July Jewelry Blog Carnival

It just so happens that my last post fit right into the July Blog Carnival Theme on favorite manual tool. I really did enjoy my new cobbler's hammer while I was teaching my workshop over the weekend.

Take a look at what my fellow jewelry bloggers enjoy for a favorite manual tool.
Angela Crispin
Lorrene Davis
Lora Hart
Chris Parry
Tamra Gentry
Elaine Luther
Marco Fleseri

Mother's Work Weekend and a Great Treat

I spent my Mother's Day weekend moving cleaning the kids area, moving furniture, putting together furniture, and getting the entire area organized. I also took my kids to the opening reception of the regional school districts art show at The Pumphouse Regional Arts Center in La Crosse, Wisconsin.

Here they are looking at the elementary kids art from their own school.

Here they are looking at the middle and high school art. The kids really enjoyed the work. They had a much stronger appreciation for art than I ever remember having. They talked enthusiastically about colors, texture, as well as subject matter - all of the things that the rest of we adults should be discussing. Do stop by the Pumphouse and see the show if you are in the area. The kids around here are exceptionally talented.

My daughter loved this piece that she is standing in front of, not the type of work that I expected her to appreciate at all. Now how can I ever choose art for her again? She has such well considered tastes. We will have to start art window-shopping together.

Yes, I spent my Mother's Day weekend being a Mother.

I did buy myself two new trees for the yard, a sugar maple and a prairiefire crabapple. I planted them too, in the rainy windy low 50s unnaturally cold spring weather.

So did I rest today? No, I still had work to do. It was at least business related work, but not in the metalshop. I completely re-organized, or perhaps I should say just organized, my office, photography and shipping area today.

The floor is clean, all the way out to the loft edge.

So what was my reward, other than my lovely little trees?
Today I got my necklace from duckduckgoosestuff, her end of a trade that we started last fall! I love it!

A Taste of Spring

Spring is easing in this year, slowly but surely.
The bleeding hearts are blooming. I haven't gone out searching for any wildflowers. I'm satisfied with the flashy, yet coy reddish pink of the dicentra.

I do love the wild, or half-wild, violets that grow in the margins between yard and woods.

Yes, I have gotten a little studio work done, silver ginkgo leaf pendants. Four of them are for a custom order.

They actually have more of a white silvery satin sheen. In the photo, they are reflecting too many of the dark colors around them.

In the house, I've been completely redoing the kids bedrooms. If I have any energy left, I will take photos. Son gets a big heavy old style tv, complete with rf modulator, so he can play Wii in his own bedroom, with plenty of space. Daughter of course gets lots of pink flowery fluff, so much fun for Mom! :). Now if I could just find some yellow eyelet curtains..... If you see some, let me know.

fyi- I am completely giving up any serious gardening this year. I am devoting myself to all of the little home finishing jobs that we've talked about for the past 4 years but not done anything about. We still need trim in some places. We need a total interior paint job. I'd like a minimum of landscaping around the house - that sort of thing. Let's not even mention that "temporary" railing in the loft. It's time to "finish" this house.

Mother's Day is coming up.

What's your Mother getting for Mother's Day?

Mine is getting the silver heart ring in this picture.

Here's another one, size 7, available in my Etsy shop that could go to your Mother. Or buy it for yourself!

I know I like to pick out my own presents. I don't want to be surprised. I just want what I want.

Hey, if you do buy it for your mother, put a note in the "message to seller" letting me know if you need it shipped to a different address or if you need a gift card enclosed.

Twig Time in the Studio!

I've been working on a branch theme in the shop.

Here are some tree shelf brackets in progress.  They are about 2 ft high and 1 ft deep, for the shelf.  I designed them without a continuous backplate, so that you can see tree before bracket.

 
I've worked on them since I took the photos.  They are now ready for the final clean-up, patina, burnishing and sealing.  I'll take pictures again before they ship out.

Then I went completely small scale to make some twiggy copper rings.  The rings are adjustable, a few for the pinky fingers and the others could fit anywhere from size 5 to 9, maybe even 10.

In the house, I got around to finishing up some more felt heart ornaments.

I couldn't resist buying more hand dyed roving at the local yarn shop, so you'll definitely be seeing more ornaments.

Here are a few springtime sights around the yard.
Our earliest flowers, a type of windflower

and the dried outer skin and seeds of a tomatillo, that surfaced after the snow melted. We planted tomatillos 3 years ago. We haven't planted them since, but they come up every year, loads of them. Don't plant tomatillos unless you really like them.

Blog Carnival! - Monthly Jewelry Series

It's a blog carnival!  This month's topic is

"would you make jewelry even if you didn't need or plan to sell it? why or why not?"

My answer is simple - Yes!  I started off making jewelry so I could have exactly what I wanted.  It took me a long time to develop the skills to make the heavily textured nature leafy jewelry that I love.  So I would definitely keep making jewelry, for myself and my loved ones.  

To see the answers at the other participating blogs, visit the links below.

http://lorahartjewels.blogspot.com/

http://www.creativetexturetools.com/news/

http://www.kaskiles.com/

http://www.fleseri.com/blog/

http://angelacrispin.canalblog.com/

http://penny-candies.blogspot.com/

http://gentrydesignco.typepad.com/jewelrydesignchronicles/

Ahhhh

Now this is why I started making jewelry in the first place..... so I could make work like this mainly for myself at the time.  These days, even when I make jewelry to sell, I'm still envisioning it on myself.

Two sterling silver feather pendants- first handsawn, then hammered, then defined and refined with chasing tools over pitch.
 
For the finish, I tumbled the pendants for a few hours, oxidized them with liver of sulphur, and then burnished up the highlights with a 3M green polishing wheel.

This bracelet might be sold.  I have to wait to hear back from the client who suggested it.
 
I love how it turned out.  The oak leaf and acorn theme seems to be timeless.  I textured the metal first with hammers, then created the image with chasing and repousse, and finally formed it to the cuff shape with hammers again. 

The heat oxide is so beautiful on bronze.  Bronze gets a bit of copper plating on it after repeated heating.  There is so much copper in the alloy that the copper somehow comes to the surface during the annealing process.  So when I start to burnish back the surface, I go through a range of colors from black, brown, red and then finally the goldtones of the bronze.
I used a variety of 3M Scotchbrite brand buffs and wheels to get the right finish, burnished but still rugged, with lots of texture and color tones.

Copper Oak Leaf Jewelry

I've got some nice big copper oak leaves that I've been making into talisman-like pendants.  The leaves are my design, well nature's design, about 4 inches long from the top of the stem loop to the bottom of the leaf.  You may click on each picture for more details.
 
I have a local friend cut them with his computer aided plasma cutting system.  This is my first time to have non-ferrous (copper and bronze this time)  metals plasma cut and there are size limitations.  The surfaces are more rugged, as the plasma cutter sort of burns away the cut lines.  Of course I like the way that looks.   Smaller shapes and other metals will still need to be sawn by hand.

I had to have one of the oak leaf pendants for myself.  I like large bold pendants on long 24 inch endless chains that slip easily over my head with no clasps.

I am finally starting to own a nice selection of my own jewelry!

2nd Butterfly Finished!

 The 2nd butterfly pendant is finished!  It is created with chasing and repoussé, no molds or forms, completely one of a kind.

and a side view, just because

Both the first and the second butterfly have been claimed and will be flying off to their new owners very soon.

I love it when new owners claim their pieces even before they are completed.  Then I know the pieces have a story to tell and will stay close to someone's heart for a long time.

Butterflies and other pretty bits in progress

Many Etsymetal Street Team members participate in a monthly theme challenge. There are no votes or prizes. The goal is to stretch our creative skills and grow as metalsmiths and artists. I'm currently working on the insect theme with butterflies.

There are 2 different butterflies, each one about 2 inches at its maximum dimension. I haven't decided yet if these will be pendants or pins, maybe both.

Some other things going on in the studio...

Leaves and cattails in progress! Oh, you don't think those pipes look like cattails yet? They will. I'll show you later this week.

Wrought Iron Tendrils

I fired up my Whisper Daddy forge and did some hot work today.  I've got a lot of branch, flower, and leaf elements in progress for various projects.
 

I sold several of my Wrought Iron Tendril coat hooks from my online shop.  The buyer needed one more.  I made up four more, photographed them all together and let her choose the hooks she liked the best.  It's so nice to have a little variety to choose from, even within similar items.  You can see how each one is quite individual, even within a series.  Look for the remaining three to be listed in the home decor section of my shop over the next few days.

These look great all in a row on the wall, ready to hold your garden tools, bags, scarves, hats,... whatever you need to hang up.

While I was working on the hook tendrils, I found an 1/8 inch thick length of steel and one thing led to another.  I couldn't resist making some wrought iron tendril jewelry!
 
They are each about 3 inches long.  I plan on making 2 more of these tomorrow while I'm forging cattails, maybe 3 if I have enough of that 1/8 inch stock left.

Big or Little?

Many of you have noticed that I'm doing much more jewelry these days. A few people have asked which I enjoy more, the small work or the large work.

The truth is, I enjoy both. At this point in my life, the smaller pieces, the techniques, time frame, materials, fit my busy lifestyle. Jewelry and small art are so fun to make, quite challenging, yet less stressful than architectural work like railings. The small stuff is easier to ship too...

I am still working on a railing section with enticing elements like birds and flowers. (I really can't resist such things.) You'll see pictures as it progresses a bit further. For my online shop, expect to see more jewelry and lots of art.

Here's the jewelry update.
These copper maple leaf pendants sold about as fast as I got them listed.

I've set myself a little creative challenge- to start making earrings on a regular basis. I've set some guidelines for myself. 1- Keep it simple. 2- Keep it in my own unique recognizable style. 3- Make most of them in the $16 to $30 a pair price range. (You may also see some truly exquisite indulgences along the way.)

Copper Drop Earrings - Simply beautiful hammered and burnished bits of copper. I know what hammer I used by looking at the marks it made.

Reticulated Silver Panels with freshwater pearl drops. These remind me of ice melting in the spring.

Then see how the creative challenge inspires me in other pieces. The silver earrings inspired this series of Ice Cube Rings, reticulated silver panels on sterling silver bands.

Yes, you'll be seeing more rings, with pretty things like hearts and leaves, some as commissions and some for my shop.

Coming up- more tendril hooks, silver butterflies, chasing tools....
Remember. I can make any of the jewelry in gold. Just ask and I'll work up a price for you.

Hearts and Leaves, No Bunnies

I know.  I should have bunnies right now.  Instead I have Hearts and another Ginkgo Leaf.

The matching set of heart pendant and earrings are on their way to their new owner.

And here's the back sides of them. They are created completely with chasing and repoussé.  You can see the little tool marks on both sides.

Yes, I can create more like this.  Yet every single heart will be slightly different, each one unique because I freeform sculpt each one with my little chasing tools and hammers.  I don't use a mold or form.

I also finished a sterling silver Gingko Leaf Pendant for my online shop.

Again, every leaf is individually handsawn and hammered out, using no molds or forms.  Every one is unique and has its own special magic.

Self-Indulgence

I treated myself to a set of my own copper bangle bracelets. They make a lovely noise when I move my arm. Don't mind that ground-in studio dirt on my finger....

Contact me if you want your own set or if you are waiting for me to list some more individual bangles.

and more ornaments for next winter's Christmas tree

The parts, cap and nut, were lightly needled and then washer felted. I put all of the pieces in a lingerie bag and washed them on hot with some dirty sheets and let them air dry. Then I needled felted the parts together, did a touch of shaping with the needle, and added stems.

The Hearts of March

You knew I couldn't stop making hearts once I'd started....

Delicate Hearts

about 1-1/2 inches long, Both already on their way to a new home

Blue Hearts

needlefelted, about 3-1/2 inches or 8.7cm tall and wide

This and That

Spring is finally coming. The snow is just starting to melt and the back roads are muddy. The eagles are passing through, some staking out territory in the Mississippi River Valley. Some ducks are back along with a few gulls. I saw the first heron come flying in to one of the backwaters, also looking to stake his claim early. The vultures will wait until it warms up some more. There is still time for more ice and snow before the trees leaf out.

In these delicate moments between winter and spring, I find myself working on more delicate pieces, a little smaller, perhaps more intimate.

This piece was only in my shop for a day or two before it sold.

I've been teaching myself to spin

I have no idea how much yarn is there. I'm going to use large gauge needles and start knitting with the idea of a hat. If it ends early, then I've got some kind of headwarmer.

My son is clearly an artist and loves making tshirt designs with fabric markers. Yes, they do seem to hold up through the wash.

If he keeps this up, I'll give him a section in my shop.

Here's a selection of my husband's recent jewelry work

1. Bamboo Brooch by Bill Fiorini, 2. Silver Bamboo Ring by Bill Fiorini, 3. Bamboo and Fish Roe Brooch by Fiorini, 4. Bracelet by Bill Fiorini, 5. Silver and Bamboo pendant by Bill Fiorini Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

I'm not ready to give him a section in my shop yet. I think these pieces need to go out to exhibit a bit more before they find a new home.

Lucky Charms!

No no, not the cereal (even though it is one of my favorite sugary processed cereals)

Sterling Silver Lucky Shamrocks- already off to their new owner

It's a pin and a pendant. Take a look at the back.

Another pendant

Those went over so well that I decided to make another for my online shop.

This photo will give you an idea of the scale.

and Monkeys! Maybe monkeys are your own special lucky charm. I finally put together the last of my monkeys into earrings and just a few tie tacs.

Spring is coming, even though our yard is still covered in multiple feet of icy snow and the driveway is mud. I'm starting to think of butterflies and bunnies, more hearts, and lots of flowers- in metal and in fiber.

Fiber Art Fun (and metal leaves)

First- the metal. Here are a few new pendants. I've got a lot more commissioned jewelry to work, several larger jobs to design and bid on, and a show opening in Monroe Wisconsin on March 6th.
I'm busy.

However, this potential work week has been completely consumed by snow days, sick days, no-kindergarten days, and a running errand days. I didn't get more than about 90 minutes studio time, but I did get bits of fluffy stuff put together now and then in the house.

Crocheted Pink Octopus, by special request, for my daughter

litte Embroidered Heart Ornament

Needlefelted Ball Ornament, made with Whimzypinzy's handdyed alpaca locks

The same ball ornament

I've got another octopus in progress for my son. I'm also teaching myself to spin- slowly with a lot of odd looking fluffy unreadable results. I'll post pictures of that if it looks like yarn when I'm done. If it doesn't look like yarn, I'll felt it.
I'm reading an Anne McCaffrey book and have a pile of several other non-fiction books to browse. And the internet...plenty of browsing on the internet.

ahhhhh... I'd better get that designing done now.

studio update

I'm always thinking up great creative blog entries about making art or raising kids- usually when I should be focusing on my studio work or sleeping. Then when it's time to blog, I can't remember, or maybe it doesn't seem so profound.

So here, I'll just show you the small beauties that I've been making in between the commissions, while I'm waiting for things to cool off, or in the 20 minutes at the end of the day when I can't start anything else, or during the times when the kids might walk in so I can't do anything dangerous.

1. Wrought Iron Maple Wall Art 12-1, 2. Hand Hammered Copper Oak Leaf Pendant, 3. Bronze Oak pendant 3-1, 4. Handforged Maple Leaf, 5. Copper Oak Leaf Pendant, 6. Elegant Tendril Hook Created with fd's Flickr Toys.

Another thing - Why is it that I never want to do what I should do. It doesn't matter what it is. If I should be doing it, I'd rather be doing something else. Pressure!!! I can't handle pressure!!!

Jewelry, Cookies, and Crafts

Jewelry first

Two are already claimed.  The other two will go on Etsy soon.  I'm working on some other custom jewelry too that should be done in a few days.

Now to the cookies, kaleidoscope pinwheels from the Betty Crocker Cooky Book - basically butter cookies dyed with high fashion artificial colors and coated in sugary sprinkles.

and now the crafts.
After hours of tv, cookies, and computer games, my son announced that he must make a felt craft. I pulled out wool felt and two felt craft books to give him ideas.  He decided on the ipod case from Heartfelt.

front

back

He cut up the wool felt (recycled from outgrown pieces) and stitched them together.  I sewed on the button because the daredevil didn't want to poke his finger with a sharper needle.  He cut out the star, which we decided to glue onto the back.  He says I can use it until he gets his own personal mp3 player. 

Daughter decided to personalize her own clothing with some fabric markers (with my complete approval.)

 
She did a shirt for me too, but I think hers is better.

Kids do the best crafts when it's their own idea.