Eilisain aka Lisette in Gaelic

Welcome to my blog, where I document my process in making jewelry, muse on the influence of art and the joy of making beautiful objects.




Saturday, December 31, 2011

Crushin'

on the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

I went to see the movie Christmas night; may not have been the best day to see it but whoa, was it good. Rooney Mara proves her acting chops in this movie. I'm loving the dark, goth and uber-coolness of the Lisbeth Salamander. Her black leather jacket, multiple piercings, tattoos and hairstyle. I could never pull off the complete look however I have elements of it...a black leather hooded jacket and mostly black wardrobe.

Here's a sexy Lisbeth inspired song, Nancy Sinatra's "Bang, Bang"


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Thursday, December 29, 2011

Local hardware


At the Granite Falls hardware store with my Dad; can always find great studio goodies!
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Tuesday, December 27, 2011

The Jewelers series

I've been following Arcade 44 for awhile now and really enjoy their videos and emerging artists from the NYC/Brooklyn borough.

Check out this video of jewelry artist Jaclyn Mayer of Orly Genger jewelry.



Love her fabulous rope necklaces!


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Monday, December 26, 2011

Casting lessons

Elizabeth Smith doing a water casting demo.

This year was such a milestone for me in terms of creative growth and learning.

I've found that I really love casting yet I have these mixed emotions; it's very time consuming and the equipment is expensive. So I've begun to create a business plan and idea for what I want in the future.

I'm very inspired and motivated to save for the future. I want so much to own my business and studio and I will. That is my goal for 2012 and beyond. I hope you too have goals and inspiration for the future.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Handmade Holidays


This season I really made the effort to buy handmade gifts, such as the baby cap above by Nikki Little of Lil Loopy. I can't wait to see my niece and sister in law in their handmade caps.

I bought handmade holiday cards, prints, jewelry and photography. Though sometimes it can be tough to weigh the cost of handmade with mass produced products when the prices are so drastically different; however the biggest draw for me is supporting other makers like me. Which is what I did at the ECU holiday sale.

I was fortunate this season to increase my sales through Etsy and local sales - I know that firsthand, the economy of buying handmade is really important and good for each other. So I hope this holiday season, you will buy handmade too.

Hope you have a Happy Holiday season!
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Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Christmas Song



It's great when contemporary bands either make their own, awesome Christmas song or remake one.

Being busy with school has kinda taken the Christmas spirit out of me, because I'm so busy several days up to Christmas but I with music like this I can get right back into it.

So here's a cool, crisp new holiday song from the saucy Ravonettes to get me in the mood, and maybe you too!
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Friday, December 16, 2011

Unearthed - New series of jewelry

I'd like to introduce a new jewelry series in my body of work and in my Eilisain Etsy Shop: Unearthed, jewelry featuring raw minerals and stones.

I'm very much attracted to stones that aren't perfect and beautifully organic.

I made these rings for my Casting II class and this series has opened me up to playing with stones in a clunky but elegant form, such as the faceted shank of this ring.



Now on sale in my Eilisain Etsy shop.

The pyrite is gently cupped and supported with blackened silver forms.

I'm just really pleased with this ring. And though the shank is slim, the pyrite is quite stable once on the finger. I just can't help making giant rings!

Celestite purchased from Points of Light.
So happy the store caught my eye.

Celestite is such a beautiful gem, the name says it all!

Here's some more information on celestite from Bestcrystals.com

Chemical Composition: Celestite is strontium sulfate, sometimes with much Barium.

Hardness: 3 - 3 1/2

Occurrence: Sky-blue colored brittle clusters of crystals, orthorhombic in structure, transparent to translucent. In the U.S. celestite may be found in New York, Ohio, and California. Excellent specimens are currently found in Madagascar. Also called celestine.

Metaphysical Properties: Clarity of mind, clear communication skills, balances energies, calming, harmonious. Excellent for use in dream recall and astral travel. In healing, celestite replaces pain with loving light. This delicate and exquisite crystal is lovely to behold.

Corresponding Astrological Sign: Gemini


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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Mama said knock you out

Five talon bronze and sterling silver cocktail ring.
This is one fierce ring!

On sale now at my Eilisain Etsy Shop.


Whoa, this ring is so crazy big and fun!

New addition to The Hunted family of talon pieces.
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Monday, December 12, 2011

Points of Light

This past weekend I went to Asheville with my boyfriend, and it was SO nice to get out of town!

On our way to our friends house I spotted out of the corner of my eye this gem and mineral store, Points of Light, and of course, we had to stop. I ended up buying some pretty, shiny things...and plan on making some new pieces with them.

Points of Light
has some amazing geods and rocks from all over the world. I wanted everything!

I'm so serious in front of this giant geod.

My boyfriend, Bobby summoning predictions of the future.


Fresh copper!

Pretty amethyst.



Display cases full of stones begging to be made into beautiful jewelry!

Thanks for reading!
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Friday, December 9, 2011

Double talon hoop earrings

Double talon earrings - as hoops!
Now on sale in my Eilisain Etsy shop.

Almost resemble crescent moons.



And of course on my embossed paper.

I seriously can't get enough of these talons, I've got a lil' brooch in the works, a crazy-ass ring and much more, very excited.

I hope you like them and happy Friday!!
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Thursday, December 8, 2011

ECU Metals Symposium

Symposium poster from 2010

ECU's Metals department and Guild is once again hosting our exciting and engaging symposium next month. I can't believe it's just around the corner!

Don't forget if you ARE coming to the symposium the deadline for entries is in 2 days!

Registration for this year’s symposium will close December 10th and all work sent to the exhibition must be postmarked by January 5th.

Please mail your registration packet to:

Attn: ECU Symposium,
Laritza Garcia & Leia Zumbro
2000 Jenkins Fine Art Building
Greenville, North Carolina 27858

This will be the third year we've done this and every year it gets better and better. Laura Wood was the one that created and administered the first symposium; passing the torch goes to Leia Zumbro and Laritza Garcia,. This year we've got some really, really talented and amazing presenters, speakers and workshops.

You can read more about them at the ECU Symposium blog.

I will also be running the charm swap at the Symposium and I'll be posting more information and details on my lil' blog. So stay tuned!

Thanks so much for reading!
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Monday, December 5, 2011

Colored water drops

Purple water drops is the way I'm describing my electroformed pieces. I used Montana gold purple spray paint to add color and a lil' fun to them.

Now on sale for only $30 in my Eilisain Etsy Shop!

Displayed on my signature embossed paper.


Finally getting some color in my work!
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Sunday, December 4, 2011

Window of Wearability - Heath Wagoner's senior show

Heath's show was very much him - a young, vibrant senior show of his current body of work!


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Many talons

Link
I already sold a pair of these at the ECU Holiday sale, but I've got more!


Another addition to my Hunted series: Double talon earrings. I'm really digging these, and I hope you do too!

Oh and I also made mini silver talon earrings.



On my Eilisain embossed paper.

Thanks for stoppin' by, hope you have a great weekend!
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Saturday, December 3, 2011

Noche del Broche - So many brooches!

You can view, some of the most amazing and intricate brooches I've ever seen on the Equinox Gallery website, here.

I truly am honored to be among such talented metalsmiths!


And this is the brooch I submitted.
Quite brooch happy!

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Friday, December 2, 2011

ECU Metals Guild Holiday Sale

Our fancy display cases and Axe to Grind Designs necklaces (I love these!)

Joshua Craig and Elizabeth Smith working the booth.

We have so much amazing jewelry on sale,
I've already been planning what I want for myself, to trade and buy.

If you're in Greenville you should come by today (Leo Jenkins Fine Arts Building, 9am-9pm) to see all the fantastic, handmade work made by ECU art students - it's a great way to support artists and the community.
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Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Shake it out



This is just the song I need for today.
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Monday, November 28, 2011

What stays in the electroformer?

A strange creature with a thick spiny body!

I left a piece in the bath for 4 days and this is what came out, uh oh...but it's good, a happy accident.

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Sunday, November 27, 2011

Holiday Sale at ECU School of Art and Design


Holiday Sale is coming up this week!!


Hope you can make it to the fabulous show of handmade art
by students of the ECU School of Art and Design holiday sale in the
Gray Gallery of the Leo Jenkins Fine Arts building.

Thursday through Friday, Dec. 1 & 2nd from 9am-9pm
AND Saturday, Dec. 3rd from 9am-2pm

The ECU Metals Guild will be participating
selling some pretty sparkly thangs!



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Thursday, November 24, 2011

Talons in my Eilisain Etsy shop



These bronze cast owl talons are quite fierce and bad-ass!
Loving them. Get them at my Eilisain Etsy shop.
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Milagros

Milagros from Mexico = miracles from this year!

So much to be thankful for this year, family, friends and the joy of making art. I try to never take for granted to the opportunities I've been given to be creative and have the time to do it. There have been so many people in my life that have made that possible for me. Especially people like you, that read and view my work.

Thank you and gracias (para mis amigos latinos/hispanos) for all your support!

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Wednesday, November 23, 2011

La Noche del Broche



Participating Artists:

Abigail Heuss

Alejandro Sifuentes

Amy Tavern

Andrew Kuebeck

Angela Bubash

Anne Fiala

Annie Pennington

Ashley Buchanan

Atsuko Taniguchi

Autumn Brown

Beverly Penn

Billie J Theide

Bob Ebendorf

Caroline Gore

Claudia Rush

Corey Ackelmire

Courtney Starrett

Cydney Romano

Linda Kay Darty

Dejan Jovanovic

Elizabeth Crandall

Emily Marquis

Galatea Kontos

Gary Schott

George Schroeder

Hannah Stein

Jacob Martin

James Thurman

Jason Stein

Jason Polasek

Jenn Wells

Jillian Palone

Justin Klocke

Kat Cole

Kate Codsen

Kathleen Janvier

Kelly Robinson

Ken Bova

Krista Coleman-Silvers

Laritza Garcia

Laura Wood

Leia Zumbro

Lin Stanionis

Lindsay Hendricks

Lisa Johnson

Lisette Fee

Liz Steiner

Louise Oppenheiner

Lydia Tjioe

Lynette Andreasen

Margot Wolf

Margit Morawietz

Marissa Saneholtz

Marjorie Schick

Marlene True

Mary Hallam Pearse

Masako Onodera

Melanie Smith

Melissa Walter

Mi-Sook Hur

Michael Dale Bernard

Michael Gayk

Micheal Parrett

Nathan Dube

Nicole DesChamps-Benke

Pat Gavin

Paulette Myers

Rachel Shimpock

Renee Settle-Sterling

Robert Diaz de Leon

Robert G Jackson

Robert Longyear

Sandra Zilker

Sara Brown

Sarah Holden

Sarah Roberts

Sarah West

Shalena White

Stephanie Voegele

Sun Kim

Sung Yeoul Lee

Tara Locklear

Tim Lazure

Tina Lazzarine

Tova Lund


As I'd mentioned in a previous post, I'm very honored to be a part of this exhibition with so many talented artists. It is a night to celebrate the brooch at Equinox Gallery in San Antonio, Texas. Such a great idea for an exhibition!

Laura Wood and Alejandro Sifuentes, owner of Equinox Gallery have been working hard to ensure a successful show - they will have live models wearing the brooches on the night of the show, December 2. If you live in the San Antonio area, you should go! I wish I could.

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Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Visit to Jewelerswerk Galerie



The lovely Tanja, she has the softest and prettiest German accent.

Wearing an Iris Bodemer necklace. So envious!

Lisa Walker pieces on the wall.

It's like being in a candy store.

Lust, lust, and LUSTING for all of these pieces.

Would love to own a Darcy Miro cuff.

My friend Eva tried on an Iris Bodemer ring.
Quite wearable.


Delicious rings, I want that oxidized one with the mauve stone.

Bettina Dittlmann brooches (enamel on steel).

Since I was going to be visiting good friends in DC last weekend, I figured I might as well pop into Jewelerswerk Galerie (owner is Ellen Reiben) and see the new work they're exhibiting.

When I lived in DC two years ago I would always try and make it to the artist exhibits and attempt to talk to them, despite my nervousness. It's rare to have that treat of meeting the artist and learning their methods. I recall when Svenja John visited and I was truly amazed at how she came up with the concept for her pieces and getting them to fit seamlessly.

Tanja, the Galerie assistant was so kind to let me photograph the jewelry and ask her questions about her experience as a jeweler. I learned that in the Netherlands a citizen can actually request funding from the government to buy art - meaning, you don't have to pay for it, the government does!?! Seems like an extraordinary idea but wow, talk about supporting the arts. But Taina said that the program may possibly be cut, which would be terrible for the Galleries.

I left the Galerie with a renewed sense of purpose and inspiration.

Hope you enjoyed this post and thank you for visiting my blog.

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