Etsy Metal at the Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show

This past weekend I attended the 2nd Annual Atlanta Contemporary Jewelry Show. The artists in the show represent the pinnacle of contemporary jewelry in the United States. Two of etsymetal's members were represented at this prestigious invite only show--Danielle Miller http://www.daniellemillerjewelry.net/
and Lena Echelle http://www.lenastudio.com/.

While in Atlanta I got to visit with Alicia Istanbul http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5179902 and Ashley Akers http://ashleyakersjewelry.com/home.html. It was great to get to see all of these etsy peeps face to face. I feel like it was a reunion and not a first time meeting. I also got to visit with my talented brother in law, Leif Westermark. We gave him some of Danielle's abacus cufflinks for his birthday and Christmas. He LOVED them.

I got to meet one of my hero's in the metalsmithing world face to face. Harold O'Conner is a world renowned artist who's work has been featured in all the Lark Jewelry Publications, Jewelry Artists by Lapidary Journal, Art Jewelry, and Metalsmith, and his work is in galleries all over the world. For more detailed information please see http://www.haroldoconnor.com/album/index.html

















Lena talking with Alicia and Ashley watching the cases.

Goodbye Enigma Garnets

This past weekend I did a show in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was a lovely show featuring arts and crafts with lots of moms with cherubic infants. In the midst of all this domestic happiness, one of my very favorite pieces was stolen. Enigma garnets was a piece that I drew in my dreams and then fabricated upon waking. I am still "in love" with this piece and I lament its loss, not for monetary reasons, but for sentimental ones. (it was $250) Should you see it, please let me know--I know that it is unlikely, but I'd like to have it returned and will not press charges.

Now I'll have to get cases to show my work in and that makes me a bit sad.

Good bye, enigma garnets.

New Mountain Series

Last week I went to the mountains to meet my EtsyMetal friends at a Gemshow in Ashville, North Carolina. I got some exquisite gemstone beads and loose stones that I am thrilled to get to use in my work. It was estatic to get to meet these metalsmiths in person and I really felt a sense of belonging being in their company.

I got to meet Danielle Miller from http://www.daniellejewelry.etsy.com, Maggie Joynt from http://www.maggiejs.etsy.com, and Beth Cyr from http://www.bcyrjewelry.etsy.com.

My husband asked if I took any pictures of the leaves, but I didn't need to take pictures because I was taking it all in and I knew that it would come out in my work. After the gem show, we went to eat and then I drove an hour away to Maggiejs store in Dillsboro, North Carolina. I am in love with this quaint little place and I must say that my heart aches to go back. Maggies store was artful and cosy and looked as if you took the mountains indoors.

It was a gruelling trip driving 6 hours there and driving back the next day at night took me over 12 hours. I had to nap a lot! One of the highlights on the way back was having a great waffle at a Waffle House somewhere in South Carolina smothered in butter and syrup.

These women are amazing artists and fine people. I am so blessed to have met them! Please check out their etsy stores for your holiday shopping!

HOLLA: bcyr jewelry Birthday Sale!!! Today only!

Today is the Birthday of someone I've very honored to call a friend, metalsmith Beth Cyr. Her organic and nature inspired work features reclaimed materials fashioned with traditional smithing techniques. Not only is she a talented metalsmith, but she is also a gentle, kind and loving soul. In order to properly celebrate her birthday, Beth is having a 40% off sale with free shipping in her etsy shop. I hope that you will take advantage of this one day sale and stock up on Christmas presents! http://www.bcyrjewelry.etsy.com

I am in love with her tree bark rings and hope to get one like this someday!!!!

Jewelry Contest by Ashley Akers!!!

I absolutely love Ashley Akers jewelry! Right now you can go to her blog and register to win some of her handmade jewelry!

http://ashleyakers.blogspot.com/2008/10/two-contests-two-chances-to-win.html

I've entered her twitter contest!  I'm learning how to "twitter"--I must say that it looks like fun.

Anole lizard just hatched

My husband checked the lizard egg that he has been watching and noticed that it hatched. We couldn't resist taking pictures of this little thing! This is newly hatched anole lizard, which are a type chameleon that are common in the southeastern coastal area. They grow to be about 3-4 inches long and have beautiful color. this one fit on top of your fingertip! When angry or threatened they turn browish black. When happy they are a lovely shade of green. During mating season the males blow up the bottom of their throat, which is a bright red color used to attract females. They can "drop" their tales when threatened to escape an enemy. My cat still terrorizes these pretty little lizards.

Revamp my etsy store

Yesterday I worked on adding more text to my site and improving my announcement. SO here's my ARTIST STATEMENT....I am not sure what draws me to create, but I feel compelled to ornament the human experience with constructs of my imagination. I see beauty in clean lines and in quiet and reflective pieces. The moon, shrouded in mystery, is a constant source of inspiration and the pieces I create resonate with the deepest parts of my human experience, which no words can express.....My style has been defined as industrial chic crossed with organic. My shop features my original designs handfabricated by me in sterling silver, copper, gold, pearls, champagne diamonds, precious & semi-precious gemstones.

http://www.sarawestermark.etsy.com