sketch

sketch
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

oops, after swearing that i never ever sketch, i sketched something.
i have some lovely desert landscape like jasper stones that need a little something native pierced on the back.
hopefully i will get to this project in the near future.

what i'm working on wednesday v3

what i'm working on
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

oops, a day late....

finished one pair custom earrings with gold earwires
need to polish two pair of completed earrings
need to set stone and polish ginormous flower earrings
....
need to get started on project runway mini collection but decided to drill through my finger instead, awesome

what i'm working on wednesday v2

what i'm working on
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

1 pair custom earrings
3 pair elongated hook earrings
same 2 pendants- one is close to done and one i am still trying to figure out

lately

western bloom
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i have been trying to squeeze in studio time when i can.
this is becoming increasingly difficult as miles gets more and more mobile.
people act like this is a good thing.
what are they thinking?!?!?
it simply means that he can get into more things more often and i get to run around like a spaz during most of the day.

my creative process

'studio'
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

how do i plan and organize for design?

quite simply, i don't.
somedays a design pops into my head and i rework it until i am able to create it in metal.
other days i dig through my stone stash and stare at them until one screams to be made into something.
i never, ever sketch.
and really, it is that willy-nilly.

often, i find myself wishing that i had the discipline and skill to sketch, but its just not in me.
and for now, this very unorganized system works for me.

to find out about others' creative process check out these blogs:
Victoria Takahashi
Thomasin Durgin
Su Trindle
Inbar Bareket
Nina Gibson
Danielle Miller
Corliss & John Rose
Maria Whetman
Beth Cyr

what i'm working on wednesday v1

Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

finishing 3 pairs of earrings
working 2 stones into pendants
making 1 ring

eff..

ring a day #53
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i want to throw a tantrum.
i want to lay on the floor and kick and thrash my arms.
i want to take one of my many hammers and destroy everything in sight.
i want to light everything on fire that isn't cooperating.
but i won't.

'studio'

'studio'
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

at least that is what i call this tiny space.
ryan got me this desk from target last year and it has been really useful.
before i had one of those wire lawn tables in the carport.
now i am set up inside our unconditioned storage room.
but i do not have to worry about the wind.
for now it works....

inspired by the metropolitan museum of art

project runway challenge #3 - wip
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

at least that is this current week's project runway challenge.

right now i am experimenting with sgrafitto (which i have never done before.)
i am also trying to work fast enough to get both my main piece and my production piece finished in time.

works in progress

wip
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

besides cramming for my upcoming show (in two+ weeks), i have also been trying to keep up with the project runway jewelry challenges.
completing 4/12 of the challenges is really not that great of a track record, but i am determined to complete my mini collection.

the year of.....

mountain blossom
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

lately i have read several entries on blogs about an artist's theme for the year (for lack of better explanation.)
it really got me thinking about what direction i want to move in and what i want to focus on in the little time i have available.

so far i have thought about:
dots/granules - maybe too trendy for me
flowers - but i ALWAYS have flowers
motion - kinetic pieces can be a lot of fun
piercing - how far can this take me?
and then i decided that it was simply the year of MORE.

i know, can i be any more vague?
but the idea does seem to define my newer work the best....
i have been trying more techniques, using more techniques per piece, incorporating more details into each piece and this will continue.

to see some of my newest pieces check out the shop

ms craftsman's guild round #2 pieces

garden
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

after no inspiration, melting, and then cursing, my pieces for the ms craftsman's guild resubmission are coming together.
things have gone well this week and i really want to throw a party to celebrate how much i have gotten accomplished.
yes, three stacking rings and two earrings are enough to get me excited at this point in life.
this is mostly due to the fact that i am practicing some granulation, YAY!!

new release thursdays

deep space ring
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

YAY!!
not only do i have some new things to list but i am getting things together so i can list them today.
i've got a cocktail ring and a couple of itty bitty stud earrings making their way to the shop.

i have been working really hard on a couple of pieces to submit to the guild and they are finally coming together after melted pieces and new stones.
pics for those will be showing up soon since i am super proud of them.

ms craftman's guild round #2

the end of the month is the deadline for resubmitting my work to the ms craftman's guild.
i plan on resubmitting so soon because i really don't know what will happen to life once the summer begins.
plus, if i do make it in, i need plenty of time to prepare myself for possible shows.

so, this seemed to be the perfect time for a well written article on rejection.
thank you danielle for pointing it out!

busy working

cloud ring
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i am still in the process of taking new photos of some older work that has expired on etsy.
i want to have a more cohesive shop and i think the aged wood does suit my work well.

i don't have any new work to show this week, but i have been busy.
i have a set of stacking rings and several new earrings mid completion.

actually getting work done

dust
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

the stage of feeling endlessly exhausted and constantly nauseated seems to have passed.
YAY!!!!!!
however, it seems to have been too late for me to really produce for the holiday season.
that won't stop me from listing new work over the next few weeks.
i have quite a few pairs of flowers that are ready to go up in the shop and a couple of new designs that i wanted to try out.
check the shop on thursday for a batch update and search tags for "etsymetal team" because many of us will be participating in weekly updates for a while.

i am here and working

Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i am still creating new things; those things are just getting more complicated.
i love it and hate it all at the same time.
i feel like i am growing up and making some really nice things that are really me.
but when it takes 2 weeks to complete a necklace, it can get a little discouraging.

in the pic are: 2 pendants, 1 ring, 1 ring set, one handmade chain with flower details.
most of the pieces are waiting on me to finish some of my small (1/2 inch) flowers that will be accenting them and some just need a few stones set.

new cabochons

stones
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

i know, the pic is really crappy.

right now i am so unmotivated to actually do any work even though i just got all of these stones in the mail.
i just can't sit down and focus on anything.
i have a few stones that will most likely turn into something simliar to other designs, but thats not what i want to do right now.
i want to come up with something new and exciting and it just isn't happening.
when other people complain about a similar problem, they are generally told to take a break, try something different, go for a walk.
well, i have done most of those things.
before i went on vacation i worked on a few things, but mostly nothing;
i have been knitting like crazy in anticipation of the fall;
and we even went on a week long vacation (which i didn't want to come home from.)
what am i supposed to do now?
what about the few upcoming shows i have and my etsy store that is looking rather small?

metalwork in the afternoon

bezels
Originally uploaded by wildflowerdesigns

this morning i got my cabs from delias who decided she just didn't need them anymore.
i knew immediately what i wanted to create with one, so i made bezels all afternoon.
i am feeling productive right now, but that could all change when the 4-year-old destroys the house.