On a more upbeat note, check out the sneak peak in my Etsy store 2 showing in the left margin to see some of the ho-ho-holiday items posted recently. Click 'em to see the listing! Thanks!
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Humbug? Just a lil' bit....
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
More Twilight twinkles...
Cullen's Woods
Woodcrest
To make these pendants, I carved a relief in a large rubber eraser, pressed precious metal clay into the mold and when it was at the leather hard stage, I used a needle tool to make tiny holes in the area I wanted to be darker so that the antiquing medium would pool in them. I guess that would be pointilism in the literal sense. The pieces have been kiln fired, tumbled, antiqued then hand polished.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Yay! It's finally out! And still out of my hands...
The reason I am excited is because it contains a feature on my silver tree jewelry. Sadly, none of my local stores have it in yet but they should in the next week or so. In the meantime, it is availabe on the Somerset Studio (Publisher) website here.
A few months ago the editor contacted me because she saw my work on a website and liked it. She asked me to write an article and submit 3 pieces along with instructions and photos of the work in progress.
Below there is a tiny sneak peak per the proof I received from the editor showing my article, my hands at work and their photography of my pieces.For a full size readable version, please pickup a copy of the magazine!! Michaels and Ben Franklin craft stores and other large chains sell the magazine. Also many bead stores and larger magazine stands. Barnes and Noble and Borders have it sometimes too.
I received an email from the editor today asking me to submit another article for their next issue by Jan. 15th! I better get to work! I have an idea in mind for what to write about, but it's a secret. Neener, neener. =oP
Saturday, November 29, 2008
'Tis Officially the Season
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Photos copyright Lisa Whipkey, Kamera Kat Studio
Monday, November 24, 2008
Twilight and the Twinkling it Inspires
And last but not least, check out this Edward dream quote pendant from bluembrownlee
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Wire that Wows!
Just about all of the aforementioned methods for making jewelry call for incorporating some form of wire work on occasion, either to enhance the appearance or for function. It may be as simple as making a loopy bail, earring hooks or wrapping a stone, but wire has always been an important element of jewelry making. Wire even stands on it's own as a primary jewelry making medium. Take a look around your local craft store and you will find there are many kinds of wire and tools to make it do something funky.
OK. I do about every craft known to woman so why have I not got in to wire more? Well, because a lot of what I have been exposed to in craft and bead stores, while fun, is also semi gaudy or seems to be geared towards kids or casual looks that's just not me. However, I have stumbled on some truly inspiring wire work from a fellow Etsy artist that is elegant and creative. I just have to share some of this awesome work with you.
Here are some pieces from juliadesigns. Please visit her online store to be wowed further. She even offers tutorials so you can create some pieces for yourself:
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
You heart me.... You really heart me.... ::Sniff::
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
One of my jewelry customers who is a former Elite International model, produced a really cool documentary on body image and self esteem and how what we see in magazines and the runway really has an impact on kids in particular. If you are an indie film fest person, please support Nicole Clark and her film Cover Girl Culture if it plays near you. It was recently a selection for the Womens International Film Festival.
Incidentally, she said she might be wearing one of my necklaces in the film or interviews she has done. I'm almost famous maybe! ;o) LOL.
Thanks Nicole for telling me about your project. I wish you much success.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Vintage Vines Bead Featured in Etsy Treasury
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Steampunk? What the Heck is That?
Wikipedia says, "Steampunk is a sub genre of fantasy and speculative that came into prominence in the 1980s and early 1990s. The term denotes works set in an era or world where steam power is still widely used—usually the 19th century, and often set in Victorian era England—but with prominent elements of either science fiction or fantasy, such as fictional technological inventions like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or real technological developments like the computer occurring at an earlier date. "
As I researched steampunk, I found there is a subculture of people who are really into it as a lifestyle with role playing, magazines, etc. It's sort of like how trekkies, renaissance faire lovers and S.C.A. members have their own little parallel world where just for a moment, they can be someone else living in a different time and place.
OK. So how does that translate to fashion, art and jewelry? Well, pretty interestingly actually. Gears, cogs, clock parts, Victorian lace, old leather bomber jackets, aviator goggles, monocles, antique brass filigree, corsets, computer parts, etc. are brought together to make things that are a mix of old and new with a semi-dark whimsy.
Here's an example of steampunk jewerly I saw on Etsy that got me interested in finding out what it was all about... See Mad Art Jewelry
Also see Mad Art Jewelry on flickr and check out 19 Moons on flickr too. (Note: The Winged necklace at the top of the page is by this artist)
There are many Etsy (and Ebay) sellers who specialize in the steampunk look too like COGnitive Creations, E.D.M. designs, Ruby Ann Designs, 19Moons, etc.
If you are interested in making some of your own steampunk jewerly, just search on 'steampunk' or cogs on Ebay. Also check Etsy Suppliers. Earthenwood Studio offers ceramic steamy stuff. Brass filigree seems to be a key component too and there are many sources. Vintaj is kind of pricey but they have aweseome stuff. Try Trinity Brass Co. Go to Search Etsy & Ebay Stores like B'Sue Boutique too. Ooo... And pretty blogs are all around for inspiration. Look at this post from Star of the East and Earthenwood Studios.
In the end, I don't think the steampunk look or lifestyle is for me personally, but it is visually interesting and so creative. I am in awe of the wearable art the featured designers have made.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Boo!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Pretties from the Past
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Precious Metal Clay Over Porcelain
PMC-ers like myself can lay pure fine silver paste, clay and syringe clay over bisque forms and fire in a kiln to make pieces that have the look of chunky silver, withouth the weight and cost of it. (See the instructions in my previous post for making beads with this method.) I still have a few more pieces to complete when the inspiration hits me, but this is what I have done so far. Most of these will be posted in my Bead & Findings Store soon.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
I Was A Poet and Didn't Know It
Now I know that not all poetry has to rhyme and that there are certain patterns (meter) or stanzaic rules I probably did not follow, but I had fun. Here's what I have submitted so far:
Anyone can sense your loss.
Your broken wing, your broken heart;
The sense of mourning you impart.
You guard a grave so small & deep;
As the shepherd guards His sheep.
Now safely in His loving care;
The soul you guard’s no longer there.
~Lisa Whipkey
Yet divided - still two sided.
Parallel and paradigm,
As evening is to morn in time.
~Lisa Whipkey
So just what are the various forms of proper poetry anyway? Good new for me... there are LOTS, so my style is sure to be covered in there somewhere. AND more good news... puctuation rules are out the window when it comes to poetry. It's true. It is up to the writers discression whether to use a period, comma, semi-colon, dash or no punctuation at all. The one consideration is that poetry should be written with recitation in mind, so if you want the reader to pause, you better punctuate accordingly. This site illustrates how "Every poem you write has the possibility of being a new poem with the addition (or deletion) of just a few punctuation marks." which is kinda fun to play with.
While doing a quick research on writing poetry, I found this fun exercise that got my poetic juices flowing. In the end you end up with a poem written in the "Constructivist " form.
- On the first line write a noun of your choice
- On the second line write two adjectives joined by "and" to describe this noun
- On the third line write a verb and an adverb to describe this noun in action
- Start the fourth line with "like" or as followed by a comparison
- Start the final line with "if only" followed by a wish
Rose
Gentle and Soft
Smelling Sweetly
like a baby's breath
If only your thorns were as endearing
Give it a try! It's pretty fun and kind of addiciting.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Oo la la Lingerie!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Pubished! ..... Almost
It's a little sneak peak of the article that will be coming out in the Winter 08 issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry magazine featuring an article & a photo tutorial by yours truly. I am very excited! This week the editor sent me a draft copy of the layout for review. They photographed the 3 pieces of silver that I submitted for the article and edited the text a bit. It was fun to see what they did with what I sent. I'll post more about this article and how it came to be when it hits the shelves!