Welcome to our new members!!

We recently had a jury and are so excited for our new members! Over the next couple of weeks we will be featuring work by our new members, so stay tuned!

2Roses

fluxplay
lsueszabo
purifiedart
LivelyHood
kathryncole
emetalworks
hartleystudio
KatrinasJewel
mariagotijoyas
twigsandheather
ArtigianoJewelBox
ReaganHayhurst
kmjewelrystudio
evemmetalsmith
joanamiranda
Inbarbareket
LisaFlanders
JujuBySarah
cindyhoo
sarantos
erga

Call for Submissions from Lark Books

Metalsmiths and jewelry designers, here's a chance to show what you can do with some time constraints. I don't know about you, but I have to work quickly to get things done in the studio. I have a family of three with my youngest still at home, so needless to say, I've been working with mastering the 30-minute challenge!

Marthe Le Van at Lark Books is challenging us to submit our most modern and expedient designs to this book. I'm thrilled that she used two of my pieces to promote this book.

Here's what she has to say:
"We challenge you to design a ring that can be made…start to finish…IN 30 MINUTES FLAT.
Artists exceeded expectations by submitting stunning work for 30-Minute Earrings and 30-Minute Necklaces, the first two books in this series. Now we ask you to join the fun!
Winning jewelers will be paid to create their designs.
Winning designs will be published in a new Lark jewelry book, 30-Minute Rings.

Proposals due March 19, 2010 (and not a second later!).

For details and entry forms, visit:
http://www.facebook.com/l/daa07;www.larkbooks.com/submissions/artist-submissions

GAME ON!"

Etsy Metal Finds

Spring may almost be here in some parts of the country, but I am sending warm wishes to all those weathering the storms in the southeast U.S.A., and around the world!

Clockwise from the Top Left:

Chicago Illinois Winter Blizzard Snow Storm by Renee Leone Studio

A Lovely Couple by Red Hot Pottery

Felted Merino Wool Blanket with White Rings by Maldimaglia

Mustard Yellow Chunker Hat by Ileaiye

ETSYMETAL Jewelry Challenge: Project Runway Season 7.4 "Design Your Heart Out!"

WELCOME to the reveal of last weeks' Episode 3
Metropolitan Museum of Art entries!
Below are our eleven EtsyMetal Team entries.

Last weeks' TV challenge was all about The Metropolitan Museum of Art, so we asked the designers to make a piece of jewelry using one piece from the MET museum as the inspiration, and this is what they came up with!

1-Mike Stromberg

Mike says, "Brass and spray paint & its reversible."

2-Mark Kaplan

Mark says, "925 sterling silver, 999 fine silver, 23.5 karat gold, old coin"

3-Nina Dinoff

Nina says, "Sort of took the easy way out on this one. I was going with something else, but in the interest of time I went with this."

4-Shannon Conrad

Shannon says, "All of the pieces are made with copper and etched enamel. The pendant features a "pinned" sterling bail."

5-Sara Westermark

Sara says, "I chose a two-stringed lute for my inspiration piece from the Met's exhibit on Musical instruments from the Pacific Islands collectively called Oceania."

6-Rachelle Stromberg

Rachelle says, "sterling silver and pearl, my inspiration was Georgia O'Keeffe - Black Abstraction."

7-Beth Cyr

Beth says, "This week's challenge was fantastic. When I was in college I made several bra/bustier pieces and am really inspired by full chest ornamentation. There isn't an easy market for it, so I haven't done much in the past few years. My inspiration piece from the Met [was] created by the Cadora Jewels Corp [and] there's no real information about it.... but it was the first piece I saw when I typed in jewelry and I kn ew that was it!

All fused argentium sterling silver. handmade chain and organic vine cups."

8-Norsola Johnson

Norsola says, "I was immediately struck by how this piece needed to be made fully 3-D... It's almost as though he left a blueprint for someone to do so... I'm pretty pleased with it.. it's a little rough and tumble, but I like it that way, and I think that perhaps Jasper Johns would have as well..."

9-Kira Ferrer

Kira says, "The original spearhead is made of iron and gold. I was impressed by the amazing detail that went into the Tibetan armor made in the 17th century. My earrings are made of sterling and I gave them a matte black finish to resemble iron."

10-Stacey Hansen

Stacey says, "I wanted to go with clothing since that is what the designers were given. i found this tunic by bonnie cashin. i loved the cool tones and it screamed sgrafitto to me, so that is what i did."

11-Victoria Takahashi
Victoria says, "This piece was inspired/interpreted by an odd little simple object with no name and no description. It was made of Coral and little pillow sachets I believe from what I could see from the photos. I made a sort of talisman charm necklace because I thought the objects were some form of protection because of the sachets.

It is made of Sterling Silver, Copper, Topaz and Coral.

12-Nina Gibson

"OK Designers" this week Episode 4 Challenge:

"Design Your Heart Out"

This is a perfect challenge as it coincides with

Valentines day! Make a piece that has something to do with incorporating hearts in some aspect!

Ring a Day (Jan 26 - Feb 4)

1. Alicia Istanbul, 2. Rachelle, 3. Mike, 4. Experimetal, 5. Laurie Brown, 6. Nina Dinoff, 7. Danielle Miller, 8. Catherine Chandler, 9. noform design, 10. Nina Gibson, 11. Quercus Silver, 12. MetalRiot

1. Rubygirl, 2. Kathryn Rierchert, 3. Beth Cyr, 4. wildflower designs, 5. Norsola Johnson, 6. lpjewelry

1. Sara Westermark 2. Cosmosmoon jewelry

2010 February Challenge - Garnets and Valentine's

Last month's challenge was garnets and valentine's. Each challenge is due the last day of the month. We had 6 amazing entries this month:

Shannon Conrad/Rubygirl

Sara Westermark

Kathryn Riechert

Kira Ferrer

Beth Cyr

Nina Gibson

The March challenge, due Feb. 28th is "Green and New Growth" - which can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. Can't wait to see the new pieces!!

2010 February Blog Carnival: What is your favorite ring a day?

This month's blog carnival: "What is your favourite ring a day?"
We could choose our own or someone else's. In addition how the challenge has inspired us or what we've have learned.



Check out this month's participants through out the day to see what their favorites have been!

Alisa Miller

Colleen Baran
Danielle Miller
stacey hansen
Chris Parry
kerin rose
Sara Westermark
Victoria Takahashi
Su Trindle
Nina Dinoff
Maureen "Cosmo's Moon" BZ
Thomasin Durgin
Caitlyn Davey/discomedusa
Catherine Chandler
Beth Cyr