I love it when I can get out of my studio and into another artist’s. Especially if the other artist also has a really cool house and a sweet dog (who is very tolerant of Lula careening around in her space), and the artist makes me lunch, and we spend all afternoon yakking.
I’ve mentioned Barbara here before. We’ve got that 1 degree of separation thang going on that runs rampant in Boise. I love Boise.
Anyway, Barbara’s studio is top notch. She has a separate space for metal smithing…
where she makes covetable jewelry like this beautiful brooch…
Barbara is on a mission to bring back the brooch. (Get them while you can, she may be moving on to tiaras next!)
She also has another room especially for enameling.
There were several enamel pieces displayed throughout the studio, many of which featured images of beloved canine family members, both past and present.
This is Lacey, canine family member, present. Such a sweetie.
(Lacey found Barbara, like Snug and Lula found me — at the Idaho Humane Society — they should call themselves Best Friends R Us.)
But I digress.
Barbara has a PhD. in Horticulture which means she can tell you’ve been cheatin’ if the leaves on the blackberry bush you painted wouldn’t leave teeth marks if they bit you — how’s that for esoteric botanical humor?
Actually it means many of the pieces she fabricates are botanically correct. Which isn’t nearly as dirty as it sounds. Dang it.
She also fabricates enamel jewelry using the technique called cloisonne which she explains on her website.
In fact, Barbara is teaching a sold out class on enameling for Community Education for the City of Boise right now. Another will be available in the Spring (3/31 – 5/19, 6:30PM – 9:30PM Mondays) and you can find out more by calling (208)608-7680.
Thank you Barbara and Lacey for letting Lula and me spend the afternoon with you. We are inspired!
