I surprised myself!

wow, it's Sunday and I finished brooch #18 YESTERDAY!! That hasn't happened since the etsymetal brooch-a week challenge began way back in January! I was an eager little beaver in those days... Now it seems like everything is last minute. I'm not sure I've ever had a first quarter as busy as this one, will all kinds of work coming my way. This is not a complaint, simply a wonder!

Brooch #18 is a big piece of Nevada boulder turquoise set in sterling silver within a sterling frame. Three little 14kt gold balls and some serious oxidation help to create a very mid century modern feel. 

This brooch measures just over 2" wide.

a sturdy pin mechanism allows it to be worn at various angles.

Surprise #2 is that I'm actually blogging about it in what's practically "real time".

Onward and broochward...

dreaming in turquoise

I just had to share a recent turquoise purchase... All from Nevada, and mostly boulder turquoise, one of my favorite materials to work with. So keep an eye out for new work to be arriving in my etsy shop as well as my local galleries!

I can't wait to get my hands into this stuff! 

A few completed pieces from the past couple of years...

and a lot more here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/betsybensen/sets/72157626172661687/

etsymetal Project Runway Challenge, Season 9, The Finale

It's hard to believe that another season of Project Runway has come to an end... The etsymetal team has been following along, challenging ourselves weekly along with the PR designers. This week we learned who the Project Runway winner was. 

Our final challenge was to create a mini collection. With only a week to design and execute, it was challenging, especially at this time of year when we are trying to fill orders, and get work to the galleries. Check out the etsymetal blog for all of this week's entries!

My goal was to put together a 3 piece collection using those materials I really enjoy working with such as Nevada boulder turquoise and pearls. I've also popped in a rose cut diamond on the pendant. All pieces are fabricated in sterling silver with 14kt gold accents. The cognac diamond is set in 18kt gold. 

  

  Pendant featuring Nevada boulder turquoise, keshi pearl and cognac rose cut diamond

             Earrings with Nevada boulder turquoise and freshwater pearl

        Ring, Nevada boulder turquoise and freshwater pearl

You'll find these 3 pieces in my etsy shop for only a short while!

Coming up next on the etsymetal blog is the newest challenge surrounding the new Project Accessory.

I'll have to skip that challenge, but do stay tuned to the etsymetal blog for that one. And remember, you don't have to be a member of the etsymetal team to play!

Etsymetal Project Runway Challenge, Season 9, Week 6

Last week's Project Runway challenge for the designers was to create an avant garde piece based on a collaborative painting done with a local art student. For the etsymetal challenge, I chose to create a pair of earrings to go with Victor's design, which again this week, was my favorite, and to try and incorporate a little bit of the feel of the student, Skyy's, painting.

Victor's dress

the painting

While I certainly wouldn't call my earrings avant garde... I did have a pair of Nevada boulder turquoise that seemed to match the patches of blue in the dress so I went with that. I set them in sterling and added some 14kt gold elements to warm them up a bit. Their total length is 2 1/2" and they articulate at two points creating a lot of movement, just like the dress. On the back I've used repousee to create a simple spiral. Victor's dress had a lot of texture and I've added texture to the metal as well before bringing up it's fine silver layer through a heating and quenching process which creates a soft, satiny finish.

Even though I'm quite happy with the final product, I wasn't sure I'd get something completed for this week's challenge as I was constantly changing my mind. As it happened they were finished just in time to catch the last of the late afternoon's light in which to shoot them...

NEXT WEEK

The Project Runway Challenge:
The designers were divided into two groups of five. They were given the opportunity to create their own unique textiles and asked to create a cohesive collection.

For Our Etsy Metal Translation:
Since this challenge was about pattern and texture, our challenge is to incorporate those into a piece. Do it however you like, etching, roller printing, drawing, or just fabricate a piece that forms a pattern or texture. Make it work!

I'm liking this one!