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

You're Going Where to do What with Whom?

Hey it's me - Lori Magno, cross-posting from my personal blog. On Friday I will head to Philadelphia for the Buyers Market of American Craft wholesale show. This is a first for me and I am so fortunate to go on this adventure with four of the most talented, funniest, kindest and amazing artists from the Etsy Metal Clay Team. The EMC Team is a juried group of artists that host their shops on Etsy and when I look at their incredible work I kind of gasp and wonder aloud who accidentally clicked "accept" when my work was in front of the group. Nevertheless, the team was invited to apply for the Buyers Market and given a most favorable rate on a booth. (Buyers, come see us in booth #827!) I believe this is what author/adventurer Tilar Mazzeo was referring to when she gave my my new favorite phrase "The serendipity of brazenness." This event and weekend and entire hoopty do is my definition of that phrase.

I'll be traveling with, in alphabetical order, Dina Alexander (2008 Saul Bell Award winner Dina Alexander!) Lis-el Crowley - you should totally visit the Art & Soul Gallery in Windsor, Connecticut and take a class. Janice Doner of Destiny's Creations - a girl after my own heart with a blog and a day job and a passion for silver. The fifth member of our group is Christine Street of Chocolate and Steel (another blogging girl!)

We are totally off on a craft camp-pick up the tequila-where are my garterbelts-kind of long weekend as we show our wares to top jewelry and gift store buyers as well as gallery owners. Who knows what will happen (don't 'tase me bro!) this weekend - but one thing I know is that it will be fabulous to spend a weekend with artists that I admire so much.

Here are a few new designs I'm bringing with me to Philly - appearing in my Etsy shop soon!

The Om Heart Pendant

The India Dot Ring
Two Paisley Pendants
The India Earrings (freshly made - but on the site for a few weeks now!)
The Good Twin/Evil Twin two-sided pendant. You know who you are EVIL TWINS!
From my brand new Woof-Purr-Tweet collection; hand-carved designs made this week!

Welcome New Member to the Etsy MetalClay Team

Milica Fine Silver Bucket Pendant

Please give a warm welcome to our newest team member Milica Bubanja. Check out Milica shop Milica Bubanja Jewelry. Milica is living in Slovenia, with her husband and two children. She writes about her creative process in her native tough on her blog www.milicab.blogspot.com. I am so excited that our team is expanding internationally! Milica speaks four different languages Slovenian, Spanish, Italian and English.

I love Milica jewelry it is elegant and adorable at the same time. The Apple Ring below is my favorite from her shop.

Milica Apple Ring

In other news the Etsy MetalClay team has been super busy this Summer. I will have to write a huge post this weekend to summarize what everyone had been up to! But Jennifer Smith of Wearable By Design, Harley Chic Necklace has made it into the Etsy "Which Bike Item is on a roll Contest" Please check out the Etsy Contest here and vote for Jennifer. She is in the lead right now but the polls will close in about four days.

Also Teresa Swanson of Tztudio has also entered into the Etsy "A Handmade Moment Video Contest" Teresa Incorporated several of the Etsy MetalClay Team items into her video entry. Thanks Teresa. Please check out and vote for Teresa video here.