STARTING OVER AGAIN

I am busy creating a new web site, complete with a store and a shopping cart. It is up and running, so please check it out and leave comments or ask questions using the contact link found in the navigation bar. Lots to learn yet, and much inventory to be added as I work on it… so it is definitely a work in progress www.carolholaday.com

Studio With a View

The studio pictured above was new a couple of years ago. It was formally a large, empty shed at the bottom of the back yard that I built my studio within. This view of it is from the kitchen window and includes the Monterey Bay in the background.

This is the workbench where much of the designing and making happens. It is just one corner of the room and there are numerous other areas where additional processes take place. I’ll share a more extensive studio tour later.

---

New Photo Set-up

---

I purchaced this lighting kit after a friend shared it on Facebook. I’ve been searching for a system that would work with my iPhone for quick product shots for the new website shop. Kit includes two 16” soft boxes, two sturdy tripods, and two daylight balanced bulbs. All fits perfectly on the multi-purpose table in my jewelry studio. Best of all, under $50!

---

In addition to the lighting kit, the set-up also includes these items purchased separately: a GorillaPod flexible tripod, a clamp for the phone… each with a ball head… and a bluetooth shutter release.

2019 into 2020

Continuing to electro-etch copper, brass and silver.

Played with granulation and fusing techniques (no solder) for developing strong pattern and textures. I fused fine silver to sterling silver for the bands, fine silver to fine silver for the bezels, and added a little 24K for the touch of gold. I found the thin plate of silver with “friendship” stamped on it when searching for a little lift for the stone in the setting… especially meaningful as the marble beach pebble from Greece was given to me by my good friend Jan.

More recently I have returned to enameling to add color to the etched copper.

CATCHING UP

2018 Year End Report

Six months of etching adventures to catch up on. There are lots of etched plates with notes and photos to share, several new tools to show and tell, a few metal working techniques used to make the finished jewelry, plus photos of some of my favorite finished pieces made using the process. The fun of making and learning continues. Sharing the learning is next.

Here is a start. These five photos illustrate just a few of the many steps I take in the creation of a new design. It starts with the inspiration and results in a unique piece of jewelry.

• 

  fossil coral stone

• 

  photo transformed for resist

• 

  Using a template

• 

  Forming band with punch

• 

  Etched Silver Ring

Check back later to see more of the steps if you are curious and to learn about what is new with my techniques for electro-etching both copper alloys and silver. I continue to learn from others who practice the techniques and share their knowledge freely on the Facebook Electro-Etchers Anonymous Group page. It is interesting to read about the various methods used to arrive at the desired end. No single one way best for all. My purpose in sharing is to say what is working for me at this time. Anyone looking back at my earliest etching posts will see how much my methods have changed over the years as I continue to improve results. I welcome comments and questions.

ETCHING ADVENTURES 2018

Fun in the Studio

New toys (tools), new techniques, lots of learning and a little finished work.

cupric nitrate ready to etch

I am now electro-etching silver with cupric nitrate and using a new power source to control the amps. This cigar band ring features a deeply etched design that appears carved. The pattern started with an image of William Morris wallpaper found in a Dover book.

Many thanks to John Fetvedt for the clear and complete instructions he provides in his excellent Electro-Etching Workshop Handbook. The 43 page PDF is freely shared and available on his website. Go to “For Our Students” page.  I have also learned quite a bit by participating in a Facebook Group created specifically for all things related to Electro-Etching. Search for Electro-Etchers Anonymous if you are curious. This is a “closed” group that you need to join to see. A very welcoming and interesting group.

While I am not new to electro-etching… see my earlier salt water etching posts… the use of cupric nitrate for etching silver is a first for me. I also continue to etch copper and brass with salt (sodium chloride) that I now add a bit of citric acid to.

Hydraulic Die Forming for Enamellists

Spring Promise

Although I am now officially retired from teaching, I will be presenting a lecture and demo soon for my fellow students in a class I am enrolled in. I am adding this PDF to my blog for the benefit of students who might like to view it again or have it on their own computers. The techniques and info are freely shared, however the designs are not.

Link to PDF for illustrating Hydraulic Die Forming for Enamellists

 Die Formed and Enameled v-2013 b opt

I created this PowerPoint presentation to accompany my lecture and demos for the Die Forming and Enameling classes that I taught at Monterey Peninsula College. It wasn’t meant as a stand-alone tutorial and so does not include instructions for the tools and techniques illustrated. If this works as a way to easily share the PDF, I will update and expand the original and replace this link. Meanwhile, I’d like to hear from anyone who reads this regarding ease of viewing the PDF.

 

FAST forward

And time truly does fly! After my last post I took a break from working on rebuilding my web site to prepare for the annual Mother’s Day Jewelry Sale at Monterey Peninsula College.

Here I am using my phone to process credit card sales. Photo thanks to Kelli M.

The three day sale was a huge success for participants who donated 20% of their sales revenue to the MPC Jewelry Department. This goes towards buying new tools for the classroom and additional supplies for all students to share.

Once I recovered from that, classes ended for the summer break and I got back to work making new designs for the next MPC Jewelry sale (early December) and inventory for my on-line store…. which is progressing slowly. I’ve spent quite a bit of time exploring fusing (no solder) fine silver to sterling silver, with most of the work having a “Tide Pool” theme…. Sea Stars, bubbles, and ocean colored stones.

“Tide Pool #2” –  chrysocolla/malachite

“Tide Pool  #3”- azurite/malachite

 

 

A New Version

As of a couple of days ago, I have a newly designed website. Same site address… www.carolholaday.com  …. with a totally new look. This is thanks mostly to the fact that I had major issues with the DreamWeaver software I used to create and work on my “old” site and NO help from Adobe for fixing it, so I gave up and started over with a Website Builder from GoDaddy.com. Much easier to use for the purpose than DreamWeaver, and with great customer support when needed. Not sure yet how much I’ll include on this new version of my old site, just know that it will be scaled down and simplified quite a lot.

To begin with, the purpose of the site is to show my work in something like a personal on-line gallery. Some of what is shown will be for sale, so eventually I’ll need to work out an easy way to do that without actually having a “shopping site”.

I’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions if you care to have a look at the “new” site and leave your comments on the “contact” page.

The cuff bracelet below was made from the texture plate I originally created for roll printing my fern photo onto silver for various jewelry designs. I used it a few times and then decided to make a cuff of the etched plate itself. This brass cuff is strong and comfortable and is now available for purchase using PayPal.

SURF/SAND/SILVERSMITHS

Members of the Monterey Bay Metal Arts Guild (MBMAG) will be exhibiting a collection of fine jewelry and miniature sculpture at the Pajaro Valley Arts in Watsonville. Details, a map, and a list of participating artists can be found on the postcard below.

Each artist may exhibit up to three pieces for the show, plus up to 6 additional pieces for sale in the gallery shop. My own three pieces for the show, plus images and information related to the inspiration for the work, are below.

“Talisman for the Journey” – a necklace featuring an ammonite with a glowing amber stone tube riveted to it. The wire prong setting is built on a frame that I made many years ago and just discovered is a perfect fit for the ammonite.

The photo above shows the back of the setting with the tube rivet for the amber cabochon.

The length of the necklace is adjustable from 18″ to 21″. The “weight” at the end of the extender chain is one of my lampwork glass beads.

Spiral Galaxy – a galaxy in which the stars and gas clouds are concentrated mainly in one or more spiral arms.

The spiral is probably the oldest known symbol of human spirituality. The spiral has been in rock carvings thousands of years old, on every continent in the world. The religious significance can only be guessed at, but it has been found on tombs, and almost certainly has a connection with the sun, which traces a spiral shape every three months in its travels.

“Flores del Mar”- silver ring with 18K gold

The design for the ring was inspired by the photo of a slice of agatized coral.

“Aqua Pools” – bracelet – silver, turquoise, tourmaline, chrysoprase, and Peruvian blue opal

“Brain imagining indicates that proximity to water floods the brain with feel-good hormones such as dopamine and oxytocin. Levels of the stress hormone cortisol actually drop. Scientists have also discovered that ………………….. water increases our ability to focus.” Wallace J. Nichols

The meaning of the color turquoise is open communication and clarity of thought.

For thoughts on the bullseye symbol, see my previous post  for November 9, 2015.

Blue Halibut

I am participating in the MPC Jewelry Sale once again. This is a three day event that takes place in early May and in early December. I’ve made lots of new work for this sale, including the “Blue Halibut” brooch above and new earring designs featuring the keum-boo technique on roll printed fine silver.

Monterey Peninsula College 19th Annual Mother’s Day Art Sale

Students of the Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) Jewelry, Ceramic, and Printmaking departments will be presenting their work for sale May 5, 6, and 7 on the college campus at 980 Fremont Street, Monterey.

Hours for the sale are Thursday May 5 from 5pm to 8pm, Friday and Saturday May 6 & 7 from 10am to 5pm. Jewelry and printed cards will be located in the Art-Dimensional Building, Room 106. Ceramics and glass will be located in the Art-Ceramic Building studio room 107. Both buildings are adjacent to Fishnet Road and signs will be posted to point the way to the studios. Follow signs on campus to parking lot B. Parking is free during the hours of the sale. No charge for admission.

Stop by and visit this pop-up art extravaganza showcasing a wide selection of unique one-of-a-kind works of art. Buy local art and help to support the MPC Jewelry, Ceramics, Glass, and Printmaking studio programs, which offer a supportive setting and a mentoring environment for talented students to showcase and promote their artistic creations. This is a great opportunity to find that special piece of art, meet the artist, and see where it was made.

RECENT WORK – “Bull’s Eye Pendant”

This piece went through many changes before arriving at its final “completed” state, yet once it got there it seemed so obvious. The work was photographed before I researched the symbolic meaning of the various elements and I was very pleased to find that the accepted symbolic meanings spoke to me in a very real way. Perhaps when I am wearing it I will be reminded to focus and center myself.

“Bull’s Eye Talisman” – Carol Holaday

“Bull’s Eye Talisman” – detail

back side of Bull’s Eye Talisman

Symbolic Meaning 

Bull’s eye type emblems are symbolic of focus or concentration.

Native Americans have been drawing these type symbols for eons. For the Native American, these circles within circles represent various forces within the universe converging with The One…the one spirit, the one energy that animates all that is (God, if you will).

Other cultures have drawn concentric circles to illustrate the same thing. The inner circle may represent the self, consciousness, the soul, or the mind…with the external circles representing the waves of influence our center has over everything else.

The very nature of this symbol commands our vision to focus.  As we look at it our eyes tend to immediately concentrate to the center…that’s the beauty of this symbol (and primarily why it’s been used by sharp shooters of all kinds in competitions).  As such, this symbol stands for focus upon the center – focusing on the one thing.

information above found at:

http://www.symbolic-meanings.com/2007/08/28/mandalas-hit-a-target- symbolism-of-the-bullseye/

Metaphysical Properties: Feldspar is said to assist one in detaching from the old, encouraging unconventional, exciting methods to attain ones goals. It can also assist in locating misplaced things.

Chinese Writing Stone is made of feldspar, and is sometimes referred to as Calligraphy Stone because of the white formations on a black background, which can look like Chinese script or calligraphy writing characters.

————–

Talisman

tal·is·man   – noun: talisman; plural noun: talismans

an object, typically an inscribed ring or stone, that is thought to have magic powers and to bring good luck.