Tip #9 First Aid Tip

A few days ago I picked a picked up a piece that was still hot. Ouch. I put my hand in the water to quench it- this really helps because it stops the heat right away, otherwise it's like a piece of metal that has to air cool. It keeps on burning, which means more damage to your skin. Usually when you pick up hot metal there's a blister which means a 2nd degree burn, but if you get water on it right away you can avoid that, and, if you're lucky, keep working!

Etsy Metal Finds

Today I am feeling a bit playful, so here are some rockin toys I found on Etsy!

Little People in Action by PlayFamilyHouse

Blue Monster Fish -Mini Sculpture on Wheels by PearsonMaron

EtsyMetal News 08.08.08

Today is the last day of Rebekah's - LunasaDesigns - fabulous 8 day sale. Today is also her birthday and etsyversary - the reasons for her sale! Happy Birthday Rebekah! Make sure to go check it out - there are lots of specials going on - I already bought this!

Nina Dinoff will be participating in the New York International Gift Fair at the Jacob Javits center. This will be her first time at this show and she is very excited. She will be in the Handmade section in the Galleria, booth #413 - so if you can stop by and say hi!

Colleen Baran has a great feature by Anicka Quin in Vancouver Magazine's 'City Guide' 2008-09. It is available from July 2008 to August 2009!

Danielle Miller has one of her fantastic necklaces in INDESIGN magazine!! Check it out on her blog! Amazing!

Studio Metalsmith

Dinosaur Bone and 24K Gold Pendant

Kathleen Bostick, of studiometalsmith, lives in California, and creates one of a kind jewelry utilizing intriguing stones, enamel, found objects, silver, and gold.

1. Where do you live, and where are you from?

I will be living in San Diego again in about two weeks when school starts. I am from Southern California.

2. How did you get started working with metal?

I am a 2nd year MFA student at San Diego State University in the Metals/Jewelry program. I did my undergrad at California College of the Arts. Before that I studied drawing, painting, and sculpture. Metal was an extension of sculpture for me. I never even considered metal until I saw it in the CCAC catalog and thought "I can do that!" I didn't have any metal work for my application portfolio, so I bought a torch, a few tools, and a book, made a few pieces, and took some photos, the rest is history.

The work I do academically is sculptural and sometimes functional, but usually not wearable, it's very different from the work I sell in my Etsy shop. I hope to bring some influence from that work into my jewelry beginning this fall, I have some new materials and ideas in the works.


Blue Chalcedony and Amethyst Pendant

3. What are a few of your favorite pieces at the moment?

My favorite pieces in my shop right now are those that are made with both silver and gold, such as my Dinosaur Bone and 24K Gold Pendant, along with a few others.

4. What inspires you (artists, objects, interests)?

I am inspired by architecture, geometry, pattern, texture, color, and material. I am the geek that is always picking little things up of the ground just to look at them.

Rhodolite Garnet Ring

5. Do you have any other artistic interests?

My artistic (craft) interests are wide ranging! I really have to reign myself in because I am so easily distracted by new things. Right now I am very interested in fiber and fiber techniques. This summer I learned to spin yarn, next I want to learn to do silk reeling which is winding off the single strand of silk that makes up one cocoon (crazy, I know!).
I knit, crochet, sew, and whatever it takes to complete my projects at school.

Tip #8 - Flashlight Finder

When you drop something on floor - Turn the lights off and a flash light on - run the flashlight along the floor - metal sparkles and you are sure to find it! And don't panic, its there! I've found the tiniest bits when I calm down and realize the floor monster didn't come and steal it when I wasn't looking!

Etsy Metal Finds

Todays finds were inspired by both bold colors and strong clever use of pattern . The Nameless Ones (Box) by JessicaDoyle

Pincushion by Maramiki

Blue and Red Lacey Screenprinted Coinpurse by AnnaLaura

EtsyMetal News 8.1.08

etsy front page 8.1.08
Originally uploaded by bcyrjewelry

i think it must be tradition to have lots of EtsyMetal members on the front page on Fridays!! Nina Dinoff (yay for new photos!), Stacey of wildflowerdesigns and Jessi Taylor were all on there at once!

In other news - we will be saying Bon Voyage to Mark Kaplan who is going on a year long adventure to Asia. We will miss him and be anxious to hear fun stories and see new pieces of work from his time away. He will be leaving tomorrow!

Rebekah of LunasaDesigns is having a super special sale. In celebration of 8.8.08 - which is her birthday and her 2 year EtsyVersary, she is having 8 days of sales. Each day will be something new and exciting - so stop by and check it out!

Cynthia Del Giudice was featured on a great blog - Daily Art Muse


And check out the Fashion Me Fabulous blog and vote for Catherine's or Ashley's earrings!

Since it is the first Friday of the month - I should be posting pictures from last month's theme, but we haven't gotten a lot of the photos in yet, so that will have to be next week! I can announce the next month's theme though which is:
riveting and/or green/recycle/upcycle
Sounds like a fun challenge to me!!