mary jane dodd

brass discs - mjd 2013

one of the things i love about metalworking is that the skills i have learned for jewelry can be applied in other places.

september 21 is the international day of peace.

i was weaving flags for my project but by the end realized that i needed soft chimes to hang with them. 

brass discs - mjd 2013

enter stamping, doming and wire working. 

flags for peace - mjd 2013

i hope that as you add techniques and materials to your repertoire, you sometimes allow yourself to imagine them applied in other ways. 

making is magic

who are you?

mary jane dodd

leaf - mjd 2013

part of maturing as a crafts person is gaining insight into what resonates with you, 

into what aesthetic is most representative of your intentions. 

it takes a lot of experimentation,

patience

and an understanding of who you are 

and how you wish to connect with others. 

leaf - mjd 2013

finding a way of working with fibers that is consistent with how i worked with metals is something for which i am grateful.

i have been working with leaves for a good while now -

sheet metal

softly folded

and given heat patinas -

and was so pleased when i could translate them with threads. 

leaves - mjd 2013

it's not always about how clever you are,

but how true you are to yourself.

your way of processing,

of seeing the world

through your eyes

with your experiences

and with your hands

is a beautiful thing.

find a way to make the techniques you learn

and the materials you use

into a reflection of you.

that's what the world needs.

boot camp - button & fiber closures

mary jane dodd

button closures are often used with fibers, where you create your loop on one end and secure the button on the other using overhand knots.

sounds simple and is.

but there are things to think about.

consider the fibers or materials you are using - 

will they hold up to the wear of passing a button through it over and over?

i tend to use non-metal buttons with fibers,

but feel perfectly comfortable using metals with leather or heavier cotton cording (2mm or so). 

look for strands that can catch or make closing your piece of jewelry difficult. threads and fibers can fray and split. 

i find that wrapping the loop with a finer thread (think embroidery floss weight) adds strength and durability. waxed irish linen thread is particularly durable. 

create a loop that is neither too loose nor too tight. 

you want your button to pass through relatively easily but without so much play that it will slip out of the loop.

i often use e-6000 adhesive to secure knots.

i will also opt for braiding the section of fibers that serve as my loop. again, adding strength but also compacting the fibers to reduce the risk of catching and fraying. 

buttons can add a really beautiful bit of detailing to your work. and the choices are great - vintage, natural materials and handmade abound on etsy. 

long necklaces are quite popular, but it is nice to have the option of adjusting them. i wanted to share a video with you that teaches how to make a secure sliding knot by kate drew-wilkinson. i use this knot with leathers and cotton cording as well.

thank you for joining us here at love my art jewelry - 

we're looking forward to seeing what you teach us in this boot camp!

touching the heart

mary jane dodd

we speak through our work -

do you ever stand back to see what yours is saying?

not just to others,


but what it reflects back to you... 

'the idea is to write is so that people hear it

and it slides through the brain

and goes straight to the heart.'

- maya angelou

guest post - luthien thye

ARTform or CRAFTform

I have often pondered about whether I consider jewelry making a form of art or a
form of craft. Or more personally, the jewelry I make, is it a craft? Am I a crafter? Or
can I call myself an artist?

Most of the time I just end up calling it “work”… or “my work”. When in doubt … find
a replacement! LOL!!

Having said that, I am guilty of calling myself both … depending on process. There
are times when I feel profoundly satisfied with a piece of jewelry that I have made …
these are the times when I feel that “yes!” factor. And for those few moments, I feel
like an artist.

I am by no means putting down the craftsmen. For at times when a piece I make
turns out beautifully crafted … I am also guilty of smugly thinking … “ahhh excellent
craftsmanship dorlin’ !” ;P

How do you make a finely crafted piece of jewelry turn into a work of art? Well,
impeccable craftsmanship definitely, and perhaps, ingenuity and creativity? Your
ability to create something out of the norm that is uniquely you. Work that people
can tell from miles away that it belongs to you. Experimentation is so important
here. It is not unlike an alchemist looking for a way to make gold out of base metals.
Trying and re-trying to create the best concoction out of your (limited) stash. Not
just the act of plonking everything together, but a thoughtful and lyrical assemblage
of elements and objects. (oh btw … did you know that the Japanese have found a
way to make gold out of base metal already? But the process is so expensive that it’s
cheaper to mine the gold instead!!)

And maybe, making the work “official”? What I mean is, many of us make
jewelry “on a part time basis”. Our full time job is being a mom. Well … at least that’s
me. So if I get to do this full time (say … when my kids are all grown and I have a
REAL studio!! Not my 29x29 inch space!!) … should I feel like I’m more of an artist?
Real work as opposed to just a hobby? Does it make me a REAL artist, or is this just a
state of mind?

All factors considered, I do genuinely think that to label a piece of creation “art”,
there is no other more important factor than the element of SOUL. Now coming
back to my “yes!” factor. I find that I get more “yeses” when the piece of jewelry I
create feels more than just a piece of finely crafted adornment. It feels like it has a
soul, it has a story to tell … my story. Perhaps art is such. It has to come from within
the psyche of its creator. It is the manifestation of bits and pieces of the artist, her
experiences in life, her inspirations, her aspirations, her stories … her world(s).

I came across this quote by St Francis of Assisi which made me smile … guess I’m not
that far away J

He who works with his hands is a laborer.
He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman.
He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.

I would love to know what other jewelry artists think … what are your thoughts?
Is jewelry making an Artform or is it a Craftform? Or is it such a subjective subject-
matter that not in a zenmillion years anyone would have the true answer to it.

-----------------------------------
thank you so much luthien -

you can learn more about luthien here...
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if you didn't already know, we are having a double giveaway this month with work from erin prais-hintz and jean wells...
looking forward to seeing the art spark creations inspired by 'gratitude'...