A lot of Time Has Passed

Several years have come and gone since I last posted here. My life is not the same anymore. I've moved twice. My dog Baer passed away. My Mom came to live with me, and then she passed away 2 years later. I got two new dogs from Taiwan. A brother and sister. Moon and Star. They were 8 years old when I got them. He passed away at 12 years old, and she passed away at 14.
I stopped doing the markets when my Mom came to live with me. Then my own health began to fail. I've lived in my current home for 4 years, and my studio boxes haven't been unpacked. So as you can see....things are very different for me. I don't do much of anything anymore except watch videos.

Ronnie is a mixed-media artist, instructor and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Atelier

A Peek Into My World

In preparation for when I get my new digital camera (attempting to improve my skills) I thought it would be fun to start posting photos of my 'daily' adventures. They could be art related, jewelry related, supplies related, or just whatever appeals to me on that particular day. So, let's begin with today:

 

Today's Delivery:

 

Today's Journal Pages:

Today's Canvas:

 

Part of Today's Moonshine Homework:

 

 

The photo below is of the book cover I painted for Moonshine:

 

 

And there you have it. A little look into some of what I do everyday.

Many Blessings to each of you . . . Ronnie

Ronnie is a mixed-media artist, instructor and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Atelier

Beyond the Surface

A lot has happened in 10 months. Too much to report in any detail so I`ll try to summarize.

I`m like the tortoise. I move slow and steady. Some people might think I`m not moving...not progressing, but that`s just what it looks like on the outside of me. On the inside there is a flurry of ideas, of revelations, of memories, of growth spurts. So many and so much that it`s very hard to contain myself. Most days I feel like I am running in 40 different directions at once. So this winter I decided to work on resolving this inner turmoil. I started doing yoga to calm my mind which lead to greater focus which lead to me researching and becoming involved in art therapy which has lead to Intuitive Painting. Which has lead me full-circle back to creating more meaningful...more personal art journal pages.

Creating commercial art had caused me to stray from my own personal life purpose. I had fallen into the trap of always being aware of the end game. Always thinking "Will someone like this?" "Will it sell?" Getting caught up in this thinking was squeezing out my creativity. It was never my intention to create under those circumstances so it was time to realign myself with my original intentions. "Create only what I feel moved to create" and then if I feel like selling whatever I've made, add a price tag to it and take it to the markets with me.

That's the new vow I've made to myself. Create only what I feel moved to create. That, and I promised myself that I'd take some online classes that I've wanted to take for quite awhile. I'm currently taking Effy Wild's Moonshine class, and when registration reopens I want to take GulfSprites 30 Pages. After that I'd like to take Dion Dior's Mandala class, Flora Bowley's Bloom True, and Jen Louden's Teach Now.

And, as if self revelations were not enough, I also bought some new gadgets to help me create online classes which I will be slowly developing for release this coming fall/winter.
  Ronnie is a mixed-media artist, instructor and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Atelier

Quiet Before the Storm

As much as I have loved all the planning I've been doing for this year's Party in the Park Marketplace over the past several weeks...yesterday I needed a wee bit of a break. At around 5:30 last night I made a cup of tea, put on my headphones and put my feet up for about an hour and listened to my meditation tapes.

I wish I had thought of doing it sooner. Within minutes of sitting still just breathing...trying not to think about all the last minute details that still needed tending a calm feeling slowly washed over me. Afterwards I felt refreshed...rejuvenated. Ready to tackle what had seemed next to impossible just an hour earlier.

When I first began this job I experienced what I later described as culture shock. I am used to spending a lot of time alone working away peacefully in my studio with only my dog Baer, and my cat Tavareesh as companions. My role as Marketplace Coordinator forced me into a completely different world than the one I'd become accustom to. I found myself in a situation where I spent several hours a day communicating with others either on the phone, in person, or via email. Just out of curiosity I counted how many different people I have communicated with recently. Ninety one, and still counting.

Seriously, it took me over a week to get used to the idea that my life was going to be filled with committee meetings, and phone calls, and emails, and going 'out into the world' to meet with people to discuss the marketplace. Oh yes, and paperwork. Must not forget to mention my new enemy...paperwork. Once I got used to what my life was becoming I actually began to really enjoy it. All this activity has been very exciting. I have met with and spoken to some very amazing people that I would not have had the pleasure of meeting were it not for this job. And when the market actually opens tomorrow I'm excited that I finally get to meet all the wonderful vendors I haven't met yet.

Sitting here in reflection.....I wouldn't trade one minute of this incredible opportunity I've been given to learn things about myself I didn't know before this all began. I have developed skills that I'll be able to bring forward with me into future endeavours. I've met people that I now think of as friends. I've shed a fear tears, but I also laughed a lot. And, as much as I've loved all of it and I will miss it when it's over...a part of me can hardly wait to get back into my peaceful studio where I can get my fingers covered in paint and ink, and where I can once again play with my tools & clay to make more jewelry. I have so many new ideas brewing! I really...really miss my paint and tools. *sniff*

It's now 5:00am on Thursday July 5th, and the Party in the Park starts tomorrow afternoon. I will be onsite at 2:00am in the dark with my Timmy's coffee, a flashlight, a measuring tape, and many cans of spray paint marking out the vendor booths. Then I will be back onsite at 1:00pm to start site set-up and directing vendors into the marketplace.

I hope everyone in Chilliwack is ready to partay!

(about the character portrait at the beginning of this post: I do custom stylized character portraits. Hair style, hair color, eye color, color theme, and sentiment of your choice. These portraits make lovely gifts for someone you know who will really appreciate the thought behind it. If you are interested in discussing a custom character portrait please contact me either through email by clicking on the little crow image to the right with an envelope in his mouth. Or you can call me locally at 604.792.3098)


Ronnie is a mixed-media artist, instructor and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Atelier

'Change' Canvas Trio Class

For my next class held at Classic on Alexander we will be finger painting with eco-green craft paints and gesso. We will also be using stencils, dies, punches and ink to create these 3 inspiration 4"x4" mini canvases. The bonus project will be the lovely card created in a coordinating color palette.

(oops....the center canvas is positioned on it's side. The green should be on the bottom like the other two canvases)

Ronnie is a mixed-media artist, art instructor and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Atelier

Exciting Changes at RadianTrace Atelier

I've been working on making several changes for my business. One of the things that I've always wanted to do was teach mixed-media art classes both online and offline. Well, one of those dreams has come true. I am teaching classes at my local scrapbooking store Classic on Alexander. MoreScrapbooking.com  Yay! My first class was on May 23rd. Eight wonderful ladies and I made beautiful purple and pink inspirational butterfly canvases using Eco Green paint, gesso, and stamps.

My next class is on Thursday June 14th from 6:30 to 9:00pm. The 'Beyond the Page ~ Canvas Trio Set' class consists of 3 small 4" X 4" canvases and a matching card. We will be finger painting! You can see the finished example listed under classes on Classic's website.

As for teaching online workshops I needed funds to purchase the equipment and software I need to achieve my goals so I applied for and got the contract to be the marketplace coordinator/manager for this years Chilliwack's Party in the Park. Yay! This is an amazing community event organized by our downtown BIA. Thousands and thousands of people attend every Friday evening throughout the summer. I am super excited for the community to meet the incredible group of vendors who've signed up to sell their wares at our new marketplace. We have a really great bunch of local merchants, food vendors, artisans, and independant consultants this year.

Very exciting stuff has been going on offline for the past few months. I'm ramping up a new product line for my Whimsy Within business which up until now has been sitting on the back burner. I've had the domain name for a few years now and I've never been 100% sure what was the right type of product for the name. After letting ideas simmer for a very long time I've decided to create embellishments for mixed-media artists, scrapbookers, and card makers. My first products ready to be packaged and sold in stores, and via my Whimsy Within website are beaded decorative pins (like stick pins) and polymer clay buttons. I'm also working on a stamp line of inspirational words done in my own handwriting. Yikes!

Updates will be posted as everything unfolds. Thanks for your patience while I buried my nose in the grindstone offline.

Many Blessings and Much Love . . . Ronnie

Ronnie is a mixed-media artist and jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

Don't Hide

Don't hide. That's the current message to myself. I need to hear it over and over again right now because I tend to feel guilty about who I am. Like I should apologize for being smart, or for being artistic, or for following my dreams. Like as if I'm not allowed to feel joy in what I do if others around me aren't feeling joy in what they do.

What happens when I do that is I start to forget that at the core of me I believe in abundance (not lack). I believe that what is meant to be mine will be mine, and what isn't......won't. I believe that to be true for everyone. If something is not meant to be mine, I don't try to hold onto it, or persue it. I let it go. I wish everyone well. I wish everyone success. I wish eveyone joy, and love. My wish for everyone is that they discover what brings them peace.

Don't hide your talent

Don't hide your intelligence

Don't hide your curiosity
Don't hide your beliefs

Don't hide your joy

Don't hide your love

Don't hide

Shine, and allow your magnificant presence to ignite the imagination in others.

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Photo Credit

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

What Is Calling You?

What is calling to you? What is the deepest, most true message that is calling to you? Get very still and hear it. Do everything it takes to really listen, hear it, absorb it. We each have something calling to us that ONLY WE CAN DO.

You have the exact set of skills, you have lived through the exact circumstances, you have met the exact people and lived in the exact places at the exact time to be where you are. To hear exactly what is calling to you at this very moment. So what is it?

Don't let your music go unsung. Don't let your stories go untold. Don't let your mission go undone. Don't let your love go ungiven. Don't hide your talents. Don't ignore the messages that are showing you.

Find what is calling to you and go for it. We need you to do this! You have a purpose in your life that only you can fill. You are phenomenal, beautiful and radiant. Your talents are unique, compelling and needed.

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

Singing My Soul's Song

The summer markets have started. I have been very busy preparing for them, and now I've been very busy making pieces during the week to replenish my stock for the weekends. Beaded anklets seem to be one of my best sellers this year alongside my number one seller...sterling silver wire wrapped rings. This year I have three new series. Two completed, and one still in the planning stages. The first new item are two part gift sets. They consist of handcrafted cards (and journals) with sentimental sayings, and handstamped jewelry with inspirational words. They are selling very well. Much better than I had hoped considering the price point is much higher than my other items. I've also been getting custom orders for them. The second series consists of bracelets, necklaces, and earrings made of polymer clay with romantic text imprinted in the clay.  The third new series is still in the planning stages because I'm waiting for one of the components to arrive. I have registered trademarks for all 3 of the new series. They will be professionally packaged and shipped to several boutiques in Chilliwack, Vancouver, Kelowna and Whistler.  After many months of struggling to come to terms with my illnesses I came to the realization that I really am an artist. I process my feelings through creative expression. In light of this revelation I decided to take myself seriously as an artist and do whatever I needed to do to get greater exposure for my products. When everything has been finalized legally I will share photos, and the product names of my new series. Until then I'm hesistant to post anything online. Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

Drool Worthy...

Faber-Castell PITT Artist Pens.
The cadillac of markers.
Nuff said.


















Pretty papers. When I pulled out my papers to make my Mom a Mother's Day card I noticed I didn't have very many purple papers.
Problem solved.

Vintage buttons. Delicious and just waiting to embellish a canvas or book.

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

A New Path...

As mentioned in my last post my focus has shifted. Somewhat. Not completely away from making jewelry, but in addition to it. I had been waiting for a rather large sum of money to come into my life, and when it did I had planned on using it to buy silver & stones for making metalsmithed pieces. But, with the price of silver rising higher and higher every other day I began to realize it would be very challenging for me to find a local market for the higher priced finished pieces. So, I changed my plans for the money. I decided to buy art supplies. Here's the plan: multi-media artwork.

I purchased some artist quality acrylic and watercolor paints along with some artist quality markers, and watercolor pencils and crayons. Of course my shopping spree included charcoal pencils, pastels, technical pens (micron, rapidograph, pilot), caligraphy pens (nips and holders), artist paper (drawing, acrylic, watercolor), some journals, patterned scrapbook paper, colored cardstock, every type of glue you can imagine, fabric (lots of different types of fabric), ribbons in every color of the rainbow, glitter (yes - glitter!), 2 white correction pens, water brushes, many many paint brushes, stamps, an old ribbon fed typewriter....and on and on.

I re-enforced my wall shelves to hold all the extra weight, and I bought another set of drawers for under my bench to store all my new paper supplies. My studio is packed solid from floor to ceiling. I'm happy about it because now I have plenty of 'stuff' to keep me busy for quite awhile =)

  Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

Shift In Focus...

My desktop computer crashed. Lost eight years worth of work. Now I'm a laptop owner. Struggling to deal with the loss caused a shift in focus. I can see clearly now that I don't deal with change very well. Seriously hated the new laptop for the first few days. The way I handled this whole situation made me realize that I have emotional issues that need to be adressed.

How will I deal with these issues? With art. Deep down inside I've known for awhile now that I needed to start painting, and drawing...again. Like I did when I was a child. So, that's what I'll do.




  Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

Being Free . . .

Shiny, sparkly, colorful beads are an elixir. Today I touched and gazed upon a double dose of this powerful potion. I'm giddy with inspiration.

It's time for a short journey into dreamland where I can weave together magical strands of hope, courage, and love.

Music ~ Joe Bonamassa ~ Bird On A Wire

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry

Under the clutter I found me . . .

My plans for today are to take a brisk walk, and then to create some polymer clay beads. I'm yearning to make something with dark chocolate brown, and deep rich teal blue beads.

It's my 52nd birthday in 15 days so I have been trying to think of what I will give myself. I think I'll give myself a break. A break from beating myself up with doubts, fears, and naysaying. And permission. I'll give myself permission to just accept that I'm having a hard time accepting my illness. And, permission to play and create and believe in my dreams again.

You may have noticed I cleared some of the clutter from my blog and changed the layout. It's a small thing, but it made me feel better when I was finished.

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry. She's also the graphic artist at Mable's Makings, and the author of Ronnie Unplugged.

Music Is My Muse

"A painter paints pictures on canvas. But musicians paint their pictures on silence" ~ Leopold Stokowski

"Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness" ~ Maya Angelou, Gather Together in My Name

"Music embraces our soul then gently seeps into every cell of our being and shifts our understanding of who we are" ~ Ronnie

It's difficult for me to explain what music means to me. Music is my soul's heartbeat. It's what makes my imagination sway to the ebb and flow of ideas that rush into me from a magical place. A place that I only ever get to visit in brief glimpses.

Rather than talk about it . . . I'll give you a sample of what it sounds like in my studio:

The Black Keys

http://www.youtube.com/embed/wIpm2EbVul8

http://www.youtube.com/embed/5AVd5RVukcs

http://www.youtube.com/embed/v5FW8Xo8ENo

Stevie Ray Vaughan

http://www.youtube.com/embed/6s9M-52fRGU

http://www.youtube.com/embed/VsHXd4rQnW0

http://www.youtube.com/embed/yNuXO60G33w

Led Zeppelin

http://www.youtube.com/embed/WbrjRKB586s

http://www.youtube.com/embed/z1yUvdQnERk

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ly4XGEU6OHI

http://www.youtube.com/embed/8Dp92NZJVBE

http://www.youtube.com/embed/-Thp89MU1Es

Joe Bonamassa

http://www.youtube.com/embed/kDAQm2qWnYw

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Cp1HG5k4yhI

http://www.youtube.com/embed/_eHoixNJh5Q

http://www.youtube.com/embed/0vuqq0HQmqI

http://www.youtube.com/embed/EJ6beKeIFdY

http://www.youtube.com/embed/V135g4YrjJs

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZbHzHsCCGuc

http://www.youtube.com/embed/46UFXQVSnKs

http://www.youtube.com/embed/iGF5y0B1eJU

The Tragically Hip

http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZuwobLCaoWE

http://www.youtube.com/embed/-3bwDb2piZs

http://www.youtube.com/embed/Pw2krdBz7IA

http://www.youtube.com/embed/KldJXc-LdPc

http://www.youtube.com/embed/_gOLNUJcD6E

Gov't Mule

http://www.youtube.com/embed/G-Ke5IM6moc

http://www.youtube.com/embed/JmegDUylRtw

John Mayer

http://www.youtube.com/embed/32GZ3suxRn4

http://www.youtube.com/embed/dBFW8OvciIU

Kings Of Leon

http://www.youtube.com/embed/YQprqMdUdPU

http://www.youtube.com/embed/wKe8HTPTlFQ

http://www.youtube.com/embed/hHOyahv4hSE

The Trews

http://www.youtube.com/embed/pHX7ZSz9FVo

http://www.youtube.com/embed/0uUoqD8a0V4

And this doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of the music I listen to while I'm in my studio creating jewelry, and sketching designs. Go take a peek at some of my fellow team mates' blogs to hear some of their favorite music.

Kat - http://artistikat-scratchingpost.blogspot.com/
Stacy - http://www.formandfunktionaccessories.blogspot.com/
Clarity - http://www.thesquarepegnation.blogspot.com/
Brandy - http://thefrogspond.wordpress.com/
Happy Tortoise Designs - http://happytortoisedesigns.blogspot.com/
Claire - http://brightstar109.blogspot.com/
Silver Pearl - http://silverpearlmetalworks.wordpress.com/
Autumn - http://www.autumnbradley.blogspot.com/
HemlockHollow - http://gloria-hemlockhollow.blogspot.com/
Beatriz Fortes - http://cjbf.blogspot.com/
Resurrection Silver - http://www.resurrectionsilver.blogspot.com/
RadianTrace - http://radiantrace.blogspot.com/
NancyCreations - http://nancysjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com/
Jessica @ Abella Blue - http://www.abellablue.com/blog

Our Team Blog - http://aspiringmetalsmiths.blogspot.com/

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry. She's also the graphic artist at Mable's Makings, and the author of Ronnie Unplugged.

My Studio - Come On In

This is where designing, sawing, piercing, stamping and filing takes place. Look at my adorable new swivel vise! The wood boxes store sterling silver sheet and precut ring shanks. My tumbler sit on top of the black metal shelving. The white plastic drawers beneath my bench hold sterling wire, copper sheet, design stamps and letter sets plus a whole bunch of other goodies.



Middle of my bench. Texturing, hammering, and drilling station.



Soldering station. This is where the magic happens folks!



This is my beading table, but when I'm working on metalsmithed pieces this area is where I do all the finishing work such as setting stones, and final hand polishing. This is also where I sketch my designs. I call this table my 'Inspiration Station' because I have pictures on the wall that inspire me. I also have a rock collection in a bowl, and I take out a different rock everyday and set it on the table for me to look at throughout the day. Those two cabinets are filled with cabochons and sterling silver findings. Various cabachons get pet several times a day.

Notice the little 'Dream' carving? I also have a framed picture with the word 'Believe' that my girlfriend Pat gave me for christmas. Those two words are what keep me moving forward. No matter whatever else is going on in my life...deep inside at my core I am always dreaming and believing in my dreams. I hope you're believing in your dreams too.

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry. She's also the graphic artist at Mable's Makings, and the author of Ronnie Unplugged.

Creativity Re-Ignited

I've been feeling much better lately. Thyroid levels are at the high end of 'normal' which means I'm not shakey anymore and my heart rate has stablized. Feeling better allows me to be active and creative again.

I'm taking a second metalsmithing class on Tuesday evenings. The last class is on March 29th. My own studio is now fully equipped and up and running. I've been working on my class projects at home inbetween classes.

As you all can guess I've been buying cabochons to make metalsmithed pieces. Well, I received this gorgeous picasso jasper cab that reminds me of a Monet painting. To me it looks like a field of wild flowers. Notice the pretty mauves, greens, yellows and browns. So, it's being made into a ring with a floral patterned band, and I'm calling it 'Monet' Ignore the surrounding silver. I was just checking to see if the bezel would fit.



The bezel is now soldered together and then soldered onto the back plate, and the back plate has been cut away, and then filed flush to the bezel wire. It's now a perfectly smooth bezel cup ready to have the band soldered on and then it will go in the tumbler, then the stone will be set in the bezel, then I'll oxidize the whole piece in Liver of Sulphur...then the final stages will be lightly buffing off the LOS from the high spots which will leave a dark color in the recesses of the floral patterned ring band to help bring out the details.

I'm thinking of keeping this ring in honor of it being my first completely solo project made from start to finish in my own studio.

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry. She's also the graphic artist at Mable's Makings, and the author of Ronnie Unplugged.

Illness and Inspiration

I have Grave's Disease which means I'm occasionally a crumpled, trembling mess who can't lift her arms high enough to scratch her head without crying out in pain. I won't even mention what a blubbering baby I've been while trying to sleep on my aching shoulders. Laying on my back or front is impossible because my goiter is so large and restrictive it feels like I'm wearing a tight turtle neck that I can never take off! Any additional pressure on my throat is out of the question.

I've been back on anti-thyroid meds for 12 days now so I'm just putting in the time waiting for them to bring my hormone levels back down into the 'normal' range.

I haven't been able to make any jewelry because of shakey hands and double vision. I'm also back on the beta-blocker propranolol which has helped calm the racing heart and hand tremors. My vision is getting a little better each day so maybe I'm not going blind like I feared I was a few days ago.

So what have I been doing all this time besides feeling sorry for myself? Surfing. Surfing the net looking at jewelry, and individual beads in particular. I also pulled out and dusted off all my polymer clay books and I've been thinking. Thinking a lot about my goals. I've started playing with my clay again. I've been going away from it then coming back to it over and over for the past 4 years.

It's the only material that I can create with that won't cause injury to my fragile and hurting body right now. No heavy tools, no hammering needed, no torch that I could drop if my hands get shakey. I think I'm going to stay with the clay for awhile this time and see where it takes me.

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry. She's also the graphic artist at Mable's Makings, and the author of Ronnie Unplugged.

Metalsmithing 101 - Class Eight (finale)

For the 8th and final class I made this pretty turquoise pendant for my daughter's 30th birthday. The bead dangles represent my grandchildren's birthday stones. I strung it on a simple sterling silver box chain. I'm happy with how it turned out, but I sure have a long way to go before my pieces look anywhere close to the way I imagine they'll look......eventually. LOL

I got my torch, but it's giving me grief. I've assembled it three different times and all three times it has leaked. Very scary! I'll have to try using teflon tape on the threads next time. I've been sick for the past few days so I haven't bothered to try it again. Dealing with explosive propane is a little unnerving so it's not something one should do when they're feeling foggy brained.

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry. She's also the graphic artist at Mable's Makings, and the author of Ronnie Unplugged.

Metalsmithing 101 - Class Seven

For the 7th class I made my Mom's charoite and amethyst pendant. I was rushed for time so the instructor Barrie was kind enough to solder the bail on for me so that I could give the piece to my Mom on her birthday the following Sunday. So many things are crooked on the pendant, but Mom seemed to love it anyway =)



I made her some matching purple calcite drops, and a sterling silver wire wrapped ring using one of the same little rough amethyst nuggets like the ones shown wire wrapped onto the pendant's chain. She was thrilled!

Ronnie is the jewelry designer at RadianTrace Jewelry. She's also the graphic artist at Mable's Makings, and the author of Ronnie Unplugged.