ab: Coral Design: artisan jewelry

Showing posts with label artisan jewelry. Show all posts

Monday, May 04, 2015

More hand painted earrings

When I was digging out some old stocks, I found two pair of glass buttons. After learning more about color theory, I decided to make a pair of cold color earrings and a pair of warm color earrings. I also used Gilder's Paste to highlight the texture of the stampings and the tear drop shape beads. Viola!

Friday, March 20, 2015

Build A Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques, Coral Law of ab:coraldesign, Part Three

Woohoo...finally we are almost to the end of this journey. I can't believe I can make it with my impatience. First of all, I would like to say thank you to Brenda Sue from B'Sue Boutiques who hosted this master class for 54 artists. Also I would like to thank for all the participants who have left encouraging comments to me here in the blog or on facebook.

Let's see what I made first. And then I would like to share what I have learnt from this challenge.

This challenge requests five pieces at least. While I saw other artists making more and more, I was discouraged for a little while. However, my spirit came back after I realized after this challenge, it will be the real start not the end. Even it took me a long time to design one piece, I am planning to make more later on.

About the name:
If you have read my first blog post about this challenge, you will have found that my inspiration for this line is from peace. It takes a long time, a lot of effort and many steps to achieve a peaceful society. Piece by piece of all our inputs are important to that so I name my line "Peace by piece".

About the engraving words:
Besides the part of jewelry design, the most difficult part for creating this line is the choice of words that reflect my thoughts. I took some pictures on the street and at the exhibition for my inspiration.

In my first and second blog post for this challenge, I have showed these designs. The first pieces is "和平" (Peace) while the second pieces i s"珍惜" (To treasure). Please check my old posts if you want to know more about their meanings.

Peace in Peace by Piece by abcoraldesign

To treasure in Peace by Piece by abcoraldesign

In my third piece, I used "怒" and "恕" which means "anger" and "forgiveness" respectively.
"怒" is composed of "奴" (slave) and "心" (heart). When you are angry, a slave is in your heart.
However if you choose "恕", you "如" (follow) as what your "心" (heart) tells.

Anger and Forgiveness in Peace by Piece by abcoraldesign

In my forth piece, I used "自由" (freedom). We all want freedom to do what we want. However, there are many constraints in reality. We cannot be selfish to just fulfill our needs. I hope people can be more considerate when you are striving for your freedom.

Freedom in Peace by Piece by abcoraldesign

The fifth piece is "心" (heart). I created this line from solely what inside my heart. I am so glad I could use jewelry to express myself. I don't follow the trend in the fashion world but I follow my heart. I hope you like my line.

Heart in Peace by Piece by abcoraldesign

Reflections from this challenge:
Thanks for Brenda Sue's and other participants' advice, I was enlightened to create a cohesive line that is not only one of a kind but also be able to repeat. I used to make once for each design as I like to create. When the number of design grows, my style gets distracted. Also the pro-design time like photography is so much that I can't focus on my design. With this cohesive line, I can repeat the design while keeping each piece unique as I engrave and paint every piece.

Besides creating a cohesive style, I have also started to think about the difference between collection and line. Up till this moment, I am still figuring so hopefully I can share my research in my next post.

One of the important point of selling a line is the pyramid of design. More items for simple pieces and less items for over-the-top design. Certainly the price goes up along the pyramid. However, I haven't created some in the middle. Probably I will make some bracelets. The four pair of earrings are closed to the bottom while the necklace is at the top.

As I am not very good at matching color, I take this challenge as a practice for finding color in the same category according to the theory in the book "Color me beautiful" by Carole Jackson. Luckily I met a new friend who is a specialist in color theory. She has shown me how to distinguish color into Spring, Summer, Autumn ans Winter.
When I was matching the color of glass beads, I put the beads on the color chart to see if they are in the same season.

Thanks for reading. Please share this blog if you like "Peace by piece"

Before you go, hop to other blogs of my mentor and classmates.

Brenda Sue Lansdowne

Jewelry making outside the box

Marcia Tuzzolino

Aurora Designs

Jann Tague

Clever Designs by Jann

Judy King

Apt to Wander Studio

Linzi Alford

Magpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales

Cynthia Wainscott

Carole Carlson

Lynn Stinten

Marica Zammit

Catherine Shattuck

Michaele Collie

Mary Craig

Lee Koopman

Erin Whitacre

Shattered Time Jewelry

Monica Casady

MJCasady Copper Works

Leila West

Cindy Peterson

Leila Belcher

Gloria Allen

Pamela Anger

Tammy Adams

Lynda O'Mara

Elizabeth Hildreth

Dana Hickey

Janet Calardo

Maria Clark

Lori Beekman

Jennifer Kroeger

Amy Jorgensen

Robin Reed

Artistry: Handcrafted Bead Designs

Ingrid Anderson

Lilis Gems

Louise O'Shields

Desire Divine Jewels

Susan Killam

Killam Creative

Mary Katherine Deis

The Rose Sword: Artisan and Vintage Collectible Jewelry

Nike Bottalico

Susan Bowerman

Woodside Wireworks

Kristy Le

Kristy Le Trendy Jewelry Designs

Jan Peters

Stylized Vintage

Mitzie Crider

Needful Luxuries Occasional Blog

Gina Hockett

Freestyle Elements

Linda Anderson

From the Bead Board

Alexandra Sefton

Imaginary Jewelry and Altered Art

Melida Boman

The Journey of Pens and Things

Teresa Shurter

TreeZ's Treasurs

Melissa Latimer

Smithed Up

Renee Hong

Fine and Dandy Jewelry and Art

Nadine Edris

Moondance Jewelry

Lori Meyer

Parisienne Girl

Jennifer Merrill Williams

Artists of All Stripes

Denise Lussier Poirier

Renee Allen

Autumn Adams

Elizabeth Owens

Kat BarronMiller

Midnight Kat Productions Art Jewelry

Sandra Ballard

Mama San's Mojo

Coral Law

ab:coraldesign (you are here!)

I treasure your comments!

Friday, January 23, 2015

Build A Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques, Coral Law of ab:coraldesign, Part One

Old Stone Carving - taken at Confectious Temple in Suzhou, 2013

Thanks for dropping by. I'm Coral Law of ab:coral design. I can't wait to share with you the first blog of the Build a Line Challenge from B'sue Boutiques. This is part one of the Build a Line series of blog hops, where I will tell you about myself and my design path, and why I decided to be part of this challenge. The challenge is really a master class of sorts, and will span three months and there will be three hops, total. We have 55 participants. All of us will be working hard to create a cohesive line of jewelry and share our design process together. At the end, we will develop a complete line of jewelry with a minimum of five pieces all in our chosen style. As a no-specific-style designer, it's really a challenge for me.

Why do I make jewelry?

I used to buy jewelry from local shops. Once I bought a necklace for almost USD100. Not soon after, instead of feeling satisfied, I felt disappointed as I found that the materials are not very good and it's properly mass produced in factory. Then I decided to make my own jewelry.

Here is my first design with some found objects and old buttons. Even I have been creating different styles for the past few years, my love to my first design never changes.

Though the challenge has been announced for a while, I did not have the motivation to join as I thought I would not have time. But I need to move and think forward. We are all busy at least that's what we always tell ourselves. Time can be manged so just be brave and step up. This challenge also gives me a chance to think how to make jewelry in a cohesive way and express more about myself.

About my concept for this challenge

The concept of my line is very simple. I am planning to engrave Chinese characters on Bsue findings to make mostly symmetric or asymmetric earrings. The Chinese characters I am going to use are not some popular or random words. I pick the words based on my feelings towards things happening in the world. In the past few months, there were many sad news happened around the world while people were frighting for themselves. Therefore, the first word came to my mind (or this concept came to my mind) is "和平" which means peace. If we change the way to read this word, it becomes "平和" which means calm. If everyone is calm, peace is achievable.

Another meaning of this line is the combination of handcrafted Chinese characters and USA made stampings. Open up one's mind to accept different culture is also a key to have harmonious world.

Here is the process of making the first pair of earrings.

Dada..

However, the stampings I am going to use may be random. This is something I need to work on during the journey. If you want to join my journey, please sign up my newsletter or follow me on facebook, instagram and twitter.

Before you leave, check out other participants of this challenge.

Brenda Sue Lansdowne, B'sue Boutiques

Jewelry Making Outside the Box

1. Marcia Tuzzolino

Aurora Designs

2. Jann Tague

Clever Designs by Jann

3. Judy King

Apt to Wander Studio

4. Linzi Alford

Magpie in the Sky, Spoil Heap Tales

5. Cynthia Wainscott

Exotic Peru