New tools and new projects.

I took my first class in many years in November. It was tube setting for stones at MetalWerx in Waltham. The class was four weeks. Once a week for 4 hours. When I finished the class I had learned the fundamentals to setting stones.

All excited I bought a Bench Mate, ready to get started. Well...busy season, Christmas, birthdays, etc. happened. Finally this weekend my husband put the bench mate on my bench and today I set my first stone. It was a turquoise cabochon. It took a while to get a good feel of how much pressure to use on the burr but after a few tries I had a nice tube setting that I used for my Ring of a Day challenge.

I am so excited to practice more. I get requests foe engagement rings all the time and I can't wait until I have the confidence to say...yes! I wish I had more time to dedicate to this but if I take one day a week in the studio to practice then I am sure that it won't be long until I am making myself and others rings with bling.

Say posted!

2009 round up and 2010 so far...

Well it is a new year. 2009 was a really good year for us.

Our Work- We did some great new shows and experimented with new plants to cast. The silk tree buds and hydrangea flowers were a big success and it makes me excited for Spring to come and start working on new flowers. Kerry Alice started a new Land and Sea collection. It was a collaboration of cast twigs and birch bark with her beautifully bezeled sea glass. Sold a few pieces for Christmas and it will be interesting to see how they do in 2010.

Shows- We discovered Vermont in 2009. One of our favorite shows was in Peru Vermont. It was September and the foliage was breathtaking. The Country Fair that we participated in was busy, friendly, and we can't wait to go back this year. One of our favorite shows, The Wellfleet Oyster Festival was rained out on day two but day one was amazing! Cape Cod in October is lovely and the Festival brings out the crowds. We get some return customers every year. That make us so happy. Our two favorite Indie shows did not disappoint. The Renegade Craft Fair Brooklyn was awesome. We had great weather, sold some nice pieces and really liked the new field that it was around. They put on a super well organized show and we appreciate it. Back on our own stomping ground was the one and only Boston Bazaar Bizzare. What can I say. I love this show. This year was the best yet. I love it when people buy really special pieces for the ones they love. Some twigs found new homes and some killer Kerry Alice pieces too. Plus I traded like crazy, always a huge bonus.

Presently- This has been one of the best things that I have participated in a long time. Etsy Metal has put on a challenge called Ring a Day. Kerry and I are on our 8th ring today. This has really got me into doing new things. I have been thinking outside the box and making things that I wouldn't ordinarily think about making. Seeing the work of the other matalsmiths has been inspiring as well. I have really been pushing myself in the studio to make cool new things. One concept I came up with was the "identity crisis" ring. I used finding to make the rings. One thinks it a pin, another a toggle clasp. I can't wait to make more. They are very me in the sense that they all have a sense of humor. We will be taking on this challenge all month.

Looking to the future- Wholesale. Kind of a big deal. We are struggling with prices though. But working on it slowly but surely.

New work- Maple seeds, and twigs for engagement rings plus lots of bracelets. I want to put my new stone setting knowledge to good use. I will be making molds of nice twigs and practicing new techniques. Kerry Alice has some sweet new hearts with arrows for her pin cushion collection. She's so cool.

New Shows- Maybe the Renegade in Chicago or the West Coast. Trying to get into the Craftproducers shows again. They are in Vermont, our new favorite place.

Stay tuned. Good things to come in 2010 for Twigs and Heather

Beautiful flowers

This summer has been a one of experimentation. We have cast tree buds, leaves and most recently Hydrangea flowers. We cast two different sizes. A teeny tint 5/8" one and a bigger 1 1/4" one. Both have amazing details. You almost don't even see all the details when just looking at the flowers. That why casting is so darn amazing. I have designed the tiny flower into a necklace and earrings with posts and the big one into a necklace as well. We sold our fist one just this weekend at the Design Hive in Cambridge. That makes us happy.

See them on our website or come on down to stART on the street this Sunday in Worcester.

Handmade in Boston...wicked cool.

We want to go GREEN- please help us win a grant to build a green studio

My sister and I are trying to win a grant to build a all GREEN metalsmithing studio. We are in the Boston area, but it would be open to all to take workshops, and learn about how to green your own workplaces.

There already is a movement of artists who are practicing environmentally friendly techniques and we want to be able to take it to the next level. We only have three days to have 50 people register and endorse our story.

This would be such a great thing for all of us! Please take the time to read our story, look at our work here on our website and help us GREEN the craft world.

Thanks for supporting art and craft in Boston- Handmade is awesome.

Thank you kindly. Here is the link.

Earrings, earrings, and more earrings

I have always wanted to have a bigger collection of earrings but I spend a lot of time on my twig necklaces and birch rings. It was something that was put on the back burner time and time again. But this summer I set a goal and achieved it. With the help of the lovely Silk Tree in my neighbors yard, I began my work on the Twigs and Heather earring line. The buds on this tree were my inspiration (please see previous blog post). They cast beautifully. I also molded two of my favorite maple seeds...a Japanese maple seed and a Spring maple seed. Also a beautiful lilac twig. Now I have four new designs to show at my Autumn shows. First one will be September 13th at the Design Hive, a great show in Cambridge MA.

Come see them at the Design Hive or check out our new earrings on our website www.twigsandheather.com.

New pieces in the works - Tree buds...really cool ones.

There is an amazing tree that grows in my neighbors yard. It was the last tree in my neighborhood to bloom this year. I almost thought that it wasn't going to. But when it did, it was worth the wait. It is called a Silk tree. Its beautiful blooms look like delicate feathers changing in color from white to pink.

When I took a closer look I was so intrigued with what I saw. The buds to this tree look like star bursts or teeny tiny fireworks. I had to cast one...or ten.

The results, perfect castings. Great for earrings and rings. I cast many sizes and I just don't know which I like best. Here are some pictures of these beautiful buds. Stay tuned for the new pieces to show up on our Look whats new page on our website.

Twigs and Heather featured in Daily Candy-Boston

We were just featured in one of our favorite blogs, The Daily Candy. Being Boston girls we were honored to be mentioned in their fashion edition. Kerry Alice and I both loved what they wrote about our jewelry. They described our jewelry as "a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll". Perfect!