my inspiration for participating in "RAW"

Some of the artists participating in the "RAW (ring a week) challenge" (including me) have decided to do a blog carnival. A blog carnival is where a group of people pick a subject, blog about it then post it with links to all the other blogs that are participating.

The subject of this blog carnival is "What was your inspiration for participating in RAW?"

My inspiration for participating in the RAW challenge was actually the "RAD" (ring a day) challenge. The challenge was to make a ring a day every day for the year 2010 ending up with 365 rings by Dec 31. I came across this challenge by accident while surfing the web. I thought this was the greatest idea and would have loved to participate but I didn't find out about the challenge until day 115 so I would have been quite a bit behind. I would check in on the challenge every so often to see what was new. There were some really great rings that have been made. On Jan 5, 2011 I checked in on RAD to see all the completed work for the year and that's when I saw the post about a new challenge for 2011. There was still a couple days left in the first week of January so I decided to jump in! I am such a ring person. I love making and wearing them, and the bigger the better if you ask me! I also have been in a creative funk lately so I thought this would be a great way to challenge myself and get the creative juices flowing. I figured I could use techniques that I don't get to use very often and maybe teach myself a thing or two along the way.

So far I LOVE it! I am 7 rings in and have used 3 of the many techniques I plan to incorporate into my RAW rings. I want to give my RAW rings lots of dimension and texture so I have made hollow forms, I hand carved carved ebony and I have incorporated hinges into my pieces. I have even made my more simpler rings more interesting than I have in the past by adding curves and texture to them and I am very pleased with the look of them. I would like to try to combine some of the harder techniques I haven't used yet and possibly use them in 1 ring. It will either turn out awesome or end up in the scrap box but I won't know unless I try! So keep an eye out for my future RAW rings!

To read more about other artists inspiration for participating check out the blogs below!

Marcie Abney - http://www.labellajoya.blogspot.com/

Joanne Harrill - http://www.jojobell.com/

Thomasin Durgin - http://www.metalriot.blogspot.com/

Amy Nicole - http://www.rubymtnbeads.blogspot.com/

Janice - http://www.doxallodesigns.blogspot.com/

Aleksandra Micic - http://www.micicart.blogspot.com/

Lana Chu - http://www.ginkgoglass.wordpress.com/

Evelyn Markasky - http://www.markasky.blogspot.com/

Kerry Alice-Twigs and Heather - http://www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com/

Lorena Angulo- www.blog.lorenaangulo.com/

Kate Jones-- http://www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com/

Maria Apostolou- www.createjewelry.gr/blog

Sarah Small - http://www.bysalla.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Bogan - www.Adobesol.com/blog

Elaine Luther - www.CreativeTextureTools.com/news

Rebekah Timlin Meddles - http://www.lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/

Laura M (Zoeowyn)- www.zoeowyn.blogspot.com/

Kimberly (bahamadawn) - http://www.bahamadawn.blogspot.com/

Erin Austin - http://www.metalmusing.blogspot.com/

Catherine Witherell - http://www.happydayart.typepad.com/

Joan Furilla - www.jfurilla.wordpress.com/

Kathryn Cole- http://www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com/