World Champ(leve) Beltbuckle title

My very good friend DJ made the belt buckle for the World Championship belt buckle competition.  She won third place but I feel she should've won first, I mean this buckle means to kick ass and dominate!

Her short film is pretty kick ass too.  Hope you enjoy it!
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Featured Artist: Sarah West

When I first moved to Greenville and started classes at ECU, I didn't know anyone and in the studio it was even more awkward as I wasn't even taking jewelry/metals classes because I had to take my foundation (figure drawing and design) classes.

However I was allowed to have bench space and Sarah West was the first friend I made in the studio. She was really nice, welcoming and friendly.

Sarah is very talented and knowledgeable. Sarah is the person in the studio that almost everyone goes to when they need advice, feedback or help with their work. She's also there for a good laugh or when you need to vent...which I've done a few times.

Sarah also works part time at the Jewelry Doctor and asked me to replace her earlier this summer while she was studying abroad. I felt really lucky to get that opportunity!

Here are photos of some of her award winning work.
The above champleve brooches are my favorite.
The brooches above are somewhat deceiving from above but when you look at the side of them, you can see how much work and time it took Sarah to make them.You can see more of Sarah Wests work here. Pin It

new photos!

Some of this work is older and more recent. My good friend Steve loaned me his camera...I really need to get a new one! The necklace above is oxidized sterling silver, copper rivets and a stone..for which I forgot the name.
Here is my beloved black coral and silver cast droplet bracelet. I have not been able to put this bracelet down...it's my FAVORITE! I'm such a nerd.
And my cuttlefish cast brooch for Casting I class. I just love it, and I spin the little red coral around all the time.
This is my champleve brooch, that I spend some good (ie. long) hours working on. But it is quite pretty.

I also spent today working on the ring below, I took this photo using my phone.
In progress...
And done! Pin It

deep blue ocean

This video is incredibly mesmerizing and scary!

I held my breath just watching this...well not as long as Guillaume. The music is just as awesome as the video.


via sub-studio design blog.

oh and of watching the ocean, I finally uploaded some new photos on my website (and every other site)...check it out.


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currently in the studio

It's chaotic! I spent several hours today working on my champleve pendant but I got out of there as there was a roomful of metal survey students working on their projects...and it can get somewhat cramped.

Here is a process shot of the 3 colors I'm using for the pendant.

I thought about splurging and purchasing more leaded enamels but right now I'm trying to save some money so I stuck with the enamels I have and after testing these three blue/green colors I'm very happy with the combination. To me, the pendant looks like floating sea algae.

I'll post more pictures, close up ones, once I'm done. Pin It