Sketches

These are my initial ideas for the eyewear piece.  I didn't get a chance to show anybody, so here is my proof :)



My inspiration was from the eye of a chameleon.  I thought of creating a sort of hair stick that held a sphere on the end that you could peer into.  But, I thought that the chain may get tangled in hair too easy and that is something I don't want to mess with.  After that, I thought about making spectacles for the opera, but I was unsatisfied with how rigid it was looking.  So, I came up with a pendant/magnifying glass concept (not shown here).

Back on Track

The last few weeks have been very hectic, last week especially.  I haven't been able to put forward as much time in Jewelry as I would like to because we hosted this guy in Ceramics.

But all that is done for now and I can focus on making my eyewear piece.  I haven't been able to be in the studio too much, but that gave me more time to consider what to make and how to make it, so I think I'm in good shape.

Sketches and progress images to come soon.

Wowza.

This week flew by! C2D had a visiting artist in from California Monday and Tuesday and he is the man!!! While he was here I slacked off on everything that wasn't ceramics.  But, now that he's left, I'm more motivated than ever to get some work done.  

I hope all ya'll jump at the chance to see other artists lectures and demonstrations because it is pretty incredible to see someone else construct and problem solve right in front of you.

Now, back to melting chain links.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29825510@N08/

Chain Making

Do you understand how much this creeps me out?

So much.

Alligator feet are the inspiration for my chain project.

I am making a belt piece, where the claws wrap around the torso.  Eeeek!

There will be a hidden key clasp in the front where two claws will come together and the feet are going to be made out of woven wire.  Basket weaving isn't my best skill, but hey, who doesn't like a challenge sometimes?

New Semester, New Theme

Second day of Jewelry and I learned how to weave a chain today.  It seems a lot less complicated than when I researched how to do this in a book a few months ago. Phew!

Last semester, my theme was rodents.  It was really fun and I came up with so many good ideas, but I think I'm going to go out of my comfort zone this semester.  I'm moving away from mammals and moving into unchartered reptile territory.  This should be fun.  I've been researching images  of several different species of reptiles and the texture alone will bring great inspiration for pieces.  I learned how to do marriage of metals last semester and I would love to get better at it.  I think designs incorporating this technique will come easy.

What the flux?

Here she is, on the one and only Tina Vu:

The chain has a silver granule on each end, keeping it from slipping out of the pendant.  These granules also aid in adjusting the length of the piece, which can be worn tight, like a choker or loosely.

Best lesson of the semester: Don't forget to quench your metal.  A nasty burn in the palm of your hand makes work slow. :)



Its the CLAW

This is my initial idea for the pattern/texture project.  My inspiration was from a squirrel paw.  I'm always curious about those little critters! But, ya gotta be careful not to make your work too cute.  I guess I'm pretty good at abstracting these things!

The chain will come up through the long tube at the bottom come up out of a tube at the top of the piece, go around the neck and back down through the bottom tube. I still need to figure out my catch for the chain, it's adjustable at the bottom, so I want it to flow with my design. 

This is my marriage of metals!Textured copper and silver, so fun.