Thanks to everyone who had participated! Our feature artist Kathy McDonald beautiful handmade collections can be reviewed here. Please stay tuned for our December feature.
Showing posts with label metal clay jewelry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label metal clay jewelry. Show all posts
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Congrats to Linda M. who won our November Blog Giveaway!
Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! I'm sure our lucky winner Linda M. (llhm) will have a good holiday as well since she won our November blog giveaway! Here are the prizes Linda is getting:
Thanks to everyone who had participated! Our feature artist Kathy McDonald beautiful handmade collections can be reviewed here. Please stay tuned for our December feature.
Thanks to everyone who had participated! Our feature artist Kathy McDonald beautiful handmade collections can be reviewed here. Please stay tuned for our December feature.
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
I actually managed in creating my dream job -- Anna Siivonen
Welcome! Our October featured artist is Anna Siivonen from Sweden. Exotic, fairytale-ish (if there is such a word), dreamy ... are the words that wandering in my mind when I wow over Anna's wearable art. Here is an inspiring story on how she pursuit her dream since 6.
I have been dreaming about working with art since I was a kid (after I gave up the notion of becoming a princess or a hockey goalkeeper). I took a ceramic clay class when I was six years and I continued for about fifteen years, my favorite thing was to sculpt small figures. From an early age I felt that I had good creative ideas, but I lacked in confidence. I could not get in the right art schools. So I studied at the not so popular school but after having completed university I still could not convince anyone to give me a job that was the least bit creative. I came to the conclusion that I´ll have to create my dream job for my self, nobody would just give me that. So I settled on a job that was offered and I started a company on the side as a creative outlet.
In my company I did all kinds of sculptures and projects that went nowhere. I painted and wrote a children´s book that suck but had great pictures. I did a cow for Cow parade in Stockholm (that somebody massacred in a week). After two years I stumbled upon silver clay which was unheard of in Sweden so I taught my self everything about it, and I wrote a book about it that no one wanted to publish. So I taught my self about publishing, layout, photography and I published the first Swedish silver clay book, later on published also in Finland. Because of this I got to teach a lot of silver clay classes, but still I had not much luck in selling my art. Then I found Etsy and through Etsy I found my style and a method of creating efficiently. I started thinking in terms of product development, and nowadays when I create I have a plan on how to efficiently reproduce an item even before making it.
The good thing about being a self-employed designer is that I can go a
bit crazy without being interrupted. I can create things I find fun and
don't have to dilute my inspiration to make it mainstream. I won't sell
hundreds of a design, but the few ones that I do sell are treasured. I
can have an idea, make it, put it up in my shop and sell it, all in one
day. What makes my business special is not one product but my
productivity and the uniqueness of my designs. I communicate with
customers and sell all over the world. I customize things to their needs
and I use their input to evolve my business further. I sell my handmade
things, items made in Sweden (a country with really high taxes where
most companies outsource their products to Asia and India) to Asia and
India, Russia, Azerbaijan, US and Mexico (mind blowing to me). It took
me quite a while, lots of detours, but I actually managed in creating my
dream job. And the funny thing is that what I´m doing today is what
have been my favorite thing since I was six years old, the thing I
would have said I wanted to do when I grew up if I ever thought a job
like that existed, I sculpt small figures.
Bronze skull pendant hair tie pony tail holder
 |
| Serqet Scorpio Goddess Statement Necklace by Anna Siivonen |
I have been dreaming about working with art since I was a kid (after I gave up the notion of becoming a princess or a hockey goalkeeper). I took a ceramic clay class when I was six years and I continued for about fifteen years, my favorite thing was to sculpt small figures. From an early age I felt that I had good creative ideas, but I lacked in confidence. I could not get in the right art schools. So I studied at the not so popular school but after having completed university I still could not convince anyone to give me a job that was the least bit creative. I came to the conclusion that I´ll have to create my dream job for my self, nobody would just give me that. So I settled on a job that was offered and I started a company on the side as a creative outlet.
In my company I did all kinds of sculptures and projects that went nowhere. I painted and wrote a children´s book that suck but had great pictures. I did a cow for Cow parade in Stockholm (that somebody massacred in a week). After two years I stumbled upon silver clay which was unheard of in Sweden so I taught my self everything about it, and I wrote a book about it that no one wanted to publish. So I taught my self about publishing, layout, photography and I published the first Swedish silver clay book, later on published also in Finland. Because of this I got to teach a lot of silver clay classes, but still I had not much luck in selling my art. Then I found Etsy and through Etsy I found my style and a method of creating efficiently. I started thinking in terms of product development, and nowadays when I create I have a plan on how to efficiently reproduce an item even before making it.
 |
| Statement Ring Skull Ring Knuckle Duster by Anna Siivonen |
 |
| Fathers Cuff Links Boy and Girl by Anna Siivonen |
A lucky winner will have the choice of prize:
1)
Bronze skull pendant hair tie pony tail holder
2)
or 3) Both of the prints here.
Top: Girl with balloons, collage print Bottom: New best friend, collage print
Here are the rules to enter the MCHs blog giveaway:
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 here so we can keep track.
Here are the rules to enter the MCHs blog giveaway:
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 here so we can keep track.
- Follow our blog = 1 entry
- Check out featured artist and post favorite piece on the blog = 1 entry
- Heart featured artist’s shop = 1 entry
- Follow featured artist on Facebook = 1 entry
- Make a purchase = 2 entries
- Refer a friend = 1 entry
- Tweet about the giveaway using key word metalclayheads = 1 entry
- Share the Metal Clay Heads blog giveaway link on FB (Go to http://www.facebook.com/MetalClayHeadsTeam and click Share) = 1 entry
- If you voted and commented on our last challenge = 1 entry
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
Artist Carrie Michael Feature + Blog Giveaway Result is here!
And the winner is ...
Barbara!!!!!
Congrats to Barbara! She won the Copper English style ocarina pendant with an included purple sapphire beautifully handmade by Carrie Michael.
Big thanks to Carrie who devoted her precious time for the interview and giveaway. Thank you for your support and time to read the blog feature and to enter the giveaway. Please stay tuned on our next blog feature!
Barbara!!!!!
Congrats to Barbara! She won the Copper English style ocarina pendant with an included purple sapphire beautifully handmade by Carrie Michael.
Big thanks to Carrie who devoted her precious time for the interview and giveaway. Thank you for your support and time to read the blog feature and to enter the giveaway. Please stay tuned on our next blog feature!
Monday, June 16, 2014
It Feels Like Magic Every Time! June Featured Artist Carrie Michael
Our featured artist of June is Carrie Michael from Kalamazoo, MI. Carrie has extensive creative experience with polymer clay and has perfecting her skills on metal clay since 2012. Her work is whimsical and dreamy! Carrie is giving away a copper metal clay english style ocarina pendant to a lucky reader. Read on to learn how to enter the giveaway and win a piece of her amazing art!
Why did you pick your shop name Carrie Michael?
I picked my own name so that it was easy to find me!
When did you first become interested in Metal Clay? How long have you been designing jewelry using Metal Clay?
Metal Clay called to me the first time I heard of it, but I didn’t have the available funds to work with it at the time. I sold polymer clay jewelry until I built up enough profit to buy my own kiln and fine silver supplies. Metal Clay has been a part of my life since June of 2012, and I am amazed every time a piece of “clay” goes into the kiln and comes out solid metal, it feels like magic every time, I adore it!
Would you tell us your creative process?
For my detailed pieces I normally start by making a digital drawing. Once I am happy with it, I scale the drawing down to size, print it, and trace the drawing onto dry metal clay. After carving, detailing and engraving, I finish the piece in the kiln. Burnish, tumble, polish, and then make a mold so that more of the same design can be completed faster to keep prices affordable! The entire process for the giveaway piece is too long to answer here, but there is a tutorial on my blog: carriemichael.blogspot.com/2014/06/metal-clay-ocarina-tutorial.html
What inspires you?
The beauty and magic of our natural world.
Why did you design the giveaway piece? What is special about your giveaway piece?
Logging in to etsy to read the Metal Clay Heads Team blog, I noticed other recommended groups to join. One of them was for handmade ocarinas. I didn’t join the group, but it got me thinking, I bet I could do that out of metal! My husband is an ocarina player, and a nice sturdy ocarina that he couldn’t drop and break would be a welcome gift. It took quite a bit of trial and error as well as research online to figure out how to make one from metal clay, but I think I have a process that works well. My husband helps me tune them to make sure that they function properly as a musical instrument in addition to being a piece of jewelry. My notes on construction are on my blog so that other metal clay artists can make their own if they wish.
I decided to give away a copper ocarina pendant because it is a unique item that can’t be found anywhere else. This one is the 5th that I made, and since I was still perfecting my design there will never be another exactly like it! It has both copper and white copper (*contains nickel) on the front, and an included purple sapphire for fun.
What are the major challenges when creating metal clay jewelry?
In relation to this piece specifically, metal clay can’t be worked in the same way as ceramic clay, which is traditionally used for making ocarinas. That makes it extra difficult to get the voicing carved and lined up properly, as well as to get the tuning right. Concert tuning would be a nightmare, so this piece is simply “in tune with itself.”
What do you enjoy most about working in Metal Clay?
Permanence and sparkle! Every medium has it’s benefits, but a finished metal clay piece should last for generations. It brings me great joy to know that my silver pieces will continue to glitter long after I am gone.
What is your greatest ambition as a Metal Clay artist?
To quit my day job and spend every day making art for people to enjoy!
What is the biggest mistake you've ever made? What did you learn from it?
Making complex detailed pieces and then moving to the next step without doing a test sample first, sometimes leading to irreparable harm to days worth of work. I do this in every media I ever use. Learning the hard way to do test samples is something that has taken years to sink in.
So here are the rules to enter the MCHs blog giveaway:
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 here so we can keep track.
The giveaway will run for two weeks. We will announce the winner on July 1st. Good luck!
Why did you pick your shop name Carrie Michael?
I picked my own name so that it was easy to find me!
When did you first become interested in Metal Clay? How long have you been designing jewelry using Metal Clay?
Metal Clay called to me the first time I heard of it, but I didn’t have the available funds to work with it at the time. I sold polymer clay jewelry until I built up enough profit to buy my own kiln and fine silver supplies. Metal Clay has been a part of my life since June of 2012, and I am amazed every time a piece of “clay” goes into the kiln and comes out solid metal, it feels like magic every time, I adore it!
 |
| Fairy fine silver ear cuff holding amethyst cubic zirconia DTPD by Carrie Michael |
Would you tell us your creative process?
For my detailed pieces I normally start by making a digital drawing. Once I am happy with it, I scale the drawing down to size, print it, and trace the drawing onto dry metal clay. After carving, detailing and engraving, I finish the piece in the kiln. Burnish, tumble, polish, and then make a mold so that more of the same design can be completed faster to keep prices affordable! The entire process for the giveaway piece is too long to answer here, but there is a tutorial on my blog: carriemichael.blogspot.com/2014/06/metal-clay-ocarina-tutorial.html
What inspires you?
The beauty and magic of our natural world.
 | |
| Copper english style ocarina pendant with an included purple sapphire by Carrie Michael |
Why did you design the giveaway piece? What is special about your giveaway piece?
Logging in to etsy to read the Metal Clay Heads Team blog, I noticed other recommended groups to join. One of them was for handmade ocarinas. I didn’t join the group, but it got me thinking, I bet I could do that out of metal! My husband is an ocarina player, and a nice sturdy ocarina that he couldn’t drop and break would be a welcome gift. It took quite a bit of trial and error as well as research online to figure out how to make one from metal clay, but I think I have a process that works well. My husband helps me tune them to make sure that they function properly as a musical instrument in addition to being a piece of jewelry. My notes on construction are on my blog so that other metal clay artists can make their own if they wish.
I decided to give away a copper ocarina pendant because it is a unique item that can’t be found anywhere else. This one is the 5th that I made, and since I was still perfecting my design there will never be another exactly like it! It has both copper and white copper (*contains nickel) on the front, and an included purple sapphire for fun.
What are the major challenges when creating metal clay jewelry?
In relation to this piece specifically, metal clay can’t be worked in the same way as ceramic clay, which is traditionally used for making ocarinas. That makes it extra difficult to get the voicing carved and lined up properly, as well as to get the tuning right. Concert tuning would be a nightmare, so this piece is simply “in tune with itself.”
 | |
| Fairy Dragon fine silver pendant or charm with purple sapphire DTPD by Carrie Michael |
What do you enjoy most about working in Metal Clay?
Permanence and sparkle! Every medium has it’s benefits, but a finished metal clay piece should last for generations. It brings me great joy to know that my silver pieces will continue to glitter long after I am gone.
What is your greatest ambition as a Metal Clay artist?
To quit my day job and spend every day making art for people to enjoy!
What is the biggest mistake you've ever made? What did you learn from it?
Making complex detailed pieces and then moving to the next step without doing a test sample first, sometimes leading to irreparable harm to days worth of work. I do this in every media I ever use. Learning the hard way to do test samples is something that has taken years to sink in.
So here are the rules to enter the MCHs blog giveaway:
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 here so we can keep track.
- Follow our blog = 1 entry
- Check out featured artist and post favorite piece on the blog = 1 entry
- Heart featured artist’s shop = 1 entry
- Follow featured artist on Facebook = 1 entry
- Make a purchase = 2 entries
- Refer a friend = 1 entry
- Tweet about the giveaway using key word metalclayheads = 1 entry
- Share the Metal Clay Heads blog giveaway link on FB (Go to http://www.facebook.com/MetalClayHeadTeam and click Share) = 1 entry
- If you voted and commented on our last challenge = 1 entry
The giveaway will run for two weeks. We will announce the winner on July 1st. Good luck!
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
It's time of the year to celebrate and share.
The Metal Clay Heads are busy spending precious time with their families, but also passing on the joy of sharing by offering great discount or free shipping or both to our lovely customers at the same time. All our metal clay pieces are handmade with recycled metal which is eco-friendly. Make someone feel special this Holiday by giving OOAK handmade metal clay items today!
Here are a list of participated MCHs offering discount/free shipping or both. Each shop offers different discount, please look for related info on the announcement section. Use promotional code "mchs2011" (or refer to individual shop for the code) while check out. Promotion offer starts Black Friday.
ArtisanSilver -- 10% off
Envydesignsjewelry -- 10% off
FacciaFelice -- Free US shipping
Fishbonesilver -- Free US shipping
Heartsabustin-- 20% off
HGWjewelrydesigns -- Free US shipping
KRINLOX -- 10% off
Lynncobb -- Free shipping and a free Sunshine polishing cloth for purchases of $50 or more.
PPennee -- 10% off
PrairieMudStudio -- Free US shipping
SeavBeach -- Free US shipping
SparkleBeeDesigns -- Free US shipping
StuckOnSilver -- 10% off
Willowandme -- 10% off
YorkAvenueStudio -- 50% off orders over $200
Here are a list of participated MCHs offering discount/free shipping or both. Each shop offers different discount, please look for related info on the announcement section. Use promotional code "mchs2011" (or refer to individual shop for the code) while check out. Promotion offer starts Black Friday.ArtisanSilver -- 10% off
Envydesignsjewelry -- 10% off
FacciaFelice -- Free US shipping
Fishbonesilver -- Free US shipping
Heartsabustin-- 20% off
HGWjewelrydesigns -- Free US shipping
KRINLOX -- 10% off
Lynncobb -- Free shipping and a free Sunshine polishing cloth for purchases of $50 or more.
PPennee -- 10% off
PrairieMudStudio -- Free US shipping
SeavBeach -- Free US shipping
SparkleBeeDesigns -- Free US shipping
StuckOnSilver -- 10% off
Willowandme -- 10% off
YorkAvenueStudio -- 50% off orders over $200
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