somethings old, somethings new, adieu~adieu!

~Adieu Adieu a sweet farewell to you~

As another week goes by another group of goodies are leaving the nest. And I as well am leaving the nest to fly across the country to see a beautiful little place called Elmira.

 I will keep my Etsy shop open, but will stop shipping from May 11th to the 20th and will resume any shipping on the 21st. Thank you so much for your support and happy words!

N908 "I'm So Blue"
Project Runway Challenge
Season 6: Episode 7: "Blue"

"Blue" was created for a EtsyMetal Jewelry Challenge. Our challenge that week in October 2009 was to make a piece of jewelry that incorporated the color blue in it somehow. This is a found blue feather that I bound onto a piece of enamelled cooper with a fine silver scroll design. Then I made a fine Silver bezel and used a piece of slide glass and carefully set it on top to honor the creature who wore this feather. Read more here...

N909 "True Love"
Project Runway

Season 7: Episode 4:

"Design Your Heart Out"

This weeks EtsyMetal jewelry challenge was about The American Heart Association, they asked the designers to design gown to be worn at an AHA and Campbell’s sponsored social function. Therefore, we asked our designers to make a piece of jewelry using "the heart" as inspiration.  I decided to try and make a classic antiqued Valentine style, with a modern twist. I pierced and cut out the base design from the Copper sheet, then I made the heart, I cut and formed its puffy shape. I then torch fired enameled a rough-hewn surface on the entire piece, then placed all the components in their place. Oh and on the back there is a secret Sterling Silver "true love" hand stamped. Read more here...

E910 "Raggedy Ann's"
Project Runway

Season 7: Episode 2:

"It's all about the Burlap"

This challenge was a crazy one for me. I was quite stumped by this material. I managed to squeak out barely in time a small pair of earrings for this challenge and I now affectionately call the Raggedy Ann's. They Burlap is bound in between Sterling discs with thread and the edges were dipped in dye. They hang from simple fabricated Sterling ear wires. Read more here... 

R911 "Torri Gate"
This little guy is a special piece. It originated from the Ring-a-Day project. I cannot spill all the beans yet, but this was special prototype. It is made of 12 gauge Sterling Silver band, a 4 gauge Copper rod, and has been oxidized to an antiqued finish. I call it Torri gate as the form reminds me of all the iconic shapes of Asian temples and gates...

N912 "I've got a heart on for you"

This little red enameled heart is on a delicate Sterling chain. It has little glass beads that have been torch fired and fused to the surface. You may have remembered using this slumping technique when you were in summer camp?  

N913 "Meow"

I made kitty jewelry for my veterinarian at one time. I have never worn it, but saved it in my keeps box. I do not have a kitty anymore, so I was hoping she could be adopted to a good home and get the love she deserves. She is made from black frosted seed beads on beadalon wire with a handmade Sterling clasp. The Sterling pendant has a domed back with a sitting kitty silhouette.

E914 "Flowered"
I was just playing like I like to do and made these upside down Sterling Silver flowers. They will simply swing and shimmer lightly from your luscious lobular lobes.
Tee hee hee ok I am being silly now, but you get the idea!

E915 "Slinky"
These earrings have 5 delicate rings soldered to each side. They have a shiny gunmetal finish on the Sterling Silver. There are 2 generous drops of clear Quartz hanging from each.

E916 "Cluster"
More drops of the clear Quartz that I love so much, they remind me of liquid and I just love how they can illuminate and feel so watery! These have chain bits w rings on the ends to add fun and bunchiness to them.
They have a shiny gunmetal finish on the Sterling Silver.

 N917 "A Bird in the Hand"
I love birds. I love the proverb that is associated with this piece. It is basically saying, be happy with what you already have.
I am forever grateful for my life and the special people in it. This is a great reminder for me to be thankful. It is a Copper bird with 2 leaves that stand for "2 birds in a bush"  on a oxidized Sterling Silver chain.

N918 "Wings"
To  fly with to be free to walk as light as air...These are my favorites this week. The chunkiness of shape, the blend of silver added with the Turquoise just make me very happy. These are Sterling Silver and Turquoise. 

N919 "Not Your Ordinary Doily"

This piece I would have to say is my antonym-interpretation of something feminine, delicate and clean otherwise known as a doily. It is fabricated of Copper and Sterling Silver which has been oxidized for this lovely ancient antiqued look.

Blog Carnival: May 2010

"So what is a Blog Carnival you ask?”
It is a group of Etsy Metal members who write an article on the same topic on the first Monday of each month.

May Topic: "Motivation"
This is a huge topic. Not as innocent as it seemed to be when I said, oh, this will be an easy one... not.
I will be attacking this with a who what and where approach.
Ok, let the soul searching begin!

1. Who:  I think about the question of who, I come to the realization it is not only me and my inner need to make things, conquer design puzzles and to find an appealing solution to find visual balance. It is also to receive validation from my family and friends from a job well done; the people who's opinions mean so much to me. This is "the who” that I work for besides myself.

2. Why: Because it is the only thing that I love to actually do, my art. I love to make things, to create. It is my only real passion. The feeling when I make something I love is priceless to me, and then to have someone else love it too is just an amazing feeling and emotion to experience.

3. Where: I used to think I needed to be alone, the quiet, no drama, and perhaps I was tired of driving back and forth to my former studios.... And maybe the grass is greener on the other side. However, this year I am feeling reminiscent and I think I miss being around other creative spirits. I miss the unusual energy in my soul it used to give me... maybe it was a subtle form of being accountable, I cannot really explain, but I can compare, being in both situations on and off for many years I can appreciate "BOTH" situations. Today I long for the company of other artists physically around me. Working online only now changes the atmosphere a lot and it is a brand new playing field, I am slowly adapting and reevaluating my new life and my current needs.

4. When: I think I am most motivated to work in the evening. BUT. I am currently trying to change this habit. See ramblings here...

5. How: The obvious is personal fulfillment and then you have the ol’ pesky financial needs, the need to survive really makes a great motivator to work at times!

Below are more member's thoughts on motivation!

Nina Gibson

Stacey Hansen
Danielle Miller-Gilliam
Maria Whetman
Ann Hartley / HartleyStudio
Beth Cyr
 2Roses
 Brooke Medllin

Please say hello to round 3!

 

So I am sporting "round 3" of my Spring purging session! I am letting go of 3 more pieces from the Project Runway series I xxx in for the last couple of seasons. And I just have to tell someone, this feels darn good to be letting go! Its very liberating. I tend to hold on to things, but I suppose it is my slow process of letting go when I'm good and ready to. I swear I am getting better at it. My father says to me all the time, I cannot take it with me when I die so I might as well let it go." ...well, yah, but....

Season 7: Episode 1  "Five"

Flickr photos

Etsy listing

Challenge description:

This week's challenge was a little vague to me. Tim Gunn asked the designers to run and grab as much Mood fabric they could in 3 minutes. Then he said, "Now only pick 5 of them that you love, and make something that represents and speaks about you and your style."

For some examples some ideas were to use 5 stones, patterns of 5, the actual number 5, what does 5 mean to you? Does 5 have any special significance to you?

 At the time I was kind of stumped by that weeks theme, I began thinking that this would be easy, well, after sanding all my finger tips off I have a "Five" to share with you. I went to the rudimentary basics of this challenge and literally made a 5. I fabricated a large hollow form made of Copper. I then oxidized it and left a soft warm finish." Measurements: h 1.5/8" x w 7/8" x d 3/8".

Season 7: Episode 3 “The Metropolitan Museum of Art”

Flickr photos
Etsy listing
Challenge description:
This is a very exciting challenge! We were asked to browse around the infamous “Met” and find a piece of art that inspired us, and to then make our own personal interpretation of a classic piece from anywhere in their archives, it could be a past or present exhibit or something from their permanent collection. I found more than one! but I narrowed it down to this odd little find. It is Untitled and dated 1844 *see it here and is of American or European descent, and is made of Coral. It was a gift from Mrs. Edna S. Crawford, 1945.  Accession Number C.I.45.32.7a–c

This piece was inspired/interpreted by the odd little simple object with no name and no description. It was made of Coral and little pillow sachets I believe from what I could see from the photos. I made a sort of talisman charm necklace because I thought the objects were some form of protection because of the sachets.  Materials: Sterling Silver, Copper, Topaz and Coral.

Season 7: Episode 7 “Hardware Store"

Flickr photos
Etsy listing

Challenge description:

The challenge was to create a look that the components were found from a hardware store.
So I made the Washer Envy Necklace.  I kept it simple. On the show, there was a horrific hot pink string washer bathing suit made. I love washers and felt they were misrepresented and misunderstood, so i felt the need to make this piece to honor the "washer" and its sweet perfectness as individual roundly-object-thingamajigs.  So I wanted to be able to show them in all their simple beauty. Materials: Sterling Silver chain, Steel, Brass, Oxidized.

 

Spring has Sprung!

Ahhh, the mornings at my place have been wonderfully quiet and very productive! and my cup fulleth of creamy coffee...  I have been trying to switch over to an earlier schedule, as I think this may relieve that sense of not enough time in the day. On one hand I love to sleep, morning sleep to exact, the sleepy warm snuggly cozy drunken slumber in and out of consciousness is my bliss...  Another pro is being up early I accomplish a lot more in a day and feel quite proud of myself, so is the self worth better than the self indulgence? Ok so of course there is the con side. I also love to be up in the late evening as the world is quiet and there is no reason for me to leave the house, no pressure to have to run errands, it's lovely. But since I can't have it both ways I will keep on trying out this new early thing.

But right now as I write I am being really naughty, I am up again in the late evening hopefully not sabotaging my new schedule!  OK, I am so excited I just had to post. I have been very productive and have been making earrings and having alot of fun! I wanted to let you all know they are now in my Etsy shop.
I miss feeling this sense of accomplishment. I think I was feeling a tiny bit blue this winter season, but finally I am feeling more energized and happy as the days are brighter, warmer, longer and the sun is starting to shine again, spring is here and the planting is about to begin!
 

Hello Spring!

Turquoise Swing earrings

Swinging Sweet Bluebird Earrings

Delicate Rings

Little Labbies

Labradorite Rain earrings

Long Double Shielded Stone earrings

Sea Fan earrings

Olive CZ Drop earrings

Rayna earrings

setting them free....

Alas! I must admit I am having (just a wee tiny bit) fun letting the children leave the nest. It is quite liberating to watch them fly on to their new lives! 2 of these pieces are from the Season 6 EtsyMetal Project Runway Jewelry Challenge. All these pieces will be available in my Experimetal Etsy shop! And if you like what you see, you can view a few more trinkets over on Flickr, I try and post them there before they go to the big orange Etsy. oh pssst~ I sell exclusively on Etsy at this time, no where else.
Thank you for all the kind words and support you all have share with me!

N893  "Iconic" Australia Season 1: Episode 5
This week’s challenge was to make an Iconic statement from the 60-70's era. I had just recently seen a couple of huge smiley faces around town and was starting to see them everywhere that week, haunting me in fact! On tire covers and wine bottles!? So I knew it must be a sign from the metal gods to make a giant un-smiley emoticon that week! On the reverse concave side it is a sad smiley. I am very guilty of overusing the emoticon, and try to limit my use, but I can't seem to shake the habit obviously! So this piece is almost 3.5" across, Copper, Enamel, leather and Sterling Silver.

N894  "The Getty" Season 6: Episode 12
This piece was interpreted from a Bronze medallion called "Disk with a Bird" in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our challenge was to find something that spoke to us and to make our interpretation of the piece of art.
This is made of Copper and Sterling Silver. It is a hollow for which is approximately 1/4" thick. The bird rocks back and forth and his 3 layered little wings swing around as well. The medallion part spins freely. It hangs from a heavy Sterling chain.

N895 "Pop-Challenge!" Season 6: Pre-Finale
OH the pain! This week on the Project Runway challenge all our EtsyMetal Designers took a consensus and asked for an extra week postponement as they were up to their eyeballs in metal, they were working on their mini-collections and needed more time. Heh-heh but as a penalty (and so we had something to post on the blog) we were asked to do a "pop-challenge" for that week. The challenge consisted of making a piece out of limited materialsand only 48 hours!
1 x 2" of Sterling or Copper
3' of wire
So I made a Sterling Silver pendant which captures a steel ball bearing that spins inside, it is about 1" across with a rough hewn patina. As you can see I was able to keep within my material constraint! It was very fun to have limitations!

Blog Carnival: April 2010

"So what is a Blog Carnival you ask?”

It is a group of Etsy Metal members who will collectively write an article on a monthly subject. Blog Carnival happens the first Monday of each month.

April's topic:

 The Creative Process:
"How do you plan and organize for design?”

I think this month’s topic is closely related to last months for my particular style of creative process. I am highly influenced visually by shape and overall feel. I do not think I organize in any particular way.

I can share with you what I’ve been thinking about for this last week’s project and how it is manifesting. Last week I wanted to design a crab claw ring. My muse is this beautiful crab claw in the picture above, and forgive me if one of you my dear friends have given this to me and I do not mention you, please speak up as I have misplaced where it came from, but I do know it is the only specimen I have of this crab breed. And perhaps I even ATE this particular claw myself.

OK, so for starters, I will mention I am a little bit of a pack rat. I collect it’s and bits constantly just like a little Bower bird. I collect them not to attract a mate but to create! So moving on, I just love-love-love this particular claw. I love its shape, its being. This is where it starts. I usually will not cut cardboard models out unless I cannot solve a problem with a function I want it to have.
So as I was making a mock up for the movement of this piece I saw how beautiful again the simple silhouette of this form would make for my 365 Ring-a-Day (RAD) project. I thought I could catch 2 birds with one net. And use the progress of building these rings in steps for my RAD project and Blog Carnival. SO for this project ultimately I will be making the pinchers pinch, 2 versions to come hopefully for this Tuesday and Wednesdays RAD rings. I will post them here when finished.

So this is pretty much how it is for me. I live in the moment with my designs and I more than always will sketch it out if it’s a little more intricate than normal. Sketching helps me take ideas and work them into wear ability regarding comfort, balance, functionality and feel. I figure if I am going to put effort into something I want to make sure I am on the right path of my desired outcome. As I’m sure it is with all my metalsmith and artistic friends, things can change at any given point and that’s the magnificent part of creating. So I am open to looking for new ideas while I create and may stray from the original concept to find something that catches my fancy, I am very in the moment spontaneous creativity. I cannot say I am organized in the least bit, in fact I am severely scattered and have a secret wish to be a little bit better organized someday.

*we were also asked for a studio shot of our work area, so here it is in its messy glory!

Thank you for reading tidbits of my brain thoughts, I hope you could relate or get something useful from it!

 Below are the participating EtsyMetal bloggers, and see how they tackled the question!

 Thomasin Durgin/metalriot

Su Trindle/QuercusSilver

Inbar Bareket

Stacey Hansen

Nina Gibson

Danielle Miller

Corliss & John Rose/2Roses Maria Whetman

Beth Cyr

Blog Carnival: March 2010

Etsy Metal Blog Carnival

"So what is a blog carnival you ask? "

It is group of Etsy Metal members who will collectively write a article on a monthly subject.

We will be blogging this the first Monday of each month.

This months question was:

"Create an inspirational 20 things to do,

to kick start creativity."

1. Clean and organize your work area.
2. Sit in the middle of a "clean" room with your sketchbook. (and your favorite snack of course)
3. Go on vacation. (with sketchbook)
4. Write a list of techniques you want to learn and start at the top.
5. Take a class or ten!
6. Do something not jewelry related at all, like cooking new recipes, gardening is a lovely one, even if it is only pulling weeds which I actually like doing, go figure....
7. I go to the beach, and find treasures. This will almost always evoke new ideas for me.
8. Take yourself to coffee, alone is the key for me, with sketchbook of course!
9. Work on taxes, organize something or clean the house or the worst, pick up pup-poo.
When I have to do things I dislike, it makes me appreciate being in the studio again very quickly.
10. Buy a NEW sketchbook! AND a new mechanical pencil!!!  This is always a good day :)
11. Go thrift shopping, shoe shopping, or get a haircut. (any excuse will do for these things)
12. Join a Ring-a-Day project for a year. (warning: potentially hazardous to your mental health)
13. If you are involved with an online community, I highly reccomend joining in on a group challenge. Or even challenging a Flickr friend to a "Duel." I swear it is perfect motivation to cure a slump.
14. Buy a Creative Whack a Pack. I LOVE this deck. And read Sark Inspiration Sandwich series.
15. Think of things to make and sell, then give proceeds to a favorite charity.
16. Go to a friends house and try a new craft of some sort together!
17. Try to experience as many new things you are comfortable with, new things = new ideas.
18. Sleep late every day for a week, then you will feel behind and have to work! Or simpler just leave everything to the last minute and you will hopefully get alot done quickly!
19. Challenge yourself to create/design with unconventional materials. It is more difficult than you'd think!
20. Last but not least, Unplug!

Basically I think my approach is drawing, so I try to carry my sketchbook everywhere, and I rely heavily on it as my creative tool. I love to draw, so this might not be as fun for everyone as it is for me. I think keeping your creativity active and being able to design new things takes a bit of practice. I feel its like training your brain to always be open to recieving it. And always in the background it is working. But after awhile it is just part of who you are I think. I also think that it is very personal and your motivation for being creative/artist whatever also takes a role on how you create. Ok I better stop, I feel a long ramble beginning.

Oh, I almost forgot about this! Now mind you it doesn't happen every day like this, only when I can tap into that state and have some conciousness and realize I am there. This method is in the morning right before I am waking up. When you are in that state where you can kind of hear the outside world but you haven't opened your eyes yet and you haven't realized ya gots to pee. It is this perfect mindset and time I can be quiet enough to focus and think of new designs. Then when I get a good idea I want to test out, it gets me excited enough to get out of bed! I have to get up so I can remember the ideas. It’s been a productive creative time for me, and I'll take it however I can get it!

Have a good day and thank you for stopping by and reading my thoughts!
I can't wait to read my fellow metalsmiths creativity tricks, I do not let myself read thier Blog Carnivals until I finish mine, It's like my dessert!
So please join me below in reading others' March’s Blog Carnivals!

Chris Parry

Sara Westermark

Katie Miess Kohlhagen

Ann Hartley

Amanda Conley

Stacey Hansen

Esther Eve

2Roses

Maria W

CosmosMoonJewelry

Berenice Schaltegger

Brooke Arin Medlin

Thomasin Durgin/Metalriot

Beth Cyr

Catherine Chandler