MartieRocco's Blog

Martie's Blog
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Build a fort with blankets

Published: 04-01-2013 03:09pm
Posted In: Being an Artist
Another installment of my interpretive series on "How to be an Artist" by Sark ~ Build a Fort with blankets ~ Sometimes we need our own little safe spot.  Like cats.  They find that one nook or nesty place that they can go to where they are unafraid and don’t feel threatened.  My little angel cat Tasha used to scurry under the bed.  Scoobie felt safest with us, where ever we were, what ever we were doing.  Ziva now runs behind the couch and will lay by the cold air return.  Vala, well, nothing seems to bother her.  Her favorite spot is up on my desk right in front of my computer monitor.  She’ll just plop hers... » Read More

My Guitar String Jewelry Process

Published: 02-16-2013 08:05am
Posted In: My Jewelry
Since half of my handmade jewelry is made with guitar strings, donated by my husband and a few awesome musician friends, I thought I'd share the process of how it all happens. First I want to share a cool video from the show "How it's made" on the making of guitar strings.  I was pretty fascinated by the process myself.Then........... step two.  Music is made and the magic begins.Joe Barborich and Scott Walters of The Katz Sass Blues Band (my hubby is the cute one on the left)Then......... step three.  The used strings are gently placed into my super special "Guitar String Box"Then......... step four.  Ta Da!!!!!!  After hours and hours of c... » Read More

Guitar Strings and Endless Possiblities

Published: 12-01-2012 07:26pm
Posted In: What is Martie Up to these days
Well, I don't know about you guys, but my brain just keeps coming up with all kinds of new things to do with our used guitar strings.  This repurposing is wicked fun.  And every time I make something it's like "Why didn't I think of this before?".  After lot of research and development I've managed to create some of my new favorite pieces.  I love stepping out from the dark corners of the expected and shedding light on something that was lurking around in my head for a few days.  And then even cooler is using beads that I've had in that 'I don't know what to do with these' box.  And then sometimes something really cool comes out of a mistake... » Read More

New Flexible Boho Multicolor Bangles

Published: 11-02-2012 04:15pm
Posted In: My Jewelry
Although I like the feel of a standard bangle dancing around on my wrist there is something to say about the softness and unbelievable lightness to these types of bangles.  They are thick, at 1/2 to almost 3/4 of an inch, but due to the nature of the inner material they are squishy so they can flex a bit as you slide them over your knuckles.  I've been test driving them and I am very pleased at how they feel on.  And the creative possibilities are endless.  You can find these in my shop in the Sari and Fabric Bracelets section.... » Read More

Donating to Blues for the Cure - Breast Cancer Benefit

Published: 10-24-2012 03:09pm
Posted In: What is Martie Up to these days
 I know we all have our causes and support those things that are unique to our own lives and experiences.  Breast Cancer is mine.  My Mom and a couple of friends are breast cancer survivors.  However, two of my workmates were not.  .   I'll be donating this pink Sari wrapped bangle bracelet that I specifically designed for this event and a pair of my pink Guitar Pick earrings to a really cool benefit coming up this friday night in Grafton Wisconsin at The Black Swan.  Blues for the Cure is an annual event dedicated to supporting the breast cancer fight. In 2012 we will be supporting Jean Upson, read Jeans story at  http://www.jeanupsonbe... » Read More

Swing as high as you can on a swingset.

Published: 09-11-2012 02:20pm
Posted In: Being an Artist
Issue 11 in my interpretive series on "How to be an Artist" by Sark~ Swing as High as you can on a swingset by moonlight, and Entertain your Inner Child. ~Have you ever done that?  No!!!!  Oh.....go on. You know you’ve wanted to.  Just for giggles.  So what if the park closes at 10pm.  And do it sober.  It’s way more fun and you’ll remember more.  If you can’t go to the park then “borrow” you’re neighbors swings.OK, I won’t advocate breaking any laws and upsetting anyones neighbors. But if you do happen to get a chance to do this, treasure it.  That sense of total freedom, that goofy feeling you get in your stomach from th... » Read More

Guitar String Necklace - New Design

Published: 08-24-2012 10:40am
Posted In: My Jewelry
I am continuing on in my quest for new uses for used guitar strings.  Along with my husband and a lot of musician friends who are now a very integral part of this process, I think I may have an endless supply  LOL.  The word is out, Martie needs more strings.The tricky part for me is to make each guitar string creation stylish and unique, with a little mystery as to what the material is, yet make it a little obvious too.  Until one looks closely you might not realize that 'Hey, that's a guitar string.  How cool'. Or maybe to the trained eye one might pick it out right away.  This piece is designed with a heavy base string wrapped with artist... » Read More

Measuring your hand for Solid Bangles

Published: 08-10-2012 07:34pm
Posted In: Helpful Hints
BANGLE SIZING GUIDE Choosing a bangle is a tricky thing when you can’t try it on. Hopefully with a little help from the below info it will be that bit easier.  Also please remember the sizes in the chart are approximations so there is a little leeway.  You don’t want something that has so much room it falls down around your hand - or off! Try this...... Make your hand as small as possible bringing your thumb and little finger together.  Using a tape measure (or string), measure around your hand and across your knuckles at the widest point (the tape measure should be pulled tight, not loose). Make note... » Read More

Week 9 - Look Forward to Dreams

Published: 07-27-2012 08:11am
Posted In: Being an Artist
Week 9 in my interpretive series on “How to be an Artist” by Sark~ Look Forward to Dreams ~Well, that could be taken a couple of different ways.  1 - If you are one to have very lucid dreams while sleeping one may look forward to going to bed every night.2 - If you are heading out on a vacation or some personal quest, something you’ve planned to do and it’s been in your thoughts then its the anticipation of the event. 3 - Or, look Forward, past all of todays issues or set backs, and not hang on the thoughts of yesterday and what could have been.  To look ahead of and work through those issues to create a life different and more robust t... » Read More

Week 8 - Have wild imaginings, transformative dreams, and perfect calm.

Published: 07-04-2012 08:17pm
Posted In: Being an Artist
Week 8 in my interpretive series on “How to be an Artist” by Sark~ Have Wild Imaginings, Transformative Dreams, and Perfect Calm ~When I was seven my friend and I were sitting on the steps of my grade school one day at recess and singing “Hello Dolly”.  I looked over at her and said, “Ya know, one day I’m gonna be a singer, I’m gonna be a Rock Star!”  We laughed and went off to play tag with some of our school chums.  That feeling though never left me.  I would dream at night of performing in front of hundreds of people.  Taught myself how to play piano.  That really got me through those tough teenage years.  I’d just play... » Read More

Play with everything, Learn to watch snails, and Take lots of Naps

Published: 06-28-2012 01:46pm
Posted In: Being an Artist
From my interpretive series from “How to be an Artist” by Sark     ~ Play with Everything, Learn to Watch Snails, and Take lots of Naps ~(What Cats teach us)        Last year we adopted two 6 year old cats from the shelter.  I cannot tell you what an experience this has been for me.  I had two fur baby sisters for 16 years, since they were kittens, Tasha and Scoobie.  The last years of their lives I spent taking care of their aging bodies.  Both are now in kitty heaven.  I loved them both so much and when Scoobie passed last September I thought I would never get through the heartbreak and loss.  My husband and I decided to wait un... » Read More

The softer side of summer - pale yellow

Published: 06-04-2012 06:00am
                                     ... » Read More

Make friends with Freedom and Uncertainty

Published: 05-21-2012 10:12am
Posted In: Being an Artist
~ Make Friends With Freedom and Uncertainty ~More from my interpretations on "How to Be an Artist" by SarkHow do we conquer the day ahead of us?  How do we step out of the house in the morning, push the shopping cart through the grocery store, step onto a stage and sing, walk into a class room, pick up a paint brush, choose to do the right thing?  With Freedom and Uncertainty of course.  There is no way to have one without the other.  We may have an innate understanding of the feeling that freedom brings but the fortitude it takes to follow through and accept what ever consequences arise from that decision are unknown mostly and thus you are p... » Read More

Plant Impossible Gardens

Published: 05-04-2012 06:46pm
Posted In: Being an Artist
More thoughts in my interpretive series on “How to be an Artist” by Sark ~ Plant Impossible Gardens ~An Impossible Garden will never be .  Since I bought my house in 1995 I have been expanding and expanding my garden.  I have a pretty good size city lot so it was easy.  I had to take down a bunch of Boxelder trees, they were icky anyway, to let some sun onto the yard.  The soil was clay so it literally took years to amend in order for most plants to grow.  A friend helped me build a vegetable bed behind my garage but that moved 12 years ago because the maple tree which I refused to take down got big and beautiful and completely shaded th... » Read More

Repurposed and Redesigned :)

Published: 04-05-2012 08:37am
Posted In: My Jewelry
Sometimes I look at some of my older designs and ask myself, "What were you thinking?" Not that those pieces are ugly or anything, it's just that they stop speaking to me. So I end up pulling them out of stores and put them in the 'someday I'll figure out something else to do with these' box.                    Well, this is that moment. I decided to try something a little different and I absolutely love the results. I was browsing around the bead store last week and saw these bags full of ribbons of cut up saris. AHA!!!!!! Bought some. I ran home, well, drove home, and ran up the stairs to my studio, pulled out some of those older piec... » Read More

Use a paper clip to help hook a clasp on your bracelet.

Published: 04-02-2012 06:44am
Posted In: Helpful Hints
Wanted to share this great tip.  When you're struggling to put on a bracelet........Use a Paper Clip Despite thousands of years of use and design, women's bracelets can be pretty tricky to put on, often requiring some tricky maneuvers or a two-person effort. MacGyver's favorite tool, the paper clip, to the rescue.Reader Dale3h dropped off this little tip in the comments, and it looks like a great thing to keep in mind when a stubbornly tiny bracelet hook or catch refuses to cooperate, and time is running out as you're trying to head out the door. All you have to do is bend the paper clip once, and it should be much easier to hook things up.http:... » Read More
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