Seth Godin's Thanksgiving

Americans have just celebrated their Thanksgiving holiday. I've often thought that giving thanks is a jolly good reason for a celebration, and I think it's a pity that more nations – and people – don't have some kind of thanksgiving celebration.

Seth Godin said something similar in this recent blog post: 'A Modern Thanksgiving', only his idea is even better than mine.
Have a read – Godin's posts are short, concise, and brilliant.

A further thought: we don't need a set day to give thanks. I give thanks every day, for a huge number of things. And, curiously enough, the more I give thanks for the things that I already have, the more things I find to be thankful for, and the less I feel the lack of the things that I don't have. It's quite magical.

 Burning Sky photograph by Raceytay on Etsy

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Pegasus' Sunrise: a one-off Silverlight Jewellery piece

This necklace is a one-off design that I made some time ago (months? Years?), and recently re-photographed to make it fit in with my new Silverlight branding. It is called 'Pegasus' Sunrise'.

Pegasus' Sunrise, currently listed on Zibbet.

The pendant is a Jonette Jewelry piece, and bears the copyrighted JJ trademark on the back. The Jonette Jewelry Company went out of business in 2006, so their pieces are becoming collectibles. The pendant had a chain when I bought it, but it was a fine, gold-tone curb chain that didn't appear to match the pendant at all, so I don't know whether it was the original chain or not.  

I don't use pink much in my designs, but these cherry quartz nuggets have a charming, roseate hue, like sunset clouds, that matches perfectly with the pink glitter on Pegasus' wings. I wire-wrapped them with non-tarnish, artistic wire, and fitted them to an antiqued-brass coloured curb chain which matched the pendant itself.

Cherry 'quartz' is actually man-made glass, cleverly made to imitate natural, semiprecious quartz with its tiny streaks and inclusions.

The pendant really is a beauty. The glitter on the creature's wings shimmers with pink, gold, and aqua colours, as though the Olympic sunrise is caught in his feathers. The morning star is between his forehooves, and his head is thrown back as he dances in the sky. You can see that there is wonderful detailing on his wings.

Pegasus is a winged horse from Greek mythology. At first a wild creature, he was caught and ridden by a mortal hero named Bellerophon, with whom he had many adventures and conquered various monsters. At the last, Bellerophon tried to ride Pegasus all the way to the top of Mount Olympus, the home of the Greek gods. Outraged by such audacity from a mere mortal man, the gods sent a biting gadfly to annoy Pegasus. The insect irritated Pegasus so much that he bucked and threw Bellerophon, who was killed by the fall. Pegasus, however, continued to Mount Olympus, and, since he was a magical, immortal creature, was allowed to dwell with the gods forever.

The impossible horse, the ultimate steed, Pegasus is often used to represent dreams and the imagination. You can expect him to be a recurring theme in Silverlight Jewellery designs.

[Edit: 'Pegasus' Sunrise' is now called 'the Bobbi necklace'. This blog post explains why.]

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Featured artist: Melissa Lynn D

Every November and December, I plan to feature some of my favourite artists and crafty types. I like to think of it as a 'win/win/win' situation: you get to see their lovely work, and maybe get some ideas for your Christmas shopping; they get a little extra publicity from being featured; and I get the pleasure of showing you their gorgeous work.
This week's featured artist is the ridiculously skilled Melissa Lynn D. I first came across her in the Etsy forums, and was attracted by her avatar, which depicts one of her pencil drawings: a horse's head in elegant pose and beautiful detail.

Print of horse head pencil drawing by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Below are Melissa's answers to my questions.

How do you describe yourself as an artist?
I am a graphite pencil artist specializing in horses and western/country subjects. My work is very realistic and detailed, and I love dramatic lighting and close up/unusual views of subjects.

Framed Newborn mare and foal print by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Please describe your creative process.
I subscribe to several magazines, and I page through them and tear out any photos that inspire me. When I want to start a new drawing, I go through this collection and pick one or two that strike my fancy. Then I start drawing, always changing things up to make it my own and/or combining aspects from a few different photos. I do very little sketching - I have a clear image in my head of what I want, so I'll usually go right to the actual drawing after only a sketch or two. My drawing process is all over the place - sometimes I start with the darks, sometimes with the area that interests me the most, sometimes I work from top to bottom - just depends on the piece and how it strikes me.

Why do you do it?
I've been drawing all my life - it's just part of who I am. I can't imagine NOT doing it. It's only been in the last few years that I've started trying to make a profit off of it.

Custom pencil pet portrait - face/headshot by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

What do you want people to feel when they see/experience your work?
This past summer at a show, I received the best compliment I could ever get. A woman walked up to my display, and after a few moments, she whispered, "They're moving." I guess that's what I'd like everyone to feel - that connection with the moment expressed on the paper - not as a single moment frozen in time, but more as a living moment - as if they were actually watching the mare nuzzle her new foal, or looking into the depths of the trusting eye gazing back at them, or seeing the wild horse tossing its mane in the wind.

The Eye print by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Is there anything you want people to know about you as an artist?
I absolutely cannot view my own work objectively. Where other people see beauty, I see the flaws, the things I wish I'd done differently. It is my greatest wish as an artist to be able to see my work as others see it.

One dozen horse-themed notecards by MelissaLynnD on Etsy 

Do you have a favourite quote that pertains to you or to your work?
"Don't tell me the sky's the limit; there's footprints on the moon." - Paul Brandt

Is there anything that you would like to say to other artists?
It's not always going to be easy being an artist, but in the end, it will always be worth it. Even if you never sell a single piece, the sheer joy you get out of creating your work is worth all the time.

Print of cowboy boot pencil drawing by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Melissa has also started listing some of her photography in her shops, and I cannot resist showing you a few of these simple yet magnificent shots.

 Photo of harnessed draft horse by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Photo still life of old farm equipment by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Raw Beauty Arabian stallion photo by MelissaLynnD on Etsy

Melissa's blog: www.melissalynnd.blogspot.com
Melissa Lynn D on Etsy: www.melissalynnd.etsy.com
Melissa Lynn D on ArtFire: www.MelissaLynnD.artfire.com

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Five quotes: Integrity

No amount of good deeds can make up for a bad attitude. 

Attributed to Optimus Prime. 

To know what is right and not do it is the worst cowardice. 

Confucius. 

You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him. 

James D. Miles.

Love all, trust a few, do wrong to none.  

William Shakespeare.

Don't try to be different. Just be good. To be good is different enough. 

Arthur Freed.

With thanks to @suresandy1, @feistycoach, and The Quote Garden.

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Silverlight Jewellery is in an ArtFire Collection!

A first! Silverlight Jewellery's 'Old Blood' earrings were featured in this jewellery-themed Collection by Bead Supply on ArtFire: http://bit.ly/cIfQBA

JEWELRY PICKS 4 10/31/10

Curated By: BeadSupply

ArtFire.com

Jewelry Supplies

It's very flattering to be included. ArtFire sent me a very kindly-worded notification E-mail, informing me that my work had been selected for a Collection, congratulating me, and telling me to be encouraged because this meant that my work was good and people were noticing it. Very cool for a form E-mail.
That E-mail, and being included in the Collection, reminded me how something small can actually make a hugely positive difference to us. I'm sure that it's not significant to Bead Supply that my jewellery was included, but for me it was a tremendous compliment. We never know when our minor, insignificant deed for someone else actually means an awful lot to them.

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