Metalsmith 🔥 Creating jewelry using traditional tools and techniques. Made with recycled or ethically sourced metals and stones. Often incorporating rescued elements and found objects 🌿
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The facets were relatively shallow and the bezel was intentionally thick, so it wasn't too tricky to set. Although the stone was rescued/repurposed and wonky all over. In hindsight the bezel could have been a little shorter. But still I'm happy with how it turned out!
It's a fabulous feed! Thanks for sharing it 😊
New feed! Definitely worth checking out if you love tangible art #artinstallations #installationart #publicart #artsky
It's working and it's awesome. Thank you!
Cool beans. My workspace is currently disassembled because I've been fixing it up a bit, but I should be back at my bench in about a month. Maybe think about and set aside a couple of pieces for me to work with? Feel free to message me. I'll share my email via dm
True. I asked because I like the feel of dirt on my feet as well
One of these days, I'd love build settings for some of your finds
Why do some prefer bare feet?
My husband had a pink crib because his mother was so sure he was going to be a girl
Spent a lot of time researching which rice is healthier and have come to no good conclusion, so I alternate between all the kinds
Our firstborn launched out into the world this week. My heart needs to learn how to be a parent of an adult
www.metrofieldguide.com/invertefest/
You’ll find inspiration as the seasons change 🍂 Speaking of bugs, do you know about InverteFest?
Metaphorically? And/or have you seen the film Sliding Doors?
Yay to inheriting kilns! That they were your grandmothers makes them especially special. Hopefully you have a good place to put them until you find space to use them. My spouse works from home, too. My studio is in the basement with the bats 🙂
Nice! Love the red one especially. How were the flowers added? The line work on the right is incredible
Cool! Great to see you! 😊 Do you have a close up photo of the piece? So far, I’ve only done torch firing. But I’ve got a small old top-loading glass fusing kiln a friend gave me a while back that I’m prepared to modify for enamels. Except the electric in my garage currently can’t handle it. Someday
Nice to have things feeling fresh in the fall. Share if you find it and remember
Congratulations! A big accomplishment all the same 🧡 People often have to drop out of these things for one reason or another, so there’s a till a chance you’ll get in 😊
Probably sometime around April 2002, I’m guessing 😆 Do you still have the playlist?
Progress! A fresh coat of limewash on the old concrete gave the space a nice refresh but still lets the walls breathe, so no moisture gets trapped
I’m not a reel person, so will probably delete this before dinner
Ohh! Yes. Well, that explains it
Over the past 5 years, my workspace grew organically, intermingled with our household items. It feels so good to reorganize and set up with intention. Lots of time, effort, and focus required, but it’s worth it. I’m dying to get back to my bench! So yes, I highly recommend clearing out the cobwebs 👻
Att #Metalsmith community:
Maybe you can Jedi mind trick yourself into thinking it’s all said and done so you can free your brain? Anyway, Sept 22 will be here before you know it 🙂
You’re very sweet and kind ❤️ And I hope you’re right. But somehow it feels different this time 😔 I’ll perk back up in a bit. Thank you! ❤️ Helps to be heard and to take a second to clear out the melancholy
While I feel for small businesses who have to halt their sales to the US because of the tariffs, I’m not seeing posts from people in the US who are now cut off from buying books, tools, supplies, and art from our friends abroad. I feel sad and isolated. But grateful to still be able to see you here
Or gives you someplace to sit with the pain, so you can process the mess and heal
At one point, I’d considered doing a mosaic with shale and/or river stones. Like a spa
It’s hard not to admire his enthusiasm
Anyway, having all those old walls gone will allow me to better mitigate damage when rain seeps in 🙂
We usually get a little seepage once or twice a year. The photo was from January 2024
Installing perimeter drains and replacing the floor was recommended, but is cost prohibitive. But we installed a new sump pump, a foot deeper than the old one. Also, I’ve been working on the landscape around the house to divert rainwater and I believe it has made a big difference
I love the taste of agave. Great on plain whole fat greek yoghurt 😋
🤣 That’s a lot of glycerine!
And perhaps use an unrefined cane sugar for added depth?
I know very little about making ice cream, but maybe just try halving the sugar suggested in the recipe? A good quality cream has such a lovely natural sweetness
Maple syrup is the best sugar replacement I’ve found 🙃
You’re not missing out. I avoid any product with monk fruit sweetener because it tastes terrible
Warm shadow
The downside of being below grade is that water seeps in through the floor when we get a lot of rain
Trust me, I don’t take the space for granted! At our previous apartment, my workbench was the corner of our living room. But then my spouse took that spot when he started working from home. Then we had the opportunity to move in to a little house … and now here we are!
Limewashing these walls today
You’re taking care of yourself there, too? I bet your veggies will be fine. Our weather fluctuates like crazy (95 last week, 65 today) and still (with the exception of my basil, which scorched and shriveled) by some miracle things keep growing
🖤🖤🖤
It’s impossible not to smile when you’re playing or listening to the ukulele 🧡
Electroetching! Always something new to learn #metalsmith #metalsmithskills #metalsmithing #metalsmithsky
Not yet, but maybe we can just keep throwing out ideas until one sticks? #metalsmithsky
Love the color and texture it adds, though. And it smells amazing, yah? Any chance it would self-seed?
Yes! Definitely #ladysmith ... but maybe let's also come up with a hashtag that's gender neutral? Too quiet, agreed. Usually artisans are posting about their outdoor markets and displays this time of year 😕
Oh this is so cool! Thanks for sharing! 😊 I love yarn and other fiber arts, but I don't crochet or knit very often. However, I bet this concept could be applied to other media as well ... .
Same. Not enough rain. Everything around me looks stressed. My neighbor's beach tree is dying from BLD. I dug a hole last weekend for a shadblow serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis) a friend gave me, and the soil looked like sand
Wow!! These are fantastic!! Dang!! I have so many questions, but I have to run now. Will pop back in later
Agreed! Off of the top of my head, both @dawnhem-jewelry.bsky.social and @mmcdaisymay.bsky.social are open to talking shop. Surely others, too! I don’t have time to manage a separate account or learn how to create a feed, but maybe we could come up with a simple hashtag to help us connect?
Electroetching! So right, so much to learn
That’s about 1000 km from me, but looks like it’d be well worth the trip! Would love to see your gel printing works when the time comes 😊 I played around with a small kit years ago, and always meant to take time to explore further
Saw piercing, sweat soldering, engraving, and tube setting? This piece is a feat! And a sweet, lovely little work of art
Thanks for hanging! I really want to be posting about metalsmithing, but I don’t really like to share old works, so this and food and plants is all I’ve got right now
Peeps with similar interests, gathering to learn something new. Workshops are the best! And gel printing is fun
The light switch is no longer dangling from the ceiling thanks to this lovely new post! And I sanded and applied danish oil to the old knotty pine paneling. Also, the wood under the stair was not salvageable, so that was all cut away and new supports have been added
Love the colors, patterns, and textures here in your work 😊 What is a temperature blanket?
Go 😊
Removed these walls. Saved the door. Making progress, slowly but surely
Hm. The emphasis around *adore* makes me sound like someone's great-aunt betsy
I *adore* this photo of you in your 80 year old art studio! 🖤 Maybe don't run the kiln this week 🔥🙃🥂
Please share photos! 🙂 We all love seeing other people’s studio spaces. A mess of projects in progress adds to the authenticity 🙃😊
A big heatwave is coming to Los Angeles so it is going to smell like something died in my 80 year old art studio. Please send incense.
… and makes us the deep, complex, and unique people and artists we are 🖤
Looking at your work, you’d think that you’d been a metalsmith and jewelry designer for decades. But the paths you’ve taken and the work that you’ve done have all played an integral part of the newest iteration of you 😊 The more I’ve lived, the more I know that it’s the journey that shapes us …
I think Corky Bolton’s Metalsmith Society was also instrumental in connecting us on IG, but she’s not here
Can’t take credit, it’s from the old days on IG when metalsmiths of all sorts were working to connect. Perhaps we resurrect it?
Inspiring work! 🔥 I’ve so enjoyed watching your current collection come together ☺️ Tell us more about the name of your biz? And the logo? I love the “herstory” 🖤 #silversmith #metalsmith #ladysmith #handmadejewelry
Dang, I miss those days! 🥂 Cheers to you for paying off debts and investing wisely 😊
What did you sell?
Wow! I was a top-rated seller, but never a power seller. Back in the days when buyers were kind and honest, and eBay was still like an online garage sale
You could create the label on your phone and save it as a pdf to print elsewhere (I’ve had to do this). But if you don’t send packages regularly, that would probably cost more in rigmarole and time than paying retail at the post office
Wow. Okay. My brain is spinning and overheating. Why are laws always written with triple negatives? 🤣
Thanks for sharing! I recently heard that art may be exempt from tariffs because it’s currently protected under the first amendment? Please note: I have not yet dug in and fact checked this
Totally legit. A friend of mine who sells vintage clothes told me about it a while ago and I haven’t used anything else since. I send several parcels a month
www.pirateship.com
Omg! That’s effing crazy. Look into pirateship. Excellent interface and the rates are way lower than retail (for now)
For important documents, maybe consider sending w/ tracking? I believe you can add that service at the post office for about a dollar. Because our nearest post office closed, I usually opt to create a “ground advantage” label online which includes tracking and runs about four dollars
Sorry that happened. Very frustrating. Our postal people are all so overworked right now 😕
Awesome batting average!
Yes! I share the space with our two teens who are also artists. The revamp is a joint project. I couldn’t tackle it without them and their vision, muscles, and elbow grease
The fleeting satisfaction of growing your own lunch #blueskyartshow #pieces #urbangardening
I’ll take your share of okra!
Love the warm colorful aesthetic you are creating! 🌱And the books you’ve chosen 🧡
Try not to let those knuckle heads ruin your outlook. There are a lot of kind, good-hearted peeps out there, too
Your current studio walls look a lot like my current studio walls! What kind of paint will you be using?
Beautiful work! ❤️ It’ll sell in a second if it hasn’t already Our kid was on stage last night, front and center and she killed it. Made me cry. After the performance, my husband said to her “you looked tired” 🙄 Dads! 😆
The sobriety ring is my favorite 💚
Yes, I believe it will. When you see metalsmiths posting images with their beautifully manicured fingernails, aren't you skeptical? I'm always like "you did not just make those 20 rings you're modeling" 🙄🤣
Our brains can’t take the constant onslaught of information, our emotional bandwidth is finite. There are those who seem to have no problem staying plugged in, but there are probably more of us who struggle to balance real life and social media. I understand and respect your decision to step away 🖤
My fingers are worn and my hands are big. But in addition to glamour shots, I'll often include photos of the ring on the inside of my hand, which is smoother than the wrinkly knuckle side. I find having photos with fingers helps people get a sense of how the piece will look in context. Roughly:
If everyone’s brains all worked the same the world would be so boring 🤣🥂😊
The dialog in the first few episodes felt so stilted but I pushed on. After sticking with it for 7 episodes, I’m finally hooked! 😬🤓😊
Ohh! Cool. Thank you so much 😊
He's got such pretty fur and beautiful coloring