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!

Meet the Team - Linda Gielen

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

Born in Laredo and raised in Brownsville, Texas, I come from a family who has several artistic members. Ever since I can remember, I have always participated in some form of art: painting, drawing, ceramics, metal smithing, etc. I have always struggled though with the fact that I have a practical side as well as an artistic side. It was only after I received my bachelor’s degree in Business that I returned to get my certification in Art. While getting my Masters in Education, I found my other passion which is computers. Now my time is divided between my art and my computer pursuits.
I am currently a Technology Facilitator at a private all boys school in San Antonio, Texas and I teach 7th and 8th grade computer electives. It’s kind of the best of both worlds because I am able to combine my two passions, art and computers, by teaching web design, graphic arts and animation. However, I still have the need to create strictly artistic items. So in the summer and during holidays, I focus on passion, my jewelry. Three-dimensional art has always been my favorite form of art with my first experience being ceramics. Ceramics, however, was not a portable art and I just wasn’t ready to invest in what I needed to have a complete studio. So I looked to other forms of 3D art and soon started working in polymer clay. I really enjoyed creating pieces, especially working with all the colors, but I just felt something was missing. While working with polymer clay, I learned about Precious Metal Clay and decided to take a class on it. After that, I was hooked! What was great about this medium was all the tools I have for polymer would work for PMC and so I was off and running. I took more classes and eventually took a certification course and I haven’t looked back since.

Have any special hobbies?

Lately, I‘ve just been focusing on metal clay, but I am an avid reader and spend many hours reading science fiction and fantasy. I also read juvenile and young adult books to review for our school library.

What is your business name and website address?

My business name is Clayology and my website address is http://clayology.etsy.com/.

Your shop address?

I only sell online or friends.

Do you sell in any shops other than etsy?

Yes, I sell metal clay and polymer clay pieces at http://clayology.artfire.com/.

Textured Link Bracelet

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

I found out about metal clay through an article in a jewelry magazine I subscribed to when working with polymer clay. I ordered a kit from my jewelry supplier and tried it on my own first. Although I was able to create a few simple pieces, I sought out a live class to expand my horizons. Our local arts and crafts center was offering a two-day weekend course and I jumped on the chance to learn more. I was instantly hooked and I haven’t looked back since! I’ve been working with metal clay for about six years.

What drives you to make jewelry?

When I was getting my degree in Art, my focus was jewelry and metalsmithing. It was a strange passion since I never wore much jewelry, but I just love making it!

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

I tend to go with my flow and work when I feel like creative. Although I sketch a lot of ideas, I never have the discipline to follow through with my designs. I am trying to break that habit and follow my ideas more.

Won any awards for your jewelry? for anything else?

When I was in college, I did win an award for a necklace I made out of brass and wire. However, since then, I never have tried to submit any of my work to any contests. Life keeps getting in the way!

Do you do any other type of art?

Yes, I have dabbled in polymer clay, lampworking, acrylics, oils, ceramics, tinwork, beading, weaving . . . the list goes on. What is your art sensibility - precise or organic?I fight my tendency to be too precise because I have to be in my regular job as a Technology Facilitator and teacher. So, I try to let my “inner natural goddess” out so I can create more organic pieces and try to work at letting my work flow in that direction.

Leaf and Vine Vessel

When did you feel you had more confidence in your abilities? Although others thought my work was good, I never felt confident that it had any value or that it was something I could sell. It is only when I began working with metal clay three years ago, that I thought my work had some value and I could actually sell it.

What is your favorite tool for working with metal clay? Since I love making vessels, my favorite “tool” I guess would be wood clay and dowels!

Where do you work? A photo of your work space is attached.I have set aside one of our bedrooms as my workspace. After many years of working out of this corner or that, I finally have a dedicated room.

What is your favorite thing to make?

My favorite thing to make is vessels. I guess I like that 3D sculptural feel of making one. I also love construction type pieces like boxes and hollow forms.

Do you ever add commercial components?

Yes, I do incorporate cubic zirconia stones, casting grains and dichroic pieces. I also sometimes use commercial earwires, chains and chokers.

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

I work usually several pieces at once and have several pieces going in different stages. However, most of my pieces are one-of-a-kind because I always want to try something new and I do not make duplicates. I do think it is wise to make at least two of the same design and I am going to try to do that this summer. Since I am a teacher, I tend to work the best and longest during holidays and summers, summer being my most productive time.

Do you have any kind of creative ritual?

No, but I think I need to get one. Especially for those days when I get artist block.

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

I sketch out ideas in a sketchbook to remind me of what I may want to try out next.

Do you ever use a sketchbook?

Yes. It has been a habit since I began to take art courses over 20 years ago.

Do you ever teach classes and where?

I have taught art courses to elementary students, but I have not taught any metal clay classes.

Do you make a living at it?

Not yet . . . I just hope to make enough cover my metal clay “habit!”

Dichro Decorated Pendant

Do you do custom orders?

I am too fearful of rejection or issues that may occur in the process, so I have not tried any custom work.

What are you working on currently?

I am currently experimenting with BronzClay and am enjoying the fact that it is so much more affordable than PMC. I feel I can try out designs without worrying about bad outcomes. I am also trying to perfect my lampworking techniques to incorporate lampwork beads in my jewelry design.

What's next on your agenda to make?

Rejuvenate my shops this summer, take better pictures and try out some of my designs. I also purchased some copper clay to experiment with.

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

I try to squeeze some time during long weekends and occasionally at night after school if I get inspired, but I do the majority of my work during holidays and summer.

Anything else you'd like to tell us about yourself?
I have three great “girls”, Frida and Kirby, who are tri-colored brown Chihuahuas, and Java, a border-collie mix. I will be celebrating my 25th wedding anniversary this November to a man who has always supportive my artist endeavors and believes everything I make is wonderful!

Meet the Team - Interview with Jane Font

This week we are interviewing Jane Font of Daisy Jane Designs. Jane joined the Etsy Metal Clay Team in February 2009.

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

I am 31 and live in Utah. I have been married to my awesome husband for just over 7 years now. We have two dogs, Nova and Boris, and no kids. We both work full time at the same company (for the time being). I am going to school to earn my bachelor’s degree in accounting.

Have any special hobbies?
We both like to read, listen to music, and watch way too many movies. Mostly we like horror movies. Zombies are the best! I also love to spend time in my studio working with metal clay!

What is your business name and website address?
Daisy Jane Designs. As of yet I do not have my own website.

Your shop address?
http://www.daisyjanedesigns.etsy.com/

How did you find out about metal clay and then start working with it? How long?
I first learned about metal clay while I was off work for 3 weeks due to mono. This was in early 2007. It was horrible! The only thing I could do was lay in bed and for the 3 weeks I didn’t even leave my house. So, while I was lying in bed I watched a lot of TV. One day I saw Nana Mizushima making her silver leaf pendant. I was fascinated! I started reading everything I could find. I bought books and DVDs and within a few weeks I convinced my husband that I really needed to buy the big expensive starter kit. He relented and here I am!

Moon Pool Necklace

What drives you to make jewelry?

A lot of things drive me; all of them selfish ;) I want new jewelry. I want someone else to want new jewelry. I want to learn a new technique. I want to make something I’ve never seen before and see the look on someone’s face when I tell them that I made it.

Are you disciplined or do you go with the flow and work when you feel like it?
I pretty much work when I feel like it. I have tried in the past sitting down and just doing something…it never turns out very good. I have to have a good solid idea before I sit down to make a piece of jewelry. My frustration lies in the fact that I have time and will but no ideas at times.

Won any awards for your jewelry? for anything else?
At this time I have not won any awards for my jewelry. I have a ring and a pendant that will be featured in a magazine this summer though. I have won awards in the past in small art competitions for drawing and painting though.

Do you do any other type of art?
I love to draw! I’m not very good at it unless I can see what I am drawing. I don’t paint often anymore. My medium of choice for giving my drawings color is colored pencil and water color pencil. I don’t do anything with my drawings at this time, it’s just a hobby for me to enjoy.

What is your art sensibility - precise or organic?
Precise, which kind of aggravates me because I LOVE organic shapes! However, whenever I try for organic it just looks sloppy.

When did you feel you had more confidence in your abilities?
There is a huge arts festival in Park City every year. It is full of very expensive pieces of art ranging from glass work, to wood work, to jewelry, to painting and photography, and everything in between. This last summer I went to the show with a friend. Hoping to draw a bit of attention I made us each a necklace to wear to the show. We were asked by several artists what artist had made the necklaces. When I told them I did they asked what gallery I showed at. That really helped to boost my confidence. In fact I’m going to work on getting some of my work in a gallery this summer.

Autumn Garden Party Ring

What is your favorite tool for working with metalclay?
My rubber tipped clay shaper. It is an extremely important tool that no metal clay artist should be without. I didn’t see the need for one when I first started using metal clay. Now I know that I couldn’t work without it. My ring bands are stronger and more finished looking and my bails are more securely attached.

Where do you work? A photo of your work space.
I have a spare bedroom in my basement where I am able to store all of my equipment and do all of my work from creating to finishing. I don’t have a photo right now (and it’s not really in any condition to be photographed at this moment ;)

What is your favorite thing to make?
Anything! As long as I have an idea and I’m working on it, that’s my favorite. I tend to make a lot of rings. I really enjoy making them because a lot of attention has to be paid in making the joints as solid as possible. I enjoy tedious, detailed work.

Aura Necklace

Do you ever add commercial components?
I do use sterling silver snap settings for my rings with large stones. I purchase sterling silver chain in bulk but measure and cut it myself. I also use fine silver bezel cups. That is about it though. I make all of my own clasps, jump rings and ear wires.

How do you work, and when? (for ex. assembly line or one at a time)
I have done both assembly line work and one offs. If I have enough ideas and pieces to work on then I will do a bit on one, set it aside to dry while I start another one. Fire one piece and sand another while the fired one cools. I think I prefer to have more than one project going at a time, otherwise I get impatient and that’s when things don’t go the way they should.

Do you have any kind of creative ritual?
Not really. Sometimes I’ll listen to music, usually I don’t. One thing I do like to do while I work is listen to a movie. Next to my studio is our movie room. I like to have a movie on in there so I can hear it. Usually a movie I know well as I can picture it in my mind. I always associate that piece with that movie afterwards so I have to be careful what movie I choose.

How do you hold onto ideas that you don't have time to pursue NOW!
Yes! Usually they are inspired by an object, or a song, or a memory. Whenever I see the object, hear the song, or think back on the memory I’m reminded that I need to get busy! I try to never let an idea go. In fact, I have several right now that are begging me to get started!

Do you ever use a sketchbook?
I tried using a sketchbook when I first started. I think it’s a good idea, I just forget about doing it. Once in awhile I will sketch something on a scrap paper if I am afraid that I’ll lose the idea. I usually lose the scrap of paper but because I went through the action of sketching it out I remember the idea.

Do you ever teach classes and where?
I have not taught any classes as of yet but I am working with a friend who runs a local art guild. I may be teaching a class very soon.

Sea Side Dwelling Necklace

Do you make a living at it?
Nope, but that’s the dream!

Do you do custom orders?
Most of what I do is custom work. I love custom orders!

What are you working on currently?
I am not working on any particular pieces right now. However, I am working on a few techniques with each new piece. I am very interested in layers of different textures. How they look lying next to each other or layered one on top of another. I like using different textures to suggest separate items: a linear texture for the sky, a sandpaper texture for a beach, etc.

What's next on your agenda to make?
Hollow forming is something I have not worked with too much. I have several ideas requiring hollow forms that I really do need to get working on. My excuse for not doing it yet is that my wood clay dried out ;)

How do you make time for everything you want to do?
Unfortunately I don’t. Working full time, going to school full time, and being a wife and a dog mom take up a lot of my time. But there are those blessed moments where everything is done at relatively the same time and I can take some time for myself.

Anything else you'd like to tell us about yourself?
My husband is so supportive of my work and my goals. He’s never negative when I start talking about quitting my job to make a full time go of my jewelry, even though that’s not realistic at this time.

Thank you Jane, it has been a pleasure getting to know you.