Monday, February 7, 2011

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

15 comments:

Evelyn Markasky said...

I agree, so little time, so much to do!
I love all your little people sculptures in all the mediums!!

Thomasin Durgin said...

So fun to see what else you do, I especially love the clay figures.

Catherine Chandler said...

oh, I love your figurines! I can't wait to learn some ceramics.

Beth Cyr said...

awesome! I loved working in ceramics. looooved working on a wheel so much I bought my own - but didn't have a place to put it really.... so it sits unused. Working with clay is a lot like working with wax - many of the same tools even! and i agree - photographing your work is just not the same :)

NinaGibsonDesigns said...

I love the faces on your clay work!

Amanda Conley said...

Love the clay faces! I really like working with clay as well, but I wasn't very good at it...
I had my husband throw all of our pots for me. =)

kate jones said...

great post, love the figures, especially.

MOM #1 said...

Oh, I don't know, all those photographs of your work certainly are beautiful. I am taking an intro to ceramics course this semester. It's so much fun!

AdobeSol said...

Your clay work is awesome! Great to see your various work.

AdobeSol said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fluxplay Jewellery. said...

So much to play with and so little time to play, huh!?

Fluxplay Jewellery. said...

So much to play with and so little time to play, huh!?

tkmetalarts said...

So great to see your various art. I thought your quilt with the dragonflies is just awesome. Too little time and money to support all the different art forms we want to pursue, huh? Totally agree.

Jenn said...

The kids saw me browsing your blog and they all wanted me to click on the photos in this post- they all admire the sculptures.

Sheralyn said...

Jenny I wish I had the time and the impetus to be as creative as you are. Or at least close, you set a high bar. Nice work. :)