American Craft Council show experience

I was at the American Craft Council Show in San Francisco on Sunday. What a group of talented folks! I was so excited that I got to meet a few of my idols! And not one of them fell off of the pedestal that I put them up on! The show was held at the Fort Mason Center, which is a mecca for artists. Lots of exhibits outside, cool mobile art, all of which I did NOT take pictures of. This is one of the views though. Nice huh?

So I got to meet Sydney Lynch, a highly talented jeweler who was very nice for taking time out to chat with me a little bit about the craft of metalsmithing. I first found out about Sydney from Pinterest. There was a pair of ear rings that she had designed and crafted that I loved and pinned, and then so did everyone else! Well,I got to put them on, I was so excited just to be near them!! I love the way they are connected, the colors, everything about them!

Me wearing Sydney Lynch ear rings

Another one that blew me away was Brandon Holschuh. He is online at brandonholschuh.com, no photos allowed, which is why I ask. He makes these sea urchin shapes out of copper, then fixes crystals on the inside with pins..to make a 1/2 sea urchin and 1/2 geode looking form. His pieces all come with their very own pedestal, some of which have pulleys and such. So that even when you arn't wearing the piece, it is still art. Love that!!

 I also met Karen Pohl from San Carlos of Enamel Collectables. You can see her work at kpenamels.com Her work is enamal fine paintings using the Limoges technique.  That woman has patience!! The process requires layering the colors and firing them before applying the next coat.

Speaking of patience! How about Christina Goodman? Her specialty is very minature paintings on ear rings or necklaces. I am talkin' about tiny!! christinagoodman.com

Christina Goodman's work.

Judith Kinghorn was of course, amazing. I was so awstruck I forgot to even ask if I could take pictures. Her pieces seemed to be out of nature, all very labor intensive. Floral structures that were shaped and pieced together, not cast, pieces!! wow. judithkinghorn.com

Mary Donald has these amazing pieces made of recycled materials. They are all very organic light, airy looking.From what I saw I think it was plastics and rubbers, but don't quote me on that. They also seemed to resemble "of the sea" in some way. marydonaldstudio.com is her site.

I took a few parting shots. What fantastic views Fort Mason has! Holy Diver! Juxtapositions of the Golden Gate Bridge where you get to drive off and escape to the countryside if you doing really well .....

(Golden Gate behind Fort Mason)

or Alcatraz where you used to be stuck if you were very bad...

(Alcatraz in the background and Fort Mason in the foreground)

After a full day of manmade stuff, I took a minute out at the Community Gardens on Fort Mason. What a nice quiet space to hang out before the long drive home. Kudos to whomever planted this planter, how beautiful is that!!