Neato Bandito

A new beginning

2010-07-03T21:45:00.000-07:00

Hey! There is a lot going on around here and I would like to invite you to follow along on this crazy journey - lots of amazing opportunitites and exciting changes I can't wait to tell you about! Come check it all out at our new blog home Ceola Design

new pieces

2010-05-17T09:41:00.000-07:00

Here are some fun new pieces I made for Twill last week - they had a huge birthday celebration this weekend and I made 30 new pairs of earrings just for the occasion. These are all definitely inspired by summer and all the great colors that come along with it!

Mother's Day Project

2010-05-09T09:53:00.000-07:00

As some of you know, this weekend is both the first birthday and Mother's Day without my mom. As I looked ahead to this weekend, I wanted to try and find a positive way to remember her and decided what better way to honor her memory than to celebrate some of the amazing women in my life! There are so many wonderful women that I have shared laughter, joy, and tears with and those who have continued to encourage, support, and believe in me. I realized that so many of the attributes that I loved about my mom, I see in these women, and I am so grateful to have them in my life. Here are some of the things I made for those speacial ladies:

Etsy: out of the gray

2010-04-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

www.PearlEverlasting.etsy.com

www.infusion.etsy.com

www.betsybensen.etsy.com

www.supayana.etsy.com

www.trotalo.etsy.com

www.onegarnetgirl.etsy.com

www.mydearthing.etsy.com

drum roll please!

2010-04-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

And the winner is ............... Donna Urban. Congratulations Donna - you will now have a new pair of shiny earrings just in time for spring!
Thank you everyone who entered the drawing and for all your support and encouragement!

Give Away!

2010-03-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

This is my first ever give away! Everyone who becomes a follower of my blog by March 31st will be entered to win a free pair of earrings. No catch, no funny business, just a little thank you for following along on this crazy journey! Just click on the sidebar to the right and become a follower - it's that easy. The drawing will be held April 1st, so stayed tuned to see who the lucky winner is - who knows, it could be you!

new pieces

2010-03-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

poem #32

2010-03-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

Beauty seeps into silent moments,

filling voids we never knew.

I see it in the stars......

in the tiny quiet moments that pass all to quickly.

A glimpse of hope

something bigger than myself

I know that tomorrow will be a new day

filled with new beauty.

Filled with hope.

Industrial Beauty

2010-03-01T14:14:00.000-08:00

These pieces reflect some of my greatest inspiration right now. I am so inspired by all things old, rusty, forgotten and neglected. The way something ages gives it so much character. I'm drawn to chipped paint, things that have been tucked away, beat up and weathered metal. I just can't get enough!

Just Added

2010-02-27T13:23:00.000-08:00

These have just been added to the shop!

www.ceola.etsy.com

It's Official!

2010-02-12T22:23:00.000-08:00

It feels wonderful to be able to announce that my new Etsy shop has finally opened!! I have been working on creating new pieces and tried to get this in place for quite some time now. I hope that you will check out the shop and make sure to tell all your friends!

www.ceola.etsy.com

new piece

2010-02-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

This piece was a custom order for a very dear friend of mine. The center pendant is actually from a bolo tie belonging to her step father who recently passed. I tried to create a unique piece that would be extra special for her and was really happy with how it turned out:

poem #431

2010-01-28T21:57:00.000-08:00

The dark arthritic tree stands strong against the pale gray sky, a single black crow perched on a mangled naked branch. This colored sky usually drops rain in buckets but for the moment it is dry...the pavement still stained with falls discarded leaves. The train is in motion and I see the city is slowly waking up - sleep still in its eyes.

Neato Artist: Justin Maylone

2010-01-15T23:44:00.000-08:00

I recently found Justin through Etsy and have to say I am loving his art! I think it's amazing and has such a depth and richness to it. The textures are beautiful and I love the colors he uses. These paintings have been very inspiring!

Check out his shop at www.jmaylone.etsy.com!

new pieces

2010-01-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

Etsy: I've Got The Blues

2010-01-02T18:18:00.000-08:00

some of my favorite Etsy finds:

www.hodakapottery.etsy.com

www.constantdreamer.etsy.com

www.jessitaylor.etsy.com

www.jmaylone.etsy.com

www.dkpottery.etsy.com

www.ejwarhus.etsy.com

www.finestra.etsy.com

www.livefunky.etsy.com

www.photolena.etsy.com

www.labokoff.etsy.com

www.jewlli.etsy.com

poem #212

2009-12-10T12:44:00.000-08:00

the fog quietly crept in
over the city this morning
and the sky remained white
until well after noon.
frost covered patches of earth
pale in comparison
to the ground twinkling like diamonds

playing favorites

2009-11-29T16:33:00.000-08:00

These are some of the only pieces I have actually planned out in advance and have had to figure out how to make the dream a reality. I heated the metal, hammered it and then drilled holes for the fine silver accents to go into - there are tiny little balls on each side of the metal. The texture is incredible, it's like reading braille on metal. These are definitely my new favorites!

Twill

2009-11-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

I am very excited to announce that my jewelry is now being carried by Twill in Portland! This super cute shop carries everything from skirts, dresses, original art, jewelry and even colored tights. The shop mostly carries local designers and eco-friendly clothes, which I think is just one more reason to love them! Make sure to check them - you won't be sorry!

Twill
2132 SWE Division
Portland, OR 97202

www.twillclothing.com

circle of life

2009-11-03T16:23:00.000-08:00

I have totally been on a kick of making everything circles! I love forming the wire, cutting it, fusing it and then re-shaping it to make a perfect little circle. The possibilities are endless and I think this is probably the part of jewelry making I could never get tired of!

first attempt

2009-10-30T12:51:00.000-07:00

this is my first attempt at encaustic painting. it was harder to o than I thought it would be. it's a great practice in art because you may have an idea in your mind of what you want to create but because the wax reacts so differently with each stroke it comes out totally different - in a good way

new pieces

2009-10-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

Neato Artist: Somavenus

2009-10-03T00:59:00.000-07:00

This great shop features photos, zines and funky glass pendants by the one and only Melanie (aka Soma)! The beautiful rich colors in her photos and jewelry make her art some of my personal favorite. Imagine my excitement when I found out she was local....and I mean local! I was a fan long before but then I met her and actually got to work with her. I can't believe I finally found someone who loves old rusty stuff as much as I do! Besides having the coolest hair around, she's also totally down to earth and funny. Her love for travel is clear in her vibrant pictures and her passion for art has really inspired me! Check out her shop at www.somavenus.etsy.com. I think you'll find that her art will make your day just a little bit brighter!

poem #11

2009-09-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

There's a wildfire in the city.

The trees are starting to blend into the brick buildings.

Beautiful reds and oranges.......like flames lapping at the sky.

The sky is still hazy

with the sun slowly rising

bringing its radiant light to the new day.

Morning has to be my favorite part of the day

everything is renewed...

the dew has washed away the regrets of yesterday.

The cold air burns my lungs as I walk down the city blocks.

Leaves are changing colors right before my eyes

the sky turning from blue to gray to white to blue again.

The air chills me to the bone

as the subtle scent of winter dances in the fog.

Fall is my favorite time of year.....

new pieces

2009-09-14T16:13:00.000-07:00

Etsy: Seeing Red

2009-09-01T11:24:00.000-07:00

some current favorites from Etsy:

www.dangerprostudios.etsy.com

www.carmelajay.etsy.com

www.lanitaphoto.etsy.com

www.melaniefavreau.etsy.com

www.modernhouseart.etsy.com

www.slowshirts.etsy.com

www.rainyprints.etsy.com

www.verreencore.etsy.com

the dark side

2009-08-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

I just learned about liver of sulfur and how it can darken silver. It's quite a bit of work to darken and then brush the pieces so they aren't completely dark but I love the look!

golden child

2009-08-20T16:27:00.000-07:00

I'm not one for gold jewelry, personally. Silver has always suited me best and is the color that seems to catch my eye the most. I like gold on other people and usually end up making pieces in gold for my mom (hi mom!). I decided to try some earrings and have to admit that after all these years not liking gold, I LOVE these little earrings!

Ode: Teesha Moore

2009-08-13T10:06:00.000-07:00

I don't even know where to start about Teesha - she is sheer inspiration! I started following her art through her art zines "Play" and "Art & Life". I was hooked at the very first page - her use of color, words and faces was different than really anything I had seen before. As I read more and more issues and started looking into her other art work, I was even more inspired. Here was someone who by all appearances was truly living the creative life. I love what she has to say about her own work:

"To me, making art is play. I don't worry what others will think of it. I do it and if others like it, great. If they don't, I know they will move onto the next artist who inspires them. I create from my gut. I let whatever is inside of me come out, so I step aside as much as possible so that can happen. I am always happy to share any idea or technique I know with anyone who wants to listen because it is all about creativity and if something I say can get someone to shoot off down a path of their own creative path, there is no greater joy for me. "

This sentiment is so clear in her work. It speaks from her soul yet is so finished & well designed. I am just blown away by all the things she does.... her zines, her blog, her stamps & her great fabric arts. And although her art gives me just the push I need sometimes, her life inspires me just as much. Here is a mother of two and a wife of 25 + years.........just a beautiful woman who inspires me in more ways than I ever thought possible. Here are some of my favorite pieces:

I hope that you take a peek at her amazing work:

www.teeshamoore.com
www.teeshascircus.blogspot.com

And here is the piece I made inspired by Teesha. I have to admit, as I made this piece, I just let it flow. I didn't worry about how this piece would fit or how that little piece would look. I created, as she says, from the gut. It captures for me the inspiration she gives me to create with reckless abandon and to live a creative life.

recycled chic

2009-08-01T16:07:00.000-07:00

I just came into a huge collection of post industrial recycled leather - each piece is hand painted these beautiful colors. I'm not sure what all I will create with it....so many possibilities. For right now, I've started to make cuff bracelets with fine silver accents. Who knew being nice to the environment could look so cute!

new pieces

2009-07-26T15:34:00.000-07:00

Neato Artist: Phil Hansen

2009-07-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

I just had to share this new find www.philinthecircle.com. I came across his work on myspace and I am just in awe after looking at his site!! He does "goodbye art", which means once he's done with the art project, he keeps nothing related to it except the final picture. Please do yourself a favor and check out his site - his work is brilliant and you'll be amazed when you find out what his art is actually made of!

latest project

2009-07-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

These are 2 pairs of earrings I made as a birthday gift. They remind me of summer and flowy skirts - I love how they turned out and just may have to make a pair for myself!

new pieces

2009-06-28T15:58:00.000-07:00

Into The City

2009-06-03T11:44:00.000-07:00

I love Portland! I miss the mornings where I would walk to the transit center and take the train into the city. I felt somehow more connected to the people and the city itself. I walked the city streets, talked to the shop owners, visited galleries, and saw humanity at it's best and worst. Now I just look at it from afar when I drive past. It feels like a stranger to me....a stranger that I love and long to connect to once more.

"Into The City" playlist:

Tiny City Made of Ashes - Modest Mouse
Floorplan - Tegan & Sara
The Heart of Saturday Night - Madeleine Peyroux
Crash Into Me - Dave Mathews Band
Sorry I am - Ani DiFranco
Just What I Needed - Toshi Reagon
Bend and Break - Keane
Evonce - Thelonious Monk
The Blower's Daughter - Damion Rice
Sean's Theme - Sean Lennon
When It's Cold I'd Like to Die - Moby
Fix You - Coldplay
Once in A While - Smashing Pumpkins
I Met Your Mercy - Remy Shand
Ne Me Quitte Pas - Nina Simone
Across The Universe - Rufus Wainwright

experi-metal

2009-05-26T15:51:00.000-07:00

I have spent the last couple of days playing around with a torch and metal. I love how the heat changes the surface of the metal and am really liking adding texture through hammering. It's all totally new to me but I think I'm going to like incorporating metal into my pieces! Here's what I've come up with so far:

new pieces

2009-05-14T15:28:00.000-07:00

Here are some new pieces - notice I'm not using a model that can talk back! I've been experimenting with bits of large chain and layering. So far, I'm liking how these are turning out!

Ode: Nina Bagley

2009-05-03T12:56:00.000-07:00

Nina Bagley is a wonderful mixed media artist who has inspired me non-stop since I discovered her about 2 years ago. Her mix of natural components mixed with found objects has made me look at my own jewelry and art in a whole new way. I have never met Nina but spent an absurd amount of time hovering at her booth at an Art and Soul retreat, feeling a little star stuck that I was actually holding her art in my hands. As the cool stones slid between my fingertips and as I looked at each connection and image, I realized her jewelry & art were everything I had ever imagined and so much more. I had seen many arcticles featuring her work, seen pieces here and there, but it was such a wonderful experience to actually be able to hold her work in my hands.
There are many more beautiful pieces on her website at www.ninabagley.com and her blog www.ornamental.typepad.com is always a joy to read.....very inspiring!

So here is my piece I made as an ode to Nina - for all her inspiration. I tried to capture the emotion and appretiation I feel when I see her jewelry. Her art always evokes a sense of peace, tranquility and beauty for me, and makes me long for a little cabin in the Carolina mountains.

in the studio

2009-04-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

model shoot

2009-04-16T15:22:00.000-07:00

Ok, so it may not be the high fashion model shoot I dream of, but luckily I have a patient sister who is willing to work for jewelry:

Etsy: tweet tweet

2009-04-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

just in time for spring!

www.abibansaldesign.etsy.com

www.dolangeiman.etsy.com

www.dreamsandjewelry.etsy.com

www.joom.etsy.com

www.kristenkswanson.etsy.com

www.gomeagan.etsy.com

www.mincingmockingbird.etsy.com

www.tillybloom.etsy.com

more pieces

2009-03-30T15:18:00.000-07:00

first show

2009-03-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

In 2004, I happened to stumble upon an opening for a jewerly artist to share their work at a local boutique. I took some of my pieces in, really hoping that I'd just be able to get some feedback from the store owner, and ended up being offered a spot as the featured artist for the following month - I was over the moon and scared out of my wits! I created 70 new pieces in less than 2 weeks, scrambled to make some business cards and had a girls night in with some wonderfully supportive friends that helped me make tags and price all the pieces.
That was the kick off of this amazing adventure! I continued to sell at the same boutique for several years and did a few jewelry shows with them along the way, never ceasing to be amazed by the wonderful people I met and the generosity of friends and family in supporting me! Here are some pictures from that first jewelry show that started it all:

more pieces

2009-03-04T14:53:00.000-08:00

the beginning

2009-02-18T13:50:00.000-08:00

I've always loved jewelry! The beginning of my love for jewelry started young. My mom had an old music jewlery box that I would sit in front of for hours. Each piece felt like a little piece of history, some well worn pieces belonging to my great-grandmother, other pieces not so old that belonged to my mother. Each piece a little snapshot of a point in their lives.
It wasn't until about 15 years later that I actually started making jewelry. In 2001, I was inspired by a house that I visited - I'm sure the original tenants are long gone by now. I walked into a spare room and was greeted by such an amazing site, it literally changed my life. It seemed that beads were practically dripping from the ceiling. There was a large work table that had more beads and at that moment I was so inspired that I went the same day to a little local bead shop and began a brand new love affair with jewelry. Here are some of my first pieces:

Welcome!

2009-02-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

I am more power puff girl than superwoman and see the world more like Jackson Pollack than Norman Rockwell. Creating for me is like breathing...I have to do it or I will simply wither away. I am greatly inspired by music, rusty things, traveling, graffiti, and walks in the city. Follow along on my creative journey.....