Experimetal's RAD no. 22: My favorite Ring a Day

rad 22 (left)
Originally uploaded by experimetal

Since the beginning of the year a group of international artists have been participating in a project to create one ring a day for 365 days of 2010. We have abbreviated our "Ring a Day" title to simply "RAD." We post our work on flicker in a "Ring a Day" group.

So after 31 days of straight ring making and 228 members, I had to pick one, only one favorite ring to blog on for the blog carnival. There were so many rings that I wanted to pick as my favorite ring of the day, but this one by Victoria Takahashi of Experimetal, really left an impact on me. This ring is so perfect to me in many ways. To begin with it is visually appealing in its industrial setting. I can't help but to see a bit of the 1980's version of "Superman" here. Perhaps the fond nostalgia I have at seeing "Superman" with Christopher Reeves on the screen for the first time as a young girl impacts this decision. Nonetheless, It is brilliant how Experimetal anchored the beads in this setting and then echoed the crystal towers look in the setting with the strips of sterling on the sides. Sometimes my head spins when I see another one of her pieces. She has a vision and endless creativity that I admire. To me, and she would hate that I would say this, is one of the most talented metalsmiths I know. Her work is cohesive, skillful, playful, and is distinctly hers. I hated to pick just one ring from all the other smiths out there, but there is something in this piece and in her body of work as a whole that really resonates with me. To see the rest of her work on flicker click this link.

To see more blogs featuring our favorite Ring a Days please see these arttists:
Alisa Miller
Colleen Baran
Danielle Miller
stacey hansen
Chris Parry
kerin rose
Victoria Takahashi
Su Trindle
Nina Dinoff
Maureen "Cosmo's Moon" BZ
Thomasin Durgin
Beth Cyr
Caitlyn Davey/discomedusa
Catherine Chandler

Happy December!

turquoise ring
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

I decided to start off this month with a section in my etsy store for December birthstones. The traditional stone is blue topaz, but the alternate is Turquoise. I really love mottled turquoise with lots of green. I have a section on etsy where I have all my turquoise and blue topaz listed. If you need a birthday gift this month, then you know where to go!

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!

ETSY Weekend Deals!

I was doing my morning work, getting orders made and ready to ship when I noticed this picture in the etsy Storque Weekend Specials. I was thrilled to say the least and I feel very blessed for all the recent good fortune. I am grateful to my family, friends, etsy, etsymetal and to God. I really feel that there is some divine force steering my life for me. So I will continue what I'm doing and remember always to "pay it forward" and to "do the next right thing".

champagne diamond stacker

champagne diamond stacker
Originally uploaded by sarawestermark

I just finished this today and I'm really excited! I already listed it in my etsy store and I hope to have more ready soon. I want to do a series of gemstone 18k and sterling stacker rings in round and square ring shanks. My next project is to begin on the 18k chocolate diamond ring for the 7th Annual Chocolate Festival here in Wilmington!