RAW: no I'm not growling; it's time for Ring A Week

That's right, a new challenge to create a ring a week for an entire year. Only 52 rings? What will we do with all the spare time! For most of the group RAD (Ring A Day) ended with 2010. I'm still hanging in there until the end of February to complete my 365 rings. However, my RAD rings will primarily be models for RAW from here on out. This year I'm going to take my infatuation with paper even further and explore the translation of paper craft into metal.

Week One 

1/8/2011

Origami Airplane

Copper

Week 2

1/16/2011

Origami Boat

Copper

For the Love of Paper

I've always loved paper. I used to beg my mom to take me into every paper store and down every paper isle I saw. Greeting cards, journals, and note books filled my wish lists and just about every nook of my way too messy for mom's eyes bedroom. I would spend hours scrawling notes, writing poems, and making collages just to feel it in my hands. When I got older paper mache was often my medium of choice in sculpture classes and now I've become reacquainted with paper clay thanks to Ring A Day. There is just something about the smell and delicate nature of paper that gets me going.  I ran through the paper clay package in a matter of days but don't worry, something tells me my fascination is far from over.

I've been told these forms are coral-like in nature. Although that was not my intention I am pleased with the result. For more images of these and other paper clay rings as well as the sticky tack rings that started this series please visit me on Flickr!

RAD Packs!

Just when we though Ring A Day couldn't get any better along come the RAD packs! Filled with small mysteries wrapped in brown paper the RAD pack is intended to inspire.  Etsy metal member Kathryn Riechert sent out the first RAD pack to the RAD members from  EtsyMetal and I received mine from Sara Westermark. The rules are simple: if you open it you have to use it within 24 hours. The actual object can be used in the ring itself or as inspiration for a ring.

The first treasure I unwrapped was a small tile that I later learned was a piece of pottery by Leslie Willett. Apparently when a piece isn't up to par she breaks it. Sara found out about this process and asked that she hold the pieces for her.  This particular piece was then formed and sanded by Sara before she passed it along in the RAD pack.  A treasure like this deserves a plan:

I was really drawn to the contrasting textures within the tile and I decided to develop that contrast by extending the texture onto the metals of the ring. The tile was so thick that I had to use sheet metal to make a bezel.  When the first attempt failed I decided to go with a partial bezel.

Sterling Silver, Copper, Brass, Ceramic Tile

Check back for how other RAD participants interpreted the tile!