Kalaya Steede

Well...here I go again.  Just this morning I was reminded that it was bill paying time.  I swear we just did all of that business.  Where does the time all go?  I cannot say that I remember much from the last week.  It has been a week since I spoke to you all last...right?   Here is a recap... I strive for simplicity sometimes.  This is how I came up with this piece... These earrings were cut from a native New Orleans oak tree and set with three hand crafted rivets.  That way the person can have a little of NOLA with them.   That day was a tough one.  We cannot always be creative 24/7, yo!  I did have this idea in my mind for a while and the wood was sitting on the bench.  I was reminded of what a friend told me recently...he said, "make something...anything, and don't over think it".  So I grabbed the wood and went at it!   It was the only thing I accomplished that day. I also had one awesome ...

Bonjour beautiful people! I usually start off the year with big plans of making many pieces for the holidays.  Meaning for winter solstice!  I know...it is at least 11 months away but before you know it, it will be the end of summer and then panic will ensue!  Hahaha!!! My most recent piece I made was for that special lady who travels in a caravan with her ' Sisters on the Fly ' group.  I only had a week to finish this project but the idea had been simmering in my brain for at least a week prior to the deadline.   First the rough draft... I decided how big it was going to be and made a sketch with notes on what I was "planning" on doing.  So far so good.  You can see the cut out tin, a button for the wheel, and a glimmer of what will be the door.  That small window was cut out prior to cutting the shape of the trailer because it makes it easier than cutting it out later.  Trust me...I know!!!   The back pl...

Bonjour!  Lately I have been thinking about making a belt buckle for myself.   I do not know why.  It is not like I wear my shirts tucked in or anything!  But it would be nice to have a REALLY cool buckle! So when I saw this fantastic piece by artist Jesse Bert I just HAD to share!   Photo by Jesse Bert   Come on...take a close look!  Check out those pointy ends.  Have you ever seen anything like it?  I mean the boots that is.  I hear it is the trend in northern Mexico and started in Dallas of all places!  The boots are known as botas vaqueras  exóticas .  Apparently these are worn at night clubs and anywhere one wants to make a statement. Oops...I digress...anyway the botas vaqueras exóticas was the inspiration behind the piece shown above.  Also included was this iron grate, as Jesse describes "...wonderful iron grate I found on the ground in a village of the mountains of Oaxaca.  I crea...

Usually I post on Fridays but I did not know that Friday already passed.  It is great not knowing what day it is.  What a blissful life. Ha! I just finished taking a workshop with visiting artist,  Jesse Bert , last week at Thomas Mann studioFLUX here in NOLA.  It was pretty amazing! I do not think I have the words to describe my experience.  There is so much I want to share but I will try and keep it simple.  So...let me introduce you to El Maestro. Jesse Jesse is originally from the U.S.  Although you would not have guessed it. Anyway one day he followed his heart to San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato in Mexico and decided to stay and to never return.  Just kidding, he does come back to visit the states every now then.  What a romantic notion to runaway to Mexico, hmmm. I digress.    Jesse likes to incorporate recycled and found objects into his sculptural pieces.  I particularly like the details you see on ever...