PMC Guild Annual Exceptional Work in Metal Clay: 2009

I have submitted pictures of my work for two years to the PMC Guild Annual and I have been lucky to be admitted in the two years.

This year was full of surprises for me because this time I had the honor to be on the back cover with amazing artist : Julia Rai and Maggie Bergman.

The front cover piece is by another amazing artist, Donna Penoyer, her work is incredible too.

The book includes the work of 63 artists from eight countries and 25 states in the USA.

"Tree of Life"

Bronzclay, gesso and acrylics.

3.5 inches high

Photo by George Post

"Oaxaca Pot"

Bronzclay

1.5 inch diameter

Photo by George Post

Dia de Muertos

Mexico is a country with a lot of colors, with wonderful traditions and a culture that it is transmitted from generation to generation.
I have been out of my country for more than 10 years and my two kids were born in the USA.
I have always talked to them about my country and my traditions and we celebrate a lot of them here.
The Day of the dead, Dia de Muertos, is a celebration that brings me to my childhood in Chiapas, Mexico. I remember I was never scare of it because we learned to respect dead and celebrate the continuation of life every day.
We celebrate and remember the family members that pass away by honoring them with happiness about the wonderful life they had.

This wonderful tradition is very old in my country, when the Spanish came to my country they tried to convert the native indigenous to a new religion and new ways of living but they could not make them stop celebrating Dia de Muertos.

Originally Dia de Muertos was celebrated for a whole month in the end of July and beginning of August, when the Catholic priests saw they could not stop them from celebrating this day they decided to moved it to only two days to coincide with their own "All saints and all souls day" in November 1st and 2nd.

All this incredible memories have inspired me to make "Calaveras" in my work. I really enjoy designing them and then making them came alive in silver, bronze or copper.

I love to show my kids my Calaveras and they like them a lot.

They are my biggest fans ;-} and this creates an opportunity to talk to them about the day of the dead.

Keeping my tradition alive from generation to generation ! ;-}

2010 Metal Clay Calendar

I have been very fortunate this whole year with my work, my big passion in life is my family but the other big passion is making and creating my jewelry.

I got the wonderful news that I was going to be in another calendar with some of my Etsy Metal Clay team artists.

2010 Metal Clay Calendar by Marjorie Windman Oxman is a wonderful showcase of beautiful pieces of art and I am sure you will love them all.

The Art and Design of Metal Clay Jewelry.

I am very happy to have my pendant, Arbol de Vida, be part of the 2010 The Art and Design of Metal Clay calendar by Holly Gage.

The calendar is available for pre-order and features the work of some of the most innovative metal clay jewelry designers.

In the calendar you will also find information about jewelry conferences and competition deadlines.

There is a limited printing in this calendar so order yours now ! ;-}

Metal Clay Guru is Online !

I was fortunate to be approach to be part of a new site called Metal Clay Guru.
This new site is focus on metal clay and has a lot of information and tips. Everyone that is working with metal clay or is thinking in doing it will find this site very helpful.
Metal Clay Gury will be full of information and has a wonderful artists and gallery section where anyone can see some of the best work in metal clay. You will be inspire by the work of these amazing artists.
I am very fortunate to be part of these group of artists that I have admire for a long time.
Their work inspire me to make more pieces and be more in love with this new medium.
You will see work from artists like Gordon K Uyehara, Lora Hart, Sherri Haab, Lesley Messam, Liz Hall, Margaret Schindel and Tim McCreight, just to mention some of them.
Come and take a look to this great new site, you will like it !

40

I am celebrating my 4oth birthday Today and I can say that I am happy with my 40 years lived.




I have a great husband that since the first day has giving me so much and that everyday tells me he loves me and is very proud of me.
I LOVE YOU JORGE !

I have two amazing kids that make my life very interesting and never boring.

I LOVE YOU CHRISTIAN AND VERONICA.

You all complete me !!

Life is beautiful and I am thankful for that !

Memories of the most difficult experience in our lives.

A couple of weeks ago I was doing an intensive cleaning and reorganization of my home studio when I came upon a box with some items of my daughter Veronica's journey in the NICU when she was born.

Looking at this items brought me so many memories about the hard times we had when Veronica was born three months early with only 1 lb 11 oz of weight.
This hard times teach us so many things about life and since that day we see life in a different way.
My daughter teach us big lessons during her journey in the hospital.



I was hospitalized when I was 25 weeks pregnant because they notice I was 3 centimeters dilated and they told me I had to be in total bed rest, after a very difficult week in bed rest I had a terrible hemorrhage that put my life and my daughter's at risk so I had to have an emergency c-section.

I will never forget the face of my husband when I saw him sitting in a little corner of the room while more than 8 doctors were running and screaming.

Veronica was born in March 30, 2002 in Trenton , New Jersey.
I was not able to see her until three days later because I was recovering from my c-section.

This was Veronica's first diaper, they were so big on her!!



Veronica needed to have this tube in her nose for a long time, even though this tube was the smallest for preemies, it was still too big for Veronica.




The nurses at the NICU were always so nice and supportive to all the parents. They always make little decorations to celebrate all the progress of the babies. As you can see in this pictures, Veronica had her first tiny bottle of milk in June and she finally weighted 4 POUNDS in May.

When Veronica was a month old I was able to hold her in my arms for the first time.

I will never forget this moment, they let me have her for only 2o seconds.

The most emotional 20 seconds of my life!!

Veronica fought a lot of battles during her three months in the NICU, she got very sick but she always came back stronger. She never let it go, she was and still is a fighter.

My husband, Jorge, was my biggest support and I will always be thankful of having him in my life. We both had our moments of weakness but we knew how to lift our spirits up and keep on going.

Veronica was our best example of keep on going during bad times.

This was my picture with Veronica on Mother's Day.

She was getting better and better.

My beautiful son, Christian, was able to see his sister for the first time when she was almost two months old.

I think Veronica knew she was coming home soon, she started to smile and was very active during the day.

Finally Veronica came home in June 29, a day short of her being three months old.

All the nurses were so happy and finally they let go and cried with us but this time it was of happiness.

My parents were very important during all this time because they came to help me with my son since I was three months pregnant. They took care of him and they were a big support for my husband and me. Having them with me let me be with Veronica everyday of the three months she spend in the hospital.

I love my parents !!!

Veronica celebrated her 7th birthday this past March 30.

She is a very happy, energetic and very PERSISTENT ;-} little girl that enjoys life to the fullest.