Magazine Cover Contest

Back in June I entered a facebook photo competition to try to get my "patchwork necklace" onto the cover of The Crafts Report Magazine. There were 249 entries in the competition which were narrowed down to 64 by the magazine. The 64 finalists were grouped into groups of 4 and everyday for 24 hours on facebook people were able to vote for their favorite  photo from each group. My image was up for voting on July 1 and out of my group of 4 I won! Now I am in the final 4 which is pretty amazing in itself because There were some really beautiful pieces in the running! The final 4 have been grouped into 2 groups of 2 and will be up for voting again on July 9th and 10th. I am up again on the 10th. I would love to win, but even if I don't it has been an honor just to be in the final 4. Below is an image of what I have submitted to the contest. It is made from sterling silver, brass and copper that has been roll printed or hammered cut into small pieces and soldered togehter to form each "quilted" piece. I would love it if you would help me get to the final 2 by going onto The Crafts Report Magazine's facebook page and "liking" the photo of my necklace on July 10th.

Tomi's Secret Sculpture Garden Project

Thomasin Durgin, a member of the Etsy Metal Team that I belong to, has purchased an abandoned and vacant lot in her hometown and decided to turn it into a Secret Sculpture Garden for the children in her area. To help her raise funds for her project members of the Etsy Metal Team have joined forces and are working on garden themed charms for a charm bracelet that will be sold in the team shop with 100% of the proceeds being donated to the Sculpture Garden. Below is the charm I made for the bracelet. It is 2 intertwined leaves made from sterling silver. For more info on this project and to donate click here.

more buckles

I have been so inspired lately to make belt buckles that I finished up a few more today! It also doesn't hurt that when I listed my first batch of buckles in My Etsy Shop I sold one the next day! So here are today's buckles:

"Sugar Skull" Buckle - remember my first attempt at photo etching? I finally used the skull I spent so much time sketching!

"Scribbles" Buckle - etched copper and hammered brass

"Flowers" Buckle- etched nickel silver

These buckles are also part of a new challenge for 2012 called "four a month". The challenge is just that....to make four of something each month. For January I chose to make buckles and although the challenge was to make only four I made six so far and the month is only half over! Keep an eye out for these in My Etsy Shop in the next few days!

Brandywine Festival of the Arts

I will be exhibiting at the Brandywine Festival of the Arts this coming weekend, Sept 9 & 10, in Wilmington, DE. This is the 51st year for this show and it is packed with talented artists and their creations! For more info and directions check out their website. Hope to see you this weekend!

Project Runway Challenge Season 9 - week (RAW 19)

This is the fourth week in the Etsy Metal Project Runway Challenge. Here are this week's details:


Project Runway Season 9: Episode 4
Design a piece for Nina Garcia


The Project Runway Challenge:
The designers were asked to design a day to night outfit for Nina Garcia

For our EtsyMetal Translation:
Make a piece of jewelry for Nina. There was a scene where she was going through jewelry at Marie Claire. Also she notes that she likes streamlined, modern looks. Whatever you do, don't bore Nina!

I chose the winning outfit created by Kimberly as my inspiration for my piece.

I really wanted to make a large brass cuff bracelet to go with this outfit but I did not have a big enough piece of brass on hand so I decided on a ring instead.  The texture of the ring was inspired by the texture in the gold fabric. I also made it adjustable. I have been playing around with the idea of adjustable rings and this is my first real piece that is adjustable. It is a simple yet elegant ring that can be taken from day to evening and I think it works perfectly with the winning outfit!

I also think these bangles that were not made for this challenge but were made not too long ago would also great on the opposite wrist from the ring :)

To see the rest of the Etsy Metal translations of this challenge check out the Etsy Metal Blog.

Project Runway Challenge Season 9 - week 3 (RAW 18)

This is the third week in the Etsy Metal Project Runway Challenge. Here are the details:

Episode 3: "Go Big or Go Home"
Air: 8.11.11
My Lifetime, Thursdays, 9pm PST.

The Project Runway Challenge:
The designers were asked to design a piece for a model on stilts for the first ever outdoor runway show.

For our EtsyMetal Translation:
Since this challenge was all about going over the top, this week make it BIG, over the top, larger and crazier than you would normally do, but still trying to keep it wearable and fashionable. Should be a fun one!

I had this ring designed for a few weeks now. I was meaning to make it for the RAW challenge but haven't had a chance to yet. It actually is the perfect piece for this week's Project Runway Challenge as well so here it is! It's a very long Norwegian Moonstone (also known as "Larvakite") set in a sterling silver double finger ring. The stone is approx 3 1/4" long and the ring itself is about 3 1/2" long by 1" wide at its largest point. I have always wanted to make a two finger ring but never got around to it until now. I actually am typing this blog post with the ring on my left hand and even though it is really large it actually feels just like any other ring. So I guess it meets the "keeping it wearable" requirements!

To see  the rest of the pieces in this challenge you can check them out here.

Project Runway Challenge: Season 9 - week 2

This is the second week in the Etsy Metal Project Runway Challenge. Here are the details:

Episode 2: "My Pet Project"

In this episode, the challenge was to create an outfit using pet store supplies. They were allowed to use muslin as well, but were encouraged not to.

For our Etsy Metal Translation:

To make a piece of jewelry using pet store supplies! We were told to try to limit our time in the pet store to 30 minutes. We may use some metal in the piece but must try to use as little as possible.

I went the pet store on Friday of last week but really couldn't look at anything except for the animals since I had my 7 year old nephew with me. Not having a chance to go back since Friday, I stopped in Walmart today and had a quick look in the pet section. The pickins were slim compared to what they had at the pet store. I ended up with these cat toy replacement feathers which I turned into earrings.

A simple project with not much imagination used but with the short amount of time I had  to work on them I think they turned out pretty good!


To see the what everyone else participating in the challenge has created check out the Etsy Metal Blog.

New challenge...Project Runway Challenge Season 9 - week 1 (RAW 17)

As if the RAW (ring a week) challenge wasn't enough for me to handle.... which by the way every day life has made me fall slightly behind in that challenge.... I have decided to participate in the Etsy Metal Project Runway Challenge as well. How it works is we watch Project Runway, which airs every Thursday night, and then their challenge is translated into a jewelry challenge which is due the following Thursday night. This week the designers had to use the clothes they slept in the night before plus one of their bed sheets to create a new look. Taking something old and making it into something new. They also had access to dye and trimmings. This translated into a jewelry challenge is to make something only from scrap material that is sitting on your bench. Since the designers got a sheet, we get to use some extra sheet metal. We also can add stones from our supplies since they got use dyes and trimmings. I found an old ring band from a ring I took apart last week, a piece of scrap wire and a piece of scrap silver sheet left over from another project.

 

I cut the ring band down and made it thinner. I also added some texture to it. I used the wire to make the "stilts" and the scrap sheet became the top piece of the ring. The only other things I added was another small piece of silver sheet and a stone and this is what I came up with....

I am hoping to be able to combine some of my RAW and Project Runway pieces so I can get caught up on RAW and participate in Project Runway challenge as well.This is one of those pieces...So far so good!

You can see some of the other Etsy Metal members Project Runway Challenge pieces here.

Haddonfield Crafts & Fine Art Festival

Mark your calendars....The Haddonfield Crafts & Fine Arts Festival is around the corner! It will be held on July 9 & 10 on Kings Highway in Haddonfield, NJ. The show opens on Saturday at 11am and will go until 7pm. Sunday's hours are 12 noon to 5 pm. You can find my booth on the smaller side of the street (for those of you who have been in the past you know what I mean) down by the PATCO speed line. This is a really great show and with all the talented artists who participate there is definitely something for everyone! Hope to see you there!

"Once again Kings Highway, the businesses and residents in Haddonfield are set to host their nationally ranked Arts Festival. During the borough's premier event, Kings Highway and Tanner Street will be closed to vehicular traffic. What is a usually a busy main artery through the center of town is transformed into a festive corridor, alive with a panorama of artist's tents and various crafts on exhibit to Haddonfield residents and visitors. Area restaurants will set up outdoor cafés and musicians will entertain the crowds as they view the unique work from artisans from across the country.


This year's show will feature many fine artists and craft persons who come to Haddonfield to exhibit and sell their work. Artisans will exhibit a wide range of arts and crafts including ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, fiber, metal, paper, drawings, paintings, photography and wearable art. This year's show brings a wonderful mix of new and old artist, with exhibitors who have come as far as Israel to participate once again."

studio tour

People are always asking me how I do what I do and what my studio space looks like so when the Etsy Metal team decided to do a blog carnival about our studio spaces I thought it would be the perfect way to show everyone! Below are some photos of my studio. The photos were taken after I clean up a LOT. It usually does not look anywhere near as neat and clean as this when I am working but I had to clean for a class I was teaching so I thought it would be the perfect time to take some photos.

My jewelers bench is up against the wall (where all the magic happens) and I have a table behind it in the middle of the room where I lay out my designs, put my supplies when working and also have my students sit when teaching. The table has 2 leaves and can extend to seat 12 people.

 On the left side of my bench is I have lots of cabinets where I store all of my mess and I also have a sink. I love having a sink in my studio! In my last studio space I had to leave my studio for running water so this makes it much easier.

And to the right of my bench I have more cabinets for storage as well as my "office space". This is about as clean as that space ever gets and although its not the most organized it works! The painting over my desk was done by my sister and given to me for my birthday 2 years ago. She also has a shop on etsy where she sells her pocket monsters. To see more studio tours check out the other great jewelry artists below:

Rebecca Bogan
Shirlee Grund
Beth Cyr
Elizabeth Scott 
Cynthia Del Giudice 
Erin Austin
Nodeform
Evelyn Markasky
Kathryn Cole
2Roses
 Lauren Anabela Beaudoin/Creative Dexterity

pages from my sketchbook....

This month's topic for the Etsy Metal Blog Carnival is "pages from your sketchbook". Although I don't really have a sketchbook and I don't draw out each piece before I create it, I do jot down some ideas here and there on random sheets of paper that eventually end up all over my studio.  Here a few of my doodles that I have already made into jewelry.

The first doodle is of one of my rings for the ring a week challenge.... RAW #12 

And this sketch is a shape I have used a few times when making earrings. I have posted photos of 2 different earrings using the same shape below.

 copper teardrop earrings

sterling and tiger eye teardrop earrings (sold)



To see some of the other Etsy Metal members sketches check out the links below... 

Rebecca Bogan
Shirlee Grund 

2Roses 
Beth Cyr

Kate Jones 

Erin Austin 

Nodeform
Elizabeth Scott 

Su Trindle 

Evelyn Markasky 

ArtigianoJewelBox

Etsy Metal Charm Swap 7 Charms

As you may know, at the last minute I was invited to join the Etsy Metal Charm Swap 7 .  I made a bunch charms that were the mini version of my "Constricted Heart" Necklace. I sent my charms in and received back a box full of new charms, one from each of the participants in the swap. I was so excited to open my package! This awesome photo is of all the charms from all the participants from all over the world. It was taken by Victoria Takahshi who takes way better photos of jewelry than I do!

left to right, top row

1. Victoria Takahashi of Experimetal

2. Michele Grady of MicheleGradyDesigns

3. Shae Freeman of CitizenObjects

4. Inbar Bareket of InbarBareket

5. Ann Jenkins of Tuizui

middle row

6. Lynette Andreasen of Assymetry

7. Kira Ferrer of KiraFerrer

8. Reagan Hayhurst of ReganHayhurst

9. Elizabeth Scott of ESdesigns

10. Meg Auth of SimplyMega

11. L. Sue Szabo of LSueSzabo

12.Andrea Ring of AmuckDesign

bottom row

13. Su Trindle of QuercusSilver

14. Maggie Joynt of MaggieJs

15. Nina Gibson of NinaGibsonDesigns

16. Ruby Iacuaniello of Iacua

17. Stacey Hansen of WildFlowerDesigns

18. Shannon Conrad of RubyGirl

19. Kathryn Cole of KathrynCole

Multitasking....

Today I am multitasking and actually working on two blog posts...one for is for this blog (you are reading it now) and one for the Etsy Metal blog, which I will post tomorrow. As you may know I have become the curator for the next Etsy Metal charm swap (CS8). Well, part of my job as curator is to keep the world updated on the progress of the participants. I post every Thursday on the Etsy Metal blog and there is a lot going on so don't forget to check out tomorrow's post! In the meantime if you have not read any of my prior CS8 posts you can catch up here and here :) And while you are there, don't forget to check out all the other great posts by other members as well! There is a lot of great info, tutorials and all kinds of jewelry related posts being blogged about daily by members from all around the world!

RAW 14 & 15 (ring a week)

I do not seem to have a problem making my RAW rings, it's posting the photos/info of them is where I start slacking off! So here’s one post with my last 2 weeks of rings…..and don't forget to check out the rest of groups RAW rings too!
My RAW 14 ring was a custom order from a woman for her boyfriend. She wanted me to make a ring exactly like he had only in silver so it wouldn't turn his finger green like the base metal one he owned did. It is a cold connected ring. A piece of silver has been wrapped over itself a few times and then riveted. I have riveted many times before just not on a ring. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.

My RAW 15 ring is something I have never done before either. I really like the more 3D rings I have made for this challenge and my “flat” rings just aren’t doing it for me anymore. I wanted to make this a hollow form ring but due to the price of silver being over $40 an ounce I decided to challenge myself and try to come up with a way to raise the stone but also use less metal. This is what I came up with. The stone is called Royal Savannah Jasper. I liked the way the stone was divided down the center so I decided to follow that line and divide the metal as well. Half of the silver is textured and half is not. The way I raised the stone is to put the piece on “stilts”. I cut little pieces of wire and soldered them onto the base and then attached the top to that. It used less silver than if I was to create a hollow form. I am pretty pleased with the outcome. J

my very first ring....

I was cleaning up today and came across the very first ring I ever made in the very first jewelry class I ever took so I thought I'd share it with you..... It was a beginners class and the instructor was a horrible teacher. I couldn't even tell you how I made the thing. When I told her I wanted to make a silver ring with a stone on top she wrote out the steps in these exact words:

1. bend

2. solder

3. solder bezel

4. set stone

5. polish

and sent me back to my seat to go make it while she chit chatted away with some other students about how she spent her weekend, what parties she went to and what she drank while she was there. 

sketch book from that class I took 23 yrs ago with my directions written in it

Now that's good and all if you actually have some kind of jewelry making knowledge/skills. Remember, this was my very first class. Obviously I had NO CLUE what I was doing. The girl sitting next to me had taken a few jewelry classes before and seemed to know what she was doing so I asked her what I was supposed to do. I felt bad interrupting her from her pieces by asking her so many questions that after a point I just did my own thing and wouldn't ask her anything unless I was totally stumped. I didn't know how to size my finger so I just cut a strip of silver and shaped it around the ring mandrel until it fit. That's the reason the ring overlaps. It wasn't really supposed to be part of the design as you can see in the sketch book above. In the end I was happy with the way it turned out but this is the only piece I have kept from that class. The other 3 items I made were scrapped years ago!

 I took this picture of the ring today in its "as is" state. A little tarnish and many, many scratches and dings....

EtsyMetal Charm Swap 7

Well, not only did I find out last Thursday that I was the next curator/host for the EtsyMetal Charm Swap 8 (CS8) but I also found out that that they were short a "charm swapper" for Charm Swap 7 (CS7) due to unforeseen circumstances. Although Thursday was technically the last day for CS7, I was the next one on the alternates list, so I was told I could still participate if I wanted to. And of course I wanted to!  Even if  that meant I only had a few days to make 22 charms and get them shipped out! So needless to say the last few days were spent working on charms with little time for much else. My charms were modeled after one of my signature pieces, my "Constricted Heart Necklace", only smaller. They are formed in the hydraulic press to give them a "puffed" look. I then solder them together, wrap them with wire, which is also soldered on, then they are oxidized to bring out the detail. They are the cutest little things and maybe sooner or later they might be added into my jewelry line. But not until my fingers heal from all the work they have done over the past few days!

I'm the new EtsyMetal Charm Swap Curator!

Well it's official! Myself, along with Victoria Takahashi, are the next curators of the upcoming EtsyMetal Charm Swap! For those of you who do not know what I am talking about here's a little more info....EtsyMetal is a group of over 100 jewelry artists from all over the world that work in metal. There is a sign up list for members who would like to participate. The number of participants is limited to 20 but each person has to make 22 charms. 20 of those charms are swapped among the other artists who have signed up for the charm swap (so each person on the list gets one from every other person on the list), with 2 left over. At the end of the swap not only does each participating artist have 20 new charms from people all over the world but a completed charm bracelet and extra individual charms will be available for sale in the EtsyMetal Team shop, hence the reason for extra 2 charms. Also, half of the proceeds collected upon the sale of the bracelet will go towards our EtsyMetal Youth Outreach Program. We will donate 50% to the curator’s choice of a Youth Art Organization (TBA). You can see photos and read more about past charm swaps here. This is the 8th charm swap for the group but my 1st since I have only become a member of this group in Jan 2011. I think this is the coolest idea and I am very excited to be curating this event as well as participating in it. And I can not wait to put my own charm bracelet together at the end of the swap!

Bracelet from Charm Swap 6 you can purchase it in the EtsyMetal Team Shop

Killing 2 birds with 1 stone....

EtsyMetal Monthly Challenge & RAW #13 (ring a week)
I am finally caught up on my postings of my RAW rings so this post is right on time! This week's RAW ring actually had a theme "kinetics". It just so happened that the EtsyMetal monthly challenge that is due March 31 is also the same theme so this ring does double duty! The "Rattle Ring" is made from sterling silver and filled with little stones inside made of glass. I then topped the whole thing off with a piece of acrylic to hold the stones in. Since the stones are not set in a setting they are free to move around inside the ring...hence the kinetic part! It also makes a great little rattling sound when you shake it. The stones are very small (3mm) so it was hard to capture the movement in the video below but I think you get the idea! You can see all the RAW Theme Challenge rings in a new Flickr group set up just for these challenges. I can't wait to get working on my next theme ring!