Hello friends
If you create jewelry, you’re seeing this all over right now. Stamps. Metal. This combination is BIG right now, and I can see why. When you work with metal, you can shape it in to whatever you want it to be (well, maybe not…I made a heart 4 times until I was happy with the shape…then proceeded to lose it between my house and the car). And working with stamps – I have yet to master them – but they are so much fun. Saying whatever you want! Whacking away with a hammer to create something completely personalized. That’s what I’ve been up to lately.
Back in May I attended Art and Soul in Hampton (you may remember this post). I sat next to a wonderful gal from NY…she was the kind of person that just radiates energy. We’ve kept in touch, and she nominated me in to a group called Charmsters. This group of artists dream up some really neat charm swaps with themes – like Summertime Blues, Heavy Metal, Love and Peace …. I just finished my first charms to swap and plan to put these in the mail tomorrow. The theme was “Say it with Metal”. I made 17 charms using copper sheet, really cool flower design stamps (that you can find here at fundametals.net), and then I oxidized, polished and tumbled them. I was happy to see them all packaged up and ready to go. When I receive my swap charms, I’ll be sure to share pictures here.
Bloom {where you are planted}
All ready to go
My next project lately has been my Family Necklace. I made one of these mixed metal necklaces for a good friend recently, and wanted to create one for myself ever since. Again I used copper, sterling and brass sheet. Some of the charms I shaped myself, and the others I purchased. I plan to redo a few of them, they’re far from perfect…but I’m going for that organic look! 🙂 I’ve included my children and my husband’s names, my Grandmother’s names, our wedding date, our last name initial and my monogram. I like the jingle …and instead of wearing my heart on my sleeve, I’m wearing it around my neck.
Familly Charms
I’m using my new camera for the first time in these pictures. Would you believe I left my camera at the beach? I’ll get it when we go back before the end of summer. It’s about time I started using my Mother’s Day gift, wouldn’t you say? 🙂
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{ 26 comments… read them below or add one }
Great post about stamping. Your family necklace is super. I loke all the different shapes and sized and ways of lettering them.
I love how you mix up the metals in the family necklace and it’s such a great sentimental piece. The bloom charms are great too. Sometimes I long for the immediacy of working with sheet metal. I’m looking forward to seeing your stash of charms from the swap.
Your charms are beautiful! And what a fab job with the packaging! Wow! Love the family necklace, too. What a wonderful idea!
Cindy~
You are a bundle of energy and wonderful ideas!! I love your little charms…Lets do a swap too. What do you say????
xoxox
Cindy, I LOVE your charms!! You did a lovely job packaging them up too. I love the family necklace too! I am sure everyone who is to receive one of those bloom charms will be thrilled. Wish I was on the list!
Jeanette
The charms are so pretty, and the packaging!!!! your family necklace is just beautiful, what a beautiful reminder!! And all the different shapes, textures and metals make this so unique Cindy……lovely!
I love your new charms! I wish I was on the list too! 🙂 And I agree, the packaging is fab! You’ve got a flair for metal and stamping for sure! I love seeing all your new creations!
Blessings, Cindy
Your charms are beautiful, I love the rustic, yet feminine feel of them. Your family charm necklace is just lovely, and what a great way to show your love of family and jewelry making at the same time!
Cindy, I love your bloom charms and how you packaged them. Your family necklace is wonderful! The different shapes and metals is so original….love it!
Wow, the charms turned out so cute.! There’s lot of ways these could be used. I bet these were loads of fun to create. And the packaging is the icing on the cake. I’d love to get one of these gems in the mail. I might have to check out this charm swap. That seems like a lot of fun! Your family necklace is such a unique idea that I just might steal for a Xmas idea. I’d love to do this idea adding in some old photos. Wonderful job!
Wow, the Family Charms necklace is fabulous! Hmmm– I feel the wheels of creativity humming in my little brain right now! Would that fab lady from NY/Charmsters be named Maureen?
WOW… these are beautiful!! And the packaging… too cute! 😉
Thanks, everyone. The little “bloom” charms went out in the mail this morning…it feels good to send them on their way. And I’m happy I finally finished the family necklace…been wanting to make one for some time.
Cindy! So cool! I just finished a memorial bracelet for a client in MS that I am sending out that has a handstamped detail for the custom clasp. I will be sharing it soon someplace! I love the idea of the charm swap. That sounds like a blast. I enjoy doing collaborative art like that. Charmsters…what a great idea! And your packaging shows great imagination and attention to detail. Can’t wait to see what you get. I am getting myself set up to do more of this sort of thing, and it always inspires me to see the limitless creativity out there!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
P.S. Thanks so much for my birthday wishes…package is on its way to you!
Love the “bloom” charms and the way you packaged them! You definitely got Rose’s gifts for creativity! Enjoy! I’m off to Chicago for a girls weekend with 3 grand daughters and one daughter.
Wow! Great job, Ciindy! I love the charms and the family necklace!
Cindy your charms are rustic, girly and ultra feminine!!! Very pretty!! And your family necklace…. is awesome, beautiful!!!! love it so much!!!! Like all the colors and figures and textures…. EVERYTHING!!!!!
Cindy ~ what lovely charms! I love stamping, it adds such a personal feel. And your packaging is to die for, what patience. Great work!
They came out great, love them!
Oh sweetie,your charms turned out great!! and lovely packaging!! The girls are gonna be thrilled. Wish I would have played, I just figured after all the stamped and etched charms everybody’s gotten from me they’d be a little burned out……ha ha!! Your family necklace is really wonderful too, looks like you’re hooked!
~smiles~
Sharon(MoonRae)
Cindy, your charms are so cool! And I love your packaging. Very nice!
Great job Cindy, love the blooms of course, and what to say about “family charms”, just … charming ! Beautiful idea.
xo
hoooooooooo Cindy!!! your little charms are so so cute and the pakaging.. just lovely!! your “tribute” necklace is a very good idea , so personal.. very sweet!! bravo!! c’est magnifique!
Cindy,
I am always inspired by your gorgeous work! Working with metal and stamping is something I had wanted to do this summer! But here it is almost the fall –
I love everything you have shown us! Can’t wait to see the charms you recieve too! 🙂
I’ve enjoyed reading your feedback, thanks everyone!
I belong to Charmsters but haven’t participated yet — hope to next year when things calm down!