Make Time to Play

Lately, I've been thinking about how important it is for everyone to make time to play. Artists have this sneaky way of finding ways to play for their whole lives. We have a channel for play in our artwork or craft.

At YIKES! Studio, art is also play. I play with color, shapes, and forms every day. Being in the studio and working with clay, silver, enameling, and metals allows me to give shape to my thoughts as they arise, and the work I do in the studio influences my thoughts and musings again, creating a creative cycle.

Play is a central focus of YIKES! (The name itself is pretty playful.) For many artisans, there's a relationship between play and craftsmanship. Playful jewelry must be created with care and skill so that its joyful presence can endure for years. And craftsmanship without a sense of play can seem too utilitarian, lacking in imagination. In the studio, it's possible to see how play and craftsmanship support each other and really make the other possible!

Although play is usually associated with kids, it's really just something that surfaces in different forms throughout our lives. One of those ways is through art. Research in art therapy has shown that adults who are artists remain more intellectually and creatively vibrant through their elder years, continuing to develop artistically and emotionally.

Everyone can make time to play. Play doesn't have to be linked to a slick finished product, or any finished product at all. Make some time to play with color. Use clay or paint or whatever strikes your fancy. Make something and forget to judge it. Just experience it!

Play could also be thought of as a gateway to deeper experiences. The creative spontaneity of playing-- whether it's with art materials or not-- opens us up intellectually and emotionally. Staying playful throughout life allows us to keep engaging with the world-- just getting out and loving the big sky, the water, the colors and forms and surprises. ❉


Suzanne Anderson is the creator of YIKES! Studio Jewelry. Suzanne has been busy creating for most of her life. After graduating with a BA from Maine College of Art, she worked as a graphic designer and a painter. Suzanne works to ensure that YIKES! Studio creates work that is fun, beautiful, always interesting, and adorns the wearer with joy. Catch up with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Etsy, or her website at www.yikesstudio.com.

YIKES Maine-Made Custom Cuff Bracelet... A Spring-Green Sendoff to Summer

Maybe it's because summer's almost ready to segue into fall, but it feels like the perfect time to embrace summery colors. Lately I've been craving sweet spring green. Something about this fresh, delicate color is so full of vitality! So, lucky me, I got to make this unique custom-order cuff bracelet this week.

This bracelet combines some of the adornments and "bling" of my bangles with the wider style of a cuff bracelet. It's always exciting to create custom pieces because they lead to interesting new combinations and keep the creative juices flowing. Fun!


As well as working in the studio, I've been looking forward to Bar Harbor's Fashion Night Out coming up on Thursday, September 5. Join YIKES! at the D'Alessio Gallery from 6-10 pm and see the fabulous bellydance troupe Haus of Paradigm at the gallery at 8:30 pm.

Fashion Night Out features runway shows, trunk shows, performances and more, all across downtown Bar Harbor, Maine. Past years have been tons of fun and this year's Fashion Night Out promises to be the best yet. ❉

A Sanctuary for Art (and Wildlife): Maine's Gilsland Farm Audubon Show

YIKES! Studio necklace

This year I'll be wrapping up my summer craft shows with the Gilsland Farm Audubon Show in Falmouth, Maine. I'll be showing the best of my summer collection, and I'm excited to share these pieces-- from earrings and bangles to showpiece necklaces with loads of beautiful detailed patterns and colors.

The show itself takes place this upcoming weekend, Aug 17 & 18, at the Maine Audubon headquarters, a sixty-five acre wildlife sanctuary on the Presumpscot River, near Maine's most populous city, Portland.  

The sanctuary is a hub of education and environmental advocacy, with programs to help protect and preserve a number of animal species in Maine. (You can find out more about getting involved with their very interesting tracking programs here!)

The sanctuary is not only a beautiful setting for a craft show, the Gilsland Farm Audubon Show is also raises money for the Maine Audubon. The small admission fee ($3/members, $4/nonmembers) benefits the Audubon's programs.

If you want to check out the rest of the sanctuary, you'll find that Gilsland Farm’s 2.5 miles of trails wind through meadows, in and out of woods, and along the shore of the Presumpscot River estuary. All of the trails are gentle with no steep grades.

Along the way, you might see meadowlarks, warblers, frogs, and red fox. It's the perfect chance to see some wildlife and some lush greenery before summer starts to slip away!

A print from 2013 Gilsland Farm Show artist Kathleen Buchanan of Grey Seal Press	A YIKES! Studio necklace headed for the show!

This juried show is in it's 17th year and presents only handmade items from over 70 craftspeople. The show will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, August 17 and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday, August 18 at 20 Gilsland Farm Road, near Rt. 1 in Falmouth (see a map here) Catered food will be available and the walking trails will be open, so come by and make a day of it! ❉

Starfish and Stripes

Summer is flying by! Summers in Maine are short but sweet, and I've been enjoying working by the beautiful lake at my studio in Lucerne. Oftentimes on the fourth of July, our neighbors send up fireworks around the lake. The pop and sparkle of color over the still lake makes a beautiful, almost private show and a perfect ending to a summer evening.

 
 I've been working on some "star" jewelry-- starfish cuff bracelets adorned with swarovski crystal and "seafoam" star-shaped earrings. Each one is unique. The process for creating each one is very involved. The result is something that I think can go equally well with a beautiful dress as with a button down shirt and jeans. They really can go anywhere, and they're made to be treasures enjoyed for many years.


 Besides working on new cuff and earring designs, I've been busy getting ready for my summer season of craft shows. This coming weekend, you can find me and my Yikes! jewelry at the Maine Crafts Guild Damariscotta Show, July 6-7, at the YMCA, 525 Main St., Damariscotta, Maine. 

The Maine Crafts Guild Damariscotta show features the highest quality Maine craftsmanship, with approximately fifty vendors in the market. Admission is $5 for adults and free for those under 12. Hours are Saturday, July 6, 2013 from 10 am to 5 pm  and Sunday, July 7, 2013 from 10 am to 4 pm. To learn more, click here.

I've been working on a new booth set-up for a great shopping/browsing experience. It's been a busy time lately, but that's nothing new! I'd love to see you at my upcoming show, so stop by and say hello-- & have a wonderful fourth of July! ❉
 

Suzanne Anderson is the creator of YIKES! Studio Jewelry. Suzanne has been busy creating for most of her life. After graduating with a BA from Maine College of Art, she worked as a graphic designer and a painter. Suzanne works to ensure that YIKES! Studio creates work that is fun, beautiful, always interesting, and adorns the wearer with joy. Catch up with her on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Etsy, or her website at www.yikesstudio.com.