I've got a SNAG, and it's a good thing

Okay, cheesy title yes but it got your attention right?

I'll never forget that day I was working at the Golds Gym when I lived in Arlington, Virginia.  I found a copy of Metalsmith and flipped through.  It was the spark that got me moving towards taking metals and jewelry classes.  There were ads for several schools and places to take classes and I thought, I need to do this.

Shortly after I joined the Society of North American Goldsmiths, an organization (one of the founding members was my former professor Bob Ebendorf) to further the advancement of the metals/jewelry community and foster growth and provide cohesion to the field.

Then as I further delved into this new field, and began to consider studying professionally and earning my second degree I decided to attend the conference, this was back in 2008 and it was held in Savannah, Ga.  And this was also my first trip by myself, meaning no friends and no family - I knew no one at this event! It was a bit scary but I make friends easily, a by product of being an Army brat.

When I arrived at the airport I made friends with the Kansas State people, Elliot Pujol was so friendly and we chatted waiting for the shuttle bus to take us to the conference hotel.  I was incredibly grateful to have made friends and since I was born in Kansas, hanging out with the Kansas crew seemed very appropriate.  Thus at the conference I gathered brochures and 'interviewed' other students about their schools and what they liked about them.

I was very much interested in going to Savannah College of Art and Design, plus I loved the city.  However the pricey tuition kept me from seriously considering it an option, back then it was $32,000 a year (very near the salary I was making at the time!).  In the end, East Carolina University offered the most for my money - four amazing and diverse professors and the tuition was very affordable.

Okay sorry for the long winded story but SNAG took me on the journey from the beginning of where I am today and that's why, if you're a jeweler or a metalsmith or both you should JOIN - there are fantastic resources - job opportunities, grant offers, exhibition announcements and many more.  I'm super excited to attend the upcoming SNAGneXt Conference in Asheville this coming May.

 
For me as a studio jeweler that doesn't often get a chance to commiserate and share the trials and journey of a jeweler I LOVE getting to catch up with my friends at the SNAG events and geek out over jewelry and objects.

I hope you join and understand that it feeds and fosters the community.
As always thank you for reading!
xo,
Lisette
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So fresh, So clean

For all you makers & shakers, I received this notice about a call for entries.

I really love Ethical Metalsmiths, they do so much to educate jewelers & metalsmiths about best and environmentally safe practices.

I think I may just apply to this myself.

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ECU Metals Symposium is just around the corner!

I can't believe it's almost here, the annual ECU Metals Symposium.  I love that it becomes a lil reunion for me as I get to see all my old friends from, what seems like ages ago, when we were all in school together (Kat Cole, Laura Wood, Sarah West, Heath Wagoner, Marissa Saneholtz, Tara Locklear, Autumn Brown, Danielle James, Laritza Garcia and many others).  It was a bit of a renaissance at ECU, not to be cheesy or romantic, but at that time there were so many talented and budding super-jewelry stars at ECU, learning new methods and just beginning to find their voice (and not to say that there aren't the same now).

And now all of those jewelers and makers are out in the world making big things happen.  And we come full circle to having major talent come to Greenville and make further connections.  I'm really excited about all the great workshops and speakers, like Jamie Bennett (enamelist king), Rachel Shimpock (have you seen her hilarious jeweler in the kitchen video?) and Kim Cridler (amazing ironwork).

If you're attending the symposium, I'll see you there - if not, you should sign up for next years!

I love this poster (aka sprued rings)! Designed by Danielle James extraordinaire!

Thanks for reading!!
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Wild Hand Workspace Presents SWANK Jewelry Pop Up shop

Really psyched to have been invited to participate in this 'swanky' jewelry shop.  In my DC, Panda Head, aka Morgan Hungerford West, crafter/lifestyle/photographer and all around creative extraordonaire is part of the team behind this event.  

If you are in DC, stop by and soak in (and buy) gorgeous handmade jewelry.  Wild Hand studio is located at Monroe Street Market in the Brookland/Edgewood neighborhood of DC.  

The event runs from December 12-22.

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The Forgotten

'Lo olvidado', Joyas Sensacionales // Lalabeyou from Laura González on Vimeo.

I really enjoyed the way the necklaces were displayed on the table in the room, and of course the interviews!
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feeling bookish

My coffee table is littered with books, and it's like candy when I get home, which do I want to read first and then stop and pick up next?


Here are several that I'm reading:
Art Forms from the Ocean by Ernest Hackel

I bought this mainly for more inspiration and to educate myself on enchanting undersea creatures. As you have seen, I'm all about ocean forms in my work!






Russian Legends: Folk Tales and Fairy Tales by David Jackson, Patty Wageman and Ellen Rutten.

My friend Josh Craig loaned me this book. And it has beautiful images and stories.

The theme of fairy tales and imagery has also been showing up in my life, since I LOVE fantasy movies and stories. Along with my order of books I got Pan's Labyrinth, which I have so much more to post on later.







And on to my most recently acquired and prized books, Jewel by Tanel Veenre an exhibition in print.

I was able to get this book due to Charon Kranson's visit to ECU and sending us many juicy jewelry books that aren't available either stateside, out of print or just too expensive to order from half way across the globe!

I really, really dig Tanel's work, he uses a mix of organic, semi-precious and odd materials.

I've got one more book but can't remember the title, I'll post that tomorrow but for now this is my candy picks for the season. Pin It