Jillian Moore demo at the ECU Making Marks Symposium

I'm going to kick off my blogging of the ECU Metals Symposium: Making Marks with a bang of color and dive right into the best part or shall I say one of my favorite demos of the weekend, was Jillian Moore's demonstration of how she makes her awesome freaky sea creature (in my opinion) jewelry!

Before I delve into Jillian's demonstration, I'll start off by saying that she is one of the most approachable, open, patient and self-effacing artist I've met.  When you attend conferences and symposiums like SNAG or Yuma, it can be intimidating and scary to talk to your artist crushes, but Jillian is authentic and very true to herself and I really enjoyed that about her.

Okay, so here goes...she makes her sculptural jewelry out of foam and then coats it in several layers of resin! And she paints along the way.   there are certain brands and specific types of materials she uses but that is not for me to reveal.  

Like many other jewelers and metalsmiths fresh out of schooling and training, Jillian didn't have all the resources and tools she had in school which led her to be very inventive in how she started making her creatures.  With lots of experimenting and trial and error she landed on her current pieces and method of constructing them.  Something else that I found refreshing about Jillian was how open she was about her process; it can be very difficult in our industry to share knowledge because it is often abused.  But in the end I think if you are confident in yourself and those that support your work; the public will see and know which is authentic and which isn't. 

Jillian Moore specimen

Close up of a Jillian Moore piece

Several of Jillian's done pieces.

Foam, carved and ready for dressing (aka resin)

Attendees enjoying Jillian's demonstration.

Jillian is speeding up the process of the foam pieces

Jillian and Nick Mullins working at the foam station.

Jillian, coating her foam in resin.

I will be posting more about the ECU symposium - so come back and visit my lil' blog in the future, kthxbai!

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One Plastic Beach

One Plastic Beach from High Beam Media on Vimeo.


Everyday we don't realize how much we 'throw away' but it never goes away, it ends up in the ocean where can't see it but does affect us, when fishes swallow plastic bottle caps and somehow we wonder where cancer comes from. 

Sorry to rant but it's frustrating.  Recycle, Reuse, Compost, do whatever you can to lessen your impact on our world. Pin It

Featured Artist: Tara Locklear

Tara herself, in Italy last summer.

If you follow my blog or have read older posts, you'll recognize the name Tara Locklear.

Tara is also an undergraduate student in the metals program at ECU and a friend of mine. We work well together in the undergrad studio; from running the metals guild (Tara is the treasurer), maintaining the studio to coming up with ways to boost income for the guild and students.

Not only is she an awesome guild treasurer but a very talented metalsmith. It's been inspiring watching her work evolve and progress. Her work challenges me to rethink the material and have fun with it. You can see both an elegant lady but also a punk-rock chick wearing her pieces.

Tara loves experimenting with new materials and putting a modern spin on them - especially the look of gemstones, whether it's cast in silver or concrete.

Unbridled Royalty, 2010
(Tara has won several awards for this amazing necklace)

The Lighter Side of Status, 2011

Close up of center pendant.

Pile of Rocks ring, 2011

Cocktail Overload bracelet, 2010

Too Many Coctails ring, 2010

Rings on Deck, I & II (the ring on the left is mine and on the right is Kat Cole's) - from a trade)

Cast in Stone, 20111

From the pieces Tara's turned out within the past 2 years - I can foresee Tara going to some high places.

Stay tuned for details on our combined trunk show along with Sarah West this summer...it'll be kick-ass!

Thank you for reading and Happy Eostre!

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Extravagent and bold

Is how I would describe Melody Ehsani's plastic jewelry.

It's on a cartoon level, of bright, primary colors. I'm diggin' it. In this video, Melody describes her jewelry and how she got into designing.

Melody Ehsani for Vimby from gregthedude on Vimeo.

You can see more of her jewelry on her website.

One caveat is that her jewelry isn't handmade - but done in China. But aren't most of our daily products and other plastics? Pin It