Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Leaves of Glass



Beautiful jewelry created by Chicago artist Kateri Morton.

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Leaves of Glass is jewelry designed and handmade from sterling silver and vintage beads. Inspired by Chicago architecture, junk car lots, works of fiction, film noir, art deco design, and the magic that is vintage glass, Leaves of Glass designs marry delicate and industrial elements to create a look that's organic and urban.

I'd just started making jewelry when I discovered vintage glass beads. They sparked my imagination in a whole new way; I fell in love, and have been obsessively hunting for unusual components ever since. I love using materials with provenance, and I put a lot of time and effort into finding unique vintage beads in excellent condition. All my earrings are made with sterling silver or goldfilled hooks so they're safe for wearers with metal allergies, but recently I've begun working mixed metals into other parts of my designs, and I love the way they work together to produce concepts that are simultaneously earthy and urban. I'm obsessed with balance and organic appearance, and I'll often rework a piece several times until I'm satisfied with the way it looks when worn.



One of my favorite aspects of creating is taking photographs of my pieces. I hadn't picked up a camera in years when I started selling, and it was an amazing opportunity to start from scratch creating a look that was my own. I find it especially satisfying to capture the essence of a design in a photograph, and I love the way the process can reveal new aspects of a piece to me. In the coming months, I'm hoping to expand my skills in working with metals and create new types of work; whatever the method, I love the art of jewelry design and I feel so fortunate to be able to share my work on Etsy.



Leaves of Glass
leavesofglass.etsy.com

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Up in the Air Somewhere



Susan Dwyer of Up in the Air Somewhere is "a Chicago based maker of things."

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Over the last year I have begun creating a line of housewares inspired by the beautiful forms found in industrial architecture. Water towers, warehouses, factories, and silos are abundant in Chicago and endlessly fascinating to me. Although I work in different mediums (paper maché, ceramic, fiber, etc.), my work has always been primarily focused on volume and form rather then ornamentation and surface. The simplicity and utility of the Midwestern landscape is a constant influence on my work.





Up in the Air Somewhere
upintheairsomewhere.etsy.com

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Oh the weather outside






A perfect day to stay cozy and warm inside with a cup of tea.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Plait



Beautiful woven textiles from Jennifer Pellman of Plait.


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Plait napkins are a bit of handmade, everyday luxury inspired by a love of tasting and cooking. They’re 100% cotton, soft, and machine washable. I hand weave them in small batches in my home studio. I leave the natural selvedges as the finished edges on two sides of a napkin – a feature rarely revealed in commercially produced textile products. There’s no separation between design and structure in woven fabric. I find this fascinating - and central to my design decisions. I love simple, clean designs combined with hand-made qualities, a tradition that can be traced at least to the Bauhaus. I want people to enjoy and use them as much as I enjoy weaving them.



Plait

Madison, WI

www.plait-textiles.com

www.plait.etsy.com

jpellman@plait-textiles.com

Thursday, December 6, 2007

Essimar





Essimar prints and creates paper art. In amazing vivid color. Color that makes you smile. Many of her makings are printed without a photo emulsion with the intent of emphasizing texture and individuality.

She is based in Chicago and will be selling at a few local craft fairs before the holidays. Check her Etsy profile for dates and locations.





Essimar
essimar.etsy.com
essimar.net
essimar.blogspot.com
essimar@gmail.com

Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Off Keck Road : Wisconsin




A quietly graceful little book.  It tells a simple story of a woman growing up and returning to Green Bay, WI over 50 years time.