New Calendar

I finally got a new calendar posted so you can see what’s happening with me this year. Check it out to see when and where I have shows, exhibitions, and classes. The year is getting busy, already!

Drawing on Metal Class

Pink Bud brooch, Available now at Crimson Laurel Gallery and soon to be available at ArtfulHome.com

Well, it has finally happened… I am teaching drawing on metal in my studio at the end of June this year. Class will run from Tuesday June, 26 through Saturday June 30. Please e-mail me at Deb@DebKarash-Jewelry.com for the details. I only have room for 6 students. If you’ve been waiting for this class, sign up soon to secure your spot.

upcoming classes

Fun flower pin/pendant.

Winter is over and I’m busy making work for galleries across the country but I’m also looking ahead to summer and the possibility of teaching a few workshops in my studio.  These workshops will be small (4 students or less) and focused.  They may be anywhere from one day to one week in length.  I will arrange lodging for those who need it and I’d also like to plan a couple of field trips for those who are interested.  We could go up on Roan Mountain to catch the view, into Asheville for some studio visits or to see the Biltmore Estate.  Penland is just minutes down the road and I can arrange a tour of the campus.  We can even go tubing on the Toe River.   I always think it’s good to add some inspiration along with technique.  My workshops are results oriented, meaning that you will go home with finished work.  Topics I’m considering are beginning jewelry fabrication, surface design, and 5-5-10 (five days, five projects, ten techniques), and drawing on metal (my personal technique for putting color on metal) which has never been offered before.  I’m hoping that you will let me know if you are interested in a class, what topics most interest you, and what sort of time you would like to spend.   I’m just beginning to plan and this would really help me out!  I’m looking forward to sharing my studio with all of you and showing you around this beautiful area!  My studio is located in the mountains of Western North Carolina in Bakersville, NC, just over an hour from Asheville, NC and about 2.5 hours from Knoxville, TN.

Well, this has been a very busy winter.  I had the great fortune to spend a few weeks in Key West, working in my friend, John Martini’s, studio.  He does this fabulously colorful sculpture which is engineered in a very similar fashion to my jewelry, except on a much grander scale.  This is John’s studio.

John Martini's Studio

Being surrounded by all of the this color and these great forms was really inspiring.  You’ll be able to see that inspiration in my new bird pieces.  Of course the actual birds and flowers of Key West were also pretty inspiring.  I had a couple of near misses with chickens while riding my bike around town which is not something that happens just every day.  I took lots of afternoon breaks at the beach, saw a couple of great sunsets, and thoroughly enjoyed myself.  Now I’m in Philadelphia for the Buyer’s Market of American Craft and next week I will be at the American Craft Show in Baltimore, MD.   I’m looking forward to seeing lot’s of familiar faces at the shows.  It’s going to be a busy couple of weeks!

Blind Bird

Happy Holidays, really, to everyone.

Lately I have seen some folks get all worked up because some of us are saying Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I have many friends who are not Christian and many who are. Some of my friends are Jewish and some of my friends celebrate the Solstice and some of my friends are Christian. I value each of these people equally and want to respect their traditions. So my wish for all of you as this year ends is that next year will be filled with joy and love and a sense of hope. I’m excited about what next year will bring. I’m trying some new things and I hope they will be well received. As I post images of new work I hope you will comment and let me know what you think. Until then, Happy Holidays!

River Gallery exhibition

one of the pieces that is on it's way to River Gallery

Well, Thanksgiving is over with and I managed to refrain from eating myself sick.  We had a beautiful day here in the mountains and we spent it at our friend, Rob’s, annual Thanksgiving dinner for all of his friends, and this year there were 62 of us.  You have to love a man who can put together a sit down dinner with appropriate stemware for that many people.  We each brought something to share and it was a lovely feast.  In the short time that I have been here in North Carolina I’ve made a lot of friends and many were at the celebration along with a few new faces.  I feel so lucky to have found this place and these people.  Even though I miss having holidays with my own family, this new community fills that void pretty well.  I hope you all had an equally lovely day.

Now, of course, it’s time to get back to work.  Today I packed up a whole bunch of work to send off to River Gallery  in Chattanooga, TN for 2 person show with fiber artist Jen Swearington.  The opening reception will be on December 2 from 6 until 8.  I’m looking forward to being there for the opening.  It will be my first trip to Chattanooga and I’m excited to see the town.  This will be the first time that I will be showing at River Gallery.  Let me know if you happen to see my work, there.

On that same first weekend in December the Toe River Arts Council has the studio tour and I will have work at Crimson Laurel Gallery in Bakersville, NC.

this piece will be available at Crimson Laurel Gallery

I’ll probably be there on Sunday if you happen to be in town.   If not you can see some of my work along with dozens of other artists on Shop CLG at www.CrimsonLaurelGallery.com.  My work is also available online at Artful Home.      No matter where you spend the first weekend in December I hope you spend some of your holiday shopping dollars with an artist.

Happy Holiday Season to each of you – Deb

It has been such a busy summer and fall that I haven’t had time to blog. I spent a month in the midwest doing the American Craft Exposition in Evanston, IL and the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton, MO. So much great work in both of those shows so I hope you were able to attend. I also did the Greenwich Village Art Fair in my home town of Rockford, IL. It was wonderful to see so many old friends! This weekend I am at the Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show at the DeFoor Center.  The show goes from 10 to 9 today and 10 to 6 tomorrow.  The wine reception from 6 to 9, tonight, is always fun and tomorrow there will be some special giveaways in the afternoon.  It’s a marvelous selection of 25 jewelers.  You can even have lunch and/or a cocktail.  The food at the DeFoor is quite good.  There is free parking, too!

I’m feeling a little torn this weekend because there is a fabulous show opening at Crimson Laurel Gallery in Bakersville, NC that I will have to miss.

NOVEMBER 5 – DECEMBER 31 Interpreting the Cup: Process, Influence and Intent - Curated by Jason Bige Burnett

Earlier this week Jason and I set up the exhibition that he curated of over 400 cups.  It was a long day and a lot of cups but I think the show looks great.  David and John have been busy all week putting on the finishing touches.  If you can’t make it to the opening reception tomorrow night you can  see Interpreting the Cup:Process, Influence and Intent – Curated by Jason Bige Burnett online at www.CrimsonLaurelGallery.com.  The show runs through the end of December.

I know that we just celebrated Halloween but with these two great shows this weekend it’s the perfect time to think about holiday giving.  We’ve all been thinking more about buying local and what is more local that buying handmade work.  This year I hope everyone considers giving something with heart.  As artists we invest more than time and material into the pieces we make.  We invest our identity and our passion, along with our skill.  When you give something handmade you are giving a gift that is thoughtful and heartfelt.   Support the arts this holiday season.

I hope to see you here in Atlanta!