Hey you Guuuuuuuys!

head shot
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

In case you need something pretty for yourself or for Christmas gifts, I just wanted to let you know that I'm taking part in a Weekend Deal Sale with my fellow Etsymetal Team Members. See this picture here? I'm just sitting by my work bench just waiting for your order!

We are offering 10% off any purchase this weekend. See this link for participating team shops.

This weekend only from Friday, November 13 through Sunday, November 15 you can receive 10% off in any of the fantastic shops listed below!

So, how do you get 10% off?
1. Pick a shop (or several) from the lists below, that you want to buy from.
2. Add your items to your cart.
3. When the "Message to Seller" window comes up at time of purchase, write in it: "Weekend Deals."
4. Follow through with your payment.
5. Wait for your 10% refund from PayPal!

of course you can start with my shop!

:D

BOGO Hoop Sale Now!!!

Starting Friday (Midnight EST) Buy One Pair of Hoops, Get One Pair FREE Sale is now on! This weekend only! 10/30-11/1.

Remember to purchase the pair of the greater value and list the free pair in note to seller. Limit 2 free pair per customer. Be sure to tell all your friends and co-workers about this sale! I'm excited and ready!

See the Hoops Section in my store.

Sterling Handmade Hoop BOGO Sale

I don't have any shows this weekend, so its time for a sale. Buy One Pair of Hoops, Get One Pair FREE! This weekend only! 10/30-11/1.

Remember to purchase the pair of the greater value and list the free pair in note to seller. Limit 2 free pair per customer. Be sure to tell all your friends and co-workers about this sale! I'm excited and ready!

Each pair is lovingly crafted to give you the very best handmade hammered hoops. Simple, plain, hammered, handmade, sterling silver--perfect gift for all on your shopping list!

My First Piece of Metalsmithed Jewelry

I made my first piece of metalsmithed jewelry in 2006 out of copper and kyanite. Being able to cut, form, solder, and set a stone was an incredibly freeing experience for me. I still did not understand all the possibilities or limitations of the metal, but was anxious to figure them out. I began to read Tim McCreight's "Complete Metalsmith" and try to absorb what I could.

I have always wanted to do something that would have the permanence of metal. At the time, I didn't even know how to purchase silver wire or sheet. Silver was going for $8 a troy ounce. So, I got some copper sheet from a local junkyard that was originally intended to be used for flashing around the gutters on roofs. I used a kyanite bead in lieu of a proper cabochon. I learned the old fashioned way with trial and error that kyanite is a soft stone! (Note the damage at one end of the stone.) At the time Gary Pack, a local bench jeweler who "refused to teach," would let me keep him company and would answer my questions as I watched him work. I can't even really remember what I used for solder; I think I may have borrowed some silver solder palates from Gary.

I know, the necklace was quite ambitious for a first piece, but I really wanted to set stones and solder from the beginning. I was also surprised to see the bezel on the turquoise ring, because it turned out so nice for my first time setting a stone in silver. I do remember that Gary suggested filing the bezel then sanding it to get it thinner. (He was not impressed with the thick bezel on the kyanite piece). I still like clean designs. I still like working with gemstones, and I still like to mix metals. I still like feeling that there is so much more to learn and get excited knowing that there is a lifetime to perfect this art.

For other blogs on first pieces of metalsmithed jewelry from amazing artists follow the links!
Nina Gibson http://ninagibsondesigns.blogspot.com/
Danielle Miller-Gilliam http://daniellemillerjewelry.blogspot.com/
Beth Cyr http://bcyrjewelry.blogspot.com
duckduckGoose http://duckduckgoosestuff.co.uk/duckduckBLOG
Caitlyn Davey http://discomedusa.typepad.com
Laura Crawford http://tangerinetreehouse.blogspot.com
Tamra Gentry http://gentrydesignco.typepad.com/
andes cruz - http://andescruz.wordpress.com/
Cynthia Del Giudice: http://cynthiadelgiudice.blogspot.com/
libby Rosas http://elizabethrosasjewelry.blogspot.com
Nina Dinoff http://ninadinoff.blogspot.com
Clare Stoker http://clarestoker.blogspot.com
kerin rose http://kerinrose.blogspot.com
Quercus SIlver http://quercussilver.blogspot.com
Delias Thompson http://deliasstudioinc.blogspot.com

CHARM SWAP 4 Work in Progress

Work in Progress by Charm Swap creator, Experimetal

This summer twenty of our members have been working diligently on the 4th generation of Etsy Metal's Charm Swap charms. Charm Swap 4 participants make 22 charms for the swap with 20 to trade with fellow members. The two extra charms from each of the twenty participants will be available for sale at our etsymetal store. All sale proceeds go towards a charity designated by members of the charm swap. The deadline is fast approaching (August 31) and everyone is keeping me updated with their own works in progress.

Box charm by Quercus Silver

Pierced Flower charm by Blazer Arts

Beginning of Flowers on Vines by Bijougirl Designs

Beginning of the Tree Charm by Kathryn Riechert

Silver Acorn Cap Whistles by Aubergine228

Soon to be stamped dandelion charms by Nina Gibson Designs

Riveted industrial skyscrapers by Maggiej's

Jigsaw Charms by Sara Westermark

Cast Organic charms with Rough Diamonds by Beth Cyr

Pinwheels by Nova Designs

To see charms from earlier swaps, please visit the Etsy Metal Store.
Thanks to all the participants for all your hard work on Charm Swap 4.

holy diamond band

holy diamond band
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

Well I just got this listed in time for being the featured seller on Etsy.com. To read the full article click here.

I'm thrilled and honored to be featured. It means the world to me to be recognized for my work. Its a huge vote of confidence that I'm doing something "right". Rarely do I know if I'm on the right track, but I just keep doing what I love to do and follow the ideas that keep pushing in my brain.

The ring pictured is just like the band I made for my Mom's recent marriage. Congrats to you both--Mom and Mr. Bill. I'm glad that she likes it!

Happy Birthday Sale

flush 4 sapphires
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

Today's my birthday and your lucky day! I'm having a sale in my store until midnight tonight. Every purchase over $30 qualifies for a 20% off discount and free shipping--domestic and international! Come and shop at my etsy store and get that piece that you have been saving up for!

Update on Etsymetal Charm Swap 3

I've been working very hard with Nina Gibson, the etsymetal shop manager, to get all 18 of the 20 charms listed for sale in the Etsy Metal shop. We have already sold two members charms! Congratulations to Kathryn Riechert for selling her seascape charm and to Laurie Brown from Aubergine228 for selling her one of a kind cast seahorse! If you have been following this progress, I just want to remind you that these are limited edition charms and only one is for sale in the etsymetal store--these are rare and true collectors charms. The last charms will be listed this weekend. I'm still waiting for 2 more members' charms to arrive and hopefully they will be here soon. Check out the Etsymetal Store Charm Section!

This photo shows all the charms currently for sale in the Etsy Metal shop. (Note: the doggie charm and the heart charm are being listed this weekend, so be on the look out for them!)

This weekend I'm going to begin to assemble the Etsymetal Charm Swap 3 charm bracelet. When completed it will be offered for sale in the etsymetal store. You can still purchase the charm bracelet from the very first charm swap by etsymetal. We owe all this fun of the charm swap to our member Vic from Experimetal, because this was her brilliant brainchild.

I've already begun to take names for the Etsymetal Charm Swap 4. The due date for that is August 31. Since we just juried in some new members this spring, we've managed to get some of them to sign up too!

Etsymetal Charm Swap 3 Finished Charms

Deadline for the Etsymetal Charm Swap 3 was this past Saturday. I've already received 9 sets of charms in the mail and I love it! Its a bit like Christmas being the curator. I have all these interesting small boxes and envelopes arriving and I am thrilled to get a first peek. Here is your first peek of the finished charms. Limited edition individual charms make great pendants and will be for sale in the Etsymetal store. There will only be two for sale in the store, one for sale as an individual charm and one in a complete charm bracelet. Be the first to get yours!


Experimetal sterling shielded rock charm.


TreAnelli sterling concentric circle charm.


nyhedy with her unique castings.


erosas 14k gold foil and sterling charms


deliasthompson's cobblestone collection


Tuizui's enameled copper and sterling charms


Maggiejs petal and gemstone charm.


NinaGibsonDesigns brass and sterling teacup


KathrynRiechert hand stamped sterling disks with brass rivets.



IstanbulDesigns etched bronze owls.


Ashleyjewelry's charms use copper and polymer clay


rubygirl has filigree and enamel charms


sarawestermark copper and sterling leaves

Charm Swap 3: works in progress continued

Here are the latest photos of our progress in the Etsymetal Charm Swap 3:

At the last minute, with only 4 days to spare, Experimetal had a "change of heart" and decided to do these shielded rock charms.


Maggiejs did a charm version of her petal series.



DeliasThompson made a cobblestone series charm!



Erosasjewelry jumped in with only two weeks left and did this incredible charm using keum bo--a technique that fuses gold leaf to sterling.


Ashleyjewelry has added polymer clay to the copper pierced disks for color and texture!



Treanelli joined at the last two weeks and has been working constantly to get her charms done. These concentric rings will get soldered onto a sterling disk.

Etsy Metal Charm Swap 3 Progress

Just one week away and everyone is working so hard to make the post deadline by Saturday, February 28th! I'm excited to see everyone's design take shape and get closer to the finished charm. Most of all I want to thank everyone for their hard work on this project. If you are getting excited too and want to join in, we will have two sets of charms for sale in the etsymetal store. One set will be assembled into a complete charm bracelet and the other set will be sold per charm. All proceeds benefit etsymetal.


tuizui charm's has the water cast sterling cups each carefully enameled.



rubygirl used antique filigree to make this piece.



ninagibsondesigns is serving up some coffee (or tea!).



aubergine228 made one of a kind castings from natural artifacts.



Kathryn Riechert is making a sun rivet on her scenic charm.



ashleyjewelry made these copper forms to be encased with colorful polymer clay.



stamp has punched over 100 disks to create this charm.



Istanbuldesigns etched her owl design on bronze.

Etsymetal Charm Swap 3 *in progress*

Nina Gibson's charm design from NinaGibsonDesigns. Her charm is going to be a teacup!

Etsymetal's Charm Swap is now in its third generation and I'm very excited to be the curator of this generation. I am very grateful to have the collected wisdom from experimetal and stamp (former currators) to guide me along the process. Here's how it works. Twenty of our team members sign-up to take part in this project. We all donate 22 charms and ship them to the curator. As the curator, I get to sort through all the lovelies and send them out to each participant. The two extra charms from each of the twenty participants will be available for sale at our etsymetal store. One set of charms will be put together as a charm bracelet and the other set will be for sale as individual charms. All sale proceeds go towards the cost of maintaining Etsymetal.

The deadline is fast approaching (Feb 28th) and everyone is keeping me updated with their own works in progress. As a member myself, I wanted to be sure that my charms were done before any of the packages arrived on my doorstep!

Here are some of the other team members and their "works in progress":

experimetal with hand-formed and enameled heart charms.



rubygirl experimenting with colors creating a filigree patterned charm.



IstanbulDesigns hand sketched this Klimt inspired owl to be etched onto brass charms.



aubergine228 has taken orders to make each member's charm from her nature castings. I've requested a fox claw and a seahorse for the EtsyMetal Store.



KathrynReichert is stamping intricate nature scenes on sterling hand cut disks.

tuizui is water casting sterling cups that will be enameled and riveted on to a textured copper square.

sarawestermark is using leaf textured copper ornamented with sterling barbells.

Sara Westermark, Etsymetal member and Etsymetal Charm Swap 3 curator.