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

I love finding out about new music and my fellow etsymetal members are a great source for some amazing new bands. Here are a few of our recent favorites.

Flogging Molly

Gogol Bordello

M. Ward

Kirsty Maccoll

The Felice Brothers

The Mountain Goats

Charm Swap 3 *charms in progress*

Nina Gibson's charm design from NinaGibsonDesigns. Her charm is going to be a teacup!

Etsymetal's Charm Swap is now in its third generation and I'm very excited to be the curator of this generation. I am very grateful to have the collected wisdom from experimetal and stamp (former currators) to guide me along the process. Here's how it works. Twenty of our team members sign-up to take part in this project. We all donate 22 charms and ship them to the curator. As the curator, I get to sort through all the lovelies and send them out to each participant. The two extra charms from each of the twenty participants will be available for sale at our etsymetal store. One set of charms will be put together as a charm bracelet and the other set will be for sale as individual charms. All sale proceeds go towards the cost of maintaining Etsymetal.

The deadline is fast approaching (Feb 28th) and everyone is keeping me updated with their own works in progress. As a member myself, I wanted to be sure that my charms were done before any of the packages arrived on my doorstep!

Here are some of the other team members and their "works in progress":

experimetal with hand-formed and enameled heart charms.



rubygirl experimenting with colors creating a filigree patterned charm.



IstanbulDesigns hand sketched this Klimt inspired owl to be etched onto brass charms.



aubergine228 has taken orders to make each member's charm from her nature castings. I've requested a fox claw and a seahorse for the EtsyMetal Store.



KathrynReichert is stamping intricate nature scenes on sterling hand cut disks.

tuizui is water casting sterling cups that will be enameled and riveted on to a textured copper square.

sarawestermark is using leaf textured copper ornamented with sterling barbells.


Article by: Sara Westermark, Etsymetal member and Etsymetal Charm Swap 3 curator.

Etsymetal News 2.6.09

Etsy Metal Charm Swap 2, originally uploaded by experimetal.

The Etsymetal Charm Swap #2 is complete and shipped! Stay tuned for more details soon....and Charm Swap #3 is already under way!

As a team we have been VERY busy with our bi-annual member juries...new members will be announced soon!

Lots of individual Etsymetal members have news to announce:

Nina Dinoff has been selected for the "Loveliest Ladies' items" poll on the Etsy Storque! The polls close on Monday, February 9....so go vote for Nina NOW!!! Click here to enter the voting polls!

Sophie aka duckduckGoosestuff has been selected to show at SOCK, "a celebration of quality artists and makers"!

4 of Sarah Hood's amazing pieces are included in the Tacoma Art Museum's 9th Northwest Biennial, which is a juried show exhibiting the "best of Northwest contemporary art!"

Danielle Miller won Honorable Mention for the Mort Abelson Scholarship at the Revere Academy of Jewelry Arts and had her Midnight Marquise Chain Necklace featured in INDESIGN magazine!

Elizabeth Rosas was interviewed on Melissa Loves blog, her heart necklace was featured in the blog Anastasia Drawing and Dreaming and a few of her pieces have been featured at the fab Heart Handmade blog!

Sara Westermark will be exhibiting at Wilmington Chocolate Festival and has donated a chocolate diamond ring for the opening Gala which is a fundraiser for the Liberty Hospice. Check out her blog for more details! Sara was also featured on the blog Dream Mist Land.

Elizabeth Scott's lovely garnet ring is in the Etsy Storque article : Etsy Finds: Special Deals on Jewelry - This Weekend Only!


and MANY etsymetal members graced the front page this week!
CONGRATS to all!

Ceeb Wassermann

Ceeb Wassermann, of howlindoggie, is one of our wonderful members from Australia. She is a fantastic artist and I absolutely adore her pierced work.

1. Where do you live, and where are you from?
Sydney, Australia. Born in Rio, Brazil & grew up in Germany & Switzerland

2. How did you get started working with metal?
my mother was an artist & had me painting & making sculptures since I was about 5 yrs old.



3. What are a few of your favorite pieces at the moment?
my favorite pieces are more often than not, other jeweller's work and of mine usually the newer ones like my geometric ring

4. What inspires you (artists, objects, interests)?
japanese design, the ocean, flora & historical jewelry


5. Do you have any other artistic interests?
i paint & sketch and love doing on site installations

You can find more of Ceeb Wassermann's work in her Etsy Shop, as well as on her Blog and Website.

Weekly Review--The Twilight Series

Many of us at Etsy Metal are intrigued by all the vampire related media going on, such as True Blood (The HBO Series), The Sookie Stackhouse novels (which True Blood is based on), Twilight the movie, and the Twilight book series.

The books in the Twilight series are well written and quick reads. You can find out more about them on Stephenie Meyer's website.

Gallery of the Month : Allanstand & the Southern Highland Craft Guild

Q: Why did you decide to open a gallery? How long have you been open?
A: Allanstand Craft Shop has roots dating back to 1908 when Francis Goodrich opened Allanstand Shop on Main St in Asheville, NC. Today Allanstand Craft Shop is located at the Folk Art Center and is one of the five shops of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The Guild shops represent artists who live in the southern Appalachian mountains, from Maryland to Alabama.

Q: Describe your gallery, the work you carry, etc...
A: Allanstand Craft Shop exhibits the finest traditional and contemporary crafts made in the southern Appalachians. All work is made by Guild members who are juried into the organization based on the mastery of their craft. Allanstand features jewelry, wood, pottery, natural materials, metal, glass and mixed media.

Q: What is your price range of the products you sell?
A: Prices range from $10 to $10,000. This wide range offers something for everyone-whether it be a handcrafted keepsake from their trip to the mountains or an art quilt surely to become a family heirloom. The bestselling price range is typically under $100.

Q: Do you have special events?
A: Allanstand Craft Shop is located at the Folk Art Center which hosts special events throughout the year. The events include Fiber Day, Clay Day, Wood Day and Heritage Weekend. Guild artists share knowledge of their craft through demonstrations and hands on activities. The events often include live music and traditional entertainment such as clogging and storytelling.
You can find an event schedule here.

Q: Do you offer special services?
A: Yes. Allanstand offers the following special services: shipping, gift wrapping for the holidays, gift certificates.

Q: Do you sell online?
A: The Southern Highland Craft Guild operates an online store at www.southernhighlandguild.org
Q: Who is your customer base?
A: Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway Allanstand Craft Shop is a favorite stop for tourists to the western North Carolina mountains. Conveniently located just half a mile from Hwy 70 in east Asheville it is also a great spot for locals to find unique gifts. Given the Guild’s history and reputation Allanstand also appeals to collectors, whether they are searching for a traditional white oak basket or a contemporary glass sculpture.

Q: How do you promote your artists / store?
A: Various forms of media are used to share the mission of the Guild including advertising in newspapers, magazines, television and online at www.craftguild.org. We work closely with the Chamber of Commerce to familiarize visitors with the area and all that the Folk Art Center and Allanstand have to offer.

Q: Where do you find your artists / product?
A: All artists are members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. Each Guild shop manager evaluates members’ work based on how well it will be received in their particular gallery. While drawing from the same membership, all five shops have their own uniqueness and personality.

Q: What is hot right now?
A: Scarves, greenware, functional pottery
Q: What do you think the next wave or trend is?
A: Navy blue is the “new black” with home décor. Eco-friendly items such as natural baskets, fiber wearables.

Q: What changes have been made from when you first opened the business?
A: While deeply rooted in tradition the Guild evolves to meet the marketing needs of an ever changing membership. The Guild’s mission is to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation.

Vote for Nina!

Etsymetal member, Nina Dinoff has been selected for the "Loveliest Ladies' items" poll on the Etsy Storque! The polls close on Monday, February 9....so go vote for Nina NOW!!! Click here to enter the voting polls.