I was honored to be interviewed by a local television station for a feature called Proud of East Texas. You can view the 2 minute, 30 second piece by clicking the link below. It aired on November 21 while we were in Scottsdale, Arizona at our last show of the season. I saw it for the first time just a few minutes ago!
http://www.kltv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11566654
About Me
- Sally Wade
- Many years of drawing and painting portraits lead to cramped creativity. The years of producing work "to please the customer" weighed on my desire to design tactile permanent pieces simply for the real pleasure it gives me. My first freeing step was to produce large designs in rough cut steel to be installed on the outside of buildings. I later moved indoors working in sheets of sterling silver to create jewelry. Finding the silver work more gratifying than steel, I am pleased that people enjoy my jewelry. I make my own stamping tools and hammer most surfaces, finishing with steel wool or polishing to a high shine. My husband, Leigh, and I sell my work at the juried shows we are invited to all across the U.S. Email for prices and information please swadeworks@gmail.com
Friday, November 27, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
After many months of shows and new grandchild (!) here is an update. We have been all over the U.S. again this year. Being home has become our vacation time which is a wonderful reality. We are in the middle of major home projects as I write. A new horse barn for my two pasture ornaments is completed, a guest house for growing family coming to visit is under way, and big changes in the house including central air and heat!!! Yes, we have been spartans for years with a wood stove for heat and window units in these hot Texas summers. All the while raising our children we didn't have the window units. Good grief, we're getting establishment.
Even with the economy limping along our shows continue to be strong for us. I am so thankful to our customers for making this a great year for sales and an encouragement that what I make with my hands is meaningful and enjoyable. Personal adornment in many cases gives the wearer a message to communicate about who she/he is. When I create a piece of jewelry I don't know who it is for, only that someone might find in it a connection that makes it their own. It's a very satisfying aspect of engaging in this art form.
The Tulsa International Mayfest in mid May was especially exciting for us as I received the Best of Show award. It was a good kind of gratefulness and humility! It certainly made my day when the director brought the beautiful plaque and the generous check. I also was honored in Rockport, TX with the jewelry award, and I was prejuried into the Boardwalk Art Show in Virginia Beach for 2010 by their standards committee, making this a banner year for recognition.
The shows we participated in since May include:
Artfest 2009 in Dallas
Frederick Festival of Art in Frederick, MD
Virginia Beach Boardwald Art Show in VA
Fountain Square Art show in Evanston, IL
Rockport Art Show in TX
The Morning Glory Art Show in Milwalkee, WI
Woodlands Art Fair and Lexington, KY
Kipona Art Festival in Harrisburg, PA
Art and Apples in Rochester, MI
Red River Revel in Shreveport, LA
Southern Artisan's Market in Dallas, TX
Huffines Art Trails in Richardson, TX
Edom Festival of the Arts in Edom, TX
The Great Gulf Coast Art Show in Pensacola, FL
and coming up, the Scottsdale Art Festival in Scottsdale, AZ
I have a lot of new pieces that I will include asap. Thanks for visiting!!
Even with the economy limping along our shows continue to be strong for us. I am so thankful to our customers for making this a great year for sales and an encouragement that what I make with my hands is meaningful and enjoyable. Personal adornment in many cases gives the wearer a message to communicate about who she/he is. When I create a piece of jewelry I don't know who it is for, only that someone might find in it a connection that makes it their own. It's a very satisfying aspect of engaging in this art form.
The Tulsa International Mayfest in mid May was especially exciting for us as I received the Best of Show award. It was a good kind of gratefulness and humility! It certainly made my day when the director brought the beautiful plaque and the generous check. I also was honored in Rockport, TX with the jewelry award, and I was prejuried into the Boardwalk Art Show in Virginia Beach for 2010 by their standards committee, making this a banner year for recognition.
The shows we participated in since May include:
Artfest 2009 in Dallas
Frederick Festival of Art in Frederick, MD
Virginia Beach Boardwald Art Show in VA
Fountain Square Art show in Evanston, IL
Rockport Art Show in TX
The Morning Glory Art Show in Milwalkee, WI
Woodlands Art Fair and Lexington, KY
Kipona Art Festival in Harrisburg, PA
Art and Apples in Rochester, MI
Red River Revel in Shreveport, LA
Southern Artisan's Market in Dallas, TX
Huffines Art Trails in Richardson, TX
Edom Festival of the Arts in Edom, TX
The Great Gulf Coast Art Show in Pensacola, FL
and coming up, the Scottsdale Art Festival in Scottsdale, AZ
I have a lot of new pieces that I will include asap. Thanks for visiting!!
Saturday, May 9, 2009
May 2009
It was so nice to see former customers at Springfield, MO Artsfest last weekend. Thank you for coming to see me and finding new pieces for your jewelry collections! Too bad it rained so hard on and off all day Sunday. We participated in a very small show yesterday and met some lovely people, had our tent break in high winds, and came home with ten big bushes to plant in the yard! Leigh was able to fix the tent and make the broken part stronger than all the rest of the show tent, no surprise to me. He makes all the shows happen with his great attention to detail and organization. I'd be lost without him. He is, however, not too jazzed about planting all the shrubs. I told him in front of witnesses that I would plant them.....I will probably ask for help on the second hole I must dig if not the first.
Next weekend we are traveling to Tulsa, OK for the International Mayfest in downtown Tulsa and hoping the weather will hold steady with sun and mild winds. I have a lot of new pieces to make for that show and the following three more that are dropping onto the calendar at warp speed.
We will be in Dallas for Artfest 2009 at Fair Park May 22-24, have a weekend off, and then travel to Fredrick, MD for their Festival of Art June 6-7 where we will stay with my sister and have some family time which I am looking forward to.
Leigh will be doing another show in Dallas alone as I will remain up north to go to my nephew's wedding. I am confident Leigh will do a great job at Dallas City Arts 2009 on the weekend of June 12-14. He and our dog Rip will have to drive back to the northeast to meet me on June 18-21 at the huge Boardwalk show in Virginia Beach, VA. We are looking forward to participating in this show having heard wonderful reviews from artist friends concerning the crowds and the setting right on the beach.
We are wait listed for the next weekend and may decide to take it off to catch our breath. The last show before an extended break for the birth of first grandson in mid July :) will be in Rockport, TX over the July 4th weekend.
All in all a very busy spring and summer! I must say, my favorite part will be the birth of a little red head around July 14. Yes, both mother and father have red hair. I think red heads look like they are filled with rainbows, and can't wait to hold him and catch his glow.
More later.....
Next weekend we are traveling to Tulsa, OK for the International Mayfest in downtown Tulsa and hoping the weather will hold steady with sun and mild winds. I have a lot of new pieces to make for that show and the following three more that are dropping onto the calendar at warp speed.
We will be in Dallas for Artfest 2009 at Fair Park May 22-24, have a weekend off, and then travel to Fredrick, MD for their Festival of Art June 6-7 where we will stay with my sister and have some family time which I am looking forward to.
Leigh will be doing another show in Dallas alone as I will remain up north to go to my nephew's wedding. I am confident Leigh will do a great job at Dallas City Arts 2009 on the weekend of June 12-14. He and our dog Rip will have to drive back to the northeast to meet me on June 18-21 at the huge Boardwalk show in Virginia Beach, VA. We are looking forward to participating in this show having heard wonderful reviews from artist friends concerning the crowds and the setting right on the beach.
We are wait listed for the next weekend and may decide to take it off to catch our breath. The last show before an extended break for the birth of first grandson in mid July :) will be in Rockport, TX over the July 4th weekend.
All in all a very busy spring and summer! I must say, my favorite part will be the birth of a little red head around July 14. Yes, both mother and father have red hair. I think red heads look like they are filled with rainbows, and can't wait to hold him and catch his glow.
More later.....
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
March is coming to close and we're gearing up for spring and summer shows in a busy kind of way. Upcoming shows include:
*Alpharetta, GA The 5th Alpharetta Streetfest on 4/18-19
*South Lake, TX Art in the Square on 4/24-26
*Springfield, MO Artfest on Walnut Street on 5/2-3
*Mineola,TX Festival at the Civic Center on 5/8-9
*Tulsa, OK Tulsa International Arts Festival on 5/14-17
*Dallas, TX Artfest 2009 in Fairpark on 5/22-24
*Alpharetta, GA The 5th Alpharetta Streetfest on 4/18-19
*South Lake, TX Art in the Square on 4/24-26
*Springfield, MO Artfest on Walnut Street on 5/2-3
*Mineola,TX Festival at the Civic Center on 5/8-9
*Tulsa, OK Tulsa International Arts Festival on 5/14-17
*Dallas, TX Artfest 2009 in Fairpark on 5/22-24
Friday, February 27, 2009
It's a New Year!
We have been in two shows so far this 2009. We were in Naples, Florida then Tubac, Arizona this February. Immediately after the Tubac show we drove north to Tucson for the Gem Show where I was able to find some great new stones to set, exciting new kinds of beads to add to my earrings, and several tools that will make my work at the bench more streamlined.
We camped as usual while we were there and had lovely weather. My husband spent a lot time hiking with our dog, Rip, in the desert near Tubac during the five day show there and read a great book after show hours. The Tubac area is surrounded by huge mountain ranges that change color as the day goes by - a perfect artist community!
Our next shows are in April. We have applied for many shows that have not notified us yet. All of our shows are juried and require that we apply many months ahead. We look forward to being able to map our shows on the calendar and search out state parks to find places to set up our little nomad dwelling.
I am posting some new pieces of jewelry for you to see. There is one tension clasp bracelet with a pair of earrings to match that is representative of one of the new design avenues I'm enjoying which I am calling "Villages".
As always please contact me at my email address if you are interested in a particular piece. swadeworks@gmail.com
We camped as usual while we were there and had lovely weather. My husband spent a lot time hiking with our dog, Rip, in the desert near Tubac during the five day show there and read a great book after show hours. The Tubac area is surrounded by huge mountain ranges that change color as the day goes by - a perfect artist community!
Our next shows are in April. We have applied for many shows that have not notified us yet. All of our shows are juried and require that we apply many months ahead. We look forward to being able to map our shows on the calendar and search out state parks to find places to set up our little nomad dwelling.
I am posting some new pieces of jewelry for you to see. There is one tension clasp bracelet with a pair of earrings to match that is representative of one of the new design avenues I'm enjoying which I am calling "Villages".
As always please contact me at my email address if you are interested in a particular piece. swadeworks@gmail.com
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Remaining Shows This Year
We have only four more shows this year, and are currently busy applying to shows for 2009.
November 15-16 Covington, LA
November 22-23 Scottsdale, AZ
November 28-30 Albuquerque, NM
December 5-7 Springfield, MO
Please email me for information about these shows if you can visit us at any of them!
At shows we have the opportunity to meet you many lovely and interesting people. Thank you for your appreciation of my designs, and a special thanks to all of you that have purchased a piece or two to enjoy.
The contentment I experience in working at something I enjoy, and making a living at it, is wonderful.
Our lives are blessed -- you are part of it -- thank you!!
Have a great time this fall getting ready for Thanksgiving and the Holy Days (holidays!). If I can help you by sending you a piece of jewelry to give as a gift please let me know your price range and I'll email you some photos to choose from. My earrings are $38-$125, pendants $75-$600, rings $150-$450, cuff bracelets $85-$350, and linked bracelets $250-$900.
November 15-16 Covington, LA
November 22-23 Scottsdale, AZ
November 28-30 Albuquerque, NM
December 5-7 Springfield, MO
Please email me for information about these shows if you can visit us at any of them!
At shows we have the opportunity to meet you many lovely and interesting people. Thank you for your appreciation of my designs, and a special thanks to all of you that have purchased a piece or two to enjoy.
The contentment I experience in working at something I enjoy, and making a living at it, is wonderful.
Our lives are blessed -- you are part of it -- thank you!!
Have a great time this fall getting ready for Thanksgiving and the Holy Days (holidays!). If I can help you by sending you a piece of jewelry to give as a gift please let me know your price range and I'll email you some photos to choose from. My earrings are $38-$125, pendants $75-$600, rings $150-$450, cuff bracelets $85-$350, and linked bracelets $250-$900.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Time to Catch Up with New Pieces
Husband Leigh and I have been so very tied up going to art shows this year since the end of February that I have neglected to add any images of new pieces. The time has come, I am sitting in a lovely lodge at Red Top Mountain State Park just north of Atlanta, GA with Internet access.
I haven't posted information about how we live on the road between shows and thought it may be of interest. We are Spartans to a degree and actually enjoy making do with as little "stuff" and expense as possible. We provide ourselves with privacy and room to spread out for work (jewelry making) and relaxation at state parks that are within reasonable driving distance to the cities where we participate in fine art shows. Just last week I spent 11 hours one day and 8 the next working to the sound of loons, and other bird songs while comfortably working under the shelter of my show tent. Leigh puts up our white canopy over the picnic table of our site to provide shade and privacy, if I want it, while I use my torch to solder, and do all the hammering required to stamp my designs into the silver. Because there are usually no campers but us in the middle of the week I am not disturbing their silence as I whack away with my favorite hammer.
I am happily creating new pieces and going in new directions that intrigue me and keep my bench time challenging and entertaining. Please contact me for any information regarding any of the pieces at my email address swadeworks@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
I haven't posted information about how we live on the road between shows and thought it may be of interest. We are Spartans to a degree and actually enjoy making do with as little "stuff" and expense as possible. We provide ourselves with privacy and room to spread out for work (jewelry making) and relaxation at state parks that are within reasonable driving distance to the cities where we participate in fine art shows. Just last week I spent 11 hours one day and 8 the next working to the sound of loons, and other bird songs while comfortably working under the shelter of my show tent. Leigh puts up our white canopy over the picnic table of our site to provide shade and privacy, if I want it, while I use my torch to solder, and do all the hammering required to stamp my designs into the silver. Because there are usually no campers but us in the middle of the week I am not disturbing their silence as I whack away with my favorite hammer.
I am happily creating new pieces and going in new directions that intrigue me and keep my bench time challenging and entertaining. Please contact me for any information regarding any of the pieces at my email address swadeworks@gmail.com and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
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