Etsy Metal Finds

This week's Etsy Metal finds celebrates all of the blossoms that are surrounding us this spring! Magnolias and Cherry Blossom trees, as well as Rhododendrons and other plants I don't know the name of, are abloom and coloring the cityscape with happiness. I hope you are enjoying the onset of spring wherever you are!


Clockwise from Top Left:

Buddha Blossom Tea by Good 4 You

Dessert Plate with Cherry Blossoms by Whitney Smith

Turkish Bath Hamam Peshtemal by Otto Fabrics

Magnolia Blossom 2 by Photos From The Heart

New Members: Twigs and Heather and Juju by Sarah

Please welcome new member Twigs and Heather a team of twin sisters and casters, Heather and Kerry Alice. They opened Twigs and Heather in 2000 and have been creating unique one of a kind pieces of jewelry ever since. Located on the North Shore of Boston, they use organic objects found in the Atlantic Northeast and cast them into beautiful designs that will last a lifetime. The collection includes Rock n' Roll inspired jewelry that is wicked cool. Heather and Kerry Alice say "our work is earthy and urban and offers the best of both worlds". Like all of our new members, we are very excited to have them here! To see more of the twin's work, visit:

www.twigsandheather.etsy.com

Sarah Breivis (www.jujubysarah.com) is a San Francisco native, who has always had art in her bones.

For over a decade, woodworking and jewelry were her main hobbies. After graduating college with an Industrial Arts degree, she had a career in magazine publishing for fifteen years. In 2006, Sarah quit the publishing world and enrolled in Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts.

Having completed the Jewelers Technician and the Graduate Program, she now works out of her studio in the Mission district of San Francisco. Sarah's jewelry is mainly one of a kind pieces fabricated out of gold and silver. Precious and semiprecious stones are liberally used whenever possible.


Welcome Sarah! You can see more of her work at: www.jujubysarah.etsy.com

Ring-a-Day (February 26 - March 9)

Here is a just glimpse of what EtsyMetal members have been creating for the Ring-a-Day Challenge from February 26 through March 9.

1. Shannon (rubygirl) 2. Nina Dinoff 3. Tomi (Metal Riot)
4. Kathryn Cole 5. Inbar Bareket 6. Paul (noformdesign)
7. Catherine Chandler 8.whoops, missed one! 9. Su (Quercus)

1. Kathryn Riechert 2. Maureen (cosmosmoon) 3. Nina Gibson
4. Rachelle (mikeandmary) 5. Danielle Miller 6. Mike (mikeandmary)
7. Vic (experimetal) 8. Sara Westermark 9. Laurie Brown (aubergine228)

To see many more AMAZING rings from these EtsyMetal members and non-members, please visit and wade through the Ring-a-Day flickr pool!

Etsy Metal Finds

This week's finds celebrate our furry loved ones! Big or small, they all have a firm grip on our hearts!

Clockwise from Top Left:

Commissioned Pet Portraits by Peggitha

Vintage Upcycled Suitcase Pet Bed by Love Nostalgic Whimsy

Three Hole Hay Saver by Save A Bunny

Horse Bridle by 23 Horses

New Members Kathryn Cole, KM Jewelrystudio, L.Sue Szabo

New member Kathryn Cole says that " my simple and elegant designs are influenced by my love of flowers and nature. However, I find inspiration everywhere. In a stained glass window or a piece of fabric. The inspiration becomes a drawing, a watercolor, or a pen and ink and then it is transferred into a silver design".

Much of Kathryn's work features elaborate piercing....the use of a jeweler's saw to cut designs out of metal. Welcome Kathryn! You can see more of her work at: www.KathrynCole,etsy.com

New member Katie Miess Kohlhagen says that...."making jewelry is the perfect way for me to express my ever-growing passion for art, design and functionality. Both natural and architectural forms provoke my creativity. My designs can range from geometric and modern to very rustic and organic. I try not to limit my style. For me, design is essential, however, my real passion lies in technique. Finding ways to manipulate metal creates a stimulating challenge. I enjoy the unique process each piece of jewelry must undergo. Starting from the earliest ideas at the drawing board, to forming, and finishing. Experimenting with the nearly endless properties of my materials keeps me engaged and motivated to create exceptional designs". Well, not much more to say except we are excited to have you as a part of our lively group! Welcome!

You can see more of Katie's work at: www.kmjewelrystudio.etsy.com

New Etsy Metal member L.Sue Szabo is not only an accomplished metalsmith, she is also a practicing physician! Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including Lark Books' 500 series on Necklaces, and Jewelry Artist Magazine, she has also shown her work in various national and international level shows, including a show of rings presented by S.N.A.G. Sue tells me "my designs are mostly inspired by modernism, minimalism, and geometry. I want my designs to be bold and dramatic presentations of simple forms." So there you have it!...welcome Sue! You can see more of Sue's work at: www.lsueszabo.etsy.com

ETSYMETAL Jewelry Challenge: Project Runway Season 7.7 "Hardware Store"

WELCOME to the reveal of last weeks' Episode 6 
"Adult and Children's Look!"

Below are our 5 EtsyMetal Team entries, and one guest!
This challenge was to create a children's look as well as an adult companion piece. So the interpretation for this challenge is make 2 pieces, a set. You can mix it up however you want and make father son, father daughter, mother son, mother daughter OR even a human animal combo as some of us only have fur children!

1-Shannon Conrad

Shannon says, "The child's piece was designed (in part) by Ruby. She drew the daisy and I sawed it from silver sheet. [see first photo on blog] In the center is a tube-set (synthetic) aquamarine - my birthstone.  For the adult look, I designed a more sophisticated looking flower and also cut it from sterling sheet. I soldered heavy sterling chain to the flowers. The center features a tube-set (synthetic) ruby, of course!"

2-Katie Miess Kohlhagen

Katie says, "Ok, here are mine! One for me, and one for my little dog Milo!"

3-Kira Ferrer

Kira says, "I did Mother/Daughter pendants. I started with the pendant for the little girl. I wanted to use a faceted stone because I remember getting my first piece of "real" jewelry from my grandmother when I was little, and I loved the way the stone sparkled."

4-Inbar Bareket

5-Nina Gibson

 

Guest Submission--Maria Apostolou

Maria says, "For this challenge, I decided to make two necklaces, one for the mother and one for the daughter. The mother's necklace is a reversible, riveted flower pendant, with silk between the two layers. For the child's necklace, I chose colors from the same color palette. A little bee is flying towards the flower (that was pierced from the mother's necklace)"

Next Week's Assignment is a fun one!  HARDWARE!  Oh, yes--make a piece using only objects found at a hardware store.   This is one that I think we can all get excited about.

Rings for Haiti

As of today, Thomasin Durgin's Rings for Haiti fundraiser has exceeded her goal and raised $1,638! There were quite a few Etsy Metal members who donated rings, and another one that went up today. Check out this gorgeous ring featuring dichroic glass by Sophie Wiggins.