That just made the piece for me and I could stop obsessing over what else it needed! I took my angel to Glitterfest Fall and after the show I brought my angel and a few other pieces to Whimzy, so they could be available for sale.


Skip ahead 6 months. Glitterfest Spring has come and gone. I needed to get into Whimzy and bring them some new pieces from the Spring show. I headed in to see Dianne and was given some unexpected news. The Angel had vanished. Her whereabouts are unknown.


First off let me say that I 100% believe in Karma. What goes around comes around without a doubt!
I know my initial reaction should have probably been anger but it was laughter. I wish Dianne could have been in my head because I know she was thinking this crazy artist is nuts! But all I could see was a old image of a cartoon cat burglar with the black mask with two eye holes cut out tip-toeing through Whimzy and running out the door with the Transformer! lol 

I was also kind of flattered in a weird kind of way. Someone liked my art so much they felt the need to steal it! I'm not saying it was a good thing, I'm just taking it as a compliment :) So now what I want to know is who steals an angel? It's just weird. Not that any stealing is right but it's not a shirt or a purse or something you can use or that you need, so you just have a stolen piece of art sitting on your mantle or bookcase as a reminder of what you took? It's just odd to me. The only thing that makes me a little sad is I didn't get a better picture of it, but at least I have these few :)

My Sister Melissa at my Table Glitterfest Fall

Some more good that came out of the theft was that it got me writing on my blog which I am so bad about! There is so much going on I need to make a point to check in and tell you all what is new! I plan to put up some more posts very soon about what inspired me to make some of my other pieces. If anyone happens upon my Angel or if the culprit would like to rid their house of the Angel that is causing all the havoc in their life and anonymously return her, please contact me or Whimzy. No questions asked :)

Stay Tuned!

Crystal

It's time for Glitterfest Spring 2012!

It seems like ever since I made my Steampunk Time Machine last Spring, time has been flying like crazy! Really! February is over! It's just crazy! Fellow Artist and Business Partner Tara Wilson and I have been busy hunting for vintage treasure for our joint venture Serendipity Salvage. Now for those of you that don't know, Serendipity Salvage was born out of necessity. We were both spending hours hunting for vintage gems to use in our own jewelry and art creations, so we decided to share the "extra" finds with fellow creators! Don't get me wrong -Serendipity Salvage has tons of fantastic rare vintage finds, but I'm not gonna lie- we typically cherry pick the rare finds we are dying over to use in our own work. You don't want to miss Glitterfest this Spring! All of these one of a kind focal pieces and parts have made it into my creations! My soldering iron and micro torch have been working overtime :) I have been test wearing my jewelry items and well, I'm kinda forming attachments to most of them! It will be hard to see them go, but I know they are getting a good home with Glitterfest Patrons. It's only 10 more days until this fabulous event! If you have never been to Glitterfest, it is a sight to see! I am so excited to share what I have come up with and see what all of my fellow artist have come up with. They never cease to amaze me!


This time around I drew inspiration from Art Nouveau Artist Alphonse Mucha. I love the intricate designs and layering. His attention to small details is just amazing!

La Primavera and La Plume by Alphonse Mucha

I LOVE the small details! I like to put all kinds of small twists and turns or layers in my pieces that you may not notice at 1st glance. I have noticed when have shown some of my new creations to my friends that they miss some of the little things I have hidden with in my work. I tend to get bored easily, so I like when a piece of art has something different to offer when I look at it over time. There was also recently a scrapbook paper line that altered some of Mucha's art. This paper is beautiful and it got my wheels turning. My goal was to translate these ideas into a more 3D interpretation. It's all about the layers!

So this time for Glitterfest Spring I have run with this Mucha meets Industry theme in my art and jewelry designs and I am really excited to share it with you! See you March 10, 2012 from 10-4 at the Elks Lodge in Santa Ana. Check out Glitterfest.com for all the details! Sheryl and Diane of Whimzy put in hours of hard work to make this event spectacular! Come on down and support your local art community!
Happy Creating!
Crystal

What a crazy year!

I can't believe how fast this year has flown by! I could have never have predicted how this year would have gone in a million years! It has been one crazy turn to the next. I can't wait to see what 2012 has in store! I am so thankful for all that I have learned and for all of the unexpected tiny miracles that have happened in 2011.  I have been busy these last 2 months reorganizing my work space and hunting for Serendipity Salvage. In my reorganizing I have found many treasures I had forgotten all about! I am pulling many of these one of a kind pieces to weave into some of my pieces for Glitterfest Spring 2012. (It's March 10th mark your calendars!) I kinda got a sneak peak at what Tara is doing, but I can't wait to see what everyone has been up to!
I got a package a couple days ago from fellow artist Jenny Hernandez (The Polka Dot Pixie). She is such an amazing artist (not to mention one of the nicest gals you could ever meet!) and after trying to mess with paper clay this fall, I have a whole new respect for her work! Check out what I got...

Paper Mache Sculpture by the Polka Dot Pixie, Jenny Hernandez

She is too cute! I can hardly stand it! I have decided she is going to be my wish box for 2012. I am a firm believer in positive thinking. I believe if you put it out there good always finds its way back. When I look at this bluebird I can't help but smile, so I am going to put all of my hopes and wishes for this year down on little pieces of paper and see what happens :) What will you wish for? 

See you all next year!

Best Wishes,

Crystal

P.S. Be sure to check out Jenny's Etsy http://www.etsy.com/people/thepolkadotpixie

And her Blog www.thepolkadotpixie.blogspot.com

Glitterfest "time" is drawing near...

      I am so excited I can hardly stand it! I'd say the clock is ticking, but I have torn it apart for it's pieces :) Glitterfest is just days away! 13 days to be exact which happens to be my lucky number. Speaking of lucky numbers I have another superstition...I don't make the same thing twice! Even if something is very similar I use some other bead or color...something to make it special and one of a kind. I put my heart and soul into each piece I make. If it is jewelry I wear it to make sure it feels good on. If it is a piece of art, it finds itself on my bookshelf or wherever seems appropriate. I have to love it. If not, then it's back to the drawing board.  If something doesn't look right, I can't help but tear it apart and rearrange. Perfectionist?...maybe, I just feel strongly about making what I would want instead of what I think someone else would want and I refuse to settle by saying "that's good enough" or "no one will notice but me." My work is a reflection of me and all of the experiences and knowledge that I have been exposed to. I take pride in what I make and strive to produce exactly what I see in my head. One of my favorite quotes is... 


"Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing." Salvador Dali


All of the skills I have acquired, I have learned from someone else, be it in person, in a book, whatever. I have no formal art training but if I wanted to be a painter, I would go to art school and they would teach me to imitate the masters in order to learn technique. But once you learn technique what do you make? what makes it yours? It's drawing on your experiences and things that speak to your soul that makes it yours. It's all in the details. Those are really my only guidelines for creating. Philosophy lesson over...back to Glitterfest :)


       I have been so busy making new pieces. I have filled my house with work tables and find myself moving around from soldering to wire work to painting and so much more! I have had to give myself a pep talk about letting some of these pieces go. I absolutely LOVE using found objects in my work, but most times I don't have another one and I am not sure if I can handle seeing it go away. At least I know with Glitterfest Patrons, it is going to get a good home :)


OK so here's a little peek...

What could it be? You'll have to come to Glitterfest to find out :) 
I'll give you a hint..it's not what you think it is...
See you all October 15th!
www.glitterfest.com for all the details


Sparkle on!
Crystal

Expect Miracles :)

Yay! More good news!!! I am honored to have one of my necklaces published in the new Fall issue of Jewelry Affaire from Stampington! It officially hits stands on October 1st but my local bead store Garden of Beaden has received their shipment and so has Barnes & Noble :) This is a gorgeous issue and I am truly grateful to be included in its pages with so many amazing artists! I am on page 100 - the piece is called "Expect Miracles", so go out support your local bead store and grab a copy! You will no doubt be inspired by the stunning work everyone has shared. You can read the story on what initially inspired this piece in the issue. I had written the article for Stampington late Spring of this year, but this necklace had already started spinning it's magic the minute it was made.

       I had been wearing this piece a lot when I first made it. Little did I know it had become a kind of good luck charm while Tara and I were unknowingly formulating Serendipity Salvage. We had worked side by side getting ready for last Glitterfest. What started out as us getting together to solder or work on projects turned into me practically camping at her house for a couple months! We were constantly swapping supplies- she had just what I needed and I had just what she needed. We decided we should combine our hoards and join vintage treasure hunting forces. After about 100 more fortunate accidents from amazing treasure scores to unbelievable "right place right time" moments, we settled on the name Serendipity Salvage in April 2011. Every time something fabulously weird happens we still both look at each and say "Serendipity strikes again!" This story probably belongs on Serendipity's blog too, but call me crazy-I am convinced this necklace had a hand in what has happened. It served as a reminder to expect good things, stay positive and if you are on the right path things will just fall into place. In fact, it was Tara that encouraged me to take it off my neck and throw it in the box to send to Jewelry Affaire. Serendipity strikes again :) 
       The last few weeks I have been stressing trying to juggle all of the trunk shows and business that needs to be handled while trying to find time to work on my projects for Glitterfest Fall. By seeing my necklace again I am reminded to "Expect Miracles" and everything will just fall into place :) 


Here are some silly icky photos I took of my piece when I made it. I have so much trouble photographing long necklaces!... 

Jewelry Affaire's photo is WAY better!

Thank you so much to all of my friends and family for all of the support! Now back to my soldering iron!

Stay turned for some sneak peaks on what you might see at Glitterfest Fall...(OCT 15th Don't miss it!) 

It's gonna be good!!!

Something from Nothing...the magic of junk :)

I'm on a roll! My Glitterfest creations are in full swing! I wish that there were magic elves that could read my mind and create what is in there while I am sleeping. The least they could do is clean my house in the night...that would be fabulous :) Alas they have yet to show up so I trudge along.  I have been busy glittering, gluing, decoupaging, wire wrapping, soldering, and so much more! Last night I switched to engineering mode. I love turning junk into something so unrecognizable that it requires me to explain that it actually is a bolt or a washer or a thingamado that came out of my junk drawer. If you would like to see a real live thingamado please see the photo below :)

Does anyone know why I have a six inch nail in my junk drawer? I can't imagine what kind of job would necessitate a gigantic nail of its kind. OK honestly... I have no idea what half of this stuff is for but maybe it's better that way? I have no preconceived ideas about it and I get to be a kid playing with building blocks again! It's all in my head I just have to make it come out now...back to the grind.  If you would like to see what I make out of some of this crazy stuff, be sure to come to Glitterfest Oct 15th....all will be revealed!