Jizai Okimono

I had the opportunity to see these amazing Japanese Jizai Okimono in person and move their incredible bug parts.  The life size metal bugs are intricately made of many small pieces assembled together with articulating legs, antennae and movable wings.  The copper colored wasp in the middle has a stinger that retracts into it's abdomen!

Jizai Okimono were created by the Samurai armor craftsmen and the art emerged in the late 1800's when the Samurai class was eliminated and the bearing of swords banned.   

 

 

Amazing Minerals

These amazing, detailed minerals in watercolor and gouache were painted by Viscount Alexandre-Isadore Leroy de Barde in 1813.  He was just in his 30's and already well recognized as a virtuoso in his 20's.  The mineral painting, shell painting below and another of birds in the series were purchased by Louis XVIII and are in the Louvre Museum in Paris.  In later years Leroy de Barde opened a private museum of natural history in Paris.

Tranquility

Ernst Haas - Parachute Flowers, 1967

Reading List

The Ultimate Jeweler's Guide, I checked this out from my local library. Yeah I have a library card!  The instructions were concise, clearly written step by step, easy to follow and great photos.  This one just moved to the top of my Amazon list.

Claude Verlinde, my new favorite artist.  Evocative eye candy. 

Art Nouveau is inspiring me again.  Alphonse Mucha's drawings and jewelry is stunning.

For my love of art and nature, The Painter as Naturalist.

Furry Bracelets

Furry bracelets.  A thin sheet of metal is micro formed with special wood block forms and custom hammers into a curved tube.  Made to order in choice of metal and fur - email me.

 Brass and Nutria Fur

 Brass and Faux Fur

Copper and Vintage Mink Fur

Jeweler's Bench Tips

Making loops, quick jump rings, bends consistently the same size is important in fabrication of the earrings and the shepherd hook clasps I make. I have marked my round nose pliers with several permanent marker ticks. This way my loops and bends are always the same size.
 
Rio Grande Studio Blog  I entered this tip for their contest.

Snow Crystals

Wilson A. Bentley photographed the first snowflake in 1885 with a camera he adapted to a microscope.  He sent 500 of his photographs to the Smithsonian in the early 1900's.  Later 2,400 images were published in his book Snow Crystals.  Along with another several thousand images the belief that no two snowflakes was documented.  You can see several of Mr. Bentley's images in the Smithsonian online archives.