EtsyMetal Jewelry Challenge: Project Runway Season 6- Part 2: The Season Finale “Mini Collections"

Here are our EIGHT Mini Collections from our Season 6 designers!

Earrings, Necklace, Bracelet, Ring & 1 wild card which was the designers choice to make anything!

For those of you who are just stopping in for a peek, EtsyMetal had been holding a fun freestyle Jewelry Challenge that was coinciding with Project Runway Season 6 episodes. Every Friday we posted the video snippet of the latest PR challenge, then we post all the submissions from the previous weeks challenge.

So Congratulations designers on your AMAZING collections!

And thank you so much for making this such a fun team activity!

I am sad to see it end but also happy to move on and try all the new ideas that this challenge has conjured up!

Beth Cyr
Athens, Geaorgia, USA.
Etsy shop, Blog & Flicker.

Kathryn Riechert
Savannah, Georgia, USA.
Etsy shop, Website & Flicker.

Thomasin Durgin
Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
Etsy shop, Website & Flicker.


Victoria Takahashi
Seattle, Washington, USA.
Etsy shop, Blog & Flicker.


Rachelle Stromberg
Norman, Oklahoma, USA.
Etsy shop, Website & Flicker.



Nina Gibson
Anaheim, California, USA.
Etsy shop, Blog & Flicker.


Sara Westermark
Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.
Etsy shop, Blog & Flicker.


Stacey Hansen
Mississippi, USA.
Etsy shop, Blog & Flicker.




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Etsy Metal wants to specially thank the "GUEST" designers that popped in for some fun and shared with us some of the beautiful things they made!
Below are the names of those participants!
Tiffany Nelson, JoHollingswrth, Cory Howard, Kathryn Cole,
Dale, Inbar Bareket, & Nathalie Girard


"Now Carry On Designers" and have a happy successful creative holiday season!

Etsy Metal Finds

It's the season when we tend to remember how blessed we are, but I want to practice my thankfulness from now until this time next year - and then start over again. Here are some ways to nurture a thankful heart:

(from top left clockwise)

Tell your loved ones you're thankful for them:

Thank you kraft mini by The Paper Addict

Makes lists of everything you are thankful for:

Yellow Paper Journal by Strike Books

Remind yourself to be thankful for the rest of the year by hanging these on your tree or around your house:

Ceramic Thank you tags by Marley and Lockyer

Or leave a reminder up year round:

Give Thanks Vinyl by iTwaddle

EMJC-PR6 "Mini-Pop Challenge!"

The "Finale Part 2 Mini Collection Launch" has been postponed until Friday November 27.
Sadly do to time constraints we have postponed our EMJC-PR Part 2- Mini Collection Finales.

BUT! To keep our spirits up and our creativity flowing and to be able to have something to share with you this week we had a last minute "Pop Challenge" for the EtsyMetal team members.

We were asked to create a piece of jewelry from a limited amount of materials and time.

1 x 2" of Sterling or Copper~ any gauge
3' of wire~ any gauge
Manufactured clasps, bails, neck chains, screws, etc. are okay.
You can use less of these materials, but not more.
With less than 48 hrs

And below is what our team members came up with!

Victoria Takahashi
I used up all my wire 3' of 24g.and my sheet was 1x2" of 26g,
i have teeny bits of sheet scrap left.
This has a captured 7/16ths Steel ball bearing in the center, it spins freely, and is fun to fidget with. It looks the same on the other side as well.
*this is also my prototype for Charm Swap 5.
See more images here.

Rachelle Stromberg
Brass and Sterling Silver
See more images here.

Beth Cyr
3' of wire and a little bit of sheet - i've been wanting to do this for awhile!!
See more images here.

Nina Gibson
I used almost all of my sheet (1" x 1/4" piece leftover),
and only one foot of my wire for the pop challenge.
See more images here.

EMJC-PR6-Part 1-Thursday "Meet the Designers"

Our EMJC-PR6 challenge is wrapping up with interviews from the participants.
WE have a surprise for you, we had planned on launching the

"Finale Part 2 Mini Collections" this evening alongside the PR show.

But do to time constraints, we will be posting a fun little surprise

"Pop Challenge" tommorow instead!

The "Finale Part 2 Mini Collection Launch" has been postponed until

Friday November 27.

"So please meet the last of our designers who submitted interviews!"

Victoria Takahashi

Seattle, Washington, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?
This experience has been so enriching and valuable to me in so many ways. For starters, it has allowed me emotionally to make things with complete freedom. You may think, well you have complete freedom, but I don’t because I seem to hold myself back in a lot always thinking about the wearer, if it will sell, to keep it affordable and trying to keep the integrity of my vision albeit stifled, of a piece. It has allowed me to make things I want to make and have put those ideas on a back burner to make later, things that I didn’t even know I wanted to make. It has also pushed me to try new methods of fabrication to achieve my desired outcome. It has allowed me to open a door and leave it open. I feel like it has given me an ability to think about future projects in a different aspect. IF I didn’t actually force myself to do the challenges I couldn’t say I would of learned this lesson. It seems so easy to think in concept, but to force oneself to make things with a deadline with certain parameters and boundries really was refreshing for me. I feel like I can take these lessons with me now to enrich my future works.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?
I have gained a new way of thinking and a new process of pulling creativity. I have also learned a great deal about basic blogging. It has forced me literally to figure it out, another thing I was putting off. I seem to learn new things when I have to. I have gained a deeper feeling of team spirit working with Etsymetal, I have also met a few new artisits out of the deal. I gained a new sense of hope to finding my creative path. I gained knowledge about myself that I DO work best on a deadline however unfortunate and uncomfortable and as much as I hate the stress, it is true. Can I change it? I don’t know, maybe next season I can work on that.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?
The Customator 6.4: Patience: "Bracelet, Wood, Steampunk"

Most definately the one that challenged my patience for sure. This was a love-hate piece. I can't even say that this was my favorite!? But it hurt the most! There was so much pre-planning, futzing and fitting to make it even work. I just jumped in blindly with an idea and hoped it would work. Had to call in the big guns(my partner) and get his advice. He kept me from giving up with supportive words, and after finishing I feel stronger for completing it, thank you honey! tee hee, I think the best part was dressing up for the photo shoot!

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?
6.5 Paper Challenge, because it is so far out of my materials I would normally use in jewelry fabrication. I was kind of dumb-founded at this one. I’ve always wanted to do collage and I love collecting its and bits of paper and ephemera, but to use it in a piece of jewelry made me question its overall durability and stability. So I laminated it, so now it is nice and sturdy!
I'm glad I had a chance to explore a little bit of paper though, it definately made my wheels spin and that is the exact reason I am doing these challenges!

5-Will we see you again next season?
YES! I can say I am very ready to be done this season, but I will be refreshed and rearin’ to go again in Season 7 2010! I have one wish for next Season, and that is that they get all crazy on us with more unusual edgy challenges, so it is uncomfortable and painful, so it pushes me far out of any comfort zone. I say this now, but I probably will regret I said this later!?

Beth Cyr
Athens, Geaorgia, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?
I really enjoyed working on projects that didn't need to be for sale. Its fun to just create something beautiful that could be worn, but not necessarily an every day, easy to sell piece of jewelry. It got me remove some of the boundaries I seem to put on myself all the time!

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?
I think I have gained back some of my artistic and creative nature that can be lost by making the same pieces over and over, or custom pieces that are dictated by a customer. It was very freeing to just make something because I wanted to. I liked having the group participate and find that doing this sort of challenge pushes me to create something more unique since it will be next to pieces from other artists. I also experimented with a few things that I will start incorporating in to my work and do on a more consistent basis.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?
I think my favorite piece was for the 'Create a Character' challenge - the crown/tiara for the Spider Queen. There were so many elements to that whole challenge that let me go in different directions I would like to go in, but find difficult to make the time for regularly. I also have always wanted to make a crown or tiara and it just seemed like the perfect chance!

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?
The hardest challenge.... though I know this is meant to mean which week's challenge... the hardest challenge was finding the time to make the piece. I was sad to miss out on two challenges that I was out of town for and simply couldn't make the time to do them - though I would still like to go back and finish them up to have a full 'collection'. The most difficult week for me was the 'Customater' - having to add in a different material and make it fit in to a certain style was very difficult and really pushed me out of any comfort zone. It seemed like the most restricting challenge of them all. I also had my on personal challenge of making all my pieces work together, not just simply fulfill the challenge.

5-Will we see you again next season?
Definitely!!!

EMJC-PR6-Part 1-Wednesday "Meet the Designers"

Hi ya' all! Our EMJC-PR6 challenge is wrapping up with interviews from the participants. We wanted to take this week before the "Finale Part 2 Mini Collection Launch" to meet our fabulous designers on this project!

Please check back for our Finale!

"So Please Meet our Designers!"

Shannon Conrad

Portland, Oregon, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?

I really enjoyed trying to find a way to incorporate my style and aesthetic into more complicated, one-of a kind pieces. I spend so much of my time on production work for my business, that it was really nice to design for myself instead of a customer in mind. It's funny, but having the "themes" every week intead of limiting my creativity, actually inspired me. Production work is all about designing "fast and cheap". Taking that out of the equation was very freeing for me. I enjoyed taking a concept from the abstract of the challenge guidelines to the finished product. As an added bonus, I have a few new ideas for production pieces, too!

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?

These challenges reminded me why I love what I do. Running a business and being creative are often at odds with one another. Making the same thing 100,000 times tends to suck the creativity right out of you! After participating in this, I feel inspired and excited about metal again. I also feel that these challenges made me really push myself both technically and in my designs. I really love (most) of what I made. My confidence in my own abilities and work has grown tremendously.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?

I think it would have to be the feather collar I made for the 2nd Challenge (Pregnacy). The piece came together exactly like I saw it in my head. I love how it lays when it is worn and the depth I was able to achieve with the layers of enamel. I feel that it really embodied the inspiration (my chicken).

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?

The Wedding Challenge was the most difficult for me. I don't do wedding jewelry, so I had a hard time wrapping my head around it. That week I really waited until the last minute to make my piece! It was the design that stumped me. Once I decided on the Claddagh as inspiration, it all came together nicely.

5-Will we see you again next season?

Absolutely!

Rachelle Stromberg
Norman, Oklahoma, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?
I have found that I really enjoy taking a specific concept and interpreting it in my own way. Most of the time when I am working on new pieces I design in metal, I do not usually sketch pieces out before I start them. I found that with these challenges I really thought a lot about each piece before I started working in metal. I found this to be a benefit and a detriment at the same time as I really over thought some of the pieces.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?
Participating in the EMJC’s was inspiring in itself. Seeing the pieces everyone made each week was so exciting, everyone’s creativity and talent inspired me want to work on my pieces even more.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?
My favorite piece is the piece I made for the "Pick-a-Place!" challenge because the photo I chose was so personal and now I have a ring that makes me think of that time and place every time I wear it.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?
The hardest challenge was the “Newspaper!" challenge because it really forced me to work outside my comfort zone. I started several pieces before I came up with the final piece.

5-Will we see you again next season?
Absolutely.



Nina Gibson
Anaheim, California, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?
Design challenges are always wonderful as they inspire me to create new things, which is always great, since sometimes I get bogged down in making production pieces. It also broadens my abilities since new designs often need new materials and techniques to accomplish. Its a wonderful way to stretch. It's also great to interact with other participants. It's fantastic to see other interpretations of the same theme.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?
It has given me something to blog about. What shall I write about now?!? Hopefully I won't neglect my poor blog so I can keep my precious followers. There is a wonderful sense of accomplishment gained from being able to participate in all 12 challenges!

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?
My favorite was the 'blue' ring. I really like the way that turned out, and because I have several of those vintage blue cabochons, I have a salable ring in my etsy shop. The prototype has already sold at a local art faire!

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?
I think the hardest challenge was the first one - red carpet. I like how my red carpet earrings turned out, but I went through several sketches to get there and changed it a few times during their making. The easier challenges are those with a more specific direction. I think I may tweak the design a little more still before I offer them for sale. The 'picked from a hat' challenge was also difficult as I drew 'steampunk' as a style. That is certainly outside my comfort zone. Oh, and the creation of the mini-collection is driving me crazy! The time is speeding by too quickly!

5-Will we see you again next season?
Absolutely! Bring it!

*note* I want to thank Victoria Takahashi for coordinating our challenges and for keeping on top of everything. The blog posts are beautiful and the encouragement was priceless! Thanks

(Nina, Thank you for thanking me! And thank you for being such an enthusiastic participant!)

EMJC-PR6-Part 1-Tuesday "Meet the GUEST Designers"

Hi ya' all! Our EMJC-PR6 challenge is wrapping up with interviews from the participants. We wanted to take all this week before the "Finale Part 2 Mini Collection Launch" to meet our fabulous designers on this project!
Please check back every day until our Finale!
"So please meet some of our GUEST participants below!"

Guest Participant: Tiffany Nelson

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?

It has really made me start thinking outside of my normal constraints, especially when the challenges required me to work with materials I have never used before.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?

Of course an appreciation of all the great artists that participated but a drive to "just try it and see what happens" mentality. During the challenge I did my first copper etching, my first cabochon setting, and my first time working with paper and wood.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?
Its a toss up between the wedding piece and the motherhood piece. I was really happy with both of these pieces and think they are things I would not have normally made given to my own devices.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?

The hardest was definitely the 3 categories one, trying to find a way to incorporate metal and wood into a form that I was happy with was a big challenge. I never work with wood, if I ever have it has been premade beads not something totally made from scrap so this was the hardest for me.

5-Will we see you again next season?

DEFINITELY!!! I loved doing this, I only wished I had more time (between my job and other things going on in my life this took a back seat some weeks) but since quitting my job to pursue my jewelry full time, I hope there is more time to devote to challenges.

Guest Participant: Jo Hollingsworth

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?

The Project Runway challenges have forced me to move from concept to finished, photographed project in a week. I tend to contemplate a design for weeks or months before I fabricate it, so having to work so quickly has been a real challenge for me. But it's shown me that I *can* design more quickly, and I can come up with some fantastic pieces when pushed. And now that I know that I can work more quickly, I've started to turn designs into finished pieces in a much shorter period of time. So you can expect a lot of new designs from me in the near future!

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?

I've gained a lot of confidence in my ability to design well under pressure.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?

I absolutely adore my Little Pot necklace, which I made for the wedding challenge. I worked for years as a sculptor in clay, so making a three dimensional piece comes very naturally to me. And I love the volume of this piece - I constantly run my fingers over it. It's become the first piece in a line of perfume bottle necklaces, which I'm currently working on.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?

I think the wedding challenge was hardest for me, both because the necklace was technically hard to make, and because I was never a typical bride, so the concept of wedding jewelry is pretty foreign to me. I find it really interesting that my hardest challenge resulted in my favorite design. I guess I need to challenge myself more often!

5-Will we see you again next season?

Absolutely.

Guest Participant: Kathryn Cole

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?
This experience has given me a new direction in my creating process. I am very inspired and excited to see where my designing takes me. In the past I created from my own drawings that I created mostly from images in my mind. I love to draw and watercolor. I usually see where a watercolor takes me and then find the one that could be transformed into a silver piece. I will now expand my creating process to search out inspiration from Art and Architecture and other specific things. I am quite excited about this new outlook to my designing process.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?
I have a new desire to research Art and Architecture to be inspired by. I was also very inspired by everyone else's beautiful creations. I am amazed by all of the talent.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?
I only made one piece for this challenge, but I am inspired by everyone else's creations and wished I had joined in earlier.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?
The challenge I entered was the last one. It was very challenging for me to find a piece of Artwork in a limited amount of time to interpret. I could have spent hours looking through the entire Getty Museum website. Once I found the photograph I wanted to interpret, it was very hard to interpret it and be able to express the beauty of photograph into metal. I kept changing the lines of the flower to try to match the photograph.

5-Will we see you again next season?

I look forward in joining in next season! Thank you so much for having this challenge!

EMJC-PR6-Part 1-Monday "Meet the Designers"

Hi ya' all! Our EMJC-PR6 challenge is wrapping up with interviews from the participants. We wanted to take all this week before the "Finale Part 2 Mini Collection Launch" to meet our fabulous designers on this project!

Please check back every day until our Finale!

"So Meet our Designers!"

Sara Westermark

Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?

Being primarily self-taught, I never had student assignments or projects to complete. I typically decide on my project and then I do it. It was fun to have an outside perspective to direct my projects. There were challenges that were very different from what I would do on my own and these helped me stretch in new ways. When I worked on these projects I would feel a jolt of excitement and pure joy and that in turn breathed new life into my other work and obligations. I have always been very reluctant to take risks in my pieces, because I feel a lot of pressure to keep them saleable. These challenges gave me the ability to take risks, which in turn allowed me to make the pieces that I want to make.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?

Participating in these weekly challenges has helped me to challenge my current technical level and to inspire me to create outside my normal parameters. I have also learned new things about myself in this process. I feel that my work has grown to a new level.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?

I have many favorite pieces from this past season, but if pressed I would have to say that the Getty piece inspired by a Roman bracelet from 400-300 A.D. is my favorite. It challenged my technical ability the most. I am pleased with how the cuff fits the wrist, being more a “D” shape rather a circle or an oval. I dreaded making all the bezels, but in the end I always like setting the stones, so being able to set all the stones made making all the bezels worth it.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?

The paper challenge was by far the hardest for me. I really struggled with the limitations of paper to make a lasting and endurable piece. I also didn’t anticipate enough time to allow the paper to dry!

5-Will we see you again next season?

Yes, you will see me again! I cannot wait until next season!

Stacey Hansen

Mississippi, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?
to begin with, i started the project runway challenges as a way to force myself back into the studio after my second child. i had little inspiration and even less time to create, but the challenges forced me to work within a deadline. and each challenge that i was able to complete pushed me out of my comfort zone. i created things that utilized more skill and more techniques than i had previously allowed myself to use. creating things completly different from what i have previously designed and on a schedule has helped me to maximize the time i have available to make fun, new pieces in my hectic life.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?
most simply - a sense of accomplishment.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?
i would have to go with my wanderer cocktail ring which was created for the select a movie genre and create a costume for a character. the piece really pushed me as far as my construction skills are involved. the piece is also the inspiration for several new lines that i am currently working on.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?
the hardest challenge was not any that i was actually able to
complete. the hardest challenge for me was envisioning a piece for a
challenge and not having the time to 'make it work.' i had pieces
designed for both the customator and the getty challenges that haven't
made it into finished products.

5-Will we see you again next season?
definitely!i hope to be a more regular participant next season.

Kathryn Reichert

Savannah, Georgia, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?

The challenges pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me permission to spend long amounts of time working one piece. I've rediscovered my love of one-of-a-kinds, and I have a lot ideas for collections inspired by some of the challenges.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?

I've expanded my skills and have my sketch book going again! Some of the pieces I've made have received a lot of attention, and I plan to explore those ideas even more.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?

My favorite piece would be the one from the last challenge (The Getty). I am a bit enthralled with my tiny stamps, and in making little enameled flowers. This piece incorporated both in a way that is new to me. It left me excited to make more pieces in this general direction.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?

I was unable to complete 3 of the challenges due to time issues as I traveled about doing shows and teaching locally. So on one hand I could say those three were the hardest because I didn't get inspired enough to dive in and get them completed. On the other hand, if I only go by the challenges I did complete I would say the first challenge was the hardest. It was a very wide open challenge, as well as being the first challenge, both of which made it hard to know what was appropriate. Oh, and I also (stupidly) forgot that I had the enameled center to my piece in the kiln and left the room just long enough for it go horribly wrong...and um....I did that TWICE!!!!!

5-Will we see you again next season? But of course!

I loved participating and seeing what everyone was making. It can't come soon enough.

Thomasin Durgin

Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

1-How has this experience enhanced the way you create?

Participating in the challenges has helped me to work beyond my comfort zone and try new things. It's very liberating because I'm not concerned about marketability and am free to do anything I want. I finished many of my pieces early because they were more fun than my other responsibilities.

2-What have you gained from participating in the EMJC’s?

It's definitely spurred my creativity, and some of the pieces have given me ideas for new designs. I've gotten to know some of my talented EtsyMetal team mates better, seeing their wonderful pieces each week is so inspiring.

3-What was your most favorite piece you made and why?

Probably the spinning brass and silver ring. I love kinetic jewelry, and learned a lot from the experience of making it function. I had fun writing the story intro and making the little movie also.

4-What was the hardest challenge for you and why?

Definitely the sparkly piece with the big swarovski crystal, I'm still not very happy with that one. It was really outside the box for me, I'm just not drawn to bling.

5-Will we see you again next season?

YES! I love taking part! Thank you, Victoria, for all of your hard work on this project.

( "your welcome Tomi & thank you for participating!" )