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

1. Juju By Sarah
2. Iacua
3. AdobeSol
4. Art By Winona
5. Nodeform Weddings
6. LSueSzabo
7. Lichen and Lychee
8. Shirlee Grund
9. Esther Eve aka EveMMetalsmith
10. 2Roses
11. Panicmama Jewelry
12. Nina Gibson Designs
13. Erga
14. Quercus Silver
15. Twigs and Heather 
16. Michele Grady Designs
17. KathrynRiechert
18. e5jewelry
19. maria goti
20. victoria takahashi ake exprimetal
21. Inbar Bareket

We will meet again next Saturday !

Project Runway: Season 9; Episode 7 - "Can't We All Just Get Along

This Week's Challenge:

Episode 7 "Can't We All Just Get Along?"

Air: 9.15.11 My Lifetime, Thursdays, 9pm PST.

Project Runway Challenge:

The designers are split into teams and have to design fabrics, create a collection and produce a fashion show.

EtsyMetal Challenge Translation:

Since this challenge was about pattern and textile, our challenge is to incorporate those into a piece. Do it however you like, etching, roller printing, drawing, or just fabricate a piece that forms a pattern or texture.

lsueszabo

I used some motifs from both teams. I liked the winning collection ALOT but I liked some of the losing team's pieces too. My ring is a double ring, set with ancient copper African coins. The coins have crazy patterns on them which reminded me of the CHAOS team's prints. I set them with alternating tab settings drawn from the cog wheel motifs of the NUTS and BOLTS team.

BetsyBenson

I like the big earrings Anya wears on the show and at 3 1/2" total length, these are small in comparison! I've textured the metal with a rolling mill using a handmade paper. I wanted to carry over the repousee I did on the back of last weeks challenge piece so have added that to the center seam along with 3 sterling balls. Finally I've brought up the fine silver to the surface for a soft, satin finish.

I went ahead and did a collection...

InbarBareket

Sterling silver, fresh water pearl and beetle wings.

SilentGoddess

I had fun with my hammer this week and patterned a hand-cut copper disk with a large letter "I" stamp and created a cabochon out of it! The pendant ended up looking very tribal.

A surprise on the back of the pendant:

Kismet Designs

My texture/pattern was roller printed flames. They are a bit big for the earring so it is hard to make out the design. It turned out to be more of a texture than a pattern. This is a completely new style for me. Kinda like it.

JuJu by Sarah

I went for stamping, sawing and a separating disc to match the X in cut in the stone. Labradorite in silver. It a fairly big ring, the stone is about 7/8" long.

Adobe Sol

Made of copper and sterling silver, I have patterned the dress using techniques of stamping, hammering, riveting and etching. This little dress is accented with faceted quartz on the belt and a peridot briolette necklace.

Markasky

Corrugated and formed copper with enamel!

Michele Grady Designs

texture = silver wire "roses" and the chain actually has a pattern/texture stamped into it but it's hard to see in the photo.

pattern = black onyx, rutilated quartz and jade beads.

Nina Gibson Designs

Sterling silver and copper: I really liked the Rorshach Inkblot test idea of the winning team. I used Plate V of the top ten inkblot cards, and cut it out of silver, which had been roller printed with a diamond pattern. It is riveted to a copper backing, and oxidized black. Riveted copper loops and a chain complete the necklace.

CynthiaDelGiudice

I made these little hoops with some texture. I love doing this little rope pattern.

Erin Austin

I've always been interested in using repetition to create texture and depth, so this challenge was a lot of fun. Copper

Mike and Mary

Mike: Copper and Brass Pendant

Rochelle: Fine and Sterling Silver Broaches

Experimetal

I was inspired this week by Rorschach ink-blots, Team Chaos and texture. I made a few ink-blots this week and one looked like an Ant head while the other looked like a Horse skull and wasn't inspired by heads and skulls today,
so then I made some rough sketches and split them and this gave me a rough pattern of what I wanted to achieve for these earrings. Then I roller printed some sheet for a patterned effect and decided to use this for my backdrop for the fusing.
They are composed of oxidized Sterling Silver and 62 rough Diamonds and hang about 4" long.

Next Week's Challenge:

"What Women Want"

Season 9; Episode 8

Due Date: Thursday, September 22, midnight.

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.

Make it work!

**guidelines for guest participants:**

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 9.8". 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 24

Well our charms are all due in by the end of this month so this week there seems to be quite a few of us who are finally getting work on them! Nothing like procrastination and a deadline to get things moving...lol! This week we have 5 updates. Our first one is from Karla of KarlaWheelerDesign . She sends this photo and says "I started off so ahead of the game, and then life happened. I made some progress this weekend by soldering on jump rings and pouring the resin. Now it’s just filing, sanding and polishing!" Looking good Karla!

Katheryn from KatherynRiechert sends us these photos of her charms. She was just recently pulled off the waiting list due to a cancelation, Katheryn says "I'm a little late to the party, as an alternate and now participant, but yesterday after some playing I'm leaning towards this design. (Sterling silver and brass with patina and emerald bead)". Great idea Katheryn!

Meg Auth from SimplyMega sent this photo of her idea and says "Here is the design of my charm- I will start production soon! It is based on my OMegA series." I can't wait to see the finished product Meg! 

 

We also have an update from Laura Pacino from SimplyAdorning. Laura says "After 2 or 3 changes in direction, I've decided to go with these charms....they are layered mixed metal - brass, copper, anodized aluminum that I am adding permanent color to, all held together with a tube rivet. Here are some work in progress pictures, and a sample of a finished piece from a bracelet that I made with similar techniques. I hope you like them!" I love the pop of color the anodized aluminum brings to this piece!

And last but not least Victoria Takahashi from Exprimetal sent this photo of her works in progress. She says "Moving along quite nicely and on schedule now, my charms will be finished soon!" Love the shape of these charms Victoria!

Until next time!~ Michele from MicheleGradyDesigns

Studio Songs - What we're listening to while we work...

Heart
The Unknown Mortal Ochestra
Interpol
Twisted Sister
11th Dream Day
Wilson Pickett
Sam and Dave
Earth, Wind and Fire
Machine Head
Def Leppard
AWOLNATION
Wolf Parade
Brooklyn Funk Essentials
Sara Tavares
India Arie
ALO

and a dj friend of one of our members creates digital "mix tapes" and posts them to his site dj luv's records - make sure to check it out from some really fun mixes!

and lots more!!
Marc Ribot
Omar Sosa
The Brand New Heavies
Me'shell Ndegeocello
Timmy's Organism
Kate Nash
The Dead Weather
Godsmack
The Go Team
JJ Grey and Mofro
Tesla

New Member Profile - Jen Lawler

This week I have one new member to introduce you to. Her name is Jen Lawler and she joined EtsyMetal Team this past June. We are thrilled to have her!! Jen is a very active member of the team and a fabulous stone setter and metalsmith. Her Etsy shop, JenLawlerDesigns, features classic, modern pieces in sterling silver and gold. Here is a little more information about Jen and her beautiful jewelry:



When I was in middle school, I wove friendship bracelets ALL the time. I gave them too all of my friends and family. Then I took my first metalsmithing class in high school here in Des Moines almost 20 years ago and was hooked. I majored in three dimensional design in college focusing most of my time on the metalsmithing courses. I actually was fortunate enough to study under 3 very well know metalsmith professors during my college career. First at Drake University with Ignatius Widiapradja, second at University of Iowa with Chunghi Choo, and thirdly at Iowa State University with Chuck Evans before graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree. Right after college, I only tried for one position and that was at a shop in West Des Moines Iowa. I was given the job as a full time metalsmith right out of school! I worked there for 12 years learning and practicing many different techniques in setting natural precious and semi-precious gemstones into one of a kind sterling silver or 14 karat and 18 karat yellow gold and white gold contemporary pieces of sculpted jewelry.

My studio is located at home for the next few years at least until I get my 3 lovely girls off to school full-time, so it works out well in balancing it all. I am participating in many different art shows now, sell my work at 6 different galleries and also sell online at www.jenlawlerdesigns.etsy.com.

My focus in creating these days is still in a clean, simple and contemporary design. I am working hard at creating pieces that are more of your everyday go to items. Those earrings or rings that you want to grab and wear all of the time, not just that once in a while piece for a very special occasion. However, don’t be surprised to find some very large and unique statement pieces as well. They just have to be created sometimes and showcased! I also love to design custom pieces for people and have had many years of experience in doing that, so don’t hesitate to ask me about making a certain special piece for you.

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

1. Art By Winona
2. Jenny in Atl
3. Iacua
4. Catherine Chandler
5. 2Roses
6. LSueSzabo
7. Kirsten Denbow Designs
8. Quercus Silver
9. Danielle Miller
10. Inbar Bareket
11. Nina Gibson Designs
12. Michele Grady Designs
13. Panicmama Jewelry
14. Beth Cyr Weddings
15. victoria takahashi/experimetal
16. rubygirl
17. aroluna
18. simplymega
19. Twigs and Heather
20. citizenobjects

Project Runway: Season 9: Episode 6 -"The Art of the Matter"

This weeks challenge:

Episode 6 "The Art of the Matter"

Air: 8.25.11

My Lifetime, Thursdays, 9pm PST.

The Project Runway Challenge:

The designers were teamed up with kids from an arts school and asked to collaborate on a work of art and use that as inspiration for an avant garde piece.

For Our Etsy Metal Translation:

Make a an "avant garde" piece of jewelry using a work of art as your inspiration. If you have access to a child and want to collaborate on something, go for it!.

Kerry Alice / Twigs and Heather

I used found materials from outside and yarn for this challenge, since my niece's pic was nature inspired. Head dress...Fun!!!

Laney/Silent Goddess

I was thrilled to be able to use a painting created by my son, Cody as my inspiration for this week's challenge. It hangs in my studio next to my bench. Keeps me a bit saner during the dull, gray winter months.

Maria Whetman

I really liked doing this, I so love these first drawings of people...they melt my heart.
The drawing is holding a 'pencil' and standing on a rainbow of pencils! The stand is made by recycling an old battered pencil tin and is simple in construction.

Sarah Brevis

Well, I do not have kids and my niece lives in LA...so, I used Bert's painting with the geometric shapes from the show. But, really I used Wassily Kandinsky's "Yellow-Red-Blue" from 1925. This poster hangs in our bathroom, so I look at it every day. I mirrored the four pyramids in a row.

Evelyn Markasky

I used Becky's artist, who painted a picture of space. I used the green and orange colors from the painting against a liver of sulphur black night sky background. The part that goes around the head is forged copper, with holes drilled in and orange and green enamel pieces attached to represent stars in the sky. It's blackened with LOS. The veil is made from copper wire mesh with a heat patina and a LOS trim. It ties in the back and can tighten enough to fit any head!! I'm just realizing that I forgot to attach some crystal beads to veil. This may actually go better with Josh C's hooker look!

Inbar Bareket

My inspiration is my 7years old niece Ann. She loves painting. I went yesterday to my mom and found this little sketch she made few days ago.

Sterling silver, etched and filled with colored wax.

Betsy Benson

I really liked Victor's dress and I had these boulder turquoise in similar colors so I tried to add a few details that corresponded with the curves in their painting. Anyway, this was one week I thought I wouldn't get anything done... blah!

Rachelle/Mike and Mary

Brass. I was inspired by the painting Anya had to work with.

Mike/Mike and Mary

Brass, Copper, Baroque Pearl, Acrylic, Ink, Wax

Reliquary: A finger bone from St Francis' hand that held the paw of the wolf of Gubbio. Can stand as shown or be worn as a pendant. I used this image as inspiration.

Su Trindle

My boys loved their cars when they were small. The shapes and movement they captured so well in their drawings have been trapped in my traffic jam necklace of laminated paper.

Guest entry from Maria Apostalou!

I was going to use a child's artwork as an inspiration but then I stumbled upon "Small Picture of Firtrees" by Paul Klee. The color scheme and the assymetrical rectangles completely captivated me. So I made an embroidery piece using a similar color combination and set it in an oxidized copper frame. I made the cord to hang the pendant by tearing and stitching pieces of fabric. The final piece ended up reminding me more of a Modrian than Klee but I guess this can happen :-)

Next weeks challenge:
The Project Runway Challenge:
The designers were divided into two groups of five. They were given the opportunity to create their own unique textiles and asked to create a cohesive collection.

For Our Etsy Metal Translation:
Since this challenge was about pattern and textile, our challenge is to incorporate those into a piece. Do it however you like, etching, roller printing, drawing, or just fabricate a piece that forms a pattern or texture. Make it work!