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.

Another Bracelet Full of Love - HEARTS FOR HAITI

Here are some photos of the second charm bracelet created by the Etsy Metal Clay team as a donation to a worthy charity. There are 25 silver, bronze or copper charms -- some with gemstones, some with polymer clay, some with concrete or enamel or resin; but every single one made with love.

The bracelet is for sale via the Hearts for Haiti shop on Etsy for only $350 THE BRACELET HAS SOLD!!! - that is a crazy good style bargain and providing aid for people so desperately in need.  Get on over to the shop and get yourself a piece of EMC awesomeness!  FREE SHIPPING because we love you.

The artists involved in this amazing project are (in alphabetical order)

*Click the name to visit the shop

Dina Alexander	DinaAlexander.etsy.com
Ruth Baillie	BirdlandCreations.etsy.com
Teresa Boland	TeresaBoland.etsy.com
Cherylyn Bredemann	ClynStudio.etsy.com
Nicola Callow	MuranoSilver.etsy.com
Christine Childress	CleverEndeavor.etsy.com
Lisel Crowley	HeartoftheFire.etsy.com
Janice Doner	DestinysCreations.etsy.com
Penelope Dunham	PenelopesPassion.etsy.com
Jane Font	DaisyjaneDesigns.etsy.com
Beverly Gallerani	MangoTango.etsy.com
Linda Gielen	Clayology.etsy.com
Judy Gordon	TeefeeBijoux.etsy.com
Liz Hall	LizardsJewelry.etsy.com
Lora Hart	LoraHart.etsy.com
Louise Hunter	PeculiarForest.etsy.com
Molli Koltun	ModernMetalJewelry.etsy.com
Lori Magno	ModadiMagno.etsy.com
Zoe Nelson	ZoeNelson.etsy.com
Martha Sanchez	AmordePlata.etsy.com
Christine Street	ChocolateandSteel.etsy.com
Kathy Voss	Kvossdesigns.etsy.com
Karen West	EggToothoriginals.etsy.com
Karena Wiker	KalePrimitifs.etsy.com
Catherine Witherell	Happydayart.etsy.com

Charming

A couple of snapshots of the Etsy Metal Clay team charm bracelet that was donated to the Joe Andruzzi Foundation for its annual gala & auction this past November.  The bracelet contains 25 team charms as well as a special charm created for the foundation and featuring #63 Joe Andruzzi's famous 'finger point' pose from when the New England Patriots won the superbowl.

The team is currently debating where to donate a second bracelet where it will have the most impact.

Welcome Rachel's Things to EMC Team and Don't Forget the EMC Team Challenge!

Rachel Miller of Rachel's Things is the newest member of the EMC Team! Rachel received a BFA from Boston University and later graduated from FIT in New York. With her degrees she started her career in fashion design and painting. Rachel's interest in jewelry design started with intricate wire work design. She was a successful wire work artist before she discovered metal clay. Rachel meet Kate McKinnon (who later won the Saul Bell award from Rio) at a local art fair and the rest is history. Rachel spends her days caring for her two daughters and creating her unique pieces that include Judaic stars and mezuzahs. Check out Rachel's blog at www.rachelmiller-artist.blogspot.com.

Rachel's Heart n' Star Necklace

Everyone give Rachel a warm welcome. Also just a reminder to the my fellow EMC team members the EMC Team Challenge Hinges is due Wednesday November 18Th. All entries must incorporate a hinge in their jewelry design.

Splash of Color Challenge - Gold and Polymer Entries

Jane Font of Daisy Jane Designs sent me this lovely Floral Pendant. Jane uses gemstones in most of her pieces so to challenge herself she added gold paste to accent her handmade flowers. The vines, leaves, and flowers were all done using a syringe. Once it was fired Jane applied the gold paste in two coats. Jane then fired the gold with a butane torch and then polished, applied a patina and polished again.

Jane's Gold Floral Pendant

Teresa Swanson of T's Studio Jewelry sent me her Banana Leaf Fine Silver ladybug ring. This fine silver leaf ring is adorned with a polymer clay ladybug. Teresa handcrafted the ring's leaf-like texture and shape.

Teresa's Ladybug Ring

Ruth Baillie of Bird Land Creations she sent me her "You Raise Me Up Pendant". This piece was Ruth's first attempt of incorporating liquid polymer into her silver jewelry. She found that liquid polymer peeled of the silver after it was cooked but when she added a thin layer of colorless resin the liquid polymer stuck to her silver balloon permanently. She felt that the liquid polymer gave her balloon a rubbery appearance she was trying to achieve. The idea of the necklace is that the wearer can remember those people in her life who have "raised her up".

Ruth's You Raise Me Up Pendant

So I, Christine Childress of Clever Endeavor, finally finished my first enamel piece last night. I achieved the simple star shapes by using photo polymer plates. I then added two layers of Prussian blue enamel using my ultra light kiln. I am pleased with my result for my first try.

Christine's Blue Enamel Star Pendant

Beverly Gallerani of Mango Tango Designs sent me her Bronzclay Seashell Arched Window Necklace and Earrings set. The bronzclay pieces were fired in the activated carbon and were held under a torched to bring out the very rich patina colors.

Beverly's Bronzclay Seashell Arched Window Earrings and Pendant

Penelope Dunham of Penelopes Passion sent me her 24K Gold Leaf Square Pendant. Penelope used the ancient Korean technique of Keum-boo, to bond the 24 Karat gold foil to the fine silver jewelry surface.

Penelope's 24K Gold Leaf Pendant

Splash of Color Challenge - Resin and Enamel Entries

This is the second set of entries for our Color Splash EMC Team Challenge. As you read on last Friday's blog, the Etsy MetalClay Team agreed to a friendly Team Challenge. The Challenge called Color Splash, encouraged the group to create piece of silver jewelry that incorporated color using gemstones, glass, resin, enamel, polymer, etc. I am very excited to see what everyone came up with. Last Friday we showcased all of the entries that utilized gemstones and glass. Today all of the items presented below incorporated color into their design by adding resin or enamel.

Teresa Boland of Teresa Boland Designs send me this wonderful resin piece called Blooming Catmint Pendant with resin. Teresa was able in capture a natural blooming catmint bud from her garden and seal it with resin inside this lovely silver pendant.

Teresa's Blooming Catmint Pendant

Beverly of Mango Tango Designs sent me this lovely enamel piece. The pendant features Bev's silver seashells with a transparent green enameled background.

Bev's Seashell and Green Enamel Pendant

Lora Hart of Lora Hart Jewels sent me this green enamel pendant. The pendant features a silver stamped pattern with a green enamel background, Lora finishes this necklace with a silk ribbon and a vintage button as a clasp.

Lora's Green Enamel Pendant

Janice Doner of Destinys Creations sent me this lovely Fire Fly pendant.This pendant features green and black enamel over silver that has been stamped with a organic texture design of a firefly and flowers.

Jaince's Fire Fly Pendant

Nicola Callow of Murano Silver sent me this colorful resin piece called "Thoth." Thoth is the Egyptian God associated with writing and learning and was Nicola's inspiration for creating this elaborate line drawing. From her lining drawings, Nicola was able to create a photo polymer plate. The color resins and dichroic cabochon make Thoth a big, bold, colorful pendant. Check out Nicola blog where she talks about creating this piece in detail. www.muranosilver.blogspot.com

Nicola's Thoth Pendant

Lori Magno of Moda di Magno sent me these cute silver heart. The silver heart has a small circle cutout that is filled with red Ferido epoxy resin.
Lori's Silver Heart Pendant

Linda Gielen of Clayology sent me her Green Leaves Medallion that features light green resin with her silver leaves design. Linda added easycast resin with green pearl ex powered pigments to the large recessed areas of the piece to make this medallion.

Linda Green Leaves Medallion

Cherylyn Bredemann of C-Lyn Studio sent me her Terra Cotta Dream Pool Pendant. This pendant is composed of several different materials. Cherylyn PMC pendant contains handmade mixed-media papers enveloped in resin and a blue paua shell.

Cherylyn Terra Cotta Dream Pool Pendant

Splash of Color Challenge - Gemstone Entries

With so many talented artists within the Etsy MetalClay Group, I thought it would be fun to incorporate a Monthly Challenge. Nothing too competitive mind you, more of a opportunity to learn new techniques and trying something new. The Challenge for this month was called "Splash of Color" All jewelry pieces had to incorporate color into the pieces via gemstones, enamel, resin, polymer. I had a huge response from the team (16 entries) so I will present our different Splash of Color Entries by category. This first set of entries utilized glass and gemstones to bring a pop of color to their silver pieces.

Lisel Crowley of Heart of the Fire sent me this dichroic glass butterfly with textured silver wings. I wonder if this beautiful butterfly is traveling with Lisel to the Philly Show this weekend?

Lisel's Dichroic Butterfly Pendant

Penelope Dunham of Penelopes Passion sent me her Silk Fire Pendant. This pendant also incorporates the use of dichroic glass and silver. I love how the glass seems to be bursting from the silver.

Penelope's Silk Fire Pendant

Alina of Silver Garden submitted her Artist Palette Pendant. This cute pendant is formed from Fine Silver with three cubic zirconia stones, a peridot and a lab grown blue spinel. The palette has leaf textured surface and is suspended off an 18" sterling silver snake chain.

Alina's Artist Palette Pendant

Oshrat Ben-Isaac of Terra Firma Studios sent me her Party of Five Pendant. This gemstone pendant contains five diffrent colored cubic zirconia.

Oshrat Party of Five Pendant

Catherine Witherell of Happy Day Art submitted her Amethyst Drop Flower Pendant. The PMC Flower pendant is decorated with three amethyst drops and fused fine silver connection rings.

Catherine's Amethyst Drop Flower Pendant

Karen West of Eggtooth Originals submitted her Night Forest Pendant. Karen's Pendant features a moonstone against her organic silver design.

Karen's Night Forest Pendant