Art Jewelry - Thinking outside the box

Sometimes I get so caught up with the business side of things, I forget how much fun I have creating new things...and stepping outside the box...a little shock and awe never hurt anyone! So, though my time for playing has been limited...I have a couple of new things I've been playing around with. And some of my friends appear to be having fun too! I've probably said this before, but one of my favorite toys is my hydraulic press. It's pretty evident that I use it a lot. But my second favorite toy is my torch! When I'm not setting things on fire, or burning myself, or accidently melting something...I'm experimenting with color and hemming and fusing. It's a big learning curve...one of the things that makes it so difficult is the lack of control ....the results are always different. I suppose that control comes with tons of practice, and that would be nice - but the element of surprise is fun too!

And here's a couple of things from my Etsy friends....

http://www.studiomarcy.etsy.com http://pattylakinsmith.etsy.com Hey, we girls just want to have fun!

Toodles!

Collaboration - What a wonderful thing!

Yikes, has it really been that long since I posted???? I've been pretty busy with creating, family stuff, boat trips, etc. but I need to be flogged for not blogging more often! I have been collaborating with a couple of other Etsy artists and I love working with them. The community feeling most artists share with one another is something to be remarked upon, because the sharing is something that allows us to learn and grow. Whenever I need advice on a design element or technique, someone is always there to help me out. And I pay it forward by offering help when asked. Ok, sometimes I offer when not asked, but that's another story!!!

One of the remarkable artists I admire so much is Patty Lakinsmith, http://www.pattylakinsmith.etsy.com/ , who makes the most remarkable lampwork beads. Recently she sent me a gorgeous bead and here's what I came up with. Oh, did I mention that she's remarkable? :)

And here's a close up of the bead. I wish I had about ten of them!!!

I love the way this piece looks and hangs. I think the colors of the wonderful bead are really highlighted with the "antique" finish of the metal, don't you? This has presented a real dilemma for me.....I want to keep it for myself and wear it...but I also want to post it in my Etsy store so that folks can see it. Maybe they have a bead they would want made into something like this.

Oh, what's a girl to do??

I've also kept up with my custom orders and recently did one I'm very proud of because of the significance of the piece to my customer. Her Dad died and left her some stones and she wanted to have them made into a cuff. He was a forester, so the design element included leaves, of course....one of my favorite things. Here's the original sketch:

And here's the result:

Well, off to the studio! Toodles,

Jewelry, Beads and other musings....

I've been so busy lately that sometimes it feels like I'm just spinning my wheels. The shop has been doing great, and the custom orders have been really keeping me busy. I also have been preparing for a member's show at the Progressive Energy Art Gallery. It's my first at this gallery, so I wanted to make sure I showed some of my more unique designs. The opening was last night, and it was really fun. I even bought a couple of things made by other artists that I really love. Here's a couple of things I made for the gallery showing.

Cleopatra

I can just imagine Ole Cleo floating down the Nile wearing this piece! It's my newest in the Strong Women series. (It's the first time I've done a neckpiece that opens in the front and I like how it turned out)

Athena

This design has been very popular for custom orders, but this time I made it in Copper and Sterling Silver.

On another note, I've become addicted to lampwork beads and other glass beads. I have no idea what I'm going to do with them but I am working with a couple of bead artists to collaborate on some designs. One will be incorporating beautiful focal beads into my designs and the other is to design some pieces that will allow the wearer to change the beads whenever she wants. Maybe to match the outfit she's wearing. In any case, I'm thrilled to be doing this and honored to be working with both these wonderful artists. I won't name them yet....but when we're done, I'll introduce the designs and collaborating bead makers. I only hope I can do justice to their wonderful art!

Ok, gotta run, Toodles!

Happy Memorial Day!

I promised myself I'd get better with the blogging thing...but I've been stuck in the studio so long trying to get out custom orders, I'm usually just too darn tired to make any sense. The days just seem to fly by.

Thought I'd at least take the time to show you a couple of new designs. One, the first one is a minor victory for me, so I wanted to do a happy dance on my blog! For some time I've been trying to make a ring that's the same style as my folded cuffs. I wanted it to look like a cuff for the finger, kind of a mini me thing. One of my customers requested one as a special order this week, and I took the challenge. Probably my inspiration was not wanting to disappoint her, because I took my time and concentrated really hard,(and held my mouth just right! lol!) and it turned out pretty cool! I'll be making more!

Waverunner Ring

I also made an addition to my Life Series...another ring....guess I have a thing for rings (hey, that rhymes!) but it's the first one for this series. This one is called Love amid the Chaos, made with brass and sterling silver. The woven and soldered base of the ring represents the chaos, with all the twists and turns and general disorganization and the heart on top is the love that gets us through it all. If you've had a lot of chaos in your life, or some of it lately, you understand that family and close friends or significant other is what gets you through it!

Love Amid the Chaos

Well, I guess I'd better stop and get on with the day.

Toodles,

Strong Women - Real and Fictional

Wow, it's been a while since I blogged last. I really must do better! I've been busy working on my custom orders and a new series called "Strong Women - Real and Fictional." I've always had an admiration and facination for strong women. Women who overcame the odds to become famous in some way. Or...women who fought battles for others, like the fictional characters we grew up with. I mean, who didn't want to be Wonder Woman? Anyway, I can think of a few off the top of my head...some provide inspiration and some don't. So I've been researching famous women and have read some very interesting bios. I already knew who the first strong woman design was going to be named after but what follows that is still being decided. Here's my first of the series, named after Zena, warrior queen.

The Zena Cuff

It's Sterling silver with copper wire that's been hammered and made to look like leather strips. I can just imagine the warrior queen wearing something like this, can't you?

And speaking of strong women.....kerijoy, the artist who was featured in my last blog is certainly one of them. Maybe I should name a special cuff for her! I'm so in love with her creations and I finally have 3....yes, 3!...of them on my wall! They are so wonderful and everyone loves them. Be sure to check out her site at http://kerijoy.etsy.com.

Well, I have promised myself to update this blog more frequently, and I will.

toodles for now,

Wall Dancers - Featured Artist Kerijoy

I met a lovely lady this week on Etsy who does the most incredible wall art. I think I'm going to own a few of these lovely "ladies" before too long. But besides being drawn to her wonderful designs, I was inspired and in awe of her story. I can't tell the story as well as she can, so I'm going to quote her....

" I began the "Wall Dancers" in February 2003. After 15 years of being a Senior Designer, I lost my "passion" for my art. Just when I said "No Mas!" and "I knew' where my life was going (silly me!) - Our Higher Power decided to display a sense of humor and I've been 'along for the ride' ever since! I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease in February 2002 that kept me literally bed-bound. It's been a 6-year tough battle but my ‘choice’ was not to take the victim role. The first dolls were actually made in bed with me in my jammies! I was told by all of my doctors that "these were impossible to do" and still to this day they still wonder 'how I do it.' ~smiling~ You just have met the "Rainman-Of-ETSY!"

Defying the odds, and making the most of her blessings, Keri has put so much personality into her wall dancers that you want to smile everytime you see one. She's a true artist, with all the talent and passion that makes what she creates a labor of love. Check her out. You'll fall in love with her "ladies"!

Your Friendship is Timeless

Lil Junk Food Junkie

Artsy Babe

BEE Positive Babe

http://kerijoy.etsy.com/

I know you will enjoy her Wall Dancers as much as I do! And if you want to know what to get me for my birthday.....Artsy Babe is my fave! Toodles...

New Series

I've been pretty busy with custom orders lately...which is a nice thing. Sometimes, however, it leaves little time to create on my own. I started the Life series, and am still making pieces to add to it, but because it's so personal and based on my feelings about life, I'm slow to add to the collection because I really have to feel it. I did add one piece, which I will share with you. If you've been following the series, you know what inspired it. This one is about my own life. It's a sterling silver version of the original life cuff...but I added a feature or two to from my own perspective. If you look closely, you'll see a couple of lone silver balls, somewhat separate from the other design elements. These represent the two people in my life who are now lost to me. My dear friend, Cherie (who inspired the series originally) and my Dad. I made the cuff in silver because, though there have been ups and downs...who hasn't had them...my life has been very blessed.

I'm also starting a new series dedicated to women. I'm not sure what the name of the series will be, but each piece represents a woman, real or fictional, that we all know. I've completed a couple of pieces and as soon as I photograph them, I'll post them for you to see.

Toodles for now,