For My Local Peeps: Have you heard about Red Fish Blue Fish?

There is a new hot spot on Pensacola beach that you’ll want to check out. It’s called Red Fish Blue Fish and it’s a wonderful new restaurant that is located on the water heavy on beachy atmosphere and big on great food. The building is made from old shipping containers in keeping with their ‘repurposed’ theme. The deck area is nice enough but the best seats are out back on the water. From rustic furniture to posh and cushy – you’ll find a spot just right for you. You’ve gotta love this place.

I am very pleased that I will be one of the featured Artists at Red Fish Blue Fish in the month of March. They will be featuring many local artist in their gift shop over the coming year. Next time you’re out on the beach be sure to drop in and see which of your favorite local artists are showcased in the gift shop. It’s a great place to end the day with a warm fire, a beautiful sunset and a cold drink.

Brag Post! I’m the Featured Artist in the February 2014 Issue of Downtown Pensacola Life!

If you follow me on Facebook you’ve already heard me talking about my excitement at being selected at the Featured Artist for the February 2014 Issue of Downtown Pensacola Life, a publication by Hibu. Well, it’s out! I expected maybe a half page with one or two photos but they far exceeded my hopes and expectations. I received a two page full color spread and I am over the moon! Thanks go out to Theresa Grillo for referring me for the February Artist. I’m going to have to celebrate with a few mojitos tonight! You can find my story on pages 24 and 25 if you’d like to take a peek!

Follow this link to open the digital magazine and go to pages 24 & 25.
http://emagazines.hibu.com/DTPENS

Affordable Valentines Gifts by: Delia Stone
$39 in my etsy store. http://www.freewebs.com/deliasstones/apps/etsystore/displayStore

Mixed Metal Pearl Necklace on sale for $48 Available in my shop: http://www.freewebs.com/deliasstones/apps/etsystore/displayStore

Make it easy on your lover! Send your valentine over to see your favorites in my shop and get something you have your heart set on: http://www.freewebs.com/deliasstones/apps/etsystore/displayStore

Feed Your Muse!

My muse is mysterious and wonton in her ways.  Do not ask me her name.  I do not know it.  She is elusive, fickle and quite severe on some days, cracking her glorious whip – driving me forward without regard for my need for sleep, nutrition, fresh air, etc.   My back aches from leaning over the bench, my wrist from an injury less than a year ago still fresh on my mind, my eyes cross due to sleep deprivation and still she drives me.
I do not direct my Muse.  She directs me.  It is my job to follow, to be slave to her whims and master her desires.  My muse takes me down rabbit holes, where bright ideas are born in the ‘moments’ fire.  Wonderful accidents lead me in a whole different direction than I set out intending to take.  That leads to breakthroughs.  My success is all to her credit.  I am just the vessel that she fills.

So how exactly does one find their muse?  I recently found this article on finding your muse by Alisha Burk and realized that I couldn’t say it any better.  Check it out and let me know if it helps you find your muse. Here is a small excerpt to whet your appetite:

There’s no doubt that the Muse can speak to us through others. But what makes your work original is knowing which influences to use and which to tune out. It’s an interesting life these days: TV (yay!), internet, IPhones, US Weekly (double yay!), check your email, check your texts, voicemail, multi-tasking (boo!), news, Pinterest, Twitter, Facebook, “Like”, “Unlike”, post, delete, upload, download . . . . .repeat! This constant snowstorm of information clouds my brain. I wake up in the middle of the night wondering about my inbox (I know, it’s totally obsessive!) Where does it end?! Is there an end?

In the middle if this madness, where does our Muse get a chance to speak to us? Can our inspiration sing if its voice is drowned out by all of these digital voices and influences? I mean, it’s great, this new communication, but every blessing brings its own kind of curse! How do we manage this flood without drowning in it? …”

To read the rest of this inspiring article, follow this link : http://findingyourmuseonlineclass.blogspot.com/

And by all means, if you are a jewelry artist looking for inspiration, be sure to catch my 50% off sale on all of my tutorials in my Etsy shop. Today is the last day of the sale! Remember to use coupon code Happy2014 at checkout for the discount! https://www.etsy.com/shop/TutorialShop

A Peace of the Beach

It’s been a while since I’ve shared some of my recent cloisonné work. As a matter of fact it’s been a while since I’ve made any. I received a custom order for a special piece from a fellow artist a while back. As consuming as cloisonné work can be, once I go into the cycle I try to create several jewels, usually in the same color scheme (with a little variation here and there). Monika wanted one of my beach scenes to remember her beloved beaches here on the Emerald Coast to take back with her to New Jersey. The beaches are so incredibly beautiful and healing here that it takes little effort to settle into a feeling of absolute peace as you sit upon the white quartz sand being caressed by the breeze and listening to the gulf waters lick the shoreline. Miami boasts the most beautiful beaches in the world – but we actually have them here in the Panhandle. I have direct experience with both and there is absolutely no comparison. That why even though we are a sleepy little town, we are a huge vacation destination for those ‘in the know.’

With Monika’s custom order I finally had a good excuse to carve out some time to create more cloisonné. Knowing that this piece had meaning for Monika I decided to offer to fire some actual beach sand into the sand dunes, to add a piece of the beach to her peace of the beach. I had successfully done this a while back, inspired by the remnants of beach sand left on my children’s beach toys in the corner of the garage. Monika loved the idea of course and ‘Monika’s Peace of the Beach’ was born.

While working on her cloisonné, I created a few others which I’d like to share. Some have been set, but most are unset as of yet. I shared most of these on facebook recently but there are a few that were not shown there at the time. All of the beach scenes have white quartz sand from the Gulf Coast fired into the dunes. Not just any sand mind you, but sand infused with the joy of children playing by the shore. No extra charge for the good vibes. 😉 Take notice that I have begun signing my cloisonné jewels where possible. Clever me! :::flutters eyelashes:::

I also wanted to create another ring with the ‘Peace of the Beach’ theme with the sand fired into the dunes for the ring lovers. This one was just set as I couldn’t stand to wait another moment to see it done. I love it. I made the ring band adjustable so it can fit from size 7 to size 8 1/2.

One thing that doesn’t seem to show up as beautifully as it is when the piece is in hand are the shimmering waves in the waters. This shot provides a pretty good view of the shimmering waves but still doesn’t capture the full effect. They shimmer like an opal when the jewel moves. Excuse the glare on the jewel. It really is quite tricky to photograph anything glass.

I love them all, what do you think?

P.S. Remember my 50% off sale is still going on in my etsy store for all tutorials until Friday. Use code Happy2014 at checkout for the discount. 😉

New Tutorial on the Way: Dragonfly Pendant

It’s a new year! I’ve been threatening for some time now to create some new tutorials so I’ve decided to follow up and make it happen for 2014. Having had many requests for a tutorial for my dragonfly pendant, which incidentally can be adapted to make darling earrings as well, I’ve decided to make that my first new tutorial of 2014. To thank my loyal followers, and new alike, I have decided to give away three copies of the finished tutorial. All that is required is that you follow my blog and leave a comment below. Over 1,000 of you are already halfway there! Thank you for following my blog and subjecting yourself to my ramblings and brag posts. 🙂

Of course it is my hope that I will garner a few new followers with this promotion, so I encourage you to share this post through any form of social media of your choice. Mind you, this is not a requirement to qualify for the give away. Just a polite request. Thank you in advance to all who take the time to do so. I’m hoping to have the tut finished by next week. I will have one of my children draw randomly from all the participants to determine the winner. The drawing will take place upon completion of the tutorial so get in before it gets done!

50% off of all Tutorials now through January 17th

Happy New Year! If you use coupon code Happy 2014 at checkout in my etsy shop all tutorials are half off – including package deals that already include discounts! This is a great time to invest in furthering your jewelry making skills and keep that New Year’s Resolution. I know that furthering my skill set is always a part of my goals for the new year. 🙂 Check out my etsy shop: https://www.etsy.com/shop/TutorialShop and if you happen to see a tutorial that you want that’s been sold out, send me a convo. Enjoy!