Making Metal Jewelry

So honored to have an article, "Cold-connected Pin Backs", included in Art Jewelry Magazine's special edition Essential Techniques: Making Metal Jewelry!

This mixed metal and Jasper brooch from the Rosewater Collection makes an appearance...

...and so do I! Complete with a shout out to my alma mater, Humboldt State University.

This special issue covers a wide range of techniques including finishing, texturing, piercing, dapping, patinas, etching, findings, cold connections, forging and more. It's packed with projects, great info on tools, and a ton of metalsmithing tips. To get your hands on a copy head over the the Art Jewelry Magazine Website! 

Thanks for reading! 

National Day of Making

Today is the National Day of Making in the US and since I can't make it to the first ever White House Maker Faire I'm going to spend the day sharing the work of some incredible makers (so check back throughout the day for updates to this post)!

First up, Victioria Takahashi of Experimetal.

Victoria's work is always complex and thoughtful and her craftsmanship and attention to detail is incredible!

If you would like to get to know Victoria and her work a little better check out this great guest post she wrote at the Love My Art Jewelry Blog!

You can find her on:
Etsy
Facebook
Her Blog

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Next up, Kest Schwartzman of Vagabond Jewelry.

If you are in the market for a stunning, talk of the party, wearable piece of art her work might be just what you are looking for.

Photo credit Shannon Beatty

You can find her on:

Facebook

Her Website

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And now, a maker that makes the tools for other makers. The makers at NC Black are metalsmiths themselves so they know their stuff. I've got a few of these hammers myself and I love them!

Check them out and add to your tool collection:

At their website 

On facebook 

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Nikki of NR Jewellery Design has been creating these narrative pieces as of late. Gorgeous stone choices and excellent craftsmanship really make these pieces stand out. 

See more of her work:

On Facebook

In her Etsy Shop

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I know I've only looked at metalsmiths today and there is a reason besides the obvious... There are so many great ones out there! Too many to include in one post! Here are a few more that I always have my eye on:

Sara Westermark 
Tosca Teran at Nanopod
Amy Tavern
Sarah Bonser at LilyCobra
Maggie J's

Pretty much everyone else over at Etsy Metal

all the metalsmiths on instagram #instajewelrygroup

There are so many more!!! So many people making incredible pieces, by hand, one at a time. Totally unique and inspired work. I would encourage anyone who is interested in a more authentic collection of adornment to seek these makers out, support their work when you can, and encourage them when you can't. They make the world a more interesting place!

If jewelry isn't your thing here are a few people/organizations to follow that make a career out of promoting makers, designers and artists of all sorts as well as the art of making:

Maker Faire

American Craft Council

Design Milk 

Jealous Curator 

Skillshare

What are your favorite Maker sites and organizations to follow? Post them in the comments! 

Thanks for reading! 

P.S. I'm also having a flash sale in my Etsy shop to celebrate! Take 20% off with the coupon code DayOfMaking! 

  

Featured Artists: 2Roses

I met John and Corliss of 2Roses when I was lucky enough to become a member of Etsy Metal earlier this year. 2Roses is constantly producing stunning jewelry that often incorporates surprising materials, experimentation, and humor. Not only do they know their stuff when it comes to creating art objects, they always seem to make the time to offer up a little perspective when it comes to business in the art world, which is great because sometimes I take things a bit too seriously. Here are some of my favorites from their Etsy Metal featured member Q&A:

What pieces are you most proud of?

We don’t think of our work in that way. Each piece is an expression, an idea, which takes on a life of its own. Some are humorous, others serious, or political, or deeply personal. Even so, the pieces are imbued with different meanings by the people who own them. We recognize that we are not in control of how our pieces evolve once they arrive in the bigger world. We also recognize that ideas have consequences, and that is the power of art.

What direction do you see your work going in next? 

We continue to explore and experiment within the framework of functional ornament. The real medium that we work with is the intangible space between the wearer and observer of our work.  

Do you collect anything? If so, do you display your collections?

We collect everything. We are a big one-way sieve passing through the universe. 

What is your most prized possession?

Each other.

 Read the complete interview at the Etsy Metal blog.

Featured Artist: Lorena Angulo

I first came across Lorena Angulo's work through the Ring a Day project and was immediately drawn to her amazing use of texture, detail, and color. Her pieces often explore cultural themes related to her heritage and feature many iconic forms such as hearts, skulls, flowers and birds. I am always stunned by the incredible presence that small jewelry objects can have. Lorena's work is both intimate and powerful.

Flaming Heart

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Lorena Angulo and I was born in Mexico where I grew up surrounded by wonderful folk art and jewelry from the Native Indians of a lot of states. My biggest influence while I was a very small child was when I lived in Chiapas, Mexico; this magical state has filled my heart with wonderful memories.

I always loved to create and I have been a self taught artist since I was young. I decided to study Mass Communications and lost for a little while my passion for art and creating. It was until I moved to live to the USA that I started to missed my culture and traditions a lot and in 2006 my sweet husband told me I need it to follow my heart and find my wings again. This was the year I started to take silversmithing classes at Southwest School of Art in San Antonio, Texas. This was the year also that I was introduced to a very new material called PMC (precious metal clay.)

  

Describe your work in one sentence

Artisan Jewelry with Soul! 

What pieces are you most proud of?

This is a hard question for me because a lot of my pieces are very close to my heart. If I have to choose a couple of them it will be my first “Milagro Heart” I made and it was also my first piece published, my “Arbol de Vida” (tree of life) and a commission piece I was honored to make for Corliss and John Rose; “Corliss Calavera”.

What are you favorite materials to work with?

Metal clays (Pure Silver, Bronze and Copper) but I also enjoyed fabricating with sterling, copper and brass. In reality I am always in the look out of new materials to play with and my list can get very long!

Lately I have been playing with Creative paper clay and Craft Porcelain.

LOVE CATRINA

What direction do you see your work going in?

I want to be able to show my work in more places and be able to tell my story in every piece I make. I want to be in more galleries and be able to create wholesale collections but keep on creating my one of a kind work that I love so much.

Who or what is your biggest artistic influence?

My biggest artistic influence is my culture and traditions. My country and all the wonderful memories I have are always present in my work. I admired the work by native artisans.

If you could have your work critiqued by another artist who would it be and why?

Robert Ebendorf. I met him when he came to teach at Southwest School of Art here in San Antonio and I will always remember my experience with him forever. He is an incredible artist and his wonderful spirit can be seen in his work.

I have a big respect for him and his work and I am very sure that taking his class gave me a different perspective in how to transform my work and be able to tell a story in a new way.

What is the best advice you've ever been given?

Follow your heart!

Never compare yourself with others because everybody is unique and your work has to represent what you are.

ARBOL DE VIDA

If you could add one tool to your collection what would it be?

A rolling Mill!!!!!!

I will have so much fun with it!

What do you listen to in the studio?

I usually listen to Latin Music from romantic to dance music. I love to have good energy when I work and if I can sing and dance (if it is possible) I will do it!

What is your most prized possession?

My Family.

My husband and kids.

Do you collect anything? If so, do you display your collections?

I collect Folk Art, mostly from Mexico. I have all my folk art pieces display around my house.

Arbol

How do you spend most of your free time?

Going out with my family. We all enjoyed a lot going to small towns around the city where we can listen to wonderful live music; eat great food and visit galleries and antique shops.

What do you wish you were doing with your free time?

Spend the time with my kids is what I love to do with my free time.

If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

Racism and compassion.

I am so sad to see how people can be so rude to each other. Some people and kids do not realize how hurtful their words are sometimes. We need to have more tolerance and be kind to each other.

Corliss-Calavera

Where can we see your work?

http://www.lorenaangulo.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lorenaangulo/sets/

http://blog.lorenaangulo.com/

https://www.facebook.com/LorenaAnguloJewelry

I will be in Gruene, Texas in September for the Texas Metals Arts

http://www.texasmetalarts.com/index.html