Lisa Hopkins Design

Green Amethyst :: Ring No. 52

2011-12-28T17:40:00.000-05:00

My final ring for the Ring A Week challenge features a 10mm cushion rose cut green amethyst that I've set in sterling silver. I've given the ring a brushed finish. I fell in love with this pale green stone and have decided to keep this ring for myself. It is so comfy and fits perfectly.

Participating in the Ring A Week challenge has been an incredible experience. At times, with a full schedule, it was hard to keep up but I'm so glad I was able to finish in time. I've really enjoyed seeing the creations of other challenge participants. You can see the entire pool of Ring A Week rings on Flickr.

Tension Setting :: Ring A Week No. 51

2011-12-27T17:30:00.002-05:00

This is my first attempt at a tension setting, in which the stone is held in place solely by spring tension. I formed the ring from square wire, allowing the two ends to bypass each other to hold a 3mm faceted peridot between them. The shape is not perfect, the band twists just a bit and does not flow quite as I would like, but I still think it looks nice on the finger, since the back of the band is not the focus. It was challenging to spread the two ends apart and insert the tiny peridot, yet incredibly satisfying to hear it snap into place. It seems very secure.

Ovals :: Ring A Week No. 50

2011-12-27T15:45:00.001-05:00

For my latest ring, I decided to start with the same basic components as the previous ring, solder them together in the same sequence, but alter the components and finish to change the look of the second ring. After cutting five circles and then cutting smaller circles out of the larger circles, I rolled each piece through my rolling mill to create ovals. I then soldered them together. I oxidized the larger, open ovals for contrast and gave the small ovals a bright, brushed finish. I really like the effect. Below are the two rings side by side.

Circles :: Ring No. 49

2011-12-21T14:40:00.000-05:00

For Ring 49, I've cut small circles from larger circles of sterling silver and soldered them all together to make this simple ring. I've given it a brushed finish.

I've fallen just a bit behind with my Ring A Week challenge. (Thanks to my fantastic customers this holiday season has been very, very busy, with not much free time for creating rings!) I still intend to meet my goal of creating 52 rings by year end--three more to go! Stay tuned....

Walnut Nautilus Ring :: Ring A Week No. 48

2011-12-20T10:55:00.000-05:00

One of my first rings for the Ring A Week Challenge was a ring made of wood. As I near the end of this year-long challenge, I've again revisited wood for one of my final pieces. I've hand cut and shaped this walnut ring, giving it a soft, smooth finish. I then etched my tiny hand drawn nautilus shell design into a small sterling silver circle. It is soldered to a post that is inserted and secured in the wood shank.

Feather Ring :: RAW 47/52

2011-12-19T15:00:00.002-05:00

Similar to a recent leaf ring (RAW 43), Ring A Week 47 features an imprint. This time, I've imprinted a small feather into sterling silver. I then hand cut and fabricated the ring, and oxidized and hand finished it to show of the delicate lines of the feather.

Let it snow :: Ring A Week No. 46

2011-12-07T13:15:00.000-05:00

I've continued with the snow theme for a second ring, etching my handwritten words "Let it snow!" into this hand fabricated band. The background texture is interesting and also a bit of a mystery. I have a particular strip of silver that reliably produces these textured lines when etched. I've etched a lot of silver and always clean and prep it in the same way, yet whenever I cut a piece from this particular strip to etch I get this result, no matter how well it is cleaned and prepped first. I find it more interesting than troublesome and really enjoy the effect.

Below is a Let it Snow! necklace, with a smooth background (available in my shop):

Snowflake :: Ring A Week No. 45

2011-12-04T19:15:00.000-05:00

I love the delicate beauty of snowflakes, and at this time of year I cannot resist drawing them. I etched one of my hand drawn snowflake designs into silver to create this ring. I oxidize most of my snowflake pendants to show off the delicate designs, but I loved the frosty appearance of this ring and decided to instead burnish the delicate lines of the etched design to create subtle contrast against the frosty, brushed background.

Hydrangea Blossom :: Ring A Week No. 44

2011-12-02T20:00:00.000-05:00

I've had a lot of fun imprinting whole, dried hydrangea blossoms into sterling silver. (Necklaces are available in my shop.) For this ring a week ring, I imprinted a four petal hydrangea blossom, hand cut and formed it, and soldered it to a hand fabricated sterling shank. The oxidized finish highlights the delicate veins of each petal.

Leaf Imprint :: Ring A Week No. 43

2011-11-19T22:35:00.000-05:00

As I was walking my dog this week, I noticed some lovely fallen leaves that happened to be just the right size and shape for a wrap around ring. I collected a few and this weekend I imprinted one into sterling silver using my rolling mill. I hand cut it from the silver using my jeweler's hand saw, following the fine, serrated edge along one side of the imprint. I wanted the ring to feel comfortable on the finger so I chose to create a smooth bottom edge. I love how the tip and the stem of the leaf overlap and envisioned that detail being the front of the ring. However, I think it actually looks nicer on the finger with the overlap to the back.

Go and wake up your luck :: Ring A Week No. 42

2011-11-16T18:00:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I visit my mistake drawer for inspiration. For my latest Ring A Week ring, I combined two pieces residing in that drawer. The etched piece, which reads "go and wake up your luck," was originally to be a pendant. I wasn't happy with the shape or the etched lettering and so it went in the drawer. I made the wide band from a piece of silver into which I had attempted to imprint some grasses for texture but didn't love the result. I sanded away the texture before fabricating the band and soldered the the organically shaped etched piece in place. I then gave it an oxidized, somewhat shiny finish. I am glad to have found a use for a couple pieces that had not turned out as I intended. It feels great on the finger and is a ring I will likely wear from time to time.

Curl Ring :: Ring A Week No. 41

2011-11-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

For this latest Ring A Week ring, I challenged myself to make a ring out of a piece of scrap silver from a failed rolling mill experiment. I first cut the piece into a freeform organic shape and then smoothed the sides and edges. I formed it into a ring shape and then curled the ends. Finally, I gave it a soft matte grey finish. It reminds me of ribbon.

Pressed Petals :: Ring A Week No. 40

2011-10-28T13:50:00.000-04:00

Inspired by some lovely dried hydrangea blossoms, I've created this ring by overlapping five hydrangea petals and imprinting them into sterling silver using my rolling mill. I then hand cut the silver, following the organic contour of the petals. The oxidized finish highlights the intricate veins in each petal.

Below are individual petals that I imprinted in sterling silver and 14K gold and turned into pendants. Both necklaces are available in my Etsy shops.

The fall of a leaf :: Ring No. 39

2011-10-18T19:45:00.002-04:00

I recently came across this Russian Proverb: "The fall of a leaf is a whisper to the living." I love the sentiment and I immediately knew I had to somehow incorporate it into a new piece. I hand lettered the quote in calligraphy and then created smaller versions of my maple leaf design to dance above the words. I hand cut around the tops of the leaves for an interesting jagged edge. I had thought of separating the leaves from the text to make a set of two stacking rings that would fit together along a jagged edge at the bottom of the leaves, but it was turning out so nicely as one piece that I didn't want to risk messing it up. I may experiment with the idea though. I did try a mock up, cutting the two stacking rings out of paper which actually turned out well so I may give it a try in metal sometime soon. In the meantime, I'm pretty happy with how this ring turned out. Below of are some progress shots so you can see a couple stages of the process.

Ring A Week No. 38

2011-10-13T10:56:00.003-04:00

For my latest ring, I imprinted both sides of the sterling silver with the soft, subtle texture of 100% cotton paper. I wanted to give the edge the appearance of torn paper so I hand cut an organic, rough edge around the entire piece and then formed it into a wrap ring with overlapping ends. To finish it, I gave a subtle, polished shine to the rough edge, all the way around the ring. I like the substantial feel of the ring but for a more papery effect, I'd consider using a thinner gauge of silver the next time.

Ring A Week No. 37

2011-10-06T22:30:00.003-04:00

This latest Ring A Week ring features a purple, teardrop-shaped, druzy agate cabochon. It is set in a hand cut, scalloped bezel. I've oxidized the silver and I think the grey patina looks quite nice with the purple druzy. I received this stone free with another purchase and I really like the sugary purple crystals in its center.

Amethyst Leaf Ring :: Ring A Week No. 36

2011-09-30T13:45:00.002-04:00

It's been a busy month, but I've finally finished ring number 36. This ring, created for a customer, is a modification of an earlier Ring A Week design, ring number 7. For this newest ring I've set an amethyst cabochon, instead of peridot, in the center. I've also given the bezel and stone a lower profile so that it is a bit more protected, nestled among the leaves. Other than those differences the two rings are quite similar yet the change in stone color gives the ring a different look.

Tiny Butterfly :: Ring A Week No. 35

2011-09-11T18:13:00.003-04:00

A tiny etched silver butterfly perches atop a sterling silver band. I've oxidized the ring and hand finished it to show off the delicate etched details of the tiny butterfly.

I'm hard at work preparing for an art fair next weekend so this week's ring is simple and sweet.

Luna Moth Twins :: Ring A Week No. 34

2011-09-04T23:01:00.002-04:00

My hand drawn luna moth design is a favorite nature motif in my jewelry collection. This week's Ring A Week ring features twin luna moths etched into sterling silver. Their antennae entwine and encircle a small, bezel set 3mm peridot cabochon. I had first intended to incorporate a moonstone cabochon, which would have been appropriate for the luna theme. The moonstones I have in stock were just a tad too large, so I went with the peridot instead. Since luna moths are a similar shade of green, I felt it was a nice second choice and I really like the tiny pop of color at the center of this ring.

Ring A Week No. 33

2011-08-25T10:20:00.000-04:00

For my latest Ring A Week ring, I've created a sterling silver band that matches my previous ring. The etched design is so detailed and delicate that I wanted to make a simpler piece to show off the detail of the etching. I like how it turned out.

Garnet Ring :: Ring A Week No. 32

2011-08-15T22:00:00.002-04:00

I really enjoyed making this ring. I've set a 6mm almandine garnet cabochon into the center surrounded by my hand drawn etched vine lace design etched into a sterling saucer. The shank is also etched with the design and cradles the saucer. It is oxidized and hand finished and I really like how the patina shows of the delicate, lacy etched vines. I've recently created some pendants with the lace vine motif as well, which you can see in my shop.

Moonstone Ring :: Ring A Week No. 31

2011-08-10T18:30:00.001-04:00

Several months ago, I purchased some lovely little 4mm moonstone cabochons. They've been sitting in my drawer waiting for a project until I thought of the idea for this ring. I've been melting and reusing a lot of my scrap silver these days and for Ring 31, I melted some scrap into a molten orb, flattened it just a bit and then filed interesting facets all around the silver nugget which sits atop a fabricated sterling band. I fabricated a bezel for the moonstone, which is inset. I love the rough, faceted texture of the silver (which I've oxidized to show off its angles) paired with the smooth, glowing dome of moonstone.

My Life is My Message :: Ring A Week No. 30

2011-07-29T15:23:00.006-04:00

I recently came across this quote by Gandhi: "my life is my message" and it stuck in my head. What a powerful statement. Not only was it true for Gandhi; it's true for each of us. I decided to etch this sentiment into my latest Ring A Week ring. I started with sterling silver square wire, hand fabricating the band, hammering the outer surface and etching the handwritten words into the silver. I then oxidized the hammered texture and the etched lettering for contrast. What a great reminder to wear on the finger!

Ring A Week No. 29

2011-07-27T12:04:00.005-04:00

My 29th Ring A Week ring is a thick, hand fabricated band of sterling silver. I've filed facets along the edges to create an interesting texture, and I've highlighted the texture by oxidizing and hand finishing the ring. It's a substantial piece and also very comfortable to wear.

Ring A Week No. 28

2011-07-15T21:31:00.004-04:00

For my twenty-eighth Ring A Week ring, I fabricated a sterling silver band and added a 14K gold orb that I made by melting some of my gold scrap. I gave both band and orb a brushed finish. While this is a very simple design, I really like it a lot, perhaps because it reminds me a bit of my wedding ring, minus the diamond (see below).

Tide Pool Ring :: Ring a Week No. 27

2011-07-06T13:50:00.004-04:00

My friend, Carolyn, of Sleeping Dog Studio recently shared some resin with me and I've been eager to try it out. So, for this week's Ring A Week ring I fabricated this sterling silver ring, added three tiny shells collected during a vacation, and filled the sterling saucer with resin, partially submerging the shells. The clear resin looks like water and this piece reminds me of a tide pool.

I didn't want to waste the 1/2 ounce batch of resin I had mixed for the ring and since it is usable for about 45 minutes after mixing, I looked around the studio to quickly figure out what else I might do with it. I have a packet of small manufactured sterling bezel cups that I never use since I prefer to make my own so they were perfect for experimenting. I also hang on to the pnp paper I use to transfer my designs for etching; the leftover bits are lovely and so I save some them. I decided to try embedding some of the tinier designs in resin, in the bezel cups, and made several pendants like the one below. The photo doesn't quite do it justice since the branch design actually appears to be floating and the image is sharper than the photo conveys. This was my first time working with resin and it was fun to experiment.

Ring A Week No. 26

2011-06-29T18:10:00.002-04:00

For my 26th Ring A Week ring, I etched my delicate vine branch design into sterling and then hand cut the intricate shape, soldering it to a hand fabricated sterling brand. I oxidized it for contrast. I really like the dimension and texture of this vine branch. This ring gave me some trouble that I did not anticipate. The delicate vine was so fragile that it broke in a couple places. I had intended for it to remain in one piece, although I think it looks fine as separate pieces encircling the band. Solder did not flow properly and it took me a couple of tries. I also had some issues with firescale which took some work to clean up. Do you recognize the branch? I also used this motif for Ring A Week No. 14. The two rings are very different.

I've also made a matching pendant (below) which is now for sale in my Etsy Shop.

The Hummingbird :: Ring A Week No. 25

2011-06-19T21:30:00.002-04:00

I recently found a dead male hummingbird in our yard. I hoped he was merely stunned, but upon closer inspection it became clear that he was deceased. I buried him in a pleasant area near some bushes and pondered the life of this small, amazing creature, one of my favorite birds. My friend, Kathy, suggested I create a piece of jewelry "to honor and celebrate the fragile, yet beautiful life of the hummingbird. It reminds us that all life is fragile." Another friend, Julie, suggested creating one of my Ring A Week rings in his honor. I thought these were lovely ideas.

This ring has resulted from their suggestions and from some design motifs I've been working with lately. I hand cut the tiny hummingbird and flowers from a sheet of 14K gold and soldered them to a sterling circle which I then cupped and soldered to a hand fabricated sterling band. I oxidized the silver and I really love the striking contrast between the blackened silver and the gold. This ring is one of my personal favorites, perhaps my favorite piece that I've created to date.

Below is the ring before I oxidized it. I've also posted some progress photos to my facebook business page, which you can see here.

I've made several other mixed metal pieces combining silver and gold that are now available in my new Etsy Shop Here are four of them:

Ring A Week No. 24

2011-06-12T16:40:00.000-04:00

For my twenty-fourth Ring A Week ring, I melted sterling silver scrap into a ring shape. I wanted to preserve its interesting, undulating edges and organic form, while forming it into a functional ring. Below is the ring shape I started with. I used my hammer and files to create the finished piece above.

Pebble Ring :: Ring A Week No. 23

2011-06-05T18:00:00.001-04:00

I recently melted down my gold scrap and made some little 14k gold balls. I soldered several balls together, intending for them to look like round bubbles floating on the band. I didn't like the look of it. The balls were too round and they looked odd connected to each other but with open space between them. They did not look like bubbles. I then flattened the tops of the balls a bit, gave each a more organic shape, and then soldered them to a sterling background, cutting a nice contour around the gold pebbles and finally soldering the assembly to a sterling band. I oxidized the silver for contrast and I really like how the dark background shows off the gold pebbles. I'm happy with how this piece turned out.

Ring A Week No. 22

2011-05-29T11:30:00.002-04:00

I had so much fun fabricating my twenty-second ring for the Ring A Week challenge. I love its soft, sleek shape and soft satin finish. I don't actually love it as a ring though. Perhaps it's just not a good match for my fingers but I thought it looked odd on my hand. I decided to also make a smaller version for earrings, which you can see below, and I'm pleased with how they turned out. The ring looks nice hanging from a chain so I may wear it as a pendant. Its hollow form makes it wonderfully light weight.

Both the ring and earrings were made from Argentium silver. Argentium has a slightly higher silver content than sterling (a minimum of of 93.5% vs. a minimum of 92.5% in sterling). Germanium replaces some of the copper used in sterling silver, making Argentium silver tarnish resistant and a bit whiter and brighter. It is also firescale resistant. Argentium is produced using recycled silver.

These are the first pieces I've created using Argentium and I really enjoyed working with it. Each ring is created from two halves that I soldered together. I used Argentium silver solder which is an excellent color match for this metal and I am pleased that there is no visible solder seam.

Fragile Strength :: Ring A Week No. 21

2011-05-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

While walking my dog several days ago I found a few broken robin egg shell fragments on the sidewalk. As I examined the pieces, I marveled at how thin and fragile they are, yet strong enough to shelter and protect a developing bird.

Robin egg blue is one of the prettiest colors. As I admired the smooth lustre of the shell fragment, I imagined it set in a ring. In fact, I knew I had to try it. I designed and constructed the ring using cold connections, to eliminate torch work that would destroy the shell. I made two convex rings, one that nests inside the other. The smaller of the two provides support for the shell and holds it in place beneath the larger convex ring. I made a larger flat ring that fits over the two convex pieces, holding them in place. I secured the assembly to the shank with two tiny rivets.

I am pleased with how the ring turned out, although despite being as careful as possible during fabrication, there is a small, hairline crack in the shell. It is nearly invisible but I am still disappointed that I cracked it.

While not a practical ring at all, it was so much fun to make.

By the way, while googling robin eggs I came across this plastic surgery site with an amazing photo of a broken robin egg reconstructed with microplates used to repair facial fractures. How cool! Click here to check out the photo.

Talk About Blog: New Project Ideas

2011-05-20T18:20:00.004-04:00

Each month, Handmade Division team members have the opportunity to write a blog post on a given topic. This month's topic is: What new project are you working on now and why?

A project that has been floating around in my head for awhile is a personal series of pieces incorporating mementos from my grandmothers. It's been 21 years since my maternal grandmother passed away; I lost my paternal grandmother at the end of last year. I have wonderful memories of both. From an early age, I remember being drawn to their jewelry collections (of course!) my maternal grandmother kept her earrings on a mirrored jewelry tray on her dresser. During each visit as a child I'd organize her jewelry tray, matching up her earrings and arranging them in neat pairs. My paternal grandmother had a drawer with stacking trays and later a jewelry armoire. I remember going through the drawers with her...she'd tell me about the pieces my grandfather gave her and sometimes she'd give me something to wear or even keep.

As I think about creating pieces in memory of my grandmothers, there are many possibilities. I know that I want to etch their handwriting for these pieces. I still have letters from both of them. A small heart-shaped stone that I found with one of my grandmothers could look interesting in a bezel setting or prong setting. I have bits of jewelry from both of them, with some broken pieces that I would love to somehow rework and incorporate into these keepsake pieces. I like the idea of also incorporating a tiny photo.

While this project is still in the early planning stages, it is one I think about often. I'll wait to begin the work of fabricating until the time feels right and I have a clear vision for these pieces. I'm in no hurry.

Read other Handmade Division Team blogs on this topic:

Rickson Jewellery: http://www.ricksonart.blogspot.com/
WATTO Distinctive Metal Wear: www.wattoonline.com/news

Circles :: Ring A Week No. 20

2011-05-15T11:00:00.002-04:00

For my twentieth piece in the Ring A Week challenge, I've cut and soldered fourteen tiny sterling silver circles, forming them into a ring. I've oxidized the ring and hand finished it to enhance the dimension and texture. The ring reminds me of scales, or armor.

Serendipity :: Ring A Week No. 19

2011-05-09T11:45:00.006-04:00

Serendipity is one of my favorite words. For my nineteenth ring in the Ring A Week challenge, I've created this sterling silver ring with the word "serendipity" encircling it. I've handwritten and then hand cut the word using my jeweler's handsaw, allowing the ascenders and descenders of several letters to extend slightly beyond the band. I've oxidized the outside of the ring only and I love the contrast between outside and inside.

Calico Lace Ring: Ring A Week No. 18

2011-05-01T22:15:00.002-04:00

When I first got this calico lace agate cabochon I didn't know what I'd make with it but I knew I couldn't hide the back of this stone; the backside is as gorgeous as the front. The stone also features a small translucent pool, allowing light to pass through its depths. I love the dimension and the small white orbs visible within the frosty pool.

I chose to use this stone in my eighteenth Ring A Week piece. I wanted to keep as much of the two sides of the stone visible as possible so I have given it a bezel setting, cutting a large opening in the sterling seat to frame the back of the stone, and soldering the sterling shank to the edges of the frame. Below are progress shots of the ring before setting the stone:

I really like the open back of this piece and the stone's secret window, hidden when worn but fun to take off and hold up to the light.

Anticlastic Form :: Ring A Week No. 17

2011-04-26T23:00:00.000-04:00

As I strive to catch up with the Ring A Week challenge, I've made this simple wrap ring using my new sinusoidal stake to create the ring's anticlastic form. I then gave the ring a rustic, hammered texture, which I regret. I think it looked much nicer with a smoother finish and I wish I had at least taken photos before texturing its surface. I look forward to trying again....

Stacking Trio :: Ring A Week No. 16

2011-04-22T13:00:00.000-04:00

I had a wonderful time last weekend exhibiting at the Indiana Artisan Marketplace, followed by a mini-vacation in Michigan earlier this week. These events have put me a bit behind with the Ring A Week challenge, but I am now finding time to catch up. For my sixteenth challenge piece I've created a trio of stacking rings. Two are sterling silver and the third is copper. I like the simple, modern lines of these rings and the soft contrast provided by the brushed copper ring sandwiched between the two silver rings.

Curl Ring: Ring A Week No. 15

2011-04-10T17:00:00.000-04:00

I've been busy this week, preparing for the Indiana Artisan Marketplace, and did not have much time to devote to my latest Ring A Week design. This was a simple, quickly-created piece but I like its lines and can imagine revisiting and revising this design using a thicker gauge of silver. Now I'll get back to my show prep!

Vine Ring :: Ring A Week No. 14

2011-04-03T16:36:00.006-04:00

This week, I made a ring featuring my vine motif. The vine design was etched into sterling silver and I then carefully cut around portions of the delicate vine above and below band lines. As with many of my pieces, I've oxidized this ring to provide contrast and highlight the design. I made the first ring featuring this motif last fall, which you can see below. I chose to cut the first ring quite differently, leaving wide, angled margins around the etched vine, which achieves a very different effect. I was pleasantly surprised by how delicate the new ring looks.

Ring a Week No. 13

2011-03-27T17:45:00.001-04:00

Yesterday, I made this sterling silver and peridot ring featuring a single etched leaf, a simpler version of my Ring A Week No. 7. I really like this simpler design. I had first intended for it to have two leaves, but I found I liked the single leaf and decided it looked best that way. It's one of those special pieces I feel compelled to keep for myself. I've been wearing it all day and I like it!

I have one more ring design in mind that will feature my etched leaves. Stay tuned.

Spring Leaves :: Ring A Week No. 12

2011-03-20T12:40:00.003-04:00

This week I've created some new jewelry pieces featuring my etched leaf design. For my Ring A Week number 12, I've hand fabricated this ring, overlapping and soldering seven small sterling silver leaves together. I wanted to keep this first leaf ring for myself, but once finished it was a tad too small. I tried to enlarge it and in the process discovered that the tip of one leaf was not properly joined when it broke free. As I was preparing to resolder that leaf, I realized that the ring actually works really well as an adjustable ring, and I chose to leave it that way since the overlapping design disguises this feature well. A happy accident!

Below are several other pieces from my leaf collection.

Two hearts beat as one :: Ring A Week #11

2011-03-13T12:00:00.000-04:00

My eleventh Ring A Week project is actually two rings. These matching wedding bands were a collaborative effort, created for my friend and fellow calligrapher, Alesia. They feature her lovely hand lettered calligraphy. I've etched her words "two hearts beat as one" into these hand fabricated sterling silver bands. They've been oxidized and hand finished to highlight the raised lettering. I love that the bands happen to fit so perfectly together, one within the other.

Ring A Week Number 10

2011-03-06T12:00:00.002-05:00

I began this ring two years ago. It originally had an etched design on the front but the etching didn't turn out so well. It sat in my work-in-progress drawer and every now and then I'd think about how I might be able to save it. I decided to have another go at it for Ring A Week number 10. I filed off the etched face and I flush set a 3mm faceted peridot. I gave the ring a rustic, lightly hammered texture and oxidized finish.

I wish I had a before photo. I thought I did, but I can't find it. I think I have improved the ring, and I'm glad that after two years it's finally finished.

Check out the progress of other Ring A Week participants here.

Vacation and Ring A Week Number 9

2011-02-27T15:15:00.001-05:00

I am back in the studio after spending a lovely week in Park City, Utah. It was a wonderful and much-needed break. Since I was away, I didn't have the opportunity to create a ring this week for the Ring A Week Challenge, but I did recently finish this special ring for a customer. It features the words "well behaved women rarely make history" which I've handwritten in calligraphy and etched around the hand fabricated sterling band. I've oxidized it and I've given it a brushed finish. I'm really happy with how this ring turned out. The very tiny etched lettering is deep and crisp.

Below is a photo from the trip. The mountains were beautiful.

Ring A Week Number 8

2011-02-20T12:00:00.001-05:00

This past week was a busy one, which included a quick trip to visit family in Michigan, so there was less time for ring-making. I did manage to create this sterling silver spinner ring for my eighth ring in the Ring A Week Challenge. The wide band is encircled by a thinner seamless band etched with a portion of my hand drawn rose garden design and oxidized. I etched the silver flat before forming the seamless band. The thin band rotates freely.

Ring A Week Number 7

2011-02-13T10:45:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure why, but design ideas often come to me in the shower. My seventh ring in the Ring A Week challenge was one of those ideas. I was thinking about this small peridot cabochon that I've had for awhile and wondering how I might use it in a ring when this image of the peridot encircled with leaves popped into my head. I began drawing and etching the leaf design right away and the finished piece is exactly as I envisioned (which is not always the case, so I was very pleased). Below are some photos of the ring in progress.

This is my favorite ring (so far) that I've made for the challenge and it reminds me that spring is just around the corner.

Tree Stump Ring :: Ring A Week Number 6

2011-02-06T12:03:00.007-05:00

My plan for this week's ring was to create a silver ring that resembled soft, fluid folds of fabric. However, as I worked on this piece, it began looking more and more like a tree stump. I decided to shift focus and allow it to be the tree stump it wanted to be. It wasn't an easy decision since I was making progress with my fabric folds idea and what if I went in this other direction and completely ruined the ring? I decided to chance it. I painted a textured bark design onto the ring and began etching the design into the metal. A while later, I went outside to help Mark chop the ice/snow mixture (from this week's storm) off of our driveway and promptly forgot about the ring. I left it in the acid far too long and by the time I finally realized it the acid had eaten through the resist resulting in a piece with random bumps on the surface rather than the etched bark design I intended. I felt sick to my stomach. I had indeed ruined the piece . . . although . . . what if. . . . I decided to work with the bumps to try to create the bark texture in another way. After several tries, I was actually very happy with the effect I achieved using liver of sulfur and wire brushes. Below you can see the ring in progress before I decided to shift course and turn it into a tree stump. I love the soft, satiny texture and form (which was nicer in person than in the photos), yet the ring lacks the character of finished tree stump ring above.

I intend to pursue my original idea with a future ring but for this week I am quite pleased with the Stump Ring.

You can see what others have been creating as part of the Ring A Week Challenge here.

Ring A Week Number 5

2011-01-30T12:00:00.000-05:00

I've wanted to make something with this green druzy agate cabochon for some time. Its surface reminds me of hills and valleys and its color and sparkle remind me of fresh, rain-kissed springtime. As I look out my studio window at gloomy skies and a snowy yard, I yearn for spring. I found a line from a poem by Alice Duer Miller that sums up what comes to mind (and what I long for) when I look at this stone: "the light of spring on the emerald earth." (read the entire public domain poem here). I've hand written and etched these words into the sterling band of this hand fabricated ring. I've also etched the author's name on the back of the ring, above my maker's mark. The words are lightly oxidized for contrast.

I enjoyed making this ring for the Ring A Week Challenge. I don't do a lot of stone setting, so this was also good practice for me.

Family Craftsmen and Ring A Week Number 4

2011-01-22T17:48:00.010-05:00

My dad is a talented woodworker as was my grandfather. I am fortunate to have really beautiful wood pieces made by both of them. Inspired by the abilities of these men in my family, I've been experimenting with a bit of woodworking myself, considering possible ways to incorporate wood into my jewelry designs.

While visiting my family over the recent holidays, my dad gave me some pieces of walnut wood leftover from my grandfather's workshop. Over the past few weeks I've enjoyed experimenting with the wood, learning to work with it and respecting its differences from the metal I am familiar with. For my fourth ring for the Ring A Week Challenge I have made this ring from a piece of walnut and I've riveted my sterling silver heart design to the walnut band.

I wanted to also try cutting an intricate design in wood so after finishing the ring, I hand cut this walnut heart with a design similar to the sterling silver heart:

I look forward to continuing my experiments with woodworking.

Ring A Week Number 3

2011-01-15T23:20:00.008-05:00

For my third ring in the Ring A Week challenge, I've created a Floral Branch Ring to add to my Floral Branch Collection. This hand fabricated ring was hand cut from a sheet of sterling silver using my jeweler's hand saw, formed and then soldered. I really enjoy cutting intricate shapes and find this work to be meditative and relaxing. I was happy with the result, although there are modifications I would make to a second ring.

Below are some photos of the ring in process, showing the various stages of piercing, freeing the ring from the silver sheet.

And here are some other pieces in my Floral Branch Collection:

The Ring A Week Flickr pool grows with each day and there are many wonderful rings being created for this challenge. Check it out here.

To have faith is to have wings :: RAW #2

2011-01-09T11:45:00.007-05:00

"To have faith is to have wings." I love this quote from Peter Pan by James Matthew Barrie. For my second ring in the Ring A Week Challenge, I've hand written and etched this quote, along with the author's name, onto this hand fabricated sterling silver ring featuring my etched wings design. I've oxidized this piece to enhance the etched wings and words, but as with my last ring I also really liked the brushed silver version:

If you'd like to see the rings by others participating in the Ring A Week Challenge, please check out the photos posted in the Flickr group.

Ring A Week Challenge

2011-01-03T09:54:00.007-05:00

This year I am participating in the Ring a Week Challenge. Participating artists will make one ring each week and post it to the Flickr group. I intend to also blog about each ring I create. This challenge was inspired by last year's Ring a Day challenge. While I didn't participate last year (I didn't think I could keep up), I really enjoyed seeing the creativity of the artists who participated and I'm excited about taking part in this new challenge for 2011.

For my first ring, I made this etched sterling silver band, pictured above. I painted random marks directly onto the band and then scratched through the center of each mark with a fine, sharp tool before etching the band. The result is a deeply textured ring. While my intent was simply a ring with abstract, textured marks, I see feathers, wings, soaring birds in this etched design; a happy accident.

I considered leaving the ring brushed silver. I really liked the delicate frosty appearance, but I chose to oxidize the band to highlight the texture. Below is the ring before I oxidized it.

Five years from now....

2010-12-15T12:00:00.001-05:00

It's time for the Handmade Division's monthly Talk About, meaning that many of our members blog about a common topic. This months topic is: Where do you aspire to be in five years?

I like to dream about the future. I enjoy my life and my work very much, but there are times, while working in my space-challenged home studio, that I dream of working in a larger, separate space. I envision purchasing a small building and having a combined studio/storefront. I imagine having a large, organized studio with plenty of room for all of my metalsmithing tools, perhaps a separate space for my friend, Julia, and I to set up our letterpress workshop, and, if my husband chooses to share in the dream with me, a space for his studio/workshop too. I like the idea of having a shop/gallery up front to sell our creations and perhaps the work of some of our artist friends as well. Our dogs would come to work with me each day; they'd both enjoy greeting our customers.

Take a look at other members' blogs and read about their plans for the future:

Andes Cruz: http://www.andescruz.wordpress.com/
Tess Norberg: http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Rebekah Timlin Meddles: http://www.lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://www.jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/Bella-Bijou
Bella-Bijou Jewellery: http://www.bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
JJ Papke: http://www.rosyrevolver.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Tosca Teran: www.nanopod.wordpress.com
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/

It's Talk About Time

2010-11-15T12:00:00.004-05:00

This month the Handmade Division's Talk About topic is: Talk about a teacher you'd like to study with. In last month's Talk About post, I mentioned that I'd like to take classes at the Revere Academy in San Francisco. Specifically, I'd love to study with master goldsmith Alan Revere. Several years ago, I purchased his Revere on Goldsmithing DVD series and it was money well spent. (For anyone considering this purchase, I recommend buying the entire set at once, which offers a bit of a savings.) These DVDs are packed with great instruction and fantastic tips. I learned so much from them and watched some of them more than once. I also love his book, 101 Bench Tips for Jewelers. The tips are great. For example, this book taught me how to modify my ring bending pliers which has made these pliers much more functional and turned them into a tool I love and use frequently.

Having learned so much from Alan Revere in print and on screen, I hope to one day study with him in person.

Please check out other Handmade Division members' blogs to learn who they would like to study with:

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Nancy Dale: http://nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Tosca Teran: http://nanopod.wordpress.com/
Rickson Jewellery: http://www.ricksonart.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Purified: http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Emily Watson http://nocoloratall.tumblr.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
WATTO Distinctive Metal Wear http://wattoonline.blogspot.com/
Pink Crow Studio: http://pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/

How did I get here?

2010-10-15T11:00:00.002-04:00

It's time for the Handmade Division's Talk About. Each month members blog about a given topic. This month's topic question is: Tell us about yourself - how did you get to where you are now with your skills?

My path toward metalsmithing and jewelry making began in a roundabout way while I was a grad student, studying medieval literature. I loved the program and the literature, but was not certain that I'd enjoy a career in academia. One day I happened to visit a fun little rubber stamp store and signed up for their mailing list. A fellow shopper noticed my handwriting on the sign up sheet and asked if I had ever taken calligraphy classes. I hadn't, but the idea intrigued me. She recommended a fantastic calligrapher/instructor in the area. I took some time off from grad school while trying to make a decision about my future, and meanwhile signed up for a calligraphy class. I loved it and pursued additional calligraphy classes. It was fascinating to learn traditional illumination in one of the calligraphy classes, having studied illuminated manuscripts in grad school.

For quite a few years since becoming a calligrapher, I've been fortunate to participate in a monthly artistic exchange with nine talented calligraphers from across the US and Canada. In 2006, I experimented with etching my calligraphy into metal for our monthly swap and from there I became interested in metalsmithing. Meanwhile, I had envisioned and search for a piece of meaningful jewelry but never quite found what I had in mind. It occurred to me that perhaps I could make what I had envisioned, and that's when I began making jewelry. I am primarily self taught, but early on I began to wonder about "proper" technique and if I was going about it all in the right way. I had learned while studying calligraphy how important it is to learn correct technique from the start since it can be difficult to unlearn poor habits. I enrolled in a metalsmithing class but it was terribly disappointing. More than once I drove well over an hour to this class only to learn when I arrived that the instructor had canceled class with no notice. There was no new information, and some of what was taught was actually incorrect. I regretted wasting the time and money on that class. From there I continued learning on my own but with the help of some fantastic DVD resources, such as Alan Revere's Goldsmithing DVD series, in addition to a collection of fantastic books. I dream of one day taking classes at the Revere Academy or Penland School of Crafts, but for now I continue to experiment on my own and work to expand my skill set.

Here are a few glimpes of my earliest pieces:

My first etching experiment in copper:

My first piece of jewelry, a hand carved ring:

My first etched jewelry piece:

I often wish I could thank the woman I encountered in the rubber stamp store, for had I not fallen in love with calligraphy, I would not have discovered a passion for metalsmithing or combined these two skills. Perhaps she will read this post and recognize herself.

Be sure to check out other members' blogs to read their thoughts on this topic:

Andes Cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Tess Norberg - http://www.nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Jaime Pickering - http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Purified - http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Nancy Dale - http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko - http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Sand Fibers - http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul - http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin - http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Susan Moloney - http://susarto.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
Emily Watson- http://nocoloratall.tumblr.com/
Tosca Teran- http://www.nanopod.wordpress.com/
Tamra Gentry - http://www.jewelrydesignchronicles.com/
JJ Papke- http://rosyrevolver.blogspot.com/
Alisa Miller- http://alisamiller.blogspot.com/
Mary Spencer- http://www.wattoonline.blogspot.com/

Inspirations

2010-09-15T12:00:00.002-04:00

It's time for the Handmade Division's monthly Talk About; participating members blog on a given topic. This month's topic is: Where do you draw your creative inspirations from?

I am often inspired by small elements in nature, as well as by words. A great quote, my current reading list, or favorite poetry are all creative sources for me. My recent luna moth piece is an example inspired by both nature and words, combining one of my nature drawings with poetry. The luna moth is a favorite insect. I kept bumping into the creature in my reading this summer, first while rereading Barbara Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer, and shortly after in a magazine article. It seemed time to work with luna moth imagery. I wanted to create a dimensional piece that incorporated poetry. Since I am not a poet, I began searching through some favorite public domain texts for suitable verse. I came across a poem,"The Wife from Fairyland," by Richard Le Gallienne and fell in love with four lines:

Green leaves and silence and two eyes--

'T was so she seemed to me,

A silver shadow of the woods,

Whisper and mystery.

The words inspired part of the design. I used them as background, hand lettered in copperplate script and etched into the silver cupped portion of the piece. Rather than oxidizing the words for contrast, to make them stand out and become more legible, I chose to leave the background silver, the words a subtle fluid texture, whisper and mystery. The etched luna moth hovers above, casting its silver shadow across the words.

This Luna Moth Necklace was included in the recent Art on the Wabash exhibit.

Please visit other Handmade Division members' blogs to discover their inspirations:

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Susan Moloney: http://susarto.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Rebekah Meddles (Lunasa Designs Jewelry): http://lunasadesigns.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
nanotopia: http://nanopod.wordpress.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs: http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/

My Grandma's Necklace

2010-08-28T19:30:00.009-04:00

I was recently asked to name a favorite piece of jewelry. My first thought was my wedding ring...then I thought of some favorite pieces by other jewelry artists, and then I thought of this beautiful locket given to me by my grandmother. It is engraved with her initial A and was given to her by her godmother when she was born exactly 89 years ago; today is my grandma's birthday. I adore this tiny locket because it's lovely and because she gave it to me and it is part of her history. In looking at the construction of this piece, I think it was designed to open but it is now firmly stuck together. I've never wanted to disturb it too much or risk damage by trying to force it open.

My grandma is an inspiration to me. An artist herself, a painter, she's always encouraged my creativity. She also told me more than once to follow my heart and in fact once made me promise to do so. It has turned out to be good advice.

Her words inspired my "follow your heart" necklace, and I think of her locket whenever I create a monogrammed necklace.

Happy birthday, Grandma.

What I'd like to create

2010-08-15T12:00:00.013-04:00

It's time for the Handmade Division's Talk About. Each month members blog about a given topic. This month, our topic question is: "What would you like to create, that you don't have the skills or technology to do currently?

I would like to learn glassblowing and create hand blown glass pieces. Several years ago Mark and I took a hot glass workshop at the Indianapolis Art Center. It was an exciting, fast-paced class in which we became familiar with the glass, tools, equipment and furnaces. We made paperweights. Mine is pictured above (not so impressive, but fun to make). Glassblowing has interested me for such a long time and I'd like to learn more. I already enjoy working with fire.

I've created this Etsy treasury of some fantastic glass work:

Please check out other Handmade Division members' blogs to see what they would like to create:

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
NEDbeads: http://www.nedbeads.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr: http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/
Purified http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/

nova of sweden http://nova-designs.blogspot.com/
Bella-Bijou Jewellery http://bellabijoujewellery.blogspot.com/
Pink Crow Studio: http://www.pinkcrowstudio.typepad.com/
Sand Fibers: http://sandfibers.blogspot.com/
Alice Istanbul: http://istanbuldesigns.blogspot.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Moxie & Oliver: http://moxieandoliver.blogspot.com/
Tosca Teran http://nanopod.wordpress.com/
Delias Thompson http://deliasstudioinc.blogspot.com/

Embracing My Mistakes

2010-08-01T12:00:00.016-04:00

In my studio, I have a "work in progress" drawer containing not only partially finished pieces in progress but also work that didn't turn out quite as I envisioned, pieces I'm reluctant to abandon. This drawer turns out to be an inspirational place for me. It is much-visited in the course of a day, and sometimes I'll have a flash of an idea, a sudden vision of how a mistake might be transformed. Often these pieces turn out to be favorites.

One piece recently languished in the drawer for a couple of months. I intended it to be like the piece above, but I had made the rim too narrow. The piece then seemed a bit too delicate. I thought about soldering it to a solid circle of silver, but it wasn't quite what I wanted; I preferred the delicate openwork. One day I spotted it in the drawer and thought, "what if I made it convex?" I gave it a try and the necklace below was the result. I loved it!

The etched Always Necklace below was a happy accident. I started out making a Forever and Always Ring, but something odd happened during the etching process and when I pulled it out of the etching bath, it had this amazing, organic texture surrounding the "always" that I hadn't actually intended. It reminded me of rough, weathered wood. Because the rustic texture was not consistent across the entire piece and it would no longer work as a ring, it went in the drawer for a couple of weeks. When I looked at it again, It occurred to me to cut the "forever" off and use the "always" for a necklace. I was thrilled with the result. The piece sold immediately.

The Always piece has inspired other textured work, such as the edge of my Luna Moth Necklace:

My third example is an ordering mistake. I accidentally ordered chain that was too substantial, and when I received the spool I knew this chain would overwhelm the delicate pieces for which I had intended it. It occurred to me that it would be lovely for a bracelet. Below is the result. (I was tempted to keep this bracelet for myself!)

While it would be fantastic if all my work turned out exactly as I intended, I do rather enjoy the challenge of a piece gone awry; puzzling out a good solution is immensely satisfying.

Talk About :: Collaboration

2010-07-15T12:00:00.002-04:00

It's "Talk About" time again for the Handmade Division. Each month the members of our group blog about a given topic. This month's topic question: "Is there an artist you'd love to collaborate with? What would you like to create?"

I've mentioned in a previous post collaborating with my friend, Julia. Another artist I'd like to collaborate with is my husband. Mark is a potter. (See his fantastic work above!) I'd love to carve my lettering and designs into some collaborative pieces. I think it would be amazingly fun to design and create pottery pieces together. I remember when we first met being intrigued that he was a potter since I'd always thought I'd enjoy learning to work with clay. While we were dating, Mark taught me to throw on his pottery wheel and we had such fun together in his pottery studio. We had intended to do more of it, but somehow we haven't. We're busy with our own work and projects, and some of the plans we had envisioned together have been sidetracked.

We do collaborate well. We've worked on stained glass projects together, we cook together, and we've enjoyed taking many creative classes together. This topic is a fantastic reminder to reevaluate our creative plans and goals as a couple and maybe even spend some time together in the pottery studio again.

These are the first two pottery pieces I made, with assistance and and instruction from Mark. Perhaps the next time I post about pottery it will be to show you the results of our collaborative efforts.

Be sure to take a look at the blogs of other Handmade Division members to see what they have to say about the topic of artistic collaboration:

Andes Cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
ceeb wassermann aka howlindoggie: http://mettledesignstudio.blogspot.com/
Rickson Jewellery - http://www.ricksonart.blogspot.com/
Purified - http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/
Susan Moloney - http://susarto.blogspot.com/
nanopod: Hybrid Studio - http://nanopod.wordpress.com/

Artisans Collective :: Team Challenge

2010-07-02T12:45:00.005-04:00

I belong to a diverse and talented group of Etsy artists, the Artisans Collective. Members have the opportunity to participate in "team challenges"; a theme is chosen and those participating each create a piece inspired by the theme. Our latest challenge theme is Bees. For this challenge, I created a necklace featuring a bee that I designed and hand cut from a sheet of sterling silver with my jeweler's hand saw. It's always so much fun (and inspiring!) to see what others come up with for these challenges. Take a look at our team blog to see the wonderful bee-themed creations of other Artisans Collective members. Be sure to check out our new team website too!

Indiana Artisan

2010-06-28T18:14:00.010-04:00

I am so happy to learn today that my work has juried into the Indiana Artisan program. Out of 97 applications reviewed by the art jury panel, 15 were selected and I'm pleased to be among them. I look forward to participating in this statewide program.

The necklace above is one of the pieces I submitted. It features a favorite quote by Thoreau: Go confidently in the direction of your dreams; live the life you have imagined.

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T08:00:00.006-04:00

My dad is so supportive of my work. He checks in on my Etsy shop regularly to see what I've been making. Every now and then I get an email from him, commenting on a new piece. After receiving one of his emails last week telling me that he liked the new Hurt No Living Thing Necklace and the poem that inspired it, I decided to make him a keychain for Father's Day with the public domain poem by Christina Rossetti. The poem reminds me of him; he has such compassion for all creatures. I hand lettered the poem in a spiral and etched it into a hand formed sterling silver cup. It was a challenge to fit all of the words onto a piece small enough to work as a keychain element, and I'm pleased with how it turned out.

Below is the poem by Christina Rossetti. Happy Father's Day, Dad. Thank you for your compassion and care for even the tiniest of creatures.

Hurt no living thing:
Ladybird, nor butterfly,
Nor moth with dusty wing,
Nor cricket chirping cheerily,
Nor grasshopper so light of leap,
Nor dancing gnat, nor beetle fat,
Nor harmless worms that creep.

The Handmade Division :: Talk About

2010-06-15T08:00:00.008-04:00

I'm a member of a talented group of artists, the Handmade Division. Members with blogs participate in a team "Talk About," discussing a different topic each month. The topic for this month is a fascinating one and I thought it would make a great first post for this blog.

The topic question: Do you consider yourself only a jewelry artist or do you work in multi media application, and or draw techniques from other fields to use in the one you are working in?

I was a calligrapher first, before I began making jewelry, and without a doubt I do draw heavily on my calligraphy skills since I incorporate quite a bit of hand lettering into my etched jewelry. In fact, exploring a new medium for my calligraphy (metal) is what first sparked my interest in metalwork and then jewelry.

In addition to calligraphy and making jewelry, I also design and print letterpress cards with my friend, Julia. While printing on paper is quite different from metalwork, our letterpress cards and my etched jewelry share a dimensional, tactile quality. Many of our letterpress designs are deeply impressed into thick cotton paper; you can run your fingers over the card and feel the letterpress impression. Likewise, the raised or recessed etched designs and lettering on my jewelry invite touch.

Perhaps because of this similarity, I've experimented with sharing designs between the two mediums with satisfying results. I love how the same design can be interpreted so differently depending on the medium.

Below are more examples of designs used on both cards and jewelry:

Sometimes one design inspires another. I designed the "Forever and Always" for this letterpress wedding card, which inspired me to use this theme for some of my jewelry:

I enjoy discovering that a design created for one medium works well with another, or when a theme for one inspires a new design for other work. When I can share designs and ideas across mediums, it sparks new ideas and experiments and new ways of seeing. I have other creative interests, such as knitting and spinning, and perhaps one of these days I'll discover interesting ways to incorporate those techniques and ideas into my jewelry. I look forward to it!

Please visit the blogs of other Handmade Division members to read their posts on this topic:

Andes Cruz: http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Thomasin Durgin: http://metalriot.blogspot.com/
Jewelry by Natsuko: http://jewelrybynatsuko.blogspot.com/
Maureen BZ (Cosmo's Moon) http://cosmosmoonjewelry.blogspot.com/
Abhaya Fibers http://abhayafibers.blogspot.com/
ArtJewel Designs http://www.artjeweldesigns.blogspot.com/
Susan Moloney http://susarto.blogspot.com/
Tamra Gentry http://jewelrydesignchronicles.wordpress.com/
Bill Martin http://purifiedart.blogspot.com/