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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Local hardware

At the Granite Falls hardware store with my Dad; can always find great studio goodies!
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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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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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Handmade Holidays

A Lil Loopy baby cap

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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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

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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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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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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