Bench test

In my Casting II class Tim gave us a bench test with specific requests, giving the band texture, a bevel, sizing it down and now gypsy setting four 2mm cz stones. I actually enjoyed it but def found myself getting frustrated and challenged to meet the specs.

Drilling the pilot hole with a #50 drill bit.

*You want to drill the pilot hole 10 percent smaller than the stone

This is per Tim's demo.

Did I mention I also have a brooch due today - better get to the studio!

Pin It

Epona earrings - new in my Etsy shop

Check'em out in my Etsy shop!

Epona Earrings

Black coral and deer antler tip earrings, these are great for the crisp Fall weather.

Pin It

Jewelry Doctor

Three days a week I work at the Jewelry Doctor, a jewelry repair shop here in Greenville. I assist Ellis in cleaning up jewelry and it's a pretty sweet experience, not only do I learn corny jokes but great repair tricks and methods to get the job done right and fast!

Ellis only hires students in the metals programs at ECU and I was fortunate to land this job through Miss Sarah West who used to work for Ellis, aka the Jewelry Doctor. And it certainly isn't easy finding a job likes this or talented Goldsmiths like Ellis.

Which brings me to another point - supporting local business' and their trade; it really is a rarity to have crafts people the way it used to be but part of me likes and hopes to believe that it is a profession that will always be alive.

So, support local craft workers and local business' it's good for you and the economy.

thanks for reading!

shot of my bench and clean up work

on a gold hoop and ring.

Ellis doing his thing - working magic on jewelry!

Entrance of the repair shop.

For some reason I love the sign and the blinging diamond.

Pin It

A trade

Another awesome pin! This one is from Philip Ambrose, we have sculpture class together...and he plans on studying metals, what a happy coincidence! Check out his blog, and you can see more of his pins. Pin It

A gift

Bob gifted me this brooch, it was a lovely lil' surprise waiting on my bench. I had given Bob the bone to play with...and play he did!

Pin It

That's So Ebendorf

Bob Ebendorf, Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor in the Department of Art at East Carolina, has an exhibition currently up at Gallery Loupe in Montclair, NJ.

The title says it all; Bob has such an impact on his students and especially on the field. You can see his influence on so many of his talented former students: Autumn Brown, Jesse Bert, Sharon Massey, Daniel Dicaprio, Marian Sak, Jennifer Wells, Laura Wood....I could go on and on.

Bob is so beloved at ECU; I have the utmost enjoyment of being one of his students. I love it when I get a Bob moment, of sharing methods, ideas and enjoying the moment of creating.

Hope you enjoy viewing his work on my blog and if you're in the Montclair area you should see his work in person!
Pin It

Song of the Day: Caught a Long Wind by Feist

oh Feist, how you strike me with your deep lyrics.

Feist - Caught The Long Wind from eve on Vimeo.

Is it no coincidence her album title is Metals?

Pin It

The Hunted - Buried brooch

Sterling silver claws from my talon mold.

Fossilized stone embedded in resin,with my secret ingredient.

Another addition to my Hunted series, though this brooch is not for sale yet. I love how you can see through the back. Resin and acrylic are fun to play with!

Pin It

dragonfly

Found this big one at Atlantic Beach, NC. I've never seen a dragonfly's body upclose like this. It's so delicate and translucent - you can see through it's skin to the stomach and at the end there is a stinger of sorts.

If I weren't a jeweler I'd be a taxidermist, dead things are easier to handle versus when they're alive.

I had such an indulgent and studio-free weekend....now I need to get back to the studio and finish some projects!

Pin It

Song of the Day: Our Deal by Best Coast

Oh so tragic....

this is a dreamy song.

Get More: MTV Supervideo, Music, Best Coast, Best Coast, Music, More Music Videos

I'd be a night creeper, so badass.

Pin It

Usual day in the studio

Emilie Shapiro does a nice lil' video on the jewelers task of cleaning up castings...feels like a usual day in the studio for me.




Pin It

The Hunted continued

Polished and ready to be worn. I'm so very excited about this new series of work - I hope you are too! More details on my Etsy site.

Oxidized brass and sterling silver. Get it here!

The pendant top is also made from a talon.
Pin It

The Hunted - New Earrings in my Etsy shop

I've been grinding away in the studio lately - early morning hours are when I'm most productive and it's been wonderful - to creatively expand and float on with new materials....like resin!

Resin making has been on my mind since last semester, when I created two brooches, one using resin. This time I used a special ingredient in addition to using my new molds - talons!!!

I'm loving the aggressive and edgy look of talons. I've got more work coming but for now you can purchase these lovelies on my Eilisain Etsy site.

White resin, black onyx, manganese bronze
and brass earrings.

White HOT!

Thank you for reading!
Pin It

Repulsively fascinating

Demoiselles d'Avignon, Pablo Picasso 1907.

This fall semester I'm taking Modern Art History and I find the evolution of where 'modern' art came from quite enthralling.

Pablo Picasso (one of the initiators of cubism) is high up on the list of my favorite artists; his skills were insane!

Demoiselles d'Avignon was such a provocative and repulsive artwork at the time.

What do you think of this painting?
Pin It