Brooch-a-Day Challenge 2013!

 

"a pin as a pin"
I picked up this tiny pin in the 80's from who knows where...
 

 

"Challenge: make one Brooch-a-Day, any material, for 365 days."

Taking a deep breath to calm my nerves as I sit here thinking about joining in another 365 day project. As you might not know, a group of fellow artists and metalsmiths worldwide from Flickr and EtsyMetal joined together in 2010 and made a ring-a-day (RAD) a small handful actually made the 365 rings, I myself only made 215 of 365 rings and 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 Punch Gallery in Seattle at the SNAG  2011 conference and there was also a book published by Lark Books and edited by Marthe LeVan, it was all an amazing experience to be a part of.

All righty, so now I have decided to join in on the Brooch-a-Day (BAD) 2013 challenge. What this means is I will make one brooch on every day of 2013 (crossing fingers). I plan to blog here weekly, keep a personal journal for the year and make and post the brooches daily to the BAD 2013 Flickr group. 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!


top left: Cybernacle brooch 2011

top right: My first I ever made before I had jewelry tools! 1992

bottom left: Beachstone brooch 1998

bottom right: Pod brooch 1994?

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 :) 

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 :)



Bug pins!
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?

Japanese Tin Pins

I love these simple pins, the top 2 pins on the right I purchased new, the others are vintage.

I cannot tell the difference? 



Thomasin Durgin gifted me this beautiful 1960's Enamelled Peruvian brooch.
Janos Gabor Varga gifted me this handmade Filagree brooch made by his friend Bongera Filigrana.

Softies!
My niece Aji-san 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"!
Then there's Mr. Bunny given to me by my talented friend Lisa to make me smile, it works!
And last but not least this sweet handsewn felt heart made by another uber talented friend Diem.

 

Thrift & Antique shop finds.
*Bare Dancing by Cavin Richie 2000.
Brass Eye, not signed.
Half-Fast badge.
Pin pin.

*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.

SNAG scatter pins 2011
Sara Westermark "lute"
Norsola Johnson "flaming heart"
Maureen Brusa Zappellini "shell button"

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. I made a batch of 30 vintage Ivory brooches and happily gifted them away all weekend!

I kept these three below :)

"handmade vintage ivory tongue brooches"

 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 stay 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!

Please take care and be safe this new year's eve 

and I will see you in 2013 with my first BAD brooch!

medallions, tongues and a totem!

"medallions, tongues and a totem"

Here is another handful of goodies I just listed in my Etsy shop :)

As always thank you so much for your support, you all make it possible for me to do what I love to do!

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope you all get to give your poppas big hugs this weekend!

xo

rockin' some RAD rings

A new round of RAD rock rings

More from the 2010 Ring-a-Day project finally listed,
 slowly but surely It's happening...
and dang it feels good!
:D

gesture rings

1. rad 9 "nine" (on), 2. rad 73 (on), 3. RAD 309, 4. RAD 312, 5. RAD 333 , 6. RAD 334 , 7. RAD 298, 8. rad 17 (on), 9. rad 74 (on)

 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 Etsy shop.  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!

groupa coppera

 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 :)

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 Etsy shop today.

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!?

"Have a great day everyone!"

For the love of a nation

Japan items for donation

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!

 "Even though you can't physically see a tree growing, it doesn't mean it's not."

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 Nakisha VanderHoeven.

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.

You can access my items for donation with this direct link.

"Thank you!"

xo 

Donations to KOBO for Japan

This piece was donated to KOBO of Seattle  for their "Artists for Japan"  Benefit Sale last weekend.

Yes I am a little slow in posting here, but I at least wanted to tell you of their wonderful news.

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!

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.

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!

Also donated were some buttons that my good friend Nakisha VanderHoeven 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 BlueDogRose Etsy shop 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.

Another raffle held last week by another good friend named Diem Chau of TinyHaus. 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!

A little bit of quartz, mmmm.

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 must 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. 

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.

Ok a few more mentions of more raffles I have heard of below! Please check them out :)

*EVENTS:

Seattle Kobo sale March 26/27

*RAFFLES:

TinyHaus
RagPets
SewPixie

ParFae
*ITEMS; please see each individuals shop for details:
BlueDogRose Original Paintings
Catherine Chandler
Shannon Conrad
Mark Kaplan
Konstanze of Nodeform
Kathryn Cole
Danielle Miller 
Chuck Domitrvich
Erga

Charm Swap 7 has begun!

Charm Swap 7 has begun and 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!

Charms from Swaps 1,2,3,4,5, & 6!

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 CS6 necklace/bracelet was just listed yesterday!  And CS5 Bracelet will also be listed soon!
ALso if you want to keep up on the teams progress with me take a peek here!

 

Ring-a-Day, The Aftermath.

Ring a Day Project 2010

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!

Q:

What does  a girl do with over 200 rings?

A:

She sells some.
She trades some.

She keeps quite a few.
She gifts some to friends.

She submits some for shows.

She promos some for giveaways!!!

She donates proceeds to animals foundations.

She leaves them in random public places, just for fun.

 These pieces on the left are the ones that have been listed in my Experimetal Etsy shop, I will be slowly uploading most of them in small batches at a time.

Some of my Ring-a-Day pieces will be featured in the Lark 30 minute ring book (launch April 2010) and Ring a Day project (I think the launch is fall 2011)
I will have a small handful of these that will be in the Ring a Day show held at the Punch Gallery in Seattle, being held in conjunction with the Society of North American Goldsmiths(SNAG) Conference 2011.

And also I have a few select pieces at the Facere Gallery in Seattle.

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!

below are the direct links to the rings I listed today :)

R1030 Little labbie, R1031 Little labbie, R1032 Bunny,

R1033 Ladybug, R1034 Greenie, R1035 Moon eyes,

R1036 Hans, R1037 Phallus.

Project Runway: Season 1: Episode 1:

Oh here we are again for Project Runway Season 8!

See the first episode on MyLifetime here.

 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 (EtsyMetal team) 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:

"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.

I drew jewelry designer Kira Ferrer, 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 :) 

8.10.10

 "Oh My God, It's a Double Rainbow"

earrings are done!

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... "Oh My God, It's a Double Rainbow"

NEXT weeks Episode 2: "Larger than Life!"

*see My Lifetime video here.
The Project Runway Challenge: 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.
The EtsyMetal Translation: 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!

See you next week! Thanks for visiting my blog :)

Little Bounty of Booty coming!

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!

thanks for peeking in!

Work of Art: Jewelry Challenge: Season 1: Episodes 1-7

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 EtsyMetal blog. Most of these pieces will eventually be for sale in my Etsy shop.

1. Episode 1- Self Reflexive, 2. Episode 2: The Shape of Things to Come, 3. Episode 3: Judging a book by its Cover, 4. Epidode 4- Sticker Shock! a>, 5. Epidode 5- Art That Moves You, 6. Epidode 6- Open to the Public, 7. Epidode 6- Open to the Public-pt 2, 8. Episode 7- Childs Play

Episode 1: Self Reflexive

"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."
"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation"
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 Bijougirl's 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.

Episode 2: The Shape of Things to Come

Title "Amblyopic Opera Glasses"

"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."

"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!

 Episode 3: Judging a Book by its Cover
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.
"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".

Episode 4: A Shock to the System

Title "Sticker Shock"
The challenge for the contestants was to make a shocking piece of art.
"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" Exactly the same as the contestants but interpreted into a piece of jewelry.
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!

Episode 5: Art That Moves You

Title "Fuel Injected"

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.

"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" Please make a piece that involves "cars" somehow!
"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"

Episode 6: Open to the Public

"EtsyMetal Charm necklace"
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.
"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. *Click here to see the charms!

Episode 7: Childs Play            

Title "The ModernMacaroni"                                                              

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.

"EtsyMetal Jewelry Translation:" Last week we asked our team members to create a piece that has some personal connection and representation to their childhood.

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.

Next Week Episode 8: Opposites Attract

The artists are paired and must create works about opposing forces:

Heaven and Hell

*

Male and Female

*
Order and Chaos

"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!

I'm in the mood for love and...

  Labradorite!

I have been missing using my favorite stone something fierce, and I have had several requests lately to make some pieces with Labradorite. 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 Labby inspired for those of us who adore this stone, thank you!

8.02.10

Ok its taken me a extra long time to get my meager little offerings up into my shop. 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....

Thanks for looking!

"getting a bit caught up"

"...and having way too much fun in the process..."

Ahhhhhhh... 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 Etsy shop and I also just started back up doing a new WOA jewelry challenge with my EtsyMetal street team. I am feeling all charged up a bit lighter and a bit happier today, the sun does wonders for my spirit!

1. N928 , 2. E932, 3. R926 , 4. B927, 5. Not available, 6. B931, 7. E929, 8. B927 B931 shown worn, 9. N930

Above are some new pieces I will be added to my Etsy shop today!

Have a beautiful day my friends!