Signature Piece - Blog Carnival

I was asked to write about the inspiration behind my signature piece for the 2nd installment of EtsyMetal's Blog Carnival. I hesitated to write anything because I don't know if I really have a "signature piece" - one that represents my work. I have a number of lines of jewelry and some pieces that stand on their own, all with different inspirations and variations. I finally decided to use the Loopy Link Bracelet above for the purpose of this entry. It's one of the first pieces I started making and the basic design hasn't changed very much over the years. Each time I make a Loopy Link Bracelet, it is unique. Each link is fabricated and stamped with one of the variety of design stamps on both sides. The larger loops are curved and then they're put together to form the bracelet. The inspiration for the bracelet came from my own need for a bracelet that would lie nearly flush against the wrist, and not be something that would interfere with other work I was doing.

The design stamps might be my favorite tools. I love to use them to texture metal, and with the hammered links I use for this bracelet, most of the stampings are partial. Some I use to make a recognizable pattern and some are more all over texture. It's a simple and satisfying process. I make the links without any plan for size and shape and when they are complete, I lay them out to see which shapes go together. I like the combination of irregular shapes and the addition of circles, squares and hearts. I use a variety of gauges and shapes of sterling silver wire. I keep the making of the bracelet interesting because each shape and stamping is different. It's my favorite piece in my own jewelry collection as well and I usually wear it every day. :)

Check out the other members of the EtsyMetal Blog Carnival:

http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/ 
http://andescruz.wordpress.com 
http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/ 
http://sarawestermark.blogspot.com/ 
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com 
http://ashleyakers.blogspot.com 
http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com 
http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/ 
http://discomedusa.typepad.com 

Inspiration - Blog Carnival

The object of art is to give life a shape. [Midsummer Nights Dream]

William Shakespeare
1564-1616, British Poet, Playwright, Actor

Linquistically, the word, inspiration means "breathed upon." For me, that means the merging of the dichotomy of my life, my feelings, and the images in my mind with my chosen medium of metal, which by itself, could be seen as being cold and unyielding. Metal is, however a great carrier of heat, greatly reflective, and malleable.
Form
When working with silver and copper as raw materials, I am concerned with the form it can take. I draw inspiration for form from the things I see; shapes, figures, people, and other works I view as I go through my day or have filed in my memory. The feeling those shapes evoke can bring fluidity and motion to design.
Materials
Beyond the metal, I also use other materials which inspire design and form. What draws me to obtain those materials? Beyond beauty and color, I like things that have a sense of history. That history may be present because the material might be vintage, I may have found an item for which I can imagine a story, or it may be a stone that made itself over years and is now unearthed. Even the mundane, everyday object can take its place in a great story and be recognized for it's beauty.
Words
I am a big reader. The books I read and the stories I hear often leave me with images that can be translated into what I make. Being able to use words and incorporate them into design through stamping, gives me the ability to be inspired by a unique phrase or something I said when I was young that evokes nostalgia or humor. Words give me some measure of freedom in design.

I am a researcher at heart, trying to find a story to tell through form, materials and words. I love to be able to tell the story behind a piece. That story often helps me to reach out to others and make connections.

To read more stories of inspiration, read these blogs, whose authors are posting on the topic for 5/8/09:
http://www.chris-parry.blogspot.com/
http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com
http://deliasstudioinc.blogspot.com

Leaves

I was looking at my "Green Garden Necklace" the other day, which is a one of a kind piece. I really liked the leaf element to the pendant, and decided that part could make some great, but simple earrings, which aren't so one of a kind. So "Leaves" which are inspired by the "Green Garden Necklace", but are not made to necessarily go with it, came to be. I love them and they are perfect for today's New Release Thursday!