:discomedusa:

etsymetal blog carnival

my creative etsymetal buddies are always brainstorming new and exciting ways to network and promote our work... this week's etsymetal blog carnival question:   how those of you that have a clearly defined 'style' or signature style came to it? What inspired you to that signature style? And the rest of us, what inspires you to make your favorite kinds of pieces? 

i consider my 'blade' earring series to be one of my signature styles.  i originally developed this style for thicker gauge piercings, but i find it translates quite well to 'regular' 18g earwires as well.

i began making plugs and earweights while i was simultaneously managing the jewelry end of Chameleon Body Arts/The Jewelry Gallery (a popular piercing and tattoo shop in Cambridge, MA) while studying metalsmithing at Massachusetts College of Art (1999-2004.)

my initial attempts at making sellable work were extremely labor & material intensive (top right), and therefore prohibitively expensive to most of my would-be clientele.

after i moved to portland, OR with a suitcase, i began to set up a very low tech studio in my home & sold my work at various street fairs and events.

  

i thrived on the enthusiasm of my customers and took their suggestions to heart.  one recurring request was to design a closure for thicker gauge earrings that would be easy to put in, but difficult to fall out (and, of course, affordable!)

the blade earrings series emerged during this time period (middle right.)

since then, i have expanded on this theme, creating a myriad of iterations for both expanded and 'regular' gauge piercings (bottom right.)  (the original!) blade earrings by discomedusa earrings can be purchased in my etsy shop at in select boutique and piercing parlors worldwide.

(a shout-out to my friend and fellow etsymetalista, rubygirl:  thank you again for introducting me to the world of filigree findings!)

please check out these other etsymetal members' blogs for their responses to this week's blog carnival question:

http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/ 

http://andescruz.ganoksin.com/blogs 
http://andescruz.wordpress.com 
http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/ 
http://sarawestermark.blogspot.com/ 
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com 
http://etsymetal.blogspot.com/ 
http://ashleyakers.blogspot.com 
http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com 

http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/

lucky loo loo

it's always a good day when you start by having tea and a cheese brioche with a friend!

today rachel (of lucky looloo) and i brought our boys (best buddies!) and her sweet baby to petit provence on alberta street, then on to grasshopper toy store.  

good times!

Lucky LooLoo is a great source for vintage and rockabilly-inspired necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings, hair accessories and belt buckles. 

'Sophisticated and edgy, Lucky LooLoo designs are influenced by art deco architecture, modernist sculpture, vintage anatomical drawings, old school punk rock and 40's starlet elegance. Rachel continues to use real vintage jewelry elements in her updated Modern Pop Deco designs. The line includes carved Resin, Lucite, Sterling Silver and Brass. '

 

you can check out Lucky LooLoo's website to shop in their online store and learn about their affiliate program.  rachel is a contant source of inspiration as a friend, mother, jewelry designer, and businesswoman.  

omsi science pub

i'm looking forward to attending OMSI's science pub with my friend (glass artist anne phillip,featured above- bz rxn 1&2 seamoth.etsy.com)

tuesday, january 27 at the mission theater at 1624 nw glisan in portland:  ':

'snowflakes, stress, and semiconductors: do you see a pattern here?':

'Richard Taylor, professor of physics is leading the way with internationally recognized research into fractals—curious patterns found in nature that repeat themselves. 

Taylor's startling discoveries show that these patterns-within-patterns may significantly reduce stress and have interesting implications for psychology, medicine, and even the semiconductor industry. 

Taylor has applied his studies to art, showing how fractal patterns in the work of abstract expressionist Jackson Pollock can distinguish a real Pollock from a fake. Come hear about this amazing intersection of art and science.'

we'll see how it goes- we were turned away from an omsi science pub talk about nanotechnology, which made us very sad.  fortunately, we caught it at another venue a few months later!

heifer intl.

as i finish up my (very last minute) holiday shopping, i turn to heifer international in order to donate livestock to struggling third world families in the name of my grandmothers and in-laws.  

i've been meaning to do this for the past many years, but somehow i always get caught up in making something or buying trinkets...  

i think these gifts will be very well received- twice over!- and i can print out a card and be done with it!

there are many similar programs i've seen advertised, but i especially like that heifer intl has no specific religious affiliation.  

my mother first introduced me to this organization, telling me about a regular project she organized with her students, raising money for reading books.  you can sign up to start your own heifer team here!

my mother, dr. k.a. black, is a professor at SUNY oneonta, and the co-author of 'a comprehensive guide to reader's theater' (with many more works to come, especially now that she finally has her long-awaited home office-library-writing room!)

pdx boutiques

 the crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale was really fun-  it's too bad that the weather put such a damper on things!  it was great to see some of my favorite portland crafters: luckylooloo, rubygirl, studio acorn, urbana, scrumptious suds, loot, salmon st. studio, curlygirlglass,and more- with a huge thank you to cathy and torie, as always!

i bought lovely gifts from steel toe studio (above)and coqu usagiuma maho (below).

 i was planning to do one last holiday sale- the 2nd annual winter solstice sale at PSU (which was cancelled).  

looks like i'll be making a circuit of boutiques around town to buy my last minutes gifts! (i.e. all of them)

i'm hoping to find the time to visit some of my favorite shops around town, for gifts, covetous window shopping, and general retail-appreciation:  redux, seaplane, olio united, pistils nursery, pin me apparel, ella's boutique, robot piercing, gilt,  foundation garments, chapter four,  powells books, mirador, andy & bax,  grasshopper, thinker toys, switch, and more...

looking forward to exploring the city a bit!  i've been spending too much (yet not enough!) time at my bench!  

pdx boutiques

 the crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale was really fun-  it's too bad that the weather put such a damper on things!  it was great to see some of my favorite portland crafters: luckylooloo, rubygirl, studio acorn, urbana, scrumptious suds, loot, salmon st. studio, curlygirlglass,and more- with a huge thank you to cathy and torie, as always!

i bought lovely gifts from steel toe studio (above)and coqu usagiuma maho (below).

 i was planning to do one last holiday sale- the 2nd annual winter solstice sale at PSU (which was cancelled).  

looks like i'll be making a circuit of boutiques around town to buy my last minutes gifts! (i.e. all of them)

i'm hoping to find the time to visit some of my favorite shops around town, for gifts, covetous window shopping, and general retail-appreciation:  redux, seaplane, olio united, pistils nursery, pin me apparel, ella's boutique, robot piercing, gilt,  foundation garments, chapter four,  powells books, mirador, andy & bax,  grasshopper, thinker toys, switch, and more...

looking forward to exploring the city a bit!  i've been spending too much (yet not enough!) time at my bench!  

crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale- pdx

sunday, decemeber 14th, i will be vending at the crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale in portland, oregon.  last year's event was a HUGE success- a line around the block all day!  

to accommodate the anticipated crowd, this year's show will be at the oregon convention center, 777 ne MLK.

crafty wonderland is a monthly event (feb-nov), that is held the 2nd sunday of every month at the doug fir lounge.  (i vend a few times a year there)

for those of you who won't be in portland, you are always welcome to check out my industrial-tribal creations for sale in my etsy shop

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a natural history museum in portland,OR ?! yes, please!  

the proposed museum will combine science and art to create exhibits about environmental preservation and ecology, focusing on oregon's dramatic biological and geological diversity.

the oregon natural history coalition is working on making their grand vision a reality....they will need a lot of help! if you are as excited as i am about this project, check out the onhc website& join the coalition!

tonight is their first fundraiser: 

 Cafe Reese, 1037 NW 23rd Ave. on Monday, October 27th from 6-9pm.

• Silent auction
• 50/50 Raffle
• Free appetizers
• 20% of beer and wine proceeds will support our mission to create a Natural History Museum in Portland. 

  

tonight i'm looking forward to attending amy tavern's trunk show at seaplane!

i had the pleasure of working as amy's studio assistant for a number of months when she lived in portland-  she is every bit as delightful as her lovely jewelry!  

amy's signature styles incorporate steel, gold, and silver into simple, yet artful & high wearable designs, as well as dramatic one-of-a-kind studio jewelry pieces like the jellyfish necklace (right).

she uses eco-friendly 'harmony metals' from hoover and strong.  

amy's west coast trunk show tour schedule:

(also check out her website- it's very easy on the eyes!)

seaplane pop up shop
friday, oct. 24 from 7-10pm
919 nw 23rd. st. ground level
portland, or

velouria
saturday, oct. 25 from 2-6pm
2205 nw market st.
seattle, wa

rare device
saturday, nov. 1 from 12-4pm
1845 market st.
san francisco, ca

carol young|undesigned
saturday, nov. 8 from 12-6
los angeles, ca

happy birthday to myself and my fellow libra and etsymetalsmith beth cyr (bcryjewelry)!    

beth has been very supportive of my work, and is a constant an inspiration to me in the ways of etsy success and pursuing a healthier lifestyle (yoga, etc).

beth specializes in fusing argentium silver into detailed organic shapes.  she has also been busy making some kick-ass wedding rings!

you can follow beth's adventures in jewelry making on her blog, as well as her etsy shop.

beth, thanks for being so fabulous!

xoxo

 how thrilling- i emailled peter a link to something i like and it came in the mail a week later!

and i do love them! these toebiter tabi slippers from zerkahloostrah are made from recycled sweaters and have great detail.

(they also fit perfectly within my rainboots & it's getting to be that time of year...)

daphne also specializes in handmade bags...and shoes!  shoe  samples and custom orders are available in her etsy shop.

thanks, daphne!

i feel so outraged and helpless against the latest chronicle of american economic and political SNAFUs....
i will surely be voting next month, but who knows what good that will actually do :(
money talks, of this we can be sure....
i strongly believe in voting with my dollar whenever possible.

one way (possibly the only way, considering that almost every dollar of mine goes towards food!) that i exercise this ideal is by purchasing organic foods, locally grown when available.  this serves the dual purpose of showing my support for organic farming, and making healthier choices for myself and my family.

sadly, i am not independently wealthy (but rather an artist and a mom) and i am hard-pressed to afford  to buy any food, let alone any fancy expensive food....but the health angle is very important!

happily, i've found this handy  chart distributed by the EWG (environmental working group.) 
it ranks the top 45 fruits and vegetables in terms of pesticide contamination (even after washing & peeling).  now i can easily prioritize the organic items on my shopping list!

also, check out stonyfield farms' (yummy yogurt!) website, where they will donate $1 to the EWG for every click.  they also have coupons.

The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies

RANK	FRUIT OR VEGGIE	SCORE
1 (worst)	Peaches	100 (highest pesticide load)
2	Apples	96
3	Sweet Bell Peppers	86
4	Celery	85
5	Nectarines	84
6	Strawberries	83
7	Cherries	75
8	Lettuce	69
9	Grapes - Imported	68
10	Pears	65
11	Spinach	60
12	Potatoes	58
13	Carrots	57
14	Green Beans	55
15	Hot Peppers	53
16	Cucumbers	52
17	Raspberries	47
18	Plums	46
19	Oranges	46
20	Grapes-Domestic	46
21	Cauliflower	39
22	Tangerine	38
23	Mushrooms	37
24	Cantaloupe	34
25	Lemon	31
26	Honeydew Melon	31
27	Grapefruit	31
28	Winter Squash	31
29	Tomatoes	30
30	Sweet Potatoes	30
31	Watermelon	25
32	Blueberries	24
33	Papaya	21
34	Eggplant	19
35	Broccoli	18
36	Cabbage	17
37	Bananas	16
38	Kiwi	14
39	Asparagus	11
40	Sweet Peas-Frozen	11
41	Mango	9
42	Pineapples	7
43	Sweet Corn-Frozen	2
44	Avocado	1
45 (best)	Onions	1 (lowest pesticide load)

(top left- Oregon Tilth certification seal, which adds an increased level of respectability to organic growers:
'Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit research and education membership organization dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. Oregon Tilth offers educational events throughout the state of Oregon, and provides organic certification services to organic growers, processors, and handlers internationally.)

if you live in the bay area,  check out the third radical jewelry makeover (creating new hotness from old busted junk!)

''Radical Jewelry Makeover is many things. It is a traveling community mining and recycling project and a creative art and education project, teaching makers how to produce contemporary, innovative jewelry from recycled sources and proudly placing responsible jewelry in the hands of the consumers. The overall project is meant to raise awareness of the connection between mining and metalsmithing as well as showcase innovative making.'

this  ingenious project was designed by Ethical Metalsmiths co-founder Christina Miller and Susie Ganch,  metalsmith.

the crucible joins in the fun (offering a free RJM class for students who have previously taken a jewelry class at the studio), as well as the metal arts guild and a host of other schools and studios.  the final pieces will be displayed and sold at velvet da vinci.

 

• check out the RJM blog for information on past, present, & future events!

 

i was fortunate enough to make the etsy front page today with this ring.  i receieved two messages asking about the gold ring in the photo, which i included specifically to promote daedalsmith.clint fulkerson.)  not only is clint an exceptional jeweler, he's also an amazing illustrator- such intricate detail goes into all of his work!

check out his blog for lots of eye candy and insight into his artistic/scientific processes... (growing crystals, excavating vertebrae, walking in the woods, and lots of drawing!)

clint graduated from massart a couple of years before i did, then succeeded me in teaching lost wax casting classes at diablo glass and metal.  just before i moved to portland in 2004, he finished a set of gold commitment rings for me and my partner.  i still wear mine everyday!

here are a few images of his more recent work, grabbed from his website.  (clint,  i love these! where can i buy prints?!)

oh, joy!  a new neal stephenson novel!

'Philosophy! Theology! Global catastrophe! Adventure!

Neal Stephenson's "Anathem" pulls off what most writers would never dare attempt -- it is simultaneously a philosophical argument and a ripping good yarn.'

review by Andrew Leonard on salon.com.

also for your persual:
the official site & a reading on longnow.org

(books ordered through this link to amazon.com kick back a percentage of the profits to the long now foundation-

'established in 01996* to develop the Clock and Library  projects, as well as to become the seed of a very long term cultural institution. The Long Now Foundation hopes to provide counterpoint to today's "faster/cheaper" mind set and promote "slower/better" thinking. We hope to creatively foster responsibility in the framework of the next 10,000 years.')

my copy is in the mail!  i can hardly wait!

thanks for the tip, rebecca!

 

an assortment of my gauged earrings can now be found at five & diamond in san francisco, a high-end 'sci- fi- wild- west- steampunk- victorian- circus- leather- hobo- sideshow- bad-ass- brothel- rock-roll' boutique.' (more reviews available on yelp)

needless to say, i'm thrilled and hope to have found a good niche for my work!

5&diamond showcases the designs of the 'nomadic-artist and entrepreneur team of phoebe minona durland and leighton kelly...the upscale piercing line Tawapa (below, left); one-of-a-kind jewelry Bootleg; the unique leather accessories of Wild Card (below, right); and Black Sarah women's apparel.'

the store sponsers many events and trunk shows- i plan to make my next trip to san francisco coincide with an event!  you can check with them on myspace for event updates.

5 & diamond is located at 510 valencia st.  (could they be more perfect?!)

i just picked up some castings from studio acorn, a 'married team that makes lots of fun things' here in porland.  

casting was one of my favorite things to do when i was in school (massart, boston 2000-2004), but sadly, i don't have my own equipment yet...

in the meantime, beth at studio acorn does a fantastic job and is much more dexterous than i am at adding the tiny sprues that have increased the success rate to almost 100%!  (thanks, beth!)

studio acorn's own designs are simply flawless- sweetly stylized designs 'influenced by (their) love of Japan and all things kawaii.'

more 'jewelry that's cute like you!' on their cute new website and in their etsy shop.

hello. my name is jessi. i'm a ringaholic.

the other day, while i was oggling jessi taylor's work at redux, i resolved to finally write this post!

i met jessi last summer at a craft fair & was immediately taken with her designs, craftsmanship, creepy doll display, and general way of being....
knowing knew she could do well on etsy, i urged her to open a shop &join etsymetal.
about a week ago, jessi celebrated her one year etsy anniversay ('etsyversary') with more than 250 sales!

yay, jessi!!!

both her website and etsy shop have tons of great photos of her work, plus fantastically whimsical  and compelling descriptions.
like me, jessi is 'a bit obsessed with post-apocalyptic scenarios.... and not in small part because post-apocalyptic styling is HOT.' 

oh, how i love the 'battlestar ring!' (above right- that's battlestar galactica for the uninitiated!)
she also makes a fierce eyeball ring (below left) and has brought us the mangle (man-bangle, below right)

yep, i'm a fan!
(now if only i could get a photo of the fabulous gauged omega hoops i saw at last year's craftywonderland....forget a photo- i need the real deal, jessi! xoxo)

hooray!

i finally brought some pieces over to redux, the cutist, most densely packed & well merchandised store in portland!
(tamara must get sick of me saying so every time i visit...but really, it's remarkable!)

redux features a broad assortment of innovative designers, including many old friends and new (with related blog posts pending...) cyberoptix, lucky looloo, jessi taylor, & rubygirl.

located across from the doug fir lounge, redux is a convenient and necessary stop on any shopping tour of portland (just not on a monday or tuesday)

(thank you, tamara, for being so fabulous!)

also from the days at miko was born my friendship with gillian (whom i love & adore & miss terribly!)
over the last ten+ years, we often talked of all the creative projects we would embark upon together, but we have yet to collaborate!  (because i up and moved to oregon!)  

while i've been busy developing my jewelry business, gillian and terrence began DISTRO.Y, a specialty silk screening business.  they print their own collaborative designs (top right), as well as images by artists they admire (including Star St.Germain, middle right.)

gill has also been working on her own higher end line, The Void Above, featuring garments made from 100% organic cotton and TENCEL®, which she has hand dyed, cut and placed by hand, embroidered & screen printed (bottom right)

many many thanks to both gill and tea for all of their support over the years! (including- but hardly limted to- hosting discomedusa.com on Punkhost....one of these days i'll put a proper webpage together!)

(wishing two of my favorite people much success on all of their (ad)ventures! xoxo)

one of the first people to inspire my love of stretched piercings was jaime lakatos, my predecessor in the flogger-making department at miko exotic wear in providence, ri (circa 1998.) 

we recently reconnected via myspace, and i have enjoyed looking at her portfolio, which i wanted to promote here. 

some of her work is for sale at skeletonart.com(feral gallery).

jaime's work is 'strongly visceral and unnerving...' and i love it! 

(someday....!)

 

as a portland-based etsy seller, i am a member of the pdx etsy street team.
(which, btw, is having their final summer show at the psu park blocks/farmer's market this saurday, august 9- see website for details.  i will not be vending at this event, for lack of time, money, and energy- but there will be dozens of other friendly and talented  crafty vendors, along with yummy food and produce, and live music)

one of the many benefits of being a part of this very active street team is pdx etsy tea time every thursday.
enjoying a day without babysitters and enticed by the promise of other toddlers, i finally made it to one last week!
hosted by autumn of autumn comfort candles (all natural hand poured candles in hand cut recycled glass bottles) with a photography tutorial by leah pellegrini (glass mobiles and other fun), it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon! 
thank you ladies!

i was inspired to make my own ghetto-style light box from tissue paper and a cardboard box....it's such an improvement over holding some filters in my teeth, the camera in one hand, and a light in the other...!

still working on mastering the subtleties of photographing jewelry, but i'm very happy with the light quality!
(shown here reflecting off of a most deliciously satisfying pair of 10g sterling silver earrings.)

'hip, not hippie'- as i like to think of it- treehugger.com is 'the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. partial to a modern aesthetic, [they] strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information.'

i'm a fan.

with diverse categories including fashion&beauty, design&architecture, food&health, science&technolgy; treehugger uploads more than 30 posts a day.
i spend hours every week exploring the web through the treehugger portal!

features include investigations into the most shamefully wasteful packaging, as well as more eco-friendly packaging innovations (such as tofu packaged in a ballon, top right);  better, cheaper LEDs; and green building trends (such as the green roof on this building in fukuoka, japan, built in 1995, bottom right)

there is also a lively community of people offering insights and criticism in the forums, as well as on individual articles.

and don't miss treehugger's 'how to go green guides: in depth actionable articles to help you get off your duff and step into the green future'! (green your lighting, your baby, your sex life, etc)

my brother is currently studying architecture at portland state university. i think he's going to be very good at it; he has keen design sensitivities...
for years, he's been talking about the arcosanti project in arizona. he hopes to finally take a workshop there within the next year.  if he likes it, he plans to study there for months and to get some real hand-on experience.

'In 1970, the Cosanti Foundation began building Arcosanti, an experimental town in the high desert of Arizona, 70 miles north of metropolitan Phoenix. When complete, Arcosanti will house 5000 people, demonstrating ways to improve urban conditions and lessen our destructive impact on the earth. Its large, compact structures and large-scale solar greenhouses will occupy only 25 acres of a 4060 acre land preserve, keeping the natural countryside in close proximity to urban dwellers.

Arcosanti is designed according to the concept of arcology (architecture + ecology), developed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri. In an arcology, the built and the living interact as organs would in a highly evolved being. This means many systems work together, with efficient circulation of people and resources, multi-use buildings, and solar orientation for lighting, heating and cooling.'

-arcosanti.org

while looking for images of arcosanti, i learned of the 2008 ecocity world summit, 'bring(ing) together the key innovators, decision makers, technologists, businesses and organizations shaping the conversation around ecological and sustainable city, town and village design, planning and development.'

the ecocity blog links to arcosanti, as well as many other ecocity projects.

it's so exciting to discover people working to shift the paradigm towards a balanced, low impact existence! 
(here's hoping!)

yes, i am obsessed with greenhouses.  and completely fascinated by hydroponic gardening. 

when i think about what i would like to be doing with my life 20, 30, 40 years from now, i'm pretty sure it has something to do with working in a hydroponic greenhouse.

the idea is simple- give plants a constant dose of exactly what they need to flourish.
the result- much greater yields, with an extremely high degree of efficiency (a hydroponic greenhouse uses as little as 1/20 the amount of water as a regular farm to produce the same amount of food)

in stores, i generally opt for foods i know to be hydroponically grown (e.g. peppers labelled 'hot house') there is no concern about contaminants in the soil, and many (most?) hydroponic farms do not use pesticides.   regardless, it is difficult for hydroponic growers to achieve 'organic' certification, either because states require soil to qualify a farm as organic, or because of the difficulty inherent in reconciling the 'organic' nature of the growing media.

there is a ton of great information on the web and in print, as well as many commercially available systems. 
i was prompted to write this post when i came across this comprehensive tutorial for making your own 11 plant garden (above). i'll look around some more and post some of the best links as i find them. 

does any one know any universities with strong hydroponics programs?

before there was Etsy... there was deviantArt!

DA is a place where artists can upload their images (photos of 3-d work or 2-d artwork available as prints through the site's printing service)  i don't spend very much time on this site these days (but you can still view my gallery!), but i have discovered many fabulous artists there (see my favorites!)

i wanted to take a moment to promote a kindred struggling artist, ladybomb photography (jennifer lumbley), who has many lovely prints available.  jennifer's eye is drawn to some of my favorite aesthetics: macro-botanical and organic growth vs industrial decay.

thank you for the eye-candy, jennifer!  love the greenhouse photos!  (can't stop thinking abot greenhouses!  i want one!)  good luck!   xoxo

living in portland is great because it is a destination city!
this past week,  i hung out with nina dinoff, a fellow etsymetal member visiting from NYC.

nina's lovely silver and gold jewelry is inspired by modernism, embracing pure form and simplicity.  

her other line, swizzlet, is made from making molds of vintage swizzle sticks, cocktail picks, & findings and casting them in metal. ....so fun!  (i am now the happy owner of one such seahorse cuff bracelet! (below)

(thank you, nina! xoxo)

nina's visit was also a great excuse to go out with the other portland etsymetal ladies!

(i always enjoy hanging out with rubygirl, my new friend catherinechandler, and i finally got to meet TreAnelli!)

looking forward to Experimetal's visit soon...

...who's next?!

hey, all!
i'm still around...!
many many posts have been backing up, so stay tuned!

been busy travelling and preparing for the
mississippi ave street fair this saturday

portland, oregon

10am-7pm,  north mississippi avenue

 music, food, and  local vendors, you know the drill...

i will be vending my handmade sterling silver and copper jewelry (gauged and 'regular') 

along with my friend anne, the glass artist behind SeaMoth  (right)

also there will be Robot Piercing, promoting their new store (now with tattooing!)
as well as vending Angry God's amazing gauged jewelry!

i keep coming back to these photos on the website of sculptor miwa koizuni

especially to the PET project ('making something from nothing...'),
an increasing collection of marine organisms crafted from plastic bottles.

i am always excited to see artists successfully using trash (or any creative use of our industrial nutrients.)

i think it's really upsetting that so much is wasted; we worry about running out, but we don't think much about what we throw out!

(also on miwa's site: make a kite from shopping bags- it really flies!  instructions here)

opportunity for artists:

lark books seeks images of original work to feature in the gallery of Fantastic Plastic by David and Robin Edgar. (info here) to be released in Fall 2009.

'Fantastic Plastic will capture the artistry of recycled plastic. From fun and funky to elegant and thought provoking, all sculptural forms will be considered and all types of plastic innovation will be welcomed.'

my sweetie finally bought his tig welder! 

(granted we'll need many more tools to fully enjoy it....)
hooray, more tools!!

thus dawns the age of collaboration and a more serious studio! it's about time!

here is one of his first jewelry designs, a stainless steel ring to go with my 'annelid' series.

shown with one of my new ring designs, compound eye ring, fabricated from an up-cycled clip on earring (limited edition of 4, two remaining), for the etsymetal insect challenge.

modeled by the fabulous alaraca, an important new friend i met as an etsy customer half a continent away

thank you, sandra, for all of your support!  xoxo

stay tuned for more stainless steel jewelry, furniture, and accessories!

(is it weird to covet a publishing service?)

i am completely enamored of pinball publishing (here in portland), and look forward to getting some high-quality, eco-friendly promotional materials printed, using soy-based ink and recycled papers.

i met founders laura and austin whipple through our mutual midwife (the highly recommended ellie legare);
not only are they lovely and welcoming people- whom i really want to support!- their products are seriously impressive! 
(one example being the first in their series of designer cards: hare illustration by brent wick- printed with gold and black ink on recycled chipboard stock...luscious!)

photo: neri oxman (materialecologist), by noah kalina

if you're looking for some brain food, check out my new favorite magazine, Seed magazine.

Seed is a smart and stylish modern magazine with 'a passion for science and ...(the) advocacy of science literacy around the world.' 

apparently, they've been around since october 2005 (order back issues here), but they caught my attention a few months ago (thank you anne!) with the headline: 'the future of science...is art?'

the current issue, 'the  design issue', continues to explore the developments in art and design as it relates to the advancement of modern science.  (hooray!)

my own interest has always been split between art and science
(i plan to go back to school for something bio-chem-related when the bean enters kindergarten...)
expect many more science geek posts here as i renew my interest in reading up on modern science. 
thank you, seed!!

there was a time when i used to go music shopping regularly, and built up a modest yet enjoyable itunes and cd library.  which has been more or less stagnant for years now. 
enter pandora radio.
what fun!  you simply enter the name of an artist you like, and pandora creates a playlist based on the qualties of your choice, cross referenced with their 'music genome project'.
(you can guide the selections with a thumbs up/down)
lately, my favorite stations have been 'lovage' and 'rodrigo y gabriela.'
your recommendations are welcome!

my parents' house is no longer for sale!

instead, i am moving back to it, with my little family!

my father attended a workshop at earthwood building school,  then he and my mother spent the next 15+ years building and living in this special home.  

VELVET UPDATE:  giulia & olivia have closed the camden shop to focus on their other shop in france.

yay, i recently completed my first wholesale order!
for the newly opened velvet studio and art shop in the heart of camden town. 
(an affiliate of the french velvet studios in lyons and grenoble)
check out their myspace page for more information and photos!

velvet studio
35C middle yard
camden lock market
NW 18 AF London UK

it took forever, but giulia and olivia have been so cool about everything!
their shop looks great! 
tattoos, piercing, scarification, jewelry, paintings, clothes, dolls, and more!
sady, i can't imagine when i'll be in london next!
(wishing you much success, ladies! thank you for your support!)

i'm so glad i  went to the museum of contemporary craft (portland, or) to catch the end of "touching warms the art," a hand-on exploration of tactilely stimulating jewelry....
the jewelry was a lot of fun to examine,
and for added entertainment, the gallery set up a flickr album of visitors modelling and playing with the jewelry.

(there's me loving  some amazing felted baubles by maru almeida of seattle.)

my friend cristina dias, from massart metals, exhibited a series of her wearable rubber sculptures.
our senior year, cristina made bracelets inspired by carnivorous plants, using the same silicon rubber technique. 
such great colors and texure!

check out cristina's new esty shop: rubbersprouts.etsy.com!

i also tried on this pretty piece on the right, by a fellow etsymetal member, moira k. lime

yes, i am totally obsessed with etsy!

not only has it allowed me to make some semblance of a living selling my jewelry, but i have also met so many wonderful people- customers as well as other artists.

i am an active member of both etsymetal (a juried group of metalsmiths from around the world) and pdx etsy (local portland etsy members).

i've been encouraging all of my crafty friends to get on board and open their own shops...

please take a moment to check out the creative business endeavors by some of the wonderful people i know in real life! 

luxville (also luxville.org)
(top right)
handscreened goods by beth d.
(love love love you, beth!)

graven fragments
(middle right)
fine jewelry by jessica m., a dear friend and former upstairs neighbor

rrejman
(right)
jewelry (gauged and otherwise) and photography by the lovely rama rejman

rubber sprouts
(below, LEFT)
funky rubber jewelry by cristina dias, former massart metals classmate

dirty mary
(below, RIGHT)
punky armwarmers by the fabulous meghan b.


   

also,

(from previous posts)

essential monsters
silk screened goodies with dark and unusual images
by tracy d., friend and former manager

modern radar
cards, bags, and more by tamara g, friend and former co-worker

great work, gals!  good luck with etsy & everything!

the other day, rubygirl (fellow jeweler friend) and i attended the portland 'biz lady meet up'- a workshop organized by grace bonney, founder of the immensely popular blog design*sponge.

grace has worked as a freelance writer for many top magazines, and is a superlative public speaker!
she shared a wealth of public relations and marketing tips in her presentation geared towards independent designers.

the secret to having your design published in the magazines of your choosing lies in these four steps:
1. know your product
2. know your publication
3. make a press kit
4. make contact

grace's inside knowledge reveals many important tips specific to design-oriented magazines, though i imagine much of this information could transfer into the realm of fine art, possibly the music industry, etc

even better, she posted her notes online!
thank you, grace!

and thank you, shannon, for finally getting me out of the house! 
(check out rubygirl's work (right) online!)

i am thrilled to announce that i am now selling my work at mega-robot!
mega-robot encompases robot piercing in portland as well  their online shop.  both shops have a phenomenal collection of piercing and gauged jewelry, as well as ethnic tribal jewelry. 
the local designers' section currently includes jewelry by dave rodriguez (below left), heart of metal (center 2), and myself.   with a special section for jon (the owner's) amazing adornments: angry god jewelry (below right).

las vegas
april 20-25, 2008:
look for jon at the APP Conference (association of professional piercers), representing angry god, myself (discomedusa), and other expanded earwear designers!

i finally sorted out all my stock after vending recent shows (a rare appearance at crafty wonderland- a monthy event at the doug fir, plus another event, organized by luscious soap-maker ScrumptiousSuds)

thought i'd share some scenes from my jewelry box:

i love that AelisLaurel

(deviantart friend-jeweler, designer of rocklove jewelry: jewelry for the femme fatale)
comments:

can I shrink myself, get naked and roll in this pile of jewelry?  It's my favorite thing... a batch of silver inventory.  *swoon*

my thoughts exactly!  yum! 

hooray! 
my dear friend, rebecca deans, finally has her webpage up and running!
rebecca works with silver, gold, and fiber to create jewelry and sculptural objects.
her designs are often based on mathematics, and she uses both traditional and modern technologies in their construction.

her work was recently shown at velvet da vinci as part of the earrings show (with yours truly!- it was such a treat to visit and see ourselves in a gallery together!)

she is currently showing new work as part of the new west coast design exhibition, also at velvet da vinci. (through feb 17)

visit rebeccadeans.com for more lovely images!

lately, i have been too busy even to play freerice!
(let alone blog, call friends, clean my studio, respond to emails, and so on through endless admissions of shameful negligence)
i am rearranging my childcare situation so that i may go back to work for roger thomas (glass artist) twice a week, and also try to spend at least as much time in my own studio! 
it's a welcome change to have a regular baby-free schedule! 
roger is such a wonderful person to work with, as is the studio manager, jenny.   
here are some examples of the glass (and labor!) intensive wall mounted 'vitreous mosaics' (fused glass paintings) we help him create:

roger currently has an exhibition at PISMO Aspen (through january 17).  visit his website for more images and gallery listings.  if you are interested in learning more about glass fusing, he will be teaching a series a workshops around the country (and sometimes abroad).

my favorite new online activity: freerice.com

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

sadly, my online scrabble friend, rebecca deans
(amazing jewelry coming to a webpage here),
and i have been too busy for our regular game. 

in the interim- if i have any chance of ever besting her!- i'd best be sharpening my skills!

freerice is
a diverting and addictive vocabulary game. 
with each correct answer, sponsors pay for 20 grains of rice to be donated to a hungry person.

freerice is the sister site of poverty.com

yay, more self-promotion!  it's a little doodle i made for the flash class i took last year (see my other videos on youtube) 
music by my talented father, bassist john davey: 'udubop' from his album soundbites, featuring brian melick ('uduboy') on percussion, and a host of other talented musicians on the rest of the tracks.
(this track is my favorite- i hope he does more along these lines- maybe a whole album with uduboy?)

also, check out his new album globetrotting: you are here, featuring brian melick (percussion)and steve gorn (indian flute, etc)
available for purchase (cd or mp3) via cdbaby and itunes

my all-time favorite album of his (so far!) is  9 views from the bridge, a  'chamber jazz' ensemble featuring dennis turechek on classical guitar, and amy merrill on viola...you can download it via itunes (type in '9 views from the bridge') or buy it directly from the source <email>

happy listening!

discomedusa: 2007 holiday season

i 've been working really hard to make new styles and stock for this holiday season.  some of the new pieces will only be available at the two events i will be vending this month:
crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale
12/16, 11am-5pm
111 NE 11th Ave. in Portland, OR
(full bar!)
pdxetsy last minute holiday/solstice sale
12/22,  PSU campus by the farmer's market
(more details soon)

also new:  the fabulous custom-made gift boxes on the right will be available to customers at my in-person shows only!

for the rest of the world, do check out the latest in my etsy shop!

happy holidays!

just wanted to share some of the great shipping supplies i found recently at  SCRAP !
SCRAP(the school community reuse action project) is a local (portland, OR)organization that collects donated materials from industries and individuals and sells them back to the community for dirt cheap.

in my daily life, i strive to minimize my environmental impact (though not truly as much as possible, as a result of  laziness, hypocrisy, etc...but that's another post!)

i would like to carry my ecological conscientiousness through into my art, but that's a little trickier, as i generally just work with silver....
therefore, i seek out recycled and reclaimed materials for my shipping and office supplies, as well as for my craft show displays.  here in north portland, i can visit SCRAP and the ReBuilding Center on a regular basis.

sadly, i have already run out of the padded envelopes shown above  (those silver ones were particularly exciting!)  so i'm back to the regular padded manila ones...boring and evil, i'm sure.  i did have one customer who specifically requested a re-used envelope, which was inspiring.   hopefully more people will catch on, re-using and requesting recycled shippers for the holiday season and beyond...!

photo (with permission)The Girl Behind the Secrets by suzi9mm

more about my fascination with gauged earwear...

i'm not interested in fads or shock value.  i simply love the aesthetic of bold jewelry in stretched earlobes.

i've slowly stretched my own holes to a 3/4" over the course of seven years.  i've been hanging out around that size for another 5 or so years.  i started designing and making my own jewelry  7 years ago, while i simultaneously managed the jewelry end of Chameleon Tattoo in cambridge massachusetts while attending massachusetts college of art.  i particularly enjoy both outrageous glamour shots of models with expanded stretched piercings, as well as an understated style that makes you look twice.

i want to take this opportunity to promote two businesses, both run by extremely knowledgeable folks(as well as personable, beautiful, intelligent, etc...!)

angry god productions

jon bachman has 10+ years in the body piercing industry. 
moreover, he is an impressive self-taught jeweler/craftsperson.
(and also one of the sweetest and funniest people i have ever met!

jon hand-sculpts traditional and modern earweight designs, and has them cast in both silver and bronze. 

his work continues to inspire me to make plugs and weights.

be sure to check out his website, as well as that of ROBOT, his piercing parlor in portland, oregon.

 

organic jewelry
erika skadsen began making body jewelry in 1992 (and continues to outline her experience in a well-written bio here)  she is now the proprietress of Organic Jewelry, a wholesale and web-retail business selling the finest handmade body jewelry, crafted from natural materials-  some of which is made in-house, along with pieces which have been made by other talented craftsmen.  erika is dedicated to the quality of her products, as well as to the pursuit of knowledge.  check out these fantastic research papers she wrote (two of the many, many reasons she totally rocks):

Basic Wood Anatomy and Behavior
by Erica Nicole Skadsen
(April 2007)

and...

Wood Hazards:
A Guide to Potentially Dangerous Hardwoods
for the Piercing Community
(Co-written by Erica Skadsen and Michael Sims, Third Edition)

 

my main interest in jewelry making was born from my obsession with expanded earwear.  however, making a custom pair of plugs every few months wasn't enough to justify my studio expenditures, so i've been expanding my line this past year to include 'regular' earrings, rings, necklaces, etc.
(all available in my etsy shop)

lately, i've been working on a series of pieces that satisfy the middle ground between the two directions my work has taken... gauged earrings from 14g-8g. 
for those with large gauges, these can be worn through eyelets, or alone as weights. 
for other customers, 14g isn't too much of a stretch!  (or they can be custom ordered with 18g earwires)

plus, it seems that there's a large population of folks who have already stretched to this size, or who have shrunk their piercings and are ~10g by default!

whatever the case, i am really excited by these new styles and hope that others will be, as well!
(see the 'expanded earwear' section of my shop for a currently available styles)

the first person i'd like to tag as a 'rockin' girl blogger'  is tamara g., the multitalented proprietress of modern radar. 

we worked together for a while, fancifying the jewelry end of chameleon tattoo.  (i miss you awfully much, tamara!  what good times those were!)

tamara has an innate talent for design, and also studied formally at massart  (studio for interrelated media-SIM- i think?) 

an aspiring textile artist, screen printer, and experimental musician, tamara is an all around DIY goddess!
her blog, build me a nest,  is a great place to visit for DIY ideas, pretty pictures, samples of work in her etsy shop, and art/fashion recommendations. 

for example, her brilliant revival of a vintage table by means of wood grained contact paper!

(just one of the many reasons i love you, t!)

i was recently tagged as a 'rockin girl blogger' by ashley akers, another talented etsymetal gal!

(thanks ashley!) 
now i need to tag five more r.g.bs, eh? 

while i'm working on that, check out ashley's fabulous silver/pebble jewelry and other industrial/organic loveliness at her etsy shop.
(ashley, have i ever told you how much i love your work?)
also, get a behind the scenes peek at ashley's work and her world on her blog.

portland natural history museum

a natural history museum in portland,OR ?! yes, please!  

the proposed museum will combine science and art to create exhibits about environmental preservation and ecology, focusing on oregon's dramatic biological and geological diversity.

the oregon natural history coalition is working on making their grand vision a reality....they will need a lot of help! if you are as excited as i am about this project, check out the onhc website& join the coalition!

tonight is their first fundraiser: 

 Cafe Reese, 1037 NW 23rd Ave. on Monday, October 27th from 6-9pm.

• Silent auction
• 50/50 Raffle
• Free appetizers
• 20% of beer and wine proceeds will support our mission to create a Natural History Museum in Portland. 

  

amy tavern

tonight i'm looking forward to attending amy tavern's trunk show at seaplane!

i had the pleasure of working as amy's studio assistant for a number of months when she lived in portland-  she is every bit as delightful as her lovely jewelry!  

amy's signature styles incorporate steel, gold, and silver into simple, yet artful & high wearable designs, as well as dramatic one-of-a-kind studio jewelry pieces like the jellyfish necklace (right).

she uses eco-friendly 'harmony metals' from hoover and strong.  

amy's west coast trunk show tour schedule:

(also check out her website- it's very easy on the eyes!)

seaplane pop up shop
friday, oct. 24 from 7-10pm
919 nw 23rd. st. ground level
portland, or

velouria
saturday, oct. 25 from 2-6pm
2205 nw market st.
seattle, wa

rare device
saturday, nov. 1 from 12-4pm
1845 market st.
san francisco, ca

carol young|undesigned
saturday, nov. 8 from 12-6
los angeles, ca

beth cyr

happy birthday to myself and my fellow libra and etsymetalsmith beth cyr (bcryjewelry)!    

beth has been very supportive of my work, and is a constant an inspiration to me in the ways of etsy success and pursuing a healthier lifestyle (yoga, etc).

beth specializes in fusing argentium silver into detailed organic shapes.  she has also been busy making some kick-ass wedding rings!

you can follow beth's adventures in jewelry making on her blog, as well as her etsy shop.

beth, thanks for being so fabulous!

xoxo

zerkahloostrah

 how thrilling- i emailled peter a link to something i like and it came in the mail a week later!

and i do love them! these toebiter tabi slippers from zerkahloostrah are made from recycled sweaters and have great detail.

(they also fit perfectly within my rainboots & it's getting to be that time of year...)

daphne also specializes in handmade bags...and shoes!  shoe  samples and custom orders are available in her etsy shop.

thanks, daphne!

organic produce guide

i feel so outraged and helpless against the latest chronicle of american economic and political SNAFUs....
i will surely be voting next month, but who knows what good that will actually do :(
money talks, of this we can be sure....
i strongly believe in voting with my dollar whenever possible.

one way (possibly the only way, considering that almost every dollar of mine goes towards food!) that i exercise this ideal is by purchasing organic foods, locally grown when available.  this serves the dual purpose of showing my support for organic farming, and making healthier choices for myself and my family.

sadly, i am not independently wealthy (but rather an artist and a mom) and i am hard-pressed to afford  to buy any food, let alone any fancy expensive food....but the health angle is very important!

happily, i've found this handy  chart distributed by the EWG (environmental working group.) 
it ranks the top 45 fruits and vegetables in terms of pesticide contamination (even after washing & peeling).  now i can easily prioritize the organic items on my shopping list!

also, check out stonyfield farms' (yummy yogurt!) website, where they will donate $1 to the EWG for every click.  they also have coupons.

The Full List: 43 Fruits & Veggies

RANK	FRUIT OR VEGGIE	SCORE
1 (worst)	Peaches	100 (highest pesticide load)
2	Apples	96
3	Sweet Bell Peppers	86
4	Celery	85
5	Nectarines	84
6	Strawberries	83
7	Cherries	75
8	Lettuce	69
9	Grapes - Imported	68
10	Pears	65
11	Spinach	60
12	Potatoes	58
13	Carrots	57
14	Green Beans	55
15	Hot Peppers	53
16	Cucumbers	52
17	Raspberries	47
18	Plums	46
19	Oranges	46
20	Grapes-Domestic	46
21	Cauliflower	39
22	Tangerine	38
23	Mushrooms	37
24	Cantaloupe	34
25	Lemon	31
26	Honeydew Melon	31
27	Grapefruit	31
28	Winter Squash	31
29	Tomatoes	30
30	Sweet Potatoes	30
31	Watermelon	25
32	Blueberries	24
33	Papaya	21
34	Eggplant	19
35	Broccoli	18
36	Cabbage	17
37	Bananas	16
38	Kiwi	14
39	Asparagus	11
40	Sweet Peas-Frozen	11
41	Mango	9
42	Pineapples	7
43	Sweet Corn-Frozen	2
44	Avocado	1
45 (best)	Onions	1 (lowest pesticide load)

(top left- Oregon Tilth certification seal, which adds an increased level of respectability to organic growers:
'Oregon Tilth is a nonprofit research and education membership organization dedicated to biologically sound and socially equitable agriculture. Oregon Tilth offers educational events throughout the state of Oregon, and provides organic certification services to organic growers, processors, and handlers internationally.)

radical jewelry makeover

if you live in the bay area,  check out the third radical jewelry makeover (creating new hotness from old busted junk!)

''Radical Jewelry Makeover is many things. It is a traveling community mining and recycling project and a creative art and education project, teaching makers how to produce contemporary, innovative jewelry from recycled sources and proudly placing responsible jewelry in the hands of the consumers. The overall project is meant to raise awareness of the connection between mining and metalsmithing as well as showcase innovative making.'

this  ingenious project was designed by Ethical Metalsmiths co-founder Christina Miller and Susie Ganch,  metalsmith.

the crucible joins in the fun (offering a free RJM class for students who have previously taken a jewelry class at the studio), as well as the metal arts guild and a host of other schools and studios.  the final pieces will be displayed and sold at velvet da vinci.

 

• check out the RJM blog for information on past, present, & future events!

daedalsmith

 

i was fortunate enough to make the etsy front page today with this ring.  i receieved two messages asking about the gold ring in the photo, which i included specifically to promote daedalsmith.clint fulkerson.)  not only is clint an exceptional jeweler, he's also an amazing illustrator- such intricate detail goes into all of his work!

check out his blog for lots of eye candy and insight into his artistic/scientific processes... (growing crystals, excavating vertebrae, walking in the woods, and lots of drawing!)

clint graduated from massart a couple of years before i did, then succeeded me in teaching lost wax casting classes at diablo glass and metal.  just before i moved to portland in 2004, he finished a set of gold commitment rings for me and my partner.  i still wear mine everyday!

here are a few images of his more recent work, grabbed from his website.  (clint,  i love these! where can i buy prints?!)

anathem

oh, joy!  a new neal stephenson novel!

'Philosophy! Theology! Global catastrophe! Adventure!

Neal Stephenson's "Anathem" pulls off what most writers would never dare attempt -- it is simultaneously a philosophical argument and a ripping good yarn.'

review by Andrew Leonard on salon.com.

also for your persual:
the official site & a reading on longnow.org

(books ordered through this link to amazon.com kick back a percentage of the profits to the long now foundation-

'established in 01996* to develop the Clock and Library  projects, as well as to become the seed of a very long term cultural institution. The Long Now Foundation hopes to provide counterpoint to today's "faster/cheaper" mind set and promote "slower/better" thinking. We hope to creatively foster responsibility in the framework of the next 10,000 years.')

my copy is in the mail!  i can hardly wait!

thanks for the tip, rebecca!

five & diamond

 

an assortment of my gauged earrings can now be found at five & diamond in san francisco, a high-end 'sci- fi- wild- west- steampunk- victorian- circus- leather- hobo- sideshow- bad-ass- brothel- rock-roll' boutique.' (more reviews available on yelp)

needless to say, i'm thrilled and hope to have found a good niche for my work!

5&diamond showcases the designs of the 'nomadic-artist and entrepreneur team of phoebe minona durland and leighton kelly...the upscale piercing line Tawapa (below, left); one-of-a-kind jewelry Bootleg; the unique leather accessories of Wild Card (below, right); and Black Sarah women's apparel.'

the store sponsers many events and trunk shows- i plan to make my next trip to san francisco coincide with an event!  you can check with them on myspace for event updates.

5 & diamond is located at 510 valencia st.  (could they be more perfect?!)

studio acorn

i just picked up some castings from studio acorn, a 'married team that makes lots of fun things' here in porland.  

casting was one of my favorite things to do when i was in school (massart, boston 2000-2004), but sadly, i don't have my own equipment yet...

in the meantime, beth at studio acorn does a fantastic job and is much more dexterous than i am at adding the tiny sprues that have increased the success rate to almost 100%!  (thanks, beth!)

studio acorn's own designs are simply flawless- sweetly stylized designs 'influenced by (their) love of Japan and all things kawaii.'

more 'jewelry that's cute like you!' on their cute new website and in their etsy shop.

jessi taylor

hello. my name is jessi. i'm a ringaholic.

the other day, while i was oggling jessi taylor's work at redux, i resolved to finally write this post!

i met jessi last summer at a craft fair & was immediately taken with her designs, craftsmanship, creepy doll display, and general way of being....
knowing knew she could do well on etsy, i urged her to open a shop &join etsymetal.
about a week ago, jessi celebrated her one year etsy anniversay ('etsyversary') with more than 250 sales!

yay, jessi!!!

both her website and etsy shop have tons of great photos of her work, plus fantastically whimsical  and compelling descriptions.
like me, jessi is 'a bit obsessed with post-apocalyptic scenarios.... and not in small part because post-apocalyptic styling is HOT.' 

oh, how i love the 'battlestar ring!' (above right- that's battlestar galactica for the uninitiated!)
she also makes a fierce eyeball ring (below left) and has brought us the mangle (man-bangle, below right)

yep, i'm a fan!
(now if only i could get a photo of the fabulous gauged omega hoops i saw at last year's craftywonderland....forget a photo- i need the real deal, jessi! xoxo)

redux pdx

hooray!

i finally brought some pieces over to redux, the cutist, most densely packed & well merchandised store in portland!
(tamara must get sick of me saying so every time i visit...but really, it's remarkable!)

redux features a broad assortment of innovative designers, including many old friends and new (with related blog posts pending...) cyberoptix, lucky looloo, jessi taylor, & rubygirl.

located across from the doug fir lounge, redux is a convenient and necessary stop on any shopping tour of portland (just not on a monday or tuesday)

(thank you, tamara, for being so fabulous!)

DISTRO.Y/the void above

also from the days at miko was born my friendship with gillian (whom i love & adore & miss terribly!)
over the last ten+ years, we often talked of all the creative projects we would embark upon together, but we have yet to collaborate!  (because i up and moved to oregon!)  

while i've been busy developing my jewelry business, gillian and terrence began DISTRO.Y, a specialty silk screening business.  they print their own collaborative designs (top right), as well as images by artists they admire (including Star St.Germain, middle right.)

gill has also been working on her own higher end line, The Void Above, featuring garments made from 100% organic cotton and TENCEL®, which she has hand dyed, cut and placed by hand, embroidered & screen printed (bottom right)

many many thanks to both gill and tea for all of their support over the years! (including- but hardly limted to- hosting discomedusa.com on Punkhost....one of these days i'll put a proper webpage together!)

(wishing two of my favorite people much success on all of their (ad)ventures! xoxo)

quarantine projects

one of the first people to inspire my love of stretched piercings was jaime lakatos, my predecessor in the flogger-making department at miko exotic wear in providence, ri (circa 1998.) 

we recently reconnected via myspace, and i have enjoyed looking at her portfolio, which i wanted to promote here. 

some of her work is for sale at skeletonart.com(feral gallery).

jaime's work is 'strongly visceral and unnerving...' and i love it! 

(someday....!)

 

pdx etsy tea time

as a portland-based etsy seller, i am a member of the pdx etsy street team.
(which, btw, is having their final summer show at the psu park blocks/farmer's market this saurday, august 9- see website for details.  i will not be vending at this event, for lack of time, money, and energy- but there will be dozens of other friendly and talented  crafty vendors, along with yummy food and produce, and live music)

one of the many benefits of being a part of this very active street team is pdx etsy tea time every thursday.
enjoying a day without babysitters and enticed by the promise of other toddlers, i finally made it to one last week!
hosted by autumn of autumn comfort candles (all natural hand poured candles in hand cut recycled glass bottles) with a photography tutorial by leah pellegrini (glass mobiles and other fun), it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon! 
thank you ladies!

i was inspired to make my own ghetto-style light box from tissue paper and a cardboard box....it's such an improvement over holding some filters in my teeth, the camera in one hand, and a light in the other...!

still working on mastering the subtleties of photographing jewelry, but i'm very happy with the light quality!
(shown here reflecting off of a most deliciously satisfying pair of 10g sterling silver earrings.)

treehugger

'hip, not hippie'- as i like to think of it- treehugger.com is 'the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. partial to a modern aesthetic, [they] strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information.'

i'm a fan.

with diverse categories including fashion&beauty, design&architecture, food&health, science&technolgy; treehugger uploads more than 30 posts a day.
i spend hours every week exploring the web through the treehugger portal!

features include investigations into the most shamefully wasteful packaging, as well as more eco-friendly packaging innovations (such as tofu packaged in a ballon, top right);  better, cheaper LEDs; and green building trends (such as the green roof on this building in fukuoka, japan, built in 1995, bottom right)

there is also a lively community of people offering insights and criticism in the forums, as well as on individual articles.

and don't miss treehugger's 'how to go green guides: in depth actionable articles to help you get off your duff and step into the green future'! (green your lighting, your baby, your sex life, etc)

arcosanti

my brother is currently studying architecture at portland state university. i think he's going to be very good at it; he has keen design sensitivities...
for years, he's been talking about the arcosanti project in arizona. he hopes to finally take a workshop there within the next year.  if he likes it, he plans to study there for months and to get some real hand-on experience.

'In 1970, the Cosanti Foundation began building Arcosanti, an experimental town in the high desert of Arizona, 70 miles north of metropolitan Phoenix. When complete, Arcosanti will house 5000 people, demonstrating ways to improve urban conditions and lessen our destructive impact on the earth. Its large, compact structures and large-scale solar greenhouses will occupy only 25 acres of a 4060 acre land preserve, keeping the natural countryside in close proximity to urban dwellers.

Arcosanti is designed according to the concept of arcology (architecture + ecology), developed by Italian architect Paolo Soleri. In an arcology, the built and the living interact as organs would in a highly evolved being. This means many systems work together, with efficient circulation of people and resources, multi-use buildings, and solar orientation for lighting, heating and cooling.'

-arcosanti.org

while looking for images of arcosanti, i learned of the 2008 ecocity world summit, 'bring(ing) together the key innovators, decision makers, technologists, businesses and organizations shaping the conversation around ecological and sustainable city, town and village design, planning and development.'

the ecocity blog links to arcosanti, as well as many other ecocity projects.

it's so exciting to discover people working to shift the paradigm towards a balanced, low impact existence! 
(here's hoping!)

hydroponic gardening

yes, i am obsessed with greenhouses.  and completely fascinated by hydroponic gardening. 

when i think about what i would like to be doing with my life 20, 30, 40 years from now, i'm pretty sure it has something to do with working in a hydroponic greenhouse.

the idea is simple- give plants a constant dose of exactly what they need to flourish.
the result- much greater yields, with an extremely high degree of efficiency (a hydroponic greenhouse uses as little as 1/20 the amount of water as a regular farm to produce the same amount of food)

in stores, i generally opt for foods i know to be hydroponically grown (e.g. peppers labelled 'hot house') there is no concern about contaminants in the soil, and many (most?) hydroponic farms do not use pesticides.   regardless, it is difficult for hydroponic growers to achieve 'organic' certification, either because states require soil to qualify a farm as organic, or because of the difficulty inherent in reconciling the 'organic' nature of the growing media.

there is a ton of great information on the web and in print, as well as many commercially available systems. 
i was prompted to write this post when i came across this comprehensive tutorial for making your own 11 plant garden (above). i'll look around some more and post some of the best links as i find them. 

does any one know any universities with strong hydroponics programs?

ladybomb photography

before there was Etsy... there was deviantArt!

DA is a place where artists can upload their images (photos of 3-d work or 2-d artwork available as prints through the site's printing service)  i don't spend very much time on this site these days (but you can still view my gallery!), but i have discovered many fabulous artists there (see my favorites!)

i wanted to take a moment to promote a kindred struggling artist, ladybomb photography (jennifer lumbley), who has many lovely prints available.  jennifer's eye is drawn to some of my favorite aesthetics: macro-botanical and organic growth vs industrial decay.

thank you for the eye-candy, jennifer!  love the greenhouse photos!  (can't stop thinking abot greenhouses!  i want one!)  good luck!   xoxo

swizzlet

living in portland is great because it is a destination city!
this past week,  i hung out with nina dinoff, a fellow etsymetal member visiting from NYC.

nina's lovely silver and gold jewelry is inspired by modernism, embracing pure form and simplicity.  

her other line, swizzlet, is made from making molds of vintage swizzle sticks, cocktail picks, & findings and casting them in metal. ....so fun!  (i am now the happy owner of one such seahorse cuff bracelet! (below)

(thank you, nina! xoxo)

nina's visit was also a great excuse to go out with the other portland etsymetal ladies!

(i always enjoy hanging out with rubygirl, my new friend catherinechandler, and i finally got to meet TreAnelli!)

looking forward to Experimetal's visit soon...

...who's next?!

mississippi ave street fair

hey, all!
i'm still around...!
many many posts have been backing up, so stay tuned!

been busy travelling and preparing for the
mississippi ave street fair this saturday

portland, oregon

10am-7pm,  north mississippi avenue

 music, food, and  local vendors, you know the drill...

i will be vending my handmade sterling silver and copper jewelry (gauged and 'regular') 

along with my friend anne, the glass artist behind SeaMoth  (right)

also there will be Robot Piercing, promoting their new store (now with tattooing!)
as well as vending Angry God's amazing gauged jewelry!

PET project

i keep coming back to these photos on the website of sculptor miwa koizuni

especially to the PET project ('making something from nothing...'),
an increasing collection of marine organisms crafted from plastic bottles.

i am always excited to see artists successfully using trash (or any creative use of our industrial nutrients.)

i think it's really upsetting that so much is wasted; we worry about running out, but we don't think much about what we throw out!

(also on miwa's site: make a kite from shopping bags- it really flies!  instructions here)

opportunity for artists:

lark books seeks images of original work to feature in the gallery of Fantastic Plastic by David and Robin Edgar. (info here) to be released in Fall 2009.

'Fantastic Plastic will capture the artistry of recycled plastic. From fun and funky to elegant and thought provoking, all sculptural forms will be considered and all types of plastic innovation will be welcomed.'

team davey/booth

my sweetie finally bought his tig welder! 

(granted we'll need many more tools to fully enjoy it....)
hooray, more tools!!

thus dawns the age of collaboration and a more serious studio! it's about time!

here is one of his first jewelry designs, a stainless steel ring to go with my 'annelid' series.

shown with one of my new ring designs, compound eye ring, fabricated from an up-cycled clip on earring (limited edition of 4, two remaining), for the etsymetal insect challenge.

modeled by the fabulous alaraca, an important new friend i met as an etsy customer half a continent away

thank you, sandra, for all of your support!  xoxo

stay tuned for more stainless steel jewelry, furniture, and accessories!

pinball publishing

(is it weird to covet a publishing service?)

i am completely enamored of pinball publishing (here in portland), and look forward to getting some high-quality, eco-friendly promotional materials printed, using soy-based ink and recycled papers.

i met founders laura and austin whipple through our mutual midwife (the highly recommended ellie legare);
not only are they lovely and welcoming people- whom i really want to support!- their products are seriously impressive! 
(one example being the first in their series of designer cards: hare illustration by brent wick- printed with gold and black ink on recycled chipboard stock...luscious!)

seed magazine

photo: neri oxman (materialecologist), by noah kalina

if you're looking for some brain food, check out my new favorite magazine, Seed magazine.

Seed is a smart and stylish modern magazine with 'a passion for science and ...(the) advocacy of science literacy around the world.' 

apparently, they've been around since october 2005 (order back issues here), but they caught my attention a few months ago (thank you anne!) with the headline: 'the future of science...is art?'

the current issue, 'the  design issue', continues to explore the developments in art and design as it relates to the advancement of modern science.  (hooray!)

my own interest has always been split between art and science
(i plan to go back to school for something bio-chem-related when the bean enters kindergarten...)
expect many more science geek posts here as i renew my interest in reading up on modern science. 
thank you, seed!!

pandora radio

there was a time when i used to go music shopping regularly, and built up a modest yet enjoyable itunes and cd library.  which has been more or less stagnant for years now. 
enter pandora radio.
what fun!  you simply enter the name of an artist you like, and pandora creates a playlist based on the qualties of your choice, cross referenced with their 'music genome project'.
(you can guide the selections with a thumbs up/down)
lately, my favorite stations have been 'lovage' and 'rodrigo y gabriela.'
your recommendations are welcome!

stonewood

my parents' house is no longer for sale!

instead, i am moving back to it, with my little family!

my father attended a workshop at earthwood building school,  then he and my mother spent the next 15+ years building and living in this special home.  

velvet studio: london

VELVET UPDATE:  giulia & olivia have closed the camden shop to focus on their other shop in france.

yay, i recently completed my first wholesale order!
for the newly opened velvet studio and art shop in the heart of camden town. 
(an affiliate of the french velvet studios in lyons and grenoble)
check out their myspace page for more information and photos!

velvet studio
35C middle yard
camden lock market
NW 18 AF London UK

it took forever, but giulia and olivia have been so cool about everything!
their shop looks great! 
tattoos, piercing, scarification, jewelry, paintings, clothes, dolls, and more!
sady, i can't imagine when i'll be in london next!
(wishing you much success, ladies! thank you for your support!)

touching warms...

i'm so glad i  went to the museum of contemporary craft (portland, or) to catch the end of "touching warms the art," a hand-on exploration of tactilely stimulating jewelry....
the jewelry was a lot of fun to examine,
and for added entertainment, the gallery set up a flickr album of visitors modelling and playing with the jewelry.

(there's me loving  some amazing felted baubles by maru almeida of seattle.)

my friend cristina dias, from massart metals, exhibited a series of her wearable rubber sculptures.
our senior year, cristina made bracelets inspired by carnivorous plants, using the same silicon rubber technique. 
such great colors and texure!

check out cristina's new esty shop: rubbersprouts.etsy.com!

i also tried on this pretty piece on the right, by a fellow etsymetal member, moira k. lime

old friends, new etsy shops

yes, i am totally obsessed with etsy!

not only has it allowed me to make some semblance of a living selling my jewelry, but i have also met so many wonderful people- customers as well as other artists.

i am an active member of both etsymetal (a juried group of metalsmiths from around the world) and pdx etsy (local portland etsy members).

i've been encouraging all of my crafty friends to get on board and open their own shops...

please take a moment to check out the creative business endeavors by some of the wonderful people i know in real life! 

luxville (also luxville.org)
(top right)
handscreened goods by beth d.
(love love love you, beth!)

graven fragments
(middle right)
fine jewelry by jessica m., a dear friend and former upstairs neighbor

rrejman
(right)
jewelry (gauged and otherwise) and photography by the lovely rama rejman

rubber sprouts
(below, LEFT)
funky rubber jewelry by cristina dias, former massart metals classmate

dirty mary
(below, RIGHT)
punky armwarmers by the fabulous meghan b.


   

also,

(from previous posts)

essential monsters
silk screened goodies with dark and unusual images
by tracy d., friend and former manager

modern radar
cards, bags, and more by tamara g, friend and former co-worker

great work, gals!  good luck with etsy & everything!

design*sponge

the other day, rubygirl (fellow jeweler friend) and i attended the portland 'biz lady meet up'- a workshop organized by grace bonney, founder of the immensely popular blog design*sponge.

grace has worked as a freelance writer for many top magazines, and is a superlative public speaker!
she shared a wealth of public relations and marketing tips in her presentation geared towards independent designers.

the secret to having your design published in the magazines of your choosing lies in these four steps:
1. know your product
2. know your publication
3. make a press kit
4. make contact

grace's inside knowledge reveals many important tips specific to design-oriented magazines, though i imagine much of this information could transfer into the realm of fine art, possibly the music industry, etc

even better, she posted her notes online!
thank you, grace!

and thank you, shannon, for finally getting me out of the house! 
(check out rubygirl's work (right) online!)

megarobot

i am thrilled to announce that i am now selling my work at mega-robot!
mega-robot encompases robot piercing in portland as well  their online shop.  both shops have a phenomenal collection of piercing and gauged jewelry, as well as ethnic tribal jewelry. 
the local designers' section currently includes jewelry by dave rodriguez (below left), heart of metal (center 2), and myself.   with a special section for jon (the owner's) amazing adornments: angry god jewelry (below right).

las vegas
april 20-25, 2008:
look for jon at the APP Conference (association of professional piercers), representing angry god, myself (discomedusa), and other expanded earwear designers!

jewelry jumble

i finally sorted out all my stock after vending recent shows (a rare appearance at crafty wonderland- a monthy event at the doug fir, plus another event, organized by luscious soap-maker ScrumptiousSuds)

thought i'd share some scenes from my jewelry box:

i love that AelisLaurel

(deviantart friend-jeweler, designer of rocklove jewelry: jewelry for the femme fatale)
comments:

can I shrink myself, get naked and roll in this pile of jewelry?  It's my favorite thing... a batch of silver inventory.  *swoon*

my thoughts exactly!  yum! 

rebecca deans

hooray! 
my dear friend, rebecca deans, finally has her webpage up and running!
rebecca works with silver, gold, and fiber to create jewelry and sculptural objects.
her designs are often based on mathematics, and she uses both traditional and modern technologies in their construction.

her work was recently shown at velvet da vinci as part of the earrings show (with yours truly!- it was such a treat to visit and see ourselves in a gallery together!)

she is currently showing new work as part of the new west coast design exhibition, also at velvet da vinci. (through feb 17)

visit rebeccadeans.com for more lovely images!

roger thomas glass

lately, i have been too busy even to play freerice!
(let alone blog, call friends, clean my studio, respond to emails, and so on through endless admissions of shameful negligence)
i am rearranging my childcare situation so that i may go back to work for roger thomas (glass artist) twice a week, and also try to spend at least as much time in my own studio! 
it's a welcome change to have a regular baby-free schedule! 
roger is such a wonderful person to work with, as is the studio manager, jenny.   
here are some examples of the glass (and labor!) intensive wall mounted 'vitreous mosaics' (fused glass paintings) we help him create:

roger currently has an exhibition at PISMO Aspen (through january 17).  visit his website for more images and gallery listings.  if you are interested in learning more about glass fusing, he will be teaching a series a workshops around the country (and sometimes abroad).

freerice

my favorite new online activity: freerice.com

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

sadly, my online scrabble friend, rebecca deans
(amazing jewelry coming to a webpage here),
and i have been too busy for our regular game. 

in the interim- if i have any chance of ever besting her!- i'd best be sharpening my skills!

freerice is
a diverting and addictive vocabulary game. 
with each correct answer, sponsors pay for 20 grains of rice to be donated to a hungry person.

freerice is the sister site of poverty.com

udubop

yay, more self-promotion!  it's a little doodle i made for the flash class i took last year (see my other videos on youtube) 
music by my talented father, bassist john davey: 'udubop' from his album soundbites, featuring brian melick ('uduboy') on percussion, and a host of other talented musicians on the rest of the tracks.
(this track is my favorite- i hope he does more along these lines- maybe a whole album with uduboy?)

also, check out his new album globetrotting: you are here, featuring brian melick (percussion)and steve gorn (indian flute, etc)
available for purchase (cd or mp3) via cdbaby and itunes

my all-time favorite album of his (so far!) is  9 views from the bridge, a  'chamber jazz' ensemble featuring dennis turechek on classical guitar, and amy merrill on viola...you can download it via itunes (type in '9 views from the bridge') or buy it directly from the source <email>

happy listening!

holiday new-ness

discomedusa: 2007 holiday season

i 've been working really hard to make new styles and stock for this holiday season.  some of the new pieces will only be available at the two events i will be vending this month:
crafty wonderland super colossal holiday sale
12/16, 11am-5pm
111 NE 11th Ave. in Portland, OR
(full bar!)
pdxetsy last minute holiday/solstice sale
12/22,  PSU campus by the farmer's market
(more details soon)

also new:  the fabulous custom-made gift boxes on the right will be available to customers at my in-person shows only!

for the rest of the world, do check out the latest in my etsy shop!

happy holidays!

SCRAP action

just wanted to share some of the great shipping supplies i found recently at  SCRAP !
SCRAP(the school community reuse action project) is a local (portland, OR)organization that collects donated materials from industries and individuals and sells them back to the community for dirt cheap.

in my daily life, i strive to minimize my environmental impact (though not truly as much as possible, as a result of  laziness, hypocrisy, etc...but that's another post!)

i would like to carry my ecological conscientiousness through into my art, but that's a little trickier, as i generally just work with silver....
therefore, i seek out recycled and reclaimed materials for my shipping and office supplies, as well as for my craft show displays.  here in north portland, i can visit SCRAP and the ReBuilding Center on a regular basis.

sadly, i have already run out of the padded envelopes shown above  (those silver ones were particularly exciting!)  so i'm back to the regular padded manila ones...boring and evil, i'm sure.  i did have one customer who specifically requested a re-used envelope, which was inspiring.   hopefully more people will catch on, re-using and requesting recycled shippers for the holiday season and beyond...!

gauged glamour

photo (with permission)The Girl Behind the Secrets by suzi9mm

more about my fascination with gauged earwear...

i'm not interested in fads or shock value.  i simply love the aesthetic of bold jewelry in stretched earlobes.

i've slowly stretched my own holes to a 3/4" over the course of seven years.  i've been hanging out around that size for another 5 or so years.  i started designing and making my own jewelry  7 years ago, while i simultaneously managed the jewelry end of Chameleon Tattoo in cambridge massachusetts while attending massachusetts college of art.  i particularly enjoy both outrageous glamour shots of models with expanded stretched piercings, as well as an understated style that makes you look twice.

i want to take this opportunity to promote two businesses, both run by extremely knowledgeable folks(as well as personable, beautiful, intelligent, etc...!)

angry god productions

jon bachman has 10+ years in the body piercing industry. 
moreover, he is an impressive self-taught jeweler/craftsperson.
(and also one of the sweetest and funniest people i have ever met!

jon hand-sculpts traditional and modern earweight designs, and has them cast in both silver and bronze. 

his work continues to inspire me to make plugs and weights.

be sure to check out his website, as well as that of ROBOT, his piercing parlor in portland, oregon.

 

organic jewelry
erika skadsen began making body jewelry in 1992 (and continues to outline her experience in a well-written bio here)  she is now the proprietress of Organic Jewelry, a wholesale and web-retail business selling the finest handmade body jewelry, crafted from natural materials-  some of which is made in-house, along with pieces which have been made by other talented craftsmen.  erika is dedicated to the quality of her products, as well as to the pursuit of knowledge.  check out these fantastic research papers she wrote (two of the many, many reasons she totally rocks):

Basic Wood Anatomy and Behavior
by Erica Nicole Skadsen
(April 2007)

and...

Wood Hazards:
A Guide to Potentially Dangerous Hardwoods
for the Piercing Community
(Co-written by Erica Skadsen and Michael Sims, Third Edition)

 

new gauged earwear

my main interest in jewelry making was born from my obsession with expanded earwear.  however, making a custom pair of plugs every few months wasn't enough to justify my studio expenditures, so i've been expanding my line this past year to include 'regular' earrings, rings, necklaces, etc.
(all available in my etsy shop)

lately, i've been working on a series of pieces that satisfy the middle ground between the two directions my work has taken... gauged earrings from 14g-8g. 
for those with large gauges, these can be worn through eyelets, or alone as weights. 
for other customers, 14g isn't too much of a stretch!  (or they can be custom ordered with 18g earwires)

plus, it seems that there's a large population of folks who have already stretched to this size, or who have shrunk their piercings and are ~10g by default!

whatever the case, i am really excited by these new styles and hope that others will be, as well!
(see the 'expanded earwear' section of my shop for a currently available styles)

modern radar

the first person i'd like to tag as a 'rockin' girl blogger'  is tamara g., the multitalented proprietress of modern radar. 

we worked together for a while, fancifying the jewelry end of chameleon tattoo.  (i miss you awfully much, tamara!  what good times those were!)

tamara has an innate talent for design, and also studied formally at massart  (studio for interrelated media-SIM- i think?) 

an aspiring textile artist, screen printer, and experimental musician, tamara is an all around DIY goddess!
her blog, build me a nest,  is a great place to visit for DIY ideas, pretty pictures, samples of work in her etsy shop, and art/fashion recommendations. 

for example, her brilliant revival of a vintage table by means of wood grained contact paper!

(just one of the many reasons i love you, t!)

ashley akers

i was recently tagged as a 'rockin girl blogger' by ashley akers, another talented etsymetal gal!

(thanks ashley!) 
now i need to tag five more r.g.bs, eh? 

while i'm working on that, check out ashley's fabulous silver/pebble jewelry and other industrial/organic loveliness at her etsy shop.
(ashley, have i ever told you how much i love your work?)
also, get a behind the scenes peek at ashley's work and her world on her blog.