Carlotta's Creations

Good for Today only...

2008-09-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

If you are reading this in the next day or two, go take a look at what my eSMArts team has been up to. Hint: what's black and white and red all over?
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=9212

If you get a blank page, you are too late. But I will post a bit later on what I had to do with that page, and some of my own personal favorites from it.

Smiles,
Carlotta

Art Unraveled- Arizona, Here I Come!

2008-08-03T21:21:00.000-07:00

Well, did you miss me?
I finally found a wonderful job for a large insurance company as a nurse in their Post-Service Specialty Pharmacy Review unit. I'm the one that sorts through your claims trying to find the documentation that justifies the reason that your practitioner put you on those expensive and/or dangerous medications.

I've been training for 2 weeks, and I have weeks to go. It's intensive and involves lots of computer detective work, and we use 2 monitors at a time.

Thank goodness this was already scheduled WAY in advance.

Every year in August I go for my art recharge. A retreat to beat all retreats for me. It is on my must do must go for each and every year, which is why it was a condition of my employment when I took this job. What is it?

Art Unraveled is a week long gathering of artists of every imaginable skill level, in many mediums. There are classes, make and takes, a shopping extravaganza, silent auctions for charity, trades, student art contests, fellowship, and a big awards dinner. There are private outings to local attractions, a Managers Reception with free wine and beer and where the poor among us make dinner from pretzels and nachos, an indoor water curtain, the Gathering Room to get together and make stuff on your own with friends, the shuttle that takes you within 5 miles of the hotel it is held at for that run to Trader Joe's or Michaels or the nearby mall.

It's my way of recharging my muse.

To get an idea of what Art Unraveled has to offer, go to http://www.artunraveled.com/ .

Not surprising that most of my classes are jewelry. I'll be taking the majority with Susan Lenart Kazmer. I'm staying with a friend most of the days I am there so I will try to post updates and pictures while I am there.

If not, I'll tell you all about it when I get home.

Arizona. Art Unraveled. Why else would I purposely go to an area where it is still 90 degrees at Midnight?

Smiles,
Carlotta

eSmarts Team Blog: A Gem by Any Other Name

2008-07-03T23:03:00.000-07:00

eSmarts Team Blog: A Gem by Any Other Name
Speaking for reading wonderful posts, who would have known that there was this FABULOUS writer hiding in our eSMArts team group? Read all about Chrome Diopside on the eSMArts team blog in an article written by Lois, owner of A Beaded Affair, and then be sure that your drop by her stores and blog for a treat!

I'm with my friend AnnaLee on this one- Lois, PLEASE write more for all of us!

Smiles,
Carlotta

eSmarts Team Blog: An introduction from Annette Piper

2008-07-03T22:50:00.000-07:00

eSmarts Team Blog: An introduction from Annette Piper
Check out Annette Piper from Australia's beautiful work, and her description of life as a a jewelery design artist, mother, wife, and rural animal caretaker in the beautiful country Down Under. Part of the eSMArts Design Team cooperative blogging series, and the team I am proud to be a part of.

Smiles,
Carlotta

I'm the featured blogger on the eSMArts blog

2008-06-29T23:25:00.000-07:00

Tonight you will just have to read my post on the eSMArts Blog, since I was the featured blog poster for this weekend. It was just my turn.

Why did I not want to post a new one for my own site? A mind is a terrible thing to waste.

I'm doing the same thing for all of my sites. So don't even bother looking.

Smiles,
Carlotta

Featured Artist of today!

2008-06-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

I just received notice from a fellow artist and marketer, Dionne Samone, that I am the featured artist on her social website Creative Butterfly. Although this honor rotates on a daily basis, it is no less an honor to me, as I have visited some of the websites of talented people in this social circle and I have to tell you- I feel like I am in elite company!

So, if you get this message in time go take a look. It's not often that I get to brag so every opportunity I take it, and it does change daily you know.

Dionne deserves a look too. And I have another day to finish something pretty to insert here.

Smiles,
Carlotta

What DOES Carlotta Create?

2008-06-23T23:00:00.000-07:00

Lately I create blogs. But in my many incarnations of creativity I have- and still can- create naturecrafts (dried and pressed florals, potpourri, sachets, etc.), essential oil blends, soaps and bath items, wedding accessories, knit, crochet, loom knit, sewn items, mixed media art, papercrafts (rubber stamps, papermaking, cardmaking, scrapbooks, bookbinding/altered books, and paper art), and various other crafts and artistic offerings. Some tangible, some not.

But my longest love has been, and continues to be, Jewelry Design and Creation in all forms; but mostly with gemstones, artisan lampwork beads, and metals.

My tools can rival those of my husband; sometimes he has to ask to borrow mine for a project. And not just little files- I am talking things like my full size Makita rechargeable drill. I love tools as much as I love making jewelry. Wire, hammers, torching, bending and forming. CREATING.

Then there are the gemstones. The transparent ones.The opaque ones. The bright colors. The neutrals. I adore Silver Jasper just as I adore Diamonds. I think they are all beautiful.

My work consists of metals, stones, Artisan Lampwork, and Swarovski Crystal. I am a jewelry snob and I admit it. I have grown tired of poorly anealled Chinese Lampwork, cracking and splitting if looked at wrong if dropped from a height of 4 inches onto a counter. No more cheap imported metal beads that turn out to be lead nightmares. I'll stay with my more known resources, thank you.

I want to be able to stand behind my work. My lampwork is purchased directly from the creating artists. Bali beads from the importers. Gemstones only from trusted sources. Even my metals, if they are not precious gold or silver, can be documented as either lead free or, in the case of vintage or artificially patina'd metals, are sealed (enameled, coated, etc.) and sent with warnings that the items are only for adult handling and have been thoroughly sealed prior to sale.

Feel free to browse the posted pictures of works I have created, and enjoy the creative process involved in producing them. Look for them on my various web commerce sites. And ask questions if you wish, I will answer as thoroughly as possible.

Smiles,

Carlotta