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! 

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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. 

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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.

Riveted Ring with Chalcedony Druzy II

This is my second Icy Lake Druzy Ring, a little bigger than the first!

Except for the beautiful druzy chalcedony stone, the main feature of this ring is the use of rivets. I am very impressed with riveting, because it has so much potential both as an element of design and as a technical solution. Also I found the riveting procedure relaxing (after practicing a lot of times to find my pace)!

I want to use this technique in more rings and other kinds of jewelry.

- You cal also visit my shop to find more photos and info on this ring.

To make it, I traced the druzy on a piece of paper and drew freeform shapes around it, for the base and the «cover» of the stone. When I was happy with the shapes, I sawed them from sterling silver sheet. I also sawed the ring shank and the bezel.

Next I filed and sanded everything. I prefer to file and sand the different parts before soldering, as it is much more easier to reach all the spots that afterwards may be hidden in narrow or awkward places.

After that I soldered the different parts together except the cover. I put the stone in the bezel and finally I riveted the cover on the top. This way the stone is protected and secured. Also it lets the light to reach the druzy from the sides.

If you make jewelry, what is your experience of riveting? What kind of pieces have you made? I'm sure the variety of riveted pieces is enormous!

Holy Geometry

This is an etsy treasury featuring some really beautiful geometrical objects, and I'm very happy my earrings are among them! I like the mix of manmade and nature-made forms, the calm grey tones throughout the collection and the organic feel. You can click on any of the items to learn more about it.
The treasury is curated by tuliManna, the maker of some very pretty, colourful, fluffy pillows.

New Geometric Earrings

Brand new listing in my Etsy shop!
I made a pair of geometric earrings with a form rendered from a folded piece of paper. It is a simple design but it is 3 dimensional. This makes it's shape look different depending on the angle from which you look at it. The light reflects on its faceted surface making some sides look dark while others shine.

HERE is the full listing with more photos and information. Let me know what you think : )