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Exploring Flora

Using the season’s bounty of flora as influence and inspiration, I am exploring a variety of metal techniques within the context of botanical forms. Surface treatments such as reticulation, chasing & repousse’ and unusual techniques serve to enhance the forms in exploration. Direct molding, wax impressions, natural object casting, electroforming and incorporating found objects are also being investigated in exploring this organic approach to metalsmithing. Stay tuned to see how my project is coming - it will be completed by August 11, 2010.

Featured Post

A New “Thread”

Today I got a call from our wedding videographer that prompted me to re-publish something I have talked about in the past. I figure since this blog is so new, I may as well post this new thread: wedding crafts! Tom, our videographer, called and mentioned he was working with a bride-to-be who had seen our wedding website (seeing samples of his work) and apparently one of MY pieces struck her eye: our chuppah! She wanted to know where we got it as she was looking for something similar. Unfortunately, you can't buy it in any store as I made it myself. So for all you newly engaged love-birds who are planning a Jewish wedding, here are a few sewing projects...and then some more for any type of wedding, Jewish or not...

Asides

• Just discovered this nifty site: http://www.shapeways.com/ #
• Yet another fun discovery from Interweave: JewelryMakingDaily.com. Looks like a great resource. In the meantime, I am counting down the days til my night class begins at MICA: I am taking Exploring Flora: A Multi-Process with April Wood. Here is the class description: "Using the season’s bounty of flora as influence and inspiration, students explore a variety of metal techniques within the context of botanical forms. Surface treatments such as reticulation, chasing & repousse’ and unusual techniques serve to enhance the forms students explore. Direct molding, wax impressions, natural object casting, electroforming and incorporating found objects are also investigated. Students produce multiple samples and finished projects for the course and are encouraged to work in series. Working critiques, slide presentations and outings for inspiration serve as a guide in exploring this organic approach to metalsmithing." #
• Wow! Another site I stumbled upon while doing research on cicada metalsmithing: Bioephemera. Also, here is another site that has steampunkish insect sculpture. #
• I learned about this cool calendar from one of my students, and I discovered there are other goodies, free to download too! Canon Creative Park - check it out! #
• I have been wanting to create my own version of a cicada pendant for so long using PMC and casting from real cicada specimen I have had for a while now. In doing some online research on insects, cicadas and casting for jewelry, I discovered this: Insect Lab Studio! How did I miss this in all my searches? Well, needless to say I am inspired to create my next piece by this summer, among other unfinished projects. Stay tuned! #
• http://indiefixx.com/ is a new site I discovered today - love "tutorial Tuesday". #
• I found Liz Levin's site LizLevinNesting.com after reading an article a colleague of mine gave me from the October 8, 2009 issue of the Washington post - Home section (H1). "Having Kids, Pets, and a Home with Style," focuses on how you can have it all without compromising style and safety. Liz's website launched in September, and all I can say is it is a very inspiring find. She shares wonderful tips for homeowners who are also pet owners and parents. #
• I keep forgetting I can watch new techniques whenever I wish. Specifically, I am hoping to get deeper into PMS, and this nifty video on a Textured Bracelet is a good start. #
• Michael Miller and Paula Prass. Yummy! #
• Me likee: Paperculture.com. I discovered this site while waiting for my latest OB appointment, reading Cookie magazine. Great place for recycled paper invitations and announcements. Cute clean design too! #
• WOW! Need to have your own pattern printed on fabric for your favorite lil creation? SPOONFLOWER.com is the answer! Fabric and design. Creativity and color. The Spoonflower community uses fabric to make quilts, clothes, pillows, dolls, blankets, handbags, framed textile art and many other things. Customers post photos of the beautiful items they make in the Spoonflower photo gallery on Flickr. Spoonflower launched it's company and web site as a closed 'beta' at the very end of May 2008, shipping the first few hundred orders from their kitchen table. Word spread quickly. They moved into a real office in August. As of December, there are over 15,000 crafters signed up to use their site, including me! #
• :: I have newly discovered a love for making lil things since my new niece and nephew entered our lives. Here is a site that inspired me: http://www.heatherbailey.typepad.com/. The Bitty Booties are something I'd like to try. There is also another link to a baby booties pattern called Kimono Boots on Homespun-Threads.com. Fun! #
• :: Today is the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin. I wish I could go see this exhibit at the Natural History Museum in London, but I did get a chance to see the Darwin exhibit at the Royal Ontario museum last time I was in Toronto. "Darwin" is organized in collaboration with the American Museum of Natural History, the Natural History Museum, London, the Museum of Science, Boston, the Field Museum, Chicago and the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada. I highly recommend going to see any one of these great venues! #
• :: Another fun site - if you are into the American Craft Council Show, and you love Etsy, you may as well love this: Artful Home. I especially love the work of Dawn Estrin, Ananda Kahlsa, and Chihiro Makio. Also, I discovered another artisan site called Ruby Lane. #
• :: I am listening to NPR's Science Friday right now and they are talking about this comic book about genetics called the Stuff of Life! #
• :: More inspiration: Design Worklife, Uppercase Magazine and Uppercase Books. Well done! Custom 52 - This looks interesting. #
• :: Check out: cathypentondesigns.com. I just discovered Cathy's work today when I was waiting at the Home Depot by the cashiers and magazines. I had never seen a Romantic Homes Magazine before, so while waiting for my husband to come back to the front of the store, I was flipping through the magazine and there you were! Love her style, and she lives downunder. Heart-warming and so inspiring! While I am at it, I may as well gloat about two other Aussie artists whose work I admire: Jane Nicholas who does stumpwork embroidery insect boxes. Last but not least, small world, but Keith LoBue, who came to our metalsmithing studio in Baltimore, is an amazing mixed media metalsmith. He is an American artist, but moved to Australia - and he is good friends with Jane Nicholas! Next time I am in Australia, I know who I am going to drop in on :) #
• :: If you are into the latest technology, especially in web-design, web-publishing and language, then check out CSS3 in the article, "Pushing Web Design," published by one of my favorite sites, Smashing Magazine (see the RSS blog feed over to the right for more good reads). #
• :: How fun is it to discover the playful work of Penelope Dullaghan. Her sense of color is food for my mind's eye, and I just love her whimsical style. I discovered her on Illustration Friday as she is an IF contributor. #
• :: Not much to say but I like it: Paper 'n' Stich...makes me want to...I dunno, make something! #
• :: Here's to an American Legend, Andrew Wyeth, whose paintings of timeless landscapes, and veridical portraits stirred my soul and brought great inspiration. May he rest in peace. #
• :: Here is some clever inspiration for any crafters that like adorable wearables like Nuigurumi (Japanese craft dolls) - check out Molly Chicken #
• :: Wow...look what I discovered on MINT. If only I had enough time to create a million things with this...I am still in the market for a clone. #
• :: Tenori-on - ever heard of this? Amazing...we want one of these! To see this in action, take a look at this video! #