Finally those little waxed carved rings!

Both rings were cast in Silver, one set with a pearl and the other set with a blue diamond at the top and 3 clear diamonds on the inside band. I really enjoyed the wax carving process, I am attempting to accomplish atleast 2 wax carvings per week this semester until atleast the beginning of March maybe longer.  Ill be posting process images of those as I go.... Hope you like em!

What was inside those little christmas boxes?!

Here are a few of the Christmas gifts I made this year that were all wrapped in tiny little boxes.

copper back piece, found metal cage, found gold plated old pin, enamel riveted in place

Silver forged wire, pearls for my mom...she loved it!

Found coral on the beaches of Brazil, two pink pearls fed through coral with a single wire, also for my mom :)

Wax carved ring - Sea Urchin

Sorry the image is terrible but i posted those sketches so long ago I had to share a sneak peak until I can get some better images of the final pieces. So here is one of the rings. Process: wax carved, cut in half and hollowed out then put back together, then I added detail on exterior in wax, cast it in silver, cleaned it up and finished it and set a pearl on the inside.

This picture does not do it justice sadly...sorry for the delay!

"Golden Slumbers" Barret (Gift to my mom)

"Golden Slumbers" Hair Barret: Inspired by the Golden Slumbers lullaby my mom used to sing my sisters and I as kids.
Barret has 6 Layers= (1.Copper/Chmpleve enamel;  2.Mica ; 3. sheet music to actual song;  4. Mica; 5. sheet music and map of my hometown;  6. Copper/Brass Barret fixture)
Made in Enameling 1 Class with Ken Bova and Liz Steiner; ECU

Lyrics:
Once there was a way,
To get back homeward.

Once there was a way
To get back home.

Sleep, pretty darling,
Dot not cry
And I will sing a lullaby.

Golden slumbers,
Fill your eyes
Smiles await you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby.

Once there was a way
To get back homeward

Once there was a way
To get back home

Sleep, pretty darling
Do not cry
And I will sing a lullaby.

Metals Symposium at ECU this weekend

For the 3rd consecutive year ECU is hosting the Metals Symposium "Material Topics" this weekend. This year seems to be bigger and better with many talented artists joining ECU metals grads, undergrads, alumni and professors to share work, techniques and experience in the field. We have several awesome presenters this year along with Workshops and Exhibitions throughout the weekend.

Tonight, Art of Influence Exhibition opened and it was truely an inspiring exhibit with a really great concept. Each of the Metals Grads from ECU added a piece to the exhibit and contacted two other artists who they have been influenced by through their metalsmithing journeys and they also included some work. The tree continued with those two artists contacted two other artists to add to the show as well. Basically I added a lot of new names to my list of people to follow!

Also opening tonight was the Adroit II exhibition over in Mendenhall which was also a very good show. I even had 3 pieces in the exhibit as a series including my wax carved sea urchin rings and the sea urchin brooch  I completed the previous semester.  Hopefully I will be posting those images soon!

 Get up and go check out both of these exhibits, you won't regret it!