I was in Minneapolis, MN June 4-9 for the 2008 National Conference for Media Reform. 3,500 people from all over the country and the world came together to talk about the state of dis-information in our nation. About how the consolidation of media ownership is stripping cities, towns, and communities of local news and access to locally applicable information. About the disintegration of jouralism and how "news" is more often just the regurgitation of official talking points as papers and stations care more about their bottom lines than about the accurate representation of current events.
While the experience was exhausting as I worked alongside the Free Press staff, it was also incredibly inspiring to see such a diverse group of people coming together for a single cause: a true and healthy democracy. It was awesome.
Anyhow, in other news, it's my turn for the big move. The packers come on Friday, the movers come on Monday, and Ben and I hit the road a week from today. In two weeks we'll be in Albuquerque, and Lucky Lizard New Mexico will take flight. Leaving Western Massachusetts is harder than I can say, but I am really looking forward to this new adventure.
In jewelry news, here's some stuff I've finished up recently:
This pendant was actually started many years ago when I tried my hand at metal working for the first time. It is silver, copper, and brass.After creating the design, I stacked the three plates of metal and sawed through them simultaneously so that I would actually be able to create three complimentary pendants at the same time. What I didn't bank on was how incredibly hard it was going to be to solder the individual pieces together.
One pendant turned out beautifully and I gave it to my mom. One turned out fairly terribly (next picture), and this one was okay, but had some serious problems so I put it away to deal with at a later date.
So here I am years later with more skills and knowledge under my belt, and I was able to not only salvage the third pendant, but to turn it into something I'm really happy with. In the pendant that never came into being, the main background is brass, with the silver in the forground and some VERY TARNISHED copper as well.
In enamelling class, I had a little bit of extra time so I decided to make a pair of Limoge (no wires) earring for the heck of it. I'm quite pleased. I have promised Liz a pair with blue flowers, but will not be able to finish them before the move. I will just have to find a place in Albuquerque where I can enamel so that I can get them to her at least in time for Christmas.And that's where things are for now.
I'm looking forward to the UNM studio and to the fashion show in Denver that a seamstress friend of mine (my friend's mom, actually) and I will be putting on in a few months. I'll keep you all posted on the new digs, the new studio, new pieces (of course!), and fashion show news.
-Martha
