EtsyMetal Blog Carnival

 Topic: "Pages From Your Sketchbook"
Share a page or two from your sketchbook.
Tell us about the piece(s) or idea(s).
Have you started the piece? Did the finished piece change from the original sketch? 

I have always kept a sketchbook, somewhere to put down ideas before I forget them. Some ideas eventually get made, some are jumping off points and get resolved at the bench, in process....I will look at things even years later and still find ideas that are relevant.

 With every new sketchbook that I buy, I always start with the best of intentions, that I will record ideas meticulously and thoroughly. In the end, they become a combination of sketchbook, shopping list, to-do list, price formulas, phone book, scrapbook and diary. This is fine by me, it suits my random and disorganized nature. There is no rhyme or reason, but at least it is all in one place.

Enjoy the other posts about personal sketchbooks from the following etsymetal members:

1. Rebecca Bogan - http://www.AdobeSol.com/blog
2. Shirlee Grund - http://lichenandlychee.com/blog/
3. 2Roses - http://www.jewelrytutorial.blogspot.com
4. Beth Cyr - http://www.bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
5.kate jones http://www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com
6. Erin Austin http://metalmusing.blogspot.com/
7. Nodeform http://nodeform.blogspot.com/
8. Michele Grady http://www.michelegradydesigns.blogspot.com
9. Elizabeth Scott http://esdesignsjewelry.com/blog
10. Su Trindle http://quercussilver.blogspot.com/
11. Evelyn Markasky http://markasky.blogspot.com/
12. ArtigianoJewelBox: http://www.artigianojewelbox.com/category/blog

COOLIDGE CORNER ARTS FESTIVAL

Upcoming Event: Coolidge Corner Art Festival!

I will be in Booth #56, I hope to see you there!

http://www.coolidgecornerartsfestival.com

RAW 13/52

Ring a Week: Kinetics

Better late than never...
The first Ring a Week Group Challenge was 'Kinetics.' I have fallen behind with my RAW creations but I did finish my kinetic ring  for #13.

 It is three bands that spin on a larger ring. Fun to play with and it makes a little rattle noise when it is shaken. I like this, it is one that I could wear every day, but it is going into the etsy shop. First new item listed in a while...

RAW 12/52

Ring A Week: Week 12:  Prong Set Amazonite in Sterling

RAW 11/52

Ring a Week: week 11--Broken Stone :(

A beautiful round ocean jasper cabochon, cut by Cabbinrough. I tried to set the stone using 12 guage sterling silver prongs, by just hammering the tops to set the stone in place. Wouldn't you know it? the stone broke? I love the proportion of the stone so much, that I requested another. It has arrived, but I have to find the time to set it.

Next up is a more complicated setting with square wire. I am a bit behind in posting, but have a week off, where I can plan out the next few designs and get back on track. 

Massart MADE finally open for business!!!

The Massart MADE store had its opening party tonight!!!

Location	621 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115
Hours	Mon - Sat: 10:00 am - 7:00 am Sun: 12:00 pm - 6:00 am
About	A retail store featuring work by alumni, students, staff, and faculty!Alumni, faculty, AND STUDENTS are able to submit work to be sold at the store!email Ginger Russell with examples of your work!ginger.russell@massart.edu

Description	A retail store featuring work by alumni, students, staff, and faculty (located on the first floor of the Kennedy Building)

RAW 10/52

Ring a Week: Week 10--Jumping on the Drusy Bandwagon...

It seems like everywhere I look lately, I see drusy (or druzy) stones incorporated into jewelry designs. It is either a hot trend right now, or I am only now seeing them because of my recent interest in stones.

What is drusy?  Drusys are created when crystals coat the surface of a stone, usually an agate or chalcedony, when gases are trapped inside a cavity of the stone. They can be large and rough, or have a fine, sugar-like appearance and are found in a variety of colors.

I like the white and pale pastel varieties, as they compliment the clean appearance of the brushed silver. When the silver is oxidised, the opal-like luminosity in the white stones is enhanced.

For this week's ring, I have made a rough piece of drusy into a ring by prong setting the stone with square wire. To be honest, I think I will change this to a pendant, I am not sure the stone will survive long as a ring, and it is somewhat uncomfortable to wear.

Here is a pendant I made at the same time as the ring with a pretty oval shaped agate drusy:

This one is going into my etsy shop.

Be sure to check out everyone else's progress in RAW. It is fun and inspiring to follow the progress.