Project Runway: Season 9; Episode 9 - "Image Is Everything"

This week's challenge: Episode 9

"Image Is Everything"

Project Runway Challenge:

In this episode, the challenge was to design a look for a member of an up and coming band, The Sheepdogs. It was a menswear challenge and an image/style challenge.

Our EtsyMetal Challenge Translation:

Make a piece with music in mind. You may use The Sheepdogs for your inspiration or chose another band and make it masculine. We can make menswear too!

Here are the submissions:

lsueszabo

I made these 3 necklaces with suede and sterling silver or brass. The tube rivets/grommets are handmade of the same materials. They are really for women but I included the elements of suede that was one of the materials the Sheepdogs especially liked.

aroluna

Agate and sterling silver earrings, listening to the Rolling Stones!
(4 1/2" long)

silentgoddess

I love it when a man wears a chunky talisman style pendant and that is where my inspiration led me this week:

twigsandheather

Anything that has to do with Rock and roll, I need to be part of!

markasky

When I think of rock and roll, I go right to Led Zeppelin. This is a copper cuff designed with Jimmy Page in mind. For their 4th album they each chose a symbol for themselves. Jimmy Page created his own 'ZOSO,' it's meaning remains a mystery! Someone yelled out at a concert 'what's it mean? Jimmy replied "Frying Tonight" My guess is he may have been high when he designed it. "And if you say to me tomorrow, oh what fun it all would be. Then what's to stop us, pretty baby. But what is and what should never be."

NinaGibsonDesigns

Brown is one of my favorite colors and, because I don't like what the designers did for this challenge, I felt like brown was getting a bad rap. I found this great stone among a bag of tumbled stones labeled "agates and jaspers" in my stash and thought that brown could come back from this one. I made it a little rock and roll by adding the skull cut out in the back of the bezel setting and stamped skull & cross bones on the inside of the substantial edge-hammered band. The serrated bezel echoes the lightning-like streaks in the stone.

inbarbareket

JujuBySarah

Dog Tag" style pendant for guys. Made from Bornite, fine silver and a leather cord.

panicmama

I created a simple but detailed necklace for lead guitarist, Ewan Currie. Sterling silver, leather and Thai beads.

experimetal

So for this weeks challenge I interpreted this challenge so I could make something for a heavy metal or speed metal band, the old metal still hold a very special place in my heart. So I made a mans leather cuff, that has a small handsewn and molded pocket that is for a guitar pick.

Guest Submission!

MuSaLuNeRa

Next Week's Challenge:

"Sew 70's"

Season 9; Episode 10

watch the episode

Due Date: Thursday, October 6, midnight.

Project Runway Challenge:

For this episode, the designers must look to the past and create a modern look inspired by 70's fashion.

Our EtsyMetal Challenge Translation:

Dig your feet into that green shag carpet and make a piece inspired by 1970's trends, style, and fashion.

Make it work!

**guidelines for guest submissions**

Please read this every week as there may be small updates and changes. The pieces you submit must be pieces that are made specifically for that weeks challenge. Then post a link to your challenge creation in this weeks comment area before the deadline.

*We only are accepting guest submissions from our blog comment area at this time, insert your links there. Then please cross-post this to your Blog, Flickr, Etsy, etc. And tag them with "EMPR 9.10". We will post your name with a link and a picture of your piece on our blog. The deadline for guest submissions will be Thursday at 12 am (midnight), Pacific Standard Time. The new blog posts and the new challenge will go up the Friday after the new episode airs.

Charm Swap 8 - week 26

As CS8 comes close to an end we have many updates from our members on what their finished charms look like. If all goes well all the charms should be sent in this week and as soon as they are received they will be repackaged and sent out to all the participants so each of us will have a total of 20 new charms, one from each participant. Can't wait to get mine back in the mail! This week Erin from ErinAustin finished her charms and they look great!

 Jen from JenLawlerDesigns made these great little charms that have been sent on their way to Victoria of Experimetal. Victoria is collecting all the charms and repackaging them to be shipped back out to each participating member.

Katheryn of KathernRiechert finished her charms as well and dropped them in the mail a few days ago. They are on the way!

Laura from SimplyAdorning has packaged up her charms and shipped them out this week too!

 Meg from SimplyMega also finished her charms and have sent them on their way as well!

Nina from NinaGibsonDesigns has a bunch of charms ready to ship even though she was only pulled of the waiting list last week due to a last minute drop out!

Norsola from NorsolaJohnson finished her charms today too!

And yes, last but not least, I, Michele from MicheleGradyDesigns have finished mine as well! YAY! They were shipped out this week also. Can't wait to see them all together on the bracelet that will eventually make it's way to team shop!

MEMBERS' NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

Well, another month has passed and we're heading into fall. The summer craft show schedule has calmed down and everyone is gearing up for the holidays. Here's what some of our members are up to next month-

Michele Grady is in a new ebook called "10 Bezel Setting Projects, The Best of Lapidary Journal Jewelry Artist"

LSue Szabo has 3 pieces in the national competition called Lines Into Shape at the Art Center of Estes Park, CO. The show runs Oct 28- Nov. 13 2011. The items in the show will be available for viewing and sale on the website after Oct. 28th.

A new coffee table style book on art jewelry hits the bookstores this month and the Etsy Metal team is proud to say we are well represented in it. The book is called Art Jewelry Today 3 by Jeffrey B. Snyder and is available on Amazon. I have an advanced copy and it is a really beautiful and inspiring book. Some of our members in it are-
Danielle Miller-Gilliam
2 Roses
Sarah Hood
L Sue Szabo

Stay tuned for next month, the members of the Etsy Metal team continue to make the news.

"What's New" - this week in our shops

1. simplymega 
2. Rebecca Bogan
3. Art By Winona
4. LSueSzabo 
5. Nodeform Weddings 
6. 2Roses
7. Juju By Sarah
8. victoria takahashi
9. Panicmama Jewelry
10. iacua
11. Cosmo's Moon
12. EveMMetalsmith
13. e5jewelry
14. discomedusa
15. aroluna

We'll meet again here next Saturday with many new jewelry from our talented members :-)

Project Runway: Season 9; Episode 8 - "What Women Want"

This week's challenge: Episode 8

"What Women Want"

Project Runway Challenge:

In this episode, the challenge was to design a look for a client's wife/girlfriend.

Our EtsyMetal Challenge Translation:

Choose a look from the episode and make a piece based on what you feel the client would like to go with the garment the designer made.

-or-

Ask a man to describe what his wife/girlfriend would like - please provide the design specification you were given and photos of the outcome.

Here are the submissions:

Betsy Benson

I made these earrings to go with Anya's dress. They are golden coin pearls with Brazilian agate drops. The agate drops can come off and the earrings can be worn a-symmetrically (like the dress!) or just as studs. Metal is sterling with 14kt gold.

AdobeSol

I made this blue larimar ring to go with the little black dress which was the episode winner. The client wore blue pumps to set off the black. I think this ring would go well with the client's style and tie in well to the blue shoes.

silentgoddess

Time really got away from me this week so I created some simple earrings right quick late this afternoon.
I loved Viktor's design and these vintage lucite beads fit the bill. The color matches the blouse (more in person than the camera lens captured)!

InbarBareket

My pendant made of Rutilated Quartz Long Tongue Cabochon made by Mark from StoneTemple, yellow gold, fine silver and sterling silver.

markasky

I had to go with Bryce's ill-fitting pink dress. The saggy wrinkles match his bad fit!
Rolled, corrugated copper with enamel.

experimetal

What I chose to make this week was not planned, I had no idea what to do for this one at all, so I flipped through the looks and dead stopped at Anya's look, as there was a leather technique I wanted to try out and it fit perfectly, and for the fact that I did like her dress out of all the pieces this week, well, ok I also really did like the pink one with the big pockets alot. I couldn't understand why that one was at the bottom and lost...hmmm, maybe I should've made a pink cuff instead? Oh well its done now!

panicmama

I created a pair of earrings that I feel go with a couple of the outfits, but was intended to go with Anya's dress. I embraced the Asian feel and kept with my own design style. These stones have been with me a very long time and it was time to let them out of their hiding place...

Guest Submissions!

MuSaLuNeRa

Maria Apostolou

Next Week's Challenge:

"Image Is Everything"

Season 9; Episode 9

watch the episode

Due Date: Thursday, September 29, midnight.

Project Runway Challenge:

In this episode, the challenge was to design a look for a member of an up and coming band, The Sheepdogs. It was a menswear challenge and an image/style challenge.

Our EtsyMetal Challenge Translation:

Rock And Roll!!

Make a piece with music in mind. You may use The Sheepdogs for your inspiration or chose another band and make it masculine. We can make menswear too!

Make it work!

**guidelines for guest submissions**

Please read this every week as there may be small updates and changes. The pieces you submit must be pieces that are made specifically for that weeks challenge. Then post a link to your challenge creation in this weeks comment area before the deadline.

*We only are accepting guest submissions from our blog comment area at this time, insert your links there. Then please cross-post this to your Blog, Flickr, Etsy, etc. And tag them with "EMPR 9.9". We will post your name with a link and a picture of your piece on our blog. The deadline for guest submissions will be Thursday at 12 am (midnight), Pacific Standard Time. The new blog posts and the new challenge will go up the Friday after the new episode airs.

Charm Swap 8 - week 25

Only about week to go until all the charms are due in....So this week I have a bunch of updates.

The first is from Karla of KarlaWheelerDesign has finished her charms and they are in the mail and on their way! Karla says "They came out a bit more pink then red, but I suppose a little pink never hurt anyone!" I agree Karla, and I think they look great!

And I actually have update for myself this time around! I, Michele from MicheleGradyDesigns, finally came up with an idea for my charms. Nothing like the last minute! My charms are inspired by my mixed metal cuffs. I have 6 done so far and hopefully today and tomorrow I will be able to pop out the rest!

Reagan of ReaganHayhurst finished her charms as well and they are ready to ship! Her little hearts look great!

Ruby from Iacua finished her charms as well. Ruby says "I molded coralline algae, a most beautiful and delicate algae that grows along the California coast.I manipulated the waxes into three pieces, the main bell, the clapper and the tag. The beautiful, bone like structure of the algae is stunning. Every segment is slightly different. I signed the tag with ‘iacua 2011’on the back.The bell measures just over 1” long. Made of solid brass." They look great, Ruby!

Tosca from Nanopod sent this work in progress photo and says "These are some water droplets containing life." I can't wait to see the finished product!

 

Victoria Takahashi from Experimetal is the one in charge of collecting  and reshipping all the charms this time around and Victoria has already received 4 packages which are ready and waiting to be opened and divided. I can't wait to see all the charms together!

Until next time!~ Michele

Featured Member: 2Roses

2Roses
Anaheim, California

Tell us a bit about yourself.

2Roses is a life-long artistic collaboration between Corliss Rose and John Lemieux Rose. We have been working together for 42 years. In that time we have traversed a wide range of artistic disciplines and media.

Describe your work in one sentence.

Our work is highly eclectic by design, which reflects our many interests in life.

What pieces are you most proud of?

We don’t think of our work in that way. Each piece is an expression, an idea, which takes on a life of its own. Some are humorous, others serious, or political, or deeply personal. Even so, the pieces are imbued with different meanings by the people who own them. We recognize that we are not in control of how our pieces evolve once they arrive in the bigger world. We also recognize that ideas have consequences, and that is the power of art.

What are you favorite materials to work with?

We are known for working with a highly varied palette of media and are always looking to for new materials. We have incorporated everything from body parts to missile components in our work. 

What direction do you see your work going in next?

We continue to explore and experiment within the framework of functional ornament. The real medium that we work with is the intangible space between the wearer and observer of our work.

Who or what is your biggest artistic influence?

Influences on an artist accumulate through time. There is never a single source of inspiration or influence, only that of the moment. Over time everything becomes mixed, blended and restated in your own unique voice.

If you could have your work critiqued by another artist who would it be and why?

Our work gets critiqued by lots of other artists every day. And museum people, gallerists, publishers and the general public. The only real critique that matters is the one being made by the person considering purchase of the work.

What is the best advice you've ever been given?

Art is a business and business is an art.

If you could add one tool to your collection what would it be?

As profligate tool junkies we have indulged ourselves to excess in this area. We are probably working our way up to a laser welder. 

What do you listen to in the studio?

Very eclectic mix of latin, jazz, pop, reggae, afrobeat, blues, brazilian electronica.

What is your most prized possession?

Each other.

Do you collect anything? If so, do you display your collections?

We collect everything. We are a big one-way sieve passing through the universe.

People have likened our home as a cross between the Victoria & Albert museum and the Adams Family house.

How do you spend most of your free time?

Our time is devoted 100% to working on our art and business. This entails spending a lot of time in the studio, but also incorporates travel and a wide variety of social events as well. 

What do you wish you were doing with your free time?

We’re doing exactly what we want.

If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

We would bring back the original recipe Kentucky Fried Chicken from 1950. This always impressed us as a major loss to humanity.

Where can we see your work? (shops, blogs, upcoming events, installations, etc)

Type  “2Roses Jewelry” into your browser. We’re all over the place.