It’s been a long time since I’ve done anything with my precious metal clay experiments. I made necklaces for my moms for Mother’s Day out of leaves. I got the pmc paste and painted it on the veiny side of little leaves and let it dry. After about a dozen layers of clay paste I added a loop of clay to the top, then fired the leaves in my little hot pot. The real leaves burned away leaving perfect little fine silver leaves. Once I did two leaves I just couldn’t stop. They were so easy and sew delicately beautiful. Well, several of those little leaves have been sitting in a little container up in my art room for a long, long time.

I’ve also had some strings of beads waiting to be combined with my little leaves to make some finished jewelry. The first one I made was for my sister in-law in Idaho– and it got lost in the mail. I haven’t made any for myself because Ian is in the necklace-pulling-off stage, so it just hasn’t seemed worth it, but the other day I just couldn’t stand it any longer. I had to try hooking some beads together and dangling some little leaves from them.

I really, really like it. The beads are jadeite stones and the wire, chain, and jump rings are all sterling silver.

I’ve been trying to just wear it around, but Ian can’t keep his hands off of it. I guess it’s a date necklace for now.

Oh and I found a photo (from my old camera) of the lost-in-the-mail (which is our fault because we sent it to the wrong address) necklace. I had never seen tulip tree poplars until we moved here to Ohio. Our neighbors have 2 of them, so all spring I was picking the baby leaves off of the branches that hung over to our side of the fence. They are such a pretty shape.

This one has green German glass beads and sterling silver beads on a sterling silver chain. I hope whoever ended up with it opened it and likes it!! Tiffany, a new one will be coming soon!

John Hafen

The Mountain Stream

1903, oil on canvas, 26 x 23 inches

Springville Museum of Art

My mom sent me this quote by LDS artist John Hafen this week:

“The influence of Art is so powerful in shaping our lives for a higher appreciation of the creations of our God that we cannot afford to neglect an acquaintance with it. We should be as eager for its companionship as we are eager for chairs to sit upon or for food to sustain our lives, for it has as important a mission in shaping our character and in conducing to our happiness as anything that we term necessities.”

When I read this I thought of a journal entry I wrote my last year in high school– the time I was trying to figure out exactly what it was I would do when I grew up. I wrote:

“”Art is the symptom of a soul.” ( That’s a quote from my English teacher Mr. Dempsey.) The very fabric of our being which separates the men from beasts is our ability to create, to think on abstract and elevated levels, and our awareness of those abilities. Whether the means be visual, literary, musical or physical– the arts are humanity’s vehicle to express self awareness, imagination, creativity, and develop abstract thinking skills. Art sharpens our senses, and through expressing self awareness one becomes keenly aware of his surroundings. Reading, writing, drawing, acting, dancing; these give us emotional connections to the people, places and things around us. These connections instill value and appreciation for all creation. “

I really believe this. In making, in creating we weave threads into our relationship with the ultimate Creator. We start to feel our own potential and can see more clearly the infinite possibilities in other people. Art is an extension of our spirituality in a very real and concrete way. My favorite Joseph Smith quote today is “If men do not comprehend the character of God, they do not comprehend themselves.” Human creativity is at the very core of our divine nature, our inheritance from God– in using it we can come closer to comprehending both.

I’ve been clicking through the 7th International Art Competition at the Museum of Church History and Art. Here’s one of my favorite paintings by Joshua Baird entitled By Design:

Happy Sabbath! Do something creative this week– even if it is making your kitchen sink clean. If that’s the case, really make it sparkle!