I’m very excited because a few days ago I ordered some
copper wire from Kate Richbourg Jewelry (http://www.etsy.com/shop/KateRichbourgJewelry)
a supplier on Etsy and I can’t wait to get them. I’ve been making copper and
silver wire jewelry for a few years I love this medium but I aspire to increase
my techniques I use in the construction of my designs. I’ve gotten comfortable
with wrapping in a cold connection technique but I’ve longed to try soldering to
create a fluid and continual join between each piece of wire for an
unrestricted artisan quality and style of jewelry I admire and desire to create.
Because I like simplicity and incorporate this principle in the
distinctive minimalist style of SK Wire Jewelry designs, I aspire to explore and
create clean fluid lines a design element that wrapping doesn’t provide. Though integral to the texture of the overall design
in some cases (not all) a wrapped wire element in the cold connected piece can
have a tendency to fracture the path of your eye in a chaotic manner. I am not minimizing the quality or aesthetic
appeal of cold connected joins and there are a number of very talented jewelry
artists mastering this technique like Bobbi Maw of My Wired Imagination (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MyWiredImagination),
Szarka Carter of Magpie Gemstones (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MagpieGemstone)
and Edi Schaefer of Edi’s Little Treasures (http://www.etsy.com/shop/EdisLittleTreasures)
fellow etsians who all create gorgeous wrapped designs. In fact I’m in awe of
their talent and wish I had the patience it takes to wrap the way they do,
patience is the operative word here as I fall short sometimes which could be
due to the dwindling hormones and hot flashes I frequently experience these
days.
Anyway getting back to my building excitement as I await my
shipment of copper wire supplies for which I had great things in mind. Out of
the blue I’ve been inspired to create a line of jewelry based on the X and O,
universal symbols for kisses and hugs it sounds crazy I know but inspiration
came to me in a dream this morning. In it I had a chance meeting with a
clothing designer at her boutique, somehow she knew who I was and looking for a metal
bracelet with a specific design feature she inquired as to my availability, feeling
flattered by the recognition I offered to sit down with her we talked and
collaborated on her bracelet for a while and when the meeting came to an end I
set off to create the piece we had designed.
I can’t express the energy I felt this
morning when I awoke except to say it was phenomenal and I immediately put my
hand to paper sketching the first of many ideas floating in my head. The fun part
for me is deconstructing my design visions and translating them onto paper so the
details of each piece can be tweaked to perfection. I see deliciously colored
gemstones, bezel cabochons in various “O” shapes and sizes and dangling puffed
teardrops that will compliment each copper design. I see negative space and variations
of the X and O I see bangle bracelets, a simple ring, several necklaces and earrings.
Oh man I’m so excited I can hardly wait for all the pieces to get here I’m
itching to start the construction phase of this not yet named project.
All I can think is it’s a good thing I joined the Aspiring Metal smiths
Etsy team because even though I’ve been reading up on the art of soldering
different materials, it’s definitely going to help having a friendly group of
like minded jewelry and metal artists of all skill levels that can give me expert advice when I need it.
As I said I have a tendency to be impatient and act on impulse but this time is
different, I’ll take my time and as they say I’ll measure twice and cut once to
get the maximum use of my copper materials. And tomorrow I start practicing my
soldering techniques with left over pieces of wire I’ve collected so that I get
acquainted and comfortable with the new technique and skill before I start the
actual construction of my new X and O designs. I really have a good feeling about
my new line and know my designs will be very well received. They’ll shine with the
love that encapsulates my passion because every piece of jewelry I create is designed
from the heart to be wearable works of art.
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