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/