Blog Carnival- April

This month on Blog carnival we are remembering those first pieces of jewelry that made us think that jewelry was our path.

 My great aunt Julia and uncle Francis sold Native American jewelry so that was my first introduction into jewelry and began my love for it( and influences my style now) but it was a trip to New Mexico when I was about 13 that really started me in physically making jewelry. I walked into a gallery called Mariposa and that was it, I was hooked. My mom and I bought this wooden brooch that was made up of many layered craft wood pieces then painted brightly and with tiny patterns on each layer( I'll try to locate it and post a pic later). I went home and played with wood and paint for quite awhile then I discovered Sculpey a few years later after going into Metalwerks gallery in Memphis where I would eventually sell my own pieces and work. These little sculpey sandwich earrings were probably my first purchase before launching into years of polymer clay jewelry making.

Check out my teammates Debbie and Beth and see what was their influence to start making jewelry.

 Debbie Ritchie http://www.fentondesign.ca/blog
 Beth Cyr: http://BethCyr.com/blog

Etsy Metal Blog carnival

                  This month's topic is:

    "Art That inspires us outside of jewelry"


Awhile back I looked up at my inspiration board and realized that I am really inspired by artists working with paper, I was a bit shocked at how many items I adored were paper. My second love appeared to be plushies and toys. Its hard to hold myself back from purchasing doll after doll or tiny little artist designed munnies. Here are just a few pics of some of my favs, including some illustrations that just get my mind ticking.

Just pulling these pics has me excited to get home and grab some paperclay and play!

Paper mache sculptures from Adam Frezza and Terri Chiao

Paper bug specimens from Kasasagi- Kate Kato

Monster Dolls from Junker Jane- Catherine Zacchino

Illustrator Nicoletta Ceccoli

Illustrator Sergio Mora

 

 

Check out my fellow EtsyMetal teammate Laura Bracken and see what art works inspire her.

Etsy Metal Blog Carnival-"Inside our Sketchbooks"

This month we are peeking inside each others sketchbooks to see what might be on the horizon for our work or what has been in our books and maybe started, never started, etc. I have so many sketchbooks lying around my house and I find it really fun to look back into them every once in awhile. Two of the pics I grabbed today I believe were from 2011 and the bead idea was from this past week.

seeing this one again makes me excited, why didn't I ever do this one! Well, I bought myself a bracelet former for Christmas this past year so I think I'd better take another look at this design and try it.

Had forgotten about this little owl idea(which is why I love to scribble down all ideas because I'd never remember them all).

Someone please keep on me to work on this one!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out my fellow EtsyMetal teammates and their sketchbooks:

 

Cynthia Del Giudice: http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com

2Roses: http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com

Beth Cyr: http://BethCyr.com/blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

EtsyMetal Blog Carnival- 2016 Plans

Since we just looked back on our year we are now discussing what we see for our upcoming year for our businesses and personal.

I'm super excited to be signed up for 2 engraving classes this year at GRS Training in Emporia, Kansas. If you have an interest in engraving or stone setting I highly recommend attending classes there. I really look forward to spending a week with other metalsmiths/jewelers. This year I will be taking deep Relief and Western style engraving.

I bought my first little pieces of gold last year so I'm anxious to make a few higher end pieces this year(and work on that stone setting!)

Personally I need to get a hold of my weight! Gained ten pounds last year so I have got to watch my sweets and walk more. So far I've signed up for a yoga class as I also need to work on getting the blood pressure down!

It should be a fun year, I've already made two pieces that I am really pleased with.

 

 

Check out my fellow teammates and their thoughts on the upcoming year:

 

2Roses: http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com/

 

 Beth Cyr: http://bethcyr.com/blog

 

EtsyMetal Blog Carnival- 2015 Inspiration

This month we are looking back on 2015 and what inspired us and how it came through in our work this year.

Back in January I visited Prague, Czech Republic and it really influenced my colors usage. Normally my work is full of bright primary colors but I did a 360 turnaround this year and mostly worked with brass, silver and bronze. I became a bit obsessed with gold and gemstones as well and have finally bought my first piece of 14KY. As far as the stones I was able to take a week long intensive course on stone setting during May. I've yet to incorporate this skill but have been sketching and designing with this in mind(as well as purchasing stones in preparation).

I look forward to carrying over this inspiration into 2016.

 

 

 

Please check out my fellow EtsyMetal teammates and what inspired them this year.

 

2Roses: http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://BethCyr.com/blog
Victoria Takahashi: http://vtakahashi.blogspot.com/
Cynthia Del Giudice: http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/
Gracebourne Design: http://gracebourne.blogspot.ca/