The winner this week is Stephanie McGinley! - Congratulations, you have won one Heather's fall leaf pendants! Heather with your address, and she will send the pendant out to you.
Welcome to the studio of Cindy Gimbrone!
Time gets away from me. It's almost November and I've barely touched a glass rod. I've spent the fall immersed in another medium - metal clay. I even took a class in Mokume Gane. I've been blogging about my adventures so instead of words, I'd like to take you on a visual tour of some of the steps I've gone through in my studio this fall....
It ain't pretty but when it comes to all that metal clay dust, safety is important - studio exhaust fan on in the background.
Burnishing Mokume Gane metal clay pendant
Metal clay fresh from the kiln - crispy but fired to perfection!
Close up of polished Mokume Gane Pendant
Polished and Sealed Mokume Gane Mini-Pendants
I've got a few more pieces to fire from class. Next up will be white bronze. Attending a class filled me with ideas and excitement. I'm sure my glass misses me, but this hiatus is fueling my creative energies. I didn't intend to be away from the glass torch this long, time has gotten away from me but I'm realizing it's time well spent.
Has something re-energized you? It might be time away, a class or inspiration you found in the changing season.
Share with me by leaving a comment and you'll be entered to win one of my Mokume Gane Mini-Pendants.
I look forward to reading your comments!
23 comments:
Rivets!! I'm going to rivet EVERYTHING now. Since I'm still determined to avoid learning how to solder this opens up a lot more possibilities for me.
I've been crazy busy, but found an entire Saturday to devote to learning to use studio metalworking tools. Many of the hand tools I already have in my own little studio/corner, but playing with the big tools, the rolling mill and serious gas tank powered torch especially,has gotten me going. I've got all sorts of ideas that I want to try out, and not just in metal, but in beadweaving also. How fun it was to work with a few other people and learn some new skills. When I normally might get frustrated and need to walk away for a little bit while learning a new piece of equipment, it was fantastic to have an instructor suggest I try another way and find instant success. This was only part one of a three part series and I can't wait for my next workshop!
LOVE the mokume gane!
Sad to say nothing is re-energizing me lately. In total burn-out mode.
I admit I get a little stuck in ruts :) The inspiration this year actually came from seeing what my students were doing. Even within the same lessons and materials, everyone was coming up with such different pieces...
I realized I wasn't playing around enough and was focusing much too hard on just making pieces to sell. So, back to playing. A lot.
I have been obsessed with making miniature books. I feel a little guilty taking a hiatus from jewelry, but at the same time I know my jewelry will be better when I return to it1
Your pendants are gorgeous. I've recently been inspired to try something new and get to work/beading by the Virtual Book Tour of Barbara Lewis' new book for enameling. Plus reading the book has made me sure I can "fire" up that torch and do this.
Wow Cindy, your mokume gane pendants are gorgeous! I have been looking into this process but so far have only had time for working in silver. Would like to try other metals. There seems to be a lot of new products coming out on the market...
As for me I am gathering inspiration while I work on a challenge to make 50+ different earrings for the holidays...am on earring set #26 thought I might be getting short on ideas by this time but I still have ideas for the next 4 pair going out and am feeling that this is how it will continue. So excited in anticipation of a show for mid-November -shows are different for me I don't do too many ;)
Please enter my name in your drawing -it would be a thrill to win!
WOW! Beautiful Mokume Gane pendants!I love your blog!
I bought some metal clay powder at the gathering and have just tried the bronze, and loved it. Looking forward to combining the two mediums in some jewelry.
Nice work with the metal clay. I got really fired up over micro macrame last year. Now I'm waiting on some metal supplies and tools to arrive.
I had to start a blog for a challenge project and writing about what I am working on has become a wonderful positive re-enforcement for me.
I saw these on your blog. The process looks facinating, and the outcome is beautiful and unique!
Autumn always recharges me. It's a time for me to look forward in every aspect of my life, including my jewelry.
Congratulations to Stephanie!
I am a little obsessive about bead embroidery right now. There is something very easy and soothing about the process. It is very free-form and there are no limits! No mistakes either...and isn't that refreshing? I have been inspired by Jamie Cloud Eakin's new book on dimensional beading.
What has energized me is participating in challenges. I really need to start doing the one that you guys hold. I have made the jewelry a couple times but never get around to uploading them :(
I had about a three week dry spell and I think I just needed a break. Sometimes getting away is what is needed, to recharge your batteries.
Love your mokume gane pendants!
Lovely pendants! I've been a fan of Hadar's mokume gane for a long time now. Really like the look of the technique and she has so many gorgeous clays too. That sounds like a class I would've love to take too.
Can't say anything has re-energized me just lately, but I have had fun sitting down with two new things: crackle medium and gesso. Also planning some new projects (freeform beading and embroidery) so hopefully I'll continue to be inspired with embroidery, which I just recently rediscovered. Need to doodle, though, as I so far don't have a good enough idea for a project to work with. But doodling is fun, it can really get you out of a rut. Perfect re-starter when you can't afford one of the more expensive (but oh-so-inspiring) re-starters like a new book or new materials.
Since my mother passed I've been in a real creative funk....The other day my husband found a bin in with the Halloween decorations and told me to see what was in it...It was shiny rolls of metal and all my Repujado tools.He commented he hadn't seen me doing any "embossing" since mom passed and that it would've make her sad to know I hadn't been inspired in so long....So I've been working on a sugar skull in her memory and will hang it on her headstone when we go visit wednesday.
I suddenly feel good and motivated...
By the way, your new pieces are gorgeous and very inspiring
LOVE that pendant!!
classes and time away always give me inspiration. Even if the class has nothing to do with jewelry (I do nails) I come back fired up for anything creative.
Shannon C
Getting together with friends and crafting together re-energizes me! I recently did this with torch fired enamel, and I am itching to get back to it!
Hi, Cindy! I would say that between cleaning and re-organizing my bead boxes along with desparately wanting to play with silk cord, I'm quite energized with new designs and things to try out bouncing through my head. I'd love to see what you come up with next in your metal clay experiments, I always have fun when I finally get out my polymer clay!
Your pendant is beautiful. You are smart to give in and do new things. It is fun and therapeutic to do something new. I really am inspired in the fall to bring out rich colors - the weather invigorates me and makes me want to create. I have an arm-length list of things for the new year!!!
Still cannot believe I won... thank you sooooooo much ;)
Post a Comment