New Jewelry for the New Year!

So, I made these about a month ago but they were snatched up so quickly at open studio that I never got a chance to post them.  You may be wondering why I titled this post "New jewelry" then.  Well,  I thought I'd start the new year off writing about my plans for some new jewelry pieces that were inspired by these beauties!  And it would give me a chance to share photos of them, even thought they sold because I'm excited about how they came out.

A while back, I ordered a bunch of vintage glass stones and the vendor was kind enough to throw in some extra stones.  Of course I was inspired the most by the unexpected ones, like these textured blue glass stones.  My husband and I had a sketch night and if you look closely you'll see the sketch for these earrings along with a bunch of other ideas that I have yet to make in reality.

So, for 2016, I'll be incorporating more stones in my work, using some of the natural cabochon and vintage glass stones I've had kickin around for a while so get ready for some new one of a kind pieces to hit my shop soon!  I'm also going to be working with more cast pieces and copper, of course.  I got a fold forming book for christmas and a big sheet of copper that's just been waiting for me to make something out of it.  Before I end, one more photo of these earrings!  I'm really happy with how they came out.  It's been a while since I've done any stone setting but it's just like riding a bike!  As always, I used green earth, recycled, sterling silver for the majority of the design.

Anniversary Commission

 I love seeing the process of other artists and jewelers and I don't post much about my process because I tend to get so engrossed with what I'm doing that I don't stop to take pictures.  I did this time because it was a commission for a friend so I thought I'd share!  This was a special anniversary gift and he requested a set of either a necklace and earrings or a necklace and ring.  I was given some basic parameters, nantucket, the beach, baskets, a daisy and blue and green colors (along with a few others) to work with.  When I think color I go straight for stones and since the beach was on the list and I had these lovely paua shell stones in blue and green I went straight for those.  I did A LOT of sketching.  I only included a couple of the ones that led to the final design here because this post would be ridiculously long if I included every sketch.  I like making notes about my designs in my sketchbook as you can see.  So I experimented a bit with the idea of basket weave, waves, daisy petal shapes and I got a little crazy with wire designs. (photos not included)

At this point I was given some feedback to go with the daisy design, try to include the entire flower and get away from the blues and greens so, round 2 of sketches looked like this......

He decided to go with the necklace design in the bottom photo, bottom right as well as the single petal ring AND dangle earrings because he liked the designs of all of them and couldn't decide.  So, I got off to work......

 creating granulated daisy centers for the earrings and necklace. 

A stamped back with the words "HE LOVES ME!" and their anniversary date.  Ultimately this had a heart shape cut out in it as well.  The hole was functional but I always like to try to incorporate it into the design if I can.

I always try rings on while I'm working on them, even if they don't fit me well, just to check how they wear and look on.  I really like the concept behind this design, the single daisy petals acting as the symbol for the "he loves me, he loves me not" game.  Perfect for an anniversary.

And the final products...... A single petal ring with a few silver beads to tie it into the granulated detail of the earrings and necklace.

New items listed on Etsy!

I added a few new items to my Etsy shop yesterday!  Check out the listings in the Etsy Mini to the right.  

The copper gyroscope pendant is made from reclaimed copper pipe with sterling silver wire and chain and a Swarovski crystal bead at the center (or not) There are a few options for this listing and they're made individually to order so you can customize your pendant just the way you want it.  They're super fun to wear, it's like having a little toy dangling around your neck.  Just so there's no confusion, these will not spin and balance the way a real gyroscope does.  Sorry, I wish I could make that work.  I posted a video of me spinning one on my facebook page and instagram about a week ago.  They make a cute little tinking noise as the pieces spin.

  

These little bits are a new addition to my seed pod series.  More post earrings!  The sprouted seed pod posts are still up in my shop, this simpler version comes in the same 1/2" size as the sprouted posts AND a Mini 3mm size.  If you like studs that fit ON your earlobe, go for the minis!  The ones pictured are polished but they come in different finishes.  That's all for now but as usual, I'm working on a few more additions, some made to order items and I've been dying to work on a couple more sculptural jewelry pieces so expect those to come soon too! 

Cyber Monday Sale!

I'm having a sale in my etsy shop, 15% off everything in the shop until Tuesday. Make sure you enter CyberMonday at checkout for the discount!

Photo Friday!!!!

So yesterday was Photo Friday and I shot a bunch of my new jewelry pieces and uploaded them to etsy.  Check my etsy shop for all the new listings.  Here are a few of them....

I've been playing around with this recycled copper tubing, cutting into sections and creating jewelry components from them.  I love the geometry! So different from my organic pieces I know, but I love the warmth of copper and this tubing is speaking to me right now.  I'm combining it with sterling silver, hanging the cut tubing pieces on beaded wire so there's movement to them.  (Here's where the organic part comes in...)  These necklaces change as they move, the pieces spin and it looks completely different.  I'm also playing with asymmetry as you can see above, sometimes symmetry is too expected and I think it really makes this necklace into a statement piece.

And then of course, my usual organic pieces, the fiddlehead and seed pod forms I've been playing with for a while in mini pendant versions and post earrings......

I have plenty more copper tubing so expect to see more of that in the next jewelry pieces......

I already have a pretty good pile going that are just screaming "Make jewelry out of me!"

Seed Pod Madness......with Mannequins?!

I started a new jewelry series of pieces based on seed pods.  The form is a simple round cup form, I'm using my new dapping block to dome the circles.  I've been using hand made silver beads for a few years now, melting them down from the scrap silver pieces left from making other things so nothing goes to waste.  In this first set of dangle earrings I gathered the silver beads in the center of the cup but I never work on just one piece at a time, so..... I have several more pieces going that all have that same cup form with silver beads and/or beaded wire to add a little more depth.  I'm working on making charms for bracelets with this design, post earrings, complete bracelets and rings that are a little more dramatic.  The sculptor in me can't help but to make something that is just on the edge of still being wearable but I know there's someone out there that will be able to pull it off.  If you like the dangle earrings, they're for sale on my Etsy shop and there will be more coming VERY soon so stay tuned!!
Fun Fact..... I have a new jewelry model!!!  I've been struggling with getting a live model to pose for me recently and she's just been lying around the studio for years now just waiting for a purpose until my brilliant husband made the suggestion I use her as a model.  She even has her ears pierced!!!!  Who knew!?  Expect to see lots more of her because she's life sized, does whatever I want and she's available 24/7.

New Etsy Listings

For the past couple weeks I've been working hard on a deadline for restoring an antique stained glass window.  Not something I do often or for just anyone because it's delicate and tedious work but I made an exception this time.  Now that it's finished and been delivered I am back to working on my jewelry pieces!!  I promise to post some before and afters of the restoration project soon.

So, about those new listings...... You may recognize the earrings below, I posted photos of them on my work bench in progress a couple weeks back.  Here they are, all finished and photographed for Etsy!!  Check out my Etsy shop for more photos and a description.

I also added a listing for the Chemists Secret Weapon Belt Buckle I made for the Steampunk show a few years ago. 

I even updated a few old listings with some new photos, descriptions and altered my pricing a bit.  Click on the Etsy shop link to check out the new listings described above and the updated listings.

New earrings.

I've been working on a pair of silver and hammered copper earrings.  The design again inspired by the fiddlehead that appears so much in my work.  Here they are on the work bench in my studio.  They need some finishing touches but look for them soon on my etsy shop!

Sprout

It's been a while since I've posted any of my art work so I thought I'd start back up with this little guy.  I altered a blank Munny for a local Munny Madness exhibit a few months ago.  Since this is my most recent piece I thought I'd share him......
His name is Sprout.
He's a mini munny about 5" tall, 3" wide and 5" front to back including the wires.  I hammered a piece of copper for his belly and nose.  Sculpted additions are done with Super Sculpey and Apoxie and then I painted it with Acrylics and added the copper wire and flocking material.  If you love him, he's for sale on my etsy site, Onoclea Studios!  

My new Etsy Shop is up and running!!

I've been talking about it for a while and I finally have some items for sale up on my new etsy shop, Onoclea Studios!  Please check it out and let me know what you think!

Wandering Uterus Pieces

So, finally, here are the photos from the Wandering Uterus in Jan/Feb of this year. The show was an amazing success. We had some great feedback, an awesome turn out for our opening and the Middletown Press came by to interview me, do a photo shoot and they printed a story in the weekend edition. We even made the cover! woo woo, props to us.
The photo above is of one of my pieces titled Onoclea Opening #1. It's fused, slumped and blown glass with resin in a bed of sand. There's another angle to the right, you can see the form better. Again, there I go working with those ferns. In the background of the photo to the left you can see my painting From Within on the left and H.L. Groen's paintings on the right. I love her use of color!!!
With this entire series, I continued my exploration of the connection between the sensitive fern (onoclea sensibilus) and the human form. These are, in a way, self-portraits. I see the strength and simultaneous fragility of the sensitive fern as being similar to my own, a metaphor for humanity as well as my experiences. I chose the materials and forms of these pieces to echo those characteristics. Each piece is a representation of the sensitive fern with its fragility and ever present potential for rebirth while also being representations of myself.
I know I normally don't get serious on my blog but I figured I'd throw in a bit of an artist statement since I'm showing so much of my work this month.
Above is a closer look at From Within, the only painting I did for the show. It's Acrylic on Canvas and the photo doesn't really do the color justice but what can you do.
To the right is Onoclea Opening #2. This one is ceramic, glaze, resin and blown glass. And it's the only piece in the show that was licked. Thanks Jen! Apparently she thought it looked yummy. In the background are illustrations by Katie and Shelley Osowiecki. I love their work! Here are some closer shots....
The squid piece is Katie's and the Ipod piece is Shelley's. Yeah, their styles are similar but they're twins so what did you expect?!
The piece below and to the right is the biggest piece I did for the show, Onoclea Dying. The top part is ceramic and glaze. It's filled with water and glass. The base is made of steel rod that's been welded and I used a plasma cutter to get some texture and it's also sitting on a bed of sand. This is the piece I posted photos of last year as I was working on it. Check out the Wandering Uterus in Progress post.
The other pieces were a set of glass masks I made from a casting of my face. They are also fused and slumped glass.
For Overgrown (to the left) I also incorporated copper wire and Acrylic Coated Polymer Clay. Sensibilus Immortal has a bold orange piece where the fern was placed that I was told made it look like a samurai. I don't see it but to each their own interpretation. And last but not least Blinded has a slightly different format. It's difficlut to see in the images but all of the masks have conte drawings embedded in the glass along with the skeletons of ferns that I picked from my yard last year. I explained that process in my last post about the jewelry. I hope you like them and if you actually read all of that you deserve a prize! I have more photos of the other artists work from the show that I'll post later. *carrie

Uterus Opening!

So, the Wandering Uterus was a smashing success! We had a great turnout for the opening. The work was amazing! I realize it's been a while since the show but a lot has happened since then! I moved! (probably the biggest thing) Fabulous new studio! That required a little work to get going but it's up and running. I hope to share some photos of that soon. And I promise my next post will include photos from the Uterus show. But, for now, check out the glass jewelry pieces I made special for it.
They're fused glass pendants with sensitive ferns and their seed pods fused between the layers. When the organic material burns off it leaves a skeleton image behind on the glass. Those of you that know my work....yes, this series continues my obsession with the fern and the seed pods. Encasing their skeletons in glass feels like a preservation process to me, I made one for myself and I always feel like I'm wearing a sort of amulet when I have it on. I'm sold out at the moment but I will probably be making more. Let me know if you're interested. They're all one of a kind, and the image depends on the reaction of the fern in the kiln so there's a little bit of chance involved which makes them exciting.

Wandering Uterus in Progress!!

I know it's been a while since I've posted. But I've been VERY busy making artwork for my show coming up in January, the Wandering Uterus!!! So, I figured it was about time to let you have a look at what I've been up to....
So, I've been doing some glass work, which requires molds for shaping the glass. I'm making a few masks related to the fern series I've been doing.
I had a co-worker cover my face in plaster gauze so I could make these plaster casts. Don't they look like me!!! Later they'll be covered in glass and you won't even recognize them.
I also made a mold of my hands. I pushed them into a block of clay one at a time, formed the clay around them and poured plaster in after I pulled them out. Creepy huh? I'm skeptical about this experiment but if it works, this will be part of another glass and mixed media sculpture.
I've also been working on a large scale sculpture. Again, mixed media. I've bribed a couple of my students into helping me. Here I am directing them where to heat as I bend the form in the welding shop at my school. The steel rods have been welded together at the center and bent by heating with an oxy-acetylene torch.
I just started creating the texture today. The photo at the bottom left is of the first section I did as an experiment. It's being done with a plasma cutter on a low setting. I'm making an organic seed pod form out of clay and glass that will sit on top of the steel form. I'll post more pictures as it develops. There's lots more but I think that's enough for now. :)