tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36719662766329381042024-02-06T21:47:40.093-08:00experimetalVictoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-72929308360827964272016-11-21T13:02:00.000-08:002016-11-21T13:07:35.567-08:00<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong>December 2016: EtsyMetal Blog Carnival</strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">"The Safety Pin"</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> When the subject of the "safety pin" came up in lieu of the recent happenings, those who wanted to participate made creative safety pins to show a icon of their beliefs. I can only speak for myself about my opinion about this "icon". But if you want to read others opinions you can go to the list at the bottom and read more if you wish! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, thinking about this, I loved the sentiment of wearing this safety pin icon was a visual cue to show that you stood for love, compassion and kindness for all people. I have recently seen opposing views about what this pin stands for to others too. I am sorry that it may have a negative connotation or inclusive feeling for them. But I choose to feel the opposite. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had someone point out to me that by wearing a pin, it said you were a xxx supporter... and that makes it a statement that it was choosing sides one way or another, which goes against what it stood for... I don't see this as completely true for me, but I do see their point, kinda. My personal intention is NOT political her or him, this or that. I was drawn to the aspect of showing one was in support of love, compassion and kindness. Simple and NOT reading anymore into it than that. NOT picking apart a small visual statement of positivity. I must think about this more and read more opposing opinions and views, it is very interesting the breakdown and interpretations of everyones views, but for now I choose <em>positivity.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Pin above was made just a few years ago, I have had hopes of revamping more versions of it before this was due to post, but have not had time, so here is my contribution for this blog carnival.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have a lovely day and wear your pins proudly <3 font=""></3></span><br />
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<strong><u><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To read more, these names below are the others participating in the EtsyMetal "blog carnival"</span></u></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Laney Clark /Silentgoddess </span><a href="http://www.silentgoddessartjewelry.com/blog"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.silentgoddessartjewelry.com/blog</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beth Cyr - blog </span><a href="http://www.bethcyr.com/blog"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://www.bethcyr.com/blog</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">fb </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BethCyrArts/"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.facebook.com/BethCyrArts/</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IG @bethcyrjewelry<br />Elise Worman EMW Metalworks </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/emwmetalworks/"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.instagram.com/emwmetalworks/</span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cynthia von der Schmuckburg </span><a href="http://schmuckburg.blogspot.de/"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://schmuckburg.blogspot.de/</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Victoria Takahashi/Experimetal - </span><a href="http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://www.instagram.com/victoria_takahashi/"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">https://www.instagram.com/victoria_takahashi/</span></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">><strong><u>Photo credits for above collage as follows:</u></strong></span></div>
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<a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1203950225&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/NinaGibson"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nina Gibson</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1685220277&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/elise.worman"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Elise Worman</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a aria-controls="js_3pc" aria-describedby="js_3pd" aria-haspopup="true" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001126352581&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/leslie.zemenek" id="js_3pe" role=""><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leslie Zemenek</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1429640943&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/kriechert"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kathryn Honey Badger Riechert</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=579300300&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/swestermark"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sara Westermark</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=568301287&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/silentgoddess"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Laney Clark</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1651013155&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/experimetal"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Victoria Takahashi</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=577283326&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/jenniferlawlerdesigns"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jennifer Lawler</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=1488016447&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/christine.rosemighion"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christine Rose-Mighion</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100000092215389&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/cynthiavonderSchmuckburg"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cynthia Kurth</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=603269774&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/bcyr17"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beth Manorama Cyr</span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><a data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=12500444&extragetparams=%7B%22directed_target_id%22%3A0%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/rachael.sudlow.5"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rachael Sudlow</span></a></div>
Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-14034015876485443172015-12-07T19:30:00.000-08:002015-12-07T19:43:26.607-08:00Blog Carnival: December 2015<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I am a collector of my own inspiration</span>.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Topic:<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: #990000;">"Inspiration"</span></span></span></span><br /><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Something as simple as this power cable above can set me on a creative journey. We do not have to use everything we see, we unconsciously will build a collection in our brain file. My secret is that this is now filed in my brain journal and it might get added at some point or I can just enjoy it simply for its beautiful shape, there is an overabundance in this world to use as inspiration, it really is about how you interpret it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inspiration for me comes in every breathing moment of my day. It never ends and is always a factor in anything I see that visually stimulates me. Sometimes it may be a bit of a hindrance as it never shuts off and it can be a bit of a problem when I am out of the house. Thrift shopping, on my walks(always dawdling along stopping touching things taking pictures, picking up leaves and bits for example. But my life's passion to create things, really is dependent on being creative and my happiness so really it is a blessing! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inspiration can come from people, places & things. I am inspired by people who are driven, honest, compassionate, open, sense of humor & that are educating and challenging themselves to become better people and grow. These are the beautiful people who inspire me! I aspire to be more like them. They become inspiration for me to become a better person. I am always trying to understand myself and change the things I do not like about myself, it's very hard work to face and change some ingrained habits since childhood, but I am determined to never stop trying! And Yes I usually have a therapist in my life and I am grateful for it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Places, whether they be trips or cultures definitely have a very strong impact on my senses. The ocean for example is a place for me to meditate and lose city lights and pressures. My mind can let go and take its own vacation of sorts. I can sit with a clear mind and let the ideas be my focus and then they get to grow in a different environment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Maybe it is a bit of the isolation & tactileness when I go visit the beach that can keep me focused on relaxing (which is good thing!) I sit and run my hands through the rocks, nap on the beach, take short hikes, read, sketch, write and just breathe in the fresh ocean air. Its a luxury that fuels me up. And I am way overdue for my little yearly trip.... hmmm.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Cultures, and people of other lands always fascinate me, there's always such a different distinct view and beauty of the world. The storytelling and history comes in forms of their design, it shapes their aesthetic with a deep rich flavor. This is a fascinating inspirational source for me!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Things, can be literally anything! objects, plants, news, architecture, shades of contrast, poetry.... </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I use Objects to work with, it is of course something I already like for whatever reason, so I pick it up and roll it around in my fingers, I really try to think outside the box of connections, layout and wearability. I also try to imagine manipulating it if and whenever possible to an even better personal aesthetic. Lately for example, I have been wanting to make boxes to hold these objects whether I change them or not. But most importantly I want them to be able to be taken out and touched. I have also come to a shocking realization (duh) that I cannot take all these trinkets with me when I die, so I must use them now, currently and keep using. I have been saving these things for the right time and I believe it is now! I do not think I am a narrative artist in any way shape or form, I feel I do not have a category, I feel I tend to be more in the moment in my inspired pieces, I get an urge and there I go. I am definitely drawn to organic things like, sticks, stones, bones & non-traditional materials. I love ANIMALS, but birds are a major key player in my inspiration dictionary. Certain shapes and curves, especially curves on bones, certain shades of colors, mostly neutral earthy tones, but secretly Magenta, Fuchsia, Violet & Eggplant are my favorite colors. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I think I have fallen off topic. There is no right or wrong way to create, but obviously it start with inspiration at the core, from your mind and materials. I strive very hard to not be influenced and I always try to make up my own way of doing things. Of course there are certain rules in my metalsmithing category that must be heeded but if I can break them, I try! Although, I think it is good for "me" to have boundaries in which to create, otherwise I can get a lot of scattered. Too many ideas syndrome, it actually hurts my head. I also have to be very careful to edit my own pieces as I go. I get a bit excited and want to do more, but this is not good usually, less is more for me now in most instances. As I grow older I also am changing, my inspirations and style is evolving which is healthy. <em>I rarely</em> make the pieces I really love over, ( I am very sorry to the people who ask for this service)I like to move on and feel the power when the new inspiration hits, that is my adrenaline hit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them, just leave a note in the comments below. Thank you for reading, not sure I was able to fully focus on the inspiration aspect as much as I wanted but for now it will have to suffice as I am running late submitting my article! Happy, hopeful, lots of love & peaceful wishes to all you makers an other lovely souls for the new year! Until 2016!</span> </div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><strong>***</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">Please read my fellow bloggers below on this same topic of "Inspiration" </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms";">We are a part of the EtsyMetal Team Monthly Blog Carnival where we all reflect on the same topic the first Monday of every month. Its very interesting how we each will interpret a theme, always some really inspirationally great reads! Thank you!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2Roses: <!-- m --></span><a class="postlink" href="http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com/</span></a><!-- m --><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Beth Cyr: <!-- m --></span><a class="postlink" href="http://bethcyr.com/blog"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://BethCyr.com/blog</span></a><!-- m --><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Victoria Takahashi: <!-- m --></span><a class="postlink" href="http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/</span></a><!-- m --><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cynthia Del Giudice: <!-- m --></span><a class="postlink" href="http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/</span></a><!-- m --><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gracebourne Design: <!-- m --></span><a class="postlink" href="http://gracebourne.blogspot.ca/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://gracebourne.blogspot.ca/</span></a><!-- m --><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Andrea Ring: <!-- m --></span><a class="postlink" href="http://amuckdesign.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">http://amuckdesign.blogspot.com/</span></a></div>
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Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-6543956178219982662012-12-30T23:09:00.002-08:002012-12-31T00:21:39.324-08:00Brooch-a-Day Challenge 2013!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeov4BadqCfqgyQ2AtG3fyk-JSJOaDelCLw6Nzc4Y713pOVuKvHU_jtmj_nH0f_1oqE0LUhygVGjJFiNIPANW_UJH3cyAcKpzApkNSUa6kzzpxM0jNG4sbLfCH3MzOYgTb43nHoD_Fuci/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEeov4BadqCfqgyQ2AtG3fyk-JSJOaDelCLw6Nzc4Y713pOVuKvHU_jtmj_nH0f_1oqE0LUhygVGjJFiNIPANW_UJH3cyAcKpzApkNSUa6kzzpxM0jNG4sbLfCH3MzOYgTb43nHoD_Fuci/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+(4).JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>"a pin as a pin"</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">I picked up this tiny pin in the 80's from who knows where...</span><br />
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<strong><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em>"Challenge: make one Brooch-a-Day, any material, for 365 days."</em></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves as I sit here thinking about joining in another 365 day project. As you might <em>not </em>know, a group of fellow artists and metalsmiths worldwide from Flickr and <a href="http://etsymetal.com/artists_name.html" target="_blank">EtsyMetal</a> joined together in 2010 and made a </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/rad2010/pool/?view=sq" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ring-a-day (RAD)</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> a small handful actually made the 365 rings, </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/sets/72157623118182692/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I myself only made 215 of 365 rings</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and<em> </em>I very seriously bow down and praise those who did completed the entire year, it was challenging to say the least. It was a love/hate experience, I wished I had blogged and journalled my journey with thoughts about creativity, the perseverance and determination, the friendships created, and about the community and camaraderie found. An amazing aspect is this was all held online, and then to top it all off like a cherry on a dessert there was a physical show at the </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/1637300@N25/pool/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Punch Gallery</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Seattle at the </span><a href="http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SNAG </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2011 conference and there was also a book published by </span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Ring-Day-Photos-Jewelry-Challenge/dp/1600598242/ref=pd_rhf_p_img_1" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lark Books</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> and edited by </span><a href="http://marthelevan.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marthe LeVan</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, it was all an amazing experience to be a part of.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All righty, so now I have decided to join in on the </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/brooch-a-day2013/pool/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brooch-a-Day (BAD)</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2013 challenge. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What this means is I will make one brooch on every day of 2013 (crossing fingers). </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I plan to blog here weekly, keep a personal journal for the year and make and post the brooches daily to the </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/brooch-a-day2013/pool/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BAD 2013 Flickr</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> group. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am looking forward to it but feel very tentative in the commitment dept, I remember how hard it was sometimes to make a ring-a-day, and also failing at 365 self-portrait a few years too!? But! I have a new plan of attack for this one. I am aiming to make simple fun studies out of materials like found objects, paper and glue for 6 of the days and on the last day of the week plan make a substantial piece. Ok, well that's the plan and we will see where this adventure takes me, as I am not putting any limitations on myself this round, I think too many boundaries make it harder than it really needs to be, I just want to have fun, be creative and laugh!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_XW1XLESYUtbnppb_5hv38rfWeWuEUiunVZOEYUALzYCHZVO8dRdaRANy6Ma2ZHnkIjNHXeq5BwT99NPWSjBH3TuI7r_uODj13wtxhtOeEEqeiKbzFOm5TNjH5URj2KIRphP-zrH2Pmb/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_XW1XLESYUtbnppb_5hv38rfWeWuEUiunVZOEYUALzYCHZVO8dRdaRANy6Ma2ZHnkIjNHXeq5BwT99NPWSjBH3TuI7r_uODj13wtxhtOeEEqeiKbzFOm5TNjH5URj2KIRphP-zrH2Pmb/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">top left: Cybernacle brooch 2011</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">top right: My first I ever made before I had jewelry tools! 1992</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bottom left: Beachstone brooch 1998</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">bottom right: Pod brooch 1994?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, for fun I looked around my drawers and gathered some Brooches and Pins I have collected over the years. And surprisingly I do not have many at all, these last few years I have just started to even consider wearing them more, it makes me wonder if it is an age thing? Or maybe I am just cold all the time now so I wear scarves and sweaters and a scarf and fibers are more canvas for wearing art? hmmm, I will think about this more in the days to come :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do not actively go out looking for things in general, the things I collect and save come to me and say take me home, but now brooches are on my radar and I am open to wearing them so I have a strong suspicion I will be wearing and owning quite a few more brooches this year! Have fun peeking at my humble simple collection :)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavzi1QeX027z8sbNLPY2xEfuFsztZCOpsAbBjEqIzsGMOHqvd_GKL1asNi4zbdPjWj5W_DdbVfIZu1IL8G1UBxOCDShu53mm5qGrURLdh3NtnayEjS_-v6GtE12e8qsbv_0mYFNBpo8pd/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavzi1QeX027z8sbNLPY2xEfuFsztZCOpsAbBjEqIzsGMOHqvd_GKL1asNi4zbdPjWj5W_DdbVfIZu1IL8G1UBxOCDShu53mm5qGrURLdh3NtnayEjS_-v6GtE12e8qsbv_0mYFNBpo8pd/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25288%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Bug pins!</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the most fabulous realistic giant spider pin at one time, I was so sad when I realized he was gone, he would sit perched on the back of my shoulder, hmmmm....I must find another, or perhaps make myself a new one?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jT6J09zRnJLSN_61fBFcaLXjWwMwqdZCo3odHVeOsl25ySBfXX5u5mZ-8LC_rDVXigM31zR__TVeZbaSzc0NlD99iiG3FwxE8VLmW6QENUGvEZ6g-zVLYTQ3r7SKA1XidxCxfX8ZSztn/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6jT6J09zRnJLSN_61fBFcaLXjWwMwqdZCo3odHVeOsl25ySBfXX5u5mZ-8LC_rDVXigM31zR__TVeZbaSzc0NlD99iiG3FwxE8VLmW6QENUGvEZ6g-zVLYTQ3r7SKA1XidxCxfX8ZSztn/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Japanese Tin Pins</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love these simple pins, the top 2 pins on the right I purchased new, the others are vintage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cannot tell the difference?</span> </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XZ3O_VKaE0TlrZZP9kJ1foOE5CcL0YOv9ltt_tb5X0PXichW2oHn22jJt-LrhHIR2O7VwYX11AIGazkNN3c4r9ObC0gkzaRtCuwVW6BH99yc3OOEYor5cEEDrTlMEnjaOgiN6K1BAeJ7/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3XZ3O_VKaE0TlrZZP9kJ1foOE5CcL0YOv9ltt_tb5X0PXichW2oHn22jJt-LrhHIR2O7VwYX11AIGazkNN3c4r9ObC0gkzaRtCuwVW6BH99yc3OOEYor5cEEDrTlMEnjaOgiN6K1BAeJ7/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25283%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.thomasin.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thomasin Durgin</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> gifted me this beautiful 1960's Enamelled Peruvian brooch.</span><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BlindSpotJewellery?ref=ss_profile&view_type=gallery" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Janos Gabor Varga</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> gifted me this handmade Filagree brooch made by his friend </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/BongeraFiligrana?ref=pr_shop_more" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bongera Filigrana</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhIBWQZZK0Qwgp5ZsqkTl71zUwdbT-gwWesW46HyhNwply8PNz_dgEFHKxCX_VmPG9I0ZNpgrvoaK03AGHSqmQ120On15aLkDM-kaMdgwSYXx_PvjMAqqLyjYEcXE2svcLI_EqxRLLIk2/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBhIBWQZZK0Qwgp5ZsqkTl71zUwdbT-gwWesW46HyhNwply8PNz_dgEFHKxCX_VmPG9I0ZNpgrvoaK03AGHSqmQ120On15aLkDM-kaMdgwSYXx_PvjMAqqLyjYEcXE2svcLI_EqxRLLIk2/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25289%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Softies!</span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My niece </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/AudreyMayFlowers?ref=pr_shop_more" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aji-san</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> makes these sweet flower pins which she tidily and carefully sews an piece of felt on the back so you can slip out the safety pin and add a bobby pin so it can dual as a hair "pin"!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Then there's Mr. Bunny given to me by my talented friend </span><a href="http://firelightforge.com/images/fineartlisa/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lisa</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to make me smile, it works!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And last but not least this sweet handsewn felt heart made by another uber talented friend </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/tinyhaus?ref=pr_shop_more" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diem</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0I7o9MA8RgupHkLyw2lEj_bBvX4-7inpct3Tb7HIErdML62Z_DCFuJgwmYn3dv_kmWgtII6EjXjYH_wBKQ4grCjzci6dYuIRIqVkn76oj2IiFLYJRBIBgfvRQIOSqUIsVsMaN3OJMZyQ/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie0I7o9MA8RgupHkLyw2lEj_bBvX4-7inpct3Tb7HIErdML62Z_DCFuJgwmYn3dv_kmWgtII6EjXjYH_wBKQ4grCjzci6dYuIRIqVkn76oj2IiFLYJRBIBgfvRQIOSqUIsVsMaN3OJMZyQ/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25285%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Thrift & Antique shop finds.</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*Bare Dancing by </span><a href="http://www.cavin.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cavin Richie</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> 2000.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brass Eye, not signed.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Half-Fast badge.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pin pin.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">*I have to mention the odd bear pin was my latest purchase last week. My friend saw it in a shop last summer and we took pictures and laughed so hard as it was so funny at the time. I went for a visit back last week and it was still there! SO with the BAD challenge coming up I thought why the heck not, its definitely a conversation piece. I am fixin' to call Mr. Cavin up and ask him the story to this brooch, he writes a bit about it on his website but I am curious for more of the story now.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuWVZ_tzulXSQdkEhRuN4MlHloml3vGePQStKtyEeHR7uuCXUkY_4-7Y9k0DWrtyFVdey3mA1wMfNTMHw7xldqztLqwT0n0T-bzlxzpi7Mhxq9y-ADgCvSS-Tu9bn6ryohRA5TdMaRLs1/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuWVZ_tzulXSQdkEhRuN4MlHloml3vGePQStKtyEeHR7uuCXUkY_4-7Y9k0DWrtyFVdey3mA1wMfNTMHw7xldqztLqwT0n0T-bzlxzpi7Mhxq9y-ADgCvSS-Tu9bn6ryohRA5TdMaRLs1/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25287%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><strong>SNAG scatter pins 2011</strong><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarawestermark" target="_blank">Sara Westermark</a> "lute" <br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/norsola" target="_blank">Norsola Johnson</a> "flaming heart"<br />
<span class="gD" email="notification+i-_mvjw_@facebookmail.com" name="Maureen Brusa Zappellini"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/CosmosMoonJewelry" target="_blank">Maureen Brusa Zappellini</a></span> "shell button"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The pins above I received for the style of pins I made below. I wasn't able to go to the pin swap party, but I was luckily able to still see a few acquaintances around town and the gallery walks. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a batch of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/5763717580/" target="_blank">30 vintage Ivory brooches</a> and happily gifted them away all weekend! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I kept these three below :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Rg8uYG8mo3RB7smtbaztwpFBsUJmTOfQ7V6tXwnFR-XYtiNS5xupCiWRGK6dLlDkq2zBP2whhVAP_R-iBEwlJ_8IOQ209zQRhrrHsfWIRtWNXFU5DnMjzq5-M8TNXTxgI_mI1iT7V19S/s1600/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25286%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Rg8uYG8mo3RB7smtbaztwpFBsUJmTOfQ7V6tXwnFR-XYtiNS5xupCiWRGK6dLlDkq2zBP2whhVAP_R-iBEwlJ_8IOQ209zQRhrrHsfWIRtWNXFU5DnMjzq5-M8TNXTxgI_mI1iT7V19S/s400/12-30-12+BAD+intro+blog+post+%25286%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"handmade vintage ivory tongue brooches"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Well I must sign off and rest as the new year is approaching quickly, we have a big year ahead of us and I plan to try my hardest to focus and <em>stay</em> focused on my creative tasks ahead. I hope I can inspire others to make things and to just sit down and play, experiment & explore! I am hopeful and excited for many new discoveries in 2013, mainly personal ones and hopefully very adventurous ones!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>Please take care and be safe this new year's eve </strong></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><em><strong>and I will see you in 2013 with my first BAD brooch!</strong></em></span></div>
Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-52596976924545844032012-08-06T22:03:00.001-07:002012-08-29T10:11:30.652-07:00Blog Carnival: August 2012<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Topic:<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> <span style="color: #990000;">"The Five Senses"</span></span></span></span><br />Describe your 5 senses. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Which are your favorites and least favorites?</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this was taken on a riverbanks edge, it reminded me of sensory hairs....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">This months topic is a hard one for me. It's very hard for me to pick any favorites as they all are so vital to me in very different ways!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">Sight~</span></strong> I cherish my sight, I have noticed my eyesight getting a bit <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presbyopia" target="_blank">fuzzy</a> over the last few years, I asked the doctor about it and he had said something to this effect, <em>" its an interesting thing, before your eyes get worse they actually get a little better when this change begins..."</em> hunh? well my eyesight prescription had changed a schmidge I guess. So I guess it is happening, things be a changin'!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diablo Dam in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I love the feeling when I see something beautiful whether it be a surreal scene in nature to something as simple as a beautiful pattern of a twisted piece of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/3148957409/in/photostream/" target="_blank">rusty metal</a>, when you can look at an object and it just sucks you into it, you can see the beauty in all its ugly imperfections but they are seemingly perfect when sought out and individualized. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFG_KKlMa6GTCGtbfLveeLnzuQlDZYTyZSlWUr6cYAMDRJV9fq0pLItC_UAfTXpjBZFxfVqxBC4YJ87Xa194CvJRxNicNgKESsHYz1RQu3ZSNEduJ30tbF4ihiuaFtAelDKh4dXbXgLhn/s1600/8-6-12+object.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWFG_KKlMa6GTCGtbfLveeLnzuQlDZYTyZSlWUr6cYAMDRJV9fq0pLItC_UAfTXpjBZFxfVqxBC4YJ87Xa194CvJRxNicNgKESsHYz1RQu3ZSNEduJ30tbF4ihiuaFtAelDKh4dXbXgLhn/s400/8-6-12+object.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Here is an example of a object I picked up on a walk last week...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I do know now what it is, can you guess!?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Alot of what I see and experience in nature or see in old mechanical tinkerings heavily influences my creative muse. What I see may never directly take a physical shape but it is there in feeling or spirit. For example when I see something old I more than often like the item overall but there will be something as simple as worn away bits of paint from an old toy that has oxidized at the seams, these little nuances are very inspiring to me. I feel eyes' are the old saying "windows to the soul" we are what we see & experience, its what makes each of us so unique! I could go on and on about what I love to look at so I think I better stop for now!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I really dislike seeing anything in pain or suffering, the last horror movies I saw were <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi3313828121/" target="_blank">Saw</a> & <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0450278/videogallery/content_type-Trailer" target="_blank">Hostel</a>, yup I'm feeling I do not need to have those images in my head anymore <em>no thank you very much</em>.... I dislike seeing road rage, and I am not a big fan of seeing massive bunches of maggots either, something about the slithering wall of undulating texture just make me <em>shiver...</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">Sound~</span></strong> I love the sounds of my pups chewing specifically on fat juicy fresh snap peas, it makes this delicious wet <em>crunch-crunch</em> sound when they eat them, It makes me kinda giddy.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> I love the sound of the flute and violin, I love minor scales with dramatic soul pulling notes that can carry you along in an invisible story. I love the sound of the oceans waves rolling in for high tide, it is so powerful, and the sound when the small tinkly pebbles roll in & out with the waves, it's natures music, so rhythmic & relaxing for me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I cannot take the sound of a hurt animal in distress, it actually can take my breath away. I dislike the sound of a blood thirsty <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8CKEBwPlY8&feature=related" target="_blank">mosquito</a> trying to attack me while I'm lying in bed in the dark. I really dislike hearing racist, sexist or homophobic remarks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">Taste~</span></strong> This one I need to try keep simple because if I do not, I will be writing for a long time! For starts I really just love to eat. Yes I do! Here are some of my favorite flavors and textures.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Caviar, the "pop" of rich oily savory goodness you get with <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/5247193459/" target="_blank">salmon eggs</a>, the flavor might seem fishy to some but I think it is more about the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami" target="_blank">umami</a> it has. The little ones from other species of fish are all slightly different in textures, if not mainly because preparations are done so differently on each, but I haven't met a caviar I have disliked yet! I love sushi & sashimi, the fresh fish when served cold is like eating the ocean, unprocessed from sea to mouth. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my birthday Uni 2010.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">One more seafood, fresh <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/3440889493/" target="_blank">Uni</a>, this is one that people either love or hate. I think the best description I have come up with is that it tastes like the sea, creamy and plastic, now I know this sounds just horrible ha ha! It doesn't really taste like that but you just can't describe something that has no standard words for it! It does not taste like chemicals or anything I have ever tasted before, just an unusual flavor that I have grown to love. But I must confess to you, I 've only had it "fresh live" once, and It was the MOST amazing flavors I have ever tasted, but sadly I probably will not ever order it again for personal reasons.</span> <span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> I also love <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mplsnightheron/3620547925/" target="_blank">Thai young coconuts</a>, the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coconut_water" target="_blank">"water"</a> and the opaque tender moist meat (also known as jelly) is ever so slightly sweet and dare I say buttery? it has a slight nutty finish, it has a slight resistance in texture while still being delicate and is best scooped right out of the shell into your mouth! The coconut water is light, rich, fresh, clean and lightly sweet flavor, the water is most delicious served cold. I also love avocados and they are definitely creamy buttery and savory at the same time, just the extra added bonus of summertime! I love raw frozen cashews too, oh man they are the BEST snack!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I dislike <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9PviRmS-Bk" target="_blank">*Natto</a> the Japanese super food, tried it twice just to be sure, but maybe Natto needs to be in the bad smell category, because I cannot honestly tell you how it tasted because it smelled so horrible like feet that were stuck in a pair of wet rotting wool socks for a year... </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">Smell~</span></strong> I love the smell of air at the oceans shore, but you probably knew this already, I love the smell of <a href="http://coolpets4u.blogspot.com/2012/04/kittens-and-puppies-pictures.html" target="_blank">kitten & puppies</a>, yes I'm one of those people. I love the smell of a tomato vine when you rub your fingers on it its such a green bright oddly savory scent. I love the smell of my down pillows, maybe this is a kitten puppy kind of thing... Okee-dokee, here's some weirder ones for ya, I like the smell of an old cars exhaust, I remember when I was a kid (maybe that's what is the matter with me) and we had a kick ass full sized <a href="http://stationwagonforums.com/forums/gallery/showimage.php?i=82" target="_blank">Ford LTD station wagon</a>, it was pea green with wood panelling, (I've <em>had a thing</em> for station wagons ever since.) And another odd one, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35082925@N04/3993911209/" target="_blank">Johnson Paste</a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/35082925@N04/3993911209/" target="_blank">wax,</a> yup, no explanation for this one... Oh and one more, I love the smell of tanned leather, oh yes I do buckaroo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I must confess I am a big sniffer as I hate certain smells and have to steer clear of them. I detest mildewy items, this can be a problem when I run across something I really would love to possess but have found that its nearly impossible to get that old musty mildew out. Its not impossible depending on the item, but just alot of work. I dislike the stinky rag smell meh! meh! meh! Some people just cannot detect this one, its a weird phenomena to me, but my entire family feels the same with this particular one, so I know I am not that crazy, heh heh... I can't stand the smell of the water in our fish tank. I do not like to smell like a greasy stale french fry after being in a restaurant, its in your hair and on your clothes for the rest of the evening, bleh. Ok one more, when a person wears what I consider too much perfume or cologne, achooOO-ey! I do love when I hug someone and I then can smell their scent, I personally feel less is more, ok and more considerate! Ok that's enough sharing of <em>those secrets</em> for now.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One day I hope to try a hot stone massage, it sounds so dreamy....</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #990000;">Touch~</span></strong> Oh... one of my favorite favorite things is a deep tissue back rub first thing in the morning, ahhhh this is my bliss, its such a good pain and It works out my stiff muscles and begins my day with a smile! I have a contraption called a <a href="http://www.backnobber-store.com/pressurepositive-backnobber2.html" target="_blank">"backnobber"</a> and it is kinda awesome if you like the direct point style of pressure, I press slowly and then harder as I breathe into the muscle where it is touching, I swear it helps to release those gnarly knots! I love to touch animals, too much maybe so, I have gotten ringworm from touching stray animals but I just can't help myself to give them a little bit of pleasure when they want to have human contact, so I've definitely paid for it. I have been more selective nowadays because of this. I love the feeling when I press on the top of my fingernails and give a little pressure, is this odd? I dunno, my partner dislikes it when I do it to him he thinks it feels oogie. I love to touch the spot between my dogs eyes, my thumb fits perfect in this crook, i pet up from the nose and up between their eyes where the fur is kinda cowlicked, they seem to like it, snicker... I love to hold my arm (or foot) out the car window especially when its hot and feel the warm wind between my toes and I like to pretend my arms are airplane wings and play with the airs resistance. Everyone does this too right? I love fresh cotton sheets, the feeling when you first make a fresh bed! sigh...</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpEuwCbHrFOvZqn47GewlXlRMCoYb61ZFsbNpGNNSI8T_PmeqVF_a1m75l5k6eMi5kJMVRFpV0v6dIgwZ_WL63ffi5SgzMjp0poijM4PIZEKNK6JJ13RLuf1q3nkHgDJLbD8T4N8Tvt_1/s1600/1-21-12+test+photos+(3).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHpEuwCbHrFOvZqn47GewlXlRMCoYb61ZFsbNpGNNSI8T_PmeqVF_a1m75l5k6eMi5kJMVRFpV0v6dIgwZ_WL63ffi5SgzMjp0poijM4PIZEKNK6JJ13RLuf1q3nkHgDJLbD8T4N8Tvt_1/s200/1-21-12+test+photos+(3).JPG" width="127" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I love the feeling of a particular antler piece I kept, it has a double curve, I love to (not kinky shush!) stroke it, petting it really. I think this is why I love them so much because they just <em>feel so good</em>, they're so tactile and strong and nothing needed to be put to death for it which is pretty cool, and to think every year they make new beautiful crowns! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I dislike to touch polyester fabrics, my hands are generally dry so they tend to snag feeling on these types and its really yucky feeling to me. I am also not too fond of the feeling of pavement on my bare feet, I do not know what it is, we have a person in my family that is allergic to cement, maybe I have a bit of this allergy perhaps too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Well thank goodness I am almost done, I could go on and on forever! But I need to go and make dinner! Thank you, its been a lovely day reflecting on these things. These monthly posts have been great exercises for me, as it forces me to reflect inward which is a great thing for me nowadays, I get to remember old family memories, dig through my archives of photos and stretch my brain! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Thank you again for visiting and I will hopefully see you for next months blog carnival!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">have a lovely day!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">victoria</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Please <a href="http://etsymetal.blogspot.com/2012/08/etsymetal-blog-carnival-august-6-2012.html" target="_blank">click here</a> to see other EtsyMetal team member thoughts on this months topic!</span></div>
Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-45505527000394700522012-07-02T17:18:00.002-07:002012-07-11T14:06:15.557-07:00Blog Carnival: July 2012<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>BLOG CARNIVAL</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>~</strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>July 2012 Topic:<em> </em></strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">This month we were asked to share </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial;"><em>"what is currently going on in our lives!"</em></span></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>***</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>2012 is a course altering year for me. I have come to the conclusion to
make some changes for my future. I recently watched 2 dvd’s, “Fat Sick and
Nearly Dead and Forks over Knives”. These 2 innocent little dvd’s have started a domino
effect of self-reflection and a new hunger for knowledge. Coincidentally this
is happening at a perfect junction of my life. I am going through some physical
changes and not feeling so hot, ok maybe “a lot of hot” excuse the pun, these changes
are allowing me to open my eyes to seeing beyond my plate. If you feel inclined
the first link below is the inspiring joyous dvd of one mans story, but I really highly
recommend them all if you're feeling inspired!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Fat Sick and Nearly Dead <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi123378969/" target="_blank">trailer:</a> </strong></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">watch the FULL movie <a href="http://www.jointhereboot.com/" target="_blank">here!</a></span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Forks over Knives <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi1595710745/" target="_blank">trailer:</a> </strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>The Future of Food <a href="http://www.thefutureoffood.com/Trailer.html" target="_blank">trailer:</a> </strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>FOOD Inc. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi2494759449/" target="_blank">trailer:</a> </strong></span></div>
<br />
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***</strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aCSgzSiCKnXgh4WwIiBEnCBeHMi15kaB4Akg_Hkb5HoHa9WV9KR5uVua-fOrDDsqWb-o1VI4tITzXLVOISDTCwLbaHnSUfl5VpVCCu5hxkXPWQfqED5E6BJxxFSxWywzsHU47fQ8wb_M/s1600/4-28-12+April+tiki+challenge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1aCSgzSiCKnXgh4WwIiBEnCBeHMi15kaB4Akg_Hkb5HoHa9WV9KR5uVua-fOrDDsqWb-o1VI4tITzXLVOISDTCwLbaHnSUfl5VpVCCu5hxkXPWQfqED5E6BJxxFSxWywzsHU47fQ8wb_M/s200/4-28-12+April+tiki+challenge.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>On the creative front, I have found a new outlet! I discovered the joy
of leather this year, and it feels like such a natural addition to my artwork. Both
leather and metalwork feel very similar in a hand tool and intuitive forming aspect
to me. On the same token I would also assume that if you are a leatherworker
that fabricating metal would be just a natural transition for you as well. Ok, now
I must confess to you that I am in love with it, ok I said it… Maybe it is really only puppy love, but I just love how a
tanned hide smells, I love the sensual feel against my skin, I love its
flexibility in my hands, I love its versatility and I do not forget to appreciate, honor and respect
all the animals’ lives that it comes from... <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have no idea where this path will take me but I am going to enjoy every minute of the ride.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***</span></strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Jewelry news, this last year I got accepted into 3 publications; </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.larkcrafts.com/bookstore/?isbn=9781600597909" target="_blank">30 minute rings</a> </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.larkcrafts.com/bookstore/?isbn=9781600594885" target="_blank">30 minute bracelets</a> </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.larkcrafts.com/bookstore/?isbn=9781600598241" target="_blank">Ring a Day</a> </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>All of which are published by Lark Books </strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>and edited by the incredibly diverse <a href="https://www.facebook.com/marthe.levan" target="_blank">Marthe LeVan</a>.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>*** </strong></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UJLttu98BBn7LWtcaDXFKAmWfWPmLncb32GJSUSkAJm6ZNUPBTGAH4JoqpZqYBenGB6m0NkNuubeb2yNT6-lKWTeBpMedCQU4e1NmB2wAmw_hWOHxGnhQZ3a4NbJipKyppHsiAdvAgEv/s1600/mosaic0bc89fef1571e0251f31fecd3abad12c4bda2d91.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="58" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_UJLttu98BBn7LWtcaDXFKAmWfWPmLncb32GJSUSkAJm6ZNUPBTGAH4JoqpZqYBenGB6m0NkNuubeb2yNT6-lKWTeBpMedCQU4e1NmB2wAmw_hWOHxGnhQZ3a4NbJipKyppHsiAdvAgEv/s640/mosaic0bc89fef1571e0251f31fecd3abad12c4bda2d91.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>I have been trying to take all the little thoughts and tid-bits that have been backing up in my brain and setting them free, I am making these pieces just for my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal?ref=si_shop" target="_blank"><span style="color: #e69138;">Etsyshop</span></a>. I have been making big earrings lately, and having a lot of pleasure making them so there will be more, I am not finished by any means with
this run! So my Etsy goal is to try to be more consistent about listing these new
pieces, and I have been a tiny bit better with this lately! I am finding a new clearer
focus this year and thinking about where I actually want to go with my artwork. So
many ideas so little time! I currently started fabricating a new group of work
for <a href="http://www.facerejewelryart.com/artist.php?id=161" target="_blank"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Facere Gallery</span></a> in Seattle that I am pretty excited about too, I am aiming
delivery to the gallery for them very soon.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">***</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ5YeC3ugZIJKQqH_MIhDIqPv5pi7m3fG-weAXjN2i7U2grpWRb8uy2ZbdLta1ZbJKfud-ClB7xTyZiR0FhNcoewwI9s9Du4qgBElm0cTGm_xKSLrLcpgCCeOhiL4YGpNI4fFW0lp_BAB/s1600/6-3-12+nikon+(180)+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsQ5YeC3ugZIJKQqH_MIhDIqPv5pi7m3fG-weAXjN2i7U2grpWRb8uy2ZbdLta1ZbJKfud-ClB7xTyZiR0FhNcoewwI9s9Du4qgBElm0cTGm_xKSLrLcpgCCeOhiL4YGpNI4fFW0lp_BAB/s400/6-3-12+nikon+(180)+-+Copy.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuhKuNvTJck7wWjz04dcCnJvZyL2l3YhJAr3DkxK3mMw5ly6aIPHzZoKhHL83Ub9lTZHND94UQgv9nlzzgflYJwiNi__o_d45SmrP681mQy35z-N0Bgdiyua2in58-TvbiffB_6U_3Ket/s1600/6-6-12+nikon+(80)+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvuhKuNvTJck7wWjz04dcCnJvZyL2l3YhJAr3DkxK3mMw5ly6aIPHzZoKhHL83Ub9lTZHND94UQgv9nlzzgflYJwiNi__o_d45SmrP681mQy35z-N0Bgdiyua2in58-TvbiffB_6U_3Ket/s200/6-6-12+nikon+(80)+-+Copy.JPG" width="191" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>On the fur children front, my sweet Winter bear is still a squishy
cutie face, Ms. Ebi is just as beautifully as sweet as ever and both are in
good health. We have a new addition to the pack as of December 2011. Her name
is Yuki. She is a 3yo brown-eyed white female Alaskan Klee Kai wild child! We are thinking
about agility training for her as she has such a spritely spirit, we see great
things in her future. We love this oh-so-goofy little girl! Go Yuki Go! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ok well we mean, please slow down Yuki,
please! <o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdtNCggwD5q72zFlPMw1oqCP5SYCT-SInpG9lAHTPtjiGyzMPQ-ZU8zGZvsex8F_dvcMjWLwlqd1Uk6pT47qCqnTlk5V6ZeNwAvUQ0ZnrXlhtxy775x1xUUBTedRQB4cmRaVh-NztFePr/s1600/7-3-12+nikon+SP+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQdtNCggwD5q72zFlPMw1oqCP5SYCT-SInpG9lAHTPtjiGyzMPQ-ZU8zGZvsex8F_dvcMjWLwlqd1Uk6pT47qCqnTlk5V6ZeNwAvUQ0ZnrXlhtxy775x1xUUBTedRQB4cmRaVh-NztFePr/s200/7-3-12+nikon+SP+(1).JPG" width="158" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
***</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Speaking of babies, I also have a new camera in the family, a Nikon
D90. Trying to understand what “F stops, apertures, ISO’s and all the secret
settings mean… I will be slowly investigating all the many buttons and dials of this new
wonderful toy, so I imagine there will be classes and lots of photos in my near
future.<o:p></o:p></strong></span></div>
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***</strong></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCTL9vbabqZCIoLf-mjthizfb9ScSsJYTpNnq8Ip9d7zAQasNihHKAoTinaJ6R27n9tHX_4p-UrOd-k6ZPiyKuVcZGDaNpv-kZY0Je36M54VorpotXLRKUgLpNSo2NxZWdSdOVAoRBKdf/s1600/7-3-12+nikon+garden+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCTL9vbabqZCIoLf-mjthizfb9ScSsJYTpNnq8Ip9d7zAQasNihHKAoTinaJ6R27n9tHX_4p-UrOd-k6ZPiyKuVcZGDaNpv-kZY0Je36M54VorpotXLRKUgLpNSo2NxZWdSdOVAoRBKdf/s200/7-3-12+nikon+garden+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Garden front & back! We have added five cute garden boxes to our front
yard this year. We are growing bush & snap peas, red & green shiso,
mixed beets, curly kale, swiss chard, kohlrabi, tomatoes, lettuce, arugula, and
tree collards, basil, mint, parsley, and artichokes. We have planted brussel sprouts &
broccoli along the whole front yard that will hopefully make a wonderfully green prehistoric looking fence in front of the
house. It is a bit of an fun experiment to see what will happen! And in the back we have loads of elephant garlic and regular
garlic, garlic chives, chives, more shiso, and icicle radish. We just cut the elephant garlic scapes off and have been eating their tasty goodness :) </strong></span></div>
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***</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>So this summer will be spent tending the garden, time with my family, playing
and training the dogs, making new jewels, tooling lots of leather, sketching on
beaches, long walks with my camera, relaxing with books and eating lots of
fresh delicious foods while inventing new recipes which I plan on sharing these
discoveries with you <a href="http://takasissies.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">(here)</a> as well!</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Thank you for taking the time to take a peek at what I’ve been up to.</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Until next time!</strong></span></div>
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<strong><span style="font-family: Arial;">***</span></strong></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Please </strong></span><a href="http://etsymetal.blogspot.com/2012/07/etsymetal-blog-carnival-july-2-2012.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>click here</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong> to read other EtsyMetal team members articles.</strong></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>
</strong></span></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-80341686644599268782011-10-16T00:01:00.000-07:002011-10-16T18:55:57.043-07:00EtsyMetal 5th Anniversary Sale!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgov0pj3Ccad5AOsnqmwAwr8Li4JibSgvRs8hggui3mXqQcGzex6JxFyz7EFdk38r1dKmhMncNAR5QDdUlYWzSOmlK6-bFCm5_79ciwO3dqyh0czdr-ShqA-a_b3T1DhLADwwSRRX_jEI-a/s1600/N1154+%25281%2529+-+etsy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgov0pj3Ccad5AOsnqmwAwr8Li4JibSgvRs8hggui3mXqQcGzex6JxFyz7EFdk38r1dKmhMncNAR5QDdUlYWzSOmlK6-bFCm5_79ciwO3dqyh0czdr-ShqA-a_b3T1DhLADwwSRRX_jEI-a/s320/N1154+%25281%2529+-+etsy.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/83961526/n1154-articulated-wing-study-1"><strong><span style="color: purple; font-family: Arial;">"articulated wing study 1"</span></strong></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj19CoW7uJbHDUpeAdHA03L-Ij5oLRE06-Vl3qBs_Li_hWu0aGfxmCIjAXQQrOHOLI3knMWL3n4GN6cfQKVawF-yfBcdZyR8xDPRz-GC6NdD0f-Ec73UzKAKfKfd6VvRtna95t3Lw9hgpDR/s1600/10-14-11+vics+wings+project+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">"new works!"</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">by Victoria Takahashi</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.etsymetal.com/artists_image.html"><span style="color: #0b5394;">EtsyMetal</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"> <span style="color: black;">team members</span> </span><span style="color: black;">have decided to join together and have a "5th Anniversary sale"</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for this landmark year. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So below I compiled a list of all the shops that will be having some kind of special offer, discount, or free shipping, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">just use the coupon code "ETSYMETAL" at checkout time! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have fun looking around!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong>Event runs Sunday October 16th through Saturday October 22nd</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks for visiting!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong><a href="http://www.experimetal.etsy.com/"><span style="color: #741b47;">Victoria Takahashi</span></a></strong> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">*all items in my shop will be 10% off.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(*no discount on reserved lisitngs)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.experimetal.etsy.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">www.experimetal.etsy.com</span></a> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;">***</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">discomedusa </span><a href="http://discomedusa.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://discomedusa.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
metalriot </span><a href="http://www.metalriot.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.metalriot.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Inbar Bareket</span><a href="http://www.inbarbareket.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.inbarbareket.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
markaplan </span><a href="http://www.markaplan.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.markaplan.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
bcyrjewelry </span><a href="http://bcyrjewelry.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://bcyrjewelry.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="http://bethcyrweddings.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://BethCyrWeddings.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Juju By Sarah </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBySarah" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.etsy.com/shop/JujuBySarah</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Maria Goti </span><a href="http://mariagotijoyas.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://mariagotijoyas.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
wildflowerdegsigns </span><a href="http://wildflowerdesigns.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://wildflowerdesigns.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
AdobeSol </span><a href="http://adobesol.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://AdobeSol.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Silentgoddess </span><a href="http://silentgoddess.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://silentgoddess.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Shirlee Grund </span><a href="http://shirleegrund.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://shirleegrund.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Lichen and Lychee </span><a href="http://lichenandlychee.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://lichenandlychee.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Under Distress Jewelry </span><a href="http://underdistressjewelry.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://underdistressjewelry.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Hartleystudio </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/hartleystudio" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.etsy.com/shop/hartleystudio</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
ReaganHayhurst </span><a href="http://www.reaganhayhurst.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.reaganhayhurst.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Panicmama Jewelry </span><a href="http://panicmama.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://panicmama.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
alisa miller </span><a href="http://alisamiller.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://alisamiller.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
LaJoailliere </span><a href="http://lajoailliere.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://lajoailliere.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Cynthia Del Giudice </span><a href="http://cynthiadelgiudice.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://cynthiadelgiudice.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
L. Sue Szabo </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lsueszabo?ref=si_shop" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.etsy.com/shop/lsueszabo?ref=si_shop</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Erin Austin </span><a href="http://www.erinaustin.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.erinaustin.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Jennifer Lawler </span><a href="http://www.jenlawlerdesigns.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.jenlawlerdesigns.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Michele Grady Designs </span><a href="http://www.michelegradydesigns.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.MicheleGradyDesigns.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
SimplyAdorning </span><a href="http://www.simplyadorning.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.simplyadorning.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
NRjewellerydesign </span><a href="http://www.nrjewellerydesign.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.nrjewellerydesign.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Karla Wheeler Design </span><a href="http://www.karlawheelerdesign.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.KarlaWheelerDesign.etsy.com</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quercus Silver </span><a href="http://www.quercussilver.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.QuercusSilver.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <br />
Kathryn Cole </span><a href="http://www.kathryncole.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.kathryncole.etsy.com</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ashley Akers </span><a href="http://www.ashleyjewelry.etsy.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.ashleyjewelry.etsy.com</span></a> <br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ruby Iacuaniello </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/iacua"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.etsy.com/shop/iacua</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sarah Hood Jewelry </span><a href="http://www.sarahhoodjewelry.etsy.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.sarahhoodjewelry.etsy.com</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">Rebecca (Lunasa) </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/lunasadesigns"><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><a href="http://www.lunasadesigns.etsy.com/">www.lunasadesigns</a></span><a href="http://www.lunasadesigns.etsy.com/"></a><span style="font-family: Arial;"><u><span style="color: #0066cc;">.etsy.com/</span></u> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">howlindoggie </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/howlindoggie" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.etsy.com/shop/howlindoggie</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><br />
<span class="postbody"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LivelyHood </span><a href="http://www.livelyhood.etsy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #006699; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.LivelyHood.etsy.com</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-46003685290570581342011-06-16T19:07:00.000-07:002011-06-16T20:02:33.614-07:00medallions, tongues and a totem!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SE2D45eLz2TRjxnXgcEOvtsgjruc6zop1Nwc_Yy11Y1-L4AlfnaDLhvkAkewC8HsrnYf5PpljBHFjlkDCzwAjlD3Qv_vKbo1TG5KGkwSQxPyD9moHwUxChaVU-Ql_Gf1R6BQDgNOcRHB/s1600/6-16-11+blog+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8SE2D45eLz2TRjxnXgcEOvtsgjruc6zop1Nwc_Yy11Y1-L4AlfnaDLhvkAkewC8HsrnYf5PpljBHFjlkDCzwAjlD3Qv_vKbo1TG5KGkwSQxPyD9moHwUxChaVU-Ql_Gf1R6BQDgNOcRHB/s400/6-16-11+blog+%25281%2529.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"medallions, tongues and a totem"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">Here is another handful of goodies I just listed in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal?ref=pr_shop_more">Etsy shop</a> :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As always thank you so much for your support, you all make it possible for me to do what I love to do!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you all get to give your poppas big hugs this weekend!</div><div style="text-align: center;">xo</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-51359539519240578042011-06-07T19:16:00.000-07:002011-06-07T21:04:17.994-07:00rockin' some RAD rings<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z0eizDhDkr_A1x0KZAYHuuCW_3oQus-0BNxky4Jvl2c98KmK5NQ4kDBigezAmAQ149RZIXYYutFAoAsQW4rzCceF5oIRtwM-mxUGMcx8-MWsIGChitug23lcWFrUhzKcQYp3ut6DhO9w/s1600/6-7-11+blog-+round+of+rad+rock+rings.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8z0eizDhDkr_A1x0KZAYHuuCW_3oQus-0BNxky4Jvl2c98KmK5NQ4kDBigezAmAQ149RZIXYYutFAoAsQW4rzCceF5oIRtwM-mxUGMcx8-MWsIGChitug23lcWFrUhzKcQYp3ut6DhO9w/s400/6-7-11+blog-+round+of+rad+rock+rings.JPG" t8="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">A new round of RAD rock rings</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">More from the 2010 Ring-a-Day project finally </span><a href="http://www.experimetal.etsy.com/"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">listed</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> slowly but surely It's happening...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">and dang it feels good!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">:D</span></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-51695274636852940882011-05-24T16:52:00.000-07:002011-05-25T02:26:44.401-07:00gesture rings<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy84siKXlXGKutKOnSL_o8Q99piRDL0h4DEsS5J5tuHTwrBW7o9lU6W7b1YL8CH2KjSe4aLMiRTVIjHcfQh8UerKEgmRQ7x7PeOrXwa_yMKVrfi9XuYQ-xFj-BgRdG0fzKF5zx8H7U7ZuJ/s1600/mosaicea4542d80f96b603f15857700a75e80866a219a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy84siKXlXGKutKOnSL_o8Q99piRDL0h4DEsS5J5tuHTwrBW7o9lU6W7b1YL8CH2KjSe4aLMiRTVIjHcfQh8UerKEgmRQ7x7PeOrXwa_yMKVrfi9XuYQ-xFj-BgRdG0fzKF5zx8H7U7ZuJ/s400/mosaicea4542d80f96b603f15857700a75e80866a219a1.jpg" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">1. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4261600616/">rad 9 "nine" (on)</a>, 2. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4434103477/">rad 73 (on)</a>, 3. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/5152408948/">RAD 309</a>, 4. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/5164461593/">RAD 312</a>, 5. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/5220461616/in/set-72157623118182692">RAD 333 </a>, 6. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/5223210824/in/set-72157623118182692">RAD 334 </a>, 7. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/5117107588/in/set-72157623118182692">RAD 298</a>, 8. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4284499964/in/set-72157623118182692">rad 17 (on)</a>, 9. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4438396127/in/set-72157623118182692">rad 74 (on)</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzRSIE7hddGRrdWQTVgz_PyLmRLtkwvFrAKOsRb4isPI__UEiQ20g8HH-F40LJ5fSsGaOi9PbiZrJQPxecTKY6CrJ9_5y8SBhrYTLWxp8z9TJmal062HY5YLlgCBCWVQCkuEBu3KW9qhe/s1600/mosaic4afe5dab71adcb60680f4b6610b8dbebcd0bce87x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUzRSIE7hddGRrdWQTVgz_PyLmRLtkwvFrAKOsRb4isPI__UEiQ20g8HH-F40LJ5fSsGaOi9PbiZrJQPxecTKY6CrJ9_5y8SBhrYTLWxp8z9TJmal062HY5YLlgCBCWVQCkuEBu3KW9qhe/s400/mosaic4afe5dab71adcb60680f4b6610b8dbebcd0bce87x.jpg" t8="true" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I am releasing more RAD rings today. It's funny as it feels like there is this never ending abundance of these rings in my house, they are hiding in my studio, on my walls as decoration, hiding in spots reserved for inspirational objects, they are looking at me as I look for them to gather for you, they are everywhere. I will be listing them here in my <a href="http://www.experimetal.etsy.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Etsy shop</strong></span></a>. Releasing these little oddlet RAD rings are like a big deep breath of fresh air to go with the lovely sunshine around here! Hello Spring! </div></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-22854846583531016802011-04-26T18:03:00.000-07:002011-04-26T18:38:13.800-07:00groupa coppera<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ja0cj6Yjn4tg6yN4uTBkSR7xBMTfi_EjUq4PmtbU9DF6otfbuRyBBRE9fAYOfuwEVEODdpLUfSQjxZ0KHScTQkNc8ZwGpWJOlo8QGBl12LKJPncf1WB6oZlmzsqLSi6DphQcS4UNklcb/s1600/3-28-11+groupa+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="343" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ja0cj6Yjn4tg6yN4uTBkSR7xBMTfi_EjUq4PmtbU9DF6otfbuRyBBRE9fAYOfuwEVEODdpLUfSQjxZ0KHScTQkNc8ZwGpWJOlo8QGBl12LKJPncf1WB6oZlmzsqLSi6DphQcS4UNklcb/s400/3-28-11+groupa+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> A new group of dark richly patinaed Copper pieces. I love Copper always have and always will continue to do so until the end of my days. And that is my final answer :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QMJbPi82WXU4IqSn6Ar-I0wAXM-POZLP75NX95OPlxQuF_ERtxnDE_vI-7SuMDYxDUXoSwBG2XW866mWUZOyBXhuS9-o8VGtdV2fNxW56wM2ZaN9tccEYt_x8vPJCyn9F6yQWu28a62M/s1600/4-26-11+groupa+coppera+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QMJbPi82WXU4IqSn6Ar-I0wAXM-POZLP75NX95OPlxQuF_ERtxnDE_vI-7SuMDYxDUXoSwBG2XW866mWUZOyBXhuS9-o8VGtdV2fNxW56wM2ZaN9tccEYt_x8vPJCyn9F6yQWu28a62M/s320/4-26-11+groupa+coppera+blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I have listed 2 articulated crows from the Charm Swap 7, my little articulated bird charm prototype, a big Fight not Flight #3 ring, and my Ring a Day #363 small wing ring in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal?ref=si_shop"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Etsy shop</strong></span></a> today.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I can finally free these things from my sweaty fisted death grip. Sometimes I just have to emotionally hang onto items for some mysterious reason. If anyone knows the answer to this phenomena please fill me in, I would love to be enlightened so I can change it. I find it kind of tiresome that I cannot let go and detach faster, especially since I am making them with the intent to share with others, doesn't quite make any sense now does it!?</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><em>"Have a great day everyone!"</em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-51837734567767193172011-04-26T16:57:00.000-07:002011-04-26T17:02:31.753-07:00For the love of a nation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTb96CjC2YV6ndb9UrdqmYrzG5inGuNqrUoiRgKpnAHPexaSAi-PIuM9M-RAVUflUxYHkujTYHd2eiuugRX-_gC3hsYd1MCie11urnvvlnV8lAefUccGSjyGOOFAfmJsqSatjB-fu9XYf/s1600/DB1065-1070+%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="340" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTb96CjC2YV6ndb9UrdqmYrzG5inGuNqrUoiRgKpnAHPexaSAi-PIuM9M-RAVUflUxYHkujTYHd2eiuugRX-_gC3hsYd1MCie11urnvvlnV8lAefUccGSjyGOOFAfmJsqSatjB-fu9XYf/s400/DB1065-1070+%25285%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Japan items for donation</span></strong></div><div align="center">I haven't forgotten my promise to myself of trying to continue to help the Japanese people. It is still tearing and ripping at my heart and I want to do what I can however small and insignificant it may seem, it makes a difference I know it can. My friend shared this perfect quote with me today, I think this is exactly what I am trying to say!</div><div align="center"> <span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><strong>"</strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><strong>Even though you can't physically see a tree growing, it doesn't mean it's not."</strong> </span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7yIw-E3SbiK-LJeRUvChz3xWMrWjFCdtUHpIrY45n228fdfpN86a_ksYPyBqgOix9L_gGojC3GrO9LJ72xiszPbEc018gOMTuZOwnOzMWBUuI8mC6siu_7jHsfK9FVxNWYQOs1UvWyay/s1600/DB1061-1064+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv7yIw-E3SbiK-LJeRUvChz3xWMrWjFCdtUHpIrY45n228fdfpN86a_ksYPyBqgOix9L_gGojC3GrO9LJ72xiszPbEc018gOMTuZOwnOzMWBUuI8mC6siu_7jHsfK9FVxNWYQOs1UvWyay/s200/DB1061-1064+%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a>I have made a few more simple bracelets (4) like the first round, they are on a stretchy cord with freshwater pearls and a center piece of coral. And I will be adding a 1.25" Japan button with a graphic that was specially made and generously donated by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bluedogrose/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5143445&shopname=bluedogrose"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Nakisha VanderHoeven.</strong></span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G9Ql8O4Tbb5RK7HGckG18N7OyDed1bY2hpzW7XIW0-K4cv5BWTTUj38y3pwwQ_7gqQ3rj8Z6q1uFF38XQfbzuaT7f9ZvFirQP9Bs8uZQPSE7qGFoObAjAe7AQFBKd7ybY3JIpWFGvajK/s1600/DB1065-1070+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3G9Ql8O4Tbb5RK7HGckG18N7OyDed1bY2hpzW7XIW0-K4cv5BWTTUj38y3pwwQ_7gqQ3rj8Z6q1uFF38XQfbzuaT7f9ZvFirQP9Bs8uZQPSE7qGFoObAjAe7AQFBKd7ybY3JIpWFGvajK/s200/DB1065-1070+%25281%2529.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I also have made a new style of bracelet (6) for the cause. It still has freshwater pearls, but I found a neat crackle resin bead and I also handmade Sterling Silver hook and eye clasps for them. These will also include a 1.25" button with your donation/purchase.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpWqj3zWOnnhzgZHGi-BHwg_LU2VYHS-Sy4nhFshOYYQXEuAqF77XPalS5tktmMf1aeMs7AJEUZ6OdDNl8DaqxP03rHv9JykctGevFXAyK7gWu04JNuWCiGfWt4cg4YvSxMv1mt3MGTsm/s1600/DB1065-1070+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWpWqj3zWOnnhzgZHGi-BHwg_LU2VYHS-Sy4nhFshOYYQXEuAqF77XPalS5tktmMf1aeMs7AJEUZ6OdDNl8DaqxP03rHv9JykctGevFXAyK7gWu04JNuWCiGfWt4cg4YvSxMv1mt3MGTsm/s400/DB1065-1070+%25284%2529.JPG" width="370" /></a></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">You can access my items for donation with this <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5137819&shopname=Experimetal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>direct link.</strong></span></a></div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">"Thank you!"</div><div align="left" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">xo </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-37264849126290632222011-03-28T15:10:00.000-07:002011-03-28T16:31:57.140-07:00Donations to KOBO for Japan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5IjhHcKn7CqGAmB-iCPeP1WBYAiNb8Rcd8wwLVxgIdslWIaeFiej8iDhT5q_XynapWDKb8U57GqddmN8_W1SWhjgBDbidCOVtFPd1Wp-0WURUyDbqGr6lpmejM0nMTAIudAdPafbhXUm/s1600/3-23-11+kobo+donation+japan+%25286%2529+small+-700px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5IjhHcKn7CqGAmB-iCPeP1WBYAiNb8Rcd8wwLVxgIdslWIaeFiej8iDhT5q_XynapWDKb8U57GqddmN8_W1SWhjgBDbidCOVtFPd1Wp-0WURUyDbqGr6lpmejM0nMTAIudAdPafbhXUm/s400/3-23-11+kobo+donation+japan+%25286%2529+small+-700px.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This piece was donated to <a href="http://www.koboseattle.com/category/main.aspx"><span style="color: blue;">KOBO of Seattle</span></a> for their <a href="http://artistsforjapan.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;">"Artists for Japan"</span></a> Benefit Sale last weekend.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Yes I am a little slow in posting here, but I at least wanted to tell you of their wonderful news.</div>KOBO an the community raised over $86k from their benefit sale last weekend, and 100% went directly to the American Red Cross to help Japan! WOOOOOo!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The setup was very cool, the people picked out what they wanted and walked over to a station of computers and they made donations (for the art objects) directly to the Red Cross. It was a very smooth efficient process and it was very well organized.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I thank KOBO for hosting that event, the artists and community for joining together and for the generosity of everyone involved, I just want to say thanks for everyone working together to achieve the same goal, to help others in need, THANK YOU EVERYONE for a beautiful job!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomO-3EMF9WTXtNcAdDFFkUQRIPz_kBpqDSYqh6-nRr9lDuMc6wxLfr9U-YlXvj_J398SbxvItu2PFU_WrEmCuyLi3IPQLxlQWFzt-jMoAmx95WKxkdj_7X2pCot2e84GyBxZPelJ1_qC8/s1600/3-25-11+kobo+donation.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomO-3EMF9WTXtNcAdDFFkUQRIPz_kBpqDSYqh6-nRr9lDuMc6wxLfr9U-YlXvj_J398SbxvItu2PFU_WrEmCuyLi3IPQLxlQWFzt-jMoAmx95WKxkdj_7X2pCot2e84GyBxZPelJ1_qC8/s400/3-25-11+kobo+donation.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Also donated were some buttons that my good friend <strong>Nakisha VanderHoeven</strong> drew. I donated the buttons and she made wonderful little white rabbit graphics. I wanted to let you know that Nakisha will be offering button packs with original artwork in her <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bluedogrose/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5143445&shopname=bluedogrose"><span style="color: blue;">BlueDogRose Etsy shop</span></a> soon, with 100% of the proceeds being donated to Japan. I am hoping to also make some more bracelets/button packs to be donated as well (soon) I will keep you posted on our progress.<br />
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Another raffle held last week by another good friend named <span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: black;"><strong>Diem Chau</strong> of</span> <a href="http://tinyhaus.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-japan.html"><span style="color: blue;">TinyHaus</span></a>.</span> She has raised almost $7k from her raffle, donated to the Japanese Red Cross. I am so honored to be surrounded by good people! Go Diem Go! Thank you sister :) And thank you all for reading!</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-39879039606625131232011-03-19T20:50:00.000-07:002011-04-26T17:01:18.075-07:00A little bit of quartz, mmmm.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJI3fNPudTMWoqLAaxR6NDAFNnnaonBn9JlnfiyTtadsWjwhaYYQPalaqD-bob3K61Lj6Qj2g_vzN54Kzi6TsGOqrjuOiCIs17WcduwSE8KBmh2NxKLTWS9fw14TGGKFeozUWlBA0oUjs/s1600/3-18-11+quartzy+group+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="348" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSJI3fNPudTMWoqLAaxR6NDAFNnnaonBn9JlnfiyTtadsWjwhaYYQPalaqD-bob3K61Lj6Qj2g_vzN54Kzi6TsGOqrjuOiCIs17WcduwSE8KBmh2NxKLTWS9fw14TGGKFeozUWlBA0oUjs/s400/3-18-11+quartzy+group+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I was able to gather up and make a few goodies last week while I was completely overwhelmed with the news from Japan. As hard as it is for me to imagine their pain, fear and strength with dealing with this situation, I <em>must</em> pull myself from my own fear and sadness as I am actually finding myself getting a bit of anxiety and depression happening, my heart feels tight and I still in shock. I was able to make a handful of simple bracelets to collect donations for the American Red Cross, this kept me busy, feeling productive, and feeling like I am doing something to help, so I am going to continue making bracelets for donation this week as well, and will more than likely always have something in my shop now for donation to the Red Cross for the Japanese. I just do not know what else I can possibly do to help so I will make, blog, network as much as I can for now. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh! And I need to shamelessly and proudly plug, that the EtsyMetal team is putting together a really neat raffle to collect funds and as of right now there will be a at least one spectacular charm bracelet for the cause. I will keep you posted as it gets more clearly defined.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Ok a few more mentions of more raffles I have heard of below! Please check them out :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span>EVENTS:</u></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://artistsforjapan.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Seattle Kobo sale March 26/27</strong></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span>RAFFLES:</u></strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://tinyhaus.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-japan.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>TinyHaus</strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.ragpets.com/2011/03/hug-japan.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>RagPets</strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://sewpixie.tinfoildreams.com/blog/shop/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>SewPixie</strong></span></a></div><a href="http://parfae.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/raffle-for-japan/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>ParFae</strong></span></a><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><u><span style="color: #cc0000;">*</span>ITEMS; please see each individuals shop for details:</u></strong></span><br />
<a href="http://search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5143445&shopname=bluedogrose/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>BlueDogRose Original Paintings</strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/catherinechandler"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Catherine Chandler</strong></span></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong> </strong></span><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rubygirl/search?search_query=kikyo&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5127602&shopname=rubygirl"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Shannon Conrad </strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/markaplan/search?search_query=Japanese+Disaster+Relief&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5206102&shopname=markaplan"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Mark Kaplan </strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/nodeform?section_id=6958235"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Konstanze of Nodeform </strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kathryncole/search?search_query=japan+relief&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5303426&shopname=kathryncole"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Kathryn Cole </strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70151752/japanese-disaster-relief-short-sound"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Danielle Miller </strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DownToTheWireDesigns/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5127904&shopname=DownToTheWireDesigns"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Chuck Domitrvich</strong></span></a><br />
<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70230873/japan-relief-tsunamicherry-blossom"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Erga</strong></span></a>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-71259530167761106772011-03-15T22:35:00.000-07:002011-03-19T20:51:17.174-07:00Please Help Japan!<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpEDjlcJwBLqoJPL7ndOEvsUqXoktM69fJAaldYWrI2s8IZKl107pY4-2QGQj-Hnbh-S_ysZ8MFEVYtTK8ns5opxF8II_7XadOXvg8r0iObJlz83ILjZqxaMf-3sZv53AsSoyLs0qIg0c/s1600/B1040-DONATION+3-15-11+japan+aid+listing+%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFpEDjlcJwBLqoJPL7ndOEvsUqXoktM69fJAaldYWrI2s8IZKl107pY4-2QGQj-Hnbh-S_ysZ8MFEVYtTK8ns5opxF8II_7XadOXvg8r0iObJlz83ILjZqxaMf-3sZv53AsSoyLs0qIg0c/s400/B1040-DONATION+3-15-11+japan+aid+listing+%25287%2529.JPG" width="327" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am sure you have probably heard about the recent <a href="http://www.cnn.com/interactive/2011/03/world/slider.japan.photos/index.html?hpt=T1"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">natural disaasters</span></a> that rocked Japan, and also now their <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/15/japan.nuclear/index.html?hpt=T1"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">not so natural disaster</span></a> that is happening. I want to try and help in any small way I can. My heart is truly breaking for the people of Japan.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I have made some token of appreciation bracelets for sale in <span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>my </strong></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5137819&shopname=Experimetal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Etsy shop</strong></span></a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">All the proceeds from these sales (minus fees) will go straight to the <a href="http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main"><span style="color: #444444;">American Red Cross</span></a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Below are some of my friends and the things that they are offering to help fund Japans' Disaster Relief, THANK YOU ! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><u><strong>3-17-11</strong> "update"</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">I have run out of bracelets and have donated all your monies collected to the AMERICAN RED CROSS in the amt of $134.40! yay, thank you all so much! I will be adding new items in the next couple of days, please do not forget to check back, thanks!</span><br />
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<strong><u><a href="http://artistsforjapan.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">3-17-2011 SEATTLE FUNDRAISER EVENT @ KOBO March 26 & 27</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">!</span></span></a></u></strong><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">If interested in donating artwork for sale please go to contact page.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">OR if you want to just do some shopping for a great cause and aquire some beautiful new art, then go visit KOBO! "</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">100% of funds collected will go towards Japan aid."</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bluedogrose/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5143445&shopname=bluedogrose"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Nakisha of</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/bluedogrose/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5143445&shopname=bluedogrose"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">BlueDogRose</span></strong></a> has created the bunny graphic above. She is selling the originals in her Etsy shop and all the proceeds are being donated. </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We also will both be offering 1.25" buttons of her bunny images soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://tinyhaus.blogspot.com/2011/03/for-japan.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Diem Chau if TinyHaus</span></strong></a> is having a raffle! Please see her blog for more information.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"> 2 family portrait sets are up for raffle!? And all the proceeds are going to disaster relief :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/catherinechandler"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Catherine Chandler</span></strong></a> is haviong a "Red Cross Sale" in her shop March 14-31. 10% off everything + $10 of every sale goes to the <a href="https://american.redcross.org/site/SPageServer?s_subsrc=RCO_BigRedButton&pagename=ntld_main&s_src=RSG000000000"><span style="color: #444444;">Red Cross.</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rubygirl/search?search_query=kikyo&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5127602&shopname=rubygirl"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Shannon Conrad from</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong> </strong></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/rubygirl/search?search_query=kikyo&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5127602&shopname=rubygirl"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>RubyGirl</strong></span></a> Is going to donate 20% of the sales of anything from my Kikyo Collection for the month of March.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/markaplan/search?search_query=Japanese+Disaster+Relief&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5206102&shopname=markaplan"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Mark Kaplan</span></strong></a> has three pairs of earrings and he is donating ALL the proceeds to either the <a href="http://american.redcross.org/site/PageServer?pagename=ntld_main"><span style="color: #444444;">american red cross</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> or </span><a href="http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/"><span style="color: #444444;">doctors without borders</span></a>, buyers choose which...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/nodeform?section_id=6958235"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Konstanze from Nodeform</strong></span></a> says through March 31st, I am giving 10% off rings from The FLOW collection and will be donating 10% of the sales of those rings to <a href="http://architectureforhumanity.org/programs/2011-sendai-earthquake-and-tsunami"><span style="color: #444444;">"Architecture for Humanity"</span></a> for reconstruction efforts in Japan. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">*Use coupon code FLOW10TSUNAMI to get your 10% off for all rings from the Flow collection only. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/kathryncole/search?search_query=japan+relief&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5303426&shopname=kathryncole"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Kathryn Cole</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> says 50% of the proceeds from the sale of my cherry blossom bangles and my cherry blossom rings will be donated, ALSO through March 31st, 25% of all other sales in my shop will be to the<span style="color: #444444;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.redcross.org/"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">The Red Cross</span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> for disaster relief in Japan.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70151752/japanese-disaster-relief-short-sound"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Danielle Miller</span></strong></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> has 100% of ALL OF THE PROCEEDS from these earrings will be donated to the American Red Cross: Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami fund. </span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70230873/japan-relief-tsunamicherry-blossom"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Erga</span></strong> </span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">will be donating 50% of each sale of this specially made piece to a Japan relief fund for each necklace purchased.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DownToTheWireDesigns/search?search_query=japan&search_type=user_shop_ttt_id_5127904&shopname=DownToTheWireDesigns"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>Chuck Domitrovich of DownToTheWireDesigns</strong></span></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> is offering I am going to give ALL of the proceeds from these earrings to your choice of either Doctors Without Borders or the American Red Cross to help fund their efforts in assisting with the relief effort in Japan.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><strong>***Please be careful about internet fraud and donate only to reputable well known non-profit organizations***</strong></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif; font-size: large;">*****THANK YOU!*****</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</ul><ul></ul>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-71074774409003864422011-03-15T12:23:00.000-07:002011-03-15T12:26:51.386-07:00Charm Swap 7 has begun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tQel2klDvYu5bP8FjGO_uFzSJv9tcEl6mJ-JNCQuTxAC_zFYLV1z7zCAJpQiZSkSB6fpFEcQIwPftxUhW39SxggOKL41J_CPPl34AKhO_nwb8R4imei4rJRkKMctbAietviF7OJZ2Tag/s1600/mock++up-+vic+cs7+bp1+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="342" q6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8tQel2klDvYu5bP8FjGO_uFzSJv9tcEl6mJ-JNCQuTxAC_zFYLV1z7zCAJpQiZSkSB6fpFEcQIwPftxUhW39SxggOKL41J_CPPl34AKhO_nwb8R4imei4rJRkKMctbAietviF7OJZ2Tag/s400/mock++up-+vic+cs7+bp1+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Charm Swap 7 has begun and </span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I am working on a articulated bird themed piece this round. I'm just working out all the little design kinks before I dive in and make the 22 pieces. It is a really exciting project for me to be involved in. The best part for me is the anticipation as we watch everyones charms start to evolve into mini works of art! And of course getting the package in the mail and opening the box and touching them all for the first time!</span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6okzsviSeVuw8h0MsAxXxdokkngjuFkR_Mt6MoF3ah_FS77m_p-SACuO4iJo_hUQsNgXrIoKlhIKfvkdVIDtj1yHXIQs2XIsPkLVle9-ko-65YQksvrfLuP-3p-T6HNeVcnOKfrPUTuNY/s1600/mosaic3b91ceee819d0eb106a3c2f1b9a435f502f89067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6okzsviSeVuw8h0MsAxXxdokkngjuFkR_Mt6MoF3ah_FS77m_p-SACuO4iJo_hUQsNgXrIoKlhIKfvkdVIDtj1yHXIQs2XIsPkLVle9-ko-65YQksvrfLuP-3p-T6HNeVcnOKfrPUTuNY/s400/mosaic3b91ceee819d0eb106a3c2f1b9a435f502f89067.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charms from Swaps 1,2,3,4,5, & 6!</span></strong></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Above are the charms I have made so far for the 6 EtsyMetal team swaps. And below are the teams completed bracelets. Bracelets 1-4 are living in their new homes now and <u><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/70031878/etsymetal-charm-swap-6-bracelet"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>CS6 necklace/bracelet</strong></span></a></u> was just listed yesterday! And CS5 Bracelet will also be listed soon!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">ALso if you want to keep up on the teams progress with me take a <a href="http://etsymetal.blogspot.com/2011/02/etsymetal-charm-swap-7.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">peek here!</span></strong></a></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfvoveFQDhIwkZc6xy935n9XJKE9kcxujKuA_j2VRRT4BjmbtexxZIKMPCAxX63C0fSeh4MF1V2Q-6RO0kbSPstvsQtag6JjHj9amciGtK_S-Qw7J9FnkFT8Qt_hVZCNaRdR_f2RloD5T/s1600/CS+1-6+mosaic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxfvoveFQDhIwkZc6xy935n9XJKE9kcxujKuA_j2VRRT4BjmbtexxZIKMPCAxX63C0fSeh4MF1V2Q-6RO0kbSPstvsQtag6JjHj9amciGtK_S-Qw7J9FnkFT8Qt_hVZCNaRdR_f2RloD5T/s400/CS+1-6+mosaic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-51127947405065710592011-03-03T16:29:00.000-08:002011-03-15T17:40:25.062-07:00Ring-a-Day, The Aftermath.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJalqIgTV1eaVQTYNcGwb8vKzb8DfS2CEH29gQ446uRoT7TI8eOZrZsgHyi4DyU0mO6umjQK9b4DCj6FMVZKpPNOVRgFi0tbYnh3NHKNB8qGQ66SbrTaH7yqFjHfKejtCF2qJ0NorX0ao/s1600/2.01.11+rads+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZJalqIgTV1eaVQTYNcGwb8vKzb8DfS2CEH29gQ446uRoT7TI8eOZrZsgHyi4DyU0mO6umjQK9b4DCj6FMVZKpPNOVRgFi0tbYnh3NHKNB8qGQ66SbrTaH7yqFjHfKejtCF2qJ0NorX0ao/s400/2.01.11+rads+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/rad2010/pool/"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>Ring a Day Project 2010</strong></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Well after making only about 215 rings out of 365 for this online challenge I was enlightened and I was a also bit relieved. Overall I believe in my heart that this was a fantastic learning experience for me and basically I really just had alot of pure darn fun exploring the many facets of what can be constituted as a ring!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong>Q:</strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">What does a girl do with over 200 rings?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>A:</strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">She sells some.<br />
She trades some.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She keeps quite a few.<br />
She gifts some to friends.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She submits some for shows.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She promos some for giveaways!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">She donates proceeds to animals foundations.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She leaves them in random public places, just for fun.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OZfSpZWjipeLIsz3TE2V-vW2fqeDiUFzV88e_y70PqfEORWoH-VX1aeDXzp-S4jt_RF8sJMRXtJndFNdnIQ2yWBTbGrCz2dLGno3fXjQK8clX34Uzbf857bkJFzqa2y3ze6Cq_eVO1Yp/s1600/mosaice0301509e4bb5860f1bb646162387fbd820a59ec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9OZfSpZWjipeLIsz3TE2V-vW2fqeDiUFzV88e_y70PqfEORWoH-VX1aeDXzp-S4jt_RF8sJMRXtJndFNdnIQ2yWBTbGrCz2dLGno3fXjQK8clX34Uzbf857bkJFzqa2y3ze6Cq_eVO1Yp/s400/mosaice0301509e4bb5860f1bb646162387fbd820a59ec.jpg" width="133" /></a></div> These pieces on the left are the ones that have been listed in my <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Experimetal Etsy shop</span></strong></a>, I will be slowly uploading most of them in small batches at a time.<br />
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Some of my Ring-a-Day pieces will be featured in the <a href="http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/imageviewer.asp?ean=9781600597909&imId=83294344"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Lark 30 minute ring book</span></a> (launch April 2010) and Ring a Day project (I think the launch is fall 2011)<br />
I will have a small handful of these that will be in the Ring a Day show held at the <a href="http://www.punchgallery.org/about.html"><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;">Punch Gallery</span></a> in Seattle, being held in conjunction with the <a href="http://www.snagmetalsmith.org/.docs/pg/10350"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Society of North American Goldsmiths</span></a>(SNAG) Conference 2011.<br />
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And also I have a few select pieces at the <a href="http://www.facerejewelryart.com/artist.php?id=161"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Facere Gallery</span></a> in Seattle.<br />
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So yes it has been an exciting year being involved with this project and I feel I have gained so much from participating in this worldwide online challenge, thank you to all who were so supportive and participated through out the year! Bravo!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHL82j25xTCAoeugLuneQe16HA3-WSTiomM8up1FI2UUYDJ2jMWnuRDZ1KtoCu4cLDq8kDSs_YH77wkcujwSykRLvWtQxCqVdpvIflVM5YxWiTbD1jdo9TP6LyQ8WQ2YrWG-3v60YFCeYQ/s1600/3-3-11+mosaic+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" l6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHL82j25xTCAoeugLuneQe16HA3-WSTiomM8up1FI2UUYDJ2jMWnuRDZ1KtoCu4cLDq8kDSs_YH77wkcujwSykRLvWtQxCqVdpvIflVM5YxWiTbD1jdo9TP6LyQ8WQ2YrWG-3v60YFCeYQ/s400/3-3-11+mosaic+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">below are the direct links to the rings I listed today :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69286245/r1030-little-labbie-sz-5?ref=v1_other_2"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1030</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <span style="color: black;">Little labbie,</span><strong> </strong></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69286704/r1031-little-labbie-sz-1075?ref=v1_other_2"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1031</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <span style="color: black;">Little labbie,</span><strong> </strong></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69287258/r1032-bunny-donation-ring-sz-775?ref=v1_other_2"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1032</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: black;">Bunny, </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69288487/r1033-ladybug-sz-6?ref=v1_other_2"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1033</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong> </strong><span style="color: black;">Ladybug,</span><strong> </strong></span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69289332/r1034-greenie-sz-65"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1034</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <span style="color: black;">Greenie,</span> </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69290017/r1035-moon-eyes-sz-6-ish?ref=v1_other_2"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1035</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: black;">Moon eyes, </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69290530/r1036-hans-sz-85?ref=v1_other_2"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1036</strong></span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span><span style="color: black;">Hans, </span><a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/69291388/r1037-phallus-pearl-sz-8"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>R1037</strong> </span></a><span style="color: black;">Phallus.</span></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-16251195024929001792010-11-08T13:26:00.000-08:002010-11-16T22:44:19.609-08:00Blog Carnival: November 2010<div style="text-align: center;">"So what is a Blog Carnival you ask?”</div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">It is EtsyMetal members who write an article on the same topic on the first Monday of each month.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOWANJWWLVQpNsFFMY0r2kFRGEFxA2h-pc1wVAkwDhwFt6D5GG_ehFgy0wufS9896EozVuQJqeYr4J9LKs10r24nZio1c6Ed-fgawg04qjUL6qnOJN0a7546ttjWZEAeR7K6CPzwqpsQN/s1600/11.08.10+EM+Blog+Carnival.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOWANJWWLVQpNsFFMY0r2kFRGEFxA2h-pc1wVAkwDhwFt6D5GG_ehFgy0wufS9896EozVuQJqeYr4J9LKs10r24nZio1c6Ed-fgawg04qjUL6qnOJN0a7546ttjWZEAeR7K6CPzwqpsQN/s400/11.08.10+EM+Blog+Carnival.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">November Topic: </span></strong><br />
<strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">"Business Success Secrets"</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">What does it mean to you to be "successful" in business as an artist? How do you walk the line between creativity and profitability? What is the best thing you've done for your business? </div><br />
These were the question asked of us to talk about this month. Well this is another difficult one for me as I do not consider myself "in business." So I will try and describe how I am successful emotionally which makes me feel successful in my heart.<br />
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Success for me is not measured in a monetary way at this point in my life. Success is being happy and productive with my artwork and home life, to achieve the feeling of accomplishing something I am proud of really is the bottom line for me right now. I do not consider my jewelry a "business" and to say it out loud right now it really kinda turns me off to think of it in that aspect. I am one of those people who does not make a production line at this time, although perhaps in the future I will take this road again.<br />
I make a few of this and a few of that depending on what I am craving to make at the moment. I know it is not the best way to function by any means for finances sake, but I pay my bills, feed my pets and fill the fridge and I am able to keep my sanity and I am relatively very satisfied with my life.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I am still learning about myself and figuring out and what direction I want to go. I thought I would have it all figured out but I do not. So I am guessing my journey and success in life will be the never ending learning process of growing and learning everyday to become a better person.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span style="font-size: large;">"Success for me is having a happy passionate loving heart."</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;">I wish oodles and oodles of success to everyone! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Thanks for visiting me!</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">Below are other EtsyMetal team members thoughts on this months interesting insights on how other jewelers view this topic!</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsymetal-blog-carnival-font-face-font.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">2Roses</span></a></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://ridgeschool.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsymetals-blog-carnival-topic-for-this.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jenny</span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong><br />
<a href="http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsymetal-blog-carnival-11810-business.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> <strong>Beth Cyr</strong></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://twigsandheather.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-carnival-etsymetal-team-what-does.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Twigs and Heather</span></a></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsy-metal-blog-carnival-nov-2010.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>Purified Bill</strong> </span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/2010/11/blog-carnival-business-success-secrets.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Nina Gibson </span></a></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://nodeform.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsymetal-blog-carnival-business.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Nodeform</span></a></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><a href="http://indiaylaluna.blogspot.com/2010/11/etsy-metal-blog-carnival.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Gaby / India y a la Luna</span></a><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong><br />
<strong><a href="http://norsolajohnson.blogspot.com/search/label/blog%20carnival"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Norsola </span></a></strong><br />
<a href="http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-carnival-back-to-school.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stacey Hansen </span></strong></a><br />
<strong><a href="http://esdesignsjewelry.com/blog/?p=635"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Elizabeth Scott</span></a></strong><br />
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</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-71252382902265328622010-10-22T15:53:00.000-07:002010-10-24T10:40:38.257-07:00Blog Carnival: October 2010<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">"So what is a Blog Carnival you ask?”</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">It is EtsyMetal members who write an article on the same topic on the first Monday of each month.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB4pVjlOJc7H5DYgQT94eeOnrhbvtLoUaj9CJ4z5e54DJQYrsOFTHNX4GRmG9bq-zUYVB49F97XwfTUH_COxRVPlmTXbDbIq5Hihrkw19wLZOhUq5xe2jdBRuSfgVxyvZgNQ8D55_KCWG/s1600/Copy+of+em+logo+my++blog+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><img border="0" height="327" nx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqB4pVjlOJc7H5DYgQT94eeOnrhbvtLoUaj9CJ4z5e54DJQYrsOFTHNX4GRmG9bq-zUYVB49F97XwfTUH_COxRVPlmTXbDbIq5Hihrkw19wLZOhUq5xe2jdBRuSfgVxyvZgNQ8D55_KCWG/s400/Copy+of+em+logo+my++blog+copy.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: large;">October Topic: "EtsyMetal & I"</span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hi, my name is Victoria Takahashi and I am an addict. OK I'll admit it! I love my street team and what it has done for me. This month's blog carnival for EtsyMetal is in celebration of our 4th anniversary.<br />
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Below are 3 questions we were asked to reflect upon and share our thoughts.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>When/Why did you join? </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am a founding member of EtsyMetal, I was invited in by <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/DownToTheWireDesigns"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Chuck Domitrovich</span></a> in October of 2006. He actually convinced me to join persuading me with the thought of having a support system within an Etsy based online community of other metalsmiths. He was also the one who convinced me to join Etsy in the first place too! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Is it what you expected? </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Both yes and no. I'd have to say it's better than I had expected, I have gotten so much from this group in terms of emotional and technical support, comradery, friendship, accountability, resources, challenges and so much more. We have grown as a group and have had normal growing pains and an innumerable amount of great wonderful moments. We are a work in progress and are learning as we grow and I am honored to be a part of this community.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>What does it mean to you to be a part of the team?</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">It means a lot. For reasons I have mentioned above. To reiterate a little bit deeper, I have met many of our team members in person. If I had not gotten the chance to talk and interact and get to know them in our forum beforehand I would probably never of even crossed paths with most of these people and therefore missed out on meeting some pretty special folks. A very important personal aspect of being on the team for me is I use it as my place to share thoughts and to ask questions and to answer them and help where I can. I also ran the EtsyMetal team challenges committee and that was a very inspiring project to be involved with. Currently I am on a bit of a hiatus from running the challenges committee, as I am trying to work out some time organizations problems, hee hee, so thanks <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/NinaGibsonDesigns"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Nina Gibson</span></a> & <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Inbarbareket"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Inbar Bareket</span></a> for taking that on! I have one more thing to add, I personally am not on this team for publicity or advertising, I believe there is a misconstrued public image that that is what the team is about. In <em>my personal experience</em> I find for me that we are more of a personal social network of metalsmiths.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">If you want to find out more about EtsyMetal or how to sign up for the bi-annual jury please go to this <a href="http://www.etsymetal.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>link!</strong></span></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">And please see some more team members' response to this months topic! <em>"Thank You!"</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://catherinechandler.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-carnival-october-2010-etsymetal.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">catherine chandler</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/2010/10/etsymetal-me.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">danielle miller jewelry</span></strong></a><br />
<a href="http://www.inbarbareket.net/2010/10/blog-carnival-october-2010.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">inbar bareket</span></strong></a><br />
<a href="http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/10/wow-how-i-grown.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">wildflower designs</span></strong></a><br />
<a href="http://discomedusa.typepad.com/discomedusa/2010/10/etsymetal-me.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">discomedusa</span></strong></a><br />
<a href="http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-carnival-etsymetal-me.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">nina gibson designs</span></strong></a><br />
<a href="http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/2010/10/etsymetal-blog-carnival-10410.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">bcyr jewelry</span></strong></a></div><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"></span>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-27941631270265167852010-09-05T21:58:00.000-07:002010-09-07T11:49:15.597-07:00Blog Carnival: September 2010<div style="text-align: center;">"So what is a Blog Carnival you ask?”</div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is EtsyMetal members who write an article on the same topic on the first Monday of each month.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUral8CXiTGgiea7xDuMpVU1lNd0dqwJNApFv2htYadC1S7x2dEt7WM9YYFFb_xOA54KATlP-Sk6Zm19mHknb5F0fj3sZuhGQvvDohfTTZB_4GKOrCcu9v6qcwyl454BuvrMP27W1ZDzE/s1600/9-2010+blog+carnival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUral8CXiTGgiea7xDuMpVU1lNd0dqwJNApFv2htYadC1S7x2dEt7WM9YYFFb_xOA54KATlP-Sk6Zm19mHknb5F0fj3sZuhGQvvDohfTTZB_4GKOrCcu9v6qcwyl454BuvrMP27W1ZDzE/s400/9-2010+blog+carnival.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">September Topic: <span style="color: #990000;">Back To School</span></span></strong> </div></div><br />
<strong><em>Where did you go to school?</em></strong> "Seattle."<br />
<strong><em>Are you still a student?</em></strong> "Always, I am a student of life."<br />
<strong><em>What kind of student were/are you?</em></strong> "Excellent."<br />
<strong><em>If you had the opportunity to go back to school, would you?</em></strong> "Eagerly"<br />
<strong><em>Where would you study?</em></strong> "Wherever it took me."<br />
<strong><em>What would you study?</em></strong> "One of my main passions and curiosities would lead me towards an artistic creative education like graphic design, product development, painting, sculpting and fashion design. Other top choices would include archeology, astronomy, science, ethology and psychology. If you know me I am a question ask-er, constantly asking and wondering "why" things are, so I think this is why the science aspect is so interesting to me. There are many more "art and creative" interests I have but these were the first that came to mind. <br />
Sorry this months blog carnival post is a bit short! I REALLY love what I do now and I feel secure that I would not have any problems finding another outlet if I felt the need to expand, but at the present I am happy and satisfied and not done exploring my current love.Thanks for checking in! <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong><u>Below are other EtsyMetal members thoughts about school!</u></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ridgeschool.blogspot.com/2010/09/goin-back-to-school.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Jenny Baughman</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-carnival-090510-back-to-school.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Beth Cyr</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://metalriot.blogspot.com/2010/09/school.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Thomasin Durgin</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/2010/09/back-to-schooluhhhhh-no-thanks.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Danielle Miller</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-carnival.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Kathryn Cole</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://nodeform.blogspot.com/2010/09/etsymetal-blog-carnival-back-to-school.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Kostanze </span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">C</span></strong><a href="http://discomedusa.typepad.com/discomedusa/2010/09/etsymetal-blog-carnival-back-to-school.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">aitlyn</span></strong> <strong>Davey</strong> </span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/09/blog-carnival-back-to-school.html"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Stacey Hansen</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://annhartleystudio.blogspot.com/"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Ann Hartley</span></strong></a> </div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-27533048819708837752010-08-07T21:27:00.000-07:002010-08-10T17:50:56.506-07:00Project Runway: Season 1: Episode 1:<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9nQeewxmGgYx0YMsm-ySbpKOzuq7_DONReT0U5tM8IVzhvqQ4na4pZ4t8sLkYz8BIrZheU8_8eACQTbwJSXRE973oCv4AqkoKlfvdFQceQtImWfKs7pIU-d-YjIs5Bs1hN89z3dRnAHI/s1600/PR+1.1+vic+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9nQeewxmGgYx0YMsm-ySbpKOzuq7_DONReT0U5tM8IVzhvqQ4na4pZ4t8sLkYz8BIrZheU8_8eACQTbwJSXRE973oCv4AqkoKlfvdFQceQtImWfKs7pIU-d-YjIs5Bs1hN89z3dRnAHI/s400/PR+1.1+vic+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh here we are again for Project Runway Season 8! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/video/full-episodes/episode-1/and-sew-it-begins">See the first episode on MyLifetime here.</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_0g0p4xCAUi4utVzob0WbWBADAmjjFp75Gy51BOqMXB31uyc1c65Z9xcyOHgPsKH41mNA8IoX98b9nC1wJlSs3OZzuBUsD4d2jimivvKFCLhuvKDWm4u6MbqZ683qGSUwERlAOofdj4E/s1600/PR+1.1+vic+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_0g0p4xCAUi4utVzob0WbWBADAmjjFp75Gy51BOqMXB31uyc1c65Z9xcyOHgPsKH41mNA8IoX98b9nC1wJlSs3OZzuBUsD4d2jimivvKFCLhuvKDWm4u6MbqZ683qGSUwERlAOofdj4E/s200/PR+1.1+vic+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a> We hear it is going to be a very emotional dramatic season per the gossip forums, and I hope hope hope the challenges are more like the older PR seasons, more wacky wacky please! I will be crossing my fingers every week! SO, a little birdie gave us (<a href="http://www.etsymetal.com/about/">EtsyMetal team</a>) a heads up on what the first challenge was going to be, so it gave us 2 extra weeks to prepare. On the show, the challenge was to:</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"The designers must use a garment from another designer's suitcase to create a new look." SO we had members sign up and submit scrap metal they wanted to give up and we drew names. We traded and we all gave new life to someone elses scrap, we recycled their garbage into new wonderful pieces of jewelry! I will be blogging for the team as all the pieces roll in and I will add a link here as soon as it is done.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxagWJ7KC5tT7CLBx_NTV65oEZvN_MGnY7F5IzvMLDiYnoftQgbPc_yRnNYzdVALMxm0p-TpMhbnbI2rhEDirvJE-OorT35R0Kc68yUoAjO15lYLOGcrgUgl7Wrayh-8nergr4K-P0G5S/s1600/EMPR+8.1+kira+scrap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxagWJ7KC5tT7CLBx_NTV65oEZvN_MGnY7F5IzvMLDiYnoftQgbPc_yRnNYzdVALMxm0p-TpMhbnbI2rhEDirvJE-OorT35R0Kc68yUoAjO15lYLOGcrgUgl7Wrayh-8nergr4K-P0G5S/s200/EMPR+8.1+kira+scrap.jpg" width="200" /></a>I drew jewelry designer <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/KiraFerrer">Kira Ferrer</a>, she gave me 3 water casting drops and 2 panels of sheet with soldered wire on it. I didn't have a game plan at all before I started and was hoping the pieces would reveal themselves to me. I took her water drops and smashed them with a hammer to start the flattening process, then I put them into my rolling mill to get a smooth uniform finish. When I pulled them out I saw very unique beautifully inspiring patterns! I then held them and pondered for a long time. I then thought I would bezel set them. I made the bezels and then it all slowly fell into place, I just kept seeing flowers, I wanted them to be a set, so I kept all the concept the same but worked with each as an individual. I am very happy with how they came out. I also have started on the 2 panels she gave me, they will be earrings and I will post them here as soon as they are finished :) </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"><u>8.10.10</u> </span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> "Oh My God, It's a Double Rainbow" </span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="font-size: large;">earrings are done!</span></strong> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpg9MXjcfxEpgXrM_fOs_3LSrFN-TzU_MVc_QFV71UgAJjn7oFWbtXg4hSBftWAfL_M3yWltm9CVK8rt5ytnPWBtarTX-8kdhvXZfA5VXovwCvljm1-ruFrVQfHadwpzn70_6I88YLWJM/s1600/8.10.10+double+rainbows.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" mx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpg9MXjcfxEpgXrM_fOs_3LSrFN-TzU_MVc_QFV71UgAJjn7oFWbtXg4hSBftWAfL_M3yWltm9CVK8rt5ytnPWBtarTX-8kdhvXZfA5VXovwCvljm1-ruFrVQfHadwpzn70_6I88YLWJM/s400/8.10.10+double+rainbows.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Two pairs! I sawed apart the panels Kira gave me and I have had that hilarious video from YouTube on my mind since I saw it, I sit and giggle evreytime I hear it in my head, so to honor him and make perfect use of Kira's scrap I made these earrings! I hope you watch the video, it takes a bit to load but it is really funny, supposedly he is not on any drugs, hard to believe but makes it even more cuter than ever than! here is the video link to...<span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_2057698257"><strong><span style="background-color: white; color: #3d85c6;"><em>"Oh My God, It's a Double Rainbow"</em></span></strong></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mx="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGy_M9h8S1NdXyZlj_6EnD8a63-C_WP-sRaF-sq5rkKeG6mrfAEd0JbV_1zYAslRUizolipu1UXskFriJpCEsT2mBb02rirEj1MqK2AWQjSSB4aNmxsmUu1vtbCZHSS8J1qQYhkxOdye2X/s400/8.10.10+(32).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">NEXT weeks Episode 2: "<span style="color: #990000;">Larger than Life!"</span></span></u></strong></div>*see My Lifetime video <em><a href="http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/project-runway/season-8/video/full-episodes/episode-2/larger-than-life">here.</a></em><br />
<em>The Project Runway Challenge:</em> The designers were asked to create a look that defines the Marie Claire woman. The winning look will be featured on a "billboard" in Times Square.<br />
<strong><em>The EtsyMetal Translation:</em></strong> To make a mini billboard, use a base of 1 x 2" inches of any material and build your piece on or around this rectangle shape!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong>See you next week! Thanks for visiting my blog :)</strong></em></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-86642051347121386502010-08-07T20:51:00.000-07:002010-08-07T20:56:01.808-07:00Little Bounty of Booty coming!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikA40jGBb39J13BqSKDEhF1aWijNk8eFtLeFM0s-9pyT3Sd_vqxXa0rz1vAcj0mFGJG9Hhc3nmQpKLl9BLm9Ng5oxI-8IcRvDMP4wKu0Vp__lLk20ZFz6dR8J-2cRPprOEdM8zpYtE1mMY/s1600/8.8.10+grouping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikA40jGBb39J13BqSKDEhF1aWijNk8eFtLeFM0s-9pyT3Sd_vqxXa0rz1vAcj0mFGJG9Hhc3nmQpKLl9BLm9Ng5oxI-8IcRvDMP4wKu0Vp__lLk20ZFz6dR8J-2cRPprOEdM8zpYtE1mMY/s400/8.8.10+grouping.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A very small offering this week so far. I am particularily fond of the triptych of three flowers I have been working on for the last 2 days. They were from my first Project Runway Challenge this week, yes I am late these were due yesterday, oops. I will be blogging on it soon, gotta run!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">thanks for peeking in!</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-35475583696159470722010-08-02T15:50:00.000-07:002010-08-03T20:21:41.376-07:00Blog Carnival: August 2010<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"So what is a Blog Carnival you ask?”</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It is EtsyMetal members who write an article on the same topic on the first Monday of each month.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*the picture below is from the Sockeye 2009 Salmon season, Sara and David of <a href="http://www.naknekseafood.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">NakNek Seafood</span></a> brought back this booty of roe for me and boy was my family in heaven, it will be a famous food year to remember for sure, thank you!</span></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp11ZM-T6Tm6fCxieeh1FFA6ss_OplK3sMvP8qu2zB-BRC8P6iKnOYfBhONdy2PA3TQmqReCaeHRC97HsnCJfbWV3ABV64F2mDlhR20SIOYxtkYqFDC3VjsHuLlPuFT1wtELiojJlWH3PV/s1600/6.10.09-ikura+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp11ZM-T6Tm6fCxieeh1FFA6ss_OplK3sMvP8qu2zB-BRC8P6iKnOYfBhONdy2PA3TQmqReCaeHRC97HsnCJfbWV3ABV64F2mDlhR20SIOYxtkYqFDC3VjsHuLlPuFT1wtELiojJlWH3PV/s400/6.10.09-ikura+(1).JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">August Topic:</span> Food for Thought...</span></strong></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>...as the sun gently sets it illuminates the frozen soon to be delicious golden orbs...</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>...as I watch and wait anxiously for the thawing to end...</em></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>...alas! it is time to season to perfection!</em></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>...now waiting in anticipation for the golden orbs to orgasmically pop between my teeth ....</em></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em>"What do you eat?"</em></strong> I love most foods, I love salty-savory goodness and garlic. If I could eat just one thing every day and it was nutritionally complete, I would eat Salmon eggs, roe, Ikura, caviar every day all day! But being as it is all fatty oil, I think I would go into cardiac shock and look like a giant oily fish egg :) Homestyle recipe is simply to prepare it by just separating off skien, then adding lemon, shoyu and salt, marinate 1 day. I will get my homestyle Ikura tutorial up soon on the <a href="http://takasissies.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Takasissies Blog</span></a>. If you need the recipe info sooner just email me!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOhBw3D4lzsoWzU6a6RbCvxqATSEBhP2Xy34QQZNfNuz56Cql3EI_15eAFnXeBhyphenhyphenoClXVjUaXY9MP_-JUH8gwCDdb2WopKNC9tM7M1zDPzZ3HoT_Nb1id7wDTu64KqUZWezK2DaCAypHm/s1600/8.14.09-ocean+shores+day+1-+friday+(51).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOhBw3D4lzsoWzU6a6RbCvxqATSEBhP2Xy34QQZNfNuz56Cql3EI_15eAFnXeBhyphenhyphenoClXVjUaXY9MP_-JUH8gwCDdb2WopKNC9tM7M1zDPzZ3HoT_Nb1id7wDTu64KqUZWezK2DaCAypHm/s200/8.14.09-ocean+shores+day+1-+friday+(51).JPG" width="200" /></a>So moving along, hmm, I love almost all seafood, raw, cooked and sometimes even living, hence a lovely <a href="http://www.google.com/images?q=kumamoto+oyster&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=ozNXTKMCjNS1A4D_4doC&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDQQsAQwAw"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Kumamoto oyster</span></a> now and then! I LOVE vegetables, mostly greens like kale, mustards, chard, I also love beans, sprouted Mung beans with black mustards seeds oh my! I am getting so excited thinking about all these yummies now its hard to define favorites, but I will go on. Excuse me for being a bit scattered but there are so many lovely foods to think about! The picture on the left is a home grown Shiso leaf with a pat of rice and a generous dollop of homestyle prepared Ikura. So I love rich foods, but seafood and greens would have to top my list!</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxwA09djq9p6vTseCNslmrmodHLhny41BO4iNDNTLy8K0eXnIgCEo2hL6OjQQ2Md290ia4vQ8A01FiNgmviZEMzpH_7n0oqqLxIU8MFOCz6_Q8aFNzz4Yx5FZG5s6zczLHSW_PPTLo6tN/s1600/8.02.09+natto.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRxwA09djq9p6vTseCNslmrmodHLhny41BO4iNDNTLy8K0eXnIgCEo2hL6OjQQ2Md290ia4vQ8A01FiNgmviZEMzpH_7n0oqqLxIU8MFOCz6_Q8aFNzz4Yx5FZG5s6zczLHSW_PPTLo6tN/s200/8.02.09+natto.JPG" width="168" /></a><strong><em>"What won't you eat?"</em></strong> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I will not eat Natto. Nope, never again, ew... </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">okay <em>IF</em> I was starving I might. For those of you who are unfamiliar with this Japanese food here is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Natt%C5%8D"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"description of Natto."</span></a> Ok on the positive side I think it is kinda classified as a <em>superfood</em>, BUT what you cannot tell from the pictures is the smell, (sour-cheesy-slimy-putrid-feet-times 1000) you cannot feel the texture, did I mention the smell? ok enough, I apologize to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/3602115466/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Natto lovers</span></a> out there may you be forever healthy and strong. The picture on the left was ironically taken exactly 1 year ago when I first smelled and tasted it!? </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I will not knowingly eat eyeballs, penis, balls, colons, stomachs, brains of any animal OR anything that is wiggling, I have to draw the line somewhere. The New Years Day fish, someone always eats the eyeball. Its supposed to be an honor. No thank you. Here is a not so funny at the time story. My cousin had the NYday party at her beautiful house as usual, and one of my second cousins prepared and endless supply of the best tasting chicken nuggets I have ever tasted, everyone was gobbling them up and havind a great old time, near the end of the evening it was revealed that these amazing nuggets were not chicken at all, hmmm. Well it was delicous at the time and knowing now what they were I prefer not to eat that part of a bull. Some people were definately angry, I was a bit of a nasty joke but, I can say now I've eaten <em><span style="color: #0b5394;">"</span><a href="http://whatscookingamerica.net/History/RockyMtnOyster.htm"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Rocky Mountain Oysters</span></a> or Cowboy Caviar."</em> Again, moving along now...another little factoid is that I do not eat sweets like cakes, cookies, pies and candy. I can/will eat it but if I have a choice I prefer not. Well let me rephrase, I DO like some unique pieces of candy usually not your common american variety, and sometimes a slice of (salted) watermelon once in a while can be nice, but shoving a candy bar in my mouth is not even slightly appealing to me, and did I mention part of it has to do with the sticky factor..... I'm a bit sticky-phobic. :) </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswAiXmLHByxUU8v5Og9D-uPTGH1szJBVU_WKuCxPSoGcMHrBJ9wQY3KGTHZqhGtQfLgZhP1pF4X4w5i1_-w13TDFWPSFipAzqqC8D8u31-AijfT9nlzWZCv93Nbl3EaTtw_zhWKKlWG8o/s1600/8.20.09-shiso+corn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhswAiXmLHByxUU8v5Og9D-uPTGH1szJBVU_WKuCxPSoGcMHrBJ9wQY3KGTHZqhGtQfLgZhP1pF4X4w5i1_-w13TDFWPSFipAzqqC8D8u31-AijfT9nlzWZCv93Nbl3EaTtw_zhWKKlWG8o/s200/8.20.09-shiso+corn.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em>"Do you suggest any interesting pairings?"</em></strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It must be one of those weird taste-melding things, but I LOVE eating Sprouts and Fish, it mixes together and makes a unique almost metallic flavor, an unusual little flavor I found I liked. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Oh another I discovered last summer was to take a Tsukemono pickled <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/3736520563/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Shiso leaf</span></a> and wrap it around a cold piece of sweet corn on the cob, yum! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiDnsc0wONysTpagzXOd18LwEVSTV51b8aWHyFnDV0MNetRzAQ-04tAZEvoG-acZRQkr9JMfuUBDUtwV88_SAZ8F3-Ko6rjpRTmmvxPWRenAZKZJBpuclwDgwSZ00RXTz6YkPMuNY2hNv/s1600/6.24.09+tobi-toes+(8).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEiDnsc0wONysTpagzXOd18LwEVSTV51b8aWHyFnDV0MNetRzAQ-04tAZEvoG-acZRQkr9JMfuUBDUtwV88_SAZ8F3-Ko6rjpRTmmvxPWRenAZKZJBpuclwDgwSZ00RXTz6YkPMuNY2hNv/s200/6.24.09+tobi-toes+(8).JPG" width="179" /></a>Then there is Tobitoes (my friend Carter came up w/this cute name) It is a dish that is usually served at my families potluck parties. It is mashed Potatoes, Cucumber, cooled and add BestFoods mayo, splash of seasoned rice wine vinegar and Tobiko, if it is around the holidays you can make it festive and buy red and green Tobiko! Otherwise I just use the normal orange. Creamy, slightly sweet and salty goodness! </div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I could go on but I must stop now! You can find some recipes on the <a href="http://takasissies.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Takasissies Blog</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">,</span> and I will be adding recipes there hopefully this summer I have been saving up lots of pics as I learn to make new foods! </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5txov74sHaMC2UlX1wNi3FiMPHRCUTABpuz4uAfaHas-OpyMZYblnB4qzqVSNYBX10ctybfAoDIQATYISpKM4_psg_hfqpPeiL2-jGc7T6_qpJ6ceCACC9VZNP1xHIxffM-_IEHWBqDH/s1600/fried+elephant+garlic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5txov74sHaMC2UlX1wNi3FiMPHRCUTABpuz4uAfaHas-OpyMZYblnB4qzqVSNYBX10ctybfAoDIQATYISpKM4_psg_hfqpPeiL2-jGc7T6_qpJ6ceCACC9VZNP1xHIxffM-_IEHWBqDH/s200/fried+elephant+garlic.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Personal favorites:</strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Also I need to add this, it may be a tad bit wierd and strong for most, but if you love garlic then this might be for you! I just love it and cannot get enough when I make it, it is fried Elephant Garlic slices! Slice and fry in oil with salt until golden brown, note that they will stiffen up like bacon after you pull them out of the pan and stick onto a paper towel to soak up the extra oil, then voila eat like potato chips! yum!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">OK! ok ok ok, just one more favorite, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shishamo"><span style="color: #0b5394;">"Shishamo!"</span></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You can order it in a variety of ways but my personal favorite is deep fried, no batter added. Shishamo is a little fish(smelt?) that is heavy with eggs, as you can see in the picture. As far as I know they usually are thrown in the fryer frozen. And they <em>always</em> have eggs in them. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgdLYJPQr1S4839dIjVAKLvqqGofP28rskDq_MzuPMV3l_2_qsj0R8XIYM7zEjWW5nyh0pFVnAPjjaq1nRPSvzK1xO9rnG3c_Vm1mwQTTyZnK5BV6y-2qQQd1Mv_6JdHfMf_Y0G7XI5Da/s1600/10.08.07+Shishamo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgdLYJPQr1S4839dIjVAKLvqqGofP28rskDq_MzuPMV3l_2_qsj0R8XIYM7zEjWW5nyh0pFVnAPjjaq1nRPSvzK1xO9rnG3c_Vm1mwQTTyZnK5BV6y-2qQQd1Mv_6JdHfMf_Y0G7XI5Da/s200/10.08.07+Shishamo.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi4h9BJia4zjT2uJ4AlOITMJeBeqkRkNkfWzkwvmD1Bmv5H6w3U8Tx-Hx3T-WOBUZllRxa7v1YFoj6SByBikLwFBr8JbnL7G2XD1st1VphH0tNe9f-kpAkPwJg2CvPUiMwcvJ99k5vd2S/s1600/8.2.10+Takana+roll.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi4h9BJia4zjT2uJ4AlOITMJeBeqkRkNkfWzkwvmD1Bmv5H6w3U8Tx-Hx3T-WOBUZllRxa7v1YFoj6SByBikLwFBr8JbnL7G2XD1st1VphH0tNe9f-kpAkPwJg2CvPUiMwcvJ99k5vd2S/s200/8.2.10+Takana+roll.JPG" width="196" /></a><strong>Latest discoveries:</strong> </div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Takana Roll <a href="http://www.sushilandusa.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">@ Sushiland</span></a>, it is pickled Mustard Greens maki sushi roll. I just bought a little can of pickled mustard greens to try out I hope they are good! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTqaBr_o5HnhhTvnXlByDQrxhoXYxSqSR1yFCkW_beVbsROHXpFGo8_2VB09X5AjUfl420mK-9JbdlJRRhvD7DB6jt0VJdhJH6WIQa4ejF6IBnl6RGn2nIX8zPrOFme8zTMBG8WVvNYeA/s1600/6.17.10+kale+chips+(32).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyTqaBr_o5HnhhTvnXlByDQrxhoXYxSqSR1yFCkW_beVbsROHXpFGo8_2VB09X5AjUfl420mK-9JbdlJRRhvD7DB6jt0VJdhJH6WIQa4ejF6IBnl6RGn2nIX8zPrOFme8zTMBG8WVvNYeA/s200/6.17.10+kale+chips+(32).JPG" width="200" /></a></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://www.google.com/images?q=kale+chips&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=a0FXTMfpFoTksQO_vsDbAg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDgQsAQwAw"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Kale chips:</span></a> dehydrated with red bell pepper, garlic, cashews, nutri-yeast and other goodness. If you get the opportunity to try these somehow I highly reccomend it!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://doubleddmeats.com/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Double D Meats:</span></a> has this incredible Brie, it comes in at random to my butcher and is cut from a giant wheel, it is packaged there in house, there is no info on the label, <em>very</em> inexpensive, and it is the most amazing brie I have had locally yet! Sadly is that they are always out! Its probably best they are always running out. :) </div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em><strong>"What is your favorite studio snack?"</strong></em> </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This is a hard one because while I work I cannot be touching greasy foods, I really do not like to eat with my hands because of obvious reasons. So usually I pick at dried pickled ginger and salted dried plum we call sourballs. It is kind of considered a candy maybe, but it is not really sweet, more of a snack, but really too salty to be considered a food snack. Something you can pick on tiny bites with very strong flavor. Which reminds me, I am out of both right now! Natural Style Beef Jerky is also an easy studio snack for me. I love to eat <a href="http://www.bigs.com/snacks"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Vlasic Dill Pickle Sunflower seeds</span></a> while walking the dogs, but I have not mastered the "mouth only" technique and cannot eat them in the studio, maybe someday! </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So I do not eat in my studio much. My favorite drinks are an Italian soda without cream. I make it with a splash of <a href="http://www.moninstore.com/prod_Lines.html?indexcat=1&indexname=Premium Syrups"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Monin syrup</span></a>, and Club Soda with a <em>tiny drop</em> of Peppermint extract over ice with a straw! These are my current favorite flavors, Lavender, Jasmin and Rose. If you have a <a href="http://www.smartfoodservice.com/locations.aspx"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Cash & Carry</span></a> in your area they have wide selection and cost right under $5 a bottle. <br />
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Ok this is all I have time for I could go on forever and ever, tee hee hee :) Here is a link to my <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/sets/72157602209726279/"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>Flickr Yummy Food File</strong></span></a> if you want to take a peek at more (tr)eats!<br />
Thanks for reading I hope you had fun here, below are some team members that have blogged on the same subject this month, thanks for reading and have a great day and eat lots of great food!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-carnival-food-for-thought.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">nina gibson</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com/2010/08/etsymetal-blog-carnival.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">stacey hansen</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://metalriot.blogspot.com/2010/08/things-i-eat.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">thomasin durgin</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.inbarbareket.net/2010/08/food-for-thought.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">inbar bareket</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.creativedexterity.com/Blog/files/8cd60b25b0de7eeecb525fada2fa5173-6.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">lauren anabela beaudoin</span></strong></a><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;"> </span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;"></span></strong></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://fluxplay.blogspot.com/2010/08/food-for-thought.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">maria whetman</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-carnival-080210-food-for-thought.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">beth cyr</span></strong></a> <br />
<a href="http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/2010/08/food-for-thought.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">cynthia delgiudice</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://annhartleystudio.blogspot.com/2010/08/food-for-thought-what-do-you-eat-what.html"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong>ann hartley</strong></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://discomedusa.typepad.com/discomedusa/2010/08/etsymetal-blog-carnival-food-for-thought.html"><strong><span style="color: #0b5394;">caitlyn davey</span></strong></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-23190089683858950022010-08-02T11:59:00.000-07:002010-08-02T12:18:32.156-07:00Work of Art: Jewelry Challenge: Season 1: Episodes 1-7<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Work of Art aka "WOA" is a new (hopefully continuing) television series that is airing its first season here in 2010. It runs along the genre of Project Runway but is directed towards all medium artists instead of fashion designers. I have been hosting this project with my fellow EtsyMetal team members and it has been a very fun exciting challenge so far, it seems we are able to translate the shows challenges to make them jewelry related quite nicely. Currently we are on Episode 8: "Opposites Attract" to be due on August 5th. Below are the first 7 episodes I participated in. To see ALL the groups pieces please go to the <a href="http://etsymetal.blogspot.com/search/label/Work%20of%20Art"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">EtsyMetal blog.</span></a> Most of these pieces will eventually be for sale in <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong>my Etsy shop.</strong></span></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01es93mQnWTXSW64muT6O5h9Dybyvc-eAusCGJ9YeOP7qQgLc5gGuzjqcAC5wZjiKlgX0__-M9Kk4zuyVnBVfK4mAQ1hg9vq3g-Q92bX2vrx8z2bouZCmd0pwrYZ4777PkORiR68mikNt/s1600/mosaice67738f4b87c5bbb7c96e9d1be7e12fe7afbbc7d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01es93mQnWTXSW64muT6O5h9Dybyvc-eAusCGJ9YeOP7qQgLc5gGuzjqcAC5wZjiKlgX0__-M9Kk4zuyVnBVfK4mAQ1hg9vq3g-Q92bX2vrx8z2bouZCmd0pwrYZ4777PkORiR68mikNt/s400/mosaice67738f4b87c5bbb7c96e9d1be7e12fe7afbbc7d.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">1. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4751313190/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Episode 1- Self Reflexive</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, 2. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4755513111/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Episode 2: The Shape of Things to Come</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, 3. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4755523801/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Episode 3: Judging a book by its Cover</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, 4. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4770259760/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Epidode 4- Sticker Shock! a>, 5. </span></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4800381661/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Epidode 5- Art That Moves You</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, 6. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4819593740/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Epidode 6- Open to the Public</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, 7. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4818971385/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Epidode 6- Open to the Public-pt 2</span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;">, 8. </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4841678455/in/set-72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #0b5394;">Episode 7- Childs Play</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKOyzDDZYk55nPXf5zqmGkAY4m-m89OTNfh3yKHZyLxCqkIUEwdZdgSQd1iR2lAONvIJDcejvB9YJaXLLQ907inZDTmHpxQ8ro5dJQgvLTAiv18RVWJQuOoYnquVblmv4Knq5PKontLfw/s1600/6.30.10+WOA+eppie+1-+partner+portraits+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKOyzDDZYk55nPXf5zqmGkAY4m-m89OTNfh3yKHZyLxCqkIUEwdZdgSQd1iR2lAONvIJDcejvB9YJaXLLQ907inZDTmHpxQ8ro5dJQgvLTAiv18RVWJQuOoYnquVblmv4Knq5PKontLfw/s200/6.30.10+WOA+eppie+1-+partner+portraits+(2).JPG" width="176" /></a><strong>Episode 1: </strong><a href="http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/self-reflexive"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Self Reflexive</span></strong></a> </div>"The artists size up their competition and are randomly put into pairs for their first elimination challenge. They learn that after only one night together, their mission is to create a piece of art that captures the essence of a fellow competitor." <br />
"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation" <br />
After you get your partner, you will each take your perception of thier essence and create a piece that Is YOU but reflects something you feel about them. I drew <a href="http://www.bijougirldesigns.etsy.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Bijougirl's</span></a> name! She makes beautiful jewelry. I have not ever met her in person but she is my fellow team member. Her work feels romantic, feminine, graphic and palyful. She uses flowers often in her pieces, so this aspect really stood out for me and I chose to make some flowers to reflect her feminity and a symbol she uses often.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMZmHjZqBbDVi4eCrlcvikx0yl19-W7V4pkS0-C9QpHU1y0pgGMS_lIjZmLjFk1w-PIRG4j-lRSptKOFJjCQqcQeN6OaSLE7kG5qC30kQcF20hq1fNNx_Fn_p07PjBl8EMXd1MUQL3ynz/s1600/7.02.10+WOA+2+(5).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvMZmHjZqBbDVi4eCrlcvikx0yl19-W7V4pkS0-C9QpHU1y0pgGMS_lIjZmLjFk1w-PIRG4j-lRSptKOFJjCQqcQeN6OaSLE7kG5qC30kQcF20hq1fNNx_Fn_p07PjBl8EMXd1MUQL3ynz/s200/7.02.10+WOA+2+(5).JPG" width="150" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong>Episode 2: <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/the-shape-of-things-to-come"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">The Shape of Things to Come</span></a></strong></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Title "Amblyopic Opera Glasses"<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"For their second challenge, the artists are taken to an appliance graveyard filled with televisions, toaster ovens, and an array of broken electronics. Using the trash heap as their canvas, the artists are charged with transforming one man’s trash into another man’s piece of art."</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" Participants should take a old electronic found object and incorporate it into thier piece, OR if you do not want to use alt materials then feel free to just use the idea of one for inspiration!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsuzNrqyF1Guxd0hPLI8EcZtG1F6O-O4ZgJiey9JrhizG0K381hrf7-tDTZEjviDN9uX-U9tU8PCPl5mGPxIF1EJ6J14UH52oV6VQkGSzz7MmBKxZ5qvx4cEDoK2-E5vBAUjaCvYOn6NI/s1600/7.2.10+WOA+3+(1).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsuzNrqyF1Guxd0hPLI8EcZtG1F6O-O4ZgJiey9JrhizG0K381hrf7-tDTZEjviDN9uX-U9tU8PCPl5mGPxIF1EJ6J14UH52oV6VQkGSzz7MmBKxZ5qvx4cEDoK2-E5vBAUjaCvYOn6NI/s200/7.2.10+WOA+3+(1).JPG" width="150" /></a></div> <strong>Episode 3: <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/judging-a-book-by-its-cover"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Judging a Book by its Cover</span></a></strong> <br />
The contestants meet the President and Publisher from one of the largest book publishers in the world, who guides them through the impressive history of the marriage of art and literature. For their elimination challenge, the artists are charged with creating innovative cover art for a classic novel.<br />
"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" This week choose between list of the sevenbooks below and make a representation of the book. Pretend it will be the jewelry piece that is sold along with the book when it launches. Something that reperesents characters or the book idea in general. "I chose Alice in Wonderland-Through the Looking Glass".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmyBw9srNaD528kU1x16fuOxnxC1GwVw8kclvT4NR8O9g2QDGUUFiCgNN2zECyT33nx6t_Jhwk1HNnBhOQZi5FilIPECEV2YG5Fkc6Ax6h5xTkKQRS0l5yKmKRUgouMNFwKJSQHaXJYyd/s1600/7.06.10+WOA+1.4+Shocking+piece+of+art+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBmyBw9srNaD528kU1x16fuOxnxC1GwVw8kclvT4NR8O9g2QDGUUFiCgNN2zECyT33nx6t_Jhwk1HNnBhOQZi5FilIPECEV2YG5Fkc6Ax6h5xTkKQRS0l5yKmKRUgouMNFwKJSQHaXJYyd/s200/7.06.10+WOA+1.4+Shocking+piece+of+art+(5).jpg" width="200" /></a><strong>Episode 4: </strong><a href="http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/a-shock-to-the-system"><strong><span style="color: #3d85c6;">A Shock to the System</span></strong></a></div>Title "Sticker Shock"<br />
The challenge for the contestants was to make a shocking piece of art.<br />
"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" Exactly the same as the contestants but interpreted into a piece of jewelry.<br />
This week I decided to make a play with words, on the show most everyone did a sexual or grotesque theme. I felt that would of been way to easy and I really didnt feel insoired by the theme so I took another direction. In my Etsy shop I listed this simple ring for $1000, I took a screen shot and left it for a few weeks until someone flagged me and I had to take it down per terms of use policy with Etsy. It was fun while it lasted!<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dJGp3lQW_m4bpIc2mZc90qOvdfDHGt3DtHKj4g52BR1f4ZLyqaVYmdKamtqUXSsmImxKfHoIXs9xiUgxsEe4aLLp_cG8CQkKbkDjMTumLHNZXn5YRf0F2XkQiP9fHTT3_wbAvqEbmk8W/s1600/WOA+5-art+that+moves+you-cars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3dJGp3lQW_m4bpIc2mZc90qOvdfDHGt3DtHKj4g52BR1f4ZLyqaVYmdKamtqUXSsmImxKfHoIXs9xiUgxsEe4aLLp_cG8CQkKbkDjMTumLHNZXn5YRf0F2XkQiP9fHTT3_wbAvqEbmk8W/s200/WOA+5-art+that+moves+you-cars.JPG" width="200" /></a><strong>Episode 5: <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/art-that-moves-you"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Art That Moves You</span></a></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Title "Fuel Injected"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">In this episode the contestants are given a fleet of cars and told to drive them through New York City, ultimately arriving at the Audi Forum. An artist’s city often serves as a source of inspiration, and for their elimination challenge, the artists must create a piece of work that is reflective of their experience driving through the streets of Manhattan. </div>"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" Please make a piece that involves "cars" somehow! <br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSOe-lGLw8PdhArTr7MtiJITvK9M6moH1UU6Rr2UXHsRETHTFAdedXq6AGGxerwK4Mp9OfxD3vNNV1LslP0L6J67SRTNz48DYN8NGJvg_CPSOca8iw4TR9xioPRDdTG4OUeAwfdPh_ask/s1600/hilborn_injection+injector_stacks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSOe-lGLw8PdhArTr7MtiJITvK9M6moH1UU6Rr2UXHsRETHTFAdedXq6AGGxerwK4Mp9OfxD3vNNV1LslP0L6J67SRTNz48DYN8NGJvg_CPSOca8iw4TR9xioPRDdTG4OUeAwfdPh_ask/s200/hilborn_injection+injector_stacks.jpg" width="150" /></a>"For this challenge my dear sweet partner says, "why don't you make an engine?" I said, "No." So he begins to show me all these car parts and I stop him when I see these freaking gorgeous Hilborn fuel injector stacks. Please let my heart be still, I do not think I did these beauties any justice but they definitely were all my inspiration for this piece. Their wonderful shapes is a favorite of mine so how could I not indulge? The little stacks in my ring wriggle around in the setting. Materials: Sterling Silver, Oxidized and Fabricated"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljUOHQzhWOFQxH1N6pMGycMaG-UjaevioNC-kodZEqVyPkohJNIwF8_lnPU0eqOf1mlSRAw0TliF18hE96WcEBqTdmEv8nA24O2aKBhdUBV4L1w_nROPjiRk7M_eePZa_6gq6IXwtHne4/s1600/7.22.10+WOA+1.6+charms+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhljUOHQzhWOFQxH1N6pMGycMaG-UjaevioNC-kodZEqVyPkohJNIwF8_lnPU0eqOf1mlSRAw0TliF18hE96WcEBqTdmEv8nA24O2aKBhdUBV4L1w_nROPjiRk7M_eePZa_6gq6IXwtHne4/s200/7.22.10+WOA+1.6+charms+(2).JPG" width="200" /></a><strong>Episode 6: <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/open-to-the-public"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Open to the Public</span></a></strong></div>"EtsyMetal Charm necklace"<br />
In this episode 6, The remaining artists are challenged to create a large-scale, outdoor installation piece. The artists must put egos aside and collaborate effectively in order to create a public art masterpiece in just two days. The challenge culminates in a public viewing.<br />
"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" For this episode we asked participants to all make a charm, these charms are being mailed to me as we speak. These charms will be put onto a handmade charm holder and the be available in our "public" EtsyMetal Team shop. <a href="http://etsymetal.blogspot.com/2010/07/work-of-art-chaleenge-episode-6-open-to.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">*Click here to see the charms!</span></a><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong>Episode 7: <a href="http://www.bravotv.com/work-of-art/season-1/childs-play"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">Childs Play</span></a></strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Title "The ModernMacaroni" </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The artists find themselves in the Children’s Museum of the Arts, filled with finger paint portraits and crayon collections. Their challenge is to create a work that is symbolic of the moment their artistic expression began, using only kid-friendly materials to create an adult masterpiece.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhidQRz9rcj_qmpwTmzi5IywRkkY-FGY7_Jmf0wNCy7jNbiGbROiX1oH9jfEyTHwQeVbQMevVU0V6ix17ka5S5Bn_Wlng_NuzCLFI3zsD0xlkVZ4IIceSVcit6OZysIarmsWTGhyLJRYl/s1600/7.29.10+WOA+1.7+vic.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhidQRz9rcj_qmpwTmzi5IywRkkY-FGY7_Jmf0wNCy7jNbiGbROiX1oH9jfEyTHwQeVbQMevVU0V6ix17ka5S5Bn_Wlng_NuzCLFI3zsD0xlkVZ4IIceSVcit6OZysIarmsWTGhyLJRYl/s200/7.29.10+WOA+1.7+vic.JPG" width="170" /></a>"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" Last week we asked our team members to create a piece that has some personal connection and representation to their childhood. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For this challenge I was kind of stumped. I could not really pin down a pivotal point in my childhood where I decided I wanted to be an artist or anything like that. I have many memories of just always creating while I played, making dirt roads and towns for my Tonka trucks (I did not play with dolls), melting crayons with a magnifying glass into pools of swirling colors on the patio, building crazy contraptions just to turn the light off from my bed using string and eye screws, contraptions to dump beads on your head if you snuck into my room unannounced. I just liked to draw and make things. Feels pretty much like what I do now! So this little modern macaroni necklace is an iconic symbol for every ones childhood. I think it may be the one thing almost most of you can remember making as a youngster? So I took the easy way out and made the familiar for everybodys amusement and memories. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">Next Week Episode 8: Opposites Attract</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">The artists are paired and must create works about opposing forces: </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><em>Heaven and Hell </em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><em>*</em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><em>Male and Female </em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><em>*<br />
Order and Chaos</em></strong> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" For this episode we are asking our team members to make a piece that depicts both opposing forces, pick one of the three pairings!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"></div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-75103501015566605052010-07-10T13:40:00.000-07:002010-08-03T01:15:14.074-07:00<span style="color: #0b5394;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNr9S3uOw9VQQSTjU956rVgBImjr4wEfN6DS3WcvwlB_GozPUG8xCwgdePRaKEQCtDYUtznUCeAtVqK8-CgssuK6kobTXxQODGvQVAgVUv0jKgw5spk3-cl4DyF21YTI6cvdmp5PU52h4/s1600/7.10.10+labradorite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="332" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNr9S3uOw9VQQSTjU956rVgBImjr4wEfN6DS3WcvwlB_GozPUG8xCwgdePRaKEQCtDYUtznUCeAtVqK8-CgssuK6kobTXxQODGvQVAgVUv0jKgw5spk3-cl4DyF21YTI6cvdmp5PU52h4/s400/7.10.10+labradorite.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black;">I'm in the mood for love and...</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"> <a href="http://www.mindat.org/min-2308.html"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Labradorite</span></span></a>!</span></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">I have been missing using my favorite stone something fierce, and I have had several requests lately to make some pieces with <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Labradorite</span>. So they have inspired me to sit down and do it! So hopefully by the end of next week I will be posting bunches of earrings and perhaps a few necklaces that are <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Labby</span> inspired for those of us who adore this stone, thank you!<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxHX0oEfdoW0XulumjMYP037Gdmomkx4y1ySvrD9GqywsBi5RZk8QBu3Yv3e9Pd383NONsfdVknCrf6f4lJPhd5U0yPeoKIjwHgDTTOadGmJzNUxqqctgMT0htC-9WhDx41B9ixU-Xuca/s1600/7.29.10+grouping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" bx="true" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWxHX0oEfdoW0XulumjMYP037Gdmomkx4y1ySvrD9GqywsBi5RZk8QBu3Yv3e9Pd383NONsfdVknCrf6f4lJPhd5U0yPeoKIjwHgDTTOadGmJzNUxqqctgMT0htC-9WhDx41B9ixU-Xuca/s400/7.29.10+grouping.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">8.02.10</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Ok its taken me a extra long time to get my meager little offerings up into <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>my shop</em></strong></span></a><span style="color: #0b5394;"><strong><em>.</em></strong></span> I hope to be making some major labradorite pieces coming up soon, I didn't quite satisfy the labby urge and I got a little sidetracked as we are doing double-duty Jewlery Challenges fopr the next 3-4 weeks. It is one of my small addictions this last year, it keeps my creativity in motion. So I'm just sayin' I'm not done yet!!!! hee hee hee....</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">Thanks for looking!</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3671966276632938104.post-35386213019722907592010-07-08T18:04:00.000-07:002010-07-08T20:04:28.339-07:00"getting a bit caught up"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"...and having way too much fun in the process..."</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b17kQgLazHulg3YItOv3S1rP4bWNFoNF-KKzRWQcWpZJM_rqQqJvC47RqjwGtQHZPvhe4v-d1tkFQJfM2SElwP_5QDOMHxOqA3H7M3HpvgQB0IwkZneKVl9FVBT4GfpMtOpp7CN_NSXX/s1600/7.7.10+cache.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-b17kQgLazHulg3YItOv3S1rP4bWNFoNF-KKzRWQcWpZJM_rqQqJvC47RqjwGtQHZPvhe4v-d1tkFQJfM2SElwP_5QDOMHxOqA3H7M3HpvgQB0IwkZneKVl9FVBT4GfpMtOpp7CN_NSXX/s400/7.7.10+cache.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Ahhhhhhh</span>... today is beautiful, sunny and hot! a pleasant surprise as I have not been watching much TV if any lately. I have been working hard and making lots of goodies for friends, my <a href="http://www.experimetal.etsy.com/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><strong><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">Etsy</span> shop</strong></span></a> and I also just started back up doing a new <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/sets/72157624202555495/"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;"><span class="goog-spellcheck-word">WOA</span> jewelry challenge</span></a> with my <span class="goog-spellcheck-word">EtsyMetal</span> street team. I am feeling all charged up a bit lighter and a bit happier today, the sun does wonders for my spirit!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCFvd2SebZE_sHtPxYizrYdaTWiA-C9HcRQFpAVjWhdpx7zTxtt8EdtR7SzgVaCJuLIy_TSuBRxgBJIAgsUz2qMP_L-iOdjEy-VR0ULxwIS2_iT2YjbLjRrCdiJukoT_3APemDmpmyIPh/s1600/7.8.10+blogpost+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDCFvd2SebZE_sHtPxYizrYdaTWiA-C9HcRQFpAVjWhdpx7zTxtt8EdtR7SzgVaCJuLIy_TSuBRxgBJIAgsUz2qMP_L-iOdjEy-VR0ULxwIS2_iT2YjbLjRrCdiJukoT_3APemDmpmyIPh/s400/7.8.10+blogpost+pic.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_288774394"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">N928</span> </a>, 2. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_288774394"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">E932</span></a>, 3. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_288774394"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">R926</span></a> , 4. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_288774394"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">B927</span></a>, 5. Not available, 6. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_288774394"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">B931</span></a>, 7. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4772650705/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">E929</span></a>, 8. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/experimetal/4772650705/"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">B927 B931 shown worn</span></a>, 9. <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/51111765/n930-scalloped"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">N930</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Above are some new pieces I will be added to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/Experimetal"><span style="color: #3d85c6;">my Etsy shop</span></a> today!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">Have a beautiful day my friends!</div>Victoria Takahashihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11875862313258689825noreply@blogger.com4