I have a ring featured on the front page of ETSY!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the link:
http://www.etsy.com/storque/how-to/seller-tip-present-yourself-to-the-press-5686/

Minges Pumpkin Festival

I will be setting up a booth with fellow artist, Joe Walsh, this weekend! Here's the website for the Minges Pumpkin Festival: http://www.mingespumpkinfest.com/

Featured Artist Article In Cincy Magazine

Cincy Magazine - spotlighted artist!!!!!!!

I am the spotlighted artist for the October/November issue of Cincy!

Are these REAL LEAVES?

These leaves are actually made from 18 gauge copper and given a heat patina so that they look like real leaves! There's quite a variety of leaves here: red oak, white oak, maple, silver maple, sassafras, hawthorne fireberry, tulip poplar, etc. Come shop with us on our etsy site if you are interested in a leaf pendant!

Autumn Leaf Pendants

We have sold 88 of these leaf pendants in our Etsy Shop! Here's a couple of leaves that we have created. They are pierced from 18 gauge copper and finished with a heat patina.

New Tools from an Auction!

Last weekend I hit the jack pot with tools at an auction near my hometown in northwest Ohio. I scored a: small universal brass/steel hammer, train track, c-clamps, drill bits, etc.

Here's a picture of the train track and the hammer in use! It is so nice having a piece of track to form and rivet on now! Extremely handy!

Sterling Silver Wood Combo Rings

Here's my newest creation using wood with my metal work. This design was put together with the thought of using a rivet to hold the wood and the ring together. Using rivets in these rings creates an opportunity to really showcase the beauty of the wood with the simple sterling silver band.

Latest Creation

This brooch is constructed from sterling silver, nickel silver, ironwood, and a tiger's eye stone.

Press Release for Haiku to Metal Show

Here is the press release for the Haiku to Metal Show that I'm exhibiting in. This show takes place at the Desotorow Gallery in Savannah, GA. The show will continue through July 29th. Here's the press release:

http://www.desotorow.org/about/pressreleases/2009-07-haiku.pdf

The Best of 2009 Show (Update)

The Best of 2009 Show has left the Ohio Craft Museum and is now being exhibited in the Southern Ohio Museum in Portsmouth, OH from July 3-August 26. This show exhibits some of the best craftsmen in the Ohio. A fantastic show to get to! Here's the link to The Southern Ohio Museum:
http://www.somacc.com/

My brooch is the featured piece for The Haiku to Metal Show!

My brooch, Encased Cervid, is the featured piece for The Haiku to Metal Show! The Desotorow Gallery used this piece for their marketing piece on their website. Here is the link to their site:

http://www.desotorow.org/events/2009/july09.html

Haiku to Metal Show in Savannah, GA

I recently found out that two of my pieces were selected for the Haiku to Metal Show at The Desotorow Gallery in Savannah, GA!

The two pieces above were selected!

Encased Cervid

I finished up on this piece tonight. I went for a simple hollow formed box brooch with an etched front. I riveted in part of a deer hide in order to have the perception of hair sprouting out of the brooch.

Nature Artist

I was browsing the internet and came across this artist! She does jewelry with the use of found objects in nature! Right up my alley! Check out her site:
http://www.sarahhoodjewelry.com/jewelry.shtml

Metal Heaven

Here's a link to the treasury I have been included in:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=67681

Quite a stunning collection!

Copper Leaves on Poplar

Here's my most recent creation where I am utilizing my new studio space! I was able to use my metals bench and my new woodworking bench on these!

These earrings have been riveted onto the poplar wood. You can see the miniature copper washers attached to the back.

Former student gets into gallery show!

A former student of mine, Matt Rust, recently had a ring of his accepted into a local gallery show at Sweet Art of Mine (West Chester, OH). Matt took Metals with me as a senior and is currently studying art at Miami University.

Here is the web address for the show at Sweet Art of Mine:
http://www.sweetartofmine.com/studentshow2009.html

I'm creating these with the new work bench!

The new wood working bench is coming in handy! I'm using a combination of my metals and wood working benches to create these pieces! I'm using rivets and/or epoxy to join the two materials together to create these pieces. The two different materials create such an eye catching and unique look. Everyone is saying how wood jewelry is the new in thing! I just wanted to take something new (wood) and old (silver, copper) and bring them together into my own unique design!

New Woodworking Bench Complete!

After adding woodworking to my jewelry I have been in need of a new bench for my new "toys". Competing for room with one of our cars, kids toys, lawn equipment, etc has become a struggle. However, I now have a bench for my metal working and a bench for my woodworking. Here's a picture of the bench that I constructed last night. Now I need to get working on jewelry!!!!

Constructing a new work bench

Once I get some errands run today I will be constructing an extended work bench. I am desperately in need of studio space in my garage. I bought a bandsaw and belt sander and there is hardly any room to work. I need a better spot for soldering, so that I have better ventilation. I will post pictures as soon as I get it together. It will not be anything extravagant. It's just a humble studio space surrounded by bikes, toys, lawnmower, etc. Ahhh, the life as an artist and parent :) I wouldn't have it any other way!

Finding Inspiration

Many artists have their own unique ways of finding inspiration for their artwork. Obviously, the outdoors is my main inspiration. We just took our family to Whitewater Memorial State Park for a camping trip with friends. Last year's camping trip helped inspire me into creating one of the pieces that I created for The Best of 2009 Show for Ohio. This year's inspiration will be shared in a future post! I'm attaching last year's creation!

Exploring the use of nature in my jewelry

The outdoors is the perfect place for relaxing and simply enjoying our natural surroundings. In the past year I have become greatly inspired by nature with my jewelry. I've been pushing the idea of taking the natural beauty around us and incorporating it into "man made" jewelry. I have been using everything from nuts, antler, animal hair, and dried plants in my work. I'm heading off to camp this weekend! I'm anxious to see what kind of interesting materials I'll find for my next creation!

Continuation of: Heat Patina on Copper

I use a hand held propane torch when doing heat patinas in my studio. I've tried using an acetylene torch, however the flame is too intense to get the multitude of colors. When using the propane torch turn the flame as low as you can so that the flame is steady, yet not too hot. You will have the best results doing it this way!

Examples of Heat Patina

There are many ways to patina metal. I tend to enjoy the look of a heat patina on copper. To get the the results that you see it requires a very low flame. While also starting out with a very clean piece of copper! It takes some time to get the multi colored look, so have patience when doing the heat patina.

Best of 2009 Show Update

The Best of 2009 Show will be coming to a close at The Ohio Craft Museum on June 21st. The tour of the show will continue at The Southern Ohio Museum in Portsmouth, where it will be on view July 3–August 26.

http://www.somacc.com/

Upside Down Undies

This pendant is actually a miniature version of a sculpture that I made seven years ago. That particular sculpture was my first piece into a professional show! You can find this pendant for sale on my etsy site.

Best of 2009

I've had two pieces accepted into the Best of 2009 Show at the Ohio Craft Museum in Columbus, OH.

You can find more information on the show at:

http://www.ohiocraft.org/exhibition_best0f09_index.html