Project Runway: Season 9: Episode 1 -"Come as You Are"

Episode 1, Here are the Submissions!

We have our submissions for the first Project Runway challenge of season 9. And wow, we had 29 artists submit, including 2 guests. Some participants included images of their bench so we can see what they had to work with...

Here is a recap of the challenge:

Episode 1 -"Come as You Are"

The Project Runway Challenge:

The designers had to use the clothes they slept in the night before plus one of their bedsheets to create a new look. They also had access to dye and trimmings.

For our EtsyMetal Translation:

Since this challenge was all about using what you have in an unexpected way, and since most of us don’t sleep in jewelry, the challenge this week is to make something only from material that is sitting on your bench! If you don’t have a bench or access to your studio, then choose another area like your desk. Since the designers got a sheet, we get some sheet metal. You are welcome to use enhancements like stones from your supplies. But the final piece should be made of a majority of your found pieces if possible. Ok now, make it work!

We had so many submissions that I am putting next weeks challenge up here so nobody misses it!

Next Weeks Challenge:

Episode 2: "My Pet Project"
Air: 8.4.11
My Lifetime, Thursdays, 9pm PST.

The Project Runway Challenge:

In this episode, the challenge was to create an outfit using pet store supplies. They were allowed to use muslin as well, but were encouraged not to.

For our EtsyMetal Translation:

Yup, you guessed it. The EM challenge is to make a piece of jewelry using pet store supplies! Try to limit your time in the pet store to 30 minutes. You may use some metal in the piece but try to use as little as possible. Make it work!

And now for this weeks submissions...

Twigs and Heather




Jane Font



Sarah Breivis



Adobe Sol



Silent Goddess





Alisa Miller




Shannon Conrad





Nina Gibson





Mike and Mary





Andrea Shiman





Elizabeth Scott



Su Trindle





Betsy Bensen





Nina Dinoff




Irene - aroluna




Evelyn Markasky



Mark Kaplan




Ester Eve



Michele Grady





Beth Cyr





Kira Ferrer



Kathryn Cole



Nikki - NRJewellery Design




Cynthia Del Guidice




Sara Westermark





Ashley Akers





Victoria Takahashi




Guest Submissions

Flights of Fancy





I Dream I Can Fly

Charm Swap 8 - week 18

This week we have a progress report from Inbar Bareket. Her starting point for her charms were these fabulous beetle wings. The colors are just amazing and I love where she is going with these! Below are images of her progress with her "secret army", as she calls them. I can only imagine what they will look like when they are finished. They are going to be great!

That's all I have for you this week...Keeping it short but sweet! Until next time!- Michele Grady

MEMBERS' NEWS FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST

Well, another month of summer has gone by and the members of the Etsy Metal team have been busy. Here's what's going on this month.....

Danielle Miller-Gilliam's "Ridge Collection" will be represented by llyn strong fine jewelry (booth 108) at SOFA in Sante Fe, NM from August 4-7. SOFA: Sculpture Objects and Functional Art Fair is a gallery-presented, international art exposition dedicated to bridging the worlds of design, decorative and fine art.
You can see the "Ridge Collection" by clicking on the link.

Danielle Miller-Gilliam will be at the Mount Gretna Outdoor Art Show in Mount Gretna, PA from August 20-21 (booth 146).


Danielle Miller from the Ridge Collection


On Saturday, Aug 27 th from 11am to 6pm, Meg Auth of Simplymega will be at "Taste of the Gardens" at the Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart , IN. This one day event features art, music and food in a tranquil garden setting. Meg will be presenting work from her Seaweed and OMegA Series of jewelry.

Victoria Takahashi of Experimental and Alisa of alisamiller are both in a group show called "Subtle Set" at Facere on August 10, 2011 - August 31, 2011. See the whole exhibit on line by clicking on the link.

Beth Cyr of BCyrJewelry had a nice article written about her on GoGreenAmerica. Read the article by clicking on the link.

L. Sue Szabo just won first place in the art show Art on the Mall in Toledo, Ohio on July 31st.

Kathryn Cole was interviewed in one of the local papers in St. Petersburg, FL. Here's the link to that nice article.
http://downtownstpete.ilovetheburg.com/article/The-Localista-At-the-Arcades-Artisan/3099

That's the news, see ya next month!
Sue

"On Creativity" with Su of Quercus Silver

In our blog series "On Creativity" each week we will feature one of our members and their perspectives on keeping their creativity alive. 

This week we are talking to Su of Quercus Silver


What inspires you? Often it's visual. These cufflinks developed from a lot of reading about 1950's textiles and design and a piece of vintage fabric. 

How does your design process work/How do you come up with new ideas? I'll pin images up on my workshop walls of art/textiles/jewellery/poems/words that are influencing my thinking. Then I'll start sketching, maybe painting and printing to get ideas. Eventually, all this will gel into a direct idea for a piece of jewellery.
Then again, sometimes I'll start with the material, resin, leather, metal and see how I can play with it.

How do you stay motivated? An important and direct motivation is my customers. Selling your work is a vital part of being a craftsperson, I think.
Although the downside to working for yourself can be the isolation, I've found the jewellery and craft community online to be a great support.

Do you ever find yourself in a creative rut?
If so how do you get out of it?
Not really but if feel my work isn't exciting me I will close my workshop for a day or two and go and visit old friends and new places, galleries and exhibitions. That usually works,

Do you make other things besides jewelry? I have always been a dressmaker and recently I've loved making dressing up outfits for my boys. I quilt, too.  

EtsyMetal Blog Carnival 8.1.11: "Our Roots"

The August Blog Carnival is here!
The topic is:

Our Roots

Where we came from. Family influences. Art in the family.

Click on the following links to see what EtsyMetal members have to say. You will find very interesting and diverse writings on this single topic!

Beth Cyr
Nodeform
Elizabeth Scott
Inbar Bareket
Cynthia Del Giudice
Evelyn Markasky
Twigs and Heather
ArtigianoJewelBox
Danielle Miller-Gilliam