10.28.11
October Snow!
Originally uploaded by esjewelry
A few inches (3-4?) last night and now a noreaster coming tomorrow. I guess it’s winter now.
08.04.11
Etsy Metal August Challenge: Calder
This summer I made a promise to myself that I’d find time for creative projects, and the Etsy Metal August Challenge was one of the first I had time for in a while. It was so much fun, I had to make two pieces. Calder made some amazing jewelry using simple forms. Mine didn’t use cold connections, but I came up with some ideas that I think are reminiscent of his work.
Three Leaf Hair Pin, Fused Argentium Sterling Silver
Looped Hair Comb, Fused Argentium Sterling Silver (in progress)
I hope to find time to make more hair jewelry.
08.01.11
Etsy Metal Blog Carnival: Your Roots / Artists in Your Family
This one was easy, but difficult at the same time! I have several artists and art educators in my family, but figuring out some of their exact relationships to me was a bit difficult. I think I have it right now. Going the farthest back, there’s Alexis Jean Fournier, American Barbizon School painter and member of the Roycroft community. He did some murals at the Roycroft Inn in East Aurora (pictured above) and many small oil and watercolor landscape paintings. He’s my 5x great (I think I have that right) uncle.
I think there were probably a few blacksmiths, but the most recent one was my great grandfather on my mother’s side. My father’s maternal grandfather worked on decoration of the interiors of churches in England. My grandmother, JoAnn Wheeler, was a landscape painter, and taught at the Stelton Modern School.
My late aunt, Peg Murphy, was a docent for many years at the Kresge Art Museum. My cousin, Nina Frisch, is a professor of art education in Norway. She’s written many papers and presented them at conferences, and is also a great teacher! My parents, both professors (education and earth science) have always encouraged my art/craft career. It’s hard to imagine what I would have done without their support. They sent me to boarding school for a better art education, and helped with loans while I was in college.
See what other Etsy Metal bloggers have to say about the artists in their families!
Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
Erin Austin - http://metalmusing.blogspot.com
Nodeform - http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
Inbar Bareket - http://www.inbarbareket.net/
Cynthia Del Giudice - http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
2Roses - http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Evelyn Markasky - http://markasky.blogspot.com/
Twigs and Heather - http://twigsandheather.blogspot.com
http://www.artigianojewelbox.com/category/blog
Danielle Miller-Gilliam - http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/
07.11.11
Etsy Metal Blog Carnival: Influences
This month we’re discussing artists who have influenced us. In 2006, when I started spending a large chunk of my time designing and making botanical jewelry, along with perfecting my jewelry making skills, I worked on developing some different processes for making models of botanical objects. In one, I roll-printed hydrangea petals directly onto metal. It was somewhat of an experiment, since I’d only seen it done before with skeleton leaves. At first I thought the delicate petals would just fragment in the rolling mill. The roll-printed versions were perfect for oxidizing, while those cast directly (like the model pictured above) looked best in bright silver or gold. Making models isn’t easy. It took quite a bit of experimentation to learn what worked best for me. Many times I remember wishing that I could see what other people do, peek inside their studios for a day, instead of struggling with the process on my own.
That’s why I was so excited to see the episode of PBS’s Craft in America (several years ago) featuring jewelry artist Jan Yager, who also works with botanicals. You can view the section (Landscape) in which she talks about her work here. It’s just like you’re with her in her studio, or gathering materials outside. I love the part where she compares her rolling mill and a printing press. I used to make prints, and it was interesting that she had thought of using printing with botanicals in a similar way, but with very different results. Seeing her studio and all of the tools and equipment she’d accumulated (hydraulic press!) was inspiring. While her work functions more as art, and I make functional pieces like wedding and engagement rings, it’s still a very similar process in the first few steps.
Read what my fellow Etsy Metal members have to say on the topic…
Theresa - http://tkmetalarts.blogspot.com
Kate Jones - http://www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
Fluxplay Jewellery (Maria Whetman) - http://www.fluxplay.blogspot.com
2Roses - http://www.jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Andrea Ring- http://www.amuckdesign.blogspot.com
Nodeform - http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
Inbar Bareket http://www.inbarbareket.net
Cynthia Del Giudice: http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
Evelyn Markasky: http://markasky.blogspot.com/
AdobeSol - http://www.AdobeSol.com/blog
Quercus Silver http://quercussilver.blogspot.com/
06.06.11
Etsy Metal Studio Tour
Originally uploaded by esjewelry
For June’s Etsy Metal blog carnival, we’re doing studio tours. Here are some pictures I took recently. If you go to them on flickr, you’ll be able to view the notes.
Take a tour of other Etsy Metal studios:
Rebecca Bogan - http://www.AdobeSol.com/blog
Shirlee Grund - http://lichenandlychee.com/blog/
Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
Cynthia Del Giudice - http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
Michele Grady - http://www.michelegradydesigns.blogspot.com
Erin Austin - http://metalmusing.blogspot.com/
Nodeform - http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Markasky - http://markasky.blogspot.com/
Kathryn Cole - http://www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com
2Roses - http://www.jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Lauren Anabela Beaudoin/Creative Dexterity - http://creativedexterity.com/Blog/main.html
05.17.11
Etsy Metal Blog Carnival Topic for May: “Pages From The Sketchbook”
Most of my jewelry sketches are quick ideas with notes, not meant to be accurate drawings to scale. I did some drawings recently for a series of textile-inspired pieces. I’ve made jewelry from roll-printed fabrics and crocheted sterling silver wire in the past, but this lace series is made by fusing the models. I love the shape and texture I’m able to get by fusing. This shows a pair of lace medallion earrings next to a small sketch of a rosette-shaped lace piece. I hope to have more of these pieces done as soon as I finish working on my current wedding and engagement ring orders!
Look inside the sketchbooks of other Etsy Metal members here:
Rebecca Bogan - http://www.AdobeSol.com/blog
Shirlee Grund - http://lichenandlychee.com/blog/
2Roses - http://www.jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr - http://www.bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
kate jones http://www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
Erin Austin http://metalmusing.blogspot.com/
Nodeform http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
Michele Grady http://www.michelegradydesigns.blogspot.com
Su Trindle http://quercussilver.blogspot.com/
Evelyn Markasky http://markasky.blogspot.com/
ArtigianoJewelBox: http://www.artigianojewelbox.com/category/blog
04.29.11
How to Remove Tarnish from Sterling Silver Chains with Baking Soda, Aluminum Foil, and Boiling Water
Chains are some of the most difficult pieces of jewelry to polish. Delicate cable chains like the one pictured above have many tiny hard-to-reach surfaces that make it impossible to hand polish them. Chemical dips are expensive and toxic.
This method is easy, inexpensive and non-toxic. In about 1-2 minutes, you can clean all of your jewelry. Boil some water, and line a small dish (just large enough to hold your jewelry) with clean aluminum foil. Put about a tablespoon (it’s not necessary to measure) of baking soda in the dish along with your sterling silver jewelry. The jewelry must be in contact with the foil, and be sure it’s free of dirt and oils by washing it with soap and water first. Pour in the boiling water. You’ll see bubbles right away. They’re carbon dioxide, just like in carbonated water. As the bubbles slow down, you’ll notice that the jewelry is brighter. In less than a minute it should be free of tarnish. If the water becomes cool before all tarnish is removed (this might be the case if your jewelry was completely black) repeat the process with fresh boiling water and baking soda. You can re-use the same piece of aluminum foil over and over for this purpose. It will eventually turn dark. This is the tarnish from your jewelry. It’s been transferred to the foil!
How does it work? It’s an electrochemical reaction. Aluminum has properties that allow it to attract the tarnish from the silver. The hot water and baking soda are an electrolyte- a very weak current runs through it. You shouldn’t notice any smell, or be able to feel the current in the water. The chemical reaction is mild and involves tiny amounts of chemicals, but its effects on tarnished jewelry are dramatic!
04.13.11
14k gold, diamond and sterling silver pine branch ring
diamond 14k silver pb wide
Originally uploaded by esjewelry
This is a custom order- I like the wide pine branch with a stone.
04.05.11
Etsy Metal Blog Carnival: Most coveted tool. Why? How would you utilize it if you got it?
I just went on a tool-buying binge, so there’s not much I’m coveting at the moment, other than about 20k worth of equipment for lost wax casting, a workshop to hold it, and a couple of employees, but I did get some expensive things I’ve put off buying for a long time, a GRS Benchmate and accessories, and a Fordham flex shaft with quick change and hammer hand pieces. I’m looking forward to doing some more stone setting!
Here’s what other Etsy Metal members have to say on the topic:
Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
2Roses - http://jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
Tosca Teran - http://nanopod.wordpress.com
AdobeSol - http://www.AdobeSol.com/blog
Nodeform - http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
wildflowerdesigns - http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com
Evelyn Markasky - http://markasky.blogspot.com/
Erin Austin- http://metalmusing.blogspot.com
