gimme fresh & cool

OK, you got it, friends!

a perfect piece of handmade jewelry for all year round, but i'm feeling particularly into this piece's cool refreshing color and shape.

maybe it's the heat index of 105˚

this pendant features an intricately pierced piece of copper, which has been enameled on both sides to ensure it's wearer-friendly! One side in cool aqua blue, the other in a deep oceanic blue.

only one! and in shop now :)

scheduling self time

i suppose it's not exactly fun to read about the ways an artist struggles to create, or find the time to do so, but it's something we all go through, whether you're an artist or not. honest. it's common in many facets of our lives: postponing enjoyment with daily busyness

how do we find the time?
how often do we say "i'll do that tomorrow." "let me finish this one thing i have to do first." "i don't have time to do that."

when graduate school began i fooled myself to thinking i would have endless time to also create. i've learned that i need to MAKE to to MAKE THINGS! something inside myself is fulfilled in the process of creating something new --- in translating a sketch (my sketchbook has been bursting) to fruition.

so how do i get there? how do i take my sketches and make them reality instead of paper dreams? seems easy enough, right?

well, i'm going to schedule studio time. while that seems basic enough, it means that i have a designated time where i don't have to do anything else but create. by allotting myself that specific time, i'm giving it importance, and making it something i can't put off or allow to be taken over by the daily grind of school, work, and life.


what can you expect? NEW STUFF!!! :)





















(product photos from michelemaule & boygirlparty on Etsy!)

75+ hours of work =

one happy girl with 2 awesome brooches/pendants

yeah, it may have taken hours on end, with many mishaps, cracks, flows, and chips along the way...
but i have finally completed my two first Champleve enamel pieces!!

*celebrate*

The first piece here is one that reminds me of earth. The photograph does little justice, but if it were a good photo you might be able to see the engravings I made on the bottom layer of fine silver. Here, I have engraved a rocky landscape texture, which shines from underneath the transparencies of the enamel. The layers of colors ensure that no area was left unexplored in the process of creation, and give your eye plenty to move around. I finished the piece by oxidizing the silver, creating a dark charcoal background, from which the brightness of the glass shines through.


This second piece probably took the most time to create. It's easily the most curious piece of jewelry I've made to date, and somewhere I'd like to continue to visit.
I decided not to do any engraving textures in the fine silver for this piece, but rather, let the coloration and lines of silver do all the talking.

i'm making things again!

yes yes, it's actually been a while since i've had creative studio time. sadly, sometimes as an artist ou go through the creative ebbs and flows in the process. when i started grad school, it seemed that with time divvied between commuting, classes, reading, writing, and practicum, there was little zeal to expand my artistic horizons.

but now i'm back in metals studio, learning new techniques...
not the easy way (i never do), but rather through trouble-shooting and many hours of research and practice.

my metals skills were never top notch, so i'm brushing up and taking in.

these are some pictures of a piece i'm making in the Champlevé enameling technique.
these show you some of the first steps of the process.
just a couple little images show you the sketch that i first made... then hand-sawed that image in sterling silver... followed by creating a background for the pierced piece.
the two pieces of sterling are then soldered together, cleaned up really well, and then enamel is carefully packed into the recesses (or "fields"[champ in champleve]), and fired repeatedly.

currently, i'm guessing i've fired the piece at least 10 times.
all i have left to do is make the finding to solder on the back.
the plan is to make this a convertable brooch/necklace, so that its owner has the option of wearing this piece either way!

mind you, i'm planning on finishing this piece up today. it's been 70+ hours in the making.... so i've grown a little attached to it ;)

...more photos to come...

alrighty, i'm off to the studio! happy creating!!

xo,
lynsey

...season of sprout...

i woke up and heard the day's forecast:

sunny and upper 60's

on my drive to school i noticed things were perhaps a little more green than the week before. the buds on the trees are slowly revealing themselves, as are the lovely spring flowers and daffodils.

creating a new treasury capturing this budding beginning was refreshing:
kudos to those who are starting their seedlings for their summer gardens.
i hope you're seeing sprouts!
honestly, i'm a tad jealous and lacking a yard... but i very well may create a little garden on my fire escape stoop.
typing it out has just convinced me to do so. :)

hope you all are having a day of sunshine!

xoxo

.......][.l.][...birch...][.l.][.......

One of my guilty pleasures on Etsy (besides buying handmade goodies or course) is finding time to make treasuries! With school and 2 practicums this semester... it's made my timing abilities to snag a spot nearly impossible. So when I do get the chance, I've got to share the excitement!

Lucky me, stumbled into the treasury just as a spot was opening, and so this is what was created:

Birches are such beautiful treasures in nature, and it seemed fitting to create an entire treasury for them in an online space too. yay Etsy Birches! These artists all did such a wonderful take on the essence of these beautiful white trees. Some birches in the forest, some up-close with the grain, texture and knots, others with the flaky white bark, and even some soft cuddly birch pillows. Hope you enjoy the collection!

xoxo,
Lynsey

Valentine's Day... part 2 ... way overdue!

WOW! it's been quite a busy semester with school, so I'm apologizing for my less than consistent bloggering in late Feb/March. However, Valentine's day happenings were too sweet not to at least show you some pictures and let you know what we did!


While the entire day was wonderful (not everyday do I get to spend with Patrick), our date at Bailey's Chocolate Bar in St. Louis was beyond delicious! The atmosphere could not be more romantic if it tried. Red plush walls, sweet aromas, and candlelight *swoon*

Starting with a couple signature evening drinks, I had the milk chocolate martini, and he had the black and red (i think). Food-wise, we decided to eat dinner later that night... and skipped straight to dessert!

Sharing the "Lover's Plate- Aphrodisiacs - Taste for Tw0," we enjoyed

Cherry chocolate mousse, spicy truffle, fruit truffle, dark espresso truffle, caramelized banana, strawberries, nuts, honey mead, al served with a warm spiced dark chocolate sauce & a warm white chocolate lavender sauce for “dipping & sharing.”

I N C R E D I B L E !!!

I got a cavity just thinking about how good it was...

So yeah, Valentine's day was blessed with the most wonderful man I could imagine & a plate full of aphrodisiacs! ;)

xoxo