Cuff Me

So, I've finally been moving forward on my designs for my Archangel Cuff Bracelets... and I've realized, making cuff bracelets is freakin' hard!  A cuff bracelet is defined as "a rigid bracelet with a gap in the material, usually on its reverse side. The opening lets us easily slip the bracelet over a wrist." (Definition from About.com)

I think I may have actually shot myself in a foot a little bit by deciding to make cuffs as opposed to any other type of bracelet.  Generally speaking, bracelets are lengths of chain or any other material... they stay on the arm by being large enough to fit the wrist but small enough to NOT slip over the hand.  "Fit" is a relative term.

But with cuffs are different, fit is of the utmost importance... if a cuff bracelet doesn't fit the arm just. right. that thing is gonna fall off, without a doubt.

Lots of push, pull, and experimentation in these bracelets for me.  I'm glad it's something I conquered... but will I be making another suite of cuff bracelets any time soon?  Most likely, no :)

At The Speed of Thought

I can't seem to turn around these days without someone giving me the most brilliant ideas that I've ever heard... design ideas, marketing ideas, business ideas.  People just keep handing me these gifts, these incredible, creative, stunning gifts.

And all I have in return is a "thank you."  That's difficult for me... not the act of saying "thank you" (they're actually two of my favorite words when put together), but having nothing else to offer except the "thank you."

As an artist and designer, ideas are precious to me; they are an intimate and powerful currency...

They are a meeting of the minds, a sharing of knowledge and experience.  And, in my mind, the most startling and wonderful aspect of ideas is that they can so completely change my perspective... when I'm faced with a problem, the right idea can change everything, give me the power to walk forward over, under, around, through any obstacle.

And now, I have all these ideas... that were just given to me.  And all I can do is bow, thank, and honor the minds that shared these thoughts with me by walking over, under, around, and through. 

The Spiral Staircase

I self-identify as a fabricator, as opposed to a wax-carver/caster... so, I am always surprised when a design occurs to me that requires wax carving.  And then I'm always freakin' flabbergasted when I actually carve that design with any amount of competency.

However, this ring did occur to me... it is actually the first design that came to me when my friend suggested I begin designing jewelry based on the body's chakra system.  Seven steps, one for each chakra.

Ring blank, this is where the fun begins.

Tracing paper is a girl's best friend.  I cut a piece from the ring tube, transferred my design, and then carved the wax using files and rotary tools on my Foredom.

Top is the finished carving, middle is how the ring looks straight from the casting company, and bottom is the finished ring.

The Spiral Staircase: sterling silver

The Root Chakra

So, recently, a friend gave me the superb idea of making jewelry associated/based on the body's chakra system.  People have been giving me the best ideas lately!  It's better than Christmas!

Anyway, I'm starting at the beginning... Chakra 1.  And this is what I've come up with so far.  But I love this idea because this is just the beginning.  The possibilities are endless!

I don't claim to be an expert, but here's a short lesson about Chakra 1.  Also known as the Root Chakra, this is the energy center located at the base of the spine and physically it governs the spinal column, legs, bones, feet, and immune system.  Dealing with safety and survival issues as well as family and tribal sensibilities, the Sacred Truth inherent in Chakra 1 is that All is One.

Root Chakra Bracelet: sterling silver, epoxy resin, transparency film, a touch of fine silver, a touch of copper.

From Within: fauxbone

I Have Everything I Need: sterling silver, stained glass, white topaz

because I like matching earrings: sterling silver, stained glass, tears of job

Remember Bangle: fauxbone, epoxy resin.  "Remember, it's okay to dig your way out."

Darkness and Solitude

This past weekend, I had the great pleasure of taking a weekend workshop at Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton, NJ.... Just a quick geography lesson: Layton is above Allentown, about 10 miles over the Pennsylvania/New Jersey border.

And it's in the middle of nowhere.  There's nothing except the craft village for about 5 miles in any direction.  No internet access.  No TV.  Spotty cell service.

When I got there, I nearly panicked.  Three days alone with my thoughts?

And then it got dark.

At home, I'm used to the ambient light of street lamps and city glare and lights left burning in my neighbors' windows.  In Peters Valley, there is none of that.  No street lamps and no street lights on the roads.  Just woods, and re-purposed barns and farm houses, and then some more woods.  When it gets dark... it's dark. (One night, heavy rains knocked out the power for a couple of hours... hence the candles).

And this of course, got me to thinking... have I ever experienced natural darkness?  Maybe?  I'm not sure.

A stranger in a strange land without even my technology to keep me company... have I ever experienced this kind of solitude?  And actually, the answer to that one is "Yes, yes I have." It is an experience that I recommend... it's both disorienting and reaffirming, a very interesting lens with which to view the internal landscape.

But the truth is that even though I did have a lot of alone time... I was surrounded by fellow students experiencing the same feelings and thoughts that I was.

And suddenly these strangers were the most important people in my life because they offered me what I lacked: companionship and conversation, a link to the outside world, news and experiences beyond my own.  But we were all there together, in the darkness and solitude, sharing a space and experience together... and I just was as important to them... and suddenly, there was a lot to talk about.

Peter's Valley: a photo journal

Here's a look at what I was up to during my time at at Peters Valley Craft Center in Layton, NJ.

The workshop I took was entitled "Amulets and Talismans: making meaningful objects," taught by the incorrigible and insightful Robert Dancik.  I learned an entirely new "language" of cold-connecting (no solder allowed!), and got down to the serious work of playing.  I learned to work with fauxbone, concrete, papermache... learned some new riveting techniques... learned about powdered pigments and alcohol inks... learned some new and very interesting things to do with epoxy resin.

But beyond the techniques, I learned the importance of play... that being different is not only ecstatically fun and but incredibly important.  I am they only person who can make the things that I make.  I'm not saying that to be grandiose or puff myself up... plenty of people have the exact same metalsmithing skills that I have (there are even plenty of people with skills that surpass mine), but none of those metalsmiths have my exact experiences as a human being.   That is a very important bit of learning.

Which Thunder Mountain came first: Peters Valley or Disney?

The Prius had to do some semi-off-roading to get to the metals' studio.  Good job, Little Prius.

Robert brought SO MANY samples!  Every object I picked up was more incredible than the last.  For like three solid hours, the thought track in my head was "Oh my God, that's amazing!""Oh my God, that's amazing!""Oh my God, that's amazing!"

This was one of my favorite of Robert's samples, a "book."

One of my other favs: a magnifying glass set in concrete.

Sunset on Thunder Mountain Rd.

The view from the art studios.

Seriously, awesome mailbox.

One of the pieces that I made during the workshop: fauxbone, concrete, sterling silver, finished enamels that I had brought with me.

Mad Science in the Art Bunker

Recently, a friend gave me the brilliant idea of incorporating homemade pigments into my enamel work... and of course, I had to give it a try!

So far, the results are incredibly mixed.  In this era of artificial dyes (that do not stand up to the intense heat needed for fusing), the pigments that I'm using come out of the kiln faded and burnt looking.  Although, despite that slight "disappointment" the effects I'm getting are very earthy and interesting.

Pictured are the samples that I've created so far... I look forward to playing around with this idea.  The possibilities are just endless.

Stranger Danger?

A dilemma: Strangers.

In the past two weeks, I've heard some these comments from some of my jewelry/artist friends: "People I didn't even know gave money to my Kickstarter campaign!  I was so grateful!." "I made this piece, it was in the showcase for four months, and then someone bought it!  I loved it and someone bought it who loved it just as much!"

And I'm exactly the same way; the first time that a stranger subscribed to my monthly newsletter, I was nearly falling over myself with joy and excitement.  "Strangers! Find worth in what I do?! Amazing!"

It's true.  As an independent business person, if I ever hope to be successful, I need the support of strangers and people I've never met, and yet somehow I am always dumbfounded by the idea that strangers could possibly find worth in my work.

It all comes down one crazy, little word: value.  And it all depends on whose definition we are considering: Walmart's (or Kay's or Zales' or Blue Nile's or Ice's for that matter) or the art community's.

Walmart: "Save Money.  Live Better."  Their idea of "value" is based on giving you as much for your dollar as possible.  The quality of the product is irrelevant as long as it can be sold cheaply and sold to as many people as possible.

In the art community (at least the art community I'm familiar with), the word "value" is based on enrichment.  Does this object enrich my life?  Is it well-made?  Is this object timeless and capable of being passed down to future generations?  What impact does it have on the environment?  The word "value" is based on legacy rather than a monetary exchange.

Although, don't think for a second that I'm a fool.  Enrichment is more difficult to quantify, monetarily speaking, but I charge accordingly for my blood, sweat, tears, intellectual prowess, and creativity.

Let me put it to you this way; yes, you can buy a $25.00 diamond and silver pendant from Walmart, but what are you really buying: cloudy gemstones and a piece of metalwork with no pride (and barely any thought) in the manufacture.

When you buy jewelry from me (or one of my fellow independent craftspeople), you are not just buying an object, but you are purchasing my knowledge and expertise, you are purchasing my thoughts and worldview.  I understand the limitations and the possibilities in my materials.  I take pride in the quality and possible longevity of what I am selling you.

"Save Money. Live Better." (?)  I'm just sayin'.  Those places will always (always) underbid me on price, but they will never (ever) beat me when it comes to value.