11/2/13

The Holidays Are Around the Corner!!!

What did I think when I saw this beautiful creation with rich colors of fall...Where did the time go!!!.  It is already November and it is time to start thinking about the upcoming Holidays.


Anna Siivonen

What are we going to wear?.  Is it going to be be going to be something RED or is it going to be something BLUE.  So here are some beautiful pieces to help you start thinking about the Holidays and also to help you start thinking about what you are going to create next.  So enjoy!!!


Joy Funnell



Bev Gallerani




Glenda Skarie






Liz Hall



Catherine Witherell




Molli Koltun




Anna Mazon


AND... If you cannot decide what color to wear, you do not have too.  With every color of the rainbow, this beautiful piece makes your decision much easier.


Bev Gallerani
http://www.etsy.com/shop/MangoTango

10/4/13

Create Your Style!

We artists are always looking for inspiration, for a muse.  We are always looking for things that "get the creative juices flowing".  We want to be near things that we like, that are fresh, that makes us feel good, that makes us feel special.  And before you realize it, your creations reveal everything about you to others.  And your style is born.

So be unique, be yourself, don't be afraid, and CREATE YOUR STYLE!!!

Can you guess who the artist is?

1. This artist describes her style as "ROMANTIC"


2. This artist describes her style as "CHEERFUL"
"I try to make jewelry that makes people smile. Themes that make us happy resulting in meaningful tokens of love."

3. This artist describes her style as "FANTASY"
"Abstract thinking can let you see one thing in a million ways, that is why things look to me different every day."


4. This artist describes her style as "QUIRKY"
"I was introduced to ceramic clay when I was 6 years old, I have been claying ever since.  My favorite from the start was sculpting people and creatures."


5. This artist describes her style as "FREE SPIRIT"
"I can't say I have a specific style. I work from my stomach, unless its customer order I go with the flow... and enjoy the ride."



6. This artists describes her style as "BEACH"
"My inspiration is I've always lived near water and can't think of anything more calming and serene


7. This artist describes her style as "ORGANIC INDUSTRIAL"


8. This artist describes her style in one word, "JOYFUL"
"My love of colours and textures lead me to develop happy work."


I hope you have a fun time guessing!!! Please leave us a comment and let us know how many artists were you able to guess.

1. Catherine Witherell http://www.etsy.com/shop/happydayart 
5. Liad Wischnia-Nemeth http://www.etsy.com/shop/ByLiad

Who's ready to do a little shopping?

The Etsy Metal Clay team has been busy making a lot of new art jewelry for you all.  I'm excited to share some highlights of what is new in our member's shops.  So if you value truly handcrafted jewelry you are in for a treat!



Cow pendant necklace

sculpted jewelry with charm: Anna Siivonen



silver leaf necklace, grapes, Napa Valley, wine tasting, amethyst, grape vines

nature like you've never seen it before!  Lynn Cobb



Hand Made Black Onyx and Silver Necklace (Item 2333)

striking drop pendants by Zoe Nelson




Taino Set by Adori L'Argento





LLAMA studs, eco-friendly silver earrings, Illustration by BOYGIRLPARTY.  Handcrafted by Chocolate and Steel.
the funniest little animals by Christine of Chocolate and Steel



Fine Silver, Sterling Silver and Chrysoprase Sea Urchin Dangle Earrings

and from the queen of all things by the sea....Bev of Mango Tango


Have fun shopping!  and enjoy your weekend:)
-Christine of Chocolate and Steel




9/8/13

EMC Team Challenge: Mixed Media

The EMC Team participated in another team challenge. This Team Challenge theme was mixed media. Team members had to incorporate, stone, paper, resin, polymer, glass and other objects with metal clay. Below are the entries received from various EMC Team members.

Joy Funnell of Joyful Jewelry submitted this pendant and earring set named Modern Legions. The fine silver and gold clay set, incorporates handmade lampwork glass headpins. The copper and glass headpins were created by Laura Sparling.



Joy Funnel Modern Legions Pendant and Earring Set: Silver/Gold Clay with glass headpins



Glenda Skarie of Be Adori submitted her Taino earrings and pendant set. The Taino set is Goldie bronze clay and magnesite beads. The Goldie bronze clay is inscribed with symbols that are inspired by the rock carvings left behind by the Taino Indians from the Greater Antilles.

Glenda Skarie Taino Pendant & Earring Set: Goldie Bronze and Magnesite Beads


Zoe Nelson of Zoe Nelson Artwear submitted the lovely pendant shown below. The fine silver clay and dichroic glass pendant is called Karin. The piece is named Karin after the cousin who simply had to have the necklace around Ms. Nelson's neck.

Zoe Nelson Karin Pendant: Dichronic Glass and Fine Silver


Catherine Witherell of Happy Day Art submitted the beautiful pendant seen below. This pendant in comprised of fine silver clay, sterling silver, beach glass, turquoise, gaspeite stones, jade, peridot, leather and a transparent gift card that has the appearance of stain glass.



 Catherine Witherell: Mixed Media Pendant: Silver Clay, Sterling Silver, Leather, Stone, Glass and Gift Card

The 3 connecting rings, 2 spiral beads, 2 circular beads and the bead cap on the beach glass dangle were all composed of metal clay. The frame that holds the transparent gift card, the chain, the jump rings and the rivets are all composed of sterling silver. The transparent gift card is an excellent, unique and creative touch. Talk about the gift that keeps giving.



Bev Gallerani of Mango Tango Designs submitted the pendant below titled Slow Growth. The pendant is composed of fine silver, sterling silver, chalcedony briolette, paper, watch parts and UV resin. The steam punk pendant features a elegant fine silver clay impression with a steam punk focal point comprised of watch parts, paper and resin.

Bev Gallerani: Slow Growth Pendant: Fine Silver Clay, Sterling Silver, paper, watch parts, uv resin



Thank you to all of the EMC Team members that participated in the EMC Team Challenge! I was inspired by all of the pieces that were submitted for this Challenge.



8/15/13

Meet the team: Joy Funnell

I'd like to introduce you to one of our very talented team members: Joy Funnell.  Joy was so kind to answer some questions about her inspirations and journey.  Take a peak:



Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I was making jewellery for many years as a hobby before I encountered silver clay in

2005 and was hooked. Within a year I trained up to be a Senior Art Clay Instructor,

gave up the day job and leapt into a full time career as a jewellery artisan. As well as

running my own business, I am also a Senior Editor with Metal Clay Artist Magazine.


Have any special hobbies?

Making jewellery was my hobby before I turned it into my business, and I feel it still is

both. I love photography as well.



What is your business name and website address?

I use my own name for my business. My website is www.joyfunnell.co.uk


Your shop address?

My Etsy shop is https://www.etsy.com/shop/JoyFunnellEtsy


Do you sell in any shops other than etsy?

I have a shop on my own website, but that is all. I sell at quite a few fairs as well, it is

nice to talk to people face to face about my work.


How did you find out about metal clay and then start working with it? How long?

I first encountered silver clay at the Guild of Enamellers conference in 2004, when

Glyn Mitchell came and gave us a Masterclass in it. It immediately appealed to me and

I bought some to try. I didn’t really start using it until early 2005 though.




What drives you to make jewelry?

I just love it! I am inspired by colours and textures and try to bring that into most of

my work. I have always loved jewellery anyway, and to be able to make it myself is

just magical. I still feel a tingle of delight when I make a piece that I am happy with.


Are you disciplined or do you go with the flow and work when you feel like it?

I would love to be more disciplined than I am! I get easily distracted which is a bad

thing.


Won any awards for your jewelry? for anything else?

I have won some awards which is lovely and really boosts the confidence.


Do you do any other type of art?

I used to do wood carving but when we got two kittens, about 13 years ago now,

I packed everything away. Wood chippings flying around and sharp knives did not

seem a good combination with inquisitive animals. Somehow all my tools, etc, never

came out again, and I have not done any more since then. When I started making

little creatures in bronze clay though, I immediately felt the connection to the wood

carving, and I love making miniature metal sculptures.




When did you feel you had more confidence in your abilities? 

I think it took me a good 3-4 years of working full time with metal clay to really start

to feel confident in my abilities. When I achieved Craftsman status with the Guild of

Enamellers in 2009 I made all my six submission pieces in silver clay, the first time

anyone had done that. Five of the six pieces have to be marked by the three expert

assessors at 75% or higher to become a Craftsman. The fact that I managed that, and

that the three assessors who had no knowledge of silver clay were so impressed by it,

had a huge effect on my confidence.


What is your favorite tool for working with metal clay? 

Probably my water brush pen, it is just so useful for cleaning up joins etc while the

clay is still wet so I don’t have to do any sanding and filing. I could not work without

baby wipes as well though!


Where do you work?

I have a little tiny workshop and a larger teaching area. At the moment I often work in

my teaching area as my workshop needs a good blitz and is far too cluttered.


What is your favorite thing to make?

I love to make one of a kind competition pieces. Because a piece is for a competition

seems to let me give myself permission to put in an unrealistic amount of work, so

they are not always commercially viable as they should be, but I love it!


Do you ever add commercial components?

Yes, occasionally. I do hang a lot of my pieces on commercial chains, even though I

enjoy chain making, because of the time and cost in making them, and I often use

commercial earwires. Recently I have tried using RingCores™ from Metal Clay Supply

for some of my rings, and that is something I am experimenting with further.



How do you work, and when? (for ex. assembly line or one at a time)

I normally have several pieces on the go at any one time and work between them.

When I am enameling I always like to try to do at least two pieces at once if I can. If

I work on only one piece, waiting for it to cool after each firing is too frustrating and

time wasting. I’m not a very patient person sometimes!


Do you have any kind of creative ritual?

No, I don’t think I do.


How do you hold onto ideas that you don't have time to pursue NOW!

I try to jot something down on paper to remind of the idea, or even make a quick note

on my phone.


Do you ever use a sketchbook?

I do sketch sometimes, but it is mainly when I am at craft fairs, when I get quiet

moments. I end up with lots of loose sheets of paper around the place. I don’t often

feel the need to have a sketch before I start working if I have a good idea in my mind.


Do you ever teach classes and where?

Yes, I teach workshops all the while. I mostly teach from my base in Hastings, UK

but I also occasionally teach in other studios in the UK. I have taught in the USA and

Switzerland and am excited that I will be going back to the USA to teach later this

year.


Do you make a living at it?

Yes, it is my full time job, making and teaching. I am also a Senior Editor with Metal

Clay Artist Magazine and I really enjoy doing that.


Do you do custom orders?

Yes, I do some custom orders, so long as they fit my style of work, and I am

comfortable with the request. I will  turn them down though, if I don’t think I will

enjoy doing it.


What are you working on currently?

A new range of enameled rings.


What's next on your agenda to make?

I have some new ideas for enamelling techniques which I plan to experiment with.


How do you make time for everything you want to do?

I’m not really sure I do. I seem to always be chasing round in circles with a long ‘to do’

list!

Anything else you'd like to tell us about yourself?

I love doing challenges. In 2011 I did a Bird a week Challenge.   In 2012 I did the Four A Month 

Challenge and a Bird a Month.  This year I am doing a Weekly Critter Challenge . I find it interesting

looking back and seeing how my work is changing over the course of each challenge.



I hope you enjoyed this look into the art of Joy Funnell.  Be sure to check out her Etsy shop!

8/13/13

From the world of our dreams

Sometimes when the everyday life is getting more and more difficult, annoying or so predictable that it is boring, we run away from the reality into the world of no boundaries - the world of our dreams. There we can find the creatures from fairy tales: mermaids, dragons, birds and animals which do not look like anything we know. And sometimes when we get back to reality, we take some of this friendly creatures with us. Then we need only metal clay and skillful hands to let our imagination to lead us and to create something which brings a bit of magic to a daily routine.

An amazing mermaid by Beverly Miller Gallerani

The Ice Dragon by Anna Mazoń - Drakonaria

Sweet and friendy creature by Anna Siivonen.

The Bird of Paradise by Marta Grzywna

A Siren holding her treasure by Anna Mazoń - Drakonaria

Another mermaid by Beverly Miller Gallerani

Anna Siivonen`s imagination is limitless.


One more bird from the Birds of Paradise Family by Marta Grzywna


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