What's "Hot" in My Studio

We had a heat wave in San Diego this last week…still having one!!! Our studios in Spanish Village have no air conditioning, and it was almost too hot for any creative thoughts to survive. I did manage to make a piece that I am very pleased with and want to share with you. The beads on this piece are actually somewhat of a mystery…perhaps marble, I am told!!! I just know that they are very pretty, and different looking…just what I like!!! I have combined these “marble” barrels with copper and finished the necklace with one of my signature copper “looped hook” clasps. This piece is currently on display in my studio. I will be posting it to my website as my featured necklace next week, so this is your sneak preview!!! The length is 17.5” and the selling price of this unusual piece is $149. This creation is One-of-a-Kind!!!

I have also been trying my best to “fill out” my website. Seems I never get past posting new necklaces and other areas suffer!! This week I added several beaded bracelets to the bracelet page. To check them out and see what else I have been up to, go to my website at http://www.jewelrybymo.com.

THANKS!!!
Maureen King (Mo)
Silversmith/Jewelry Designer

Spanish Village Art Center...San Diego's Best Kept Secret!!!!

A few weeks after I moved to San Diego, I discovered Spanish Village Art Center in Balboa Park. The picture behind my blog title is my studio in Spanish Village. "The Village", as we "artists" refer to it, was built in 1935 for the second California Exposition (World's Fair). It was built, obviously to represent a small village in Spain. When the exposition was over in 1937, the Village was destined for demolition. A group of artists approached the City of San Diego and requested that they be allowed to turn the abandoned Village into a group of working artists' studios. Their request was granted and for the last 70 years, Spanish Village (located between the Natural History Museum and the Zoo) has provided working studio and gallery space, for thousands of San Diego's local artists. The Village is open 7 days a week and holds several special events each year. Yet, not a day goes by that I don't hear some local resident (some living here for 30 years!) say with shock..."What a wonderful place this is! I never knew this existed...how long has it been here?" So, the next time you are in San Diego, come to Balboa Park and visit the artists in Spanish Village...and tell your friends! We don't want it to be a secret anymore!!!