and now for something completely different.........

I created this multi-strand necklace for my good friend Linda P's 40th birthday.  She is very girly, a bit trendy and into classic looks.  I made my version of the popular ribbon necklace that are a must have this year.  The colors are golds and pale pink.  The materials are pearl, tourmaline, rutilated and and pink quartz and gold fill chain.  It was a challenge to make and allowed me to practice my wire wrapping skills.  Oh, and she loved it!

the mezuzah project-march

For my March mezuzah I decided to make a mezuzah that looks more like an actual house and less like a  traditional mezuzah.  The stone texture is unique as I created it myself and made my own texture sheet and mold.  This literal design approach is a little different than some of my previous designs. I'm not sure how it fits in with my other work, but it was challenging and fun to make.
You may notice the beautiful professional photograph of the piece.  I had some pieces photographed by local St. Louis photographer Don Casper, who did a beautiful job.  I hope to use these pictures to get into Juried shows and professional associations.  Thanks to Don Kelly, a wonderful silversmith artist, who has helped me with these pictures and connected me with Don Casper.

what should I call this necklace?

This silver pendent necklace was inspired by a silver needle holder I picked up years ago in Hong Kong when I was designing sweaters.  The tiny tube shaped vial measures about 2" tall from the top of the knob on the lid to the bottom of the fine silver loop where 4 semi-precious stones dangle. The cap stays on because the 32" necklace chain secures it together.  I don't know what you would stash in the vial, but use your imagination, maybe a special note from a loved one.  I haven't listed this on Etsy because I am preparing for 4 shows and special events next month.  If you are interested on anything listed on the blog that is not in my Etsy shop please contact me.

now- smaller jewish stars

I used to make small delicate jewelry.  I few years ago when I did a lot of wire wrapped gemstone jewelry, most of my work was the kind of things that you really appreciated up close.  And, although many people loved it, I did get comments that some customer wanted bigger bolder pieces.  When I started creating jewelry with silver metal clay, it was much easier to work bigger, and so it was a natural progression for me to make my pieces bolder.  The star of my classic  Jewish star necklace measures about -7/8" which is pretty bold and although many customer love them I have gotten some comments that people would prefer a smaller more delicate version.

Well, I have been working on this I have come up with a smaller design, still unique to me and very modern. The star has the same two level design as the original star but only measures 5/8" across.  So far I have only made an applique heart version, but I promise to work on the rockin star (the one with the rivets) in the future.  These also come in a smaller price than the original star, which is also nice!

winter olympics

Please allow me to shamelessly brag about my children just one more time!  These drawing from my daughter Tamara, age 11, are part of a series that she drew last week while watching the Olympics.  Each picture takes her about 20 minutes and the pictures are from her imagination...wow!

article about Abby's bat mitzvah in St. Louis Entertains magazine

http://www.stlentertains.com/articles/celebrations/batmitzvah/

The Mezuzah Project- February

For this month's mezuzah I decided to go in a different direction.  I have a little more control over the metal clay since taking the certification course.  I am more comfortable with the time I have to work the clay and I feel more confident making forms that are less textured.
This mezuzah is definitely more of a classic design, but I think the metal clay makes the piece look much more handmade and therefore more interesting......at least to me.  Stayed tuned to some additions to my Etsy shop later this week, perhaps this mezuzah among them.

personalized yad

Here is the latest version of theYad.  This was difficult to make for two reasons. First of all the pointer of the yad is actually a carved hand.  I carved the hand separately using original formula PMC which is easier to carve, but shrinks a lot more than PMC+.  Then I fired the hand, and then embedded it in PMC+ which is the formula I used for the body of the Yad.

The personalization was then stamped on a thin strip of metal clay and then carefully attached to the Yad.  This version would make a wonderful Bar or Bat Mitzvah gift.

what is a yad?

Well, yad is the hebrew word for hand, and so a yad is actually a pointer, which is used when one reads from the torah scroll. 

I made this yad from PMC in silver.  I carved the pointer and made a decorative spirals for the finial.  I am also working on a version with a carved hand. And one that can be personalized.

It's a little funny to be that I am actually sculpting with the metal clay.  Sculpture was my least favorite subject in art school.  Funny how things turn out, Professor Shaun would be proud, well, probably not.

St. Louis Entertains Magazine

Exciting news! St. Louis Entertains Magazine has an article about Abby's Green Bat Mitzvah in this month's edition.  For local st. Louis people, the magazine is available at Schnucks, Dierbergs and Straub's in Ladue, town and country, Frontenac and Chesterfield.  The article is really nice and features great pictures of Abby, her Bat Mitzvah , our  decorations, invitations and other green ideas.  Pick one up if you are in the area.

Also, had a great Showme Etsy meeting tonight!  It was so great to meets all these talented local artists. 

PMC Certification

I just returned from a 3 day course at the lovely Vitrum Studios in Beltsville Maryland.  I took the Rio Grande PMC certification class which allows me to get a discount on PMC products and to teach classes in PMC.  The extensive 3 day class is about technique, it is not a creative class.  But even so, it is defiantly worthwhile
.

My teacher was Terry Kovalcik, a master a PMC manipulation and technique. He was a great instructor for this course, tough but with a good sense of humor.  And he generously shared a lot of his personal tips and techniques at the end of the class.

For this class you are required to finish seven projects.  The projects are a bit silly, but they are designed to practice skills and intoduce you to the different PMC products that are available. I'm glad that I was exposed to some of these products, even if I never choose to experiment with them.  One example is the torch fired ring.  First of all, I don't believe in torch firing PMC, and a ring made this way is not practical as it will never be strong enough. Even Terry advised against it, but the experience of making the ring was a helpful to me.  Also made another ring with a set CZ fired into it, something I will probably never do again.

OK, what did I love to make? The tetrahedron project was a real challenge and sometimes the sanding a polishing was tedious, but it was an important exercise. The lentil bead project was a lot of fun.  I loved all the possibilites of PMC sheet, and even though the woven earrings I made are not anything I would ever wear.  I'm so excited to work with this type of PMC.  Same for the gold Aura 22.

My favorite project by far was the last, the pen.  I can't wait to make Yads (for torah reading) based on this project. 

I have been contemplating taking this class for a couple of years.  It is expensive, especially because it is never offered in or near St. Louis.  And the class definitely is a demonstration of product and a certain technique.  This is the technique that is mandated by the makers of PMC and the artist that they have selected as their masters.  They do things and certain way and believe that they is the only way it can be done.  Well, I do not think that is necessarily so. But I do believe that knowledge is power.  And I have learned a lot of alternative methods to join, decorate and finish PMC.  I think that the skills that I had before combined with the new knowledge will help me with my future designs and projects.  I so look forward to getting a bulk of time in the studio to work.

January mezuzah project

The last week has been very stressful.  The is a lot of terrible and wonderful things happening all at once.  I was lucky to carve out a bit of time to make the first mezzuah of the year.  It's one I have been contemplating for a while, and even though it's completed,  I wish I had done things differently.  Still, it's a nice attempt at  a castle motif.  Next time I want to make the roof detail more prominent.

I am off to Maryland tomorrow to attend my PMC certification class.  It's three days of classes that teach technique and use of materials.  I am very excited for the challenge as well as the opportunity to meet other serious PMC artists.

the mezuzah project

I've decided to start a new design challenge this year.  I am calling it the mezuzuah project.  I am going to design and make a new fine silver mezuzah case each month and feature it on my blog and in my Etsy store. 

This month I am creating the castle tower mezuzuah.  It's in the kiln right now, stay tuned....

the art of business/ the business of art

This last week I have been focusing on getting serious about my artwork and making it a viable business.  I have spent hours on the computer networking, building my brand and getting my name and my Etsy shop out on the world wide web.  You can find links to my blog, my etsy store, pictures of my fine silver metal jewelry and Judaica, and personal bio, all over the place.  Yet, there is so much more to do.  I am only about half way through my list of free marketing tools on the web.
You can now find me on linkedin , whohub, and flicker, plus countless other  small art, handmade, and craft sites I will not bore you with.  I have become a part of great networking communities, like my etsy metal clay team and Showme Etsy a local St. Louis group of crafters.  And, I own the domain rachelsthings, so www.rachelsthings.com will connect you directly to my etsy store!
In the near future I will be getting a new logo, etsy store banner, and I am off to DC for my PMC certification!

Please feel free to link my blog or website to any you might own, and I will do the same.

snow day

There was a snow storm last night with super cold tempertures and everyone here in St. Louis freaked out so all the school are closed.  It seems pretty silly really, I mean it's bitter cold yes, but  the snow is really powdery and easy to clear away. 

It's nice to have the girls home from school today, but I will probably not get as much work done as I would have liked.  But this morning I did get a chance to photograph some new things for my Etsy shop.  Here is a new necklace called "Hidden Treasures".  The silver charms looks antique to me, like something you might find on an archeological dig in Europe.

i've been busy

I'm making 4 new Jewish star necklaces, 3 pairs of periwinkle drop earrings and 3 tiny house necklaces.  Still working on the tiny houses and the earrings, but check out the etsy store later this week to see the finish products.

I also recruited Abby to model a necklace so that people can get more of an idea of the scale.  Doesn't she look professional!

what I am comfortable with.......

Ahhh, now this is how it's suppose to work.  I just can't seem to get the bronze clay to do what the silver clay does for me.  This mezuzuah case was fun to make and didn't fall apart at all after I fired it!  I just wish the silver was less expensive and so I could make more outrageous designs and not worry about wether they would sell or not.  I would also like to reach more people, but asking them to spent $185 is a lot these days, even if it is a totally unique handmade piece and is solid silver.

During winter break I am going to make more inventory ( I am almost out of star necklaces and only have 2 mezuzot left).  I think that I will concentrate on designs that I have already made and sold as I anticipate being creatively charged after I take my PMC certification course at the end of January in Maryland.  I have about 3 50G packages of PMC left.  I'd like to wait to buy more after I get certified and get a better discount.  Actually I'd like the clay fairy to drop about 10 packages to me for free?  I believe, I really do:).

done with bronze clay

Well,  I've attempted bronze clay yet again and yet again my pieces did not stay together.  I spent a lot of time constructing the mezuzzah but the slabs do not stay together when they are fired.  I think that the size and shape of the mezuzah makes it a poor choice for bronze clay and the way it behaves when fired in the carbon. 

The tiny tower, which is supported by 4 walls instead of 3 actually held up fine, but I am not really interested in making towers out of bronze so I am yet again going to abandon the whole bronze clay thing. I did hear that Hadar Jacobson has a copper clay available which can be fired without the carbon pot, which may be a better solution for my pieces.  Still I am waiting to hear more, because so far I've only seen smaller accent pieces made out of this material, not larger pieces like I want to make.

bronze clay....yet again

I am making another attempt at bronze clay this weekend. This time I made simpler structures and concentrated on keeping the connections clean and secure. They are in the kiln now. I will post the results tomorrow...keep your fingers crossed, this could work.

artist annual

Artists and galleries produce portfolios of their works in the form of books or artist annuals.  In my quest to validate myself as an artist I decided to create an annual of my own.  It's a mini booklet of the work that I produced this year mostly in pictures with a few comments.  I naturally chose blurb.com to make the book the book and I plan to give it to my friends and customers who have supported me in this year as I make this journey.  The book cover featured a "Rockin" jewish star charm and the back cover the same charm, but the backside!