Metalsmiths In Action

FEATURED TEAM MEMBER: IDreamICanFly

2009-08-25T11:43:00.018-04:00

Name: Jo Hollingsworth

Location: San Diego, California, USA

Where you hail from:

Wow, that's a tricky one. Well, I grew up in Michigan, but I went to college in Ohio, and I've lived in Indiana, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and California as well as Angelbachtal, Germany and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. My husband is British, so we spend a lot of time in England as well, and we travel around the world whenever we get the opportunity. At this point home is pretty much wherever I'm living!

Photo of you:

Art Training/Education:

I've taken a lot of art classes through the years, from painting and photography to metalsmithing and art history, but my main concentration was ceramics and ceramic sculpture. I love sculpting - give me a block of clay and a sculpture just flows from my fingers.

When was the first time you tried your hand at metalsmithing and what prompted you to give it a shot?

Well, I've always loved jewelry. I started collecting jewelry as soon as I had a few quarters to rub together. My father traveled extensively for business, as well, and he'd bring back jewelry from different countries, which fascinated me. So when I started taking art classes, one of the earliest classes I took was metalsmithing. I didn't enjoy the class at all (in retrospect, I had a really poor teacher). But I learned the basic techniques, so when I eventually turned back to jewelry I had a good foundation to work from.

Creatively, what do you consider to be your first artist success and why?

My first really successful sculpture was titled "I Dream I Can Fly Away". Like most of my sculptures, I didn't really start with an idea - it just sort of happened. But the piece is somehow haunting. I still see something new in it every time I look at it. You can see it here - http://www.johollingsworth.com/art/i_dream.html - and yes, I named my shop after it.

Creatively, what was your biggest disaster and what did you learn from it?

I had one sculpture that I didn't let dry long enough before I put it in the kiln. It exploded during firing and took out a whole shelf of other peoples' work, including a gorgeous vase that was next to it. That was definitely a disaster! Beyond that, I've melted quite a few pieces of delicate jewelry, and I've had any number of designs that seem brilliant in my head but just don't seem to translate into metal. But I just consider those learning experiences.

What are your favorite materials and techniques to work with?

I love cold forging, and recently I've really been enjoying setting cabochons. I've just started soldering gold, as well, which is a lot of fun. Ask me again in a few months, though, and I'm sure I'll have a new answer. That's the fun of metalsmithng - there's always something new to learn!

Share you workbench:

My teeny little workbench -
I'm always shuffling things around to make space.

What inspires you most in your creative process and why?

I'm inspired by that magic place where form meets function. This is one thing jewelry offers me that I can't get from sculpting - sculpture is gorgeous, but you can't wear it to a party. I love to take an idea and turn it around in my head until I figure how to turn it into a piece that is both flattering and comfortable. How will it look while being worn? Will it hang right? How will it age? Will it show wear? Will I still love this piece in 5 years? I often contemplate a design for weeks or months before I try to turn it into metal.

Is there one Metalsmith/Artist that you really admire whose work inspires you?

One of the first art history classes I took covered tribal arts, from the Pacific Northwest Coast Indians to the Maori in New Zealand. I'm still really inspired by native craftspeople. My current obsessions are Maori greenstone jewelry and Navajo silverwork.

Show us your favorite pieces:

I'm still in love with my Mod Flower necklace.

I designed and made this in a week for a last minute black-tie affair.
It's my go-to necklace for dressy occasions.

Show us your recent work:

I recently made this rainbow obsidian necklace as a custom order for one of my customers. I really enjoyed combining silver with rose gold. I love how this came out!

What are your ten year goals in terms of your metal work?

My ten year goal is not to get bored! One of the things I love about metalsmithing is the constant learning process. If I live for 100 years I'll never learn all of the possible ways to work metal. At the moment I'm really interested in learning wax carving, which I think would go nicely with my sculpting background, and learning blacksmithing, which I think would translate well to jewelry.

Here are some more of Jo's designs:

To see more of Jo's designs, you can visit his Etsy Store here:
www.IDreamICanFly.etsy.com

Thank you Jo!

FEATURED TEAM MEMBER: JELLIES JEWELRY

2009-08-10T10:22:00.021-04:00

Name: John “Jack” Jellies

Location: SW Michigan

Where you hail from:

Born in Maryland, my Dad (an electrical engineer) was in the Army at Aberdeen Proving Grounds at height of Cold War, but I grew up in Chicago area where the families were mostly from.

Photo of Jack:

When I’m not playing with sharp objects or flame-throwing torches and hot metal I do enjoy a Killian’s or a Guinness.

Art Training/Education:

I had an art class in 7th grade. Does that count? I got a B- …I refused to do the abstract that was popular back then and was instead drawing realistic portraits of all the pretty girls in class. The B was a bummer, but the drawings helped me stay reasonably popular amongst the young ladies.

Eclectic would describe my so-called Art training. My Mom was a wonderful painter and musician and I learned quite a bit from her (painting that is, I can’t play a note). In my formal education I concentrated in philosophy, writing, physical and biological sciences and am a practicing Neurobiologist/Professor. My professional work has mostly involved electrophysiology, imaging, using fluorescent molecules, and a great deal of micro surgical and dissecting work. Great for developing strong 3-D visualization skills and hand-eye coordination. I have dabbled semi-seriously in creative writing, electronics, sculpting, carving, painting, and drawing. I believe strongly in life-long learning.

When was the first time you tried your hand at metalsmithing and what prompted you to give it a shot?

Well…my first real piece of jewelry was made in January of 2008. It remains my favorite for sentimental reasons. I had been making jewelry in my head and reading about it for long before that, call it latent learning. I had made metal sculptures as a young man and loved beating on metal but I was finally driven to make adornment because I wanted to bring to life all the pretties floating around in my brain and make gifts for my wife, friends and many nieces and nephews.

Creatively, what do you consider to be your first artist success and why?

Truly, when I was about 10-11. I spent a great deal of time in my room reading and trying to imagine what it would be like to actually be Batman. Well, I took a box of toothpicks from the cupboard and a little bottle of Elmer’s glue from my Mom’s junk drawer. I just started making a sleigh. Why? I have no idea but I do remember loving the Bing Crosby Christmas movies and scenes from those were happy thoughts. Somehow, the thing went from my brain to my hands and I made an elaborate sleigh. I clearly remember bringing it to the table at dinner and being worried that Mom would be upset that I had taken the toothpicks, or my younger brother and sister would make fun of me. I don’t remember the details, but I sure remember the hugs and compliments. I think that was when I realized I could really be a maker. All on my own. What a rush! I also try to remember that as a lesson to me about how powerful the emotional connections to creativity are and how important is encouragement of talent and potential in others.

Creatively, what was your biggest disaster and what did you learn from it?

In college, I would salvage metal parts from anything I could get my hands on, radios, clocks, old roofs, old cigarette lighters etc. I would use hammers and pliers to shape, and a soft-soldering iron to turn this assorted junk into sculptures. I did angels, dragons, trees, birds, faces, robots, etc. One of the guys had their parents down for a visit and the dad went ga-ga over my work and offered to pay me to make a dragon for him. We agreed on a price and I made a spectacular dragon. About a year went by and my buddy told me, with some trepidation, that his dad was kind-of disappointed. My dragon had, over time, developed all manner of crystal growth and verdigris that, while didn’t really look too bad, for him it ruined the sculpture. If I had done it with intent I might have thought it a success. BUT, I did it in ignorance, not realizing the effects of mixed metals, lead-based solder, acid flux mixed with humid air and time. That made me realize the importance of trying to understand my materials as well as possible and while I still love to experiment, I work hard to fight my own ignorance of technique and materials.

What are your favorite materials and techniques to work with?

Silver, copper, gems and stones…in that order. I have a great respect for PMC as well and try to use it for accent pieces and sculptural elements. What little I have worked with gold, I do love it, but ‘tis a bit expensive for me yet. I love to solder! I actually get a kick out of using hard solder and bringing the piece just to the edge of having the whole thing melt (without holding it there and causing firescale of course). I also enjoy fabrication…I love the putting together of hand-formed components, sometimes 8, 9, 10 separate solder operations. Once in awhile I goof it up, but it is a great challenge and loads of fun.

Share your workbench:

I seem to be one of those people who is incredibly organized in my mind, Yet, to all external appearances I might seem to be a bit discombobulated. Well, it is a mess, but it seems to work for me.

What inspires you most in your creative process and why?

Nature and my heritage. I am really drawn to simple relatively ancient forms. The curvatures of leaves, the fractal growth of tree limbs or veins in the wings of dragonflies. I also have an affinity for Art Deco and Art Nouveau styles and Mission Arts & Crafts furniture. As the unofficial family genealogist I also have a strong connection to my cultural heritage. When I got old enough to explore it myself I realized what a rich history there was in my heritage and I love exploring that in my metalwork.

Is there one Metalsmith/Artist that you really admire whose work inspires you?

Tim McCreight. Hands-down, no comparison for me. It is from his books that I learned enough to attempt metalwork myself and I am a great admirer of his skill and his ability to figure a thing out and convey it in a way I can understand.

Show us your favorite pieces:

The first fave is my first piece, a large crystal opal with bright blue fire. I set it as a tie tac for myself. This stone was a gift from a great aunt and uncle who traveled the US and one day when I was 8 they showed up unexpectedly. They gave to me this stone that they had collected and hand polished and I carried it around with me for decades. The second picture is a recent gift I made for one of my nieces, Meghan. It combines all of my favorite elements; forging, fabrication, texturing, design and my Celtic identity.

Show us your recent work:

This is a piece I am working on for the store. I’ll be making more of these Penannular Celtic brooches and am awaiting some rose cut gems to incorporate, making them a bit more classical and authentic to what is in my brain.

What are your ten year goals in terms of your metal work?

First and foremost I seek to hone my skills through practice and experiment. Right now I design in my head, my affinity for drawing and painting hasn’t played out linearly in my jewelry. Instead, I treat the stones and metals as if they were my paints and I lay them out, manipulate them, and design mostly on the fly from visions in my brain. Mix and match until I get the effect I want. While that works for me (I think) I hope to become more intentional in my designs, thinking them through and drawing them first. I might reduce the number of missteps if I get better at that. Of course, maybe not. When I carve or sculpt I never use a model either, which many claim is essential, so perhaps it is just the way my brain works. I don’t know yet, but I aspire to be a better designer.

Here are some more of Jack's designs:

To see more of Jellie's designs, you can visit his Etsy Store here:
www.JelliesJewelry.etsy.com

Thank you Jack!

Featured Team Member: EarthyExpressions

2009-07-29T12:32:00.025-04:00

Name: My name is Kristen Ramsey but, everyone usually just calls me Kristie.

Where you hail from: I was born and raised in Massillon, OH, a wonderful little town of about 30,000 people that is about an hour south of Cleveland. I still live in Massillon today.

Photo of Kristen:

Art Training/Education: I don't have any formal art training or education. I come from a very artsy/crafty family. When I was little and my grandma would watch me she would always have some sort of craft for me to do. She was amazingly creative and talented so, I think it all started there for me. I do take metalsmithing classes, though, from a very talented girl named Kristina Malcolm. She has taught me a lot of what I know about the art of metalsmithing.

When was the first time you tried your hand at metalsmithing and what prompted you to give it a shot? The first time I tried my hand at metalsmithing I had no idea that the class I had signed up for was metalsmithing! I thought I had signed up for a PMC class! I remember getting to the class and I was given a length of square sterling wire, a length of 16 gauge round wire and a pearl and thinking "Wow, I think I made a mistake this isn't PMC." but, decided to try it anyways and I had so much fun that I just wanted to keep taking more classes and learning as much as I could and here I am! It's so funny how that happened but, it was meant to be.

Creatively, what do you consider to be your first artist success and why? I think my first artist success has been getting accepted at the Ohio Arts and Crafts Guild Gallery in Canton, OH. I feel like being accepted has made me feel successful somewhat with my art. It makes one feel like you aren't the only person who appreciates it someone else likes it too. It's validation I guess.

Creatively, what was your biggest disaster and what did you learn from it? Hmmm...that's a hard question. I try to have a focus for each project so, that I don't have any disasters. I try to avoid those at all costs! Even if something doesn't turn out quite the way I expected it I don't call it a disaster it's more like a learning experience for me. I think it's probably because I'm so new to metalsmithing it's all a learning experience for me. Some projects turn out great just the way I want and others if it doesn't turn out I know I need to practice that skill some more.

What are your favorite materials and techniques to work with? Right now my favorite metalsmithing technique is piercing and my favorite material to work with is fine silver. I love fusing fine silver! You gotta love that it takes no solder and no pickle. It's fast. It's fun. It's easy. I just made some stacking rings with it and they were so cute I had to keep them for myself!

Share you workbench: My workbench is usually a disaster area. I really need to organize it more (which I plan to do soon). I took over my hubby's workbench in the basement and it is perfect for me. It's a great height and it's nice a heavy which is great for metal stamping which I do a lot of. The only down side is it's in the basement which isn't very fun to work in on nice sunny days because it's so dark):

What inspires you most in your creative process and why? Nature inspires me the most in my creative process. I love nature and all that goes along with it so, it's only natural that it flows into my creative process. I also love that nature is not perfect and I like that look. In my jewelry it's not an imperfection but, part of the charm of it.

Is there one Metalsmith/Artist that you really admire whose work inspires you? I can't think of just one person whose work inspires me although, my teacher Kristina Malcolm does some amazing things. Her piercing skills are beyond belief to me so, she inspires me to work harder at that so, that I can maybe someday be that good at piercing. We also have some very talented members of our team who inspire me to work hard too!

Show us your favorite piece. Why is it your favorite? This is one of my favorite pieces of jewelry I've made because it was the first piece of jewelry I bezel set from scratch:

Show us your latest pieces: Here is a pic is of what I've been working on lately. They are my fine silver stacking rings. They are really fun to make. I just love how they turned out. They're simple but, so cute and really comfortable to wear:

What are your ten year goals in terms of your metal work? My ten year goals in my metal work are to sell enough pieces to have all the tools that I need to do everything that I learn in class at home. Right now that is my biggest frustration and my biggest roadblock. I'm a stay-at-home mom for the most part (which I love BTW and don't want to give up) so, that makes things a little bit tougher for me in terms of buying all the equipment I need, but I have faith that it will a happen in time.

Here are some more designs by EarthyExpressions:

To see more of EarthyExpressions designs, you can visit her Etsy Store here:
www.EarthyExpressions.etsy.com

Thank you Kristen!

Team MSIA Father's Day Reminder....

2009-06-17T11:27:00.010-04:00

HURRY! HURRY!

It's not too late to get a special gift for
that special Father in your life.
Isn't he worth the absolute best?

Here's just a small sampling of some of our team's
Father's Day gift ideas:

Cufflinks by JelliesJewelry

Keychain by MoppetsClosets

Cufflinks by SilverMadeStudio

To see more amazing pieces by Team MSIA Members,
visit:

MetalSmithsInAction.50webs.com
or
Our MSIA Flickr site:
www.flickr.com/groups/MetalSmithsInAction

Happy Father's Day!!!

PICKLE - Au Natural!

2009-05-27T14:50:00.003-04:00

We have a new team member, Jo, of IdreamIcanFly.etsy.com.

She has written a great little article with instructions to make your own, non-toxic, pickle solution. She has generously offered to share her findings with us:

"After much searching, I've finally found a recipe for pickle that's non-toxic, and actually works! For those of you non-silversmiths out there, in the silversmithing world pickle is used to remove the coating from silver (and other metals, I'm sure) after they're heated with a torch. It's a necessary part of the process. But for obvious reasons, I've never really been fond of having sulferic acid in my house.

I've tried other non-toxic pickle recipes, and they all seem to work veeeery slooooowly. This one, though, this one is fabulous. You take vinegar (just regular vinegar), heat it up in your pickle pot, and add table salt until the solution is saturated. That's it! As far as I can tell, it works just as fast as the standard pickle from Rio Grande. The only problem I've had so far is that it's a bit cloudy, so you kind of have to fish around for your pieces. I may have put too much salt in, though. We'll see if it clears up with use.

Now if only I can find an organic recipe for etching acid......

UPDATE: I've tried it heated up in the pickle pot now, and it's fantastic! It's actually faster than the standard pickle. I can see my pieces turning white as I'm setting them down. And it's not cloudy anymore, either. Fabulous!"

You can read more of IdreamIcanFly's blog here:

http://idreamicanflyaway.blogspot.com/2009/01/to-pickle-or-not-to-pickle.html

Thank you Jo!

Mother's Day Contest Success!!!

2009-05-27T14:47:00.003-04:00

A BIG Thank You
to all who participated in and helped support our Mother's Day Contest.
It was a great success!

Thank you all!

MSIA MOTHER'S DAY SEEK & FIND CONTEST

2009-04-30T11:16:00.007-04:00

Team Metalsmiths In Action Etsy

is having a
Seek, Find & Win Contest,
starting Friday, May 1st through Sunday, May 10th
(or when all prizes have been given away, whichever comes first!)

How to play:

First, find all three of the hidden Rose images hidden within the below shops.

Second, send a message to wireddesign with the following information:

1. Links to all three items with the Rose image
2. Prize choice (first, second, and third choice)
(first come, first serve on the prizes)
3. Address to mail the prize to

No purchase necessary!

Here is the list of the participating stores
AND the prizes up for grabs:

NEW WORK WEDNESDAY! APRIL 26-29

2009-04-29T15:15:00.012-04:00

Quench Metalworks
Just in time for Mother's Day! www.quenchmetalworks.etsy.com

Sassy Glass Jewelry
Summertime Bling! www.sassyglassjewelry.etsy.com

Shelby Evans
Spring Stackers! www.shelbyevans.etsy.com

Creations By Cat
Oh Daisy! www.creationsbycat.etsy.com

Chrissi Lynn
Beautiful Agate! www.chrissilynn2.etsy.com

Christina Hurley
A Butterfly to Envy! www.cphurley.etsy.com

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

2009-04-28T11:25:00.003-04:00

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

Http://Toosis .etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Photographing Your Work

2009-04-27T13:01:00.004-04:00

Today marks the start of my Monday tutorial postings. To be quite honest with you, this past week flew by and left me with no time to prepare a proper metalsmithing tutorial. Since the one thing we all do is photograph our work, I decided to start here. Your photos have less than 2 seconds to draw a potential buyer in...to make that first click. Also, properly photographed and cropped photos will be the ones that make it into the sought after treasuries. So, as a warm-up exercise for myself, a refresher for us all, and perhaps new and exciting information along the way, my first tutorial will highlight the must do's, have's and don'ts of jewelry photography.

The very first don't: don't use the flash! Camera flashes wash out colors, creates sharp reflections on your metal, and quite frankly, appears very amatuer-ish. DO purchase (or make) a light tent or table top photo studio. I got mine (pictured below) at Amazon.com for a very reasonable price that also included two lights, 1GB memory card, a tripod, and all sorts of care supplies for my camera. And your camera must have a macro option...a lens capability that allows for up-close photographing. No fancy camera is needed. Many companies sell cameras around $150 with adequate macro. I personally have a Canon A530. The lag time between shots is rather long, but my subject isn't moving, so I can live with this!

Do find a spot to set up your photo studio, permanently. Locating your studio next to a bright window (not direct sun if possible) is key. Natural light is the best for jewelry photographs. To save space, I set mine up on the bench where my rolling is mounted. Do use a tripod if you are unsteady. Do invest in nice tabletop photo lights if you will be photographing in dark conditions.

DO be consistent with your backgrounds and props. When viewing a shop, customers prefer a harmonious arrangement of colors and textures. Backgrounds can distract or enhance. Love the bright tropical colors of the Bahamas? Awesome, just don't mix in photographs with backgrounds of moody, earthy ochres and mosses. Along with backgrounds, props can create a "story" within your work. What is the story you would like to tell? Nature lovers love jewelry, too? Grandmother's attic is full of surprises? Quiet day by the lake with a good book? You get the idea!!

Have your props ready to go when you are ready to shoot. Above is my current line-up that I am slowly introducing into my photos. By keeping your props gathered together next to your photo studio, you will save time and will be able to list your lovelies sooner than later!

Do crop and play with the brightness and saturation. Sometimes, even in the best conditions, the photo's color and brightness are not as you saw with your own eyes. When cropping your photos, play with these adjustments for optimum results. Also, experience with subject positioning. Sometimes showing a portion of the item will entice the potential customer to click to see more. Follow these simple rules and your Paypal account will thank you!

I welcome any more suggestions in the comments! This has been your Monday Tutorial by Quench Metalworks!!

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

2009-04-27T09:39:00.003-04:00

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

Incalesco.etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

WEEKEND DEALS APRIL 24-26

2009-04-25T03:03:00.011-04:00

Great Deals for Upcoming Mother's Day!

Jane Deaux
www.janedeaux.etsy.com
**WEEKEND DEAL** Spend $40 and get a set of 3 stacking rings. Let me know your size in message to seller. You can get a gift for someone and one for yourself!

TSmith Design
www.tsmithdesign.etsy.com
15% off all orders!!! And free shipping(To receive discount, mention "Mom" in Message to Seller during checkout).
Sale dates 4-24-09 to 4-28-09.
An extra day because the 28th is my birthday!
Please checkout & pay as usual. I will promptly refund 15% of the
cost of your jewelry back to your account.
FREE SHIPPING TOO!

Sonya Rasi
www.sonyarasi.etsy.com
BUY ANY TWO JEWELRY ITEMS and RECEIVE A FREE PAIR of EARRINGS YOUR CHOICE (value up to $25) Please leave your choice in message to buyer.
FREE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Sassy Glass Jewelry
THIS WEEKEND ONLY - 20% off everything in shop. Use promotion code "20% off" in note to seller so I can adjust your invoice or refund through PayPal. Now is a good time to shop for Mother's Day !

Today's TeamMSIA's Featured Seller

2009-04-24T09:05:00.009-04:00

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

Http://TerraFirmaStudio.etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Today's MSIA Featured Seller

2009-04-23T10:17:00.005-04:00

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

*** TeamMSIA Featured Seller ***

ChicBeadsByGermaine.etsy.com

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

WEEKEND DEALS APRIL 17- APRIL 19

2009-04-17T13:01:00.014-04:00

GREAT DEALS!

BELLA- BIJOU JEWELLERY

JANE DEUX
www.janedeux.etsy.com
**WEEKEND DEAL** BUY any 2 items and get a free pair of my heart hoop earrings a 26 dollar value, buy 4 items get 2 free. Hearts can also be oxidized (blackened). Let me know in message to seller.

WIRED DESIGN
www.wireddesign.etsy.com
Purchase any two items this weekend and receive a free Sterling Silver "Never Enough" stacking ring!

TSMITH DESIGNS
www.tsmithdesigns.etsy.com
****FREE SPRING EARRINGS*******Special for this weeks weekend deals. April 17th to April 20th. A free pair of Spring time earrings with any purchase.

SASSY GLASS JEWELRY
wwwsassyglassjewelry.etsy.com
*********Buy any ring and get a pendant (tagged as pendant) 1/2 price. Items will be mailed in gift box and gift bag. Sale prices good Sat. and Sun. only.***********

CORY BETHY
www.corybethy.etsy.com
Spend $60 get a $15 gift certificate for your next purchase.
Type in " Free $15" in message to seller

SAMANTHA JEAN DESIGNS

www.samanthajeandesigns.etsy.com
BIRTHDAY SPECIAL! I am offering 10% off everything in my shop today, April 17, thru 11:59 pm April 19. If you are interested in anything in my shoppie just mention '10%' in message to seller when you purchase an item and I will send you a 10% refund thru paypal on the item price.

SONYA RASI
www.sonyarasi.etsy.com
Free Worldwide Shipping!
Buy Any Two Jewelry Items and Receive a Free Pair of Earrings your Choice (maximum value of free earrings $25)
Please leave your choice in note to seller. :-)

FINAL LIST for Mother's Day Contest

2009-04-16T19:34:00.008-04:00

Mother's Day Contest - Starting May 1st

The thought behind these contests is to drive tons of traffic to the shops participating. We'll have a number of images (depending on how many team members that are participating) in different shops (usually incorporated in the second photo of a listing). I will contact the shops individually to ask if they can hide an image in their shop. I will be the only one who knows who they are (and Wired!). Then we'll promote the heck out of the contests on our blogs and also a promotion thread. If you can snag a treasury to promote the contest that's even better! I've also asked if we can have photos of all prizes and rules posted on our team website. That would be the main link that we refer to. I would also encourage everyone participating to post a blurb in their shop announcement with a link to the promotion thread. We'll ask people to find the hidden images and convo their answers to WIRED with their first and second choice of price. Sellers participating will ship directly to the winner. Wired will let the shop who's prize has been won know via convo.

New member are of course welcome to participate! And no, it doesn't have to be something soldered etc. A pair of beaded earrings is more than welcome to participate! If you are participating with a One of A kind item I suggest you make it inactive until the contest or write "Reserved for MSIA hide & Seek contest winner" in title and description. If you're item isn't OOAK you don't have to change anything until the contest starts. And then I only suggest that you add a blurb the contest in the description together with the link to the promotion thread.

The contest will begin Friday May 1st.

I will then post our contest on Mary's weekend deals threads and cross our fingers that we'll be featured! I will let you know what the "official" rules about the contest is before the end of April so that you can use them that on your blogs, facebook etc.

The only thing I ask is that everyone participating can be somewhat active that weekend. Also members who will be asked to hide an image in your shop needs to be available that weekend in case that listing gets sold, so that you hide the photo in a new one or relist and let me know.

Please Copy this as well as the list below, when you add your name to the contest. That way I don't have to answer the same questions multiple times. Thanks guys!

CoryBethy
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18697591

TSmithDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23368727

DoxalloDesigns
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23457783

Janedeaux
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23587316

Sonyaras
www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20892185

ArcadianDreams
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22574292

SilverMade
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22835391

Markasky
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21297144

EarthyExpressions
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21737838

KelliRene
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22008194

sassyglassjewelry
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=20754832

KBerlin
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22398146

LakeErieBeachGlass
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18689858

WiredDesign
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23624280

chicbeadsbygermaine
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=14358742

CeceStCroix
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=18993064

CreationsbyCat
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22362433

onestonenewyork:
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24296858

Quench Metalworks
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23149938

elisasherejewelry
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=22567195

Rubyshill
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19661436

JelliesJewelry
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=21978749

Toosis
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23357976

Chrissi Lynn Designs
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=19162038

Kathryn Cole
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23208437

ShelbyEvans
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23693844

Meltemsem
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=23086961

MSIA Team Studios & Workbenches - ThatsPretty

2009-02-10T22:01:00.006-05:00

I love this space. It's so fresh and bright.
Very clever utilizing the magnetic spice containers on the wall!
Also, LOVE the framed necklace. Nice touch!

MSIA Team Studios & Workbenches - OneGarnetGirl

2009-02-10T21:54:00.004-05:00

So, the first thing I would do is get into that enticing vintage tool box and see what goodies lay in there, then I would sneak to the back and play with the rolling mill (who can resist?).
Then I would peek through all the drawers in the back unit.
Aren't skinny drawers interesting?
Can one have enough of them???

MSIA Team Studios & Workbenches - Toosis

2009-02-10T21:46:00.007-05:00

Toosis' cleanliness is making me very very embarrassed!
Must clean studio now.......
Look she's looking at us!

MSIA Team Studios & Workbenches - Incalesco

2009-02-10T21:11:00.010-05:00

Have you ever wanted to snoop through an artist's studio? Well, I have! It's so much fun to see where the artists do their work, get their inspiration and spend their time. It's a great way to get organizational ideas too!
Check out some of the studios of our fellow teammates. Click on their studio pics and it will take you to some of their masterpieces so you can see what they make.

Welcome! Don't touch anything!

FRONT PAGE NEWS!!!

2008-12-13T10:00:00.007-05:00

Team MSIA on Etsy's Front Page!

Congrats to CreationByCat
for having her team treasury chosen for the Front Page!

FRONT PAGE NEWS!

2008-11-25T10:47:00.006-05:00

Congrats MoppetsClosets!

Featured Artist ESDesigns.....

2008-10-27T23:15:00.012-04:00

Congratulations ESDesigns
Featured Artist on Etsy's Front Page!

Here's a snippet of her interview:

ESDesigns

Tell us a bit about yourself name, location, affiliations, personal stuff.

My name is Elizabeth Scott and I live near Altamont NY, the small town near Albany where I grew up. I’m in my thirties now, but I feel younger, and I think it’s because I’ve been in school for most of my life. After two art degrees, I completed a second master’s degree for my teaching certification. After working for several years as a teacher assistant I felt like teaching was what I wanted to do. I spent a few years as a public school teacher, but it was a struggle to find time for art. So I started teaching part time, and now (thanks in part to Etsy) jewelry making is my full time job. I like that by working at home I can drive much less. I’m not exactly sure why I needed all of that education, but I suppose it must be good for something.

Apart from creating things, what do you do?

I like to walk my dog (an Akita I adopted from a rescue) in the woods whenever I can, and I try my best to prevent her from killing any little furry animals that get too close, which can end up being pretty demanding. That’s ok, since jewelry making is mostly a sedentary job. Of course, I do a lot of other things too.

What first made you want to become an artist?

I’m not sure because it happened so long ago- since about first or second grade that’s been my answer to what I wanted to do.

Please describe your creative process how, when, materials, etc.

Living in a rural area makes it very easy to pick up a leaf or flower and think, “I have to make something out of this.” It’s always an object I have a personal connection to and one that I hope others will find meaning in. I make design choices that won’t get in the way of everyday wear because I think that the way something looks and how it feels are both equally important. I like the clean look of a single material, sterling silver, and I like to create simple pieces that focus on one design element.

What handmade possession do you most cherish?

I love to collect jewelry and have many favorite pieces that I wear, so it’s hard to pick just one. One of my recent favorites is an initial necklace from Alicia Istanbul and another is a necklace from Experimetal.

To read more, come see her feature here on Etsy:
http://www.etsy.com/featured_seller.php

Check Out Our Team Website

2008-10-22T20:25:00.007-04:00

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★★

Come visit our Team Website

MetalsmithsInAction.50webs.com

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On The Front Page of Etsy

2008-10-12T21:28:00.005-04:00

Congratulations to
lisahopkins
She's on the Front Page of Etsy!

Come see lisahopkins' shop here:
LisaHopkins.etsy.com

Congrats Leader Of Men

2008-10-11T15:43:00.004-04:00

Congrats LeaderOfMen
You're on the front page!!!

Come Check Out Her Store at:
LeaderOfMen.etsy.com

Team MSIA New Members

2008-10-11T11:58:00.006-04:00

TeamMSIA
welcomes some of our New Members
in a Metals Love Treasury

Check out our Team Website at:
MetalsmithsInAction.50webs.com

2008-09-11T23:45:00.014-04:00

We got two more treasuries today.
Team MSIA sure is growing!!!!

treasury by mareastudiodesigns

treasury by KelliRene

2008-09-10T14:52:00.008-04:00

In the midst of September 9th's treasury crash on Etsy,
we managed to survive and create two more Team MSIA Treasuries.
For a new team I'd say we have quite a bit of talent!!!

treasury by mareastudiodesigns

Treasury by kellirene

Welcome to Metalsmiths In Action

2008-09-04T13:32:00.075-04:00

We are an official Etsy Team!
Team MSIA - Metalsmiths In Action
& here is our first team treasury:

Our TeamMSIA Member Stores on Etsy: