The Eye’s Have It

I just posted a new ring earlier today in my etsy shop:

It’s made with a glass eye – the kind used for taxidermy. It’s pretty creepy, but I think it’s the coolest. I found some other eye’s I want to buy and make into jewels:

This is for a Carousel Horse – a bright splash of color.

This is just for general fish use (?), but I love all the depth in it.

This last one is a Warthog eye. 

The creepy factor is combated with the beauty in the detail of these glass eyes. They all have so much detail and depth, they really are like little jewels.

Frog Blood and Sterling Silver

Currently, my most favorite place to find inspiration is called the Clipart ETC (Educational Technology Clearinghouse).  This site has tons of clip art (simple, black and white images) in a multitude of categories, including science, cellular biology, microorganisms and plants. If I could only explain how exciting this is to me! 

As I mentioned in a previous post, I’ve started to include some the images that inspire me in my etsy listings when I add new pieces to the shop, and here are some brand new sneak peeks – inspired by: frog blood.

 

In other news, I got two new tattoos this past weekend:

 These are the alchemy symbols for Silver (on the left) and Gold (on the right). I just love them.

Just a glimpse

I wanted to share some of the things I have in the midst right now:

Here I have some soldered circular loops that hammered into wonky shapes, for a more organic, blobby, cellular shape. Those are all technical terms

 

This is a peek at a Cell Ring that I made for myself. I’m trying to figure out if I can sell them in my etsy shop… My concern is that it’s going to be very hard to make any particular size with intension, since the cells are so haphazardly created. I’m trying to figure it out…

This piece is sooooo far from done, but I’m so excited about the design – It’s Cellular Division! I love it!

Speaking of wonky shapes, I recently reshaped a necklace that I thought was already done:

I lightly hammered the cells to get more organic looking forms, and I’m so happy with the results. 

I’m really looking forward to this weekend and putting a lot of time in at my bench – my sketch book has been filling up so fast!

Cells

I’m currently working at re-opening my etsy shop, emilyeps.etsy.com. The initial body of work is generally inspired by cellular forms, which is something I’ve been obsessed with since I was in college ( i graduated in 2006). Here’s one of the pieces:

I’m also including images in the listing of some of the images that inspire me, like this one:

I thought I would use this post to show some of the other cell-centered designs I’ve found on etsy:

Stem Cell Scarf by GapToothGirl.

 

I also love this Amoeba T by Isotope. They have quite a few really cool science-y designs.

 

I’m totally into these Microscopic Pins by SeaPod.

A little Saturday Research

I’ve been working on an idea I have for a rib cage inspired earring/pendant. I’m sort of stuck at the moment, trying a lot of things aren’t working out so well, so I’m taking a break to look at some pictures for inspiration and possible solutions…

I like these pictures the best:

(illustrating the motion as you breathe in and out).

I also like the geometry that is so present in this picture; the squareness of the ribcage / shoulder area and the black wire (supporting the skeleton) that contrasts the color and direction of the ribs. 

I also found this:

Whoa! This piece of luggage is by Alexander McQueen (of corse), and it’s so creepy and fantastic! You can read a little about here.

I’m heading back to my bench for a few more tries on my project.

Things to have

Lately I have been dreaming of tools much more frequently than most other material wants. Material wanting is something that I am very prone to, and I usually try really hard to control it. But right now, metalsmithing tools are all I can think about:

My simply illustrated list is inspired by Keri Smith, who I really dig. She wrote a few books that I have (you should have them too), called Wreck this Journal, and How to be an Explorer of the World. She’s very cool and has amazing things on flickr.

Here is a list of hers that I really enjoy:

I really like how simple the drawings are. I think it’s a good way to exercise your brain and remind yourself that all things can be artistic, even making lists.

it doesn’t always work out

when i get really overexcited, i tend to forget the lessons of my teachers, and i skip a typically important step: making models. 

so i had this idea for what i was calling the “inside out ring”. let me illustrate:

1: i make a ring

 

2: i cut it into 4 equal parts.

 

3: Turn the pieces inside out!

I knew that the once turned inside-out, the ring would instantly fit a much smaller finger than the initial ring. I compensated for this. I made it up. It would still be too small for any of my fingers. 

Also, what was i thinking make the first attempt out of such incredibly thick gauge wire??? I honestly don’t know. I got carried away. I just wanted to solder.

Anyways, as i’m getting back into the practice of making things at the bench, i am remembering to document my ideas, and the outcomes and progressions. Hopefully i’ll be able to catch some happy accidents and avoid future disasters!

My Weekend

For quite some time, my studio has been strangely distributed around too many places. But this weekend, I rearranged, re organized, and revamp my shared studio space and have renewed my dedication to my workbench:

I installed shelves, arranged my tools and hooked up my torch. Such happiness!

I was also super happy to find this adorable, and perfectly sized, tiny crock pot for my pickling solution. 

I was also super excited to have found one of these magnetic strips to install. It’s the kind usually used for kitchen knives, but it’s so perfect for tools.

I can’t wait to get working on all the ideas running through my head. I’ll have plenty of new things to share in the coming weeks!

microcosms

A series of some of my current favorites:

photograph by Jennifer Dennis Potter.

 

real terrariums from etsy shop made by mavis.

 

I found this terrarium here, the current featured seller on etsy!

These images are filling my head with all kinds of magical ideas….

home sick

i’ve been living in California for almost 2 and 1/2 years now, and those home sick feelings don’t seem to ever get easier. On top of missing my old home and family, I’ve also been feeling a little overwhelmed about the direction I’d like my life to be moving. It’s not that I don’t know what direction I’d like to be moving, but more I’m not sure if I’m heading that way…. I just had my 25th birthday, which I haven’t really thought much about either. Maybe it’s just today, but I feel a little lost. 

 

Also, more that usual, I’ve had the desire to do more drawing and collaging, which I haven’t done much of in a while. Here is some of what’s inspiring me in my moment of uncertainty:

This is by Amy Walsh, featured on her blog. She also has an amazing etsy shop that I love.

Another of my favorite etsy sellers makes these super cool paper cut outs that look like topographical maps. So cool.

This one is just so sweet, how could you not fall in love with it?