One Earring A Day for 365 Days

Days 1-9

I started the challenge off with bits of this and that from my bench: a length of left over chain, a couple of eyelet lace components, and some gorgeous Amethyst briolettes that have been waiting to see some use.

Sterling Silver and Amethyst Asymmetric Earrings

 I continued on using up bits of scrap chain and several drip drop components.

Sterling Silver and Bronze Asymmetric Earrings

 Then I moved on to creating earrings that fit the first weekly theme: Plants and Trees.

Copper, Sterling Silver and Lapis Asymmetric Earrings

As you can see I've been attempting to make earrings that pair well with one another every couple of days and it's been great to start with an idea one day and continue to develop it the next. I can see sticking to this trend in the future and perhaps lengthening it out to following a theme for 4, 6, 10 days... or however long it takes for an idea to run its course. 

You can see all of the available earrings I've created for this challenge in my asymmetric earring shop section on Etsy, follow along with me on Instagram or Facebook, check out all of the available earrings from participaiting artists by typing EAD2015 in the Etsy search bar, and join in or follow along with the whole group on Flickr or Facebook! 

Thanks to Victoria Takahashi of Experimetal for bringing this challenge to life!

3xR week 52: Endings and New Beginnings

This is it! The last of the 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) pieces. I wanted to go big for this last week and I am happy to say that this piece turned out to be my favorite from the entire project!

Copper, Sterling Silver, Bronze

I started by sketching out the overall shape on a piece of copper sheet.

I gathered some silver scrap

and played around with layout.

After the two main pieces were soldered I started to think about how to connect them and decided to utilize some of my scrap chain. 

Then I grabbed some silver coils that had been intended for jump rings, but never used. I stretched them out, soldered the overlaps, flattened them, and then soldered them to the back of the two main pieces. 

Finally, I added the chain and a clasp that hooks in the front. 

I think this piece looks equally fantastic layered over clothing or against bare skin. 

Thanks so much for following along with the 2014 creative challenge! You can see my entire collection here and the work of all the other artists that participated in the project over on Flickr. This has been my favorite creative challenge to date and I know that I will continue to create pieces inspired by the work I created during this project. 

With the end of one yearly challenge comes the beginning of the next and this one is a fun one! Victoria Takahashi of Experimetal has challenged herself and her jewelry making friends to a year of creating one earring every day. Each participant with an Etsy shop has created a section for these single earrings so collectors can mix and match to create the perfect pair of asymmetrical earrings. Look for links to the participaiting shops in each Earring a Day (EAD) listing or search EAD2015 on Etsy for a look at all the available earrings. 

I am going to do my best to hang in there and will be using the various beads, discarded parts, and found objects that have been hanging out in my studio for ages. Chances are I'll work with similar components and ideas for a few days in a row making matching among my pieces a little easier. 

Day 1: 

Sterling Silver and Amethyst

Day 2: 

Sterling Silver and Amethyst

Look for a weekly blog post that reviews the earrings from each week or follow me over on Facebook and Instagram (@metalmusing) for more regular updates. With that I wish you all a very Happy New Year and the best of luck in your creative endeavors and resolutions! 

Thanks for reading! 

3xR 50 and 51: Remnant Dangles

I had to keep these two under wraps for week or so since they were waiting under a tree! Surprise surprise... two more from the Remnant Collection! These dangles were inspired by a pair I made earlier in the project. To see the process for these pieces check out the week 34 post.

Copper and Sterling Silver

Only one week left! I can't believe this project is coming to an end. I have a feeling this wont be the last of the Remnant pieces and next week I think I'm going to have to go big!

For a look at what the other 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) artists are up to head over to the Flickr Group. To get your hands on one of my 3xR pieces head on over to the eco-friendly section of my Etsy shop and get free shipping through the end of the year with the coupon code: FreeShipping

Thanks for reading!

3xR week 49: Remnant Cuff

Billowing clouds? The wing of a bat? What do you see in the layers of this mixed metal piece?

Some of this scrap was gifted to me by a fellow beginning jewelry (2005!) student last week over drinks and the best cranberry crusted goat cheese platter (OK there was some other cheese on the platter as well, but who knows what it was) in the entire world I'm sure.

Other pieces were scavenged from my scrap bin and transformed into something quite lovely that is already on its way to Tasmania (Oh alright, I could have just said Australia, but Tasmania is more fun)!

For a look at what the other artists from the 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) challenge are creating head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group. For a look at the complete collection of my 3xR pieces click here. To get your hands on one of them for yourself visit my Etsy shop!

Thanks for reading!

3xR week 48: Remnant Pendants

I was so happy with the pendant from week 47 that I just couldn't help myself.

After creating several new pieces from the Orbital and Eyelet Lace collections in the past two weeks I had a fantastic amount of scrap to choose from. 

Paired and sanded

I have to say, I enjoy the aesthetics of these pieces throughout every step of the process. 

Soldered

As usual I couldn't help but play favorites. 

For a look at what the other artists from the 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) challenge are creating head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group. For a look at the complete collection of my 3xR pieces click here. To get your hands on one of them for yourself visit my Etsy shop!

Thanks for reading!

3xR week 47: Remnants

I can't get enough of these Remnant pieces! Since they've been pretty popular I didn't want to pull any from the Etsy shop during my annual holiday sale (more info on that at the end of the post), so I made  a few new pieces this week to take with me to the Holiday Art Market tomorrow (more on that later too). Luckily I had a lot of new scrap to work with since I made a few new Eyelet Lace necklaces to take a long as well.

Sterling Silver Studs and Necklace

With only a short time left of this challenge I'm finding myself returning to this line more and more often. I count 29 Remnant pieces thus far! I'm not sure if I should be really happy that these pieces emerged from the project and give in to the desire to make them and nothing else, or scold myself for settling into something comfortable and force myself to explore new ideas with the final pieces. I suppose as with most of my work it will all depend on my state of mind each time I sit down at the bench.

In the mean time these new pieces will be available tomorrow at the Holiday Art Market!

Not a local? Not to worry, many of the other pieces from the 3xR project are sill available in my Etsy shop and on sale now through Monday, December 1st! Just use the coupon code "Holidays" at check out to save 20% off the entire order.

For a look at what the other artists from the 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) challenge are creating head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group. For a look at the complete collection of my 3xR pieces click here.

Thanks for reading!

3xR 43, 44, 45, and 46: Remnant Pendants

A couple of weeks ago I got a request to create a pendant version of some of my 3xR Remnant posts and while I've been slacking on posting, I've not been slacking on making!

3xR week 33: Remnant Posts 

I started with a free form geometric pendant. 

Sterling Silver Remnant Pendant

Then continued with a few rectangle pendants.

Sterling Silver Remnant Pendants

As usual I used scrap from my eyelet pieces for the top layers. The back of the free form pendant came from a piercing behind a cabochon, and two of the rectangle strips came from a ring that was started but never finished. The center rectangle was part of the hand me down metal from my Aunt (the rest of which was used during weeks 20 and 21). I thought the metal was sterling silver, but it definitely is not. I'm not sure what it is, but it made a lovely pendant.

Only 7 weeks of the 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) challenge left! That must mean the holidays are upon us. I'll be putting together several gift guides stuffed full of the incredible items I've discovered on Etsy this year. In the mean time head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group to see what everyone else has been up to!

Thanks for reading!

3xR 42: From The Deep

We get a little crazy over Halloween around here. With two creative types in the house there is nothing better than an entire day devoted to imagination run wild. This year we decided on our first couples costume. Here I am smirking about the latest man I lured to the icy depths while the ghost of the unfortunate pirate vows revenge behind me.

Every mermaid, evil or otherwise, needs to accessorize. So a few days before our Pumpkin Carving Party I created this sweet little brooch using scrap copper, silver bits melted into balls, and the silver band from a scrapped ring design for the pin. Really, this brooch played no part in the demise of the unlucky pirate.

Then I pulled out the creepy dolls, made some skeleton trophies, and invited some seriously creative folks over.

Check out that 1st place pumpkin inspired by Poe! Congrats Jill!

To check out what the other 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) artists are up to head over to the 3xR 2014 flickr group.  To get your hands on one of my 3xR pieces head over to my Etsy shop.

Thanks for reading and Happy Halloween!

3xR week 38: Reclaimed Brooch

As this project moves forward I continue to return to the Remnant pieces.

Remnant Collection

Bits of scrap left over from the making of the Eyelet Lace collection transformed into new works that hold an echo of the process that came before them. The shadows of the Eyelet pieces are always evident to me, but this week I wanted to make a more literal Remnant piece. The "Reclaimed Brooch" was made to hold the Eyelet Lace pendant that contributed to its composition.

Reclaimed Brooch

The Eyelet pendant can be removed and worn separately, leaving a negative space that acts as further reminder of its contributions.

Reclaimed Brooch Worn

Worn together with the chain of the pendant hanging in swags the brooch transforms into something more regal and complete.

Reclaimed Brooch Back

For a look at what the other participants of the 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) weekly challenge are creating head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group. 

Thanks for reading!

3xR week 37: Remnant Statement Necklace

It's no secret I'm fond of the Remnant pieces that have developed from this project. This week I decided to push them further by creating a big and bold statement piece. This necklace sits high and actually looks quite delicate despite the geometric forms and oxidized contrast.

I began by pulling scrap from the eyelet lace collection and piercings from setting cabochons as usual. I wanted to add some open geometric links as well, so I gathered all the little bits of scrap wire I could find.

Next, I divided up the scrap, created the geometric links, and played around with the layout until I was happy.

After that there was a lot of filing, sanding and soldering. Sadly, I didn't have enough scrap wire for all of the connecting jump rings, so I resorted to using recycled sterling wire.  Not bad, but not scrap.

A final polish, patina, and wax and the piece was complete.

I think it might be time for a Remnant brooch next week...

Thanks for reading!

3xR Week 36: Botanical Stacking Rings

This week my 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) piece(s) came together as I was organizing a cabinet and came across a box full of rings from the Ring A Day (RAD) challenge. So many of my rings were quickly thrown together and not really fit for sale. Since there is photographic evidence of each piece in multiple locations I decided it was time to let some of these pieces find new life.

Then I hit the scrap bin and pulled out a little of this and a little of that.

I melted the smaller pieces into balls and soldered them down to larger pieces.

After they were shaped, hammered, and stamped I added them to the reworked the RAD bands resulting in a really fun set of botanical stacking rings. Since I wasn't really sizing the bands as I made them I ended up with four different sets.

Fortunately, the sizes are close enough that they could potentially be worn together, and when they are it's like a garden on your finger!

You can check out what the other 3xR artists are making over at the 3xR 2014 Flicker group or get your hands on some of these eco-friendly stacking rings over at my Etsy Shop.

Thanks for reading!

3xR 35: Tangled

This week I returned to ocean debris. I cut a small length of the handfuls of fishing line I collected during a short walk on a Kauai beach, and gathered a thick sheet of old copper and few bits of copper tubing from my scrap bin.

Copper Sea Turtle Brooch

All sea turtles in US waters are on the endangered species list and entanglement in marine debris is one of the major threats to their populations. More than 50,000 yards of fishing line were collected during the 2013-2014 Ocean Conservancy clean up effort in the US.

Back of Seat Turtle Brooch

The fishing line on this piece can be pulled and tangled in different ways, but it will not come loose. A small reminder of the struggle these gorgeous animals face.

For more information on Sea Turtles and conservation efforts visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. For information on coastal cleanups visit the Ocean Conservancy.

Thanks for reading.

3xR 34: What to do with the Copper Discs

I have a handful of copper discs that I purchased years ago without really paying attention to what I was ordering. They were a little heavy for the earrings I was making at the time, but I figured I would hang on to them for enameling or something.

This week seemed like the perfect week to finally put them to use. I pulled out my dapping block and got to forming the discs into nice domes.

I rummaged around for a few bits of silver scrap and formed them as well.

A bit of soldering, filing, sanding, texturing, some patina, and a pair of ear wires later I had a lovely pair of mixed metal earrings to add to the Remnant Collection! 

For a look at what the other 3xR (reduce, recycle, reuse) artists are up to head over to the 3xR 2014 Flickr group!

To purchase one of my pieces from the 3xR challenge head over to my Etsy Shop and use the coupon code "Fall20" for 20% off through August 30th!

Thanks for reading!