October 23, 2015 1 Comment
If you don't already know about Creative Live (www.creativelive.com), then you are in for a treat. I just discovered it a couple of months ago and...I am hooked. What is it you ask? Well, it is an amazing site that allows you to learn and be inspired with live online workshops...for free! That's right, free!
Taught by some of the world's leading experts, you can tune in to workshops on topics such as photography, video, design, business, social media, music, crafting and software training. Most workshops are eight hours in length, and if you watch them live on the first broadcast, you can ask questions and interact with the instructors. I say first broadcast because, in addition to offering live interactive courses, they are often rebroadcast from time to time...again, free of charge.
Now if you can't set aside the time to join them live, you can purchase on-demand, downloadable videos of the courses to view at your own pace. Pricing is discounted while the live workshop is being broadcast...and the prices are very affordable.
Enjoying a nice day on the porch watching Creative Live.
I don't know about you, but I've paid for several courses and workshops over the years that just didn't live up to my expectations and I hated that I wasted money. Every course I've seen on Creative Live has been exceptional and I walk away bursting with so much valuable information. The first workshop I watched was a one week boot camp with five different instructors each day on five related topics. After watching it live, I had to buy it so I could watch it again...and again...and again. It takes awhile for things to sink in for me ;)
So anyway, I suggest you check them out if you have a passion that needs fueling. I guarantee you will be amazed! (By the way, this endorsement is my own and not sponsored by Creative Live.)
Until next time,
November 22, 2015 2 Comments
It won't be long now before most of us will be dragging out the Christmas tree. You'll dig through all those boxes in your attic to find the one containing the assortment of ornaments you've collected over the years and reminisce as you hang each one on the tree. Why not add a unique handcrafted keepsake ornament to the mix? The two ornaments from my collection were very popular with buyers last year. In fact, I was working 14-16 hour days just to keep up with demand! Then, just 12 days before Christmas, they were featured on the front page of Etsy's Holiday section and so many orders pored in that I ran out of copper! I'm not complaining mind you. But I am hoping to get a little more sleep this year. I've gotten a head start this season by creating a bundle of the basic shapes.
Here's a behind-the-scenes creative process for the tree shaped ornament. I begin by stamping the design on a sheet of 22 gauge copper using a rubber stamp. Then it hangs out in the etchant for an hour or so getting a little jiggle from time to time to release the etched particles.
The next step is sawing the detailed tree shape around the etched design. It's a rather intricate process but I've been practicing and have gotten to be pretty fast. :)
After dipping it in liver of sulfur which gives it a dark patina, I toss it in the rotary tumbler to smooth those rough edges and give it strength. Finally, I brush on the protective coating and in 48 hours, it's dry and ready to add the personalized banner and star.
Once again, using my trusty jeweler's saw, I saw out the banner and star shapes from a sheet of brass. After carefully measuring the spacing, I grab the hammer and...bang, bang, bang...I stamp the name and year using metal stamps. After repeating the same steps as the tree...liver of sulfur, tumble polishing and protective coating, I then connect them to the tree with tiny rivets. The final step is to add the brass wire for the hanger.
As you can see, lots of detail go into making these special ornaments as I want them to be treasured for many years to come. Choose the Christmas Tree design featured here or Baby's First Christmas. Both can be found in the Christmas Ornament Collection.
Hope you have a stress free holiday season!
July 19, 2015 2 Comments
So, I've had my website and blog up and running for a few months now and decided it's time to share with you how I got started making jewelry.
I have always had a love for creating things. For years, I dreamed of being able to make a living using my creative talents. My first love was photography...specifically, landscapes and nature. I love traveling and being outdoors and took up photography to capture the beauty God created. As you may know, the best light for outdoor photography is sunrise and sunset. I spent many vacations waking up early in the morning and trekking to my scouted destination in the dark in order to be there at sunrise. The image below was taken on a beautiful chilly morning in the Grand Tetons. When I arrived at the location I had chosen the day before, I saw that someone had set up a small tent and spent the night in order to be there at first light. First light came and went and finally a guy crawls from the tent only to realize he had slept through the morning light. He was not a happy camper...literally. The Rocky Mountains are a magical place for me. (Sorry for the image quality...I snapped this from a framed print under glass. This was long before the digital age so I have only have negatives and the print I made).
As much as I love travel photography, I wanted to find something that I could do at home. As a child, I had taken art lessons in pastels and oil but had always loved the fluidity of watercolor. I signed up for a watercolor class and fell in love with the medium. And I had oodles of subject matter to choose from...my portfolio of outdoor photos! One of my favorite watercolors is this colorful sunflower painting.
Then one day I was browsing the internet looking for a specific style necklace and found one I liked from a wonderful shop on Etsy. That necklace inspired me to try designing a piece of jewelry for myself. I headed out to Michaels to buy beads, wire and a few other supplies, sat down to "create" and...nothing. I would string a few beads together, decide I didn't like the design...try it again with different beads...still didn't like the design. Stringing beads into a pleasing design was harder than I expected. So after a few days of "beading" without being happy with the outcome, I put jewelry making aside.
But I've never been a quitter and I couldn't quit thinking about it. I continued to be inspired by other artists' work. Metalwork began to appeal to me so I decided to read and watch videos to learn more about becoming a metalsmith. I went to a local bead show and purchased a jeweler's saw, a dapping punch set, metal stamps and copper. After spending time with my new tools, my true love affair with jewelry design began.
At the time, I was working full-time in the marketing field but was thinking ahead to the day I could devote more time to my creative aspirations. Although I had sold a few photographs and watercolor paintings, I realized that designing jewelry was more in line with my desire to make a living doing something I love. So after a couple of years creating pieces for myself, family and friends, I decided to venture into the world of Etsy and share my designs with others. It has now been nearly five years since I opened my shop and I am thrilled to have so many wonderful customers who have made my business a success!.
In late 2013, I began designing and selling jewelry full time. I am very fortunate to be able to do something I love and so thankful God blessed me with the talent and skills to make it all possible. The takeaway from this is...dreams do come true. Just keep chasing that dream...one day it will happen.
Blessings,
May 19, 2015 1 Comment
I am loving tribal designs so much right now. I've been cutting out feathers and arrows with my trusty jeweler's saw and love how they are turning out. These three different feather designs include etched copper, sterling silver and hammered copper, all with a soldered sterling silver shaft and quill.
Using a variation on the mixed metal arrow bracelet in my shop, I'm now offering a sterling silver arrow necklace with or without the words "BE BRAVE." It's a fun piece...I made myself one and wear it every day!
I've also collected quite a few metal design stamps with native american and southwest designs. I love making unique one-of-a-kind pendants with tribal markings. I have even tried my hand at making my own design stamps which is so cool because they will be truly unique and not mass produced.
You can check out my tribal designs in the "Free Spirit" collection in my shop. I have lots of ideas swimming around in my head so check back often for new designs.
Later,
Kristin Aka Wildfirekristin
November 22, 2015
Awesome!!! I’m going to try that site on my insomniac nights!