Jewelry Art in the Tropics & Keys News

This summer I have expanded my jewelry venues to include two online art shopping sites.  I am excited to be included in both of these very cool art catalogs and hope you will visit and look around at all the beautiful merchandise so artfully displayed.

Via key West is a place where funky meets fabulous and is filled with tropical paintings, photographs, island getaway books, jammin music, luscious cakes, and of course handmade island style jewelry all inspired by the history, culture and characters of Key West.  I currently have several unique pieces listed with more coming online soon.   http://www.viakeywest.com/Jewlelry_s/86.htm

Margaritaville ~ Made in Key West is a special area on Jimmy Buffets website that offers handmade ceramics, unique shawdow boxes, paintings, and of course my island style jewelry.
http://www.margaritavillestore.com/browse.cfm/2,599.html

While working on my Island inspired designs I love to listen to Beachfront radio. If you want to experience a little island music, reggae, trop rock etc., this online station plays all the new music and lots of old favorites too.
http://www.beachfrontradio.com/fr_home.cfm

Keys News: One of our local bands, Howard Livingston and the MM 24 Band has been nominated for several catagories in the Margarita Mafia Trop Rock Awards. 1. Male vocalist of the Year 2. Band of the Year 3. Entertainer of the Year 4. Songwriter of the Year and Dave Herzog on Steel Pan as Musican of the Year! Congrats to Howard and the Band. I hope to catch a show and maybe the awards ceremony this Fall.  http://www.milemarker24.com/


Florida Magazine's Best of Florida 2010
Congrats to Key West for taking so many honors in the Best of Florida Awards including; Friendliest Small Town
Best Beach is Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park...Honorable mention: Bahia Honda
Best Place to Bring Fido is Dog Beach in KW
Best Cultural Festival is Fantasy Fest every October
Best Live Music Venue is the Green Parrot Bar " A Sunny Place for Shady People."
Best Band is Howard Livingston & MM 24 Band and KW's top tropical band.
Best Local Celebrity is Jimmy Buffett and his island escapism
Best Brunch is Blue Heaven Restaurant a local favorite in a quirky environment.
Best Margarita is at Margaritaville
Best Fishing Spot is The Florida Keys from the upper islands down to KW.
Best Sunset from Mallory Square
Best Outdoor Cafe is Salute'on the beach.
Best Talk Radio is KONK 1500 AM a little radio station with a BIG voice.
Best Newspaper is Fla Keys Keynoter
Best Independent Bookstore is Voltaire Books, its considered the last independent bookstore.
Best Garden is Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden containing a miniature rainforest.
Dive shops, Bike Shops, Spas, etc.
For the Complete list http://www.floridamagazine.com/bestof2010.html


Wishing you fun times limin' (hanging out with friends) and jammin' in an island state of mind!

High Altitude Art

As I prepare for the summer art season in Colorado I admit I must step up my habit of list making or relatively important things may be overlooked.  It helps me to remain calm yet productive when the intensity ramps up, it also encourages restful not sleepless nights trying to recall all the business details awaiting me the next day and it harnesses the the creative energy that flows through me at this time of year, instead of letting it just flitter by.

Although island living fuels my design process and enriches my jewelry with intense color and tropical flavor, it's the summertime living high up in the mountains that opens me up and excites the passion in me to create art jewelry and to write.  Last summer after a series of rolfing sessions from our wonderful local rolfer, Susan Marrion I could not stop writing.  I must have expressed about 10,000 words about my life and drafted several children's books which I hope to finish one day soon.

So far this summer I have new and re-orders to fill for Florida and Colorado gift shops and gallery's including one that I'm totally thrilled about.  Soon Margaritaville.com will be selling a few of my jewelry items.  I'll keep you posted when it goes live.  I am also preparing for several shows starting this weekend including, July 3rd - ART-rageous - A Day of Art at the Center for the Arts in Crested Butte, Colorado, AWEfest and the CB Farmer's Market and I am looking forward to an inspired high mountain summer.

Celebrate creativity in all forms!  What creative projects have you been immersed in this summer, I'd love to hear about them?  Wishing you a creatively abundant summer!