Macee McCunn Knecht (Macee Mare) - Metal Jewelry, Sculpture & Mixed Media
Nothing quite like being one with nature while you make work while under deadlines!
I'm not stocked with a ton of tools at this location - since it is supposed to be a place for rest, relaxation and recovery from what life throws at us.
That doesn't stop fun designs or the ability to be creative. There is something to be said for working in the woods. It lends to inspiration!
Another festival down and with new merchandise, mixed in with cool older classic Macee designs.
It was a beautiful weekend with the weather being gorgeous along the side of Deep Creek Lake!
I went back to my older display since we were on uneven ground. Such is the life of an artist that goes to outdoor shows, ALWAYS uneven ground!
Lucky me, I got to be beside my good friend Annie and her lovely handmade paper creations! She keeps exploring and these quilt like sewn paper 2D works are fabulous!
So we left the big city behind by crossing the linear and cool geometic Bay Bridge on our long girls week & end adventure to go hang at a cute little vacation pad on Chincoteague Island in Virginia, owned by another friend who graciously said - have it.
We arrive to see lush, marshy areas as we made our way to the island.
The trip surrounded this lovely chickie because it was her special birthday. We all got to enjoy the yummy peachy dessert Ceil made for Dalis.
And who could resist purchasing her something from this way cool shop!
Truth be told, we must have been in here a half dozen times, at least during the trip. This coffee and way fabulous art shop sits right at the entrance to the island and you can't miss it or it's quaint attitude!
We just couldn't leave it. There was something crammed in every nook on both floors.
So we went to the island for the water, right?! Annie had a wonderful suggestion that we take a tour with Captain Ray. We got to explore for 3 hours, since the Captain was passionate about the island. Good thing we thought to bring wine and cheese over this dinner hour! Ceil and Annie were enjoying the wonderful breeze of the evening, prior to spotting some dolphin. Favorite quotes from the Captain? "Maam, I think you're losing your dress!" and "My goodness...." 
I thought perhaps I could sit here for days. That could have been the case, had it not been for the plastic bag that was wrapped around my camera, that came loose and took a hike on the wind, making it's way at this beautiful scene. 
My mad dash to stop the tumble of the plastic bag into the marsh, put me behind a bit and I had to pick up my speed to catch up. Trust me, these girls have been exercising a bit more than me lately. I did so, right about the time of seeing Dalis and Ceil pass through these tall trees. I felt almost as if we were going through a tall gate, because all the surrounding trees were dwarfed compared to these tall'ies.
I wanted to stop and sit right there to see what would pop out of the refuse, but alas, the girls were always ahead of me and we had a beach to go plop our butts on. Annie was already there by car, waiting for our arrival.
We got detoured one last time, to see the famous wild ponies of Assateague Island. They were all bowed down to nibble on the grass and one little one decided it was nap time.
The beach is only backed by the Assateague Island Wild Refuge, so there are no condos, restaurants or shop in view. Only nature. AND BILL. He was always around, every day we went to the beach and loves Goldfish brand crackers.
This is BILL, BILL, BILL, BILL, BILL, BILL & BILL.
I am and forever will be a texture girl. I love applying it to my art in so many forms. So my images tend to not be of the people on the beach, but the waves crashing in, creating such a mix and play of colors, shapes, light, and I can almost touch the bumpiness of the view.
The transistion of the color and textures are fabulous. I found myself almost trying to pick out shapes to throw into my jewelry designs. Almost! I was tired from all the biking and decided to go read a book on my new beach chair as the breeze and mist from the ocean washed over our mini vacation. 
Okay, okay, so MY final trip to the coffee art shop ended up in more purchases, to include a little cup like vessel from this artist. AGAIN with the texture. Love it. Too bad I procrastinated and missed a set I was going to purchase. But I was happy to take any one of these little guys home for my art collection.
Our mini vacation was coming to an end and we had had a fabulous and relaxing time of it. I enjoyed my time on the beach with great friends.
BILL was even there and we learned he spied something else orange on the picnic table behind the pad. What's witht he orange BILL? I'd like to think he was there to say goodbye.
The Hard and Soft of It show went off beautifully!
A new direction for me. What a fun collection of jewelry to work on and have available to the public and what a neat way to present "hugs and kisses". This is becoming part of the wholesale line and will be avaible to retailers very soon.
Jean (Barnes Downs) explored new directions and has such a great way of exposing texture and this happens to be one of my favorites!
More "hugs and kisses"! I love the way the softness of the idea behind a gentle kiss can be combined with such hard steel & brass.
Our opening mug shot! More importantly, look at Jean's organic works in the background. Her works are always wonderfully soothing and if you happen to explore the new hospital (Western Maryland Health Systems - Cumberland, MD), her artwork can be found in the halls surrounding the waiting area on the Outpatient Surgery floor. You can explore more on Jean at http://www.solitudestudio.com/. 
More fun, colorful and fuzzy! This bracelet stretches over the wrist and reminded me of the days when sweat bands were cool to wear on your wrists and head! Hum.... 70's, plastic, wool & bullet casings.... what a combo!
Along with some of what you normally see from Mary, will be a strong presence of steel in her jewelry and sculpture. The typical feel of her current works will be there, but with a new and occasional soft direction, by incorporating wool and other softer materials into her work. She will utilize her metal techniques, presenting work that has both a soft natural and organic feel, while also blending it with a harder edge using geometric shapes and harder lines. As in nature, these two usually can be found together, the soft fuzzy baby chick awaiting feeding in a hard branchy nest or perhaps the soft flowing hay around a piece of farm equipment or a steel metal bridge or especially a lamb by a steel barbed fence. Always present is this natural hard and soft pairing.
Jean Barnes Downs
The first weekend of the Artists Studio Tour kicked off last Saturday and Sunday. Of the many people who stopped by, lots checked out the merchandise on this fantastic weekend!
We talked about the antique power hammer and its purpose.
I talked about parts used to create jewelry with a fun couple from Little Orleans.
Hazel stopped by and joined in on the beautiful day.
Checking out product for Christmas gifts.
Pam is enjoying a yummy cup of home made beef and barley soup! Or should I say two!!!
Stamping some copper on an old rail road piece.
