Weekly Inspiration #6

Mary Donald
Mary uses many different discarded materials such as rubber and plastic. I especially love her series featuring plastic.

Vert and Vogue

What better time to pay homage to my favorite boutique than now. Vert and Vogue was featured in the Triangle Spotlight  this week. V & V is an eco- friendly boutique, whose premise focuses on service, quality and timelessness. If you haven't yet had a chance to stop by, you should. It is a wonderful experience and you will leave feeling pampered and spoiled.
We collaborate seasonally to create a one-of-a-kind collection of eco-friendly jewelry. The new collection will be available soon at Vert and Vogue. Stay tuned!

Skin Deep: Surface Treatments for Jewelers with Ken Bova

I visited with Betty Mckim at Pullen Art Center yesterday. She gave me a flyer for an upcoming class at the center, which happens to be taught by Ken Bova. He is a wonderful teacher. I studied with Ken at Montana State in Bozeman 10 years ago and I saw him recently. He remembered a piece that I had made so long ago and described it in detail. Very impressive. He is currently a visiting professor at East Carolina University. It is such a treat to have him on this side of the country and to have him teaching a class so nearby. If you have a chance, you should definitely sign up! It will be well worth your time!

Skin Deep: Surface Treatments for Jewelers with Ken Bova

Saturday April 2 and Sunday April 3 9 am to 4 pm both days

In this color-filled workshop students will learn a variety of techniques to enhance the surface of metal for jewelry. Some cool color applications, simple and effective patinas, and enhancing processes of hammering, torch-texturing, fusing, stamping and silver reticulation are covered. We'll learn the preparation, tools, and materials used to achieve these effects to develop a  new visual vocabulary for jewelry and metal work. All levels. 

Pullen Art Center

105 Pullen Rd. 

Raleigh NC 27607 919.996.6126

Weekly Inspiration #5

Hanna Hedman

Hanna's work contrasts beauty with the unpleasant and serious, as these things can also be beautiful in their own right. Themes of human weakness and defense mechanisms are recurrent in her work. I love the erie, enchanting yet haunting quality of her work. Beautiful.

Junk

I love Durham for all it's little hidden treasures. Wandering around last Sunday, I found heaps of rusty iron and steel in the form of nails and rod. I can't wait to start playing with them. 

Diatom Beauties

I've been looking at different images in nature for inspiration lately. I came across these gorgeous images of diatoms. It is so amazing to me that a single cell can have so much detail and complexity. I'm not sure yet if and how these will play into my work. 

 

Guest Post: four things you should do before turning your passion into your full time job

I found a great post by Megan Auman on the Crafting an MBA blog. If you are passionate about what you do and want to quit your day job, this post gives some sound advice from Regina Morrison of Acute Designs, who successfully followed her dream.

Weekly Inspiration #4

Christel Van Der Laan - Perth WA, Australia


I love her use of found materials in juxtaposition to precious metal.
"Structures holding and presenting treasures other than those for which they are usually reserved. Treasures that can convey ideas about life, death, love, growth, relationships, value, places, journeys and events. What could be more precious?"

More of her work can be viewed on her website www.christelvanderlaan.com and at klimt02.

Lovely.