Improve and Enhance

I am fond of some of my original thoughts about jewelry. They are designs that are part of me and will continue - either in their original form, or the beginning of another. A few of these will not change, as they are now a separate and complete entity - Vining Leaf, Keepsake Heart, and Ingots are a few of these designs.

Moving forward will mean integrating some of the techniques I presently use, combining them to make new and unique pieces.

Watch for flush set stones combined with surface decoration such as acid etching and hand engraving. Discovering new themes for pendants and earrings will be my path this fall, pulling in a touch of color. Presently, I am sparked by lessons in the elementary art classroom - Aboriginal artwork, tessellations, and abstract compositions. I think it's time to start a new sketchbook! 

Front End of that Learning Curve...

Several things have happened in my studio since the beginning of the summer.

First, I have noticed that I can get markedly better at the finishing of my pieces; details! I am developing a more critical eye for craftsmanship and can improve my work. This is an overall goal for all that I work on.

Second, I absolutely need accurate gravers to do fine hand engraving. I have an order in for these, and need to move forward with this.

Third, in order to complete new designs, I will be adding precious and semi precious stones. I will not try to learn this technique... I WILL learn this technique. I am determined. There is a definite learning curve for this, and practice is key.

So, off to the studio to get my projects in order and plenty of practice pieces lined up!

Cutting

Cutting into wax is like cutting into butter... so easy and satisfying. The cuts in wax can be deep and angled easily. Cutting into metal takes a lot of pressure and does not go as deep.

Direct cuts into metal or cast wax pieces provide reflective edges; the hand engraved cuts into metal are more exact and provide very shiny edges.

The Ingot Pendants remind me of less polished and exact pieces - like old Roman jewelry. They are smooth and substantive. The best thing about these pendants is that they can hold any image!

TIME TO FOCUS THEN EDIT!

This is an interesting moment in the creative process! Getting ready for a sale; pulling a body of work together to get feedback and to sell, involves a lot of pulling together of loose ends and polishing final details. It is an important moment and one which will help guide my next stretch of time in the studio.

The Botanical Artworld is, and will continue to be, my focus. The design opportunities inspired by nature are exciting and endless and have my full attention!

After the Hopkins Arts Festival, look for changes in my website. I am inspired to focus on my work that I love to make and explore new ways to represent nature. Look for new designs and improved existing pieces!

I hope to see you this weekend!

Botanical Disk Slide Pendants

Two more weeks until show time, and I'm winding down production of pieces. Today I took inventory, and will have a nice variety of things I think. After the festival I will continue to explore more chain ideas and variations on the Botanical Disks - Pendants and Earrings. The acid etching absolutely lends itself to botanical themes, and I love that process. I have started adding hand engraving to the backs for fun. I have worked at sharpening my gravers correctly, and when they are done correctly, I could cut all day. So satisfying!

We are enjoying the strawberry patch behind the studio. Good thing the plants seem to love creeping charlie - both are thriving!

Counting down the Days...

Summer has just begun, and things are busy at the studio. Beth and I will be in the Hopkins Arts Festival on July 11 and 12, and we are readying not only our jewelry pieces, but everything that is involved with selling out of a tent... including the tent; signage, credit card machines, displays, etc., etc. This will be my first outdoor sale in years, and I am pumped!

Along with my 'chain' commitment, I am working with botanical pieces made from PMC pressed into molds. Each piece has a bale secured into the back. They are textural, detailed, and lovely. While I am used to working with sterling silver, fine silver has a density and sheen that is beautiful. I pressed 12 molds, but will finalize about 4 designs for the festival. As I finish them, I will get them up on my website.

I will have two examples of commemorative jewelry on display at the festival... one for Millie and one for Max, our family pets. I am hoping that people will at least find them interesting! I'm just wondering where I will find extra fur on Max that won't leave a short spot.

I am also continuing to acid etch pendants and earrings. Right now these are my favorite pieces. They are substantial and deeply cut. Some larger pendant disks that I am working on this week will have a backside that will be hand engraved with botanical designs and symbols. They will certainly be unique pieces!

I will blog again before the sale. Time to get working!

Summer Schedule

When my 'day job' ends early in June, I will have a new schedule to nail down.  Working in the studio is/has been free-floating up until now.  My goal is to head to the studio as if it were an expectation!  Just like a job.

Summer will offer longer stretches of time to experiment and follow my creative activities... the chaining of one idea to another.  I am looking forward to this!

The Hopkins Arts Festival (July 11, 12) is a great goal to make and complete pieces.  I will be figuring out tables/displays and figuring out logistics of selling outdoors for two days.  So, Here's to Summer!