What's New!

 

This week's What's New! features Rachael Sudlow, 

an Etsymetal member from Lawrence, Kansas, USA

 Pinned Wheat Earrings

In her own words, Rachael's outdoorsy, Midwestern upbringing influences her jewelry through ornate touches that parallel her love of art, whimsy & organic themes.

Rachael is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, and has been a seller on Etsy since it's earliest beginnings in 2005!

This is just a small sample of the work you'll find in Rachael's Etsy shop...

  cufflinks!

You can also find Rachael on Facebook

What's New!

This week's blogpost focuses on 2 of our Etsymetal jewelers. Su Trindle from Bath, England, and Elise Worman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

                    Quercus Silver                   EMWMetalworks

                                            Quercus Silver

Su is a contemporary jeweler in Bath, England. She designs and hand fabricates her sterling silver and resin jewelry. She describes her work as "modern, sculptural with a bold use of colour". That it is!

Su is a member of the Association for Contemporary Jewellery, the Devon Guild of Craftsmen and the Gloucestershire Guild of Craftsmen. You can find her work in selected galleries and exhibitions across the UK, and she has been selling worldwide on Etsy since 2008.

You can visit her Etsy shop HERE

                                                     EMWMetalworks

One of the things you'll notice when you visit Elise Worman's Etsy shop, is that much of what she does involves hammers and anvils. Forging, moving and shaping metal is one of her favorite techniques.

In many of her pieces, the metalwork is king, but you'll also find interesting stones included in many of her designs.

Elise lives and works in her home studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, having started her business in 1992, while she was in graduate school. She has been selling on Etsy since 2012. You can visit her Etsy shop HERE.

Member Feature- Hybrid Hand Made

Blog interview with Cari-Jane Hakes of Hybrid Handmade by Su Trindle

February 2014

http://www.etsy.com/hybridhandmade

Hello Cari-Jane. Welcome to the EtsyMetal Team. I know you live in the North of England but tell me a little more about where you live and work?  I currently live at the base of the Yorkshire Wolds in England. I can climb up their gentle slopes and see the silvery expanse of the River Humber, which is so wide I feel like I could be on a little island.  I am a displaced Scot, I claim Glasgow as my 'hometown' although I have led a nomadic life up until now, never living at one address for longer than 5 years!

I live and work in the same place which is essential for me at the moment due to the age of my children.  I like that my boys know what I'm working on and they will often offer unsolicited advice on new designs!

Can you describe a typical studio day for you? I have other work commitments so a day spent in my studio space at my workbench is something I look forward to.  As I grow my business, this time is steadily increasing. 

A typical day will involve an hour or two of promoting my work online, updating all the various visual media sites available to us solo craft-preneurs.  Then it's headphone in. I listen to BBC Radio and 'This American Life' podcasts. When I lived in France I would listen and try to learn French from various language podcasts as I worked. While I listen, I will crack on with whatever orders have come in from Etsy or Notonthehightstreet.  I also do a lot of private commissions.  All of this happens with regular celebratory tea breaks when a solder joint flows first time.  During the day I'm usually trying to meet a postal deadline but the evenings tend to be much quieter, fluid times. That is when I'll work on new designs or submissions for exhibitions.

Do you have a current favourite piece? I recently completed this brooch for the Supbrooch online exhibition by One Wall Gallery which specifically looked at brooches designed for and worn exclusively by men. How did this design develop? I have a number of conceptual themes that I keep coming back to in my work.  One of these themes is the Northern Lights. This brooch was based around one of the old stories told by Eskimos concerning the origin, meaning and purpose of these mysterious light shows and their relationship to labradorite rocks.

Do you have a favourite process or part of the making process? It still amazes me how well silver can accept the most delicate of textures - leaf skeletons for example.  Even though I must have put silver and leaves through my rolling mill hundreds of times I still marvel at how beautiful the resulting texture is.  If there is anyone near my workbench I will haul them over to take a look.  It makes me feel like a magician.

And I love the part of the making process where what I see in my hands begins to exceed the image I held in my head and sketched in my book - that is truly a most fantastic moment.

Anything exciting in the pipeline?  I'm really excited about a potential exhibition that fellow jeweller, Dauvit Alexander, and I may collaborate and host in the not too distant future - I'm hoping to get a few EtsyMetal members interested in submitting work for it.

Keeping or Quitting your Day Job

For some of us a 'day job' is necessary to keep a studio space outside of our homes, maintain supplies, food in our stomaches, etc., etc. Some people that have work (day/night jobs) aside from their creative pursuits often hope or dream of a time when these creative pursuits will be able to take centre stage.

Etsy Metal members share their stories of the work they love, sacrifices made (or not made) in being artists, metalsmiths, makers, etc. This series is about achieving a fundamental sense of fulfillment and purpose, of finding your place in a community of your peers. It's about sharing the truth of what it is to be an artist in the 21st century, in all of its forms. We all walk different paths in the expression of our work, yet we came together through Etsy.

Some of our Etsy Metal members are famous in more ways then one! Norsola Johnson is an amazing Human being to be sure! She's highly talented in seemingly any subject she puts her energy towards. An amazing and generous person, I feel lucky to know her and call her my friend!
•••••

I'm a Jill of so many trades it sometimes makes my brain hurt... I'm interested in pretty much everything, which is both a blessing and a curse. I often admire and wish I was one of those people who figured out what their calling was early in life and have since honed their skills on their path to mastery, with great focus and single-mindedness. I am not one of those people. My life has not been a straight line by any stretch.. more of a jumble of intersecting spirals. Which makes a 'day job', in the 'punch-in, do the grind, get paid, pay rent' sense, almost unthinkable...

My first love was ballet. I started at around age 6, and continued until my mid twenties. Meanwhile, I also attended a fine arts high school, which introduced me to music, which became my second love. Dance took me to all sorts of fabulous places, including France for a while, where I first started to feel this sense of vague dread that remaining cocooned in the hermetic world of ballet would lead to me missing out on life. A few years after my return to Montreal, I stepped away from dance and took a job booking shows at a local punk rock club. It was there that I saw Tom Cora play 'cello with the Ex and every cell in my body reawakened. So I saved up and bought a 'cello, and played and played and played. The club got shut down by the police, and I wound up working for a music promoter, which paid well, and accepted my perhaps unorthodox ways. But this soon became a drudge, and I quit to go on a self-booked, completely disorganized, altruistic and unforgettable tour with my band. I'd found my home. And the next decade of my life was dedicated fully to Godspeed. We toured the world, made a bunch of records, and music that was, to me, the only thing that mattered. A pleasant surprise was that we actually were able to make a living from our music, and a decent one at that. In many ways we were living the dream of so many.. to live, to travel, to survive in a capitalist society doing what we loved, while maintaining our ethics and beliefs.








It was between tours that I first learned metalsmithing. I took a course at a local art school, and from the first solder flow, I was hooked. Metal instantly became my third love. It was a completely new and foreign way for me to express myself, and therefore highly alluring.
The band eventually went on hiatus and I continued to travel, spending the last dregs of my royalties on experiences. An important trip I took was to Nepal. I love climbing (my six or seventh love, probably..) and mountains (perhaps my fifth love, chronologically) and so set out to this land of majesty to wander in the Himalaya. What I found there blew my little privileged north-american mind to bits. I had never seen so many smiles in my life. All these people I encountered, toiling harder than any union here would ever permit, living in what we of the rich part of the world would consider squalor, in this third world country of unimaginable natural beauty... they were happy. I was greeted at least fifteen times daily by joined hands and a 'namaste' cheerfully uttered through crooked teeth. I met a wonderful metalsmith there called Saran, who showed me how they did things there, soldering by blowing through a brass pipe on the flame of a kerosene lamp... I came close to passing out, and was rather unsuccessful in my attempts at making a simple ring band without acetylene and oxygen. It was great. And it shifted my perspective entirely.





I returned to my huge apartment in Montreal, broke and invigorated, and took at long look at my surroundings. "How did I manage to accumulate so much STUFF?"

I thought to myself... And so I began the process of selling some of this stuff... meanwhile, having spent every last dime I had on my travels, I had no choice but to take a real day job. It was at a outdoor gear co-op, so at least somewhat in line with my interests and beliefs, and my workmates were fantastic, but it was still a low pay, crap hours, mind numbing, dead end job. I eventually managed to save up a bit of money, left my apartment, sold off the last of my superfluous stuff and took off to Italy. I had no real plan other than to stay as long as finances and visas permitted, climb, drink fine wine, play music, and study at the extraordinary Alchimia jewellery school in Florence. All of it was amazing... I won't go into the details here as that would be another few chapters in this already long diatribe, but suffice to say that being elsewhere does wonderful things to my psyche and artistic output.


Eventually time and money did run out and I returned to Montreal... and the above mentioned crap day job. I stuck with it for a little while, but eventually started to lose it, and realized that I was being lulled into an apathetic "at least the bills are paid" depressing lifestyle. It's easy to sacrifice a life less ordinary for the security of a steady paycheck, but the cost to one's mental health is just too high. At least that's the case for me. And so I quit the hateful thing and have since been waking up every day with the sole purpose of doing what I love. I'm pleased to report that I have not re-accumulated a pile of unnecessary junk, and live a rather frugal, streamlined life in my little pad filled with just what I need to make stuff. Day to day I'm a little bit cautious, a little bit worried, a little bit nervous, and blissfully happy. In many ways I've started over, yet again, and though the uncertainty can be stressful, I wouldn't have it any other way, and am already planning my next re-rooting adventure.. probably to my beloved New Orleans this time...



And so, to finally answer the main question of this interview...
'Day job' being here defined as that thing you do with most of your days but hate to do but have to do because you gotta pay rent and which leaves you drained and unhappy and wondering 'isn't life too short for this?'
F*#k day jobs.
The journey is the destination. Life is my job. And art matters in ways that no amount of money ever will. As long as I can keep bashing on metal and cello strings, I'm all good. And the small daily sacrifices are worth it.




Make sure to visit Norsola's Etsy shop!

"On Creativity" with Sarah Breivis

In our blog series "On Creativity" each week we will feature one of our members and their perspective on keeping their creativity alive. 

This week we are talking to Sarah Breivis of Juju By Sarah

What inspires you?

I really like stones, so I usually get inspired on how to showcase a gem. I started making jewelry after I took my first lapidary (stone carving) class over ten years ago. I had all of these finished stones and needed something to do with them. I also get inspired by patterns I see all around me. Whether it's a geometric design on a snake, or some ancient pottery. Designs are everywhere! It's finding the time to make them all that's hard.

How does your design process work/How do you come up with new ideas?

New designs usually come in quick bursts. I'll be really busy doing some production work and need a mental break. I will put it aside and make a one of a kind piece from some idea that I've had floating around in my head awhile. It's sort of like sneaking in some fun when I know I should be doing something else. Sometimes I do sketches, but more often I will make a prototypes to see if I like the design and the proportions of a piece before I use more expensive metals.

How do you stay motivated?

Doing one of a kind pieces keeps me motivated. It's not that hard really. I worked in a corporate cubicle for sixteen years before I became a full time jeweler. I was brain dead doing the same thing every day. I told myself that I would never do that again, that I need to change things up all the time. Whenever I get down about what I'm doing (ie; gold pricing, economy, bills etc), I just tell myself that it's the most personally fulfilling work I've ever done and I need to move forward.

Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut? If so how do you get out of it?

Oh sure, creativity definitely comes in waves and I know it will come back. Whenever I'm in a rut, I just work on some inventory pieces that I need to replenish. If I get tired of metal smithing, I pull out my lapidary wheels and play around with stone carving for a day or two. Once my hands are all cold and pruned from the water wheels I'm ready to do metal again.

Do you make other things besides jewelry?

Well, I've been creating art since I could hold a pen and have tried many things. I know that I cannot do ceramics or knitting to save my life. But, I have been doing traditional woodworking for almost 20 years. I signed up for a private class called 'woodworking for women' when I was in college and never stopped. My instructor, Debey Zito, is an inspiration for woman who have worked hard in their craft to create beautiful work. It's traditional woodworking using hand tools in the Arts and Crafts style of architecture. It's very similar to jewelry making really. You need to slowly work on your joints (connections) and get them to fit just right. I've made a dining room table and chairs, shelves, side tables, picture and mirror frames and am currently working on a dresser.

I've also gotten in fine chocolate making in the last few years. I guess I just like detailed assembly work. It must be a type of meditation to want to cut and dip fifty hand cooked caramels in chocolate and then give them all away. My husband's job is to sprinkle the embellishment onto each piece.

Sparks Ring: Hand carved quartz with Garnets. This was the first ring I made after I got my lapidary wheels.

 

Jewelry Drawers: Walnut with forged copper handles plated in nickel. Would you believe I made this before I quit my job to become a jeweler.

 

New Member profiles - Michelle Grady and Winona Johnson

This week, new members Michelle Grady and Winona Johnson are in the spotlight. Michelle joined our team in February of 2011 and Winona joined later that year in June. We are thrilled to have these two very talented women on the EtsyMetal Team!!

Michelle Grady's Etsy shop, MicheleGradyDesigns, features beautiful, highly textured work in sterling silver, copper and gold. Here is some of Michelle's work and a little bit about her:

I have been interested in art throughout my life and my family is very creative. My aunt and younger sister both are painters so growing up I started working with acrylics, pastels and oils at a young age. I eventually moved on to three-dimensional art such as beaded jewelry, paper-maché and wheel-thrown pottery. When I was a teenager I fell into my first metals class by accident. It was a young artists’ workshop at Moore College of Art and Design in Phila, PA. I went with my sister every Saturday morning taking drawing and painting classes. Eventually we decided to branch out to try something new. She took the metals class while I took the pottery class. I had fun but she made this cute little ring that was shaped like an airplane with a propeller that would spin. I thought it was the coolest thing ever that you could wear something you made and that it had moving parts. The next session I took the metals class. I made 4 pieces of jewelry but had a horrible teacher and couldn’t even tell you how I made what I made but fell in love with it anyway! I eventually went back to Moore and took a continuing education adult metals class at night taught by the instructor that taught the college kids during the day. This is where I actually learned the basics of how metal worked, how to solder, set stones, etc. I have taken a few other classes here and there but most of my skills are self taught and were acquired by trial and error. My hobby has now become my job. I have been working with metal with for over 22 years and teaching classes for over 10 years now. I create pieces using sterling silver, copper, brass and semi precious stones. My ideas come from my imagination as well as the shapes, textures and colors of the stones and metals I use. My jewelry is fabricated out of flat pieces of metal and wire that I add texture, shape and dimension to. I recently have started making more 3 dimensional jewelry incorporating hollow forms and “stilts” or spacers which I really enjoy. I also love making (and wearing) rings! You can find my work on Etsy as well as fine craft shows and fine art galleries through out the US.

Winona's Etsy shop, ArtByWinona, is full of sculptural pieces made of sterling silver and mixed materials. Here are some work by Winona and a little bit about her life and work:

I grew up in Wenatchee, Washington which is a smaller town in the
central area of the state. I grew up watching my father hand paint
signs in his sign shop which he still does to this day. I knew ever
since I could pick up a crayon that I loved art and wanted to do it
for the rest of my life. I love everything from painting and ceramics
to photography. It wasn't until I went to Central Washington
University in Ellensburg, Washington that I discovered metalsmithing.
And to be honest the first time I tried it I hated it. I think I was
trying to hard at first. It took re-making a project several times
before getting the hang of it and from then on I was hooked! My
great-grandfather was a watch maker, so working with metal must be in
my blood.

I love using a variety of materials in my work. Every design in some
way is inspired by nature. Being out in nature is what I enjoy the
most, although sometimes it's hard to get away to actual enjoy it. I
also work during the day as a cake decorator which is a lot of
production. I think that is why I tend to make one-of-kind pieces
rather than production jewelry. I spend all day doing the same thing,
then I come home and just let my imagination go wild! I really like
to create pieces that are unique and unforgettable.

I want to thank both Michelle and Winona for their hard work and enthusiastic participation on our team!! Please check out their Etsy shops for more of their wonderful work!

"On Creativity" with Ashley of Ashley Akers Jewelry

In our blog series "On Creativity" each week we will feature one of our members and their perspective on keeping their creativity alive. 

This week we are talking to Ashley of Ashley Akers Jewelry


What inspires you?
My raw materials inspire me. Not so much the metal itself, but whatever material I am designing my piece around. I love to incorporate color and texture into my work and use varied media to do that. Polymer clay, gemstones, pebbles, fabric, enamel, and more recently, plastic aquarium plants, all make appearances in my designs. Really, no non-perishable material is off limits in my mind! Sterling, Copper and sometimes Gold become the framework for these materials. They are, of course, quite important in my designs, but the colorful raw materials are what really inspire me.

How does your design process work/How do you come up with new ideas?
Sometimes I sit down and sketch a design and one idea leads to the next. I don't do this as often as I used to, but all my years of sketches still provide inspiration. Lately I sit down with whatever materials I am using and just start playing around until the design and a construction plan come together in my mind. A design might change and morph during the process of making the piece depending on what works and what doesn't. I have plenty of unfinished pieces and sometimes go back to those with a fresh perspective.

How do you stay motivated?
Taking a break from production work and working on larger, one of a kind pieces helps. I have been participating in the Etsy Metal Project Runway Challenge and am finding it quite inspiring. Despite the fact that I just started a new job, after working on jewelry full time for the last three years, I am feeling more motivated lately.  Learning new techniques is also quite motivational. I have a long list of tools and techniques that I would like to incorporate into my work including, adding texture to metal via etching, a rolling mill, repousse and fold forming. (Hmm, it looks like adding texture to metal is something that is missing in my work and needs to be addressed!) I also plan to continue to explore new materials, such as wood, and always find that inspirational. My most recent piece for the Project Runway Challenge was made with Plastic Aquarium Plants, and I already have more ideas for working with those.

Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut? If so how do you get out of it?
Definitely! Getting inventory ready for shows is always a good way to get myself working. I thrive on deadlines and am a procrastinator if I don't have them. However, the work I do for shows is mostly production work, which is repetitive and can drain my creativity quickly. I must flex those creative muscles and come up with new designs to keep myself inspired. I prefer to make larger, one of a kind pieces and find that work much more inspiring. It is also important for me to play, experiment and truly have fun with my work. These things inevitably lead to a new finished piece of jewelry as well.

Do you make other things besides jewelry?
Oh yes! I have, what I have heard a fellow metalsmith cal,l Creative ADD. I want to make all kinds of things, not just jewelry. I want to work in the garden, sew, make my house look nice, crochet, cook, bake, etc. I just have to make things, but staying focused on making jewelry is difficult at times.

 Fiber Cuff made with Needle Felted Silk and Wool, Sterling, Copper and Brass Nuts and Bolts

"On Creativity" with Rebecca of Adobe Sol Designs

In our blog series "On Creativity" each week we will feature one of our members and their perspectives on keeping their creativity alive. 

This week we are talking to Rebecca Bogan of Adobe Sol Designs

What inspires you?
Nothing romantic here... I am inspired by everything that I come into contact with. Often times the materials that I am working with inspire certain designs. Each stone, metal or bead tells a different story!

How does your design process work/How do you come up with new ideas?
Once an idea starts to percolate in my mind I either sketch it, jot it down on the nearest napkin or just go ahead and start working on it. Sometimes I just put an idea in the back of my mind and it will surface at a later time.

How do you stay motivated?
Generally I stay motivated by keeping my body, mind and spirit healthy. My best creativity happens when I am feeling really good. A good diet and plenty of gruelling exercise help!

Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut? If so how do you get out of it?
Oh yes. When I get into a creative rut I know it is time to take a small break and evaluate what is not quite right in my world. Usually a good mountain bike ride, spending time with family and good friends will get me back into my groove.

Do you make other things besides jewelry?
For a while I got into making quilts. I love the feel of the fabric and the colors available to play with. I made a few really nice quilts but found that it is not really my "Thing". 

New Member Profile - Panicmama and NRJewellerydesign

Howdy! I'm back again this week to introduce two new Etsymetal members to you. Panicmama and NRJewellerydesign both joined us at this last jury in June and we are so happy to have them both!

First up is Renee from Panicmama. Here is some of Renee's beautiful work:








Ever since my first metalsmithing class in college, I have been making jewelry. I feel very fortunate to be still making jewelry after 20 years. I continually explore new techniques, styles & methods of creating. I enjoy the process of creating the jewelry as much as the end result. Many of my designs focus on semi translucent & opaque gemstones like agates & jaspers. Their rich visual textures capture my attention.

Every piece i make begins on a 150 pound anvil that has been in my family for over a century. My love of tools, specifically hammers, is almost always evident in each piece I fabricate. The evidence a hammer blow makes against my anvil leaves a trail that indicates how I have manipulated the metal at my will into becoming a new shape. I choose to leave this trail as to bring the viewer into the process of creation.

Focusing on process leads to new ideas & a way to keep my work fresh. Keeping my eyes open & my sketch book near, I hope to capture that idea & translate it into a treasure for generations to cherish.

Next is Nikki of NRJewellerydesign. Here are three pieces very representative of Nikki's style:



And here is a little about Nikki:

I love making things... Whilst neither of my parents are artistic they have always encouraged me whole heartedly. When I was little, I tried everything; at one point I had a potters wheel, a loom and a sewing machine. At school I sold handmade friendship bracelets made from coloured cotton and wooden beads for 50p!

I have always loved jewellery and been particularly drawn to metal and gemstone pieces but never considered working with metal. I didn’t realise it was something that “normal” people could do so I never thought about it. Then one day, just over a couple of years ago, a friend said she was doing a silver jewellery course at the local college (it was a rubbish course apparently but I didn’t listen to that part!). I was so surprised that I could learn to do something so amazing! From that point on I desperately wanted to learn. I did some research and found a little studio in the next county that did two day courses. I signed myself up straight away; I made a ring and a pendant and was hooked from the moment I picked up my first saw. As soon as I got home I started ordering tools.

I am self taught. My jewellery is chunky and industrial but also feminine. I mostly use sterling silver but have recently started working with copper which has a lovely warmth to it. I love the colour and individuality that gemstones add, and often pieces are designed around a particular stone. When I am feeling inspired I sit down with my box of gemstones, a pencil and my sketch pad. I have so many designs it takes me a while to decide which ones to make! I normally add a brushed patina to my pieces; it really makes the stones stand out and gives beautiful dimension. I love making jewellery; each and every item has made me happy and I hope this is passed on to whoever wears it.

Thanks to both Renee and Nikki for being such great new members on our team! I'll be back next week with more introductions.

New Member Profile - Aroluna

This week I have one new member of Etsymetal to introduce you to. Irene of Aroluna joined us in July of 2011. Here are a few pieces by Irene and some information about her life and work in the studio:









I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and since 1999 I've lived in south Florida, the US with my family: my husband and our two sons, 17 and 20. I am the hands behind aroluna @ etsy.
When I was 18 I had my first permanent booth in an arts and craft show in Buenos Aires. I realized then that I loved making and creating, and that my hands were going to be my tools to earn my living. And also realized that I was drawn by the way of living as what I consider myself to be, an artisan.
In my twenties, I became hooked by metal when I learned how to shape and solder and transform sterling silver into a functional and beautiful piece of jewelry. Metal and jewelry became my way to apply the passion.
I attended two years of jewelry classes at Escuela Municipal de la Joya in Buenos Aires, where I also took a special course on chains, and then continued learning by myself and with friends metal smiths. All of the pieces at aroluna are made by me one by one, except the Primitive line, these originals were also fabricated by me with sterling silver, and then molded for casting with lost wax.
I am attracted by circular lines and asymmetry; my pieces are rustic and organic, sturdy but smooth. Often times they are bold, but I always want them to be perfectly comfortable, able to become part of the person if she or he wants to wear them at any times, and defy the passing of time.
I find inspiration anywhere and everywhere, books, nature, films. Errors and mistakes are great teachers, they show me new ways or shapes and they've helped me perfect my signature pieces. I take great pleasure in making one of a kind creations as much as I enjoy making pieces that may seem alike but are always different, like my knots bracelets, which are always evolving and have the particular impression of the moment they were created.
I'm proud and elated with the fact that so many people are currently wearing and appreciating pieces that I made with love and great care.

Thanks for checking in this week! See you next week!

New Member Profiles - Jane Font and Deborah Lee Taylor

Thanks for checking back! This week I have two new members to introduce, Jane Font of Daisy Jane Designs and Deborah Lee Taylor of e5jewel. Both Jane and Deborah joined Etsymetal this summer and we are so glad to have them!

Here are three pieces from Jane's Flickr stream and a little bit about Jane herself.







Throughout my life, I’ve been surrounded by art. My mother painted, my grandfather painted and did the most beautiful leather work, and my grandmother was always doing interesting art crafts with us. As a child, I always said I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. It didn’t really matter what kind of art: just art. Since then, I’ve dabbled in just about everything from painting, to sculpture, fabric arts, lampworking, etc. But I never felt like I was good enough at any of them to do them for very long. I did nails for awhile. Not because I particularly care about beautiful nails, but because I could be artistic. I loved shaping them until they were perfect, and I did sculptures and images with the different colors of products. I entered a few nail art competitions, and always placed. I just didn’t like doing the same old thing on hand after hand.

I’ve always loved jewelry, but never really considered making it on my own because I figured it was something machines did. However, a few years ago I was confined to bed for a few weeks because of mono. I could really do nothing but watch TV all day. One day, I saw a program about metalsmiths, and I was blown away by what could be done with relatively simple tools, and at home! I was immediately hooked and bought stacks of books on the subject. I started with metal clay, but within a year or two, I started feeling confined by it. My New Year’s resolution for 2011 was to learn metalsmithing, and that’s exactly what I’ve done!

Being self-taught has its advantages and disadvantages, but it has been amazingly fulfilling! I can’t see feeling confined in my art, but I do feel like I’ve found something I’m good at! I can’t wait to branch out and learn everything I can. From etching to casting, I want to do it all!

My goal for next year is to become my own boss. Fulltime metalsmithing is the life for me, and I feel very fortunate to have found a team of likeminded individuals to share my love of metalworking with.

Next, I'd like to share some of Deborah's work. Here are three of her favorite pieces and some information about her and her Etsy shop.



A little about me: I have always had the need to be doing something creative..as nail artist, interior decorator, color consultant, to creating jewelry. I feel I have finally found home for my creative passion! I feel blessed doing what I love and sharing my work with the world.

About e5: I create one of a kind handmade wearable Art
My jewelry reflects the love of wabi sabi, 'talismania' energy, and one of a kind silver and mixed metal jewelry.
Each piece is hand fabricated by me, in my studio. I work mostly with copper, and mix this beautiful metal with sterling, metal clay, fine silver and at times, brass. I use natural and lab grown stones, depending on what the design calls for. My work includes pieces that hold a symbolic meaning by intention, words or the metaphysical properties of the stone used. I feel a one of a kind piece jewelry is like finding a lost treasure, waiting to be discovered by it's wearer. I believe when a stone, crystal or piece of art resonates with you, it speaks to your soul. The beauty that comes from that is magical, timeless and unique, as the art itself.

Thanks again for stopping by the Etsymetal blog. I'll be back next week to introduce a few more new members!

"On Creativity" with 2Roses

We are starting a new blog series "On Creativity". Each week will feature one or more of our members and their perspectives on keeping their creativity alive.

This week we are talking to John and Corliss of 2Roses

What inspires you?
Oddly enough, everything, all the time. Finding inspiration has never been a problem. Stopping and focusing on one thing is the challenge. We often get going in one direction and become interested in something else mid stream.

How does your design process work/How do you come up with new ideas?
Our design process is very spontaneous. We carry sketchbooks everywhere. We are never without one. While we draw constantly, deigns frequently change during the execution.

How do you stay motivated?
The problem for us is stopping, not starting. Left to our own devices we will work in the studio till we drop, sleep for a few hours,get up and do it again. We will typically force ourselves out of the studio after 3-4 days of this. The net result of getting out of the studio is being immersed in the big world of inspiration - which drives us back into the studio.


Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut? If so how do you get out of it?
No, we do not stay in one place creatively long enough to get into a rut. We throw ourselves into new and unfamiliar experiences constantly. If we find something on the menu we've never had - that's what we're having. We'll do things even when we don't think we'll like it - just to have the experience (most of the time we discover new things we like). Even when we don't enjoy it, the experience teaches us something and inspires something.

Do you make other things besides jewelry?
Yes. We are actively engaged in a wide variety of media and disciplines. Current projects include video production, publication design, furniture, clothing, a writing project, three tool development projects, and recipe formulations.



Carved bone and spontaneous body modification earrings.
Back story here.

New Member Profiles - Silent Goddess, Tkmetalarts

This week I'd like to introduce two new Etsymetal members: Lane Clark (Silentgoddess) and Theresa Kwong (Tkmetalarts).

Lane joined Etsymetal this past June and we are so glad to have her on the team! Here is a sample of Lane's fabulous work:

Dogwood, Tree Hugger, and Twigs and Berries are three wonderful pieces from her Etsy shop. Here is a little bit about Lane:

With towering trees just feet away from my studio window, I don’t have to look far for design ideas. But sometimes inspiration is sparked from an industrial edge. I like to let the metal tell me what to make. Maybe a design needs graceful curve of a flower petal or it needs an angular bend paired with a stone. Or maybe not. That is pretty much the story of my life. I usually take the road less traveled. I love to constantly change things up and I take advantage of that every chance I can get in my art and in my daily life.

My metal journey began about 2 decades ago when I took a beginning jewelry making class. After just one night of hands-on metal manipulation and torch lighting I was hooked. Now years later I have taught myself most of what I know just through trial and error (some of the best “errors” turn out to be the coolest successes)! I am very blessed to have a great in-home studio where you can find me whiling away my days knee deep in metal and stones.

The second new member I'd like to introduce is Theresa Kwong of Tkmetalarts. Theresa joined our team in January of 2011 and has been a very active member. Here are three pieces very representative of Theresa's work:

Rectangle Moonstone Pendant, Japan Relief ring with garnet and Steel Blue Flowers with Larimar ring are all from Theresa's Etsy shop. Please read on to learn more about Theresa:

Theresa Kwong is a metalsmith based in the San Francisco Bay Area. It started off as a hobby but soon became an obsession. She now splits her time being a bench jeweler and an architect. She enjoys the design and technical challenges offered by both. Her inspiration comes from both the natural world and the built environment.

At the Revere Academy, Theresa learns to work with traditional goldsmithing techniques (forging, sawing, filing, fitting, soldering, polishing, stone-setting, etc). Her designs are simple and have a timeless elegance. She prefers fabrication and working directly with the metal sheets/wires instead of waxes and castings, ensuring the uniqueness of each piece, whether it is one-of-a-kind or limited edition pieces.

Thanks for taking the time to read about our new members. I will be profiling a few new members each week to please check back!

Keeping or Quitting your Day Job:

I am curious, regarding the idea of Keeping or Quitting your day job, how EM members refer to their work, and define themselves. Some people refer to themselves as, artists. While others may call themselves a craftsperson, jeweller, dabbler, etc. Some may even prefer no definition.
For some of us a 'day job' is necessary to keep a studio space outside of our homes, maintain supplies, food in our stomaches, etc., etc.
Some people that have work (day/night jobs) aside from their creative pursuits often hope or dream of a time when these creative pursuits will be able to take centre stage.

Etsy Metal members share their stories of the work they love, sacrifices made (or not made) in being artists, metalsmiths, makers, etc.
This series is about achieving a fundamental sense of fulfillment and purpose, of finding your place in a community of your peers. It's about sharing the truth of what it is to be an artist in the 21st century, in all of its forms. We all walk different paths in the expression of our work, yet we came together through Etsy.

Current interview with, Catherine Chandler

EM: How do you define yourself? For instance, do you refer to yourself as an Artist, Maker, Silversmith, Metalsmith, Goldsmith, Truck Driver or Jeweller?

CC: I am a metalsmith. It is in the core of my being, it is who I am, who I have become. I could have become a hundred different things, but I chose that path that spoke directly to my heart. And of course, when I tell people that I am a metalsmith, I get an inquisitive look, and have to explain that I make jewelry and small metal sculpture :D I usually wear my own jewelry, which helps others to understand just what kind of jewelry I make.

EM: Would you [do you] describe your work as Art, Craft, Jewelry, or are there different categories dependant upon outlet/venue, mood?

Usually when I am describing my work, I am speaking of the jewelry side of things. I don't create a lot of sculpture at the moment, and what I do is generally wearable (which gets *really* interesting looks from the public!)

EM: Do you have a day job, part time job or is being a(n) {fill in the blank} your full time job?

CC: I do have a day job, and thankfully so, as I am the main breadwinner in our little household and my jewelry simply doesn't sell well over Etsy. I work as a nanny, and have for nearly 6 years. I kind of fell into the job, honestly. I had moved to Portland, OR from Hood River, OR to finish my degree (which I had started in Australia) and had sworn off being a barista ever again. I had some experience in the caregiving field, and a friend set me up with a family she knew who needed a nanny. The job was flexible and paid much better than caregiving, and was fun and ever-changing (who doesn't love to get paid to go to the zoo?!). I didn't intend to stay on as a nanny for as long as I have, but when my intended plans didn't pan out (my attempt to go to grad school is another long story), I saw no need to leave a stable job and income. The flexibility of being a nanny has given me time through the years to continue working on my jewelry and metalwork, without being dependent on the sporadic income it brings. When my fiance lost his job last October, with no prospects of a new job and no unemployment insurance, I was even more grateful to have a great job that pays well and can get us through these hard times. Without my 'day job', we'd have been out on the streets for sure, and one of the things that this whole experience has made me realize is that I want a career. Not as an artist, but as a teacher. I want the security of a stable income, and I want to teach metalsmithing, so I am going through the hoops in order to pursue that.

EM: What sacrifices have you made (do you feel you’ve made or still make) in order to pursue creating/making your work?

CC: I would say that the most common sacrifice that most artists/makers make is their social life. Especially if they have a day job! My social life has definitely taken a toll, and at times I really miss the ability to just go out for drinks after work, but then again, I would not trade the satisfaction that my art gives me. It is like my missing piece. Some people find that missing piece in religion, or partying, or shopping....I find it in metal. My friends and family have learned to accept and understand my bouts of disappearing when I'm working on projects, and are always welcoming when I come back up for air.

EM: If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself or someone considering a similar path knowing what you know now?

CC: I studied for my original BFA in Australia. Then, I came home to America thinking I would just jump into an MFA here. Boy, was I ever wrong. The discrepancies between the two countries' qualifications is huge, and I am now set to complete 3 more years of an American BFA just so I can get into an MFA and pursue my dreams of becoming an instructor. I would advise anyone considering going to school overseas to seriously think about their future plans and check into whether things will line up once they are finished. Having to eat 3 years of tuition is a hard thing, to say the least.

Other than that, I always tell people to follow their heart. If their passion is in creating, then go for it. I figure that if we're going to spend the majority of our lives working, we might as well do something we enjoy.

EM: Is there anything else you would like to share?

CC: I strongly encourage people to hang on to their day job as long as possible. It is a great source of reliable income to get you through the rough patches, because there WILL be rough patches. I have seen multiple people in the last few years who have gotten raises, or started a different job, and decide to buy a house, or move, or make some other large purchase, only to lose that job, or that raise, and be financially stuck and struggling. If you are going to quit your day job, have LOTS of money in savings, or a very secure back up plan, because you never know what will happen.

Thanks Catherine!

Make sure to visit Catherine's Etsy shop and personal website!

http://www.etsy.com/shop/catherinechandler