Fall is a great time of year here in Vermont, I am looking forward.
Had a great time wraping up Summer last weekend in Burlington. It was Art Hop weekend. Hundreds of artists in Burlington - realy amazing considering the small size of the city. The South End was ALIVE with art everywhere. Saw two artists with GREAT SteamPunk work. Yes, even in Northern Vermont SteamPunk is catching on. Nice to see.
Speak of nice to see, the leaves are just begining to turn. If you have a chance, come on up and see the Foliage - no better place to see foliage than Vermont.
all for now-
Mark, SteamSmith
Monday, September 21, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
a long time
Yes, it has been a long time since I left a post here.
I had surgery at the end of July. The time leading up to surgery was very hetic, trying to get all of the ducks lined up - and then after, well it has taken a while to realy get back into the swing.
I just had my 6 week check up and my doc - John Macy, MD - says that my new shoulder joint is doing VERY WELL. So, NO MORE excuses!
By the way, if you need shoulder work done, and can get to northern Vermont, John Macy is THE guy you want working on you!
On a whole different subject - as an artist, it is always interesting to see how other artists work. "ArtSnark" is offering us an interesting look at all of this on her blog - a peek at artist studios. The current featured studio is the antithesis of mine - the featured studio is VERY neat and clean! Check it out: http://artsnark.blogspot.com/2009/08/studio-tour-saturday.html
More later, I promise!
I had surgery at the end of July. The time leading up to surgery was very hetic, trying to get all of the ducks lined up - and then after, well it has taken a while to realy get back into the swing.
I just had my 6 week check up and my doc - John Macy, MD - says that my new shoulder joint is doing VERY WELL. So, NO MORE excuses!
By the way, if you need shoulder work done, and can get to northern Vermont, John Macy is THE guy you want working on you!
On a whole different subject - as an artist, it is always interesting to see how other artists work. "ArtSnark" is offering us an interesting look at all of this on her blog - a peek at artist studios. The current featured studio is the antithesis of mine - the featured studio is VERY neat and clean! Check it out: http://artsnark.blogspot.com/2009/08/studio-tour-saturday.html
More later, I promise!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
New Work now posted
FINALLY got some new pieces up, both SteamSmithWorks on Etsy and
SteamSmith on 1000Markets. I have some additional new work but could not get the pictures taken in time; and I will be flat out for the next week or so. So, enjoy this work, and there will be more as soon as I can take pictures again.
Best,
Mark
SteamSmith on 1000Markets. I have some additional new work but could not get the pictures taken in time; and I will be flat out for the next week or so. So, enjoy this work, and there will be more as soon as I can take pictures again.
Best,
Mark
Friday, April 3, 2009
1000Markets artist
Lots of great artists at 1000Markets. Earlier I mentioned WinonaCookie who has a store on Edsy. Great work! She now also has one on 1000Markets: http://www.winonacookiecreations.1000markets.com/
Any way, she and I and 3 other 1000Markets artists were "reviewed" in a blog by another 1000Markets artist (he makes GREAT wooden toys, and more). Check out his blog, entitled "My Fellow Artisans!" which is at his 1000Markets store:
http://www.kooymandesigns.1000markets.com/
Meanwhile, new work coming from me THIS weekend!
Mark
Any way, she and I and 3 other 1000Markets artists were "reviewed" in a blog by another 1000Markets artist (he makes GREAT wooden toys, and more). Check out his blog, entitled "My Fellow Artisans!" which is at his 1000Markets store:
http://www.kooymandesigns.1000markets.com/
Meanwhile, new work coming from me THIS weekend!
Mark
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Joining, joining, joining
I never thought of myself as a big joiner, but I am doing it now!
Yesterday, on 1000Markets (aka 1km) I joined the Jewelry Artisans Marketplace and the Metalcraft market. Coincidentally, on the same day my long standing application to join the SteamTeam on Etsy was approved!
It is easy to get isolated here in Northern Vermont, especially back in the woods where we live. I hope that joining these online groups will help put me in touch with like-minded folks and help me to develop my own designs and marketing.
Thanks to all who participated in inviting me to these groups.
Mark
Yesterday, on 1000Markets (aka 1km) I joined the Jewelry Artisans Marketplace and the Metalcraft market. Coincidentally, on the same day my long standing application to join the SteamTeam on Etsy was approved!
It is easy to get isolated here in Northern Vermont, especially back in the woods where we live. I hope that joining these online groups will help put me in touch with like-minded folks and help me to develop my own designs and marketing.
Thanks to all who participated in inviting me to these groups.
Mark
Friday, March 20, 2009
Happy Spring!
We are expecting a beautiful sunny, but chilly, day here for the first day of Spring.
I received an early spring present yesterday, my pre-model castings arrived! That was rocket speed turnaround from my casting company!
I will be hard at work today getting new designs made. I still need some parts (chain, etc) that I ordered to come in before I can finish things, but there is lots of work that I can do NOW and I am about to get to it.
Hope that you have a good beginning of the season.
Mark
I received an early spring present yesterday, my pre-model castings arrived! That was rocket speed turnaround from my casting company!
I will be hard at work today getting new designs made. I still need some parts (chain, etc) that I ordered to come in before I can finish things, but there is lots of work that I can do NOW and I am about to get to it.
Hope that you have a good beginning of the season.
Mark
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
A great day for the Irish
We are expecting a truly GRAND day here in North Central Vermont today!
Right now - 6:30 am, it is 28 F, high is expected to be well into the 50's with wall to wall sunshine. Purrfect weather for maple sap flow, Spring skiing and a celebration of ones Irish heritage. Yes, my Mother was Irish, and I do observe the day.
Speak of spring skiing, my good buddy Charlie and I had a great day of spring skiing at Sugarbush on Sunday. Thanks to Kim Harris for arranging a pass for me! Conditions could not have been better! Just a little problem with sun burn! If you are out spring skiing, don't forget the sun screen!
It is off to work for me. Even though my pre-model castings are not ready yet, I do have several pieces that I am working on - a Steamy Moose Time Traveler necklace, and a group of Star Trek based designs - NEW Star Trek movie coming out in May!
Mark
Right now - 6:30 am, it is 28 F, high is expected to be well into the 50's with wall to wall sunshine. Purrfect weather for maple sap flow, Spring skiing and a celebration of ones Irish heritage. Yes, my Mother was Irish, and I do observe the day.
Speak of spring skiing, my good buddy Charlie and I had a great day of spring skiing at Sugarbush on Sunday. Thanks to Kim Harris for arranging a pass for me! Conditions could not have been better! Just a little problem with sun burn! If you are out spring skiing, don't forget the sun screen!
It is off to work for me. Even though my pre-model castings are not ready yet, I do have several pieces that I am working on - a Steamy Moose Time Traveler necklace, and a group of Star Trek based designs - NEW Star Trek movie coming out in May!
Mark
Sunday, March 15, 2009
pre-models finished
After weeks of work, I have finally completed the pre-models for my new group of designs.
What are pre-models you ask? When I make original works in pewter, some times a part is repeated within a piece, or used over and over again as a component of several pieces. Rather than make each of these parts over and over again, I make the part once, and have a casting company make a mold and a number of pre-model castings. Now I can use these castings, together with unique parts, to make unique pieces more efficiently.
The pre-models in this group include some Airship parts, a fabulous pair of bird wings that my Dad made (he gave me permission to use them) a number of bezel settings and some surprises! Among the new pieces that I will be making is a group of Steamy Art Deco pieces. These pieces will include genuine black onyx stones. The four different size and shape bezels that I made are for those stones.
I hope to get the castings back from my caster in a week or so, and have new work finished and into my store by the end of the month.
Keep an eye!
Mark
aka SteamSmith
What are pre-models you ask? When I make original works in pewter, some times a part is repeated within a piece, or used over and over again as a component of several pieces. Rather than make each of these parts over and over again, I make the part once, and have a casting company make a mold and a number of pre-model castings. Now I can use these castings, together with unique parts, to make unique pieces more efficiently.
The pre-models in this group include some Airship parts, a fabulous pair of bird wings that my Dad made (he gave me permission to use them) a number of bezel settings and some surprises! Among the new pieces that I will be making is a group of Steamy Art Deco pieces. These pieces will include genuine black onyx stones. The four different size and shape bezels that I made are for those stones.
I hope to get the castings back from my caster in a week or so, and have new work finished and into my store by the end of the month.
Keep an eye!
Mark
aka SteamSmith
Thursday, March 12, 2009
counting
Counting is important. Counting how many pieces in inventory, counting how many days until Christmas and counting on a friend.
It is also important to count the number of people, in our neighborhood, in the area, in the country.
Lucky me, I get to do some of that, soon! Yes, I have accepted a temporary job with the US Census! I start next month. This means that my new shoulder will have to wait.
You can count on me to continue my creative work while at the Census, and I will be back in the studio full time this summer.
Mark aka SteamSmith
It is also important to count the number of people, in our neighborhood, in the area, in the country.
Lucky me, I get to do some of that, soon! Yes, I have accepted a temporary job with the US Census! I start next month. This means that my new shoulder will have to wait.
You can count on me to continue my creative work while at the Census, and I will be back in the studio full time this summer.
Mark aka SteamSmith
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
good morning
Crazy weather here, a big thaw over the weekend, then snow yesterday, rain expected today.
I have a free pass for ONE day of skiing at Sugarbush Resort, trying to pick a good day - it is tough!
Nancy and I went to her son Jason's "new" bar Saturday night. The bar has been around for years, but Jason just purchased it this Fall. It is a fun & friendly local tavern. If you find yourself in the Pittsfield Vermont area, stop in at the Clear River Tavern.
I am hard at work trying to get a big group of new designs together before my surgery on April 3.
Mark
I have a free pass for ONE day of skiing at Sugarbush Resort, trying to pick a good day - it is tough!
Nancy and I went to her son Jason's "new" bar Saturday night. The bar has been around for years, but Jason just purchased it this Fall. It is a fun & friendly local tavern. If you find yourself in the Pittsfield Vermont area, stop in at the Clear River Tavern.
I am hard at work trying to get a big group of new designs together before my surgery on April 3.
Mark
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