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.

Meet the Team- Interview with Zoe Nelson

Tell us a little about yourself and your background.

My Mom was a big-time crafter, doing mostly needlework her whole life. She opened a consignment art and craft gallery when I was in High School and hired me to work there. That was my initial exposure to all kinds of art and what inspired me to make things. A college course in jewelry making taught me the basics of traditional fabrication work. After college I decided I’d rather make money than be a starving artist, so I went to work for a large corporation and made art in my spare time. I started doing bead work, which eventually led me to investigating this stuff called Metal Clay. That was it. I was hooked and haven’t looked back since. I left my “real job” 18 years ago and have been making and selling jewelry ever since.

Have any special hobbies?

I like to garden (I’m so glad spring is here!) and snoop around antique stores and auctions.

What is your business name and website address?

My business name is Artwear and my website address is

http://www.zoemanybeadz.com/
http://www.zoenelson.etsy.com/

Do you sell in any shops other than etsy?

I’m a member of two local cooperative galleries: Hands Gallery in Boone, NC and Main Street Gallery in Blowing Rock, NC. These shops are owned and operated by groups of artists, so I work there selling all of our work a couple of times a week. I also have jewelry on consignment in several other galleries in my area. I do a few craft shows, but I’m cutting down on those. I used to do lots of them, but it’s getting to be too hard on my body.

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

I think I must have seen the very first information that Rio Grande put out about PMC. I ordered some (original formula at that time), played with it, and fired it in a friend’s enameling kiln. It was fun, but the cost of the product prohibited me from pursuing it much further. I sort of forgot about it for awhile and then heard about PMC3, which could be fired at a lower temperatures and shorter times and you could include glass and stones. This sounded exciting to me, so I took an introductory class and decided this is what I wanted to do. I was certified in 2004. So, I guess I’ve been working with it for about 8 years, and exclusively for the last 5 years.

Blue hickoryite set in fine silver

What drives you to make jewelry?

I like to wear jewelry! And, the possibilities are endless. As long as the ideas keep coming, I’ll keep making more.

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

I usually go with the flow, unless I have a gallery or craft show coming up. Then, I can get a lot cranked out in a short amount of time.

Won any awards for your jewelry? For anything else?

I won an award at a craft show a few years ago for best in show. I also got a grant from our local Arts Council when I was first starting out so I could buy some equipment, mainly my kiln.

Do you do any other type of art?

I like to paint and do collage when I have time, but only for myself. And, I still like to do intricate bead work at times.

What is your art sensibility – precise or organic?

Both. I love the organic look and feel you can achieve with metal clay versus sheet metal, but I also like the precision of building things like box beads.

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

It just took time patience and practice, like anything else. There are still some things that come out of the kiln that make me ask myself “What were you thinking?”. But, I feel pretty confident now.

Blue topaz and fine silver flower necklace

What is your favorite tool for working with metal clay?

I guess I could say my hands, but that’s pretty obvious. I suppose my favorites are the textures I’ve made myself.

Where do you work? A photo of your work space.

I work out of my home studio – the second bedroom in my tiny little house. I’m running out of space because Daddy raised a tool junkie, so I’d love to be able to build a separate space one day.

What is your favorite thing to make?

I really like making lentil beads and anything with dichroic glass. And rings. Oh – also earrings. It’s hard to narrow down!

Do you ever add commercial components?

I use commercial wire, chain, ear wires and jump rings and occasionally clasps.

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

I work in batches. I’ll get enough formed and dried in a week or so to fill a kiln shelf, and fire it all at once. Then I spend the next few days polishing, applying patina and adding the final touches. Then I have to inventory and photograph everything… and update Etsy and my website! Some things I make beaded chains for, and that takes extra time. I’m usually in my studio from about 8:00 in the morning until 4:00 in the afternoon almost every day. On days that I have to work in one of the co-op galleries I take something with me to work on, such as hanging earrings on ear wires, or bead crochet for a special pendant.

Do you have any kind of creative ritual?

Not really, but I like to listen to audio books as I work. Our county library needs to get some new ones – I’m starting to repeat ones I’ve already heard. It’s a great way to get caught up on best sellers and the classics like War and Peace, without taking time from my already busy schedule.

How do you hold onto ideas that you don’t have dime to pursue NOW!

I keep a notebook with me when I’m away from home and write down ideas as they come to me.

Do you ever use a sketchbook?

Yes, the same notebook mentioned above. I can get a rough idea from a sketch, but the finished piece usually doesn’t look exactly like the sketch.

Blue sapphire and fine silver necklace

Do you ever teach classes and where?

I teach weekend workshops of small groups of 5 or less at my home (in my kitchen). It’s usually a group of friends that all want to take the same class at the same time. I also teach a 15-hour course over six weeks at Appalachian State University’s Craft Enrichment Program.

Do you make a living at it?

Yes! I’m not Warren Buffett, but I earn enough to get me by. This economy is challenging, but I don’t think I need to go get another job, unless things get a lot worse. I’ve been at this long enough to know how to be the “ant” instead of the “grasshopper”.

Do you do custom orders?

Sometimes. It depends on what the customer wants. I really don’t like it when a person comes up with his or her own design and just wants me to build it.

What are you working on currently?
A batch is in the kiln right now. 4 rings, 8 hanging pendants, 4 toggle pendants, 3 toggle clasps, and 6 pairs of earrings.

Thank you Zoe, It has been a pleasure getting to know you.

Welcome New Members to the Etsy MetalClay Team

We have three new members of the Etsy MetalClay Team. These members are Oshrat of Terra Firma Studio, Nicola of Murano Silver and Judy of Teefeebijoux.

Oshrat of Terra Firma Studio was born in Israel and moved to the United Stated a few years ago. Oshrat jewelry illustrates her love for abstraction, shapes and texture.

Oshrat's "The Trio Pendant"


Nicola of Murano Silver lives and works in the little village of Market Deeping in the UK.She is a designer Member of the British Jewellry Association. Check out Nicola jewelry on the following websites:
www.muranosilver.com
www.muranosilver.blogspot.com

Nicola's Wheel of Life Necklace

Judy of Teefeebijoux was first introduced to metal clay at the BeadFest in Philadelphia. This self-taught maven is currently experimenting with bronze clay. Judy is also a member of the PMC Guild.

Judy's Linen Earrings