New Year, New Challenges

For the past several years, I have participated in jewelry design challenges that were organized by my fellow EtsyMetal members.

• 2010 was the RAD challenge: Ring-A-Day
• A group of international artists accepted the challenge to create, photograph and upload (to a flickr photo group) one ring per day for the entire year. This was a wildly successful challenge which also inspired an exhibition and a book! Sadly I could not finish the entire year, but I made it through 100 days and had several of my rings included in both the exhibition and the book!

• 2011 was the RAW challenge: Ring-A-Week 
• A similar challenge to the one above but weekly instead of daily. Once again, I could not finish the entire year and only made it through 18 out of the 52 weeks.

• 2013 was the BAW challenge: Brooch-A-Week 
• I don't know why I thought I could manage enough time to make 52 brooches. It sounded like a good idea at the beginning but I only made it through week 5! LOL!

Despite the fact that I have never been able to fully complete any of these challenges, I still feel like they were successful endeavors. They are always a great source of inspiration, rejuvenation and motivation. I believe they help me grow as an artist and a jewelry designer. 

So-----Despite my lack of follow through in the past, I have decided to participate in yet another jewelry design challenge this year. 

• 2014 is the Rx3 challenge: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle from all the stock in the studio.
•  I will attempt to create one jewelry piece every week for the entire year using old stones, pieces-parts, half finished projects, old sketches, etc. Below are my first two pieces of this year's challenge:

Rx3 week #1 - Black Diamond Chiseled Ring:

1.3ct rose cut black diamond, .013ct rose cut grey diamond, 14k yellow gold, .950 palladium

Rx3 week #2 - Peach Druzy Chiseled Ring:

Druzy quartz, 14k rose gold, 14k & 18k yellow gold

Stay tuned to see how this challenge continues...

2013...More of the same

Once a month, members of the EtsyMetal team are given a topic or question and then are requested to blog about it simultaneously. This month's topic is:

New Year's Resolutions?!

A new year, a fresh outlook, new ideas... what are your plans? New goals? New disciplines? Old disciplines and goals you want to try again?!! Recap this past year and what you've learned, where it's taken you, where you would like it to take you in 2013.

This topic reminds me of a the New Year's post I wrote 4 years ago--- "looking BACK so I can look AHEAD...2008 to 2009."    It seems silly to say, but, WOW! Times were different then---in my personal life and in my business! So much has changed in those 4 years!

But I digress, I'm not here to talk about how things have changed in 4 years.

2012 was overall a good year for me---different but good. You can read about it here: "ch-ch-changes..."

Many of my business goals for 2013 are to continue what I started in 2012.

• Continue to develop and promote my Make your own Wedding Band Workshops
• Continue to develop my new Ridge Collection
• Continue to develop my bridal line
• Continue to "clean out" my older work (Selling it off and then discontinuing it)
• Implement marketing tools and techniques that I learned in 2012 (psyched!)
• Get more organized!
• Learn new skills---this year I'd like to learn CAD
• Try to make a Brooch-a-Week for the whole year (yikes!) Follow my progress here.

Ridge Earring #7: Sterling, 18k gold, blue chalcedony, diamonds

My personal goals are also to continue what I started in 2012.

• Spend more quality time with my family
• Get more organized!
• Continue on my fitness journey (I've lost 30 lbs in the past year, gained muscle and am in the best shape of my life at the ripe old age of "over 40"!)

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Please follow these links to read my fellow EtsyMetal members' resolutions:
1. Lou Hunter
2. Laura Jane Bouton
3. 2Roses
4. deborahleetaylor
5. Mary Anne Karren
6. Theresa Kwong
7. Nodeform
8. Silentgoddess

BROOCH-ing in the New Year

brooch |brō ch; broō ch |nounan ornament fastened to clothing with a hinged pin and catch.

I have decided to participate in another jewelry design challenge this year: "BAW = Brooch-a-Week!"

My team mates from EtsyMetal are hosting this New Year Challenge, as well as, a "Brooch-a-Day" challenge for those very adventurous types! These challenges are open to any and all artists who wish to participate---you need not be a member of EtsyMetal. Come join the fun!

There are no real rules---simply to create one brooch every day or every week (depending on which challenge you are participating in) for the entire year. Then photograph and post it in the appropriate flickr group. It is an exercise in discipline and creative exploration....Any materials, any technique!

You can join or simply follow the Challenges here:
"BAD = Brooch-a-Day" flickr group
"BAW = Brooch-a-Week" flickr group

I'm not sure it I will have the stamina to make it through the entire year, but I am going to try! I have joined the BAW party and am hoping for some fun, inspiration and stimulation.

Here is my first brooch of the challenge: "New Year's Brooch"

January 2013

sterling silver, copper, champagne cork