Intricate hand cut metal bracelets. Had so much fun today making pretty all day. Big thanks to a lovely little lady for modeling for me. #bracelets #braceletsoftheday #armswag #armcandy #jewelry #designer

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My desk looks like an I spy book! I spy... Bracelets! 🎀Making all day, and making whatever I want. #inprogress #jewelry #designer #fashion

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Am I not the cutest thing ever? Loving on my sweet girl this morning. Long walk and a bath. Keeping #Balance in my life helps me love what I do even more💃❤️ #studio the rest of this beautiful day! #cutepuppy #doglover #animallover #saturday #passion #motivation

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Clusters and textures! Some new pieces I had a lot of fun with in the #studio today. New items coming daily http://ift.tt/1pOvBOK #jewelry #designer #pearls

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Hello October! Yesterday I began a #challenge to share 5 pieces of my work daily in hopes to inspire my #artistic #passion and #share it with the world more frequently. This project is an opportunity for me to practice in the context of a personal #creative challenge and complete the full circle of my work. More on my blog link at the top. #jewelry #jewelrydesign #ocean #sea #nature #designer #fotd #gemstones #silver #bling

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5 a Day Challenge

October 1st.
Today is the day to begin a challenge that I hope will inspire my artistic passion and force me to share it with the world more frequently. I certainly don't have a problem finding creativity. It is literally busting through the seems somedays. My wheels are constantly turning and I am itching to get my hands in the studio. Somedays I don't quite make it there but I am never short of ideas.

Not only am I constantly inspired,but I do have quite a collection of finished pieces that have not had their debut yet. Usually, my custom pieces get the most publicity, because I know at least someone out there loved it. It was designed and made from start to finish with a plan and a purpose and quickly left my hands into someone else's. In a way, this forces me to document the process and the beauty that came from my craft. Distilled in social media as a photo, a process shot, or of the unique person wearing it. But what about all the other beautiful things I have made? If its not for me or someone specific what is it for? Maybe it doesn't need to be for anyone or anything in particular but it at least needs to be shared and hopefully someone will enjoy it as much as I did making it. To show my devotion, my obsession and what I will ultimately leave behind, my craft.

Looking at my studio and all the beautiful trinkets and piles of future projects, unfinished projects and displayed completed pieces it makes me realize what i love and what I need to continue to hold onto in this world and what I need to let go in order to help me grow. The physical, finished pieces, the art itself is important but what I love most is creating it.

Displayed in my studio, for no one to see but me.

To inspire others with the art I make, it needs to be shared. So..today, I am challenging myself to a 5 a Day Challenge. Every day for the month of October I will post 5 pieces to my Etsy shop and share them through all the social media channels. Some will be things I've finished in the past, new pieces, redesigned pieces, jewelry, drawings, or whatever these little hands have created. Along with that I will promise to devote my time to sharing in my experience of creating it. I will write once a week about one or a collection of the pieces.

Never ending trays of projects

This may seem really simple, like not even worth calling a "challenge". To some this is probably accomplished every day for the last 5 years without even thinking. To some, this is easy. To me, its a challenge. We are all made as a unique blend of temperment, giftedness, and life experiences. Something that is simple for you is a giant step for another and vice versa.  I find it much easier to continue making. Moving along quickly from one idea to the next, never hesitant to try something new and always trusting my instinctive creative sense.

This project is an opportunity for me to practice in the context of a personal creative challenge and complete the full circle of my work, and share my gifts with the world and be humbled by my shortcomings.

"Rad Dads" Wear Jewelry

Custom ring; flames and skulls, sterling silver (top/side of ring)

 "Rad Dad" what his 8 year old son referred to him as for his Fathers day poem. After making this custom ring and getting to know him and his family, I'd say I completely agree!  I knew it would be a fun project after meeting and discussing what he was looking for in such a unique piece of jewelry. He and his wife had been to several shops looking for options to replace his simple wedding band. They wanted something that was a little more him for his guitar playing hands but couldn't find anything that they loved or wasn't manufactured with billions more out there for others to wear.

Custom sterling silver hand carved mans ring (bottom)

"Don wore a Costco platinum band for 15 years and 10 months while we shopped for a band more suitable for his style. One plain ring on the left hand while the right rocked some seriously large rings. Kendall designed a custom, one-of-a-kind ring fitting for a "been in a rock-band now in a church-band " guitar-playing, God-loving, software architect with tattoos and earrings!! He wanted Kendall to create a big ring with skulls and flames. Not cheesy, but cool. Black accents and handmade, not done by machine. I couldn't imagine what she would come up with and the final design is amazing! From 18 skulls with faces to the flames and texture, the ring turned out amazing and fits Don's personality perfectly." -Wendy (the equally rad wife)

Sketching and looking at images of flames and skulls... two things I don't normally spend my time doing and certainly different from my style as a designer. I tend to lean more towards "pretty things", natural organic shapes, inspiration from the ocean and objects from nature, movement of the body and feminine beauty. This design posed as a challenge conceptually and technically; depicting flames and skulls realistically in metal without looking cheesy, like a bad tattoo. 

The overall process of researching, sketching and creating something beautiful for a dainty woman or a rugged man proved to be the same. My aesthetic is still evident in this heavy mans ring. The use of texture, the organic movement of the flames and the depth and detail of the skulls are details that are just as evident in much of my previous work. Whether its a pretty butterfly on a flower or a fire breathing dragon you will know they were made by the same two hands. My artistic expression naturally stepped in as my fingers went to work and I am happy to know it was not lost in the fire. 

As an artist it can sometimes be difficult to create something specifically for someone else. I worry that by creating what other people want me to make instead of what I want to make I may lose myself as artist. The artistic freedom and creativity that comes with experimentation, inspiration and ides; never to worry about satisfying a boss, instructor or client. That idea that sounds so appealing when you decide to quit your job or go to art school in the first place. 

Flames; Sterling Silver (Top view)

I realized after this project that creative freedom still exists even when doing a custom design. I do have to satisfy a client but my design, my creativity and my aesthetic will shine through. Not only did they see my previous work and like my style but they wanted ME to create something like it just for them. I was able to express my ideas to them, demonstrate that through sketches, collaborate and make changes we agreed upon. Even experiment, fail, try again and have the creative freedom throughout the process to make something beautiful and enjoyable. I also realized that the boundaries can be pushed in my designs; for some reason I was unsure of my skill set to pull of the details but only showed myself what I am capable of, and more. 

Its nice to know there are still people out there that won't sacrifice personal expression when it comes to their jewelry, especially when it replaces the traditional mainstream wedding band.  Ibelieve this piece truly represents not only his personal style but their unique style as a couple and family. As his new and improved wedding band I'm happy to wish them a Happy Anniversary of 16 years today and I'm honored they can finally celebrate that in style. 

Black patina to highlight texture and depth (bottom view)

(side/bottom view)