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Happy Holidays!

12/6/2015

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It is our great pleasure to wish all of you a happy holiday season!  We are reflecting on the good times we shared during our shows this year and thankful for your support in making them successful.  We also can't believe our online store is now a full year old!  Along with thanking all our customers, we'd like to encourage everyone to have a look at the items we have listed for holiday shopping.  To ensure time delivery, orders should be placed before December 15, and we hope you'll find the perfect gift!
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Don is making new shibuichi earrings as I write, and the Durston rolling mill I mentioned in our last post has more than lived up to his expectations ... especially now that he has added an electric motor to help reduce the stress on his aged arm!  This fall, I made the round of two great bead shows, and in addition to procuring an amazing selection of stones and funky chain, above is a photo of the beautiful assortment of handmade beads I took home.  

Needless to say -- as 2015 comes quickly to an end,  we look forward to another year of adventure and making new contributions to the art of adornment in 2016. 
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Back to Work 

7/27/2015

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TIME TO PLAY

We're finally back to work... playing in our studios!  Spring and early summer have been a time of tremendous illness and loss, injury and recovery -- so, it feels especially good to be at our work benches once again this summer. 

While we were not able to participate in Arts in the Park at Pekin Days for a variety of reasons last month, my submission "Sheltering Square" did win first place on its own in the event's Sculpture & Jewelry category. A very fun start to summer -- and a welcomed boost to the spirit.

Don's big studio news has been the recent acquisition of a Durston rolling machine. He's been on quite a shibuichi "roll"! The Durston facilitates the process of reducing the ingot to a sheet of shibuichi more easily than before, allowing Don to focus on what he loves most: the creative design elements of his work. His goal this summer is to have 35 pairs of new and unique shibuichi earrings for our upcoming show at Forestedge Winery in Minnesota, August 15-16.  

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NEW STORE ITEMS

We're also pleased to announce that in late August, we'll be adding new pieces to our online web store.  We'll be sure to let you know when everything is uploaded and ready for browsing.
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Aside from those little bits of news, things are busy but, finally, back to business as usual. This part of North Dakota is spectacular this time of year.  Long sunny days, lush green fields, gardens and 
flowers thriving.  It is now that we inhale deeply and let our inspiration come, once again, from the prairie.
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Inspired by St. Croix

1/28/2015

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A TIME OF CREATIVE RENEWAL

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Each year, we leave the chilly landscape of North Dakota behind and head south for a much-needed thawing in the US Virgin Islands. Not only are the islands the place where we first met, but the Island of St. Croix is home to our daughter, her family and so many cherished friends. The lush hills, the scenic vistas, the sun on our faces and sips of Cruzan rum on the veranda -- these are the things that make this island, in particular, the place that refuels our creativity for the new year ahead. 
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Every time we return to the Studio in Edgeley from St. Croix, we bring with us new design ideas and new ways of thinking, helping us hunker down for the remainder of winter -- and create.
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Kicking and Screaming

1/23/2015

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OUR STORE WILL REMAIN OPEN THIS WINTER

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We never thought we'd see the day when we would fully embraced the wonders of web technology. But this year, when we realized we didn't have to close up shop before heading south to warmer climes, the possibilities began to excite us.  Working from wherever we want to be in the world opens a whole host of possibilities for interesting and exciting adventures. And this, of course, makes us very happy. 

To test our mobile-digital prowess this winter, we packed up our web store items and carried them with us from NoDak to the islands. While we did encounter a few unexpected customs snafus along the way, the overall result is that our plan for a new way of doing business seems to be working. We're sipping coffee each morning overlooking the Caribbean, while our store still continues to provide customers a way to get in touch. While we initially came kicking and screaming to the idea of selling online, as each day passes and our work travels with us wherever we go, it's seems we're getting 'more hip' to digital every day.

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The Flaming Chalice

10/29/2014

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Wow.  It looks amazing. Just beautiful. I knew I picked the right person for the job. 
This is the reply I received from a customer this week, after sending along photos of a project I've been working to complete for quite some time. It's titled, The Flaming Chalice, and it was a commissioned piece made of copper, brass and Virgin Islands mahogany, specifically for a Unitarian Universalist church in Danbury, Connecticut.  

Quite a while back, a church member had contacted me after he'd seen a similar sculpture I'd donated to the Nelson County Arts Council auction. He said he'd been wanting a chalice for his church, so we agreed I would render a design for the congregation to review. After a few modifications, it was approved, and I went to work.  

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 chalice itself has long been a symbol of liberal religion, and this is my rendition of it. I took one last snap to remember it by, as it will soon be delivered to its rightful home.  - Don

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We're Officially Swoonies.

9/23/2014

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We were honored and delighted this week to learn that, as of today, we officially joined the Swoonie ranks.  
What's a swoonie, you ask? 

While there isn't exactly a formal definition, swoonies are people like us who go to great lengths to live with intention. They're often small space dwellers, or those who dream of living small. Where do they congregate online to share ideas? At Tiny House Swoon, of course.

If you've not had the chance to browse the collection of small spaces at Tiny House Swoon, we'd encourage you to do so immediately. Inspiration for clever design is overflowing! We've posted a few of the featured designs you'll find on their site to the left.

Also, when you get a chance, don't forget to check out our humble contribution to the pool of swoon:

http://tinyhouseswoon.com/reo-speedwagon-camp-car

Gypsie has always had a knack for turning heads. Now, it seems, she's getting good at gathering clicks. 
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This is How We Roll.

8/20/2014

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A ROAD TRIP TO NORTHERN MINNESOTA

After several friendly nudges from our friend Paul, co-owner of Forestedge Winery, this year we were convinced to drive Gypsie to the summer Art Fair last week in LaPorte, Minnesota. Having just finished the last two window screens, windlace around the doors, and fabricating a “cruise control” from a choke cable, we were ready to roll. And roll we did, all 253 miles to the Winery. 

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Gypsie sits nestled between other vendors at Northern Minnesota's Forestedge Winery.
We camped the first night and then set up Theresa’s canopy and began getting Gypsie in order.
Saturday was the first show day, and people began arriving. Of the many things we love about this venue, one is the friendly atmosphere pervading the entire happening. Gypsie's premier in northern MN was a huge success. We heard “cool", "awesome", "brilliant", and even, "this is the neatest thing I’ve ever seen”, a few times. Perhaps my favorite was “adorable”, though it was only used once. 
Theresa and I both had new and faithful followers who took some of us away with them. We had so much fun sharing our latest work. Even more rewarding yet was renewing friendships and spending stimulating time with a bunch of folks whose eyes don’t ‘glaze-over’ at some of the topics being discussed. 

After a great last night in Gypsie, we said our good-byes and headed back to Edgeley. The trip home encountered a slight glitch when the fan belt decided it was going off duty. Luckily I was able to install a new one and continue home. I hope we’ll be participating again next year.
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This is a riddle (of sorts).

5/29/2014

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THE QUESTION:

What do you get when you use Delft clay to work slate from a 200 year old barn and recycled silver? 
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THE ANSWER: 

These earrings and a pendant!
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Recycled Metals & Happy Accidents

5/12/2014

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A few years ago I decided it would be smarter and more economical to recycle the silver ‘end bits’ my wife and I generate during our jewelry making rather than selling them as scrap.  Since I also make copper sculptures, I thought to combine my copper ‘off-cuts’ with the silver to make a 
75% CU : 25% AG Shibuichi alloy. Shibuichi is a Japanese term for one part in four, which is the standard ratio for Shibuichi, but it can also be varied.
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Once the metals are melted in a crucible a little borax is added to help remove impurities and the metal is poured into an ingot mold about 7mm x  45mm x 75mm. After cooling, I usually saw it into 3 or 4 more manageable pieces and then hand forge each piece while at ambient temperature until it is about 60% of the original thickness.  During this process, I also anneal the ingot several times. These pieces are then rolled and forged to the desired thickness for the project in mind, continuing to anneal as needed. 

I like to utilize the “happy accidents” which occur as I roll and forge the Shibuichi into thinner sheet.  It also reticulates very well with some quite random results.  I’ve been able to apply a patina with LOS & other chemicals, solder additional metals to it and apply keum-boo to the reticulated Shibuichi with good results.  So far, I’ve made earrings, bracelets (link and anti-clastic), brooches and pendants from the Shibuichi.

I feel Shibuichi is an unexplored medium with lots of secrets yet to be discovered while nicely fitting into the “green” jewelry field. Questions about Shibuichi? Feel free to contact us!  We love to talk shop. 

This short Shibuichi article was originally submitted to Green Jewelry News for publication. If you're not familiar with Green Jewelry News, do subscribe!  You won't be disappointed: www.greenjewelrynews.com
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Inspiration and Fresh Perspectives

10/5/2013

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One of the things Don and I find most valuable is the opportunity to connect with others who are excited about their work and anxious to share ideas and techniques.  On a recent trip to Portland, Oregon, we met with two such artists and came home inspired to approach our work with fresh perspectives. 

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If you want to see what has been so motivating for us, have a look at the work being done by Joe Apodaca, a jeweler and sculptor for over 40 years, who is such a master.   Have you ever seen anything like this? It's amazing.
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Or, for a completely different experience, check out Jo Scheer's work with bamboo at the Bamboo Craftsman Company and Tropical-Treehouse.  We've known Jo for years, and every year he surprises us with something new. If you're interested in working with bamboo -- his book is a must.
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Indeed, creativity abounds -- and we feel lucky. Our lives are so much richer because of it. 
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    The random inspirations and ramblings of two artists and freelance human beings living and working in Edgeley,  North Dakota. 

    "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect."

    Mark Twain

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Prairie Pauls Studio
Edgeley, North Dakota
p. 701.709.0199

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All Rights Reserved | 2013
www.prairiepaulsstudio.com
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