Mark your Calendars - Pop Up Shop Next Week!

 Mark Your Calendars! Pop Up Shop Coming Soon!

WHAT -  Pop Up Shop featuring vintage goods, mid century furniture, industrial storage + tools and books.

Also featuring - handcrafted modern jewelry by Amanda Thon Metalsmith.

This is a great chance to support small businesses during the holidays + scoop up some really unique items.

WHERE - 305 S. Washington Ave Titusville, Florida

Located just off the main drag (US 1)  in downtown Titusville under the giant HARDWARE Store sign.

Terri's building was built in 1915 she and her husband Jon have tastefully restored it to its current state. 

If you are into building restoration / renovation it is one of the coolest I've seen!  

WHEN -  4 - 9 pm Friday Nov. 30 + 10 - 6  Saturday Dec. 1, 2012

*** As a bonus there is also Food Truck Wars going on downtown during this weekend too! So if you need a little excitement and live in Central Florida head on over! 

We'd love to see you there!

Terr's extensive stapler collection - all available for purchase!

Super neat floor to ceiling shelving - original to shop.

Similar.

Cool Sculpture made by the Dutch folks at Hoogte Twee Architecten seen in action HERE.

Reminds me of THIS:

Some to be made "home for my files" out of PVC pipes. This will sit nicely on my workbench and be made from materials currently lying dormant on the side of my house. Check out the How To here!

Perhaps once I make a small cube I'll make a larger one the whole neighborhood can enjoy...

(Somehow I seriously doubt they'd be into it...sadly!)

Thanks for Reading!

(Next Post - Freshly made metal things).

Tool Makers

Checkout the useful lifetime tools created by these fella in Latvia at Neeman Tools! 

These would make awesome Christmas gifts! 

"It is a tragedy of the first magnitude that millions of people have ceased to use their hands as hands. Nature has bestowed upon us this great gift which is our hands. If the craze for machinery methods continues, it is highly likely that a time will come when we shall be so incapacitated and weak that we shall begin to curse ourselves for having forgotten the use of the living machines given to us by God."

Mahathma Ghandi

Nice Work - David Neale Goldsmith

For all you makers of stuff out there I'll be posting a new series a few times a month called Nice Work.

It will feature people who make work (or things) I like -the featured person could be a product designer, fine artist - or a fine craft maker....anyone who makes an object!

Aluminum Comb - David Neale
Methods of Construction - sawing, carving (I assume some filing?)

This month it happens to be David Neale - an Australian goldsmith who has a pretty interesting life story (so far). He has a nice interview up currently which you can read here - on the site Visual Diary. 

After a life threatening lung injury he had to change his methods of making things in order to keep being a goldsmith. His thoughtful and funny BLOG is one I read weekly - as I am always interested to see what kind of things he is up to. He also is very specific about the processes he uses to make his work - and gives readers a peek into his studio when he has a cool project going or new tool acquisition.

Snake Ring - David Neale
Methods of Construction - sawing

His work is available for PURCHASE on his website. I'm a fan and think anyone interested in making should pop on over to his sites and give it a look! Your eyes and brain will not be sorry!

Thanks for reading!

I concur.

Wait! What if your objective is groping? Guess you've got it covered then...

Bands I like - Shovels & Rope

When life get me down - or I'm stuck in doing everything BUT what I'd actually LIKE to be doing I try to make my life a little better with music. My latest find is the band Shovels & Rope -  a duo who not only make some outstanding music - but who also seem very relate-able.

 In an age of pop superstars and pictures that have been Photoshopped to hell and back relatability often gets overlooked. Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent comprise the band Shovels & Rope. They are a married couple who go on the road travelling and playing together. While they both are musically talented solo - I think they really shine as a duo! 

Support these guys so they can make us more music!

I promptly added them to my collection and think you should do them same!

Buy a shirt or CD, won't ya?

Library land. Books + Stuff folks do with 'em.

So, during the day (and occasionally nights) I work as a librarian. While you might think this may be dull you would be incorrect - as my library patrons are always up to something! I've created a few little book sculptures for around our library but these would be really cool to put out for a display - full time!

This book igloo is awesome - it would be a really neat thing for kid's to discover in our children's room. (We'd have to glue it together with some seriously strong adhesive to prevent injuries + law suits of course!)

Sculpture by Colombian artist Miler Lagos. The piece was constructed at MagnanMetz Gallery late last year using carefully stacked books to create a compact dome that is entirely self-supporting.

The two pieces above are by artist Brian Dettmer.

He painstakingly crafts these intricate sculptures from pages and pages of books. I particularly enjoy the wall plaques - I think they'd be great if they were made a library signs directing patrons to different areas of the library. Though  it does seem a little cannibalistic to have a sign made of books directing you to them.... 

Statement

Artist Martin Frost paints elaborate scenes on the edges of books. He even creates miniature versions.

Librarians would be all about this because you can still use the books he paints on - though I'm not sure Mr. Frost would be thrilled about that. Reminds me a little of illuminated manuscripts due to the reuse of an already existing item.

The English artist Su Blackwell creates elaborate and intricate worlds by constructing and building sculptures out of the pages of books.  I think these would be a great tabletop display on a high counter top at eye level. We'd probably have to protect them by encasing it in a glass cloche or box. Libraries are basically dust factories and produce great breeding grounds for dust mites and spiders. I am sure they are looking to relocate to a nicer dwelling as industrial bookshelves just aren't that cozy.

Thanks for reading!

Have a great Labor Day Weekend!

Check back next week for jewelry updates!



Kickstarter Favorites

I've been visiting the site Kickstarter - both as research for an upcoming project and because there are some really awesome items you can't find anywhere else!

I've already backed a much needed textbook project by a philosophy professor and am always on the lookout for cool projects that need help getting off the ground.

Kickstarter is a great way to provide funding for makers and get a cool product you'd want anyways!

You never know what products a business will offer up in the future - especially if they have the capital and an audience provided by loyal funders + customers.

Here are my favorite Kickstarter items this week!

Check back for the lowdown on my own project in a few weeks.

The Keylet is a super option for folks who don't have many keys to carry.

They also offer a key holder for people who have lots of keys.

 I think this would be awesome as a key holder for running (or as I call it gasping for air and flailing around).

Kenji Prince is a barber who came up with the Old Familiar Comb.

Available in several models this seems like a sustainable alternative to the cheap plastic combs I keep replacing after I break them. (Yes, I am a woman who uses a COMB people - it takes up way less room than a brush in my purse!)

As a former preschool teacher I know kids would all over these Children's ABC Wallet Cards by Marie Claire Camp. Heaven knows we need more toys/learning tools that aren't aesthetically horrendous.

I think these fit the bill and are like nothing I've seen on the market.

I need some new flat art - and I like these paintings/collages by Megan Stroech.

She's promoting a project called Misremembering New Works on Kickstarter with some pretty cool incentives.

Thanks for reading + have a good weekend!

Oooh Metallicky...

I love kinetic and mechanical objects and these stars are no exception!

Here's a Neat Video with John Kostick about his fold able stars based on mathematical principals.

These suckers are available in 3 sizes over at Design Within Reach - check 'em out!

These have been in production since 1965 and are made in the USA!

Kate over at  Matchbook roams the Internet matching books covers (art in it's own right) with bathing suits!

I like the print of this metallic suit and the printing style of this book cover too!

The Candela Cube Light is minimalist and could be lumped into the whole stained glass/cube/terrarium trend sweeping over the DIY/design sites. But, I think it deserves a chance - I'm sure would look really different in person...but I think I like it!

I'm pretty sure these would be great shoes if you were a pimp.

In fact, should I ever take up that profession I think I'll buy myself a pair...maybe 2 in case one gets dirty or I loose a shoe. But, what color socks would I wear??? Seriously Robert Clergerie Jasc has some cool shoes made in France. Perfect for someone...maybe Ceelo!!!

       That's right - throwin' a little subtle at ya! 

I love the combination of neutrals with a touch of  metallic!!!

 I'm VERY excited about this nice collection of Washi Tape curated by Melanie on over at CraftyJapan on Etsy.... So excited I think it might need to come live with me!!!

Thanks for Reading!



Interview + Giveaway

Sterling Silver and Resin Earrings. All hand fabricated individually by myself!

Krista over at The Bright Side Project asked to do a interview about me and my business. 

It's set to air today with an interview first then the giveaway!

This small interview is accompanied by a giveaway of 2 pairs of Sterling Micro Posts.

One person will receive a pair in a nice Seafoam Green and the other winner will receive a Neon Coral pair!

These earrings are SUPER tiny (think less than 1/4 of the size of a pencil eraser 3mm) and hand fabricated from scratch.

*The only catch is that you must answer a thought provoking question with utter sincerity (and humor too) but only if you'd like to WIN! This question will be posted at the end of the interview. 

Check back HERE later this week for a chance to win some work from me!

Everything I make is totally handmade in my sweltering studio. I design, cut, bend, measure, solder, file and sand every speck of jewelry that comes out of my shop. I hand mix industrial resin (which is made specifically for jewelry), heat treat it inside the piece of silver for hours, and do some MORE sanding and polishing! Only THEN is the work finished and sent to it's new home! 

I'm currently working on putting some new work up over at my Etsy shop, finishing a few custom orders, and dreaming of lost wax casting. My fabrication process is so labor intensive that I am only offering items "AS IS" for the time being. If you see something you LIKE snap it up!

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Etsy Favs - Office Edition

I'm in the middle of reorganizing both my studio and home office at astonishing "snail like" slowness.

Whenever I watch a snail traveling I can't help but think they must be very single minded.

 It looks like it takes all of their concentration just to propel themselves towards their goal.

Perhaps they are actually relaxed about it - they do have a home that travels with them!

Snails are the ultimate RVers - which is pretty cool. I wouldn't mind having a built in stuff quota due to my biology! I don't possess my imagined qualities of a snail as I am constantly pulled in other directions by life events and my family. Hence my studio and office refurb slowness.

Here are a few of my Office Favs from Etsy - in order to encourage a little more imagining about organization. Which will hopefully lead to my actually being organized someday!

Laboratory 424 operates out of Washington State. I've been having a hard time of finding modern yet affordable storage solutions when I can across this shop. I really love this system of organizing they have thought up! You can purchase this minimal and very cool storage solution - I'd probably use it for all my sewing hand tools and drafting rulers. They also offer clever solutions for laptops and Wii controls.  

cOveTable CuriOsitiEs on Etsy offers wide a selection of supplies and vintage smalls.

I think these Vintage Map Tacks would add a little pop of color to the even the drabbest of bulletin boards.

You could also use them to track the places you've been on a retro or vintage map - full wall sized preferred of course!

GoodDay Gentlemen  has a variety of vintage items that fellas may dig.

I happen to be quite taken with this Electric Pencil Sharpener.

The minimalist lines of this white typewriter could be the result of a sordid tryst between R2D2 and something in a Dwell magazine. I like it - a shame they didn't have more!

I'd be happy with it occupying a space on mys typing table!

 

 

 

No office could be complete without a bookshelf, right?

This Custom Modern Bookshelf made by Amit Sturlesi Design is a simple alternative to a pile of books on the floor, or the standard rows of books.

This would be an interesting design to cover an entire floor to ceiling wall.

 

Thanks for reading!

*** In case you can't stand the anticipation the next Etsy Favs will be about vintage 

writing utensils - as it is my newly acquired hobby!

Modern Wooden Jewelry



Dorothea Pruhl Moths necklace elm wood
http://www.dorothea-pruehl.de/

While I was in Germany last Spring I was allowed to use the library of my friend and  fellow metalsmith Leticia Domingues. On her shelf I found a terrific slim volume of Dorothea Pruhl's necklaces entitled Colliers. I've been enamored of her wooden necklaces ever since! 



Djurdjica Kesic Wooden Pins
http://www.djurdjicakesic.com/



I'd gladly welcome even an interior designed by Djurdjica Kesic. These modern pins give me the thoughts of hardworking hands carving away and bringing to mind wooden objects made in the 1950's and the studio furniture movement. They also look like they would be very fun to play with!

Djurdjica Kesic Wooden Pins (more)

 

Beppe Kessler Seek and Find Broach
http://www.beppekessler.nl/

                 I love the use of color in this Beppe Kessler Broach!  

Gustav Reyes organic Coil bracelet
http://gustavreyes.com/



 This Gustave Reyes bracelet has great form! Though I'm not a huge bangle wearer I'd wear this in a heartbeat! I can't help but want to see furniture designed by this artist too!

Now that these artists have helped me see the amazing things you can make with wood I've got my collector's eyes focused on wood scraps everywhere I go!

Thanks for reading!

Awesome Work Spaces

I'm in the middle of revamping and moving tools in my garage workspace. Just in time for the sweltering summer heat in Florida - which always seems to be the time I need to work the most!

Here are some really cool work spaces to tide you over until my next post! :)

Thanks for reading!

Minimal Workspace of  Grey + Greg Studio

Super tricked out workbench belonging to jeweler Mason Cutchin of Chapel Hill, NC.

Steve Lindsey owner of Anthoine Machine Works

A nifty double decker space. I think the top floor is living space - this live/work space is located in San Fran.
 Found via Dwell magazine.

Brandon Donalman workspace - nice and roomy.

Workshop Shots

The bench area!

If you have made a purchase and wondered where your jewelery item 

originated - the answer is My Workshop! 

Watchmaker's bench - I mostly use this for tool storage!

Jeweler's Bench - this is where all the hardwork gets done!



Sterling + Resin Production Work

 New Resin earrings available in my Etsy shop! Perfect for Summer 2012 and Beyond!

Get 'em while they last over at Amanda Thon Metalsmith !!!

Thanks for looking!

Process Shots of New Production Work

Sterling silver post earrings and stacking rings.

Drop earrings that will be kinetic and attached to each other with u shaped connections.

Here are some new items I've been working on for my Etsy shop!

They are all fabricated by hand, hand finished and then will be filled with hand colored resin.

Thanks for looking!