In Process

I'm working on a really fun commission, but it's a secret so here are a couple of nondescript pics from the bench to confuse the recipient. What could the second one be??

Did you see the meteor shower early this morning? Very cool!

I'm off to the Philadelphia Folk Festival later this week for more fun and I can't wait! Have a great day!

Out of Necessity

Where I find myself...
When I really need and want to be here...
And here...
Where did this summer go?!

body+soul's: Better Bling

If you haven't already come across the recent article titled Better Bling in body+soul's March 2008 magazine, it's a brief, but to the point read worth taking a gander at. A guide to the eco-conscious consumer, Better Bling takes a reveling look beyond the veil to explain where precious metals, diamonds, and colored gems are sourced; how they are accessed and who is working to unearth them. Many in the jewelry industry are aware of the issues surrounding the materials we use, but often the consumer is left in the dark about the all-to-frequently horrific history of their jewelry. This article puts it all out there in not too vague terms and offers alternatives such as purchasing from eco-conscious jewelers who use metals and stones that are recycled and/or ethically sourced (!), recycling old jewelry, and buying estate jewelry. Most importantly, Better Bling encourages the consumer to request information about the source of the materials used in their jewelry stating that by demanding information, consumers can start a trend that initiates change. Links to industry resources as well a selection of eco-friendly jewelers are also provided. Go to the body+soul website to see a gallery of more eco-jewelry.

Oprah & All Her Cash

I worked in the "studio" (a.k.a. the basement) this past weekend and it felt so good. After getting everything laid out just right; you know, so the left-handed things are on the left, the right-handed things are on the right, and then got everything labeled (sad, but true), I got to work on some jewelry. It's been a long time coming, but there were some very important things to focus on first. Now that I'm up and running I plan to get some experimental pieces done to see what direction I'm able to go in this new space... I've been playing around with some previous castings and hope to have some photos in the next few days. I say "hope" because this is not the full-time gig... not until Oprah comes across my flickr site (yeah, right!) and realizes she absolutely MUST have one of my pieces (or several!), which she wears everywhere, and then decides to order in bulk to give away to all her friends and her studio audience. One can dream, right?

Conflicted. What is Enough?

Reverence

Whitney J. Marsden

Copper, sterling silver, nickel, bumble bee

2005

So we all have a responsibility to do our part for the environment, right? That much we know, but how far do we go? Are you on top of the basics like recycling, being more energy efficient, or perhaps you have a fuel efficient car? Or do you go above and beyond with a more proactive approach? Perhaps you research sources of materials, buy from companies that have similar ideals, write your congresspeople about environmental issues, get involved in the community to have a greater impact, or perhaps you pass the message along by educating others. The question: "what is enough?" plagues me both as a citizen of the human race and as a craftsperson. It is now when I'm at the pinnacle of pursuing my goals that I find myself evaluating my methods.

As artists and designers, we never want to compromise our vision over something so like materials. The idea is to do it the way it is meant to be. However, as manufacturers, is it not our responsibility to always produce in an ethical manner? Materials, tools, and equipment used in creating our work are all involved in the end result of what we create. Regarding this, there are many questions that come up for me... Is it enough to dispose of jewelry making acids, chemicals, and gasses in an environmentally friendly manner or is the pure fact that I'm using them creating more unnecessary waste? Do we as jewelers have a responsibility to consider the sources and methods of acquiring our metals, stones, and other jewelry-making materials (a big one for me)? For that matter, is creating jewelry and other potentially disposable crafts wasteful? What is a realistic contribution to make amidst busy lives and other commitments? Should we strip our lives down to the barest necessities to make the lightest impact in order to get by? I don't think so. There has to be a compromise where creating good design in an ethical, environmentally aware manner contributes, rather than takes away (more about this another time). Then there's the endless amount of people out there who are not doing anything positive for the environment either for lack of education, resources, or caring... what is our responsibility in regards to them?

As a craftsperson, my personal aesthetic is affected by my background and upbringing, my personal interests and hobbies, and a subconscious absorption of the trends around me. My commitment to myself is to honor who I am as a artist and to not create things simply because...

I suppose depending on the person, to create can be very personal, it can be a means of communication, or a bit of both. If communication though, what importance is the message? I create because I love to, but I share it because I hope 1) it will make someone smile because they enjoy it, and 2) it will provoke thought about things in a simpler, more natural way, and perhaps connect people to nature, even just for a moment. I'm not so naive or arrogant to think that what I make will change a life or the world, but making is what I enjoy so I ought to be conscious of my message, whatever that may be. After all, if I'm going to say it, why not SAY IT?! Perhaps opening oneself up for criticism is too much. Perhaps.

Change is often difficult and dare I say inconvenient, especially after we've been doing things the same way for so long. I hope for radical change in the way we as a country handle these issues because I feel it's necessary right now, but to what extent am I willing to go, I'm not sure yet. At this point, what I do in my personal life and what I create as an artist is one in the same. Therefore my goal in all aspects of my life, is to be educated and not turn my head in light of "knowing better" for simplicity or ease. I know I'll make mistakes and I know I'll also need to make compromises, but I'm learning and I'm committed. I hope to find that middle ground between absolute sacrifice and living a productive, enjoyable life.

Please express your thoughts on what you think our responsibility is either as a comment here or an entry on your own blog. Thanks for reading my thoughts, I looking forward to reading what you have to say.

The First Step: Check!

The beginning of the new year brought a tiring head cold and a week working long hours at the job-jobs. Although working was very worthwhile and I had a lot of fun, my mind kept drifting back to unpacking and setting up my brand new jewelers bench. Acquiring my new bench was a landmark that has one significant meaning: freedom. I'm actually not exaggerating here. In order to have good body mechanics, jewelers have to work at a certain height. As hard to accept as it may be, the big 3-0 will be hitting me soon enough and my back has a funny way of reminding me. This means no more leaning over my projects until I'm stiff or putting things off until I have a more comfortable place to work. A jewelers bench also has a tray to catch metal scraps and shavings, an expensive loss if disposed of or left to the mice, and some other features I can't wait to use; it's the small things really... I now have drawers! A Christmas present to myself, we picked up all 96 pounds in New Jersey on our last installment of the holiday travels, and I'm proud to announce, I'm all set up!

First on the agenda is to finish some gifts that needed tweaking after the holidays. Once those projects are complete, I can get back to some designs and castings from a while back that have been swimming around in my head for over a year now. My basic studio still needs a few small things (expensive equipment will come with sales and progress), but all in all, I'm ready to get started! Note: small victory parade marching in background.

Tis the Season

In the spirit of the season, I was a busy bee working on all sorts of projects for some of the special people in my life. I wish I could have posted these sooner, but at least they were a surprise. Nevertheless, expect these to resurface in the not-too-distant future...

New note cards featuring glimpses of trees in their various stages: root, seed, bud, and bloom. All trees (native to the mid-Atlantic region) were lovingly selected for their captivating characteristics and illustrated in the botanical style by yours truly. These images are taken from lithographic prints produced earlier this year and printed in outstanding detail with crisp black ink on quality embossed ivory stock. Packaged in packs of four different trees with matching envelopes.

Heirloom Icicle and Snowflake Ornaments celebrate the natural wonders of the season in the best of spirit... All ornaments are handmade from recycled and welded coat hangers and vintage chandelier crystals. These very special ornaments represent the importance of minimizing our footprint on the environment by preserving our resources.

New also are my "Natural Fresheners" in Lovely Lavender and Citrus & Spice for those who like to spice it up... naturally! They contain all premium and natural ingredients in a 100% cotton pouch with velvet ribbon and a vintage button. Natural Fresheners smell great and are cute enough to place anywhere (even on a tree)!

PS - I love my new camera!

Things growing on...

There's been quite a bit of talk about things going on around here and no posts on any work or talk of creative projects as of late. Although all the talk of produce and trees is inspirational(!), I'm coming to terms with this much needed sabbatical to get unpacked, put things in order, and allow my creative side to hibernate so that I can come back refreshed. My brain is churning though; in a few weeks you can expect to see some holiday items for sale here. I'm really looking forward to talking more about this soon... Take good care.

Can you hear the angels singing?

This dapping block set will give volume to future jewelry designs and other projects. I can't wait to get my studio in order so I can break these babies in!