Thanks everyone for their support. The MCHs team challenge is coming up next. Don't forget to come back and check out the amazing work from our team.Alexandra, please contact us with your email so we can connect you with Kristan.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Alexandra Digiorgio - You Won!
Congrats to Alexandra Digiorgio who won our February Blog Giveaway! You will receive the Artisan Silver Horse Earrings made with earth-friendly silver from Kristan of SilverWishes.
Thanks everyone for their support. The MCHs team challenge is coming up next. Don't forget to come back and check out the amazing work from our team.
Alexandra, please contact us with your email so we can connect you with Kristan.
Thanks everyone for their support. The MCHs team challenge is coming up next. Don't forget to come back and check out the amazing work from our team.Alexandra, please contact us with your email so we can connect you with Kristan.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Life is Crazy Beautiful. - Kristan
MCHs February Featured Artist Kristan of SilverWishes.
Metal Clay Artist Kristan's love for nature shines through her beautiful creations! Her style is nature-inspired and earthy -- leaves, trees, fishes, birds and her signature horses!
When did you first become interested/how long designing?
I became interested in silver clay when I read about a fascinating new material in an art magazine several years ago. I'm always eager to explore new techniques and art forms, so a friend and I took a class at the local art guild. I was hooked! I love exploring the many aspects of working with the clay; carving, sculpture, using leaves to make incredible impressions, design, form and function.
What was your first piece of metal clay jewelry?
Our first project for the class was a simple stamped charm. Of course, I had other ideas and launched into making beads! I eventually made a bracelet with them and it's still one of my favorite pieces to wear.
What is your greatest ambition as a metal clay artist?
To continually grow and challenge myself as an artist. Each new piece is my current favorite... until I start something new! I'm always challenging myself to try a new technique or style, sometimes discovering new methods and techniques in the process. My second greatest ambition is to keep our cats off of my worktables:)
What inspires you?
Everything! I'm always inspired by nature and horses, but I also find inspiration in random places; I keep a sketchbook and try to capture the ideas when they come. Often the original idea evolves into something much different. It's wonderful to look back through my book now and see all the ideas that have become beautiful pieces of jewelry! (And of course some ideas that will remain buried in the pages:)
Why did you pick the name SilverWishes?
That's one of those random flashes of inspiration! I'd spent days playing with different names only to discover that each was taken. It was getting pretty frustrating. One night I was mindlessly drawing in my sketchbook, thinking about art and the creative process and it just came to me. Divine inspiration!
What are the major challenges when creating metal clay jewelry?
Designing jewelry that is beautiful but also comfortable, durable and easy to wear. I can be pretty hard on my jewelry; I sometimes wear a piece for weeks or months at a time. I want it to be gorgeous and tough at the same time:)
Check out Kristan amazing work here today! Kristan is sponsoring our blog giveaway this month with her Artisan Silver Horse Earrings made with earth-friendly silver:
To win these unique earrings, here are the rules:
Every person is eligible to enter the blog giveaway with up to FOUR (4) entries. How can you get an entry? You can do any of the following and then let us know that by leaving a comment under this feature so we can keep track.
1. Follow our blog = 1 entry
2. Check out featured artist and post favorite piece on the blog = 1 entry
3. Heart featured artist’s shop = 1 entry
4. Follow featured artist on Facebook = 1 entry
5. Make a purchase = 2 entries
6. Refer a friend = 1 entry
7. Tweet about the giveaway using key word metalclayheads = 1 entry
8. Share the Metal Clay Heads blog giveaway link on FB (Go to http://www.facebook.com/MetalClayHeadTeam and click Share) = 1 entry
9. If you voted and commented on our last challenge = 1 entry
The giveaway will run for two weeks. We will announce the winner on February 25th. Good luck!
Metal Clay Artist Kristan's love for nature shines through her beautiful creations! Her style is nature-inspired and earthy -- leaves, trees, fishes, birds and her signature horses!
When did you first become interested/how long designing?
I became interested in silver clay when I read about a fascinating new material in an art magazine several years ago. I'm always eager to explore new techniques and art forms, so a friend and I took a class at the local art guild. I was hooked! I love exploring the many aspects of working with the clay; carving, sculpture, using leaves to make incredible impressions, design, form and function.
What was your first piece of metal clay jewelry?
Our first project for the class was a simple stamped charm. Of course, I had other ideas and launched into making beads! I eventually made a bracelet with them and it's still one of my favorite pieces to wear.
What is your greatest ambition as a metal clay artist?
To continually grow and challenge myself as an artist. Each new piece is my current favorite... until I start something new! I'm always challenging myself to try a new technique or style, sometimes discovering new methods and techniques in the process. My second greatest ambition is to keep our cats off of my worktables:)
What inspires you?
Everything! I'm always inspired by nature and horses, but I also find inspiration in random places; I keep a sketchbook and try to capture the ideas when they come. Often the original idea evolves into something much different. It's wonderful to look back through my book now and see all the ideas that have become beautiful pieces of jewelry! (And of course some ideas that will remain buried in the pages:)
Why did you pick the name SilverWishes?
That's one of those random flashes of inspiration! I'd spent days playing with different names only to discover that each was taken. It was getting pretty frustrating. One night I was mindlessly drawing in my sketchbook, thinking about art and the creative process and it just came to me. Divine inspiration!
What are the major challenges when creating metal clay jewelry?
Designing jewelry that is beautiful but also comfortable, durable and easy to wear. I can be pretty hard on my jewelry; I sometimes wear a piece for weeks or months at a time. I want it to be gorgeous and tough at the same time:)
Check out Kristan amazing work here today! Kristan is sponsoring our blog giveaway this month with her Artisan Silver Horse Earrings made with earth-friendly silver:
To win these unique earrings, here are the rules:Every person is eligible to enter the blog giveaway with up to FOUR (4) entries. How can you get an entry? You can do any of the following and then let us know that by leaving a comment under this feature so we can keep track.
1. Follow our blog = 1 entry
2. Check out featured artist and post favorite piece on the blog = 1 entry
3. Heart featured artist’s shop = 1 entry
4. Follow featured artist on Facebook = 1 entry
5. Make a purchase = 2 entries
6. Refer a friend = 1 entry
7. Tweet about the giveaway using key word metalclayheads = 1 entry
8. Share the Metal Clay Heads blog giveaway link on FB (Go to http://www.facebook.com/MetalClayHeadTeam and click Share) = 1 entry
9. If you voted and commented on our last challenge = 1 entry
The giveaway will run for two weeks. We will announce the winner on February 25th. Good luck!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
"My Favorite Place" Challenge Winner is ...
Mother and Child Pendant by Ghislaine of GS Creations with 56 votes.
Palette Necklace by Dawn of DaVoria Jewelry came in second with 53 votes.
And Harp Necklace by Jennifer of Envy Designs Jewelry came in third with 31 votes.
Congrats to Ghislaine! Thanks to everyone who voted. The ones who posted a comment will be entered in to our February blog giveaway featuring Kristan of SilverWishes.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
January Challenge: My Favorite Place
Every other month we Metal Clay Heads do a challenge and the winner of a challenge sets the next. This challenge is: My Favorite Place, which was set by Jennifer of Envy Designs Jewelry. Our entries for the My Favorite Place challenge are below. Please vote for your favorite at the poll on the right side of the blog. Voting will end on January 29th.
Paris Earrings by Evelyn of Evelyn Pelati Jewelry: I wanted to go to Paris my whole life, and in 2008 I finally did! It was a dream trip and I loved it as much as I thought I would. I made these earrings featuring a tiny map of Paris in honor of that time.
Palette Necklace by Dawn of DaVoria Jewelry: For some reason when I see a painters palette it makes me feel so serene. It brings me to a place I love to be. It could be painting, drawing, quilting, giving a haircut accented with outstanding hilites, or, as of late, making jewelry with metal clay. To me the painters palette represents my creativity.
Mother and Child Pendant by Ghislaine of GS Creations: My favorite place is not a country nor a city, it is not a building nor is it a garden. My favorite place is wherever I can be with my son, especially snuggled up in the morning as he drinks his bottle. There, all my worries fade away and a certain calmness reigns over me. It is where I am the happiest and feel at peace with the world.
Sew Perfect Charm by Anise of SeavBeach Designs: My favorite place when I was a child was my mom's sewing box. It had many mysterious things inside. Bobbins, spools of thread, buttons, needles, vintage skeleton keys that went to locks in another land.
Mardi Gras Mask Pendant by Kathy of York Avenue Studio: My favorite place is New Orleans! There isn’t anywhere in the world that I would rather be than visiting the French Quarter. There are festivals almost daily for music, art, food, fun, history, etc Steering clear of Bourbon Street, I spend most of my visits there browsing unique shops that sell candles, art, perfume, jewelry and treats! There are so many amazing people that work and live there and I will never get bored of the jazzy sounds, the spicy smells of Cajun food, the Pecan Prailines, the Coffee Shops, the lush green foliage, even the muggy heat!
My Favorite Place Necklace by Lisa of Willow and Me Jewelry: When the challenge was set, I had just returned from a short family vacation at a beach in Alabama, that is one of my favorite places in the whole world. It has gorgeous white beaches, which are not packed with people, and warm Gulf of Mexico water. During this last trip, the beach was full of Portugese Man of Wars (Men of War?). Using a shell I found on this beach, I made a mold from which I made the base of this piece. Using texture, I tried to duplicate the look of a beach with shells, starfish and even a Portugese Man of War, made from a sapphire cabochon. The bottom portion of the pendant has been covered with resin to emulate the surf rolling in.
In the Garden Necklace by Erin of heartsabustin: In the dead of winter, I dream of my garden in the spring. The daffodils, the hydrangeas, and the lilies are all very special to me.
Harp Necklace by Jennifer of Envy Designs Jewelry: My favorite place is Ireland, where I spent my honeymoon, and returned to 7 years later. I fell in love with the people, the beauty, the music and the rich history Ireland is known for. The Harp is an ancient instrument that was used by the Bards of Ireland, whose history and stories were told with the accompaniment of beautiful harp music.
Bronze Flower Garden Pendant by Deb of Prairie Mud Studio: My favorite place has always been my family's farm - and this piece represents my mom's flower gardens and my dad's cornfields.
Please cast your vote on the right column; and if you post a comment, you will be automatically entered into our February blog giveaway.
Paris Earrings by Evelyn of Evelyn Pelati Jewelry: I wanted to go to Paris my whole life, and in 2008 I finally did! It was a dream trip and I loved it as much as I thought I would. I made these earrings featuring a tiny map of Paris in honor of that time.
Palette Necklace by Dawn of DaVoria Jewelry: For some reason when I see a painters palette it makes me feel so serene. It brings me to a place I love to be. It could be painting, drawing, quilting, giving a haircut accented with outstanding hilites, or, as of late, making jewelry with metal clay. To me the painters palette represents my creativity.
Mother and Child Pendant by Ghislaine of GS Creations: My favorite place is not a country nor a city, it is not a building nor is it a garden. My favorite place is wherever I can be with my son, especially snuggled up in the morning as he drinks his bottle. There, all my worries fade away and a certain calmness reigns over me. It is where I am the happiest and feel at peace with the world.
Sew Perfect Charm by Anise of SeavBeach Designs: My favorite place when I was a child was my mom's sewing box. It had many mysterious things inside. Bobbins, spools of thread, buttons, needles, vintage skeleton keys that went to locks in another land.
Fern Necklace by Esmerelda of SilverBlueberry: My favorite place is the forest and the garden, so I made two overlapping fern leaves soldered to a neck wire (clasp behind one leaf) and below hangs a beautiful idocrase drop cabochon, cut by Rod from FoxCabochons.
Pavillion with Persian Illumination by Laura of Zoeowyn: My favorite place is "far far away." I don't have a favorite physical location, it always tends to be "some place else" and definitely someplace ideal and perfect and exotic.
Mardi Gras Mask Pendant by Kathy of York Avenue Studio: My favorite place is New Orleans! There isn’t anywhere in the world that I would rather be than visiting the French Quarter. There are festivals almost daily for music, art, food, fun, history, etc Steering clear of Bourbon Street, I spend most of my visits there browsing unique shops that sell candles, art, perfume, jewelry and treats! There are so many amazing people that work and live there and I will never get bored of the jazzy sounds, the spicy smells of Cajun food, the Pecan Prailines, the Coffee Shops, the lush green foliage, even the muggy heat!
My Favorite Place Necklace by Lisa of Willow and Me Jewelry: When the challenge was set, I had just returned from a short family vacation at a beach in Alabama, that is one of my favorite places in the whole world. It has gorgeous white beaches, which are not packed with people, and warm Gulf of Mexico water. During this last trip, the beach was full of Portugese Man of Wars (Men of War?). Using a shell I found on this beach, I made a mold from which I made the base of this piece. Using texture, I tried to duplicate the look of a beach with shells, starfish and even a Portugese Man of War, made from a sapphire cabochon. The bottom portion of the pendant has been covered with resin to emulate the surf rolling in.
In the Garden Necklace by Erin of heartsabustin: In the dead of winter, I dream of my garden in the spring. The daffodils, the hydrangeas, and the lilies are all very special to me.
Harp Necklace by Jennifer of Envy Designs Jewelry: My favorite place is Ireland, where I spent my honeymoon, and returned to 7 years later. I fell in love with the people, the beauty, the music and the rich history Ireland is known for. The Harp is an ancient instrument that was used by the Bards of Ireland, whose history and stories were told with the accompaniment of beautiful harp music.
Bronze Flower Garden Pendant by Deb of Prairie Mud Studio: My favorite place has always been my family's farm - and this piece represents my mom's flower gardens and my dad's cornfields.
St. John Passion Pendant by Mary Lou of Sweetleaf Sisterz: The image on this pendant reminds me of St. John in the US Virgin Islands. It is one of my favorite places in the world. Sitting on the beach at night with rolling waves and the stars bright in the sky, there is no other place like it. This pendant of fine silver illustrates that vision. The surf is rolling below stars brilliant in the nighttime sky.
Please cast your vote on the right column; and if you post a comment, you will be automatically entered into our February blog giveaway.
How Cool is This!
Thanks to Betty from Faccia Felice for her eagle eye! She found us as Blog of the Month in Beads and Beyond Magazine. This is so exciting! This blog is a team effort so we should all be very proud of ourselves!
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