Artist Profile: Metalsmiths Unite!

Rhodonite Abstract Tree of Life Pendant

Rhodonite Abstract Tree of Life Pendant

One of the groups that I’m fond of is Metalsmiths Unite! It is a community of metalsmith artisans who join together on facebook. We come from all walks of life and are scattered across the globe. Once a year we come together during the Tucson Gemshows, where many of us come to buy raw materials for our work, for a midnight bonfire and chat about life over wine. Our founder Maureen usually hosts a couple of interesting demonstrations in her quaint little studio, hung with chile pepper lights.

I am featured in an artist profile for the group. I hope you’ll stop by and read it and see what Metalsmiths Unite! is all about. There are many fine artisans connected with the blog there.

Metalsmiths Unite! Artist Profile

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Jazz in the Pines

Jazz in the Pines

Listening to Jazz under the Pine Trees in Idyllwild

One of my favorite events to sell my jewelry is the Idyllwild Jazz in the Pines Music Festival. People come from all over Southern California and beyond to relax under the parachute shade cover with a glass of wine and share great music with someone they love. There is dancing all day, plenty of booths of handcrafted fine arts to shop at and lots of great food to enjoy. It makes a perfect get away.

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Featured Artist at Kelsi’s Jewelbox Design Journal

I am the featured artist this week at Kelsi’s Jewelbox Design Journal. Melissa Muir has been kind enough to interview me, not only about my artwork, but about my design space. Please stop by and check out her journal. It has lots of interesting tidbits for artisan jewelers or artists in general.

Kelsi’s Closet Jewelbox Design Journal

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Comic Con 2011

Comic Con Art Show Table Closeup

Comic Con Art Show 2011

I am exhibiting my jewelry at the 2011 Comic Con Art Show.  My table is in the back of the art show, in front of the windows where all the people that are waiting to register for the convention are forced to wait.  Tens of thousands of people will pass by my jewelry each day of the convention even if they don’t enter the art show proper.  I’ve been exhibiting at Comic Con for four or five years now and am proud to be one of the many artists on display there.

If you happen to be going to Comic Con this year, do stop by the art show.  There are many artists on display to view in the gallery and offerings to purchase that range from fantasy/sci-fi art prints to costume items or jewelry offerings like mine.  We are on the upper level near registration and the lunch court.

 

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Artist Profile: NiceGirlsTV.com

Back in 2009, one of the editors of NiceGirlsTV.com was viewing the artwork in the Comic Con Art Show where I was exhibting my artisan jewelry.  After the venue, I was contacted and asked if they might do a profile on me.  Well, these things take a little time and at long last the profile is now spotlighted on their website.  Please do follow the link and pay them a visit.  It’s an interesting news site. :)

Artist Spotlight: Wendy Van Camp

Sterling Carnelian Tree of Life Pendant on Black Spinel Necklace

Sterling Carnelian Tree of Life Pendant on Black Spinel Necklace

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New Home for Indigoskye Bead Fashions Website

Welcome to the new online home of Indigoskye Bead Fashions.  I’ve decided to drop my former web hosting service and to move over to wordpress.com for my jewelry blog and website.  The tools here are easy to use, which is fantastic! It is my hope that I will be able to present plenty of examples of my work for everyone to see and keep my booth schedule more easily posted here.

As time goes on, I will be posting more updates here on the blog.  Thanks for stopping by!

My RenFaire Booth

My RenFaire Booth

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Grove of Tree of Life Pendants

Copper Tree of Life Pendants

Copper Tree of Life Pendants

The tree of life pendant is a staple of my jewelry line, harkening to my celtic roots (if you’ll forgive the pun!)  This year I’m making them slightly smaller in diameter, 1 1/2 inches and making them of more affordable copper wire. I’m creating the woven bails big enough to accommodate a 6mm neckwire.  These five will be available at the upcoming Escondido Renfaire in April.  The stones featured are unakite, garnet, amethyst and peridot.

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Sterling Poker Champion Bracelet

Mensa Poker Champion Bracelet Commission

Mensa Poker Champion Bracelet Commission

This is a commissioned sterling silver bracelet for the 2010 Mensa Society Poker Tournament. It was the grand prize for the winner of the 100+ participant tourney. The bracelet is hand forged and stamped and tumble polished to a high sheen. The design of the focal was provided by the head of the tournament committee. I think that it is the most lettering I’ve ever put on a bracelet before. The band is handwoven chainmaile in helm weave. It measures 10″ in length since it was designed to be worn by a man, however since a woman won the tournament, I am resizing it down to around 8″.

I am available to make custom poker champion bracelets.  Each one is a unique creation featuring a handwoven chainmaile band and a custom hand stamped focal with the name and year of your event.

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Anvils and Hammers: Hand Stamping in a Small Studio

I’ve recently published an article on the equipment that I use for hand stamping.  I make many poker tournament champion bracelets and hand stamp the event and year on each one to customize it.  Recently, I’ve wanted to use more intricate stamps to create designs on cuff bracelets and pendants and discovered that my old tool setup was not working as well as I would have wished.  The results of my tool research are in the article.  I hope you’ll stop by and read it if you are into hand stamping jewelry.

JewelryLessons.com: Anvils and Hammers for Hand Stamping in a Small Studio

Railroad Track Anvil

Railroad Track Anvil

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Copper Penannular Brooch

Copper Penannular Kilt Pin

Copper Penannular Kilt Pin

This is a 2″ Copper Penannular Brooch or Kilt Pin. It is an ancient design dating back to the middle ages and was used to fasten shawls, tartans and cloaks. My pin is made of heavy gauge copper wire that has been hand forged and textured. A simple copper coil is added to each side to add interest.  You wear it by threading the material through the pin and then twisting it to trap the shawl or kilt in place.  The pins are heavy, but striking.

This is the first of several I have planned to make over the next week or two, just in time for the Las Vegas Highland Games coming up mid-April.

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