Art Rocks!

My friend Jill Elisofon-- fantastic jewelry designer and bestest friend--and I will be in a funky-cool art and jewelry show in May. The show is called Art Rocks and wil be held May 15th at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach. If you are around, you HAVE TO COME BY! The show will feature 45 booths of wearable, touchable, edible, ORIGINAL art. This will be fun!!!

And Now for Something COMPLETELY Different...

I've been obsessively etching copper and brass for days--I get that way with a new idea or toy. So, I decided to pull myself out of that and refresh myself in a completely different direction for a project I hope to be a part of.

I heard about a call for artists to participate in a "Steampunk Inspiration" book to be published next year. I've been fooling around with assemblage jewelry for a while now, and have really enjoyed creating funky necklaces using antique German doll bodies. These porcelain figures are hollow, and make great pendants! I've created four so far, and this is the latest, my Raven God. The "wings" are made from hammered sterling silver wire and silver tubes. I inserted black turkey feathers into the tubes. It's multi-functional as well. The pewter raven head-piece is another necklace, the chain fits inside the doll body. Below is an adjustable sterling silver ring with guinea and turkey feathers suspended by a sterling silver hook. You can wear the whole thing when you need the DRAMA, or wear the smaller necklace and ring seperately. I used a sterling silver neck wire for this so it could be hung on a wall when not being worn. This is definately meant to be displayed! I submitted photos of this guy along with some other assemblage work. Hope I get in!!!

I still have three or four doll bodies left...I'm thinking of creating a botanical piece next....I'll keep you posted!!

I'm all Etchy...

Been experimenting with etching and LOVE IT! Made two new locket pendants over the past couple of days, plus a ring, plus some earrings...basically etching anything and everything copper and brass. Here are a couple images of the lockets--one features a great collage image of a finch, the other a picture taken of my Mother when she was a girl. One of my favorite photos. More images to come--what do you think???

Just for Fun - Etsy can really rock sometimes. I love having a shop there, and am constantly inspired and surprised by the artists I discover. This "Mom and Dad" artist duo was featured on Etsy's home page and I really love the work! I'm not a huge "doll" or "figure" collector, but these creations are just weired enough to make me want one! Take a look at Cart Before the Horse!

Cool Artist Alert!

My super-hip niece, Laura, sent me a link on Facebook a while back to a super-cool artist website. French artist Maissa Toulet creates "cabinets of curiosities", 3-D assemblages containing...well...everything! Totally cool, unbelievably unique, these dioramas are amazing. Please take some time here, you'll be compelled to look at each creation--full of detail and amazing botanical elements. Love this!!!

Too Cool!!!

Just found this on Etsy. What a wonderful idea (get it, lightbulb...idea???). Anyway, I wish I had thought of it! Take a look and visit this shop!

Wouldn't this be a great project for Earth Day? Hmmmm....wonder if I have any old light bulbs like this anywhere.

Want to Come Up and See My Etchings?

I've been wanting to experiment with etching metals for quite some time. Recently, I came across a great blog post at Alternative Designs explaining how to etch brass and copper with ferric chloride. I'm very intrigued...planning to give this a try. Ferric chloride has to be disposed of properly when you are finished using it...luckily I have a great recycling center within 5 miles of my house. I'll let you know what happens.

I'd love to hear from you if you etch...what is your preferred method? Contact me and I'll post your advice and sources here!

Hummingbird image etched in copper.

New Work...

I've been busy lately working on new designs. I was part of a great art show last week for the conservation organization I work for, the Rare Species Conservatory Foundation. We hold a nature-inspired art show every year. This was the fourth year for the show, and we get better each time! Great artists, lovely venue (a private studio behind a friend's house). We had a ball and shared some wonderful art. The images below are of a few of my new designs created for the show. More to come!

Also, I had the wonderful good fortune to meet Bernie Berlin yesterday while updating my gallery display at Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery in Lake Worth. Bernie is a fantastic mixed media artist--get to Amazon to purchase her book, "Artist Trading Card Workshop". Totally cool. Her eye for color and design is FANTASTIC. Bernie raises money through her art to support the rescue and placement of unwanted dogs and cats. Visit her at A Place To Bark, her animal rescue organization. So nice to run into her...you never know who you're going to meet on any given day. Art is such a unifying force and the force was definately with me yesterday!