RAD 5/365

Tuesday evenings I go to Warrior Fitness Boot Camp where two marines encourage/guilt me into moving until I can move no more. I wanted to do a simple paper ring tonight but I saw the green netting on the organic garlic and was inspired to make this piece. It’s not as neat as I’d like, but I can barely move my arms.

Sterling silver wire wrapped ring, green plastic netting.

RAD 4/365 – Back to Work

In honour of the first work day of 2010.

Magnetic strip from MTA Subway pass, 14kt Gold-filled wire

RAD 3/365

This was a lot of work for a very, very short time with the ring.

For today's ring I made a mold of a ring I'd made from 14kt gold. I filled the mold with water and froze it. Freezing destroyed the mold, so I only got one chance to take the photo before both the ring and the mold were lost.

I tried to get a shot of the ring on my finger, but it melted too quickly. Overall I'm pleased with this and I think I will try it again, but next time I'm going to make the ring out of ice rather than a simple ice version of an existing design.

Ring A Day 2010

My friend and fellow metalsmith Nina suggested the Ring a Day challenge to EtsyMetal, a group of metalsmiths who sell on Etsy.

Initially I wasn't going to do it as I have a fairly demanding day job and working out of a tiny home studio means I am very limited in what I can do.

Looking at the first set of rings, and seeing Kathryn Riechert's interpretation of the challenge expanded my vision of what a ring could be and made me realize that imagination is the most important tool, so I joined in.

Kathryn's "Ruby" Ring

Here is my first ring

Stem from a bunch of grapes, 14k gold-filled wire, faceted White Topaz briolette.

Window Shopping

I am on a buying hiatus while I sort out my apartment (nothing is allowed to come in until we find a place for everything I currently own), but that hasn't stopped me looking.

DaisyCakeSoap's soaps and MirasolFarm's jelly are consumables, so technically won't take up permanent residence in my home, but still I'm sticking to the original plan.

Once I'm done though, I'm rewarding myself with these and TwoTtringJane's Avant Garde Handmade Gold Studded All Over Leather Ankle Boots, and I'm sure I can find some wall space for BethRetroPhotography's ethereal print.

Toronto Style

I went to Toronto in July to visit my friend, and fellow metalsmith, Tosca. She took me to milliner Wildhagen Wear to see a hat she thought I'd like. She was right, I did. So much so that I ordered one and it arrived today.

Though as NYC hit 90 today I won't get to wear it for a while.

Cleaning My Clutter

A colleague lent me Karen Kingston's Clean Your Clutter with Feng Shui early last year. Since reading the book I have donated, given or thrown away more bags of clutter than I care to admit, yet I still feel over whelmed by my space and the stuff that made it through my marathon cleaning sessions.


I have decided to hand the problem over to the experts and am meeting with Laura Cattano, an Organizational Design maven tomorrow morning.

Just looking at Laura's website is a calming experience and after seeing photos of her beautifully put together apartment I knew I had to work with her.

Photo from ApartmentTherapy.com

Admittedly, I'm a little nervous about having someone become so intimately acquainted with the depth of total chaos and lack of style that make up my living and work space, but not as excited as I am about finally being comfortable in my home.

I'll make sure to post before and after pics.