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etsymetal blog carnival- unusual custom requests

many thanks to the lovely andes cruz for coordinating the etsymetal blog carnival (a thematic monthly blog entry) november's theme: your most unusual custom jewelry request.  i wasn't planning to play, as i can't really think of anything extremely unusual....i do get many requests for expanded earwear that are beyond my capabilities or would be astronomically expensive to create...but as for things i have actually made...

the largest, most interesting plugs that i have made as custom orders have been 1" diameter.

sadly, by the time i finished the 1" silver matrix plugs, my customer had stretched to 1.5", which is a substantial amount more material & weight.  i am hoping that she will be happy with a pair of wood plugs with silver inserts- a collaboration between myself & aesthetics body modification (love them!)

as for the 1" pair, they are on display/consignment at five & diamond, 510 valencia st, san francisco

please check out the other november blog carnival participants

(there are only 2 this month, it won't take much time!):

Bijougirl - http://www.amandaconley.blogspot.com

Andes Cruz- http://andescruz.wordpress.com/

xoxo

fifty years of exploration

i simply love looking at this map of the past 50 years of space travel!

this smaller version barely does it justice- check out the original national geographic image by sean mcnaughton here.

would someone please let me know if there is a (licensed) poster available?

 

vela creations

another great link from treehugger.com

vela creations 'is an in-depth resource for off grid living.' 

their website includes a blog about their life and sustainable homestead projects, (free) plans to make your own Chispito wind generator out of scrap and readily available materials, and a store selling off grid/ homesteading reference books.

as i am slowly working towards creating a homestead of my own, i find  vela creations work to be extremely inspiring!

their amazon shop is a great resource- in my home, we joke (but not really!) that we have all this post apocalyptic survival information bookmarked, but it will be inaccessible should we ever need it in a pinch!

faux filigree blade earrings

i've been making a lot of these 'filigree' earrings lately (top), expanding the selection of my signature 'blade' earrings.  

i think of the faux filigree series as doodles for future pieces that will have handcut/etched/pierced/formed blades of my own design and making. (but in the meantime, i really like these!)

i was inspired by my friend rubygirl (middle) who uses these stamped findings(brass plated over steel, i think) in a most innovative way- she enamels them...the effect is reaery pretty!

these are are not true filigree, which is the fine craft of manipulating thin strips of metal into intricate shapes.
i emphasize this so as not to offend traditional filigree artists by misusing the term (which i do because that is what this style of stamping is called when shopping for the findings.)

i want to take this opportunity to showcase another jewelry designer who makes the most gorgeous plugs i've seen in a long time! 

Quetzalli jewelry (bottom) makes delicatly wrought silver filigree plugs and thicker gauge hoops, as well as ammonite and turquoise mosaique plugs that i am coveting like crazy!

another fun tidbit about the faux filigree exploration:

after i posted my first pair on flickr (below left), & credited rubygirl with the inspiration, our mutual friend and fellow etsymetal member-  experimetal- made a prototype for the pair on the right in response...nice job, vic, i love them! xoxo

 

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!  

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

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?!)

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.