Pin Season

With the Public Market coming up in November, I'm at work creating my beaded pins for my booth in the Public Market Annex. Above is just a selection of what I will be offering!

This will be the third year I have made an appearance with a booth. in 2008 I handcrafted more traditional jewelry, and almost at the last minute I decided to make some art pins, which were the forerunners to this design. What happened was serendipitous: it was the little pins that people really responded to!

This particular design uses a metal covered button form to give it dimension. Each pin is crafted from fabrics, vintage lace, papers and beads, and also can include vintage buttons, handmade beads, maps, and other collage elements. This particular technique is my own design, and I just love to make them. The response to these pins were quite gratifying in 2009. That was great for me because each one is a unique piece of wearable art. I love that I'm never in the position of designing a pin and then reproducing it over and over.

New this year are pins that are primarily collage elements with the brick stitched bead work surrounding frame as the only beaded element. These are a less labor intensive interpretation, and will be quite affordable. This has emerged from some really fun experimentation, and it's great to have this outlet for my love of collage.

People ask me if I have an Etsy shop. I do not expect this to be operational until after the market. That said, you can contact me at Junobeth@gmail.com for pricing on any of the pieces I post.

I'll be there with the pins above and many more November 26-28 at the Juneau Arts and Culture Center.

P.S. People also ask me if I give classes. I would love to share my process for making art pins, and hope that will come to pass in 2011. Please contact me if you would like to be contacted when I know the details.