Hopeless Romantic and Piscean Jeweler, Melissa Trice

Pisces Full Moon August 24, 2010 10:04 am pdt Spotlight on Piscean Jeweler, Melissa Mayes Trice Shop: Melissa Trice Louisville, Kentucky, USA

Being a Pisces definitely influences the creation of my handcrafted jewelry. Pisces are creative beings often drawn to the sea and influenced by water. We tend to be intuitive, romantic, imaginative, subtle, and mystical daydreamers although I take issue with some of the traits attributed to Pisces.

The symbol for Pisces is two fish moving in opposite directions representing the conflicting desires of flesh and spirit. I too have conflicts in this area. I am a corporate queen during the day, but my true desire is to make a living selling my beautiful handcrafted jewelry. I'm also a day-dreamer and you will often find me staring and smiling and dreaming up some really great jewelry creation while in my own little world. I will get out my bead board and some beads and stones and just start placing them soon finding myself in a zone all by myself where I can create anything. I sometimes become attached to one of my creations and want to keep it for myself and then there is conflict, but the business woman inside of me overrules this selfishness so that I can focus on profit instead.

My creativity is usually inspired by my mood and reflects my feelings at any given time.

I am a hopeless romantic and my wedding necklace and earring sets reflect this romantic, feminine side. Crystals and pearls together envelope the senses and exude romance & femininity and I feel very honored that someone would want my creations to be a part of their special day. Crystals are so mystical and reflect the light so magnificently which only intensifies with the movement of the wearer, but don't stare you may become transfixed!

Pisces are also know for their compassion and I also like to spend time volunteering with Big Brothers/Big Sisters.

Piscean Full Moon Dreamer & Fiber Artist, Gail Asbury

Pisces Full Moon August 24, 2010 10:04 am pdt

Spotlight on Piscean Dreamer & Fiber Artist, Gail Asbury Savoy Faire Shop New Hampshire, USA

As a true Pisces I am a dreamer. I dream up many of my creations or fall asleep with them popping into my head only to awaken and hope to remember them. Sometimes I wake up and one pops into my head which is great because I can get up and draw a quick picture of it!

While I am very imaginative and prefer to seek refuge in my imagination, I am not overly sensitive since I was a professional business woman for over thirty years. On the other hand because I can go with the flow like a fish I could just as easily follow as lead! I can also be the boss’s favorite because I understand who the perfect employee is and can become just that, but I am truly happiest being my own boss and creating my dreams!

I'm a big performer, storyteller, dancer and public speaker whenever I get the chance, including at funerals where others may be tongue tied, yet I feel it’s important that something special was said. Ideally I'd love to be in the performing arts but was pushed into using my intelligence for accounting and analytical work where I can crunch numbers and tell you things you wouldn't see for yourself. I’m big on out of the box thinking because no limitations have ever been put on my imagination.

My seventh grade creative writing teacher once told me to never lose my imagination and I’ve taken that to heart.

Only recently was I able to finally do what I've always wanted to and that is become a fiber artist and to create using various media; fabric, beads, and bobbles, both recycled and new. As a child of two I'd collect all my mother's sewing scraps and drape them around my dolls creating flowing outfits. I love using pearls and shimmery, shiny things from the sea and if I had my way I'd drape myself in lush flowing gowns with long trailing sleeves, covering myself in pearls, beads and all kinds of jewelry with rings on every finger...oops, I already do that! During the winter here in New England you’ll find me wearing rich velvets and wild capes! I can still remember when I was four years old and my ballet teacher would wear a feather in her hat with a red cape; her style was so unique. Later, she moved to New York City to open a ballet studio and I never saw her again, but

I've never forgotten to wear things that make me happy no matter what others say.

Because I am a big planner, I draw my inspirations months ahead of time when ideas and dreams pop into my head. My boyfriend finally understands that when I make a decision it's not based on what is obvious, but instead relies upon intuition. Many of my best works just flow out of me when I have fabric laid out. I will start with a drawing that I want to bring to life and end up with a multitude of styles. As a clothes horse myself, I'd like to wear something different every day if I could, and in turn offer my customers a lot of choice and diversity so that everyone can find something they'll love.

There will always be that one item that very few people like yet it sells because someone somewhere loved it and that's what makes it all worthwhile to me.

Growing up in the 1960's and 70's when girl's dresses were so special and now are almost impossible to find in that style I try to create things girls will never forget and hopefully pass down to a special girl themselves one day. I hope you put on one of my fabric creations and then relax, forget time, problems and deadlines and dream about how it could be...

Piscean Full Moon Silk Musings

Pisces Full Moon August 24 10:04 am PDT

Spotlight on Piscean Silk Painter: Susan Morgan Hoth Richmond, Virginia Morgan Silk

Perhaps being born on March 12 inclined me to this attraction I have with water ~ it's the closest thing to flying that I know.

One of my earliest memories was standing on a chair pulled up to the kitchen sink playing with water for hours. I grew up playing in the creeks so when our village built a community pool I spent every summer all day in it and when I turned sixteen I worked there as a lifeguard and swimming instructor.

I started watercolor painting in my early teens and would go out into the countryside to spend the day next to a babbling brook painting landscapes and using the creek to clean my brushes. My dream was to be a "big fish" but I have since learned that little fish can go where the big fish cannot!

When I discovered the pure color of fabric dyes I was in college and have been fascinated with the process for more than thirty years. I spend much of my time with my hands in liquid dye and water - something that never loses it's fascination for me. To rejuvenate myself I swim laps late at night at the nearby gym and come home relaxed and ready for either the next project or a good night's sleep.

More about Morgan

I am a fabric artist working full-time from my Richmond, Virginia studio. My original designs have been available online since 2006. Water color and oil painting was my specialty until I discovered the pure color of fiber-reactive dyes; now I live to dye!

In another life I taught high school: loved it, retired, don't miss it at all.

Oakland, CA Leo Artist & Jewelry Designer, Victoria Camp

New Moon in Leo August 9, 2010 8:08 pm pdt

Spotlight on Leo Artist: Victoria Camp Oakland, California Website: http://www.victoriacamp.com

As a Leo artist, there is one word behind my driving force - “create.” Simply put, it’s a vital part of my life and I find it impossible for me to ever stop, no matter what the job or environment I’m in. Leo’s are always finding a new art or craft to try, experimenting with different mediums and art forms and I am no exception! Currently I am attending a fashion design school by day and also working as a jewelry artist from my home. I am finding that my true passion lies within jewelry design, but it is unlikely that I would ever stop learning and taking classes.

One of my key motivators as a Leo is passion, and I feel my emotions very deeply. This passion has helped my artistic side by inspiring me to finish what I have started (or even try something new) and to not “settle” for something less than ideal. I also feel that anything is possible if you have the right attitude and I genuinely enjoy being my own boss and managing all aspects of my business.

I have come to recognize that Leo’s have a keen eye for visual design and composition. As an artist, it is important to me that my work environment be visually organized and decorated in such a manner that won’t prohibit my creativity. When I am designing a piece, the first thing that draws me to create is the color and then the texture of the medium I am working with. I love the smoothness of freshwater pearls, the cut edges of a faceted gemstone, the soft matte finish of a clay flower and not to mention the endless color possibilities while working with clay!

As a tactile Leo by nature, I find that I am always touching the garment and accessories I am wearing. I often create my designs with touchability in mind, including either a type of bead or pendant that feels

intriguing underneath my fingertips. It’s all about the details; I find comfort in creating pieces with tedious detailing and handwork and find immense satisfaction when it is completed.

Leo’s love of luxury has certainly not escaped me! I always work with the best materials I can find within my price point and am picky about the quality standards of my finished pieces. I also enjoy the challenge of taking something “ordinary” and turning it into something wonderful, beautiful, and wearable!

Self Taught Leo Artist Spotlight on Robin Rizzi

Leo New Moon August 9, 2010 8:08 pm pdt

Spotlight on Robin Rizzi Aliso Viejo, California Etsy Shop: http://www.rrizzart.etsy.com

I am a self-taught artist/artisan working mostly in mixed media jewelry and collage. Although I have only recently considered myself a professional artist, art has always been a significant part of my life. True to the sign of Leo, I am an independent spirit and confident with who I am. I believe this is why so many of my early artistic endeavors involved making altered clothes and other types of wearable art for myself, as well as personal art for my home. Perhaps the Leonine qualities of ambition and pride led me to eventually share my work with the world although I prefer to think the impetus for creating art for others had more to do with my innate generosity and a warm sharing spirit, typical of Leos.

My artwork is clearly reflective of the Leo spirit: most of my pieces are bright and richly colored, and heavily embellished. Some may see my work as gaudy but I revel in its extravagance! There can never be too much color or too much glitter and sparkle! I am a firm believer in the concept that ideas and feelings worth expressing should be delivered with drama and flair. I believe it was Emil Zola who said, "I am an artist. I live my life out loud." This is my mantra. As artists we are forced to examine and reveal our feelings; we cannot be shy about that and stay true to ourselves. This generosity of spirit, so typical of Leos, is also evident in the inspirational nature of much of my work. Many of my collage pieces are in the form of a cross, but I view them more as an expression of hope and spirituality, rather than representations of a specific faith. I like my work to provide positive energy to the viewer, to encourage others to expand their hearts and minds; thus, many pieces simply dictate "Dream" or "Inspire".

I find it uncanny how my work is influenced by my astrological sign and the more I think about it, the more I believe that I may in fact be a zodiacal late-bloomer. The more my work has evolved (I will be 51 this month), the more evident my Leo qualities have become and now that I am running my own business and selling my work, I get to be my own boss and tap into that delicious independent, controlling streak. I have no idea where my art will take me, but wherever it is, I will go roaring all the way!