| metallove |

happy new year

2012-01-02T13:14:00.002-07:00

Happy 2012! I can't believe how quickly time flies... and how long its been since I posted here. July? Really? Well, I'm happy to report that we fixed the studio roof in August and I've been a busy bee making work again.

I plan to continue the cellule series begun in 2011, and use it as a chance to experiment more with different materials and processes. Here are a couple more...

Both of these pieces will be in the upcoming exhibition, Metals and More, to be held in conjunction with the upcoming SNAG conference in May 2012. If you're flying into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, definitely check out the show!

It runs from February 24 - September 30, 2012 and will be on display at the Phoenix Airport Museum, Terminal 3.

a temporary hiatus...

2011-07-08T12:27:00.000-07:00

Sometimes life throws you a curve ball.

This is a view of the top of my studio after a massive wind storm tore the roof off on Tuesday.

Thankfully, there was no damage to the inside or it's cherished contents thanks to the help of my family & neighbors, two rolls of plastic sheeting and some trusty duct tape (now i know why they say to keep this stuff around in case of emergency!)

Needless to say, I will be taking a temporary hiatus from art making to regroup and repair, clean, organize and update the studio a bit too. stay tuned!

new piece. new series.

2011-06-15T19:12:00.000-07:00

I've been ruminating on a new series of work for a while... The wall pieces are loosely based on pages from a book with symbols or hieroglyphs; a material language. This is the first completed piece - entitled cipher.

my new studio wall

2011-05-02T09:04:00.000-07:00

I love my studio but concrete brick is not exactly the easiest wall to hang work on. I've been wanting to install a plywood-backed piece of drywall for a long time and this weekend it finally happened! (thanks to my husband and his mad construction skills)
Just for fun, I totally geeked out and made a video of the installation... enjoy! :)

photography

2011-04-10T07:35:00.000-07:00

I've often been asked how I photograph my work and I thought it might be a great blog post for those of you interested in documenting your own work. Of course, there are lots of ways to shoot jewelry and small objects, but this set up is simple and inexpensive (except for the camera!) and takes pretty nice shots.

Basically it's a piece of non-glare glass I purchased at a framing shop, propped up about an inch above a piece of charcoal grey or black paper.
I've created a light diffuser by taping mylar to a large stretcher bar and suspending it from the ceiling with hooks and string.

A spotlight is suspended from above as well, and I have two side lights that I move around to fill in any dark spaces. Tripods are key to getting good, focused digital shots. I use a Canon digital SLR, but I think you can still take amazing photos using a point-and-shoot digital camera.

Here are a few pieces I've photgraphed this way... You can achieve drastically different results just by switching the paper underneath.

yuma 2011!

2011-02-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year again - when artists, art enthusiasts, crafters, educators and students converge on Yuma, Arizona for two and a half days of fun and frolic at the Yuma Symposium. I highly recommend this event! Every year I am inspired and renewed by the artist lectures and spontaneous conversations with new friends and old. Here are a few presenters I'm looking forward to seeing this year...
Number one on the list is definitely Michael Dale Bernard. I love his chunky 'gem' brooches.

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I'm also intrigued by fiber artist Victoria May's ethereal forms...

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And, painter/printmaker Peter Foley. I'm mesmerized by his visually poetic book, autochthonous alphabet...

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The Yuma Symposium happens at the end of this month, February 24-26. Definitely check it out!

process and progress

2011-01-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share a couple process shots of a new piece I've been working on... It's definitely a big shift for me. I'm thinking these little components will be put right on the wall like this -

I love the shadows they create.

Stay tuned for the finished piece!

ai weiwei's sunflower seeds

2011-01-17T08:44:00.003-07:00

This week has been a bit surreal for our sleepy little town... After all the media attention and President Obama's visit to campus on Wednesday, it seems as though things are beginning to quiet down a little...
I wanted to share this incredible video produced about Ai Weiwei's installation of 100 million handmade porcelain sunflower seeds at the Tate Modern. 100 million! It's hard to even imagine...
I love this video because it gives context to a piece of this magnitude, showing the extensive production involved and the economy created around Ai Weiwei's work. Truly amazing!

we love you gabby

2011-01-09T18:47:00.005-07:00

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I think this picture of the Rialto Theatre taken in downtown Tucson last night sums up how many of us are feeling here after yesterday's events... This unspeakable tragedy continues to ripple through our community as we're trying to come to grips with such a senseless act of violence. My thoughts and best wishes go out to the families who lost their loved ones.
Arizona has been such a hotbed of political controversy lately. Undoubtedly, it's helped to foster an environment which only lends fuel for just such a horrible event to happen. In my humble opinion, no matter which side anyone falls on - right or left, Democrat or Repulican, Green Party or Tea Party - maybe it's time to put the hateful rhetoric aside and remember we are all Americans first.

anna gleeson

2010-12-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

I can't believe we are at the end of 2010! The last couple months (in between Christmas orders) I've been busy working on a couple new projects in the studio that I'm excited about. The work is different than my previous direction so I'm a little nervous too! pictures soon...
In the meantime I just wanted to share an installation found via Where the Lovely Things Are blog. Anna Gleeson constructed super-size paper earrings for Store's wall in Tokyo, Japan.

It's an interesting commentary on the function of art and jewelry as decorative ornament. I love her modern design aesthetic too!

For lots more images of anna gleeson's work, check out her flickr site.

october giveaway!!

2010-10-26T18:46:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!
I just wanted to let you know about a little giveaway I'm having... If you're interested in entering, head over to my etsy shop facebook page and leave a comment under the giveaway image for a chance to win these great earrings... made by moi. :)

Good luck!!

new brooch

2010-10-17T13:25:00.000-07:00

this really is handmade

2010-09-17T18:04:00.002-07:00

Lately I keep returning to a newly discovered blog, This Is Handmade...
There's something strangely voyeuristic and absurdly boring about all the videos. Yep, this really IS handmade.
I challenge you to sit through the entire 5 minutes!

sarah perkins

2010-09-08T18:06:00.010-07:00

I can hardly contain myself! I just found out that one of my enameling heroes, Sarah Perkins, will be teaching a weekend workshop here in Tucson this spring! eep!I was first introduced to Sarah's work through a lecture she gave at the 2002 Yuma Symposium and fell. in. love. She has such amazing sensitivity to color and line and shape. I think I respond most to her beggar bowl series. There's something really simple and humble about these little vessels, but its easy to see the timeless patience and care that went into making each one of them.
For more beautiful images of Sarah's work, check out Mobilia Gallery online.

August giveaway

2010-08-18T08:48:00.005-07:00

Just wanted to get the word out that I'm having a little giveaway on my facebook page this week...
If you would like a chance to win these earrings, head over to metallove and leave a comment under the image by next Tuesday, August 24th.
Good luck everyone!!

Inside insides

2010-08-14T15:43:00.005-07:00

I'm so mesmerized by the little animations on this blog - Inside insides.
Magnetic resonance imagery presents an entirely new perspective on fruits and vegetables!
For lots more super cool images that move, click here!

the shape of things to come

2010-07-23T07:23:00.005-07:00

a few process shots of pieces in the works...

kate bauman

2010-07-10T16:17:00.010-07:00

I'm really loving Kate Bauman's work lately...
She pairs enameled shapes with wallpaper, creating an interesting reference to domestic spaces and the decorative. My absolute favorite works are from her Ghost series in which she uses the enameled pieces to break down the stylized elements in the wallpaper to an organic, pre-decorative state...

I also really enjoy these over-the-top, almost campy, pieces entitled Growths. The layering of decoration on decoration points to the gaudiness of the decorative in art, but also seems to honor it at the same time.
This gorgeous installation is titled Wallflower. I love how she flips your perspective with this piece. Usually the important viewing material is within the frame... In this work, it's what we find in the background that counts.
For lots more wonderful work from Kate, click here.

June Giveaway!

2010-06-25T10:00:00.004-07:00

The metallove June giveaway is now in full swing! In honor of my birthday month, I'll be giving away one of my top selling rings AND you'll have a whole week to comment on the item pic to enter.
So head on over to metallove...

facebook.com/metallovejewelry

post a comment under the giveaway image, and tune back in on July 2nd when I'll be posting the name of another lucky winner!

best of luck to you all! and I know it goes without saying but, for the record, metallove fans truly are the coolest people on Earth.
♥

color collective

2010-06-21T11:23:00.010-07:00

I think you can probably guess that, as an enamelist, I am fascinated with color. I love working with color in all it's various shades and hues, playing with mixtures and juxtapositions just to see what happens... It's amazing how the same color can look flat and lifeless or brilliantly pop depending on the color it's placed next to!
So I've been checking in daily with one of my new favorite reads - Color Collective

Lauren Willhite finds and posts beautiful, luscious images, breaking down the five main colors at work in the picture. It's such a visual resource and source of inspiration... for lots lots more, click here.

i love this town

2010-06-03T14:46:00.004-07:00

I love Tucson. I love the people here. I love the dry, desert heat. I love the mountains all around this beautiful city and I especially love all the unique places to eat good food, hang out, and experience what this one-of-a-kind town has to offer...

Needless to say, I was thrilled to see Design Sponge's recent city guide for Tucson. All my favorite haunts are represented along with a couple new spots for me to explore!

And... just as my heart rate began to settle from the d*s post, I opened up June's edition of ReadyMade magazine only to find TUCSON once again featured as a fabulous destination spot for world weary travelers.

Yep, this is a great town folks. Come visit!

AZ Designer Craftsmen exhibition

2010-05-19T15:24:00.006-07:00

Just wanted to let you guys know about an exhibition coming up next month in Mesa...

The Arizona Designer Craftsmen
50th Anniversary Juried Exhibition
Mesa Contemporary Arts Center
June 11 - August 8, 2010

opening reception: Friday, June 11th from 7:00-10:00.

Come check out some of my work, along with lots of work by amazing artists from all over the state. It should be a great show - hope to see you there!

WIN these earrings! Today only!

2010-05-05T14:11:00.003-07:00

I'm having a little giveaway on my etsy shop fan page... today only!
The rules are simple -

1. Become a facebook fan of metallove: facebook.com/metallovejewelry
2. Leave a comment below the giveaway image by Wednesday, May 5th at 11:59 PM E.S.T.

I will enter your names into the random list generator. Whoever gets number 1, wins these beautiful green bloom earrings!
good luck everyone!

feeling crafty...

2010-04-30T11:32:00.006-07:00

Remember all those crafty holiday projects we used to do in elementary school? Well, Mom's Day is almost upon us and it's time to break out with felt, scissors, and glue again! I love this beautiful felt brooch project by Meagan Reardon. I hope my Mom likes it too. :)

For complete instructions, follow this link to holidash.com.

crystal bortfeld

2010-04-15T17:01:00.014-07:00

Well the weather's already warming up here in Tucson and I'm finding myself spending more time inside, basking in the tepid breeze of our overhead fans. This means it's soon time to retreat to my air conditioned studio for the summer, making art and avoiding the oppressive desert heat.
In the meantime, I wanted to share the work of my friend and fellow metalsmith, Crystal Bortfeld. She's doing some really interesting work with epoxy resin. I especially love these bracelets with 'captured' vintage postage stamps and bottle brush flowers...

For lots more of her beautiful work, check out the blog, etsy site, and flickr!

organized collections

2010-03-18T09:50:00.009-07:00

My husband and I are in the middle of what we fondly call "March Madness". The weather in Tucson is Perfect! We've been entertaining a steady stream of out-of-town visitors and spending tons of time outside, enjoying this amazing place we call home. Consequently, my studio time is on short hiatus for a much needed break and regrouping. Although I haven't been making much work, I've been thinking a lot about what's next...
I'm newly entranced by the intriguing aesthetic of collections. I ran across a fantastic photo pool on Flickr yesterday that has more than 4700 images of all kinds of objects in mass. So much fun to look at! Here are a few of my favorites.

And, I had to include this image from Marian Bijlenga - an artist whose work I can never get enough of!

another year in yuma!

2010-03-02T13:57:00.008-07:00

I just returned from another super fun, art-filled weekend in Yuma, Arizona. Every year, during the last weekend in February, artists converge on this sleepy little Arizona town to be inspired, share ideas and have an all around good time.
This year included some amazing presenters. My absolute favorite was Arthur Ganson, who creates lovely, poetic machines with wire. This is the piece he included in the exhibition...

I adored Stephanie Metz's work in felt, especially the needle-felted teddy bear skulls!
And I love, love, love Becky McDonah's reliquaries! She honors 'lowly', ordinary objects such as packaging peanuts, Chap Stick and, in this case, ear plugs...
For lots more about the event, click here!

good reads

2010-02-15T09:05:00.014-07:00

I've been trying to read more...
When I'm in the studio I occasionally listen to audio books. I'm listening to The Corrections by Johnathan Franzen at the moment and am thoroughly enjoying this hilarious perspective on Midwestern family values, inter-generational clashes, and the sometimes funny, sometimes sad, choices the Lambart family members make in their ever elusive quest for happiness.

My morning and afternoon commute to work during the week have been spent completely absorbed in Glenn Adamson's fantastic book, Thinking Through Craft.

I find myself making notes and writing in the margins, inspired by all the new ideas Adamson so eloquently presents in his essays. If you are an artist working in traditional "craft" materials, this is a must read. I think Adamson has some interesting things to say about craft/art boundaries and is able to create a new space for craft within 21st century contemporary art.
I just found out that one of my favorite professors from art school, Claire Campbell Park, has published a new book entitled Creating with Reverence.

Claire Park has an amazing sensitivity to color and process. In a way, I am still learning from her every time I make a piece. She taught me to respond to a work in the moment, as it is being made, rather than forcing it to conform to your vision of what it's "supposed" to be. This is a tough task for a die hard control freak, but I continue to try!
I'm sure there will be wonderful insights and thoughtful prose in her book. I really look forward to reading it!

a couple exhibitions...

2010-01-28T15:23:00.007-07:00

Just wanted to let you guys know about a couple shows I have coming up! My work will be included in two group exhibitions next month...

Textural Patois
February 18 - March 7, 2010
Allen Priebe Gallery
University of Wisconsin Oshkosh
This show exhibits work in all media that incorporates texture as a visual language. For a link to their website, click here.

Four Seasons
February 3 - March 31, 2010
Stone Dragon Gallery
1122 N. Stone Ave
Tucson, AZ

If you're in Tucson, come say hi at the opening reception on Friday, February 5, from 6:00-9:00pm!

heart my etsy shop and win these earrings!!

2010-01-18T07:16:00.003-07:00

Today only!
The rules are simple. All you have to do is heart my etsy shop TODAY - January 18, 2010 - and you will automatically be entered into a drawing to win these fantastic earrings:

If you've already hearted my shop, feel free to heart any item in my shop to enter. I will announce the winner on my etsy page tommorrow evening, and will ship the earrings, completely free of charge, within a week!
This could be the perfect gift for an upcoming birthday, Valentines Day, or maybe a wonderful treat for you. :)
Good luck everyone!

lisa murch

2010-01-16T07:50:00.006-07:00

I'm not entirely sure how I stumbled upon Lisa Murch's website one day, but I'm so glad I did. I've been back many times and am always inspired by her innovative use of materials and unique perspective on the natural world.
Check out this amazing hive form made completely of egg cartons...

or this ant bridge made out of seed pods...

I love her stuff! For lots more, click here.

stamps + enamel = fun

2009-12-31T10:56:00.013-07:00

It's the last day of 2009 and I hope you are all gearing up for a fun and eventful New Year's Eve! For my final post of the year, you're in for a treat... I'm often asked how I make the images for my enameled production line. When I say I use rubber stamps, it usually leads to an even more quizzical look. So, here you go. This is how I do it, step by step, and you'll see it's really pretty simple. If you have an enameling set up, you should definitely try it yourself!
Step 1 : Gather your supplies... you will need a piece of clean copper, two contrasting colors of enamel, a sifter, rubber stamp, water-based ink pad, Klyr-fire (this is a gluey substance that holds enamel to the metal surface), trivet and screen, and a dust mask.
Step 2: Spray a fine mist of Klyr-fire on the metal. I usually don't do this over the area I plan to sift enamel - bad idea-, but my tripod and camera were all set up and I was too lazy to move it. I recommend spraying this stuff away from your sifting area (common sense applies here). Btw, the Preval Sprayer from Ace Hardware is awesome for this purpose!
Step 3: Sift an even layer of enamel on the surface of the metal. This picture shows me sifting a second coat of color. It usually takes at least two layers to have a uniform surface for stamping. Very important side note - you need to fire a coating of enamel on the back too. This prevents the enamel from chipping off the front due to expansion and contraction of the glass.
Step 4: Fire each layer at approximately 1500 degrees (this is the fun part)
Step 5: Stamp your rubber stamp on to the water based ink pad, making sure the whole stamp is covered with ink. Transfer the image on to the fired piece of enamel. I usually have my sifter full of the contrasting color ready, so that I can immediately sift enamel on to the wet ink. Time is of the essence here.
Step 6: Sift the contrasting color on top - I attach a finer mesh screen to the bottom of my sifter so that I get a pretty fine layer of enamel particles. This generally results in a fairly clear image.
Step 7: Shake off the excess...
Step 8: Fire the image in place and you're done!
Happy New Year everybody!

taking it to the streets

2009-12-16T13:22:00.005-07:00

The American Craft Council has done an amazing job of documenting and posting audio/video podcasts of the recent ACC Conference in Minneapolis this October. If you were not able to make it to the conference (like me!), it is a fantastic series of presentations on the status of American Craft today and it's evolutionary future. I highly recommend checking it out here!

I especially love two short videos, The Pro Bono Jeweler and The Pro Bono Jeweler 2 by Gabriel Craig... they will show up in ITunes if you subscribe to the whole podcast. Each performance piece shows Craig, at his bench, in a high traffic, very visible outdoor venue. Passersby are confronted with metalsmithing and jewelry craft where they least expect it. I'm struck with how facinated people are with the process, and I especially enjoy the conversations they have regarding jewelry, the handmade, and the "magic" of craft.

For lots more from Gabriel Craig, check out his website!

heart my etsy shop and win this ring!!

2009-12-07T10:54:00.004-07:00

Today only!
The rules are simple. All you have to do is heart my etsy shop TODAY - December 7, 2009 - and you will automatically be entered into a drawing to win this beautiful ring:

I will announce the winner on my etsy page tommorrow evening, and will ship the ring, completely free of charge, within a week!
This could be the perfect gift for someone on your holiday list, or maybe a wonderful treat for you. :)
Good luck everyone!

andi velgos

2009-11-28T08:10:00.001-07:00

And now for a little post-Thanksgiving inspiration...

A recent graduate of RISD's MFA program, Andi Velgos creates work that is exquisite visual poetry. I love her experimental use of materials... cloth, burlap, wood, resin, found natural objects. She seems to use the metal as more of a frame or skeleton, supporting what would normally have no shape at all. Her pieces are innovative, fragile and otherworldly. Here are just a few of my favorites....

For lots more, click here!

new brooches

2009-11-20T12:18:00.007-07:00

Just wanted to share a couple new pieces I finished recently...

fallow

cellule no. 1

The smaller cellule brooch is the first of what I hope will become a series of 'cell' pins. Most of my brooches are pretty bulky and sculptural - the cells will be somewhat lighter and more wearable. I'm dreaming of a wall installation of these little pins... in the waaay distant future!

new website!

2009-11-13T18:22:00.004-07:00

Finally... my newer, better, faster, way cooler website is UP!
Check it out.
danielleembry.com

my new favorite

2009-10-30T14:46:00.009-07:00

Wow, where has the time gone! I apologize for my recent lapse in blog-land, but I promise, I've been working lots in the studio and will have plenty of "new" soon.

In the meantime, check out the work of one of my new favorites, Eun Yeong Jeong. She was a featured artist on crafthaus a couple weeks ago and all I could think was... How have I not seen her stuff before?! Currently an MFA candidate at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a 2009 Niche Award recipient in the student category for wearable fiber, I think we'll be seeing lots more from Eun Yeong Jeong in the future.

ipod fun

2009-10-15T17:14:00.004-07:00

Lately, I've been listening to this fun podcast by Jay Whaley Studios on blog talk radio...
It's all about metalsmithing, the jewelry trade, tools, tips and tricks, plus super-great interviews with the likes of Tim McCreight and Harriete Estel Berman. Love it! Awesome and inspiring entertainment for the studio. Check it out!

very small objects

2009-09-25T14:16:00.009-07:00

Being a metalsmith and a jeweler, I LOVE little tiny things! I ran across the most amazing website today and had to share it with you all...
Artist Brian Collier has developed a whole system for collecting, naming and classifying very small objects. According to Collier, a very small object is defined as:

1. Any object that is visible to the naked eye but small enough to go unnoticed most of the time.

2. The maximum dimensions of a Very Small Object are 8 mm by 8 mm by 25 mm long. The object must be able to fit, unforced, into a 1 dram vial. Anything larger than these minimum dimensions should not be classified under this system.

3. Very Small Objects may consist of any type of solid material.

4. Liquids and gasses may never be categorized as Very Small Objects.

5. Living things may not be classified under this system due to possible overlap with other existing classification systems.

Here are just a few of my favorite examples from the extensive very small objects database...

And, if you are wondering about the names, help is on the way with Collier's very easy to read classification chart. Better yet, if you happen to discover a very small object, he has a process for submitting it to the master collection located in Bloomington, IL. For lots more, click here...
Finally, it's good to know small objects are getting the respect they deserve!

what's new?

2009-09-21T18:37:00.006-07:00

A quick peek of new wall pieces in progress...
more soon!

Arizona Biennial '09

2009-09-08T15:26:00.014-07:00

Well, I finally made it to the Arizona Biennial this weekend. It's been up since July 11th, and will only be going on for a couple more weeks, so go and check it out now if you haven't seen it yet!
For those of you who don't know about the Biennial, the Tucson Museum of Art presents this juried exhibition of Arizona artists every other year. It's meant to show regional trends in contemporary art, both conceptually and aesthetically, and usually it's pretty amazing. My absolute favorite piece this year was Icarus, by Alan Bur Johnson.

He photographed bug wings and meticulously installed these little transparencies to resemble a swarm of insects. Beautiful!
I was blown away by Angela Ellsworth's Seer Bonnett III and Seer Bonnett IV.

The excessive pearl corsage pins - 14,164 pins to be precise -render this otherwise wearable object, impossible to wear. The surface is absolutely lucious and kind of frightening too...
Lastly, you have to check out this video, Every word, is a bullet, is a pearl by U of A MFA grad, Jeejung Kim.

I first saw the video at her MFA thesis exhibition in May, and am still transfixed by some of the imagery. Of course, it's much more powerful large scale, in a darkened room... but you get the idea. :)

Go check it out - the show is up till September 26th.

Metalsmith Exhibition in Print

2009-08-30T13:13:00.005-07:00

I'm so excited! I finally got my copy of this year's Metalsmith Exhibition in Print. It's a beauty! The theme is Color and Metal and there are lots of great artists represented. I'm honored to be a part of it!

summer in chicago

2009-08-16T05:48:00.014-07:00

Chicago is an absolute mecca for art lovers! Kevin and I just returned from a trip there and I'm itching to go back already. I feel like I barely scratched the surface of what the city holds in terms of art and architecture.
In the short time we were there, I went to Millennium Park twice. The public art in this park is really something to see. Above is a photo of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion designed by Frank Gehry. This outdoor concert space offers up free performances daily.

The Crown Fountain by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa, immortalizes the faces of people who live and work in Chicago...

and, of course, Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor... aka "The Bean", was one of my favorite pieces. It's kind of disorienting to be near this work. I actually got a little dizzy when I looked at it, but the surface is so beautiful, you can't help but be drawn in.

Lastly, we just happened to stumble upon this triple-life sized rendition of American Gothic, sculpted by Grant Wood. It's located just off Michigan Avenue, near the Chicago Tribune building.

There's so much to see in this city, I can't wait to visit again!

jacqueline ryan

2009-07-24T08:07:00.009-07:00

I think Jacqueline Ryan's work is absolutely exquisite.
She's an English born jeweler who currently has a studio in Italy. The Italian influence is evident in her work... rich, high karat yellow gold against saturated blue enamel reminds me of ancient Etruscan jewelry, with it's highly textured surface and glass accents. At the same time, her work is modern and contemporary, obviously inspired by the natural world.

I especially love her sketchbooks. It's always interesting to see how another artist works. She builds little 3-d models of her pieces out of paper first, tiny textural forms. The way she draws and layers color is absolutely beautiful! It's like a naturalist's field manual.

For lots more, click here.

something just for me

2009-07-15T18:08:00.009-07:00

For being a metalsmith, I wear very little jewelry. I guess I'd rather make it, than wear it, and often times, I'd rather sell it or give it away than keep it for myself. I find wearing jewelry in the studio is dysfunctional and hazardous, so I just get used to not having it on...
That said, I recently made a piece just for me. It's a bit of fan coral cast in sterling silver, soldered to a little silver band and I love it. It looks like lace when I wear it. I also have some silver cast in a sea urchin pattern that I plan to make a pair of earrings from, soon...
just for me.

If you're wondering where you can get these amazing patterns, check out Reactive Metals Studio. They have a growing selection of "impressions" - surface castings of coral, ice, leaves, lichen, and many other natural objects for jewelers and metalsmiths.

new for etsy

2009-07-07T18:36:00.002-07:00

There's newness in the wings... I promise.
I've been making lots of goodies for my etsy shop. It's fun to make a piece I can complete from start to finish in an hour! I'm enjoying the instant effect. Here's a sneak preview of what I've been working on...
more soon.

crafthaus

2009-06-23T13:50:00.014-07:00

Has it really been more than two weeks since my last post?! Everyday life has been insanely busy for me lately. I've barely had time to step into the studio, much less make any work! I'm hoping things slow down soon... I miss my routine... and I really miss my kiln. :)
One thing I have done this month is create a page on crafthaus. This social networking site is amazing, with artists from all over, making work in a variety of craft media. There are an especially large number of metalsmiths on crafthaus and, since joining, I've met many artists whose work I admire. Here is a small sampling of some of my favorites:

I fell in love with Stephanie Tomczak's work... Below, in order, are growth and two.

Vincent Pontillo's Pomegranate Seed is divine! I love the shadows it creates...

Felt Ring #3 by Dixie Darling. Great color and texture...

What is it lately with the wall installations? They really appeal to me for some reason... Here is yet another -
Floating garden (installation detail) by Laura Tabakman.

megan cronin

2009-06-06T07:16:00.009-07:00

Lately I've been thinking a lot about metal installation, and looking more and more at Megan Cronin's work. I absolutely love the tension between the organic forms she uses and the cool white wall space. Her minimalist aesthetic appeals to me. It's almost as if this clean empty space has been invaded by mold, spores, or moss-like objects. Gorgeous! For more, click here...

Inheritance

Unfettered

Periphery

peeled

2009-05-28T20:20:00.002-07:00

a new brooch... fresh from the studio

peeled
enamel on copper, sterling silver
3 1/2" x 3" x 1/2"

commissions, part 2

2009-05-22T15:14:00.003-07:00

As promised, pics of a couple more commissioned pieces I just finished...
a set of sterling silver partner bands, set with black diamonds and blue sapphires

and a sweet little pendant for a 16 year old who loves any and all things pink & green!

muse o the day

2009-05-15T09:08:00.005-07:00

Just want to say thanks to Susan Lomuto, of the Daily Art Muse blog for featuring my work yesterday. It was quite a thrill to find my name on the front page of such a beautiful blog!

For the full post, click here...

commissions...

2009-05-12T05:20:00.003-07:00

Lately, I've been a busy bee in the studio with commissioned work. Here are just a couple pieces I've finished up.
Stacking wedding bands with white enamel and faceted white topaz, and an enameled heart necklace for a Mother's day gift. Pics of more commissions very soon...

Echo Canyon inspiration

2009-05-05T20:07:00.011-07:00

Kevin and I went on the most amazing hike this weekend. Echo Canyon is located in the Chiricahua National Monument, about two hours southeast of Tucson, right on the border of Mexico. The rock formations in this preserve are really something to see - pure inspiration...

The moss was prolific and saturated with color...

Agave pods!...

and there were some really bizarre plants growing on one of the outcrops. We still can't figure out what they are...

what a beautiful place! Definitely check it out if you are in the area.

my best asset and my worst enemy

2009-04-27T15:42:00.006-07:00

An instructor in art school once told me that I have a Wonderful sense of design.
She said, "It is your best asset and your worst enemy."
I always think about that when I'm working on a new piece. It's an effort for me to loosen up and let things not be perfectly composed. This new brooch is kind of an experiment in letting it go. I think I'm just going to enamel the copper and let the edges be exposed - I usually surround them with carefully crafted silver bezels, believing everything has to look finished. but maybe they don't...

thanks fellow bloggers!

2009-04-21T11:42:00.005-07:00

I just wanted to say thanks to a couple fellow bloggers who featured my work over the weekend...

Montserrat Lacomba writes a lovely blog called mar de color rosa (pink sea). For those of you interested in jewelry arts, definitely check it out! Lots of beautiful imagery and innovative artists. To see the full post, click here.

and...

thanks to Lora Hart for including my piece, caste, in her Weekend Eye Candy- Enamel Edition post. I'm honored to be part of such a beautiful collection of work.

Marian Bijlenga

2009-04-17T11:05:00.012-07:00

If I could lead a parallel life, and there were 48 hours in a day, I think I would be a fiber artist too. I absolutely love fiber art, and get so much inspiration from the color and texture found there. Alas, I only have time to knit scarves and check out Marian Bijlenga's work... which is pretty amazing!

She uses died horsehair and fabric in many of her pieces. I really like the way she uses the wall as a backdrop, playing around with shadows as part of the composition. I'm especially in love with the sampler piece. (it's currently on my desktop so I get see it everyday) I've been thinking about working in similar way with smaller enameled brooches.... so, who knows, you might see some of these forms pop up in my work eventually - such beautiful stuff!
For more Marian Bijlenga, click here.

500 enameled objects

2009-04-12T06:26:00.011-07:00

I can't believe its been over two weeks since I last posted! I received my copy of 500 Enameled Objects in the mail and have been totally absorbed ever since. Here's a very small sampling of this beautiful, inspiring book...

Jessica Turrell, Rememberings Installation - a series of wall pieces based on the process of viewing family photos and articulating memories

Helen Carnac, Lost

Jessica Calderwood, Something in the Air (Platter)

Carolyn Currin, Untitled Brooch

and I'm honored to be represented as well,
Pincushion I.5: Mammalaria ashieldformis

newer older stuff

2009-03-28T07:21:00.001-07:00

So I finally scanned in slides (remember those?) of a bunch of work I completed in undergrad. I've been meaning to scan these images for a while, and I'm really glad I did it now because some of the slides were in bad shape. The Visual Resource Center on UA campus has an incredible slide scanner. The files were so huge and detailed, only 6 images could fit on a 700MB disk. Nice! Here are a few pieces, and you can check out more on Flickr...

wearable art

2009-03-21T06:00:00.003-07:00

Just want to say thanks to The Wearable Art Blog for featuring my work earlier this week. To see the full post, click here...

For those of you who don't know about this blog, it is AMAZING. Lots of eye candy and inspiration in the field of fashion and jewelry design. love it! Definitely check it out.

veleta vancza

2009-03-15T06:25:00.004-07:00

Lately I've been looking at Veleta Vancza's work A Lot...

I think she's doing some amazing work in enamel and really thinking about the material in a different way. I love the organic aesthetic and the way she fuses together smaller components, using enamel as a glue almost, rather than simply for color. I also really appreciate how the work, especially in the two pieces above, is less about object making and more about installation - using the wall as a backdrop.

Her website is still under construction, but she has a Facebook page where you can check out more...

EiP!

2009-03-09T19:40:00.006-07:00

I was thrilled to find out earlier this week that my work was selected for the upcoming edition of Metalsmith Magazine's Exhibition in Print! The juried EiP, on stands in August, is titled "Saturated: Metal and Color". They will be publishing images of these two pieces...

check it out this summer!

yuma symposium

2009-03-03T14:04:00.009-07:00

Well, Yuma Symposium was lots of fun! If you are an artist in any media, I highly recommend attending this annual event. The presenters are so inspiring, and the atmosphere is incredibly laid back. For me, it's always a lovely escape; a chance to see old friends and meet artists from all over.
As always, the pin swap is my absolute favorite. I love to see what other people are offering up for trade. There were some amazingly cool pins this year!...

I really enjoyed Nancy Worden's talk on Friday. She makes super bold, empowering jewelry, many of which are based on mythology and ancient stories. This is Inanna's Laugh, a response to the Sumerian myth of Inanna's Descent into the Underworld, and the flowers that bloomed upon her return.

And, as always, lots of randomness that can only happen in Yuma! My friend Maureen Brusa Zappellini snapped this picture while we were walking down Main Street...

only in Yuma... :)

pin swap!

2009-02-26T06:06:00.004-07:00

I'm about to embark on a road trip this weekend to the Yuma Symposium. Artists from all over the West converge on this sleepy Arizona town once a year to talk about art making. I love it. Highlights to come, but thought I would give you a sneak peek of the pins I've been making to swap with my fellow artists...

a few of my favorites

2009-02-23T14:34:00.012-07:00

Ok, so Continuum was AMAZING.

Especially Friday night. So many great artists, great performances, yummy food and wine, stuff to see and experience. Here are a few of my favorites...

I fell in love with Lois Epperson-Gale's work. This piece is part of the It’s all Connected/Sutura series. She works with encaustic and uses, in this case, a piece of rusted metal as a base material for the wax. (love it!) There's so much richness in the layering and the imagery.

Jessica Drenk, who graduated with an MFA in Sculpture from U of A, made these incredible wall pieces out of carved PVC pipe. They looked like bamboo bones. Beautiful! This piece is titled Erosion 15.

I was charmed by SJ Gibson's simple drawings; visual poetry...
"This is my disappointed smile"

One of the biggest highlights was a performance, designed by a very talented undergrad at the U of A, Natalya Kolosowsky. Throughout the evening ghostly figures, dressed in elaborate costumes, streamed in and out of the crowds and danced in open spaces. The silk performer was part of this piece...

Overall, it was a fabulous celebration of past, present and future at the UA School of Art, and now that the grad studios have been properly inaugurated, the grads can move in and get to work!

Continuum

2009-02-18T14:39:00.005-07:00

The U of A School of Art is putting on quite a soiree this weekend. Continuum is a two day event to inaugurate the new Visual Arts Graduate Research Laboratory - aka. 'the grad studios', and they are pretty cool. Much nicer than the old warehouse downtown, with the occasional leaky roof and lack of heat in the winter. Anyway, it should be a spectacular spectacular with art, performances, video screenings, workshops and lectures spanning the two day event. I'm exhibiting and selling three pieces in the show, including exhale below...

And, if you are in the area and can't afford the $75 ticket for Friday night's gala, you can come on Saturday for $10 and enjoy a slew of great lectures and workshops!

ah memories...

2009-02-15T07:03:00.000-07:00

I've been tagged by friend, and fellow maker-of-objects, Shannon Duffy of Helicopter Studios. The rules are a little different for this game:

Go to your 4th picture file on your computer and blog about it, then tag 4 other bloggers to do the same.

This photograph comes from a group of old, pre-digital photos I scanned in months and months ago. It was taken 15 years ago when my son, Caleb, was about two, and I was a little younger myself (ok, a lot younger!) We are hanging out at the 4th Ave. Street Fair with two very dear friends of mine, that live way to far away from me now, Yvette Lorance Serrano and KC Corey. I remember this day like it was yesterday. We spent the whole day walking around in the windy cold and then ended up in a fantastic tapas bar that night, near the University, where I had delicious paella and Spanish wine. ah memories...

oh, and btw, the guy spinning helter skelter in the anti-gravity machine behind us, is my husband, Kevin! Our boredom and preoccupation while he is turned upside down is appalling!

now, for my tagees...

Ted McDonah
Maureen Zappellini
Katie Meiss
Kristin Beeler

whats new?

2009-02-08T09:35:00.003-07:00

Getting ready for Continuum later this month. I have three pieces in the show that I'm trying to wrap up right now. Making progress... slowly...

Juror's Award!

2009-02-02T15:09:00.006-07:00

I was notified this weekend that I won a juror's award for transpose, which is currently on exhibit in Denton, Texas at the Material's Hard and Soft show!

The show is up until March 29 at the GDAC Meadows Gallery. Be sure to check it out if you are in the area.

new name

2009-01-31T09:05:00.006-07:00

Well, I got a little note from etsy admin the other day asking me to change the name of my etsy shop. Apparently there is another Tiny Shiny jewelry company out there...

... and they have a lawyer.

Sooooo, my new name is metallove, and the url is www.metallove.etsy.com, if you want to update your links. Etsy was absolutely awesome about it and transferred all my hearts, convos, sales, feedback etc. to my new shop, with only minor pixeldust in the end.
big sigh.

oh pangaea!

2009-01-25T19:11:00.008-07:00

I recently traded a pair of my enameled earrings for this lovely little handmade journal by Leigh Moss. Her craftsmanship is exquisite. I love the "vintage field manual" look, with the antiqued paper and butterfly specimens. Beautiful! You can see more handmade books at her etsy shop, oh pangaea books...
I'm taking a graduate sculpture class, 3-d concepts, this semester, and I plan to use the journal as a place to keep track of ideas, thoughts, and research regarding my studio practice. Why I choose a certain color, or why I'm so drawn to seed pods lately... At the end of the semester, I'll have to give a short presentation on my work, and I'm hoping the journal will give me some insight into why I make what I make.
For now, it's just really fun to write in.

Etsy front page!

2009-01-21T14:44:00.003-07:00

How nice to find my green bird ring on the front page of Etsy today! I'm so excited! I think this is the first time I've ever been on the front page. It's kind of a thrill. :)

moo cards

2009-01-18T15:20:00.003-07:00

Just got in some new business cards for my etsy shop!

I printed them through moo.com - a really sweet online print shop that is perfect for artist cards. Literally every single card could have a different image if you wanted! I think they came out great - I'll definitely use them for more printing in the future.

new kiln!!

2009-01-11T19:28:00.004-07:00

Well, my fabulous new kiln arrived earlier this week, and I spent all day in the studio playing with it. What a beauty, huh?...

I love it! It fires a little slower, so I have a lot more control over the enamel surface with this kiln, plus the interior is much bigger than my other one. Best of all, it maintains it's own temperature. I don't have to manually regulate it like my old one. Speaking of my old one, here's what I have been using for the last two years...

Can you believe I've been enameling in this!?

I installed a power switch in the cord, so I could turn it off and on, maintaining a constant temperature. What a pain! The whole top had to be lifted off when I put a piece in there, which really slowed down production work. Plus, it had been rebuilt several times before I started using it - the kiln wash was so thick it was constantly flaking off! Not exactly what you want when firing enamel. It's served me well, though, despite being a little dysfunctional at times.

Yeah, I think enameling is going to be a lot more fun now. :)

new year, new post

2009-01-07T11:55:00.006-07:00

Happy New Year!

I can't believe it's already 2009. I usually don't make New Year's Resolutions, but this year I actually have a couple...
1. Hike more! It's been almost a year since I've hiked any trail. A couple years ago, Kevin and I went on a hiking binge. My absolute favorite was a 25 mile backpacking excursion to Havasupai in the Grand Canyon. It is truly heaven on earth there.
2. Pay off credit card debt. I know, I know...
3. Keep up the studio momentum. The second half of 2008 has been my most productive studio time in several years. I think moving into this house and having such a great space is part of it, the other part is all the amazing cooking my husband does! There's nothing better than working in the studio for 10 hours and having a yummy, hot meal ready for you at the end of the day. Thanks Kev.

now for a sneak preview of things to come....
stay tuned.

back in the studio... finally

2008-12-31T06:08:00.010-07:00

I'm finally back in the studio after an almost three week break. I really needed some quality TV time after writing a 25 page research paper for my Aesthetics and Sexuality class, and hosting the annual Embry family Christmas party with my sister earlier this month. Whew! and then there was Christmas itself, with all the shopping, decorating, cooking, parties and hanging out with family from out of town - not to mention the excessive food consumption. I think I've developed an addiction to pumpkin pie for breakfast... I need to work on that.

Nothing too exciting is happening right now. I'm getting together the work to ship out for Materials Hard and Soft, part of which requires repairing transpose. The piece fell off the wall, the plexiglass cracked and one of the enameled seeds fell out!

I think it will be much stronger post repair, and I'm changing the hanging mechanism, so it shouldn't fall again. Repairs always feel like you are going backward though.

I've also made a couple new pieces for my etsy shop!

I love, love, love the little orange dangle earrings. I think I need a pair for myself :)

knitting and metal

2008-12-18T09:27:00.008-07:00

Lately it's been cold and rainy here in Tucson. Pretty unusual weather for us actually... When it gets like this, I just want to watch movies, drink hot chai lattes, and knit all day.

I always think about incorporating knitting into jewelry or sculpture at some point, combining it with enamel somehow. Maybe this will happen eventually... but for now, they are two unconnected activities, dependent upon my mood and the weather.
I'm inspired by the work of Joanne Haywood.

She is amazingly adept at combining metal and fiber in an effective way. I think her aesthetic is really fun and whimsical, but still sophisticated. The dark oxidized metal against red yarn is a great contrast too. beautiful!

Click here to see more!

pod print of the day

2008-12-17T15:47:00.003-07:00

Caught this beautiful photograph of a lotus pod on the front page of Etsy today. What a luscious green!! Photo by Jan Morales.

METALinclinations

2008-12-12T09:14:00.008-07:00

The Society for Midwest Metalsmiths has an interesting online exhibition of metalwork and jewelry right now.

The whole concept of an online exhibition is interesting to me. I guess it's kind of like the Exhibition in Print, but you are able to link into the artists websites directly off the exhibit page, which seems more accessible in a way... I'd like to see more of these kinds of exhibitions in the future. My only critique with this one is that the images are a little small. It would have been cool to view a super-size slide show like Flickr offers - something to show off the detail in the metalwork. Overall, though, there are some amazing pieces and a nice representation of what is going on in the field.

Click here to check it out!
Here are a couple of my personal favorites from the show...

Dandelion Vessels by Hyejeong Ko
sterling silver

Feeding Desire by Mary Hallam Pearse
sterling Silver, fine metal paper, pearls, glass

Symbogillis by Jillian A. Moore
electroformed and fabricated copper, nickel-silver, paint and ink

Meadow Flower by Judith Kinghorn
sterling silver, 24k gold

all I want for christmas

2008-12-09T05:39:00.005-07:00

Just putting it out there... :)
a newer, bigger furnace would really make me happy.

ok, so i've been tagged....

2008-12-02T18:44:00.001-07:00

Ok, so i've been tagged
by fellow metalsmith and jeweler, Lynnette Andreason, and need to write seven random facts about myself... hmmm...
This should be fun, here goes:

1. I played the violin from 2nd grade to 8th grade and quit because it was too 'nerdy'. Its the only decision I regret.

2. One summer, on a whim, I drove to Alaska from Tucson and spent three months on the coast working in a salmon fishery. This trip changed the way I look at the world and the people in it... for the better.

3. I listen to books on CD while I'm in the studio. I just finished Swift as Desire by Laura Esquivel, and loved it. I also loved her other book, Like Water for Chocolate - which I also listened to on CD.

4. I'm attracted to ugly colors... There's just something really beautiful about them.

5. Sometimes I wonder if I am the last un-tattooed adult in America, or maybe just Tucson. I don't have a single tattoo and I have no intention of getting one. I really like them on other people though.

6. My secret food obsession: Pop Tarts.

7. I try my best, although I'm not always successful, to buy local, eat more organic, use less electricity, harvest more water, use less gas, and live more simply.

And now, my "taggees"... (is that a word?)

Shannon Rankin
Amy Tavern
Arthur Hash
Metalsgirl
Cynthia Del Giudice
Sonya Coulson Rook
Angela Gerhard

THE RULES AND REGS: *Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.* Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.* Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their name as well as links to their blog.* Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

new brooch

2008-11-30T20:03:00.007-07:00

I finally finished this brooch I started about a month ago! I think it was all the little enameled seeds that took forever to make and rivet to the back plate. Here is a photo of the reverse:

now I really need to get busy and make some stuff for my neglected etsy shop... :)

wedding band

2008-11-26T17:29:00.005-07:00

I just finished this wedding band for a very good friend of mine. It's 14K palladium white gold, with green diamonds and a .1 carat white diamond in the center.

sparkley goodness. :)

Felt! and fiber jewels

2008-11-21T11:01:00.011-07:00

Seems like a lot of jewelers are venturing into alternative materials these days. Metalsmithing is no longer just about metal - as Metalsmith's most recent Exhibition in Print has proven!
I absolutely love some of the work being done in felt. The material really lends itself to organic forms. Here are some of my favorites by etsy artists and beyond...

I am so inspired by Natalya Pinchuk's work! This is one is titled Brooch2. I love her mixture of plastic flowers, enamel and felt. Her sense of color is also pretty amazing.

A couple pieces by one of my favorite etsy artists, Maria Joao Ribeiro.
Top image is Bangles - nO.339; on the right Patchwork Brooch nO. 119

Bubble Necklace by Melissa Miller

and below, Anemone by Keri Rounding

thanks Harriete!

2008-11-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

I have appreciated and followed Harriete Estel Berman's work since I saw her presentation at the Yuma Symposium several years ago. She was re-purposing old tin containers before it was ever fashionable to do so, making beautiful bracelets like Pink Elephant Bracelet, featured in the book, 500 Bracelets...

Besides being a phenomenal metalsmith, Harriete Estel Berman has put together a truly amazing website about the business side of being an artist. She has posted information that runs the gamut from legal contracts and applying to juried exhibitions, to packing and shipping your work. And, if there is something she hasn't covered but would like more information on, you can "Ask Harriette" via her blog - Ask Harriette.

Thanks Harriette for putting together such an invaluable resource!

all souls ornament

2008-11-16T17:21:00.004-07:00

Thanks Sarah Tollefson for letting me post this image of the beautiful jewelry she created for the All Souls Procession. Each photograph is a direct ancestor, and the necklace honors her namesake lineage. When I first saw this piece, I was struck with its link to identity. We are all part of a larger family tree, and wearing or carrying pictures of our loved ones and family members can be traced through the history of ornamentation. It reminds us of who we are.

You can find more of Sarah's amazing photographs here...

And if you are interested in her inspiration for this jewelry, click here...

All Souls Procession

2008-11-11T05:56:00.005-07:00

I went out to the All Souls Procession this weekend. Playing chaperone to a pack of teenagers, this was the first year in a while I didn't dress up. Kind of nice to just be a spectator, actually.

For those of you who don't live around here, Tucson gets together every year, right around this time, and marches through the streets of downtown. The event is a loosely organized borderland fusion of traditional Mexican Dia de Los Muertos, pagan ritual, and a dash of Burning Man. I love how absolutely democratic it is. No rules, no signing up to be a part of the parade - just show up in spectacular regalia and walk. Anything goes... and it gets bigger every year.

Flam Chen usually puts on a beautiful show at the end, and this year may have been my favorite. There were 9 performers hanging on ropes, spinning about 100 feet in the air on a crane! The finale is always the 'Burning of the Urn', which contains images, prayers, secrets, lists of things to let go of, any idea you want to see go up in flames. Its truly amazing to see it light up - a big ball of fire in the sky.
My camera conked out this year, so I don't have any pictures, but there are some pretty good videos on You Tube. Check it out!

on my bench

2008-11-09T15:20:00.005-07:00

Thought I would share what's on my bench right now...
I'm working on another pod-like brooch.
This one will be enameled on both the front and back with a simple, silver step bezel holding it all together. Making the teeny little seeds is tedious, but I sort of like zoning out on repetitive elements. Repetition is kind of relaxing for me - I don't have to be creative or solve any problems, I can just make them. I think I'm going to cover the whole interior with a riveted seed texture.
I'm liking the layered components in this series of pins. It will be interesting to see how the top layer hides and, at the same time, exposes what's going on inside.

Also, just finished a commission for two pairs of cuff links.
I had a great time making these - my first cuff links ever!

life is good...

2008-11-05T17:58:00.001-07:00

Kristin Beeler

2008-11-03T12:22:00.007-07:00

I have loved Kristin Beeler's work for a long time. The other day I ran across her photostream on Flickr...

The first time I saw an exhibition of brooches by Kristin, I was taking jewelry classes at Pima Community College. I remember being inspired by her craftsmanship and attention to detail. The work seems to tell a story that you can't quite figure out. She offers up bits of information and lets you fill in the blanks. Even though her aesthetic is controlled and purposeful, sometimes she lets it slip a little and I think this is where her work really shines.

Anyway here are a few of my favorites - for lots more, click here.

Itch - sterling, iron wire, 19th c. postcard

Toss

Path - bracelet
sterling, mother of pearl, fine sliver, ink

Being Perceived

2008-10-25T07:48:00.012-07:00

If you are in or around Tucson, there is an amazing show up at the Joseph Gross Gallery - new work by contemporary fiber artist Scott Ellegood.

Scott embroiders portraits on linen that, to me, seem less about the individual and more about a shared human experience.

They are psychological and occasionally a little disturbing. I think the subject matter is a nice contrast to the exquisitely beautiful hand-sewn technique he uses. The faces are built entirely from a collection of buttonhole stitches. You really have to see them up close to admire the color and textural quality - pictures do not do them justice!

Definitely check it out!
It's up until January 7th.

500 Enameled Objects

2008-10-17T15:17:00.006-07:00

I found out a couple days ago that one of my enameled brooches will be published in the upcoming book, 500 Enameled Objects! It will be coming out in April...

And, as a side note, the cover image is a pin designed by friend, fellow ASU graduate, and superb enamelist Jessica Calderwood.
Should be a great book!

new piece

2008-10-12T13:52:00.005-07:00

Just finished this brooch - the first in a small series of brooches loosely based on lotus pods. I'm still thinking of what to title it.

Its funny how some of the shapes in this pin echo the lines in the previous post. Often I wonder if imagery is universal somehow. I can't count how many times I've gone to an exhibition and seen an artist using some of the same shapes, in the same ways that I have been contemplating myself...
Anyway, the pin is oxidized sterling silver and enamel on copper. Putting this piece together gave me a little trouble - it's one of the more complicated constructions I've attempted recently. Originally, I thought I would rivet the middle, web-like layer and the top piece to the silver base with several little tubes. That ended up being a completely crazy idea - trying to get everything to line up would have been impossible! So... the middle piece is held in place with four prongs and the top piece is up on a step and bezel set. Such a simple solution! Seems like I always make things more difficult in the planning stages.

beauty

2008-10-02T09:34:00.003-07:00

I stumbled across this gorgeous brooch by paperiaaree
It's a Gocco print on natural linen, hand-stitched with off-white pearl cotton. what a beauty.

I'm off to Flagstaff for a couple days! It's work related but I usually find a way to have some fun too. I'll be staying in the historic Hotel MonteVista, which is supposedly haunted. I'll let you guys know if I have any ghostly encounters... :)

new for etsy

2008-09-29T09:48:00.011-07:00

Fingerprint earrings made from a little leftover silver, etched with a beautiful woodgrain pattern. I still have lots of the blue resist paper printed with woodgrain, so you might see more woodgrain/fingerprint work in the future....

I adore stacked rings and have been meaning to get into the studio and make my own version for a while. Well, it finally happened and these sweet rings were posted on etsy yesterday! I love these three colors right now - charcoal grey, mustard yellow and white. Seems like everything I'm designing uses these colors right now.

you know, it's been a while since I've been on a road trip. Maybe my subconscious is trying to tell me something...

thanks Tucson!

2008-09-25T11:32:00.005-07:00

just want to say Thanks Tucson!

and thanks Tucson Weekly staff for mentioning my etsy shop in "best handmade stuff"

In case you don't live here, and don't know about it, the Tucson Weekly puts out a "Best Of Tucson" issue every year. We Tucsonans get together and vote for our absolute favorites - favorite restaurant, favorite bar, favorite thrift shop, favorite festival, favorite place to play in the water without the risk of drowning (that would be The Splash Pad on River Road, in case you're wondering)

If you want to know more about local favorites in our fair city click here...

I love this town. :)

what Not to do

2008-09-17T19:34:00.002-07:00

thank you keri smith for this wonderful advice.

process

2008-09-12T15:12:00.008-07:00

I'm working on a group of pins right now, kind of based on the lotus pod form... loosely based.

Part of my process is drawing them out and working out as much of the technical details on paper as I possibly can. Anyone who's a metal smith knows you can work yourself into a corner if you don't plan out the fabrication steps well in advance!

I can't say I enjoy this part, really. I just want to make something and hours spent sketching, working out enamel samples, or simply daydreaming ideas feel so fruitless. The end product is better if I go through the process, though.

stay tuned for the finished piece!

love this!

2008-09-08T18:32:00.003-07:00

I love this Vessel for a Thought by HEILOstudios...

Fellow metalsmith and ASU graduate, Shannon Duffy, creates these beautiful little reliquaries to honor... whatever you want. I love the idea behind this piece - write whatever you want on the teeny scroll and keep it in the vessel for years to come. It could be like a little time capsule to mark an event or a way to say something to another person.... endless possibilities.

New wall piece

2008-08-26T19:35:00.009-07:00

A new wall piece I just finished... a lotus pod diptych

Very tough to photograph because of the devilishly reflective Plexiglas!

I used to use Lazertran for the image transfer process, but color copiers melt the paper now. This is my first attempt at using iron-on, ink-jet transfer paper on wood. It seems to work pretty well. The left panel looks a little dark in this picture, but you can see the image up close.

| metallove |

happy new year

a temporary hiatus...

new piece. new series.

my new studio wall

photography

yuma 2011!

process and progress

ai weiwei's sunflower seeds

we love you gabby

anna gleeson

october giveaway!!

new brooch

this really is handmade

sarah perkins

August giveaway

Inside insides

the shape of things to come

kate bauman

June Giveaway!

color collective

i love this town

AZ Designer Craftsmen exhibition

WIN these earrings! Today only!

I will enter your names into the random list generator. Whoever gets number 1, wins these beautiful green bloom earrings!good luck everyone!

feeling crafty...

crystal bortfeld

organized collections

another year in yuma!

good reads

a couple exhibitions...

heart my etsy shop and win these earrings!!

lisa murch

stamps + enamel = fun

taking it to the streets

heart my etsy shop and win this ring!!

andi velgos

new brooches

new website!

my new favorite

ipod fun

very small objects

what's new?

Arizona Biennial '09

Metalsmith Exhibition in Print

summer in chicago

jacqueline ryan

something just for me

new for etsy

crafthaus

megan cronin

peeled

commissions, part 2

muse o the day

commissions...

Echo Canyon inspiration

my best asset and my worst enemy

thanks fellow bloggers!

Marian Bijlenga

500 enameled objects

newer older stuff

wearable art

veleta vancza

EiP!

yuma symposium

pin swap!

a few of my favorites

Continuum

ah memories...

whats new?

Juror's Award!

new name

oh pangaea!

Etsy front page!

moo cards

new kiln!!

new year, new post

back in the studio... finally

knitting and metal

pod print of the day

I will enter your names into the random list generator. Whoever gets number 1, wins these beautiful green bloom earrings!
good luck everyone!