Birthday giveaway

When it's near my birthday, I like to celebrate the entire month.  I know it's a bit self indulgent but why not enjoy it as much as I can? My birthday is seven days away and I want to share in the celebration with YOU!!

My gift to you (for the winner) is the Hunted small bronze owl talon earrings.  These are one of my most popular earrings, they're delicate yet fierce.  

The Hunted small bronze owl talon earrings, retail $75

 How to enter: 

-You must be an Eilisain follower of my blog. Leave a comment below saying that you are a follower. 

-Follow Eilisain Jewelry on Twitter: @EilisainJewelry

-Tweet about the giveaway

-Follow Eilisain Jewelry on Pinterest: @Eilisain

-Follow Eilisain Jewelry on Instagram: @Eilisainjewelry

-Like Eilisain Jewelry Facebook page: @Eilisain Jewerly

***Tell your friends on Facebook to 'Like' Eilisain Jewelry***

You MUST do each of these steps to be entered in the giveaway

This giveaway closes on Wednesday at 11:59 PM EST (March 13th). The winners will be announced on Thursday (my birthday)! This giveaway is open to US residents only (sorry to my international readers).

I can't wait to see who the winner is, it's fun to celebrate and share my work with you and new people.  Thank you for taking the extra steps to enter this giveaway - it'll be SO worth it!

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Posedion collection release

Gemstones have always held a fascinating quality to me, the way the light shines through them, and the intricate crystal formations.  Several months ago I found these beautiful aragonite stones on my favorite gemstone retailer, Instant Karma.  I find how a great way to highlight them with replicating the shapes in cut brass.  

Thus I present to you several pieces from my spring/summer collection 2013, the Poseidon Collection.  This collection is only available through my website and is under $100.  I wanted to create a collection of jewelry exudes glamour, high drama with beautiful stones at an affordable price.   

I hope you like them, and thank you for visiting. 

Aragonite burst earrings, $45

Aragonite burst ring, $90

Poseidon amethyst ring, $80.

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Makers

Women Who Make America Trailer

grrr, I wish I had cable! Just the clip alone gave me shivers and almost brought me to tears.  I feel so lucky to not face the same struggles the First wave of feminist fought; though we fight our own now, at least now we don't even need to consider that we can't apply for any job we want.

if you have cable, WATCH this! I'm going to try and watch it online somehow.


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How jewelry can help you

Several weeks ago I was watching one of my favorite fantasy movies, Neverending Story, and it hit me that really, the story and main character would not have achieved his goal if it weren't for the Orin (means "light; pale; pine tree; fair, pale").  In essence a piece of jewelry, adornment was the main ingredient for his success.  The Orin guides him and leads him in the right direction.  How powerful is that?

Most of the time, the average person does not think about how their jewelry will aid them throughout the day - but if it's gone - then for some reason we are at lost and upset.

I like to think of my jewelry in that way, as a talisman and an aid in guiding you in your daily life.  Such as the Resurrection Beetle ring; beetles have long been associated with rebirth and awakening your soul.  Beetles also teach us how to communicate effectively and solve problems by thinking creatively. 

18kt gold plated bronze beetle ring with crystal quartz.

Next time you put on your jewelry or deciding what to wear, think about what guidance you need in the day.  Perhaps it's strength, confidence, creativity or peace of mind.  Whatever it is, be more aware and you will begin to notice how your perspective changes with your jewelry!

Thanks for reading.

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So much Past inside my Present

 Perfect lyric from Feist song for the title of this post!

I'll have to get this book when it comes out; it's wonderful to see a movement of young adults appreciate the beautiful quality of handmade goods and loving the library.  
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Sneak peak of Poseidon Collection

Winter has certainly provided me with the time to work away in the studio while the cold air swirls outside...or inside, as the heater isn't working in Art Avenue! ha but I'm not complaining, I've got two little heaters in my studio space.

Okay so enough of weather, I'm very excited to provide you with a sneak peak of the Poseidon Collection.  This collection is sea inspired, in a kingly and godlike manner, thus named after the Greek God Poseidon however it is a collection that I made with the intention that it is affordable and wallet friendly.

I started working with brass because it is so rich and golden but not as costly as real gold.  And it works so well with the matte black of the electroformed coral.  And knowing me, I can rarely ever let a piece of jewelry go without adding rough gems to it! Purple and black are one of the best color combinations, in my opinion.

The Poseidon Collection is set to release in about a week, and will be exclusively sold in select locations  (TBD) and through my website. 

Instagram shot of the Poseidon cuff: brass, amethyst, sterling silver & electroformed black coral.

Aquamarine chips, sterling silver and electroformed black coral.

Along with the new collection I'm releasing next weekend, I'll be working on a fancy fashion lookbook and video! Finally, those two projects have been at the top of my list for a long time.  So stay tuned my dear readers and thank you for visiting.


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Don't forget!

To sign up for my newsletter, it's super special - with loads of insider secrets and coupons!!!

    Subscribe to our mailing list
    
  

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Wax, it's HOT

Some more great photos Aileen Devlin took of me for Art Avenue promotions.  We're still getting the casting studio set up, one step at a time. I'm just SO happy I got my wax inject working with the air filter.  It's amazing how quickly all the costs add up for a studio!

Me, being very careful not to squirt hot wax on my hands. 

close up, keep a plate underneath to collect wax!

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Fashion in stages

When I was 11 years old, living in California, my teacher asked us what we wanted to be and to create a portfolio.  I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer.  I sketched ten designs and was so thrilled about it.  Sometimes I still consider that dream but in a sense I'm doing that now with my jewelry.

She wrote at the bottom of the essay that hopefully one day she'd be wearing one of my designs...I hope that's true!

Anywho, enjoy this great video of two young designers and how they found inspiration for their Fall 2013 collection.  
The Making of a Collection, Part 1: Ohne Titel Finds Inspiration for Fall 2013 in Chelsea Galleries - The Cut

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My top 5 creative business resources

Photo courtesy of Design*Sponge Biz Ladies series

If you're like me, being more of a person that enjoys making more than business planning, it can be so hard to know where to start and really making yourself be business like.   However, over the years I've become much more confident and I now believe that I can run my business.   And the way I got here was with the help of other creatives and business-like people.

So I here I'm going to give you my top 5 resources, most of them are run by women who are in the creative field which is a double whammy for me. 

1.  Design*Sponge Biz Ladies:  Whenever I read a post from Biz Ladies, I feel and know so much more than I thought I knew.  They give advice from everything to how to drafting blog posts, contact PR companies, business planning, advertising, how to photograph your work, wholesale, retail etc.  Just the avatar alone (Rosie the Riveter) We Can Do It gets me revved up to get working!

2.  Designing an MBA:  Megan Aumen is a true business woman and metalsmith.  She really analyzes the market and how a customer thinks.  She is a champion for all new kinds of technology, like Pinterest, Instagram and Facebook for creatives to use instead of rejecting.  I also love how honest and sincere she is; when you read that despite how successful she is, she has her ups and downs too, it's oddly encouraging to me. 

3.  Tara Gentile:  I heard about Tara through Megan, now wonder there! Tara is also just as savvy as Megan and gets in the head of the customer and the maker.  When I read her posts, I'm much more informed and thoughtful about how I interact with my customers.  I love her tagline too, Maximize your impact, minimize your effort. 

4.  Art Biz blog:  I recently wrote about Alyson and her takeaway from Nick Cave.  Alyson knows how the creative person thinks - we avoid anything regarding growing our business, 'cause it's no fun! But when I read her advice, I immediately get to working on my contact list and business goals.  She also knows how emotional artists can get when it comes to selling our work and that, often we take it as personal rejection.  

5.  Kari Chapin:  I've bought both of Kari's books, Grow your Handmade business and Handmade Marketplace, both have been a bible to me over the past 6 months.   Kari provides step by step processes for setting up your business, as well as practical advice from a slew of successful creative business people.  The book is very easy to digest and she gives really thoughtful questions to ask yourself in the process.

I hope that my recommendations provide you with new resources to grow your own business and get you motivated for the future. 

Thanks for reading!
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All the World's a Stage

and all the men and women merely players - William Shakespeare.

Yesterday I received my copy of Savage Beauty, exhibition book of Alexander McQueen's fashion and runway shows.  Alexander McQueen was more than a fashion designer but a true artist, his work and shows were a canvas for him to express so many concepts, ideas and points in history.  

I devoured the book last night and took away some new ways to think about my own jewelry and the concept behind each collection.  I want to emulate the way Alexander took bits and pieces from history, his own life and that of nature into making his definition of how he saw the world.  

Here are several of his pieces that I'm truly in love with:

It's A Jungle out There Winter/Autumn 97-98, Alexander McQueen. All photos courtesy of Met website

Elect/Dissect, Winter/Autumn 97-98 (House of Givenchy).  All photos courtesy of Met website.

Widows of Culloden, Winter/Autumn 06-07. All photos courtesy of Met website

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what heaven looks like

This is what I imagine heaven to look like.  I think in another life I could've been an astronomer, the unknown and outerspace fascinates me.  I hope you enjoy these great photos from the Hubble website - you can see loads more there!


Source: Hubblesite.org
I have this same photo is my sketchbook, one day I plan to make a brooch based on it!


Source: Hubblesite.org
The Crab Nebula


Source: Hubblesite.org


Source: Hubblesite.org


Source: Hubblesite.org



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I collect things...

this video is such a silly spoof on art videos and fashion videos in general.

FASHION FILM from Matthew Frost on Vimeo.

it's good to laugh at ourselves and not get too serious.  Enjoy!
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6 things to learn from Nick Cave

These past several weeks I've been researching and going through my books to get tips and methods on how to be a better artist and boost my creativity.  Since graduating from art school, I've been on my own in the studio and it's been such a strange, good and uncomfortable change.  Now, I have my own space and quiet time to really focus...but it's been so hard.  I think I have a bit of ADD, I'll get started on a project and then get up and rearrange my hammers or tidy up the casting station - basically avoiding my work!  And I know it isn't because I don't want to work, I think it's because I'm a bit scared and intimidated by my new schedule and space.

With that said, at night I read and try to learn how I can focus my attention and be more productive.  I recently found in my folder of important articles a great blog post by Alyson Stanfield of Art Biz Blog, she is an amazing and business savvy woman. The article is 6 things Nick Cave Said That Made Me Pay Attention, and the tips are wonderful. 

One of the main tips Alyson talks about that stuck with me most is Live your art and Prepare.   I have had it in the back of my mind to visit and research taxidermy and bone preservation for a long while now...and I haven't done it!  It's a very essential part of my jewelry in that I want to know how to collect and preserve animal bones and parts.  Also, preparation, constant testing and rearrangement would really benefit my jewelry; it is a part of my research but I want it prepared constantly.  I'm going to post these tips that Alyson took away from Nick in my studio and remind myself to challenge myself, evolve, grow and push myself everyday.

Here is a short video about Nick Cave and his visit to the Seattle Museum last year.  Hope you enjoy!


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ECU Metals Guild Valentine's day Sale

 

I'll be selling my jewelry at the ECU Metals Guild Valentine's Day sale in front of the Dowdy student store on the ECU campus.  I hope you'll come by and visit if you're in the area!

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Art Avenue Contemporary Gallery & Studios profile

Just got some really great photos Aileen Devlin took of me for Art Avenue Contemporary Gallery & Studios Facebook page.  It's interesting seeing myself at my bench, I look super serious, which I love!  Aileen is a photographer for the Greenville Daily Reflector newspaper and part time photographer for AA.  She is just one of the amazing and generous volunteers for Art Avenue. 

Some days I can't believe how lucky I am to have landed such a wonderful opportunity to have a studio at Art Avenue and to work with such talented artists like Aileen, Autumn Brown, Andy Denton, Claire Edwards, Jeremy Fineman and Sarah Setzo.  These great people are what make an art community grow and become something bigger. 

Getting ready to grind some castings.

Grinding the excess metal on castings.

Now which stone to choose?

My inspiration table.

Thank you for visiting and I hope you enjoyed this post!

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Thrift Shop

I seriously can't get enough of this song.


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Prints Charming

Isn't this poster and concept fun? This is a city wide event, celebrating LOVE for the week prior to Valentine's Day.  Art Avenue will be participating with the concept of Prints Charming, meaning we will have the ECU Printmaking guild come out and screenprint tshirts, prints and cards.

You can RSVP for the event on Facebook.  I'm excited about it because printmaking is one of my other favorite crafts, besides jewelry making.  So, if you are in the area I hope you'll come visit Art Avenue and my studio space!

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SALE - Valentine's Day

I've got some new pieces in my Eilisain Etsy shop, just in time for Valentine's Day.  And I don't think Valentine's day is just for couples, why not get yourself something?  As cheesey as it sounds, loving yourself should come before loving anyone else and I'm a firm believer in spoiling yourself every now and then.

I'm running a special promotion with 14% off my entire jewelry collection, use coupon code VDAY14 at checkout. 

Triple owl talon pendant in bronze with purple fluorite faceted stone. 

Large Beaver teeth earrings

Yes, that's me wearing the earrings. 

 In other news I've got a new collection of work I'm preparing to release pre-spring, I'm very excited about it so stay tuned...and of course I'll be back with more photos and news about the ECU Symposium.

Thank you for reading!

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Autumn Brown demo at the ECU symposium

As I stated in my previous ecu metals symposium blog post, there were so many great demos and visiting artists, and I was really excited to see my good friend Autumn Brown demonstrate how she combines metal and enamel with porcelain (cone 6).  I wasn't able to take extensive notes but I'm going to borrow words from the ECU Ceramics guild blog: "She fires the porcelain with the metal in an enameling kiln at 1500-1535 degrees F for approximately 10 minutes.  The decorative porcelain pieces are then set into constructed metal frames with clutching prongs that hold the porcelain into the metal backing."

My favorite part of how Autumn combines metal with clay is the use of copper wire placed on the porcelain making cool shapes or images.  She showed us how you can use thin 22 gauge wire to make a saw frame on the porcelain.

Autumn is an MFA alumni of the metals program received her BFA from the University of Georgia.  She currently teaches several courses at Pitt Community College (here in Gvegas), works out of her studio at Dirty Lamm, AND contributes to Greenville's newest gallery and studios over at Art Avenue -whew, she's busy! I met Autumn when I first moved to Greenville and she is a great source of knowledge for me and advice; I'd say she's my big sister metalsmith!

Autumn getting her demo ready.

Autumn's eery  yet goregous samples and pieces.

Linda Darty enamel and silver cups

Felicia Szorad necklace (enamel, silver, felt).

Kathryn Osgood's delicate yet strong pierced enamel pieces.

Above are several shots I snapped, very quickly between workshops, of the Enamel Exhibition. 

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the beginning

I'm looking through old photos of my jewelry, back from 2001 and I can't believe how far I've come and the utter joy I had when I made my first ring.  It was back when I was finishing my senior year at the University of Florida, in Gainesville and I took a wire wrapping class at the student union. 

Turquoise set, 2001.

Sunfire necklace, 2003 (now owned by my Aunt Bonnie)

The first night we began our project of a wire wrapped cuff.  I loved it, I was there every night after that and when I saw the other class making rings, well, I had to do that too. 

It took me about 2 years after that initial wire wrapping class to get back into the studio, but ever since then I haven't left.  I'm proud of my tenacity to stay with making jewelry, it can be such a tough journey in any art form to fail, fail and fail again.  I'm still learning but that is part of what makes it so good, when you learn and get it right.

I deviated tonight from my blogging of the symposium to reminisce; but I'll be back next time with more fun tid bits on the ECU symposium.
Thanks for reading!
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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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Venom that heals

National Geographic is one of my top sources of inspiration.  I've been getting their photo of the day for awhile now but never really looked at the email.  I finally did yesterday.  This is a poisonous mamba snake from Cameroon that may actually save lives. 

I find snakes incredibly fascinating and beautiful to observe.  The patterns of their scales, how they move and wide variety of them is awe-inducing. 

So drink in this graceful photo and click on the link  for more information.

Thanks for reading!

Photograph by Mattias Klum

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Obsessive in a good way

Susan has such an easy manner of explaining her methods and techniques.  Though her jewelry style is one I'd typically wear, I truly admire and wonder how she does such intricate work.  She is a bit obsessive with the repeated design but it works for her.

Hope you enjoy this great (but dated) video.
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New pieces in my Etsy shop

This year is already proving to be very productive; I'm submitting all my papers for a practicing business in the state of North Carolina, I've decided which bank to, finally, open a business account and I've made several new pieces of jewelry.  

Within the past several weeks I've also been slowly setting up my studio and the metals studio at Art Avenue; getting an air compressor for my wax injector and getting the right tools.  It's costly but fortunately I've made some sales this month already and it helps fund all of this new equipment I need for the studio.  I'm also fortunate that my boyfriends dad is gifting me an oxygen and acetelyne tanks, along with a torch tip system.  It's so wonderful when your family and friends support your dream and do whatever they can to help, I'm a lucky lady!

So enough of studio talk, here are some new pieces I finished this week.  I really love the little geode and crystal earrings.  I've kept those geodes for about 6 months and finally got a chance to make them into something pretty to wear.  Also some new beaver teeth earrings added, these are slightly thinner than previous teeth earrings. 

I hope you like and thank you for reading!

Resurrection earrings - geode crystals (from Points of Light) and quartz crystal points.

The Hunted - Beaver teeth earrings

The Hunted Crow claw pendant with amethyst in bronze.

The Hunted - Triple Crow claw ring with rough aquamarine, 18kt gold plated bronze.

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Caffeine and Sawblades Exhibition

I can barely contain my excitement for the Annual ECU Metals Symposium: Making Marks!!!  Every year it gets better and better.  The demos are awesome, the speakers are super talented and innovative and I get to see all my favorite people from years past at ECU and meet new metalsmiths from other schools.  It's great fun.

The first night (Friday, January 18th) of the symposium is always a big party of exhibitions; and this year it'll be more awesome as the Greenville Jolly Trolly will take us from event to event.  

Art Avenue will be hosting the Caffeine and Sawblades Exhibition(Friday, January 18th 6-9pm) of the ECU Metals department; past and present, undergraduate students and graduate students.  I'll have my Alloy necklace in the show, very psyched about that.

And of course, Dirty LAM Studios will be open and hosting a special event of ring making and very special Cotter drinks!  I definitely don't want to miss that event.

 

For those of you in the Eastern NC area - you should come to these events, it's fun, FREE and filled with amazing artwork!

Thx for reading.

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The year of growth and letting go

I don't usually write my personal or business goals on my blog; I've often felt they are too personal to publish however there is power and debt to making a public proclamation.  

And I do feel a sense of announcing goals here because then I can look back at the end of 2013 and see if I held to them.

But first I will reflect upon 2012:

1. Graduated with my BFA in metal design/jewelry from ECU
2. Advanced my business by selling in brick and mortar stores/galleries
3. Curated my first exhibition (Preyed Upon)

To me these are the top three accomplishments, I feel moderately satisfied in them, though I wish I had pushed myself more artistically.  Which leads me to 2013, I have five goals which are more broad:

1. Advance my business further; in revenue and sales outlets
2. Curate two exhibitions (one in the spring and one in the fall)
3. Create a new artistic body of work

They are similar to last year but double the work.  It will be a challenge to get my business off the ground - but I'm not alone; my boyfriend and family have been so supportive and encouraging of my dream, I feel confident it will continue to be successful!

And now I leave you with an image from the Alexander McQueen exhibition, Savage Beauty.  I recently purchased a book about the amazing designer and I'm inspired by his past collections and how he worked.

I also would like to wish you a wonderful and happy 2013!!  Thank you for reading!

Savage Beauty - Alexander McQueen (image from MOMA)

 

 

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