Laurel O'Brien

After the long winters in central New York, summer is always sweet. This year has been hot and dry with lots of sunshine. As the warm days skip by  I am grateful for an hour or two to get in the garden, go for a hike, check out a new waterfall or swim in the finger lakes.

Hand forged Silver with Turquoise

My first ever Fingerlakes Lavender Festival at Lockwood Farms, beautiful place!

Local Farm Flowers

Most of my summer is a made up of making jewelry and preparing  for art fairs. I always feel as if I am in a marathon of late night forging, hammering, soldering and polishing followed by early morning tent set-ups. The shows I attend are sprinkled arounds NY state and I love meeting new & returning customers and artists. It is always fun to see what work fellow artists have made, try out a new food truck or explore a different city. It is also just fun to be out of the studio for a bit (as much as I like it here).

A rose gold bag from Planetarium design by Esther Yaloz with rose gold hoops oxidized silver pieces.

Brass cuffs in process

I am always working on concocting new ideas for jewelry designs but summer can be a bit of a challenge with so many shows.  I have recently created a botanical series I hope to expand and have some new forged silver pieces. Also a newly updated show schedule is up! Hope to see you out and about!  I wish you long, happy and relaxed summer days!

New botanical series in process…

If you can’t make it to a show or just prefer ordering online you can use code SUMMER16  for  10% off my etsy shop. I am also have my work available Sundrees in Trumansburg and at Handwork Coop in Ithaca.

Online Shop: https://laurelobrien.patternbyetsy.com

I appreciate that there is usually a lull in shows, sales & business during the winter. This allows me a bit more time for creative projects, updates and new ideas. I almost missed that opportunity this year, my schedule stayed full with plans, re-ordering and catching up on overdue projects. Last week I felt Spring was here! However we have winter again in Upstate NY! I can’t say I am excited about the snow but I am excited that I finally have some new things to share. I got a few snow filled days to start and complete some long awaited projects….

I am happy to say I finally have some new pieces in my Etsy shop, (and I am trying out a new Shop format). I am Thankful to Olivia Royale who I hired to do some photography on models! Now you can get a better sense of how the big the jewelry is, how it will look on and how it hangs and falls. I also updated the retail locations page to include Mint Velvet Vintage in Corning and Little Button Craft in Rochester (Check them out if you can!). I am working on updating my Craft Show page but hoping to get a few more show acceptances first…keep your fingers crossed for me! Additionally I have been been busy working on some new designs that I will share as soon as they are presentable! Thanks for following along!

Here is the new shop look, still being  worked on…..http://laurelobrien.patternbyetsy.com

I am really excited and lucky to be taking part in a February show this year. This Sunday on February 21st in Elmira I will be at Chamberlin Acres (in a greenhouse!) for the Spring Fever Makers Fair! We will have lots of beautiful things….Ceramics, textiles, jewelry, illustrations and more! I have been sawing, hammering and soldering away getting ready. Hope to see you there! Show up between 11am-4pm at 824 Broadway Street, Elmira, NY, 14904, https://www.facebook.com/events/1561240704167524/

These pieces are made in Sterling Silver, Copper and Brass. All are hand sawn, hammered, pierced and have individually hand drawn designs. All are handcrafted in my tiny studio in Ithaca New York .

As the new year starts I take a bit of a rest and a few days to process the past year. I will attempt to tame the chaos in my studio and house (admittedly this chaos reigns semi-regularly…. especially over the Holidays). Now I can sleep, gather misplaced tools and sweep out last years mishaps and debris.  Along the way I process and prioritize and remember just how thankful I am!

I have so much to appreciate this year, first of all you! Whether you are a customer, friend, fellow artist or someone who happened to pass by, you are the community that makes my life as a jeweler & artist possible, so thanks! Tonight I have extreme gratitude for a cozy fire ( 5 degrees outside, brrrrrrrrrrr), hot tea and my little house/studio that I rent from two sweet friends. Soon I will be getting back to the anvil, sketchbook and torch but for now here are some shots of my studio, home and work in progress…… Happy New Year! May 2015 bring you good health, good friends and happy hearts!

With the change in seasons my work has been shifting in minor ways. Among these are playing with new designs, preparing for harvest festivals, bringing in the last garden veggies (and flowers!!) and enjoying the beautiful colors, smells and sounds. I have been getting my hands dirty in the studio and the garden and am looking forward to the produce of both. I hope you all have been out enjoying the beautiful weather as well! I just posted some new show dates so check them out