Tube rivets continued

I thought you might like to see some interesting metal tube rivets.  I particularly liked these because here, tube rivets are used as design rather than a connection. The rivet becomes the focal point, almost like an industrial "gem". 

Thank you to the artist, Lorrie Mason at Masonmetaldesigns, for letting me post her rings here. She uses tube rivets is a lot of the pieces - just check out her Etsy shop. 

Rivet Copper Ring by Lorrie Mason

Don't miss the polymer mock tube rivet how-to and the GIVE AWAY on my last post ! 

It runs until Friday, Feb 21 at 1pm! 

Polymer Arts

Polymer Arts Winter 2012 is out today - I'm really honored to be part of the Rings Galore article! Thank you to editor Sage Bray for including my work. 

Fragment ring in coal

Isn't it funny

Isn't it funny how things happen sometimes? I was considering diverting attention from rings for a while because I feel like people feel unsure about buying them online or about polymer clay ones or something.  "Some business decisions are sad." I thought, because I love rings.  

Then what do you know?  I was asked to write an article about rings and my process. 

So I am (quite happily) working through some ideas and the how and the why of it. (Thank you Sage at The Polymer Arts Magazine, for the excuse to do something I really wanted to do anyway!)

MIA

Action is the key word in Missing in Action. I've not actually been missing; I was here, just very busy on several different fronts, among them being refining my carved rings. I want better, more comfortable shanks (the part that actually goes around your finger) because I think WEARERS want more comfortable shanks.

The vermillion one here, along with several others, a bracelet and necklaces are on their way to Corey and Co. in Portland. My jewelry and Barbara's work! Its such a great match, in my opinion.

(This is the grey version of their think spring attitude.)

Ring, ring

I decided to try some paid advertising this year. The folks at 20BestTwenty could not have made it any easier (thank you Meg)! I went out on a bit of limb by choosing a ring to promote for starters. I know, not the easiest jewelry to sell since fit is key. I have full and half sizes 5-10 ready to ship - this is more production mode than I've attempted with rings thus far.

After a quick and helpful tweet chat with Danielle last night I realized that it would help if I provide some sort of chart, link, or ring sizers. So after the boys get started with math thats the first order of business this morning.

Danielle (HandyMaiden) makes the most charming animals. Hand sculpted, handed painted polymer - each with such personality. You can find your standard favorites (fox, owl, deer) but if its a Red Panda, Fennec Fox or Eastern Quoll you're after, she's got that too.

And so...

...someone has copied some of my pieces. Its was unsettling to come upon their Etsy shop, a bit like seeing your own head on another body. My designs are simple so maybe this is an unfortunate but natural side effect.

They openly state in their shop that they are "inspired" by me. Now I've had people say that before, that is, they see something I did, they change the ideas, they make their own, they let me know they posted a picture on their blog or flickr and its humbling and kind ( and exciting). That is not wrong. We learn from each and then we can make the KNOWLEDGE, not the item, our own. And when everyone plays by the rules...it's actually great! Those with more knowledge have more of a "reserve" from which to share and the rest of us need to be respectful of that. (and to heighten the effect you can do what I do and stand in the Ford/Forlano booth at ACC and weep ;-)


No, inspiration is something completely different than copying. So where is the dividing line? MOST of us don't want to step over that line - me included!


Forging head with new rings, new necklaces, new earrings!

Whirlwind

We've logged 18 hours in the car in the past two weeks visiting colleges with our daughter, started a new art program with our boys and I've start negotiating my way into the world of wholesale. (More on that when things get sorted out.)




Amazingly all this seemingly mundane stuff can be quite inspirational (well...we did drive through Vermont in autumn) but it hasn't allowed for much time in the studio. I am working on new rings though, trying to thin the band and add variety to the shape.




(Sam says he prefers working in polymer but 15 mins. of observational drawing every day is really helping him make progress in drawing!)

Collaberation

Good things come in small packages.


Shannon at MissFickleMedia was willing to undertake a custom order for me. I emailed her a simple sketch, she created some copper samples and now here several weeks later...Voila!


Shiny silver rings, very well made, in a variety of sizes. I will mostly likely patina them.

They will hold stones, gems, carved bits or maybe polymer with faux enamel once I work out construction. Silver is expensive (especially compared to polymer) but I love the role reversal. The silver will play the understated, supportive role and the plastic will stand in as the "gem".

First....look!

I would have thought I'd come home from vacation permanently hunched over from all the time we spent looking closely at the stones, shells, sea glass, sand dollars and seaweed strewn across the beaches of Matinicus last month. I looked at pebbles closely, as I had been taught to do in Tracy Holmes class "A Day at the Beach, developing a criticial eye in regard to my own polymer clay versions. (This echoed my Dad's drawing instruction when I was little "always look at the thing you are drawing MORE than at your piece of paper".)

Here's my fiddling around. The more realistic looking ones have been sanded; the others are rough.


This might be what happens next.


And I am definitely headed in this direction but with custom sterling rings.

The Big Day Plus One

My coughing is almost gone thank God (apparently I had bronchitis). It subsided enough for me to have a great day at The Radius Gallery. My husband helped plan a demo table with several in progress pieces because he predicted, correctly, that I would do more talking/explaining than actual demonstrating. Although my process is wildly less complex, I was inspired by the poster of what goes into making one of her pieces that Louise Fischer Cozzi hangs in her booth at the ACC Show.

I did give a brief demo on how I made my "Fragment" rings to several people (several of whom were children which is fine with me because they are always a little more willing to give an enthusiastic "wow!" when I am finished). The Crimsons Red one is now in the etsy shop.



The gorgeous weather affected typical Sunday attendance at the museum I was told. Actually for this being my first such event the numbers were just right and I had a couple gaps between people visiting my table so I could re-squash clay and rest my throat. I had a nervous stomach on the way there but it was amazing, once people started asking questions I was totally fine. When I saw that someone was generally interested that was all it took for me to relax.


I read and researched all last week to prepare for the "what is polymer clay made of" questions and not one single person asked me that. Kind of funny. Not a waste of time though because I know a lot more about the material than I did just 7 days ago and knowledge is never a waste.

Here is the lovely glass display that is filled with just my work for the entire month! As I look at this photo I am reminded again of all the people (included the curator Morgan and his assistant Jessica) who have come along side me, supported me and given me opportunities to show my work over the past 3 years.

Countdown

Seven days until my "meet the artist" day at the PA State Museum. I am feeling under the weather probably because I have been working like crazy and haven't gotten the rest I need.


Here is a look at some of the pieces I delivered to The Radius Gallery on Friday .


I am still a bit nervous about having to demonstrate. I'll spend time this week researching the history of polymer because I want to be able to talk intelligently about the material. Anybody have some advice about good online sources?

Very clever

Mary of MaryMade purchased one of my Stone Upon Stone rings a few months back. She was kind enough and clever enough to include the ring in one of the photos of her recent listing of her beautiful Blueberry cowl! Aren't those colors wonderful?


I, in turn, chose her cowl as the inspiration for my current treasury.


See how much fun advertising can be?!

I have a thing for rings

I have a growing collection and a keen interest in more exotic varieties. I often match my clothing to my ring, not my ring to my clothing. Perhaps that gives you a better picture of my weakness.

You'll understand my excitement when visiting UnaOdd's studio over Thanksgiving weekend and finding one of these little, engraved, acrylic numbers on her work table! I gave the proto-type a test drive.


I was thrilled to see she had started posting them to her shop. At just $12 each they are a real deal! They are comfortable and sturdy but so amazingly light weight! Which one should I get?


If you share my weakness for rings also check out The Carrot Box!

One Ring

I am trying to split my time now between production work and new designs. I know, I know, at this point in the year with Black Friday and Cyber Monday approaching I should probably just be working toward that end but admittedly I get buggy making a bunch of one thing with no break.

So I continue working on ring designs. This is where things stand with the carved band.

They're a bit too wide although make no mistake, I am going for bold here. And the insides are too unfinished as pointed out by my daughter with a polite "mom...you can do better than this." (This is a household of artists - we taught the children to critique from birth.) Love the carving! Will be doing more of that for sure!

I am wearing one of the rings daily to test its limitations. The biggest issue here for me is strength and durability. Any material has its limitations and certainly there are varying degrees of sturdiness. Sterling wire can bend. A stone can be lost if prongs wear thin or are bent. So where does a polymer ring fall ? What is it reasonable to expect out of a polymer ring?

Happy Thanksgiving! Thank you for reading my ramblings!

To Market to Market

I am busy preparing for my first craft market of the year -
Crafty By Nature ------------------------------------------------>
being held at Shupp's Grove in Reinholds, PA. Its about half way between Lancaster and Reading, PA just off of route 222. The antique market opens at 6am and the craft market at 9am.

I'll have some new designs that will be available for the first time at the show. Wooden rings, mini (read: very affordable) pendants that could also serve as charms, rolodex style stretch bracelets, new necklace designs, new earrings...suffice to say lots of "new".




In addition, I've been taking some imagery (such as the stones and grass/flax designs) one step further by changing color, shape and findings. I really like the grass design. I like it better now that I am using it less literally. Its very experimental because I lay the blades of polymer grass over the background color, inbed them slightly and then cut circles. Yes, I realize, probably not the most efficient way of working with a material (I am TRYING to get myself into caning, really I am) but I so enjoy the asymmetrical results that this technique provides.

New Ring

I am pretty excited about this new ring I made. I suppose not everyone wants a ring this large but I have bulky hands and can definitely get away with it. I'm ordering slimmer bands too though so I will be able to offer a sleeker version.



The band is wood and the "gem" is polymer.

A List and A Silver Lining

Since my March 27 post regarding my search for balance several things have happened that have really helped focus me.

First, I should mention that I had blog friends comment, share their own struggles and offer suggestions on the post. Knowing that one is not alone is so comforting! Thank you!

Secondly, I have been asked to consign my jewelry at The Radius Gallery and Museum Shop at the PA State Museum in Harrisburg. This is great; its a target with a defined goal, 12 pieces. So I have made a list and posted it. Visuals really help me.

And lastly, I made a unscheduled visit to the doctor for knee pain. Results say arthritis. Ten days resting the knee means (here is the silver lining) 10 days at my work table. So I decided to take one afternoon and experiment and work on something I have been putting on the back burner for a while, making a polymer ring. The design needs refining or changing or something but I did manage to push through the biggest glitch...I can't break it!