Earthenwood Studio Chronicles
February 26, 2013
Sale at Earthenwood Studio website
February 21, 2013
New work at Michigan Artisans!
February 12, 2013
Retired Logo and Rusty Banner
In the process of editing and redesigning the Earthenwood website, I decided I need a fresh start when it comes to my logo. I have been using the one below for over 15 years. It's a great logo, and it has served me well and has been through many changes over the years. My ex-husband designed it all those years ago, which I must admit is part of the reason I would like to retire it. Over the years, I have changed the colors, worked with it in black and white, and twisted and turned it every way I could think. But that's a long time to look at one graphic, and my business is changing, so I feel the need to change my web style around more often too.
I made the new banner at the top to use for now. It might not stay for a long time, but its new and I like it. It feels fresher and cleaner, lighter and not as heavy handed. I held on so long to the old logo, feeling the need for brand recognition, but maybe the name Earthenwood itself is sufficient. Maybe even my work is recognizable enough without the branding.
My new site (at least at the moment) is mostly white! That's a huge departure for me. I love things that are earthy, dirty, clay covered, rusty. But I think designwise, I overdo it. So I kept it mostly white, put a subtle torn edge frame around all of the product photos, and added my rust into the banner. I used this photo for the background: it's from two huge pieces of rusted metal I found i my backyard a few years ago when tearing down the crazy Kludge fence. The metal is beautiful, rusty, textured, crusty. I toned it way down for the background of the banner, but I wanted it to be something from my life, not just a stock texture.
I am pleased with the site redesign for now. I still need to edit the pages, update my show schedule and links, and redo my About Me page. Its a slow process, but it is starting to feel like I have accomplished something and can move onto the next new things, which I have been researching while I edit the old. It's starting to feel like a fresh start, not letting go entirely of the old, but incorporating it into the new in a satisfying way.
February 8, 2013
Earthenwood Website Update Progress

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.
February 3, 2013
New Work at Yellow Door Art Market
Wow, it's been a really long time since I blogged! I guess the holidays took over my life and then I needed a month to recover. But here we are in early February and I am working on lots of changes in my art and career! My goal has been to focus more on my finished jewelry line and working with galleries and wholesaling. I am making lots of progress there, starting at the local level.
Just a few days ago, I set up at the awesome art market Yellow Door in Berkley, MI. I have loved this gallery, and it's sister stores Catching Fireflies, for many years and am very proud to be a part of it now. I signed up for an endcap space and got some new displays. My theme is rusty colors and gears with a little bit of filigree elegance. I think it pulls together the variety of jewelry items that I have on display. Yellow Door was the push I needed to change directions from my jewelry component business and start to plan for more galleries, so I am excited to get to work now! Hopefully I can stay motivated and begin blogging again... we'll see!

Just a few days ago, I set up at the awesome art market Yellow Door in Berkley, MI. I have loved this gallery, and it's sister stores Catching Fireflies, for many years and am very proud to be a part of it now. I signed up for an endcap space and got some new displays. My theme is rusty colors and gears with a little bit of filigree elegance. I think it pulls together the variety of jewelry items that I have on display. Yellow Door was the push I needed to change directions from my jewelry component business and start to plan for more galleries, so I am excited to get to work now! Hopefully I can stay motivated and begin blogging again... we'll see!

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.
November 25, 2012
More New Work
Here are a few of the newest carvings I have done recently. They are studies really, sketches in clay. It's exciting to be playing and exploring new imagery, different clay, different surfaces. I have done test tiles and started a few vessels...mugs that I am really excited about. If I can finish up what I have in the studio this week successfully, I will be showing these pieces at Noel Night at CCS (the college where I graduated) this Saturday for an evening sale. I wanted to have this new work exclusively for the event, but have not been as productive as I had hoped (and also I have sold several pieces already... yay!) so I might have to augment with jewelry. Or decide to pass and stick to Rust Belt for the night. We'll see what the week brings...

"Cherry on Top" ~sold
"Caged Freedom" ~sold
"Contemplations on Service"
November 13, 2012
What's New?

Melanie is an artist, blogger, writer, and ceramic beadmaker at Earthenwood Studio. Her beads and components can be found at her Etsy shop and her jewelry can be found in her Etsy Galleria. To comment on this post, visit the original post at the Earthenwood Studio Chronicles Blog.
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