etsymetal blog carnival: nobody's perfect

well, you don't have to say that twice!!

tell us about a piece gone awry or a funny story about something that didn't go as planned...

*first i should say that my development as an artist depends on my screw-ups. i have never been 'shown' a technique. i might read a bit online or ask a question or two, but i really learn through my mistakes.

*now for a story of mess ups that makes me want to cry even now....

over the summer i worked on a massive ring with a large handsawn flower on the side of a slab of bezel set stone. it was a lovely piece of agate i had won on ebay with a bit of druzy in the middle. i decided that i just could not part with the stone and would keep this massive ring for myself. while traipsing the pieces from my workroom to my living room where i would set the stone, i dropped the stone on the tile floor and chipped the tip. CRAP!! i set everything aside for months and finally set the stone to have the tip ground off and polished. thank you http://theagateworks.etsy.com. when i got the stone back i took off the ring band, pulled off the bezel, made a new bezel, put the ring band back on and was thrilled to be finishing my new ring. once again, while moving all the pieces to set the stone i drop the stone on the tile floor and crack it in half. really, what is the likelihood that i drop the same stone twice and ruin it? needless to say, i do NOT have a new ring and wasted precious work hours on something that cannot be fixed.

to read about my com padres mistakes and mess-ups, go here:

Silentgoddess -

Gracebourne -

2Roses -

Inbar Bareket -

Anne Walker -

Beth Cyr -

Michele Grady Designs-

TK Metal Arts -

Evelyn Markasky -

etsymetal january theme...

chinese new year, a photo by wildflowerdesigns on Flickr.

chinese new year.

i was born during the year of the rooster (1981) and decided to incorporate that into my design.
side one features a bezel set septarian cabochon with veins that glitter in the sunlight.
side two features a pierced rooster.
the necklace is competed with a strand of wire-wrapped river stone and a strand of wire-wrapped jasper.
i am so excited to have finished my necklace on time (with a couple of hours to spare) and really want to continue to participate in the rest of this years challenges.

christmas star

star, a photo by wildflowerdesigns on Flickr.

each year our family makes a new star to top our tree.
this year ryan thought it would be fun to make it out of legos.
when a family member told a part of the christmas story, they got to add a couple of lego pieces to the star.
we came up with quite the exciting star.
thank you star wars lego kits!!

finally....some new items up in the shop

new growth , a photo by wildflowerdesigns on Flickr.

i have been the most negligent etsy shop owner this past year.
between church, school, and sports i have had a difficult time sitting down and cranking out completed pieces.
even when i am able to work on a piece from start to finish, i do not make the time to properly photograph it and list it on etsy.
over the next week or so i will be trying to create listings for the pieces i have been able to complete over the past 6 mos. or so.

pumpkin carving

pumpkin carving, a photo by wildflowerdesigns on Flickr.

maybe this will be my official return to blogging....

this weekend we all carved pumpkins.

we only finished the boys' pumpkins but have very exciting plans for the final pumpkin.

these will all be judged on wednesday during the halloween carnival our family will be attending.

charm swap #7

all of my charms - cs 7, a photo by wildflowerdesigns on Flickr.

i was an alternate in charm swap #7 and got into the game later than others. i had such a hard time trying to decide what i would make.

i chose to individually hand saw 22 copper flowers which were then individually filed and finished off with sterling silver beaded wire in the center.

i had hopes to tube set itty bitty tourmaline gems in the center of each flower, but it was miraculous that i was even able to finish my charms (better late than never.)

these charms have already been mailed and and divied up amoung the participants of charm swap #7.

shannon (rubygirl) is so organized that i have received my package of lovely charms and worn a few.

i am thrilled to have little bits of metal that my peers and mentors have created with their own hands.

the price of silver

is quite simply beyond distressing.

i needed to purchase some silver for a custom project and wanted to throw up.

i have next to nothing in terms of sheet silver, but i cannot bring myself to buy more than enough to squeak by.

i am so discouraged by the almost daily rise in price coupled with my lack of time to create that i have very little motivation to sit down and think of something to make.

the pieces that i really want to make require more silver than i have available to even complete the piece.

let's hope the market levels out soon so my compadres and i can continue to create one-of-a-kind pieces at resonable prices.

blog carnival

etsymetal shares:

what is your most coveted tool?

why?

how would you use it?

the tool i have been wanting for ages is a rolling mill.

i sure it is a simple thing compared to my compadres' studios,

but i would love to have one.

i would love to add texture to my leaves and flowers.

i love the 2D feel of my work, but i would like to add a bit of depth.

if any of you want to help me in acquiring one,

just go to my shop and buy some lovelies.

to see what everyone else wants, check out:

Beth Cyr

2Roses

Elizabeth Scott

Tosca Teran

AdobeSol

Nodeform

more mushrooms

lovely, aren't they?

find more images from machel spence here

mushrooms for mushrooms

mushrooms
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i probably get a convo asking to trade about once a month.
i usually send out a polite 'sorry i can't, blah, blah, blah.'
i really can't justify trading very often, especially for a custom piece.
rewind a couple of weeks.....
machel of wavyshell asked me to construct a custom mushroom pendant and mentioned that she was also open to trading.
so, i took my sweet time and finally checked out her shop.
oh my gosh!!!!!!
she works magic with her camera!
i love flowers for their tiny details.
machel has captured each mushroom with such detail and finesse....
i am now thinking of ways to add itty bitty mushrooms and fungi to my stones instead of just flowers.
to top it off, she doesn't use photoshop for anything other than cropping these fantastic images.
i am blown away by her talent and i am excited to have several of her prints on their way to my house.
here is her etsy shop
here is my post featuring some of her images

the new year

the new year is always such a convinient time to think about new goals and changing directions.
i have been hiding out in my own little cave lately.
i venture out to help with school projects and church activities, but otherwise i stay tucked inside.
i need to get out.
i need to expand.
after coming across several posts of '30 before 30' lists, i have decided to compile my own.
i turned 30 in january and wrote down a '30 while 30' list.
some of the items on the list will be fairly easy to accomplish....read at least 1 book per month.
other items will require more planning.....paint 1 large watercolor (seeing as i have not painted in months and months...)
i also hope to write more in the form of journaling or blogging or both.

etsymetal blog carnival

hyacinth
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

and yes, i am returning to the land of the living....

Tell us about other kinds of art and craft you do.
What other media do you work and play with?
*my mother and i both realized i did have some artistic potential when i played with clay. you can't really go wrong with pinch pots.
*i learned to crochet and knit and enjoy making super simple scarves and hats.
*i also dabble in watercolors.

How often do you get to create?
*unfortunately, i do not play with clay or watercolors as often as i should.
*i crochet and knit when i watch horror movies at night. the repetitiveness is very relaxing and i even get something accomplished.

Does it relate to or inspire your metalworking?
*sometimes.
*colorways in yarn definitely inspire my enamel work.

check out everyone else's crafty endeavours here:
etsymetal blog

still here

wreath
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

still alive
mostly surviving the holidays

----------->
all of the 1st grade kids were asked to make a 'tradition' wreath.
parker's wreath is covered in stars; glitter, pipe cleaner, wood, foam, everything.
we used stars because every year our family makes a new star to top our tree.
it is one of the few traditions we have at this point in life.
the orange and red star in the center of the wreath now rests atop our christmas tree.

pocket mirrors

pocket mirrors
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i have a HUGE stash of pocket mirrors ready to be sent around the world to use as stocking stuffers.
most are made with cut-outs from vintage children's books.
funny to say the least.

find some here

lots of sparkles

chicory
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

have i mentioned how much i am enjoying playing with faceted gemstones of all kinds??
i have several pair of post earrings and several necklaces being added to the shop now.

district reading fair

reading fair morning
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

my hard working boy won 2nd place in his division at the district reading fair.
only the first place winners move on.
honestly, i am happy to stay home and celebrate his success rather than spend another day on the road.

(he is with the school's librarian, mrs. lampley.)

still taking pics

violet
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

updating the shop and waiting for the holiday rush to really kick in.

just a reminder, i will be at fondren unwrapped this thursday night from 5-9pm.
i will be in the corner across from basil's.

business success secrets...

set up
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

crap i am so late posting this....
and let me add that i kind of laughed at this topic as soon as i read it.

*What does it mean to you to be "successful" in business as an artist?
at first success was simply measured by selling enough jewelry to pay for more supplies.
now, i do feel much differently even though i cannot say that i am successful.
i want to sell my jewelry consistently and this means both itty bitty earrings and my one of a kind pieces.
i want to receive a small amount of commission work.
i want to sell enough jewelry to pay for a class (taking into consideration that this means travel and childcare.)
i also want to be a member of professional organizations and respected by my metal peers.

*How do you walk the line between creativity and profitability?
i feel that walking the line between creativity and profitability is something that all artists must struggle with.
i do make simple, inexpensive earrings that make great gifts, but i have tried to make sure they 'fit' with my other pieces. i chose stones and colors that i like and would wear.
and that is about as far as i go......
i know i seem to mention this constantly, but i do not have to live off of my income.
i want jewelry making to stay my creative outlet and to remain fun.
i worry that when my boys grow up i will have to grow up too.

*What is the best thing you've done for your business?
i have no secret recipes for other artists.
i do not have my own website and i do not have a brick and mortar shop.
i do not wholesale to huge upscale boutiques or send my jewelry to celebrities.
but for me the best thing i have done is to continue to learn and grow.
i started out wire-wrapping and stamping metal and now i have so much more to offer the public.

find out other secrets here

new sparkles

shadow box - citrus
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i think i may need to admit that i have a problem...
i have fallen in love with sparkly gemstones and could the timing be better?
i now have quite an assortment of earrings for all those party-goers and fancy women.

come check out the shop

re: pop-up update

after less than a week in the pop-up, i will be moving everything out.
life is so extremely tiring at times.
i will be showing at fondren unwrapped on nov. 18th so please stop by to purchase local handmade goodies including my jewelry and knits.