blog feature on DC Dilemmas

It really blows my mind when someone does a feature on my jewelry, I get SO excited and very honored.

John Michael of DC has a very fun and irreverent blog called, DC Dilemmas and he featured my ring in his recent post.   John Michael bought one of my owl talon stone rings, photo above.  He has a very cool sense of style, which I love, in addition to style blogs.  You definitely need to check out his blog.

Thank you John for the wonderful compliments, you made my day!

And thank YOU my dear readers for visiting.  Hope you are having a cool and delicious summer!

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Penland workshop with Jana Brevick

I'm off to Penland for a two week workshop next week with Jana Brevick.  I'm really looking forward to all the great things we will make - alloying metal!

Penland is, as corny as this sounds, a magical place.  Last year I met so many amazing artists and individuals, I know this time it'll be just as awesome.

Stay tuned, I'll be posting while I'm there...

View from my bench at Penland last year.

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Song of the Day: Lana del Ray "National Anthem"

Kinda crushin' on Ms. thang here.  In honor of 4th of July and summer, here is your tasty beat for the day.

Hope ya'll had a safe and Happy 4th, mine was spent by the pool in my 'hood, there was a great pool party and grillin' - the American way.

Cheers! 
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Dying, simply dying

..over this ring.  I know I sound dramatic but I'm really in love with how the crow claw holds the tourmaline so perfectly and looks SO killer, so badass!!!

It's a 6.5 and could possibly fit a size 7 ring finger as the additional space under one of the claws provides more room.  I wish I could wear it but it's too big, which is good...cause I'd have an even harder time selling it!

Sterling silver crow claw with a rough tourmaline stone.

Now up for sale in my Eilisain Etsy shop!

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Cha-cha-Changes

 So I've finally taken the leap, or more like stopped procrastinating and created a website AND a Facebook Fan page.

I'm not sure why I kept putting it off, but the impetus was that I've been applying for grants and loans and I just don't feel professional enough without both of those.  And from the numerous design blogs that recommend making these changes to be taken seriously, well...I just had to sit myself down this morning and right now and dedicate myself.

Somedays it can be so frustrating, as a maker/jeweler to learn all the other ins/outs of web design, business planning when what you really want to be doing is making! But sometimes I need a day off from using my hands.  I'm never happy! just kidding, I am.

So here they are...Eilisainjewelry.com and Eilisain Jewelry on Facebook.   Please "Like" it or I'll be SO depressed...just kidding. 

 lemme know what you think.

Thank you as always for reading!

Oh and psst, photo is of a tragic dead bird found under my stairwell...perhaps the Gods are sending me a message to immortalize it?

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wax on, wax off

I can't tell you how excited I am about the future of this ring! It finally occurred to me to make a ring with the crow, and within it will be a lovely crystal.  I'm so excited about it, I want to be in the studio now, unfortunately I have to work my day job at the law firm, boo.

Hope you are having a wonderful (and cool) Friday, yay for the weekend!

Crow claw ring in the making...

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Mobile Gallery

I'm so impressed with how jewelry artists and galleries are creating new ways to share their exhibitions in innovative ways. 
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Ural Owls of Estonia

National Geographic has always been a wonderful resource of inspiration for me and I'm so happy my parents got me a subscription.

Last month there was an insightful article and stunning photographs on the Ural owls in the mountains of Estonia.  Sven Začek reported that it is never easy to get so close to the owls and that he received more than a few beatings to the head from the mother owl he photographed.  Sven goes on to say that after his beatings he was 'allowed' to photograph her doing her thing.  

Owls are truly amazing creatures, they are able to fly without making any sound due to their specialized feathers and their heart shaped head provides the perfect way to zone in on prey.  I think it'd be very special to see them in the wild.  Lucky Sven!

The magnificent owl in flight.

 A mother nurturing her baby owl.

Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed the photographs and article.

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Deep Sea shell and coral earrings

This was such a fun pair of earrings to make and reminded me of my trip to Mexico last year, I bought the shells in the high mountainous city of Taxco.  It was so hard on that trip not to buy everything!

I chose to set the shells in oxidized sterling silver to allow the shells to 'breathe' and not be conformed by a bezel setting, plus the shells are somewhat delicate.  And the twisted black coral from Panama adds such a great contrast and sea-like creature quality to them.

Now on sale in my Eilisain Esty shop!

Curvy black coral and red shells from Mexico.

Lil' sea creatures hung from your ears!

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Rock Solid - Pieces of Eight Gallery interview

Rock Solid - An Interview with Meredith Turnbull from George Kats on Vimeo.


One day I will visit Pieces of Eight Gallery in Australia, I've been following them for awhile and I just love how supportive they are of craft jewelry.  
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And the Giveaway winner is...

This morning I tossed in all twelve names for my first giveaway in honor of Mid Summer.  The lucky winner will receive The Hunted Crow claw charm and chain.

Thank you everyone who left a comment, my heart is full of all the wonderful compliments!   And the lucky winner is....

All twelve names (in a beautiful bowl a friend gifted to me).

Oh the anticipation!

Suzanne! My old high school friend.

And don't fret for those of you that entered - I will do another giveaway towards the end of the year and  special promotions, so stay tuned.  Thank you again!

P.S. Suzanne will you message me your address?
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The Crow - Giveaway ends tonight!

The crow is such an amazingly intelligent and tricky bird.  Here is some lore about them: Their ability for watching has given them a reputation for thievery. Crows and all corvines are easily imprinted with the image of their keeper. In Roman mythology raven and crows used to be as white as swans. In fact a white crow watched over Apollo's pregnant lover at Delphos. One day the crow brought bad news to Apollo and was turned black.

Crows were also used to carry messages far and wide during medieval times.

In honor of the first day of summer, June 20th, I'm doing a giveaway.  This is my first giveaway and I'm very happy to do it, I've had so many wonderful supporters of my jewelry and this is my way of thanking them and you - for cheering me on.  

To enter leave a message on my blog.  Tonight I will put all the names in a hat/bowl/bucket and randomly draw a name.  I'll announce the winner tomorrow and you will receive the Hunted Crow Claw charm and chain!

Crow (Corvis)

Ancient bronze crow claw pendant and oxidized sterling silver chain (28")

Thank you for visiting and reading. 

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Giveaway: Ancient bronze crow claw

I finally decided to go black with the sterling silver chain and I think it really works with the golden color of the ancient bronze.  Now on sale in my Eilisain Etsy shop!

Stay tuned in the next several days as I'm going to do a give away in honor of the beginning of summer!

Leave a comment to be entered.

Close up of the claw. 

On my lovely crystal.

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40 under 40: Melanie Bilenker

The Renwick Gallery in DC has posted some videos of the artists participating in their 40 Under 40 Exhibition.  Pretty cool.
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Screenprinted totem cards

I finally had a full day in the screenprint studio this past weekend and I made more totem cards to go with the corresponding jewelry.   

Each totem card can come in purple or green lace.  Most of these cards measure 4 1/2 x 6 1/2 and make wonderful personal cards for friends, family and loved ones that may need strength and guidance during troubled times.  Many cultures and religions around the world call upon specific animals (and often regard them as deities) to be their personal totem so that they may gain their special qualities and protection.  

One of my totem animals was a beaver, initially I was surprised; I never guessed it would be a beaver but the beaver came to me because I was building my dream to become a metalsmith and jeweler, slowly preparing my portfolio to apply to art school.  Beavers are diligent and wonderful at creating a home, and make hardy planners and work tirelessly until their goal is achieved.  The beaver was with me until I was accepted to ECU. 

I hope you like my cards as much as I like them!

Barn owl print with purple lace background.  This card comes with all owl talon jewelry.

Stag print with green lace.  Comes with any deer antler jewelry.

Raven/Crow print on purple lace.  Comes with raven jewelry.

Bear print on green lace.  This print comes with any bear charm purchase.

And last but not least, the badger.  This print comes with the badger pendant. 

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New listings in my Etsy shop

Some beautiful new jewels in my Etsy shop, but with a different kind of bronze, ancient bronze!  I had a custom order from a gentleman in the Netherlands and he wanted his double owl talon pendant a warmer, rosier color so I suggested ancient bronze.  I hadn't worked with ancient bronze before and I'm really loving it and the rosy hue.  I hope you do too!

Manganese bronze five talon and blue stone ring.

 

Ancient bronze double owl talon earrings.

Ancient bronze small owl talon earrings. 

 Thanks for visiting and Happy TGIF!

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Song of the Day: "I'm not Gonna Cry" by Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings

It doesn't get more funky & soul filled than Sharon Jones, she can work a crowd like magic!



I saw her several years ago and it was one of the best shows I've ever been to, got me dancing and stompin' the whole night. 

And I'll get you there too, today I'll be on the airwaves this afternoon, 4-6pm on ECU's radio station, WZMB 91.3 FM - livestreamin'!.
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Casting studio

I can't believe I have never done a post about the actual casting station area at ECU! Lately I've been casting almost every weekend, so why not?

I really love casting because you get to manipulate metal and watch it in it's liquid form, it's entrancing and I also enjoy it because you get to share the experience with a partner.  While one person is heating the metal, the other person needs to remove the hot flask from the kiln and place it in the carrier before it's released and the molten metal is shot into the flask. 

Old wax injections and splattered wax...kinda looks like blood.

The dusty centrifuge casting area. I can't wait to one day have my own.

Look at all that splattered metal...lil' mishap.

And the kiln area where we refine metal or do vacuum casting.

 Thanks for reading!

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Watery pathways

I found Michael Cina via Design Sponge and his paintings are quite haunting, almost as if it's a ghost or apparition of some otherworldly thing.

Michael Cina painting.

I could imagine swimming in this.

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Song of the Day: Tell me Something Good

Oh yeahhhhh, that's what I like.  Listen to me, DJ Lestat, later today, 4-6pm on ECU's Pirate radio, WZMB 91.3. Live streamin' ya'll!
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