ICAP: Supplies and Mockups

Woo-hoo!  The supplies for the Number Poetry Necklaces arrived Monday.  I shall now attempt to turn this:

into some very cool necklaces.  The supplies that arrived include two quarter-sheets of 22 gauge copper, a set of number stamps, 10 hook and eye clasps, a roll of 18 gauge copper wire, and two different lengths of copper chain.  Sadly, the supplier didn't have enough chain, so I have less than I need and will have to be, erm, creative.  And of course, I realize now I should have asked for money to buy sanding sponges, and colored inks, and so on.  Oh well.  It was my first time proposing a budget for a project and I'M LEARNING.

I began by sketching some ideas.  I would show you my sketches but...well, have I told you about the time my elementary school teacher told me I should probably just give up on drawing?  Yeah.  I can't draw.  But I can use the computer to create numbers and then print them out as templates.  So I've been printing out lots of numbers on cardstock.  To figure out the size of the letters, and where to break the lines of poetry, I've been "stamping" the numbers cut out of cardstock.  I started with the #2 necklace, because that design is the clearest in my head.  I had to redo the size of the "2" shapes a few times to get it just right.  Tonight I tried out my idea for the #1 necklace, and realized only a titan could wear it.  Tomorrow I'll redo those stamped strips for the poetry and see if it could maybe fit around a human neck.

As for 3 and 4?  I'm not happy with my sketches for them, so I'll probably make 1 and 2 first, and let the designs simmer at the back of my brain.

ICAP: Interdisciplinary Craft as Art Project

One of the things I'll be working on between now and March is my contribution to the Interdisciplinary Craft as Art Project.  This is a project conceived of and led by students at the university where I work.  It's a great idea.  They asked people who craft to think about creating a project which straddles interdisciplinary lines. 

1...2...3...4

My project is to make four copper necklaces which incorporate mathematical poetry.  Sarah Glaz, of the University of Connecticut, has graciously agreed to let me use her poem "I Am A Number" which you can download and read here.  The poem has four parts, each dedicated to poetically describing the numbers 1, 2, 3 and 4.  My job is to make one necklace dedicated to each number and its verse.  Um....stanza?  Er, maybe I need to consult with the poetry professor about what to call each part of the poem. 

I ordered the copper sheet and supplies today.  Once those arrive, I'll start working on and blogging about this project (with pictures!).


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Lonestar Texas Showcase #13

I'm always amazed at the generosity of artisans and crafters.  One blog, Handmade in TX, features the work of Texas artists.  I submitted an item for last week's showcase, and was delighted to see my dandelion necklace featured this week!  If you get a chance, go check out their blog:

Jewelry Design: Filling in the "V"

I've been putting off writing this post because I don't know the correct terminology for this, but one thing I look for when buying a pendant necklace is what's going on around the neck.  Obviously, this doesn't apply to a string of pearls, or a necklace where the design goes all the way around the neck.  But many necklaces have a center focal component like a cool pendant.  Although the pendant should be the focus, a lot of designers just attach a chain to the pendant and leave it at that.  Here's an example of what I mean:

It's pretty, but aside from the pendant, there's not a whole lot going on.  When I design pendant necklaces, I like to add two more beads about an inch from the center pendant to create a visual "v" in the neckline.  I keep calling this "creating a v" in my listing writeups.  Here's the same necklace, but with the two beads added:

Do you see the difference?  It's simple, but the two additional beads fill in the neckline and draw the eye to the simple (yet super cool) pendant.  So when you go to purchase jewelry, pay attention to the necklace as well as the pendant.

Copper Components

After my introduction to copper earrings at BeadFest Texas, I decided to start playing with copper sheet.  I spent the day sawing, filing, dapping and texturing some components.  Two pairs are for earrings and one is for a pendant.  Here's your sneak peek: