Etsymetal's Blog Carnival, for February 2011

This month's topic: what crafts besides working with jewelry and metalsmithing, do you do? What other mediums do you explore? How often do I get to play, and does this other work relate or inspire my metalwork and jewelry design?

 I love all forms of art. I can't remember a time when art was not a part of my daily life -  whether making it or just admiring the works of others. Since both my parents are artists, (very talented ones), I fight a constant battle with finding my own path. I can draw and paint, but I have always frustrated by those mediums. Later I gravitated towards clay. I've dabbled in hand-building, sculpture, and wheel. Unfortunately, I had to give up throwing a few years ago due to a bad back. I still love to work in clay, but now focus on free forms and incorporating clay (via plastic clay) into my jewelry/metal work. 

 I also found fabric arts, while on my journey. I like quilting, again free-form and story quilts from old scraps of fabric. I need more hours in the day! So, instead of trying to make full size quilts, I've switched to making small pieces, often making them into gift bags. I also knit, usually in the winter. That along with bead weaving, have become my waiting in the car, while the kids are in class activities.

Last but not least is photography. Again, I wish I had more time to explore my love of this art form. I do get to do it often, taking pictures of my work, but I don't have the time to truly explore just taking pictures for fun. I love candid photography; capturing people, nature, and life without pretense. There's something about capturing a moment in time, that is magic. 

I've also recently started playing with paper making with my youngest. We took a mini intro class and ever since I've been thinking about how to fit yet another medium into my bag. I'd love to make my own journals with metal accents. So little time, so much I want to do.

 So, do all these other interests relate to or inspire my metal work and jewelry design? YES! All my interest always relate to each other, and I see a common thread through most of them. The real question is, do others see it too?

Check out these other Etsymetal members to see what they have to say about the subject.

Kate Jones - http://www.katejonesdesign.blogspot.com 
Kathryn Cole - http://www.kathryncolejewelry.blogspot.com
2Roses - http://www.JewelryTutorial.blogspot.com
Twigs and Heather - http://www.twigsandheather.blogspot.com
Erin Austin - http://www.metalmusing.blogspot.com
Thomasin Durgin - http://metalriot.blogspot.com
Nodeform - http://nodeform.blogspot.com
Beth Cyr - http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
Stacey hansen - http://wildflowerdesigns.blogspot.com
Nina Gibson - http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/
Elizabeth scott - http://esdesignsjewelry.com/blog
Evelyn Markasky - http://markasky.blogspot.com
Amanda Conley - http://amandaconley.blogspot.com