At the bench: "BOXED" ring

After a long time... here is my new piece. I made it for the November challenge of the EtsyMetal team I'm a member. I'll try to participate in challenges as much as I can, it's a great way to refresh the designs and make new things.
The November theme was: Design with a letter.

I tried to "translate" the meaning of a word into a 3d object using the letters of the word. I created a box with sides made of the letters b-o-x-e-d  with a little copper flame trapped inside it. The ring shank is  square, to follow the style of the "boxed" idea.

On the bench:
~ I decided what  font I would use (I wanted something bold and steady) and then I made some draft paper models to check the proportions and size of the box.
~ During fabrication, it was a tricky task to file the silver precisely along the lines where the sides of the box would fold, so that they all would be at straight angles with each other. An accidental change of direction of 1 millimeter can affect the alignment drastically.
~ After soldering the box and making the shank, I connected them with a thick silver wire. As a final step I started to remove the extra silver from the box's base, happy with the way it turned out, but suddenly the whole box fell off. The reason is that the solder between the wire and the box hadn't run properly, so the bond was weak.  I must have used less temperature than needed and I had to solder them again.

a. I made very "basic" paper models to get an idea of the shape and size.  

b+c. Securing the sides of the box for soldering.  

d. The solder between the wire and the box was weak and as a result 
it broke later while I was removing the extra silver from the box's base.

I love how it turned out, and another one will soon be available in my etsy shop.
After making many light, curvy pieces, it was a nice change to make a bold, geometric object.

★ Opinions, questions and comments are welcome ★

Inspirational works: владимир гвоздев & gvozdariki

A beautiful animation that I found today:
Dream
Amazingly simple and beautiful, speaks to the heart and mind.

Take a look here at this artist's other works, they are so inventive and versatile! Paintings, illustrations, 3d objects, dolls and animations, some have a story to tell, and others hide their own little secrets. The site is in Russian, but you don't have to know the language to explore and enjoy your journey in this strange imaginative world. Dream on!

Inspirational: Asian Miniatures

These are some amazing portraits of Mughal emperors and Hindu gods, made between 1600 - 1700. I admire how they combine attention to detail and simplicity. The colour pallette, the patterns on the clothes and backgrounds, the delicate lines and shapes, the expressions on the faces; they all tell a unique story in each of these paintings. They are a pleasure to look at, and so inspiring for study and experimentation.

The Hindu Goddess, Durga

I found them at BibliOdyssey among many other great pencil and watercolour illustrations.

Two reasons to smile : ) - 2

2  : )
I'm also a member of the Aspiring Metalsmiths, a team of metalworkers and jewelry makers of all levels that help each other by sharing information and encourage each other to work on improving themselves. Every month there's a challenge, and the winner of one month sets the theme for the next and so on. Last  month's theme was «Road Trip».  I remembered a childhood trip, which inspired me to create a piece for the challenge. And about a week ago, I received a mail that I was the winner! Of course it's not only the winning, but the feeling that people who might never meet each other show appreciation and support for each other's work! Each of the pieces had a personal approach to the subject and different ways of fabrication and materials. Each of them was unique! Here they are:

Beatriz Fortes locket

Wabi Brook Studio copper pendant

A&J Jewelry Designs ring with garnet and gold

and mine (Jewellietta)

Here's the memory that inspired my piece: "When I was a child, in the summers our family would travel from Athens to Katerini, the hometown of my father. The trip lasted 7-8 hours. On a certain part of the route, after some time of moving through flat fields, there was an alley of very tall trees on both sides of the road. The trunks created shadows, the branches made an arch and the sun was showing through the leaves. For some meters I felt like we were passing through a magical world. I wanted to recreate this atmosphere and also I wanted the jewelry to resemble a toy, because this is a childhood memory. So I made the car move back and forth on a rail, in this small alley of silver trees. The whole piece is made of 925 sterling silver, the different parts are soldered and it is hung from a rubber cord."

Each piece has a very interesting story. Visit the Aspiring Metalsmiths blog to find out more about the pieces and their creators, and see the theme I chose for the next challenge!

Two reasons to smile : ) - 1

This place has been abandoned for some time... This period, my day job is very time consuming and afterwards I try to find some hours to work with my jewelry. No time for blogging. But recently two things happened, that made me smile and encouraged me and I want to share them here!

1 : )

I am now a member of the Etsy Metal Team! They are all metal workers, making jewelry and objects using traditional techniques in great a variety of designs and styles. It's a source of inspiration, knowledge and support! 

***

FROM THE TEAM'S PAGE:

Etsy Metal is an international collective of artisans who create jewelry and works of art in metal. The group carries the traditions of handmade craftsmanship into the 21st century, often using the same tools and techniques that have been part of our trade for thousands of years. 

The Etsy Metal mark is your assurance of hand made craftsmanship, quality, and that the artist follows ethical trade practices. 

You can easily find Etsy Metal artists anywhere in the world by entering “Etsy Metal” into your web browser, or by visiting etsymetal.com. We encourage you to visit our member’s shops, and to look for the Etsy Metal mark when you shop online or at craft events. 

***

Hellenic Elections Day

Whatever the result, the years ahead of us are going to be difficult. There are no certainties. So we shouldn't vote driven by fear, or anger, or punishment but by dignity. I only hope that the majority will not vote for those who brought Hellas to the road of disaster.

Inspirational works: Emily Cobb

When I first saw her work the strange beauty of her pieces  immediately caught my attention. They have a  personality of their own, even if they are not worn. When they are on the body, it seems like they evolve from it, connecting the tangible reality with an invisible world that exists in and around the body...  The photos seem to have captured the moment when a part of this world is materialized.

"Billy watched anxiously as the bubble blew away 

from his wandand drifted into the air. Up... up... up it floated 

with the fish still floating inside."

Some of the pieces are followed by a small text that gives hints or adds mystery to the story that each piece describes. 

She has created many more beautiful pieces and stories. Discover them in her  website and in here.