... a blog roll, that is!
The theme for this month's blog roll is what got us into metalsmithing initially. Join us for the very beginning of our journeys.
Check out what we all have to say:
SilverBlueberry http://jewelry-by-silverblueberry.blogspot.se
SerpentsDance http://www.dancetothedoor.blogspot.com/
Marcus Berkner Jewelry http://berknerdesigns.blogspot.com/
Valerie @ LilyEmme Jewelry blog.lilyemmejewelry.com
All Wired Up Jewelry Designs http://www.allwiredupjewelrydesigns.blogspot.com
Kalicat Jewelry Designs http://kalicatdesigns.blogspot.co.uk/
Kim Bell http://www.kimberlybelldesigns.blogspot.com
Beatriz Fortes www.beatrizfortes.blogspot.com
We are a friendly group of aspiring metalsmiths with a wide variety of skill levels, ranging from the ultra-newbie hammering away on the kitchen table and dreaming of buying their first torch to the amazing master artisans who kindly lend the rest of us their expertise and encouragement. We chat on Facebook regularly and share our failures and successes in a wonderful community of like minds. Take a minute to tell us about yourself and join the conversation!
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Monday, September 17, 2012
September/October Challenge
This challenge is due Oct 31st (midnight EST as usual, though we are a little flexible on that) and this date really needs a theme that is fitting for Halloween.
So the challenge for this month is.... POISON.
The possibilities are endless with this! Do you want to focus on historical poisonings?
Maybe you want to focus on poisonous plants, like hemlock.
Or poisonous animals...
Or maybe something closer to jewellery, the famous poison ring..
I hope you'll all be inspired by this theme - happy creating!!
Post your entry/entries (no limitation) before Oct 31st in the Aspiring Metalsmiths Flickr pool, and tag your item with SeptOct Challenge.
Esmeralda
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
So the challenge for this month is.... POISON.
The possibilities are endless with this! Do you want to focus on historical poisonings?
 |
| "Poisoning of Queen Bona" by Jan Matejko. |
Or poisonous animals...
 |
| Find this ring here |
Post your entry/entries (no limitation) before Oct 31st in the Aspiring Metalsmiths Flickr pool, and tag your item with SeptOct Challenge.
Esmeralda
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Comic challenge winner!!!
So at long last (sorry about the delay) I'm here to announce the winner of the Comic Challenge!!! It was a really tight vote this time.... only 4 votes separated 3rd from 1st! That just tells us all how great the entries were. So, drum roll please......
In Third Place, with 5 votes....
From Claire at Brightstar 109 we have a pendant and earring set. "BATMAN! Nanana ..BATMAN!" (that song is going to be stuck in my head all day!) Lovely Joker earrings and the Batman pendant could be worn together or separately....if you can snag them before her kids do!
In Second place, with 6 votes......
From Kat at Artistikat we have the "Magneto Pendant". This pendant features 2 very powerful magnets that are attracted to each other... even putting a piece of wood between them won't stop their magnetic powers! Simple and scientific!!
And our FIRST PLACE winner, with 8 votes, is .......
From Esme at SilverBlueberry we have a comic from farther east.... Kodama.
My little kodama has a few rough peridots inside its head, so you can make the rattling sound."
Congratulations!!! Esme.. it's up to you to give us the next challenge.... I'm so excited to see what you come up with!! Keep your eyes peeled folks....it'll be a good one!! It's really easy to subscribe to our blog, just enter your email into the box on the right side of your screen.
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
In Third Place, with 5 votes....
From Claire at Brightstar 109 we have a pendant and earring set. "BATMAN! Nanana ..BATMAN!" (that song is going to be stuck in my head all day!) Lovely Joker earrings and the Batman pendant could be worn together or separately....if you can snag them before her kids do!
In Second place, with 6 votes......
From Kat at Artistikat we have the "Magneto Pendant". This pendant features 2 very powerful magnets that are attracted to each other... even putting a piece of wood between them won't stop their magnetic powers! Simple and scientific!!
And our FIRST PLACE winner, with 8 votes, is .......
From Esme at SilverBlueberry we have a comic from farther east.... Kodama.
"A kodama (木魂?) is a spirit from Japanese
folklore, which is believed to live in certain trees (similar to the Dryad of
Greek myth).
Kodama appear in the animated film Princess Mononoke, in which
they are portrayed as small, white humanoids with large, rattling heads and
mask-like features, similar to bobbleheads.My little kodama has a few rough peridots inside its head, so you can make the rattling sound."
Congratulations!!! Esme.. it's up to you to give us the next challenge.... I'm so excited to see what you come up with!! Keep your eyes peeled folks....it'll be a good one!! It's really easy to subscribe to our blog, just enter your email into the box on the right side of your screen.
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Comic Challenge voting!!!
Last challenge was given to us by Chrysoula of Jewellietta She asked us to think of comics and cartoons; from Tom & Jerry to the Marvel Universe to current Anime. Here are 3 people who were brave enough to enter something amazing!!!
From Claire at Brightstar 109 we have a pendant and earring set. "BATMAN! Nanana ..BATMAN!" (that song is going to be stuck in my head all day!) Lovely Joker earrings and the Batman pendant could be worn together or seperately....if you can snag them before her kids do!
From Kat at Artistikat we have the "Magneto Pendant". This pendant features 2 very powerful magnets that are attracted to each other... even putting a piece of wood between them won't stop their magnetic powers! Simple and scientific!!
From Esme at SilverBlueberry we have a comic from farther east.... Kodama.
My little kodama has a few rough peridots inside its head, so you can make the rattling sound."
So there you have it folks.... Yet again, very hard to pick just one, but that is YOUR challenge!!
You can vote in the gadget at the top right of this post.... please review the rules for voting at the bottom......and good luck everyone!!!!
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
From Claire at Brightstar 109 we have a pendant and earring set. "BATMAN! Nanana ..BATMAN!" (that song is going to be stuck in my head all day!) Lovely Joker earrings and the Batman pendant could be worn together or seperately....if you can snag them before her kids do!
From Kat at Artistikat we have the "Magneto Pendant". This pendant features 2 very powerful magnets that are attracted to each other... even putting a piece of wood between them won't stop their magnetic powers! Simple and scientific!!
From Esme at SilverBlueberry we have a comic from farther east.... Kodama.
"A kodama (木魂?) is a spirit from Japanese folklore, which is believed to live in certain trees (similar to the Dryad of Greek myth).
Kodama appear in the animated film Princess Mononoke, in which they are portrayed as small, white humanoids with large, rattling heads and mask-like features, similar to bobbleheads.My little kodama has a few rough peridots inside its head, so you can make the rattling sound."
So there you have it folks.... Yet again, very hard to pick just one, but that is YOUR challenge!!
You can vote in the gadget at the top right of this post.... please review the rules for voting at the bottom......and good luck everyone!!!!
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
Monday, July 23, 2012
August Comic Challenge!
Due to everyone being so darn busy, we've extended the due date for this.... new due date is end of the day SEPTEMBER FIRST (yes, that's the middle of a holiday weekend in the USA)
Please see the bottom of this post for rules and entry stuff.
So, for the new challenge. I came up with the theme while I was watching an animated film: create a piece based on COMICS or CARTOONS. They are fun, light and entertaining and they have great creative potential.
Just imagine...
- If your favorite hero (whether it’s Batman or Bugs Bunny) came by your studio and assigned you to make him/her a piece, what would it be? What colors, symbols or materials and what type of jewelry would fit his or her personality?
- If you could get into the comic’s frames or take part in the story of a cartoon, what would you find there to use as an inspiration for your piece?
- What about the aesthetics, the typography, the black and white or the colors used by comics artists? The Vintage or modern style? American, European, Japanese? Humorous or dark? How can any of these elements be included or transformed in the piece?
So many stories, so many heroes, so many possibilities...
Here are some Animated Films and Cartoons to inspire you: Toy Story, Finding Nemo, Up, The Triplets of Belleville, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Sin City, The Corpse Bride and many more...
Have fun and create, and tell a little about how cartoons or comics inspired your piece. I’m very curious to see your creations!
Entries are due by Midnight on August 19th ...the voting will start on the morning of the 20th.
Post your photos and story to the FLICKR POOL and make sure to TAG it "COMIC CHALLENGE"
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Drumrolls, please!
We have a winner for the July 2012 Aspiring Metals Team Road Trip Challenge (wow, long title)!!!
In third place, we have Angela of A&J Jewelry Design's Ring, with a North Carolina gold nugget she and her husband found while traveling.
In second place, we have Beatriz of Contemporary Jewelry by Beatriz Fortes's winged heart locket.
And, finally, our Grand Winner: Chrysoula of Jewellietta and her charming kinetic pendant!
A big congratulations to all who participated! The new challenge should be up soon, for more skill stretching fun.
In third place, we have Angela of A&J Jewelry Design's Ring, with a North Carolina gold nugget she and her husband found while traveling.
In second place, we have Beatriz of Contemporary Jewelry by Beatriz Fortes's winged heart locket.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Let the ROADTRIP voting begin!!!
ROAD TRIP CHALLENGE ENTRIES!!!
The last challenge that was issued was "road trips" and what they meant to us. We were told to make a piece that would be a bit like a souvenir of a trip we've taken, or one that we have yet to take. We were told to make the piece and just as importantly, to share the story behind it. We've got 4 wonderful entries this time around. Remember, the winner of this challenge picks the next one!! And please, read the official rules at the bottom of this post before you vote. Voting will be on the right side of your screen, near the top. We've got 3 days to vote this time around. Voting closes mid-day on Wednesday 7/18.
Our first entry is from Beatriz of Beatriz Fortes. She made a locket to keep memories in.
Here's what she says: "To me, travel is about freedom, new experiences and reflection. This heart can be opened to absorb all that is seen and felt. As it opens, it also gains wings to soar. A small picture can be kept inside, either as an anchor to home or a memento of the trip."
_______________________________________________________________________________Next up, we have Julie from Wabi Brook Studio. She brings us a very interesting copper pendant.
I have many memories of road trips, starting way back in the early 1960's when my sister and I would hop in the back of the Chevrolet on nearly every Sunday afternoon to head off into uncharted (to us at least) territory. Presumably mom, the copilot and map reader, and dad, the pilot, knew roughly to where we were going.
When my sister and I were deemed old enough, our road trips included summer camping trips. These were carefully orchestrated by my father, from the route, to the packing of the canvas tent and other camping paraphernalia into the cavernous trunk of yet another Chevrolet. Off we would go, the pilot and copilot (always with correctly folded map) and two hot and squirmy girls. This was before air conditioning, so sometimes things became rather um ... Heated ... in the back seat, and often the front seat,too.
Later I took my own road trips, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. In the days before gps, they always included a map or two.
This piece was created in memory of my father, who taught me how to read a map, how to get lost and how to get found. His parents took a road trip to Sudbury, and that is where he was born. I live a few short hours from the city, and still take a road trip or two there every year.
Copper, recycled vintage road map."
When my sister and I were deemed old enough, our road trips included summer camping trips. These were carefully orchestrated by my father, from the route, to the packing of the canvas tent and other camping paraphernalia into the cavernous trunk of yet another Chevrolet. Off we would go, the pilot and copilot (always with correctly folded map) and two hot and squirmy girls. This was before air conditioning, so sometimes things became rather um ... Heated ... in the back seat, and often the front seat,too.
Later I took my own road trips, sometimes alone, sometimes with friends. In the days before gps, they always included a map or two.
This piece was created in memory of my father, who taught me how to read a map, how to get lost and how to get found. His parents took a road trip to Sudbury, and that is where he was born. I live a few short hours from the city, and still take a road trip or two there every year.
Copper, recycled vintage road map."
_________________________________________________________________________________
Our next entry comes from Angela of A&J Jewelry Designs. Such a fancy ring, with such a great story!
Here's Angela's story: "This is my entry for the July Road Trip Challenge. My husband and I are amateur gold prospectors/rock hounds. In July of last year, we took our first real extended vacation to North Carolina, without children after 29 years of marriage and raising our family. We had never been able to take a honeymoon, so it really was a special time. We planned the entire trip down to the minute so that we could optimize our time in search of gold and treasure. It was the most physically demanding and tiring vacation we could ever have imagined, but we had an absolute blast! We even got to meet Gloria while we were down there :). I decided to use a few pieces of what we found on that trip for this piece. The primary metal in this ring is sterling silver. The ring has a clear glass cabochon set in fancy bezel wall. The glass sits on a gold-filled wire step. Under the glass are small pieces of garnet that we found in the rivers and the gemstone mines. Surrounded by the garnet is a 24k gold nugget, the largest piece that we found at the Cotton Patch Mine in NC. I know that there is no other ring in the universe like this one, and it will be mine forever in memory of that wonderful trip!"
_________________________________________________________________________________
And our final entry for you to chose from is made by Chrysoula of Jewellietta. I really like the kinetic element of this pendant.
Here's Chrysoula's story:"When I was a child, in the summers our family would travel from Athens to Katerini, the hometown of my father. The trip lasted 7-8 hours. On a certain part of the route, after some time of moving through flat fields, there was an alley of very tall trees on both sides of the road. The trunks created shadows, the branches made an arch and the sun was showing through the leaves. For some meters I felt like we were passing through a magical world. I wanted to recreate this atmosphere and also I wanted the jewelry to resemble a toy, because this is a childhood memory. So I made the car move back and forth on a rail, in this small alley of silver trees. The whole piece is made of 925 sterling silver, the different parts are soldered and it is hung from a rubber cord."
_______________________________________________________________________________
Well, that's it folks.....good luck picking just one!!! I know I've been looking at them all for days and I still can't make up my mind....but you've only got a few days!!! Don't forget to vote! Voting closes mid-day on Wednesday 7/18.
Official Team Challenge Rules….
To enter and vote you must meet the following requirements:
- Have an Etsy shop
- Be a member of the Aspiring Metalsmith team on Etsy
- Be able to post your photos to our Flickr pool without blocking them from download, so the blog master has access.
- Follow each challenge’s rules as to submission times, materials and/or techniques, or any other rule for that specific challenge.
- Make something NEW for the challenge….not something that you have in stock that fits the rules. These challenges are to push you to try new things, not just show off things you’ve already done.
We politely ask that if you do not meet these guidelines you do not vote either. These challenges are intended to be an internal, skill-pushing endeavor….not a popularity contest. We like to show off how well we’ve done, but really want our peers on the team to judge our technique and skill growth.
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