so a woman has a deadline -

and it's, um, today... 


she started out with the best of intentions - with a list that was refined during the week... components finished (each and every step)... and all that was really necessary was to sit in one spot and put them together... 


and then, she woke up and had one of those 'hey, what if i...' moments... 


did she:


a - stick to the list
b - generally stick to the list, but be flexible about it
c - veer completely off course and have a blast making 8 rings... yes, 8... 

'venture forth' came first... a translation of my earrings into a ring... there is a 'Q' instead of an 'O', to serve as a reminder that we all make mistakes, but must keep the big picture in mind...  set things right and get back on track... 


then came a 'what if i soldered 2 cupped discs together?' which meant i had to play with two levels of soldering... and figure out the order of some other steps... 

the 'emerge' rings have a lotus at the center of the base...

and then 'what if i etched some of the metal

and added some silk?'

or tried it with enamel...


and etched the back?

or figured out a ring to set off one of marsha neal's connectors for her my mom pattie etsy shop?

or played with etching, patina and silk?

and then there is one that is unfinished - the patina is setting - but i love the construction and wish i had taken a picture prior to adding the color... 

this one is very 3 dimensional... 

by the way, the woman chose answer 'c'... actually, she didn't choose it, it chose her...

oh, i did also make a leaf pendant to go along with one of lean weih's acorns (which i am not so sure i can part with)... 

and finish a special order for a friend - i made her a lotus disc to go along with the 'moon' resin and moonstone... 

let's see,  intake for the exhibit is until 1pm... i still have time!

hello, my name is

(stands up hesitatingly)

mary jane dodd... and i have an uncontrollable desire to figure out how to make things myself... 


like many of you, i have been making manifest the things i envision for much of my life... in different media and with different techniques... 


what set off the whole adornment 'thing' was sundance catalog over 10 yrs. ago... i would look through the pages and think 'i can do that'... and so i started trying... 


but it wasn't until my entry into the world of blogging/etsy/flickr that i really started to develop a style and find ways to express myself... it was like falling into a virtual artists commune... people working through different kinds of problems - be they the technical, inspirational, or even business type... being a studio jeweler can be isolating (and add 3 kids into the mix and there is no time for anything!)


i am of the belief that we are continuously subjected to so much external stimuli that we can lose our way easily... i like to think of the pieces i create as bridges to your Self... ways to get back to what is important to you when you are feeling overwhelmed... 

life is bittersweet - for all of us... i find affirmation in words and hope that you find a connection with them as well... gemstones are used for their metaphysical properties... i prefer using mixed media - the bringing together of metal and fiber is a tangible way of expressing fragile strength - a quality i think many women share... resin can take an antique page of text and preserve it for many many years to come... enamel allows me to add my own color (something i have learned from another lmaj member who you will meet)... as does adding patina (also learned from a talented lmaj member)... 


we at lmaj look forward to sharing our journey with you - the accomplishments and the set backs, all the while moving forward... 


i invite you to stop by my blog @  www.mairedodd.blogspot.com ~

Another personal journal

I thought you might like to see yet another one of my journals. I have worked these pages over many times to get them to where I like them. I created this journal from scratch using artist canvas boards for the cover, binding, and simple stitching. These pages are painted and collaged with lots of texture added. I sometimes use bubble wrap with acrylics for texture. Witten text is added near the very end of my process.

I still have more to work on, within these pages.