Hamsa with Heart

I have been asked many times to create a Hamsa necklace.

The Hamsa is a symbol used in both Judaism and Islam.  Many people love to wear Hamsa as a religious symbol as well as a symbol of happiness and good luck.  Because there are so many versions, I wanted to come up with something unique and beautiful.  the result is a double layered design with has a beautiful texture,  There is a cut out heart shape on the front and a double chain 18" sterling silver necklace passes through the pendent.

As usual the design is made by hand in my studio out of fine silver.  The necklace is $72 at my etsy store.

inspired and renewed

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a while.  May was crazy, emotional and hectic.  It definitely was not a great month for me, although there were some wonderful moments amidst the chaos.  But after my daughter's wisdom teeth and then getting both girls packed and off to camp, I was able to get away for a week and have some real time for just myself.  In June I went to New England and connected with some old friends and familiar places.  As a result I am feeling renewed and inspired! 

The last few weeks I have been spending a lot of time in my basement studio.  But don't feel sorry for me.  The heat in St. Louis is oppressive, so the basement is a very nice place to be, and with few interruptions I have been able to make some very exciting pieces.  I've made four new mezuzot, which I will feature on my blog in the following weeks.

I am focusing on making objects that inspire me.  Sometimes that is Jewish Ritual pieces, other times that is jewelry pieces.  The important thing for me is to have my heart and soul reflected in the piece.  I think that it shows in my work.  I know that when I feel that I have to make a certain amount of, lets say earrings, for a show, they are not as successful as I would like.  I am pledging to be to guild first by my creativity and whim and then by other factors. 

I also have some exciting news, One of my pieces, The Hidden Star locket, is featured in a juried Art Jewelry show in a Gallery in Oklahoma City.  I won an Honorable Mention for the necklace, please visit this link for more information on the show. Spiritual Juried Jewelry Metalsmith Show

six necklaces

Locket

Tribal Necklace

  I have been in the studio the last couple of weeks trying out some new things while also clinging to the past.  The result is six finished pieces.  Some you may recognize, like the "Floral Lentil Necklaces" and the "Ring of Periwinkles Necklace", these styles are popular at shows.   I experimented with some new designs which I strung the metal clay elements on bead wire with gemstones and Hill tribe silver.  Both of these necklaces are 16" shorter styles with motifs that encircle the entire neck.  The "Tribal Necklace" combines hand cut silver tab beads with faceted Indian rubies.  The "Spiky Necklace" is just as it sounds.  A series of hand formed silver spike beads, in various sizes, with small Hill Tribe silver beads in between.  I have Test driven (worn) these styles and they are pretty comfortable to wear, so no worries!
I also attempted a working locket style, which I think is a bit rough around the edges, but I guess that's part of the charm?  Maybe, I don't know.

Spiky Necklace

custom work

I'm finally back in the studio after a month or so of being busy with everyday life.  I went on an awesome vacation with my kids, and I am pretty sure I am ready for another one soon.  Next time I should not wait so long.  After the trip it was time to prepare for Passover, which was my favorite holiday when I was a kid, but is the one I dread most as an adult.  It's just a lot of work!  The sedars ended up going well and everyone had a wonderful time, and is well until...next year.

So I am busy now catching up on some custom orders.  I made two personalized Yads, and a special personalized needle case necklace.  The later I made with a new technique I learned in a Craftcast online class from Donna Penoyer.  I really recommend taking these online classes if you are serious about learning metal clay techniques and don't have local classes.  Here they are just out of the kiln before polishing and patina.

the story of the needle case

original needle keeper

my new version

shown open

About 25 years ago, I was a sweater designer visiting the Orient a few times a year to work with factories. Most of the time, I was in Hong Kong, and most often I was in some bland office working, but every so often, we would get a chance to get out and explore the city.  I don't actually remember where I acquired the case, it may have been on an out of the way street market, or it could have been in a fancy antique store in the vast shopping malls.  But I do remember that I had never seen anything like it.  It was not expensive, it may not even be silver.  But, it is beautiful.
I wear the needle keeper from time to time.  It is always noticed, always a conversation starter.  It has been the inspiration for many of my own creations, like the tiny secret keeper necklaces.  I finally decided to make a more literal version of the necklace.  My own design is constructed just like the original, though slightly smaller.  It also has a skinny leather cord.  I used my own floral textures for the design and added applique silver flowers.  It is of course fine silver.
The first time I wore it it was noticed.  It's been purchased and is gone.....until I make another incarnation.

URJ Show

Well I'm packing up for my biggest and most exciting show of the year.  It's the Union for Reform Judaism Biennial Conference in Maryland.  December 14th-18th at the Gaylord Hotel Complex in National Harbor.  This important Jewish convention is a great opportunity for me to expose my artwork to 5000 plus people from all over the United States.  President Obama will be speaking at the conference as well as other Political, and Spiritual leaders.  I am especially excited to meet my fellow artist from the American Guild of Judaic Art.
If you, or anyone you know, is attending the URJ Biennial this year, please drop by booth #323 in the exhibition hall and say hello. 

questions answered

I've been doing some local St. Louis craft show and I get a lot of comments and questions from people.

What are you doing here?  This is a craft fair.
Well That's true, my things are more artwork then craft and the prices are a reflection of that, but most of the local fairs I participate in are in Temples and Synagogue.  That a good place to meet Jewish people who are more likely to purchase my mezuzahs, yads and Jewish star necklaces.  Even though they may not be interested in buying anything today, they will take my card and remember me when they want to get a special gift or piece for themselves.

Is everything you make Jewish?
No it is not.  I make a lot of jewelry.  My fine silver jewelry is a reflection of my personal style and aesthetic.  I like jewelry that is causal.  I am a former sportswear designer so I keep current with the trends and try to incorporate styles that are up to date but still stand the test of time.
There are a lot of wonderful Jewelry Artists out there who work in PMC.  One reason that I started to concentrate on making Judaica is to keep myself unique and find a niche in the market.  Of course, through that process, I found I was able to express myself even more creatively and making the Judaica became my focus.

Your stuff is so beautiful, why are you not showing at Laumeier or the St. Louis Art Fair in Clayton?

Well, first of all thank you.  I really appreciate that you like my work.  I would love to be a part of those shows, but there is a short answer on why I am not.  I do not have a booth.  A proper tent (booth) with lights and display costs $2000-$4000.  In order to be considered for these shows you must have a picture of your booth in your application.  These shows are juried and the competition is fierce, especially in the Jewelry category.  So you must have a professional display and booth to be considered, and no you can't just rent one.  Buy my work and I will invest in the booth, I promise.

a work in progress

Well, my daughter's Bat Mitzvah is behind us (she was awesome, by the way) so it is time for me to concentrate fully on my metalwork.  There are a lot of changes in the works, a new logo and branding, a new website, and probably a new destination for this blog.  It's a lot of work, both inside and outside the studio.  I've been constructing some new awesome mezuzot and yads and some have been snatched up even before I could post them or add them to my etsy shop.   I am mostly preparing for a big show in December.  It is in Maryland at the URJ Convention, Union for Reform Judaism.  But I have some local St. Louis shows coming up in the next couple months.  So I better get back down to the basement studio and start creating!! The I hope to unveil what I have been working on in the next few weeks.  Please stay tuned.  I plan to return, even better.
I want to post a picture, but seriously I haven't actually photographed my work for months..... so much to do, so little time.

2011 pmc annual

I got news this weekend that two of my mezuzahs will be in the the 2011 PMC Annual book!  I am so honored to be a part of this collection of artists.  The mezuzahs featured are some of my favorites.  The Zentangle Mezuzah. which features a doodle texture I created with symbols of Israel and Judaism, and the Brwnstone Mezuzah, which is part of the permenant collection of the Mizel Museum of Jewish Art in Denver.

the price of silver :(

I just checked the price of silver and it is hovering just below $40 an ounce.  The cost of silver has sky rocketed in the last year, with no sign of slowing down.  The predictions on just how high it will go are frightening!  I regrettably, have had to adjust my prices accordingly.  I love to work in silver and would like to continue to do so.  I hope that my customers will understand the what I have to do in order to be able to function in this market.   Silver clay or PMC, is nearly twice as expensive as sterling silver.  But the wonderful detail and technique I am able to achieve with this medium is definitely worth the price.  Some metal clay artist are switching to copper or bronze clays.  So far I have been disappointed in my results in this medium.  But I will continue to explore the possibilities.

 I hope that you will drop by my shop and check out what things I have been working on.  I just completed a couple of new yads and I now can personalize your yad in both English and Hebrew!

hinges

I finally conquered the hinge, thanks in part from the wonderful advice and encouragement of my colleague of the emc team.  The result is this pseudo locket which has a hidden star of David inside.  I mainly followed the instructions on how to make hinges from Hadar Jacobson's book, The Handbook of Metal Clay,textures and forms.  The book doesn't go into super detail so you just have to go for it and work things out as you go.  The hardest part for me was lining up the hinges with the "pin" after everything was fired, but I finally was successful and I was very happy with the result. Check it out in my etsy shop.  I can't wait to make more hinges pieces and as looking forward to incorporating hinges into my mezuzah designs!

Now I wonder, what is the next challenge?

custom work

I just completed these two custom mezuzot for a customer.  It seems that my building mezuzahs do not last long in my collection or my Etsy shop, so it's best to order one made especially for you.  It takes me about 2-3 weeks to complete the mezuzah, but you can select the style roof and wall finish that you want as well as any other personal touches you might like.  I think these can out really nice.

Do you want to learn to create with silver metal clay?

Well, now is your chance.  I am offering up a two part course in the basics of silver metal clay with me at my basement studio.  During the first day (about 2 hours or so) you will be introduced to this exciting medium.  I will teach you basic skills that will allow you to create unique charms.  You will learn how to roll out and texture clay, make a mold and make a 3 dimension piece.  Then I will fire the pieces and the next day we will learn to polish, patina and finish the charms and then add them to a necklace with gemstone accents.  The class is $165 person and includes a 28 gram pack of fine silver clay, a sterling silver ball chain necklace and the use of silver wire and many of the gemstones in my studio.  I will provide you the use of all my tools at the studio and of course let you know where you can get everything you will need should you decide to continue to create with metal clay on your own.  Classes are only for adults and are limited to only 2 students at a time. If you are interested, please email me and I can schedule at your convenience.

mezuzah project-october

I'm just in time to post the October mezuzah.  I actually finished this mezuzah in the beginning of the month but didn't get around posting it until now.  This mezuzah was inspired by the floral lentil pendents that I have been making.  They are very popular (I actually only have one left to sell!)  I think it would be quite happy on a cottage style home, by a garden....oh it would really look good on my front door!

Well I have sad news, the quick fire bronze clay that I have been so excited about is not all that it seems.  I was happy to begin a new project in the bronze clay today and I went back to my test piece take a second look.   I decided to test it's strength, and I gentle tried to see if I could bend the metal and it snapped in half with very little effort.  I spend so much time constructing the mezuzahs.  If the bronze is not fully sinstered and therefore strong it ruins the integrity of the piece.  I don't have these problems with silver clay.  I know that the material is so much more expensive, but for the time, effort and skill needed to make the piece I think the price is worth it.  I am once again abandoning the bronze option.  I just wish that the companies that make these products not use the artists as testers before they release them. 

Please come and see me!

I am so excited about all the wonderful things I have been making these past few months. I am ready for the fall shows and holiday gift giving season.  I have a few great shows coming out starting with a trunk show at Essential Elements October 13, 14, and 15.  I am about to send out a postcard with all the show dates for this fall, if you want to be included on my mailing list, please email me.

mezuzah project-september

Here is the completed September mezuzah.  The Moorish tile Jewish star texture looks very different after the piece is fired and the patina is added.  It's interesting to me that the hexagons around the dark stars takes on it's own presents and a star shape too.  I didn't anticipate this, but I'm delighted with the result.

I nixed the funky shin idea for a more geometric modern star.  I think it related better to the texture and modernizes the design.  I'm very pleased with the way this month's mezuzah turned out.  Right now it is not in the shop, but you can inquired about it by email to me if you are interested.

Inspiration and possibilities

Labor day weekend was a wonderful time for me.  I was fortunate to spend some quality time with an old friend, Andrew Raftery, whom I went to college with at Boston University.  Andrew and I were both painting majors and although I went on the fashion design, Andrew perfected his skills and went on to study at Yale.  He is now a master engraver and Professor at Rhode Island School of Design.  There are many things that I love about Andrew, but what I admire about him is that he is always true to his heart and passions. Watch Andrew create a master engraving of a 16th Century drawing.

Having time with an artist and print maker like Andrew gave me the opportunity to discuss process like I haven't done in a long while.  It was so inspiring to me.  He really encouraged me to explore making more of my own texture plates.  I have been carving textures in the past, but the possibilities of making textures with photo polymer was intriguing to me.  And Andrew explained to me the process and connected me with some high quality suppliers. 

But for my first attempt I decided to go low tech.  There is no point in investing in a technique if it will not work for me.  I purchased a basic photo polymer kit from Cool tools, which allowed me to expose the polymer with an ordinary 60 watt bulb.  The hardest thing for me was creating the artwork.  I wanted to create a Moorish tile pattern that utilized a six pointed or Jewish star.  I could find the pattern I wanted anywhere so I had to draw it out and then copy a repeat the pattern (if I only knew how the use my graphic software).  I then scanned the pattern into the computer, made it into a negative and printed it (twice) on a transparency.  The process of making the plate this way was fairly easy, although I did tear the plate once while scrubbing out the polymer.  I think my second attempt will me even better.

With the texture finished, I moved on to creating a mezuzuah in silver metal clay.  Unfortunately the polymer packs that come in the kit were not quite long enough for the whole mezuzah.  I do think the texture came out pretty nice, although I would love to try this pattern on a plate that was not so deep.

Now that I have begun to construct the mezuzah I realize I have absolutely no plan of design.  The texture is very nice,  but different then I expected so I have to think about this for a while and decide what to do next. 

I made a funky shin for the piece which I think may be a nice contrast to the geometric pattern, but I'm not sure yet. 

I will post the finished mezuzah for the September mezuzah project.

what inspires me.....

I have been  working every possible moment I have in my studio these days preparing for the fall shows.  I have a trunk show in October and The Best of Missouri Hands show in November (more details to follow).  So I need a lot of beautiful things to sell, especially jewelry (as opposed to Judaica). 

What inspires me?  Well, my approach to designing jewelry in very different than Judaica.  For jewelry, I have to go back to my roots.

First, I research.  I look at everything!  I see what the metal clay artists are up to.  Most of this research is on the web.  I look at artists I admire and also those I don't.  I want to see what everyone is excited about creating.  I get ideas about trends in style as well as technique.  Maybe a new way to add a bail to a pendent.  Of course, I never copy, but use my own style to interpret the technique.  I always take a look at my old metal clay technique books too.  Sometimes something old looks new again.  That's also why I go through my old sketch books.  I interpreted my old wire wrapped designs into metal clay!

Now it's time to research the fashion trends.  I was a knitwear and sportswear designer for years so I am very interested in fashion.  I'd like to think my jewelry is timeless design, but I can't help to make designs that relate to whats in.  It's just fun for me.  So I look at sportswear, couture as well as accessory and jewelry trends.  My favorite places for high end jewelry designs, Barneys New York!  For real trendy, young jewelry you have to check out Urban Outfitters, (of course it may fall apart by the time you get home). Ideas can come for high and low end, so I look everywhere.

Finally, I always take some time to design for me.  It may sound silly, but some of my best sellers have come from this approach.  I just bought a new dress for the Jewish holidays.  It's a solid purple Susan Monaco,  from my favorite boutique in town Essential Elements.  The dress is understated, so its perfect for jewelry. I designed these link chandeliers to wear with it.  I think that a necklace with the earrings would be way too much, but lots of chunky silver link bracelets will look great! Stay tuned for these to show up in my fall collection.

I never make jewelry that I myself wouldn't wear.  I've tried to honor a customers request when I didn't like the idea and I am always disappointed with the result.  So trend or not, if I don't like it, it's not going to happen for rachels things.

Well, I better get back to the studio, I have a lot of work to do.

I'm featured on a metal clay blog

Check out metalclaymagic.com
My whimsical house mezuzah is featured on this blog.  It's so cool to see my work accepted into the metal clay artist community.  I have admired the work of so many of these artists on these blogs and to be featured with them is a great honor.

setting goals

How do you work?  I like to set goals for myself.  Some goals are clearly not ones I will realistically be able to accomplish but I set them anyway.  Having a goal gets me on a schedule and gives me the drive I need to complete work.

I have a big show coming up in in November.  For a show you need enough work to make a nice display and give customers a chance to browse and select.  I recently purchased a large iron earring display which holds 75 pairs of earrings.  So the goal is to have at least 65 pairs available for sale.  And, I would love for them all to be different from each other....but that is the unrealistic part!  If I can have all my pieces for the show completed by the end of September then I will have the month of October to organize and style the display.

I have about 40 pairs of earrings completed, 15 more in clay state, drying and then off to the kiln, and 10 more to complete this weekend.   After the earrings, I will make more necklaces and bracelets.....but they take a lot longer to make!