Giovanni Corvaja

I would like to thank my gold smiting teacher - Merav Goldsmith kay - for introducing me to this great goldsmith artist  Giovanni Corvaja. 
Giovanni Corvaja is an Italian goldsmith artist. His idea of creating a fleece made of gold led him in the early 90's to develop a technique to reduce gold and platinum to the size of one fifth of human hair. 

Golden Fleece ring

Giovanni Corvaja

In his fascinating  "Golden Fleece" collection he created jewelry which are not only beautiful to the eye but also very pleasant to touch. Each piece requires thousands of hours of precise labour and hundreds of kilometres of gold wire.

Golden Fleece bracelet

Giovanni Coraja

Golden Fleece brooch

Giovanni Coraja

The Greek legend of the Golden Fleece has been told for 3,000 years. It is a classic hero's quest tale in which the hero embarks on a long journey into unknown lands, with a great task to achieve. He is in search of a magical ram's fleece, which he has to find in order to reclaim his rightful throne and power.


Giovanni's studio where he gives workshops as well, is one to be jealous of. This XV century building was renovated and transformed to specious fully equipped workshop and the whole space reflects the artist’s working ethic: the utmost respect towards Craft.

A view from the entrance 

Student's working stations

Discussing library area

I promised myself that one of this days I will get to see this studio from close and even participate one of Giovanni's workshops.

Enameling and jewelry

The use of enameling in jewelry is one of my favorite techniques, especially when it comes to jewelry from the art nouveau period.
Art nouveau was the period when enameling was for the first time combined in jewelry by artist jeweler Rene Lalique, by this he initiated a revolution in French jewelry design.
Lalique asserted that his work should be valued for its design and craftsmanship, rather than for the value of the materials used. And god the beautiful pieces he made.

Art Noveau

 Sunflowers & Maiden's head 

enamel & rose diamond bayadere

 pendant by R Lalique c1896-98

So what is enameling? Enameling is the fusion of a special powdered glass to metals in high temperature usually 750 - 850 degrees Celsius. The glass can be applied using different techniques, but all methods use heat to melt the powder.




An Israeli artist who uses enameling in a different way is Shirly Bar Amotz.
in her work she reflects the cultural and political situation in Israel she uses precious stones gold and silver

Shirly Bar-Amotz
Brooch: Precious stone 2008
Fine gold, enamel
8 x 4 x 0,2 cm
From series "A minor bump at the wing "

More examples of the different ways enameling can be used in jewelry - 

Regina Aradesian

Ring, Necklace, Bangle Set - 2008
35mm x20mm, 35mm x20mm, 95mm x 90mm

Pink Rings - 2006 - 07
Sterling silver and enamel
10mm high

 I guess I have found another challenge in my new journey of jewelry designing and I am definitely going to learn the enameling technique to use in my jewelry.

Have a great weekend

Finally something of my own

I am glad to share with you the first rings I made after 7 metal smiting lessons.

This rings called "Bombe" rings made of brass metal.

Soldering is a bit intriguing for me still but this time it went pretty well and I even managed to make the soldering area hard to find. 

I had lots of fun making them and I can't wait to the next lesson.

  Bombe rings brass

shirley van der veldt 2009

The seven fingers jeweler

The work  of jeweler Tom Herman is amazing - I just love his classical romantic style, but what is more amazing is the fact that as a child Tom lost 3 of his fingers in a farm accident, so he is making all of this beauty with 7 fingers (and that is why his company named - "Seven fingers jewelers").

Tom uses an ancient technique called chasing which is usually being used together with the Repoussé technique - while repouosse technique is used on the reverse side of the piece to create a raised design on the front, chasing technique is used on the front to refine the design. There is no loss of metal in this technique since the metal is being stretched locally. In an interview he gave to the blog "for the love of jewelry" Tom tells that he finds this technique so ungodly easy to do once you put your hand to it and once you know how to hold your work, it becomes very easy but it does take practice though. 

 

  

  

Great work  great inspiration.

Begginers frustration

Every beginner jeweler knows the frustrating feeling when starting to use the saw.
A lot of wasted blades and pain in muscles you didn't know existed in order to get one straight line. I know it because I am experiencing it during my metal smiting lessons now, but I think I am starting to get it since I am no longer wasting so many blades - I guess it's a good sign :).
The next movie demonstrates how easily this guy is using the saw as if the piece of metal is not a metal at all but a piece of paper..

Happy sawing :)

Rene Lalique - Genius Art Nouveau jewellery designer

Art Nouveau is my favorite period in art, I love the organic and swirly forms especially when it comes to jewelry. One of my favorite artist of this period is French jeweler and glass maker Rene Lalique.

Dragonfly woman corsage ornament (1897–1898).
Gold, enamel, chrysoprase, moonstones, and diamonds.

Pendant, ca. 1901
René-Jules Lalique (French, 1860–1945)
French (Paris)
Gold, enamel, opal, pearl, diamonds

R. Lalique started his work as jewelry designer in 1874 working as an apprentice to the goldsmith Louis Aucoc in Paris and later moved to London. He worked as a freelance artist, designing pieces of jewelery for French jewelers, Cartier, Boucheron and others.

Pendant "female head wearing two poppy flowers,"
circa 1898-1899

Pin Pendant Swallows, 1906-1908

Rene Lalique
Gold, diamonds, enamel

R. Lalique combined enameling with precious stones and gold and by this he initiated a revolution in French jewellery design by asserting that his work should be valued for its design and craftsmanship, rather than for the value of the materials used.

Pin The Kiss, 1904-1906

René LALIQUE
Silver and glass

A movie about his biography




Check out this beautiful book "Jewels of Lalique" with all of Lalique's pieces

In 1885 he opened his own business which is running until this day.

Gorgeous!!!

Metalsmithing and iphone

For long time I was wondering around not knowing exactly what I want to do when I will grow up, but since I have started taking metal smiting lessons it hit me - I want to be a metal smith and create jewelry! that's it.
For those of you who shares the same passion and posses an iphone, here is an application made right for you - the "iMakeJewelry" application. With this application you will be able to check precious metal prices, calculate sheet, wire, and wax weights, ring blank lengths, find alloy recipes, and information on stones.

I really like the work of jewelry designer Wiwat Kamolpornwiji.


Wiwat combines polymer clay with metal and creates beautiful art pieces. Beginning his career as an environmental engineer he tells how he started making jewelry:

"I helped my friend selling polymer jewelry as a fund raising activity for a temple in 2004. During that time my friend broke up with her partner who supplied her jewelry. Somehow I was insane enough to volunteer making jewelry for sale with no prior experience. I spend many hours each day to work the clay. It seemed I held 2 full-time jobs as both an environmental engineer and a craft artist. My life took a big turn at the end of 2006 when my father passed away. I went back to Thailand for the funeral and to accompany my mother. When things got better at home in Thailand I came back to the US and learned that a job promise was no longer available. It was kind of shocking but I also saw this as once in a lifetime chance to becoming a full time craft artist. Under a normal circumstance it’s very unlikely I’d have given up my full time job. I have been a craft artist for about 15 months now."

Love his work

Have a great weekend

I think I am in love

I am not a car freak but how could I stay indifferent to this new Bugatti?


The new Bugatti Galibier 16C with it's breathtaking design is paying homage to a car from 1937, the Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic (one of them is owned by fashion designer Ralph Lauren).



The interior as described at sub5zero site: "“Inviting” doesn't even begin to describe it. The wood, leather and metals are all perfectly chosen. The magic is its simplicity. No buttons, knobs, slides, wheels. There is absolutely no clutter. All that is replaced by an iPod-like menu in the dash. Even the vents, long slices accented with aluminum, are brilliant. The center console flows back from the centered gauges. This isn't a car where you need everything at your fingertips at once. In this car, worries and stress cease to exist."



Production release is in 2012 and for only $1.6 it can be yours.



I think I start saving

Cute winter creatures

Here we are not sure yet whether it is already winter, but I know that in other parts of the world it's already snowing, so here is a nice video where artist Ginny Baker showing how she makes her cute little snowman from polymer clay.








Enjoy

Vons - beautiful ceramic

Vons is the name of the studio where this beautiful handmade dishes are been made, by artist Yael Yarzin. In her work Yael finds inspiration in the different artistic periods so you can find the "Victoria" collection which is inspired by the Victorian period

Victoria Grand fountain vase

Victoria flower goblet

And the "Katerina" collection:

the Katerina family

And the "Victor" collection which was inspired by old American commercials

the Victor family

Grace Stokes - jewelry designer

In her jewelries Grace combines precious metal with polymer clay her philosophy is: "It is not what the material is worth on its own, but rather what you do with it that is of consequence. I like to use the medium to explore different styles and interpretations. Ultimately, I do what works for the piece."

Book Sconce for showing off your favorite books

I am not sure how practical this book sconce is but it is definitely cOOl, made of powder-coated steel and measures 7 x 6 x 6 inches.

Two teapots

Jeffrey Lloyd Dever's is one of my favorite polymer clay artist love the perfection and the finishes in his work. Here are two of his latest creations which are going to be shown at the Del Mano Gallery in LA.

Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, Morning Refuge, 2009
Polymer clay, wire, thread, card stock
7.75”H x 12.5”W x 5.25” D


Jeffrey Lloyd Dever, Woodland Sojourn, 2009
Polymer clay, wire, thread, card stock
6.25”H x 12.5” W x 8.25”D

Polymer clay artist I like

Two of my favorite polymer clay artists are Sandra McCaw’s and Elise Winter’s both are candidates of the Niche Award 2010

Earrings by Sandra McCaw Pentala Brooch by Elise Winter

My jewelry on Etsy

I would like to invite you to take a look at my Etsy shop - "Caramya vintage jewls" I make this jewelry out of polymer clay combined with metal findings.